The last cursed spirit disappeared.
FWOOM.
Silence returned to the beach.
The piano melody faded away.
Takeru stood in the middle of the sand, surrounded by the remnants of the swarm.
Then he looked toward the god-guy.
The god-guy was standing several dozen feet away.
Bruised.
Exhausted.
Barely holding himself upright.
Takeru started walking.
Slowly.
One step.
Then another.
Crunch.
His feet pressed into the sand.
The god-guy watched him approach.
"You're still coming?"
Takeru didn't answer.
He kept walking.
Another step.
Then another.
The god-guy raised his fists.
But Takeru suddenly stopped.
He pulled his arm backward.
His fist tightened.
Cursed energy began pouring into it.
A little.
Then more.
Then far more.
The air around Takeru began vibrating.
The Six Eyes glowed intensely.
The god-guy's expression changed.
"…What are you doing?"
Takeru's cursed energy surged.
Lapse Blue.
Reversal Red.
Shrine.
Limitless.
Ten Shadows.
Projection Sorcery.
Even the power of his Reverse Cursed Technique flowed into the attack.
The sand around Takeru's feet was blasted away.
Yuji stared.
"That's…"
One of the Gojo's finished the thought.
"…a lot of cursed energy."
Takeru pulled his fist back even farther.
The god-guy braced himself.
"Bring it."
Takeru's eyes narrowed.
"Alright."
He stepped forward.
BOOOOOOOOOOM!
His fist connected.
The impact was catastrophic.
A massive shockwave tore across the beach.
Sand erupted into the air.
The ocean itself recoiled from the force.
The god-guy was launched backward, his body completely overwhelmed by the combined attack.
CRASH!
He hit the ground.
Silence.
Takeru lowered his fist.
The god-guy didn't move.
Yuji stared.
"…Is he dead?"
Takeru looked toward him.
"…Technically."
Then—
A faint golden light appeared around the god-guy's body.
Everyone looked upward.
His body began rising.
Slowly.
He floated above the beach.
Higher.
Higher.
His body became surrounded by that same cosmic golden light that had appeared in the sky.
Takeru looked up.
"…You're kidding."
The god-guy opened his eyes.
He looked battered, but there was still a grin on his face.
"I'll get you next time…"
He pointed down at Takeru.
"…you little shit."
Takeru stared.
Then smiled.
"Okay."
The god-guy continued ascending.
"Next time, I'll be ready."
Takeru put his hands on his hips.
"I'll be here."
The golden light grew brighter.
Then—
FWOOSH.
He disappeared into the sky.
Everyone remained silent.
Yuji finally spoke.
"…So."
Takeru looked at him.
"Yeah?"
"You just fought a literal god."
Takeru shrugged.
"And won."
Hakari grinned.
"Technically."
Takeru laughed.
"Technically!"
Kenjaku looked toward the sky.
"That thing will return."
Takeru nodded.
"I know."
He looked down at his fist.
"…And next time, I'm making sure he stays down."