The smoke slowly dispersed.
At the center of the crater—
A figure lay sprawled across the shattered concrete.
Hajime Kashimo.
His hair—once shaped like jagged lightning—had turned into a completely fried afro.
Smoke rose from it lazily.
His clothes were half-burned away, revealing muscular shoulders still twitching from residual electricity.
Blue sparks occasionally crawled across his skin.
But he wasn't dead.
Not even seriously injured.
Because at the last moment—
Yagami Sora had redirected most of the lightning away.
Kashimo spat out a mouthful of smoke.
Then slowly pushed himself upright.
"…Why didn't you kill me?"
His tone was irritated.
Almost offended.
For a battle maniac like Kashimo—
Mercy was humiliating.
Yagami Sora crouched at the edge of the crater.
Looking down at him calmly.
"Killing you would be a waste."
Kashimo narrowed his eyes.
"Waste?"
Sora rested his elbow on his knee.
"I heard you're looking for someone."
"A certain opponent."
"Ryomen Sukuna."
The moment the name was spoken—
Kashimo's eyes ignited.
Like lightning reconnecting to a power source.
"That's right."
He stood up immediately.
Despite the damage.
Despite the smoke.
"I reincarnated for one reason."
"To fight him."
"Four hundred years ago I never had the chance."
"But this time—"
His fingers clenched.
Lightning crackled faintly.
"I'm going to prove I'm the strongest."
Sora nodded slowly.
"Then that makes things simple."
He extended his hand.
"Come with me."
"I'll take you to Sukuna."
"And when the time comes…"
Sora's eyes gleamed faintly.
"You'll get the one-on-one fight you want."
Kashimo stared at him.
Suspicion filled his expression.
"You think the King of Curses is someone you can just arrange meetings with?"
Sora shrugged.
"I don't make promises lightly."
Then he added casually—
"Besides."
"You don't have many options right now."
"Either you fight me again…"
"…or you take the shortcut."
Silence hung in the air.
The wind blew across the ruined harbor.
Kashimo stared at Sora's face.
Searching for deception.
He found none.
Then suddenly—
He laughed.
"HAHA!"
He jumped out of the crater.
Dusting off his shoulders.
"Fine."
"I'll play along."
"But remember something."
Kashimo's eyes flashed sharply.
"If you try to make me do anything boring before that fight…"
"…I'll kill you."
Sora smiled faintly.
"Trust me."
"You won't be bored."
Kashimo extended his hand.
Sora grabbed it.
Their grip was firm.
The agreement was made.
Then Kashimo casually opened the Culling Game interface.
"Tch."
"I've got plenty of points anyway."
He transferred them.
[System Notification]
Points transferred: 200
Sora glanced at the interface.
Then nodded slightly.
Kashimo wasn't the type to obey orders.
But as an ally—
He was extremely valuable.
Raw power.
Relentless fighting instinct.
And no complicated scheming.
Compared to manipulative curse users—
Kashimo was refreshingly simple.
"Alright."
Sora turned toward the ruined skyline.
"Let's move."
Kashimo followed behind him.
Hands in pockets.
"Where to?"
"The Sendai Colony."
A cold glint appeared in Sora's eyes.
"There are several powerful reincarnated sorcerers there."
"And…"
He paused slightly.
"One of my friends might be running into trouble."
Kashimo licked his lips.
Lightning flickered faintly around him again.
"Reincarnated sorcerers?"
His grin widened.
"Sounds fun."
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