Seeing the Cursed Spirit's figure disappear into the darkness again, Rin didn't hesitate.
He raised his hand, grabbed the still trembling middle-aged man, and threw him directly into the depths of the darkness, like throwing trash.
"Bang!"
The man fell heavily to the ground, and before his terrified scream could even escape, the surrounding shadows surged wildly, like sharks smelling blood.
Dark Cursed Energy churned, gathering towards the man, clearly, the temptation of "food" prevented the Cursed Spirit from hiding any longer.
In the Divine Tree Space, Sukuna straightened up from the invisible barrier, a hint of curiosity in his scarlet vertical pupils.
This brat could remain expressionless even when his companions accused him and Sukuna's vessel threatened him. Could it be that he truly had no fear?
But with the current situation, the Cursed Spirit was clearly about to activate an illusion again. What exactly was this young man afraid of?
No sooner had the thought fallen than the darkness around Rin suddenly twisted.
A cold wind, carrying the stench of mud, blew into his face. The ground beneath his feet turned into a graveyard filled with tombstones. A gloomy sky showered fine rain, and every tombstone was covered in thick dust.
But the tombstone in the very center was exceptionally clean, with a photo of Geto Suguru pasted on its surface.
Rin's steps halted, his pupils slightly constricted.
He hadn't expected to see that name in an illusion. His heart felt as if something had gently bumped it, causing a momentary lapse of focus.
"Swish!"
A pale hand suddenly emerged from the mud in front of the tombstone, with wet mud still clinging to its fingernails.
Immediately after, a figure propped itself up on the ground, slowly crawling out of the grave.
The black Cursed Mark uniform was covered in mud, and long, wet hair clung to his cheeks—it was the appearance of Geto Suguru.
Rin subconsciously took a step back.
It wasn't because the sight of the person crawling out of the grave was terrifying, but because Geto Suguru's body was completely intact, without the slightest injury.
However, when his gaze swept across the other's forehead, he suddenly froze.
There was a circle of fine needle and thread stitching on Geto Suguru's forehead, like an ugly centipede, wrapping all the way around his head.
"Kenjaku…"
Rin's voice deepened, and the Cursed Energy at his fingertips began to waver.
This wasn't Geto Suguru; it was Kenjaku wearing Geto Suguru's body!
In the Divine Tree Space, Sukuna's phantom figure suddenly narrowed his eyes, his scarlet vertical pupils filled with astonishment:
"What's going on? How does this brat know Kenjaku? Has he had dealings with Kenjaku?"
In the illusion, Kenjaku, wearing Geto Suguru's body, stood upright, raised a hand to pat off the mud, and a sinister smile played on his lips:
"Thank you very much, Rin."
He pointed to his body, his tone playful:
"Thank you for leaving this body for me. I'm truly grateful that you didn't tell Gojo Satoru this news."
Rin looked at the familiar yet unfamiliar face, his fingers slightly curled, feeling somewhat at a loss.
He had never mentioned to anyone that Kenjaku would possess Geto Suguru's body, had he?
The next second, Kenjaku's body suddenly twitched violently, as if two consciousnesses were fighting for control.
The sinister smile on his face vanished instantly, replaced by panic and pain, and even his voice became shaky:
"Rin… why?"
It was Geto Suguru's voice!
Rin's heart tightened abruptly, and he subconsciously retreated.
"Geto Suguru" was looking at him with bloodshot eyes, his gaze filled with disappointment and pain:
"Why did you neglect my body? Just because I died, you'd let a monster occupy my body? How could you!"
This accusation was like a heavy hammer, striking Rin's heart.
His expression finally changed, his originally calm eyes now showing a hint of panic, and his hands and feet felt somewhat at a loss.
This was the first time he had shown a weakness in an illusion.
But this panic only lasted for a moment.
The pain on "Geto Suguru's" face suddenly disappeared, and a sinister smile reappeared at the corner of his mouth. Kenjaku's consciousness had regained control of the body.
He looked at Rin's tense expression with satisfaction and slowly said:
"Hmm, not bad. Rin, thank you for your 'generosity,' I'm very satisfied with this body."
Before he finished speaking, Kenjaku suddenly raised his hand, and dark Cursed Energy erupted in his palm.
This time, the concentration of Cursed Energy was several times stronger than before. Clearly, Rin's panic had been captured by the Cursed Spirit, and the power of the illusion surged accordingly.
"Roar!"
Countless grotesque Cursed Spirits emerged from the darkness, their gaping maws open, sweeping towards Rin.
Rin subconsciously raised his hand to condense Cursed Energy, but his earlier panic made him half a beat slow, and a Cursed Spirit's claw was already nearing his chest.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Several black and red bullets appeared out of thin air, accurately hitting the core of the Cursed Spirits.
The Cursed Spirits instantly dissipated, and even Kenjaku's phantom was pierced by the bullets, turning into countless specks of light.
The illusion collapsed again, and darkness once more enveloped the surroundings.
But Rin didn't sigh in relief. He turned to look in the direction where he had thrown the middle-aged man; only an empty darkness remained there, the man's figure long gone.
A strong scent of Cursed Energy lingered in the air, even thicker than before.
The Cursed Spirit had eaten the man, and its power had grown stronger.
Rin's expression darkened, and the Cursed Energy in his palm re-condensed.
He thought he could hold all his defenses, but he hadn't expected that the illusions of Kenjaku and Geto Suguru would become his biggest weakness.
In the Divine Tree Space, Sukuna's eyes became complex.
He looked at Rin's tense back, his doubts deepening: Kenjaku, Geto Suguru… How many secrets did this brat hide? What else did he know?
The man's screams completely vanished into the darkness, replaced by a surge of Cursed Energy. After eating its "food," the Cursed Spirit's aura skyrocketed again. The dark shadows churned and surged around like boiling ink, making the air feel heavy.
It no longer focused on the ordinary people hiding in the subway.
For it now, the fear and flesh of ordinary people were no longer "delicious" enough; this young man, who could resist illusions, was the most tempting prey.
It had already seen Rin's deepest fears. As long as it devoured him, its own power would surely undergo a qualitative leap.
In the darkness, countless shadowy tentacles silently extended, wriggling like venomous snakes towards Rin, the Cursed Spirit's killing intent almost solidifying.
Rin stood rooted to the spot, the Cursed Energy at his fingertips still retaining the residual warmth from repelling the illusion, but his expression had lost its previous calm.
Fine cold sweat beaded on his forehead, his heart beat a few times faster than before, and his skin could even feel the cold, sticky sensation brought by the domain.
The Cursed Spirit's domain effect was becoming increasingly pronounced on him; Geto Suguru's accusation still echoed repeatedly in his mind.
He instinctively clenched his fist, a thought flashing through his mind: directly expand the domain.
As long as he activated his Cursed Energy, his domain could instantly cover this space. With the Insight of his Sharingan and the destructive power of Crimson Blood Manipulation Technique, eliminating this Cursed Spirit would be a matter of moments.
This way, he wouldn't have to face those suffocating illusions, nor would he have to worry about the Cursed Spirit finding his weaknesses.
This thought wrapped around him like a vine, causing his eyes to waver for a moment.
But the next second, he slowly unclenched his fist, and his gaze became firm again.
"It can't end like this."
Rin muttered softly, his voice low but filled with an undeniable resolve.
This was no longer just about protecting ordinary people.
Geto Suguru's accusation in the illusion earlier made him clearly realize that he was not invulnerable.
He had things he feared, pasts he dared not face—these were all his weaknesses.
And this Cursed Spirit, coincidentally, could dig out these weaknesses and lay them before him.
This was the best opportunity to understand his weaknesses.
If he retreated now and forcibly dealt with the Cursed Spirit using his domain, these weaknesses would only remain hidden in his heart forever, becoming the most fatal hidden danger in future battles.
What he pursued was to be the strongest, the power to protect those he wanted to protect, not a "false strength" that couldn't even face its own fears.
"The path of the strong should be walked by confronting lessons head-on."
Rin raised his hand, and scarlet Cursed Energy re-condensed in his palm. This time, it was even more formidable than before. "If I even hide from my own fears, what right do I have to say I want to become stronger?"
He took a step towards the direction where the Cursed Spirit's aura was densest in the darkness, actively exposing himself to its sight.
Even though he was deeply affected by the domain's effects, and even if he didn't know what kind of impact the next illusion would bring, he would not retreat.
This was the path he had chosen, and even if it meant facing the most painful memories, he would walk it.
The shadowy tentacles in the darkness suddenly paused, seemingly not expecting Rin to not only not flee but actively approach.
Immediately after, the Cursed Spirit's aura became even more violent. Clearly, Rin's "provocation" had thoroughly enraged it.
The next second, the surrounding darkness twisted again, and a blood mist even denser than before surged up. This illusion seemed more terrifying than any previous one.
Rin, however, did not close his eyes. Instead, he opened them wide, the red light of his Sharingan glowing in the darkness:
"Come on, let me see how many fears I still haven't faced."
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