Let's start with the conclusion: Megumi Fushiguro completely overwhelmed Bitz and secured a one-sided victory.
He had adapted to the barrage of cursed energy cannons he took with his entire body and regenerated his flesh at high speed. As a counterattack, he chose a certain sword technique that boasted the highest instantaneous firepower among everything he had adapted to so far.
He switched the nature of the cursed energy covering his body to fire and let it wrap around the Sword of Extermination, holding it in a unique posture as if shouldering the blade.
————Cursed Technique Release: Burning Valor.
This was a finishing move he had stolen from Ogi Zen'in after gaining resistance and an affinity for fire during their past duel. A simple yet aggressive technique that enlarged the blade with scorching cursed energy, it swung unerringly toward Bitz, causing his body to explode.
However, Bitz wasn't fragile enough to die from just that. He self-destructed just before being crushed, allowing his entire body to regenerate from the fragments, and quickly aimed the cannon on his arm. He fired a Granite Blast as a surprise attack from behind.
And yet.
"Whoa, that's incredible. Did he just absorb that cursed energy cannon?"
"He did. I wonder if he can absorb all cursed energy that isn't imbued with a technique?"
"If that's the case, it's game over for that popcorn bastard."
Just as the three who had been fighting until a moment ago were chatting from a distance to stay out of the way—while still remaining in a battle-ready state—all of the massive cursed energy that should have hit Megumi was devoured. Megumi gathered the consumed energy in his mouth and fired it back like a beam.
Having taken a concentrated cursed energy beam even more vicious than a mere reflection, Bitz escaped disaster by self-destructing again, once more regenerating his body from the pieces.
But immediately afterward, his ears picked up a desperate sound.
GAGON!!!!
With that thunderous noise, the wheel on Megumi's back rotated. Right after, Megumi slammed Burning Valor into Bitz once again, and at the same time, the surrounding space of nearly a hundred meters was scorched by extreme heat.
Its firepower was so immense that it instantly incinerated every single fragment of Bitz as he instinctively self-destructed.
The sudden, massive release of thermal energy created a powerful updraft, forming a small mushroom cloud. That single strike completely burned Bitz into nothingness, bringing an overwhelming victory to Megumi Fushiguro without leaving behind even a single cell of the enemy.
Incidentally, the three spectators managed to survive the blast unscathed through some quick teamwork: Toji Fushiguro had instantly used Satoru Gojo as a shield; Naoya Zen'in had immediately stopped the surrounding air and cast a barrier; and Gojo—though annoyed at being used as a shield—had properly protected everyone with his infinite barrier. However, the school building didn't fare as well and was completely blown away.
Still, it was Jujutsu High after all. Thanks to the efforts of Atsuya Kusakabe and Masamichi Yaga, the staff had been successfully evacuated, and it was a stroke of good luck in the midst of misfortune that human casualties were kept to an absolute minimum.
---
Meanwhile, around the time Satoru Gojo's group, aided by Megumi, had somehow repelled the intruders.
Suguru Geto's party had successfully passed through the various empty barriers and arrived at the approach to the Tombs of the Star Corridor.
"Once we get through here, we'll finally be at Lord Tengen's doorstep."
"...Yeah. That's right."
The group looked toward the countless tunnels that hid the path to the main hall of the Tombs of the Star Corridor. While Riko Amanai bit her lip with a somber expression, as if she had forgotten the noisiness of the past three days, Misato Kuroi spoke up as if she had made up her mind.
"Lady Riko. I can only go this far. Lady Riko, please... please————"
As she said this and bowed deeply, the sound of dripping tears could be heard at her feet.
Riko rushed to her and they shared a tight embrace, her cheeks also wet with hot tears.
"Kuroi! I love you...! Always...! From now on, forever!"
"I love you too...!"
In the midst of this parting scene between master and servant, the sorcerers watching over them also exchanged their temporary farewells.
"I mentioned this on the way, but Shoko, Nanami, and Haibara—I need you to stay here to guard Kuroi and watch our rear."
"Understood! I will definitely protect Miss Kuroi!"
"Haibara, you're being noisier than usual. I understand being overwhelmed by emotion, but still... Well, of course, I will also do my best. The enemy seems to have countless lives, so we can't afford to be careless."
"I'll work hard in my own way, so I'm leaving Riko-chan to you, Suguru. ...By the way, Suguru, do you remember Lord Tengen's order?"
"Of course. It was 'Grant all of Riko Amanai's wishes,' right? Unlike Satoru, I have a good memory. ...Well, I've discussed it with Satoru, and Naoya is a man who will absolutely save women and children, and the teacher... well, he has a daughter of his own, doesn't he...?"
"You sounded unsure at the end there... oh well. Yeah. In the end, it's what that girl chooses. I'm counting on you, Suguru!"
"Leave it to me. ...It's fine, we are the strongest. No matter who we have to turn against, we will grant every one of Riko Amanai's wishes."
The wicked smile Suguru Geto wore as he said this was an expression he never would have shown back when he was strictly serious.
The man, who had gained the capacity to swallow both the pure and the corrupt, waved his hand and began walking into the long tunnel leading to the main hall of the Tombs of the Star Corridor, following Riko Amanai.
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