"Pfft—"
From that blow, Mahito's eyes rolled back and his consciousness nearly slipped away.
After using a domain, falling into exhaustion and a technique burnout was always a risk. But for him, this was already a dead end.
He absolutely could not take another hit like that.
To find even the faintest chance of survival in this endless forest of death, he had no choice but to cancel his domain.
Besides, he didn't have enough cursed energy left to maintain it any longer.
When the domain shattered, the two of them reappeared in the same place where they had been fighting before.
Mahito lay collapsed on the ground, blood pouring from his nose and mouth, soaking half his body.
The stitches covering him were splitting apart, leaking more blood as his flesh tore open.
His body was on the verge of collapse, nothing more than a pile of mangled flesh barely held together.
'Just a little more… I just need a little more…'
Already suffering wounds that were nearly fatal, and after using a domain, Mahito felt as if every drop of cursed energy inside him had been drained dry.
He tried desperately to squeeze out a final bit of cursed energy to change shape and escape, but nothing came.
His blood felt as heavy as lead. Even the smallest movement was agonizing, let alone reshaping his body to flee.
"This is where it ends for you. Once my companions arrive, they'll kill you immediately."
Nanami's breathing was slightly unsteady. He walked forward in long strides and stopped a few meters away, then reached into his pocket to take out his phone.
At first, he had planned to beat Mahito half to death and bring him back to Jujutsu High for Mukuro to deal with. But now, he had changed his mind.
This was not just about how dangerous the technique was. The cursed spirit's talent was far too great.
Something like this couldn't be left alive.
Mukuro needed to come right away and exorcise him once and for all. Until then, Nanami would stay here and make sure Mahito had no spare cursed energy to cause trouble or escape.
"D-Don't joke with me… I don't want to die!"
Mahito's eyes were filled with bloodshot veins. As he roared through his hoarse throat, his eyeballs looked like they might pop out.
No matter how playful or deranged he'd seemed before, he couldn't accept dying this soon after being born.
"Just… a little more!"
Through sheer will, he forced out the last remaining bit of cursed energy in his body, causing his broken form to swell grotesquely.
"Don't make this any more troublesome for me…"
Nanami sighed helplessly while holding his phone, which he still hadn't dialed. He glanced at the screen showing it was already ten minutes past quitting time, then casually swung his weapon.
Even that casual strike made Mahito's swollen, meat-like body explode. Flesh and blood flew everywhere.
Within the rain of blood, only a head remained, fitted with two tiny wheels, desperately sliding toward the outside.
Just a few dozen meters…
Jogo, Hanami, Dagon, even that cursed user, it didn't matter. Someone had to come to save him. Anyone…
Mahito's face was filled with a desperate desire to live. He couldn't even spare any cursed energy to repair his body or fix his clownish expression.
"Don't—"
Nanami was about to chase after him when a sudden sense of danger washed over him. He stepped back immediately.
Bang!
Several tree trunks thicker than a human body burst through the ceiling just a few meters in front of him, blocking his path.
Right after that, a cursed spirit appeared at the far exit of the corridor. Two right-angled branches grew from where its eyes should be, and its left shoulder was wrapped in white cloth as if it were carrying a bundle.
"That appearance… so it really is connected with the two special grade curses that attacked Gojo."
Nanami never thought that one day he would identify a cursed spirit using one of Satoru's terrible sketches.
At this moment, the thought of retreating quietly took root in his mind.
According to the reports, there was at least one more volcano-headed special grade curse with overwhelming power. Dragging this out would only put him at a disadvantage.
"Hanami…"
At the sight of that figure, Mahito no longer needed to flee desperately. He slid straight to her feet and collapsed there, even though only his head remained.
"%#^#%%!"
Hanami knelt down and gently picked up his head, holding it close like a caring mother cradling something precious.
She spoke while looking at him. Her voice sounded like claws scraping against glass, harsh and unsettling, in a language that could not be identified.
Yet something strange happened. When her words reached Nanami's ears, they were automatically translated into words he could understand.
"Don't be afraid, Mahito. I'll protect you."
"That's great… Hanami…"
In front of her, he didn't look insane or wild. Instead, he resembled a mischievous child leaning against a parent.
Then Hanami looked up. Vines erupted from the floor and walls, rushing toward Nanami.
Boom!
He blocked them with both tonfas, but the impact still forced him back several meters.
He'd already spent much of his energy fighting Mahito earlier.
"Die as a sage, human!"
Hanami attacked again, even fiercer than before.
Bang!
Nanami said nothing. He simply activated his technique again and again. In the blink of an eye, every vine she sent was shattered.
"I can hold you off for a few minutes at most. If you don't run, then I'll admit you're impressive."
In the brief seconds he forced Hanami back, Nanami had already connected the call to Mukuro and waved the phone in their direction.
"He's calling for backup! Let's get out of here!"
Just as Hanami was about to attack again, the head in her arms spoke.
Anyone that could make such a powerful sorcerer proactively call for help and still be so arrogant, had to be one of those two special grade sorcerers. Mahito did not dare to gamble on that.
"Alright."
Hanami didn't hesitate. Ignoring the enemy still in the corridor, she turned and fled at full speed while holding Mahito's head.
Nanami did not give chase. He leaned back against the wall and slid down to the floor, gasping for air.
* * *
A few minutes later.
"You look exhausted. You alright?"
Just as Nanami said, Mukuro arrived.
"Took you long enough."
Nanami grumbled but put a hand on his shoulder, letting Mukuro help him up. They began to walk slowly down the corridor.
Fighting two curses of that level alone was exhausting enough. One of them had even used a domain.
"You called too late. And don't tell me you're already too tired to walk."
Mukuro could tell his friend wasn't truly at his limit.
It was probably just his way of venting a little in front of him. After all, there were very few people he would complain to.
"Hurry up and pay my overtime."
"Fine, fine."
The two walked side by side into the setting sun.
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