Curse Returns, a gamble from the start, I awaken dual spells

Chapter 144 The Ninth Barrier

A golden light curtain, like a door to another world, slowly unfolded before Rito.

He raised his hand, and the phantom of the key in his palm began to glow, resonating with the light screen.

"Are you ready?" Hiromi Higurashi's voice rang out behind him.

Rito nodded, his gaze sweeping over the three people behind him.

Hitomi (Saya), Hiromi Hitsugaya, and Lai Xihua, who has just recovered some of his strength.

"Let's go."

The four of them stepped out at the same time, passing through the golden light curtain.

In that instant, Rito felt a strong sense of weightlessness, as if he had been thrown into a void.

Nothing could be seen around them except for the golden light flowing before their eyes.

After about two or three seconds, the feeling of being grounded returned.

Rito opened his eyes, and the sight before him stunned him.

This is a city.

A complete, bustling, and indistinguishable modern metropolis from the outside world.

Skyscrapers stand side by side, the streets are wide and clean, and the streetlights emit a warm orange glow.

The shop windows on both sides of the street are filled with a wide variety of goods, and there are even some pedestrians strolling along the street.

If it weren't for the pale purple light curtain in the sky reminding them that they were still within the barrier, Rito would almost have thought he had already returned to Tokyo.

"This is... the 9th barrier?" Lai Xihua's voice was tinged with shock.

"It looks no different from any other city." Hiromi Hiraka pushed up his glasses and scanned his surroundings warily.

Just then, a mechanical notification sounded in the minds of the four people simultaneously.

Welcome to the 9th Barrier City of Reincarnation

The rules for the barrier are as follows:

[1. This barrier consists of seven checkpoints. You must clear each checkpoint to enter the next area.]

[2. The final reward is hidden at the center of the barrier, and can only be obtained by the first person to arrive.]

3. Killing is prohibited within the barrier; violators will be immediately eliminated.

[4. After clearing each level, you will receive one "Reincarnation Mark". Collect all seven marks to unlock the final reward.]

[Final Reward: Prison Gate]

Rito's pupils suddenly contracted!

"Prison Gate?!"

His voice was filled with barely suppressed shock.

Hiromi Ryoma and Shiga also changed their expressions at the same time.

They all knew what the Prison Gate meant; it was a cursed artifact that sealed away Gojo Satoru, one of the most powerful weapons in the hands of the wielder.

"Rolling rope—he's using the prison gate as a reward? That doesn't make sense." Hiromi Hiraka's brows furrowed. "Of course it doesn't make sense, because he never intended for anyone to receive this reward." Rito's voice turned somber.

He looked up and gazed towards the city center, where a towering building could be vaguely seen, its spire piercing the pale purple clouds.

"This is a trap."

"A trap?" Lai Xihua's voice sounded a little nervous.

"Maki knew we would come to rescue Gojo-sensei."

"So he deliberately placed the prison gate here as bait."

"He knows that as long as the Prison Gate appears in the rewards of the Death Return Tour, we will definitely try every means to obtain it." Li Ren's voice turned somber.

"Should we still go?" Lai Xihua asked.

Li Ren remained silent for a few seconds.

"Go," he said decisively.

"Even if it's a trap, we have to go. Because it's the only chance to rescue Mr. Gojo."

"But we can't all be vying for the final prize," Hiromi Hirashiro suddenly said.

"If it really is a trap, then the rope must have a backup plan. We need someone to distract them, and someone else to take charge of the actual operation."

Rito nodded, already having a plan in mind.

"Split into two teams."

"Xiaoye and I are responsible for clearing the levels and competing for the final reward."

"You and Lai Xihua are responsible for scouting the terrain of the barrier, looking for possible traps and traces of ropes."

"Isn't this too risky?" Lai Xihua asked worriedly.

"This is the best option right now." Rito glanced at Hitomi beside him.

Tong nodded slightly, without saying anything more.

Hiromi Nichisha pondered for a moment before speaking.

"Okay, but be careful. If you encounter a situation you can't handle, retreat immediately."

"You too," Rito said. "Your mission is just as important."

The four quickly exchanged contact information.

Inside the barrier, they discovered that communication tools were still usable, which was good news.

Then, they split up and went their separate ways.

Rito and Hitomi walked along the main street toward the towering tower.

The shops on both sides of the street were brightly lit, but Li Ren noticed that although the pedestrians looked very real, a hint of unnaturalness could be seen when they got closer.

Their eyes were vacant, their movements mechanical, like a group of manipulated puppets.

"The inhabitants of this barrier are all illusions constructed by some kind of magical power," Tong said softly.

"I can feel that every corner of this city is covered by magical power, like a giant net."

"Can you sense the location of the first checkpoint?" Rihito asked.

Tong closed her eyes, then opened them a moment later, pointing to a large shopping mall at the end of the street.

"There are strong fluctuations of magical energy there; it should be the location of the first checkpoint."

Li Ren nodded and quickened his pace toward the mall.

As soon as they reached the mall entrance, a transparent barrier blocked their way.

A line of text appeared on the barrier: "Welcome to the first test of the City of Reincarnation: the Maze of Memories."

"Rules: After entering the mall, you will experience a distorted memory. Only by finding the flaws in the memory can you escape the maze."

"Warning: Those who lose themselves in the maze will be trapped inside forever."

Rito took a deep breath, reached out, and touched the barrier.

The next second, the world turned upside down.

He found himself standing on an unfamiliar street.

No, it's not completely unfamiliar.

This street—he seemed to have seen it somewhere before.

Pedestrians hurried by, each with a smile on their face. The sun shone brightly, and the world seemed peaceful.

But Rito's gaze fell on a building at the end of the street.

That was the High School of Spellcasting, the place where he first met Gojo Satoru.

"This is... my memories?" Rito said in a low voice.

"Not entirely," Hitomi's voice sounded behind him.

"This is a tampered memory, a fragment of memory extracted from your mind by the barrier, but with false content added."

"Then how do we find the flaw?" Rihito asked.

"Look for illogical parts, or—" Tong paused.

"Search for people or things that shouldn't be in your memory."

Rito frowned and began searching for clues in his memory.

He walked along the street, his eyes scanning every detail.

The pedestrians' clothing, the shop signs, the color of the sky —

Everything seems normal.

But when he reached the school gate, his gaze fell on one person.

It was a man in a black suit standing under the cherry blossom tree at the school gate, smiling at him.