The god-guy was breathing heavily.
His clothes were torn.
Bruises covered his body.
He wiped blood from the corner of his mouth and looked at Takeru.
Takeru stood across from him.
Calm.
Ready.
The god-guy suddenly jumped backward.
WHOOSH!
Takeru watched him land several dozen feet away.
"You running?"
The god-guy shook his head.
"No."
He raised one hand.
"I'm changing tactics."
A strange cursed energy began gathering around him.
Takeru's eyes narrowed.
"…What technique is that?"
The god-guy smiled.
"Something I haven't used yet."
He opened his palm.
"Cursed Spirit Manipulation."
The air around him distorted.
Then—
BOOM!
A cursed spirit appeared.
Then another.
Then another.
Dozens.
Hundreds.
Thousands.
The sky above the beach began filling with them.
Some were tiny.
Some were enormous.
Some crawled across the sand.
Others flew overhead.
Some looked vaguely humanoid.
Others were completely monstrous.
Everyone on the beach stared.
Yuji's eyes widened.
"…That's a LOT."
Maki gripped her weapon.
"How many are there?"
One of the Gojo's stared through the swarm.
"Too many to count quickly."
Kenjaku's expression changed.
"He's using Cursed Spirit Manipulation."
Takeru looked around.
The swarm was growing.
More cursed spirits emerged behind the first wave.
Takeru smiled.
"You've got jokes."
The god-guy pointed toward him.
"Get him."
The entire swarm moved.
ROOOOOOOAR!
Thousands of cursed spirits surged toward Takeru.
The beach shook beneath them.
Sand erupted into the air.
The sky darkened beneath the mass of flying spirits.
Takeru stood completely still.
The swarm came closer.
Closer.
Closer.
Takeru's eyes narrowed.
"…Okay."
The first cursed spirit was almost within reach.