Chapter 14: Facing Sukuna! Expand the Evacuation Radius!
The mission was only rescue, yet… they'd directly over-cleared it?
Even counting Mr. Yuanzhi, it should've been extremely hard, since they were facing Special Grade…
Yes—Ijichi had also assumed this man leaned more toward pure healing.
The higher-ups hadn't disclosed much extra information, or rather they didn't know much either. They only cared about how precious his Reverse Cursed Technique was.
"Hey, don't underestimate people."
"But there's still one left. I think it should be fine." Nobara recalled everything she'd just witnessed.
"Ijichi-san, expand the evacuation zone to ten kilometers."
Megumi Fushiguro, at some point, had woken up. He slowly straightened and offered a different judgment.
"You're awake already, Fushiguro?" Nobara raised an eyebrow.
"This isn't over, Kugisaki." Fushiguro understood more of what was happening.
"Itadori was fighting a Special Grade alone—he definitely can't win. He'll wake Sukuna."
"Yuanzhi isn't just facing the other Deity-Bearing. He'll probably have to face Sukuna too."
Nobara froze.
Crap—she forgot the Curse King from a thousand years ago…
She hadn't seen Sukuna and didn't know exactly how strong he was… but he was definitely trouble.
"My concern is… what if Sukuna teams up with Deity-Bearing…" That was the part Fushiguro found troublesome.
"But as the vessel, Itadori can switch Sukuna back out, right?" Nobara asked.
"In theory." Fushiguro's voice sank. "But I've got a bad feeling."
He wanted to go look.
If things really became uncontrollable, he would act—Ten Shadows wasn't for show, and he still had a trump card.
Actually,
in the normal course of events, it wasn't that big a deal.
Yuanzhi would support Itadori, Itadori would press Sukuna's consciousness back down, everyone would be happy.
But…
better safe than sorry.
It had already been a while. If it was going to be resolved, it should've been resolved already, yet there was still no movement—something probably went wrong.
Ijichi nodded. He knew it wouldn't end that easily.
"Then we'll do as you say, Fushiguro-san. We'll expand the evacuation zone first."
Ijichi didn't waste words. He temporarily lifted the Curtain, took out a communicator, and had the outer personnel expand the evacuation area.
At the same time,
personnel in all directions, along with the metropolitan police units involved, received the order and began moving.
Unconditional cooperation—those were the higher-ups' instructions.
Ordinary people didn't need to know.
But departments that occasionally dealt with this kind of thing couldn't afford not to know—because you only get one life.
A single Special Grade cursed spirit, even the weakest kind, would have horrifying killing efficiency if it got out.
…
Ijichi asked, "Do you still need me—"
"No, Ijichi-san. You're not useful here. Try not to get close. Stay far away," Fushiguro said bluntly.
"Uh…" Ijichi was embarrassed, feeling a little offended.
"Unless you can get Grade 1, or above Grade 1 sorcerers here as reinforcements. But I doubt there's anyone," Fushiguro said.
"I'll do my best." Ijichi took a deep breath. "I'll do my best to contact someone."
"Mm." Fushiguro turned and looked at the detention center field and the buildings, his heart heavy.
If something really happens to that guy… then I'll have to be the one to end him…
You had to consider every consequence, prepare for the worst.
Because this Sukuna had eaten two fingers—different from just one.
He didn't care what others said. He only did what he believed was right.
"Seriously, you're impossible."
Nobara didn't understand, but could only grit her teeth and follow. "Even though we can't help with anything."
Fushiguro said coldly, "You don't have to come."
"Like hell I'm not coming. I still have to carry you out again," Nobara rolled her eyes.
…
Inside the detention center dormitory area.
In an extremely wide space, young Yuji was getting crushed by the other Deity-Bearing!
He had no chance to fight back.
This one was stronger than the first, because it contained Sukuna's finger.
So—
beaten to the brink, nearly dying, young Yuji had no choice but to call Sukuna out and switch.
"This brat is really pissing me off. He's completely looking down on me."
Sukuna patted Deity-Bearing's shoulder. "Wait a second. I'm thinking."
"I'm thinking about how to make that brat regret it."
"Before I catch up to his companions, I'll get pressed back down by the brat, right?"
"Oh, I've got a good idea."
"Come with me."
His extreme vocal fry rang out. He flicked his fingers, telling it to follow.
Unfortunately, this Deity-Bearing didn't listen at all. Not only did it not follow— it turned around and hit him!!
Clearly, its intelligence wasn't there yet.
Sukuna's forward step paused slightly. "Idiot."
Dozens of seconds later.
Sukuna stood on a huge rock. In front of him, Deity-Bearing had been dismembered into several pieces and pinned into the wall.
"Hey, you know what? We're both categorized as Special Grade—me and you~"
"Nngh—aa—"
Deity-Bearing bared its teeth. It wasn't dead yet, forcing itself to move, arms trembling.
Then its entire dismembered body healed back together. Its regeneration was absurdly strong!
"Good, Special Grade—keep it up, keep it up!"
Boom!
Deity-Bearing leapt down, looking excited like it had finally found an opponent.
"You look happy. Want me to praise you…?"
Sukuna bent down, teasing it. "But unlike humans, healing isn't hard for cursed spirits."
He planned to use a bit more strength and finish it. "Let me show you—"
Deity-Bearing instinctively took a step back.
Then a voice suddenly came.
"Looks like this one developed better."
A figure dropped from above, landing perfectly between Sukuna and Deity-Bearing, separating them cleanly.
"So it's you, brat…" Sukuna chuckled. "I wasn't even looking for you, and yet you came to me."
Sukuna paused, eyes lowering.
"Huh? Huh-huh?" Deity-Bearing looked at Yuji, then at Sukuna, left then right. Seeing no one paying it attention, it instantly felt looked down on!
Deity-Bearing enraged.
It was being ignored.
It was being underestimated!
Deity-Bearing clapped its hands together and pulled—forming a massive orange glowing sphere!
Huff huff huff!
Huff huff huff!
Huff huff huff!
Violent cursed energy churned the air!
In about a second, it spun up a spiral orb the size of a basketball!
Deity-Bearing braced, drew both hands back, then hurled it at Yuji!
Whoosh!
Yuji turned sideways and raised a finger. A cursed energy pellet the size of a grain of rice formed instantly, burning with black cursed energy!
No charge-up. He flicked his finger.
Whoosh!
Rice grain met basketball.
At the moment of collision, the rice grain crushed the basketball, pierced straight through, and slammed into Deity-Bearing!
Crackle!
Crackle crackle!!
Black cursed energy exploded like coiling lightning dragons, wrapping around it and detonating across its body!
"AAH!"
"AAAAAAAH!!"
A horrifying scream erupted!
From here, it tore through the dormitory zone, through floors, all the way outside!!
"What was that sound…?" Even Ijichi heard it and shivered.
Several men in suits and sunglasses rushed over to ask for instructions.
"Ijichi-san, should we retreat? Farther…?"