The person was chanting a curse, but their hands were wielding the black magic.

Without a moment's mourning for Reggie's death, the one who immediately rushed to the battlefield was—

Knotweed Hisahito!

"Kuro!!"

The familiar shout, ingrained in his very being, abruptly pulled Fu Hei back to reality from his thoughts.

A pink figure burst into the stadium through a broken side door at an astonishing speed, her gaze fixed on him, revealing genuine surprise and worry.

"Polygonum cuspidatum?"

Fu Hei subconsciously responded, his tense nerves relaxing slightly the instant he confirmed the identity of the visitor.

The appearance of Tiger Rod was indeed not within his prior calculations or the expectations of his "original" memories.

But after just experiencing a heart-wrenching battle, to see the most trustworthy companions...

It's really reassuring.

"Are you alright?!"

Yuji Itadori rushed forward in a few strides, his gaze quickly sweeping over Fushiguro's miserable, blood-soaked appearance.

"It's okay. You won't die."

Fushiguro was concise and to the point; he didn't offer much explanation but quickly countered with a question.

The two quickly exchanged information.

Haddock's experience was equally bumpy. He was randomly thrown into the ruins of a commercial district, where he encountered and exorcised several cursed spirits that had been attracted or spawned by the barrier.

They could also sense intense battle fluctuations from other directions, but it wasn't until they saw the trajectory of the falling Nue that they tracked it down.

Unfortunately, he never encountered either Nanami Kento, Otsuku Yuta, or Shirai Kinji.

"I haven't seen either Eto or Libra..."

Urajing scratched his head, his face showing obvious worry, but finally couldn't resist his curiosity and asked in a low voice:

"Uh, Fukuro, who is this...?"

Fu Hei followed his gaze to Shen Er, who stood motionless, and uttered two words in a flat tone, his face expressionless:

"My dad."

"Oh? Oh... Oh?!"

This overly straightforward introduction actually eased the tense atmosphere somewhat.

"Speaking of which, Fu Hei,"

Huzhang shook his head, temporarily setting aside the complex issues of family ethics, and his expression became serious again:

"Regarding the plan to rescue Mr. Gojo, do you have any new leads or discoveries? Should we split up and expand the search area to find the 'angel' more quickly?"

Saving Gojo Satoru is the overriding ultimate goal at present.

Itachi's suggestion was reasonable, but it also revealed a sense of helplessness in searching aimlessly within a vast barrier.

Looking at the mixture of hope and confusion in Itsuji's eyes.

Deep within Fuhei's mind, countless fragments of plans, deduced from known intelligence and current variables, began to collide at high speed once again.

A bolder, even somewhat risky, alternative gradually became clear.

"Polygonum cuspidatum"

"I might have... a second way to save Mr. Gojo."

"What?!"

Hisahito Itadori suddenly looked up, his eyes flashing with disbelief.

"A second method? Besides finding the 'angel,' there's another way?"

"Yes, it exists, but there are certain conditions."

"I need you to let Su Nuo out and release his magical aura."

Releasing the aura of Sukuna is another high-stakes gamble for Fukuguro.

The surprise on Itsuji's face froze instantly.

Let Su Nuo out? Even for just a moment? He understood the risks involved better than anyone else.

The air seemed to freeze.

After a long silence, Itachi slowly exhaled. He didn't immediately agree or refuse, but instead asked softly:

"Fushiguro, are you sure... this will really help Gojo-sensei? And why are you doing this?"

"Do you believe me, Dr. Huzhang?"

Fu Hei spoke earnestly and sincerely.

The struggle on Itsuji's face gradually faded, replaced by a look of helplessness.

Finally, he revealed his usual trust and smile.

"Um."

"I believe you, Fukuro."

Itadori nodded emphatically, his smile so clean that Fushiguro Megumi almost felt a pang of guilt.

The Tiger Emperor's character is truly admirable.

No wonder he's a man who can turn this area into a mysterious agritourism destination!

Fushiguro vowed to join the "Ozawa Support Group" and fight Rime Miwa to the death.

I'll kill anyone who criticizes the Japanese scepter!

"Fukuguro, what exactly is your plan?"

Tiger Rod pressed on, saying that since he had made his decision, he should no longer hesitate.

Fuhei did not answer directly, but instead raised his hand and pointed to the faint outline of a pure white building in the distance.

Tokyo First Sanatorium.

"We need to go there to see someone. And Su Nuo's aura is the key to opening that door, and also... a bargaining chip."

……

……

Even though the entire Tokyo metropolis has been engulfed in the insane "death migration" barrier, the fragile inertia of human society is still barely holding on in some corners.

Hospitals, especially those that treat patients with special long-term illnesses, are one such example.

Thanks to the change in the barrier rules, the targets of the flesh swimmers have shifted to each other, rather than ordinary people without any magical power.

This, ironically, brought a strange, temporary peace to the place.

The light was soft in a private nursing room.

Fushiguro Miki sat quietly on the hospital bed, dressed in a plain hospital gown.

She looked at the black-haired boy sitting on the edge of the bed, watching him awkwardly peel an apple for her, and a gentle, dreamy smile appeared on her pale face.

"Xiao Hui,"

Tsumi swallowed the apple that Fushiguro offered her and spoke softly:

"How many years has it been since we've been able to spend this much time together quietly?"

"how long?"

Fukuro picked up his fork and handed another piece of apple to Tsumiki, his voice calm and even.

"Perhaps it should be said that this is the first time we've faced each other like this."

He leaned forward slightly, closing the distance between them.

Making sure every word was clearly audible to the other person, I uttered a name at a volume only the two of us could hear:

"Ten thousand."

Miki Fushiguro's gentle smile froze instantly.

"you……"

Wan's voice had lost its feigned weakness.

"Knowing perfectly well who I am... you still dare to come before me alone?"

It's sizzling!

The light in the ward seemed to dim for a moment. Several streaks of liquid metal clung to Fu Hei Hui's neck.

The icy touch and deadly sharpness pressed against the skin, and with a mere thought, it could easily sever the dark trachea and arteries.

This is a creation of "construction techniques," which can change at will and penetrate everywhere.

"Kill me, and Lord Sukuna will hate you."

"What...?"

The two words "Su Nuo" were like a spell, instantly shattering all calmness and pretense!

"What...what did you say?!"

Wan's voice suddenly rose, losing its previous composure, and he stared intently at Fu Hei Hui:

"Do you know Su Nuo?"

Why did you let him...?

"No, what right do you have to mention him?! What's your relationship with him?!"

Fukuro was not surprised by her intense reaction.

He even slowly pointed with his free hand to the window in the ward that had its plain-colored curtains drawn.

"Look over there."

Almost at the same moment Fu Hei finished speaking—

boom!!!

The Nue, which had been waiting high above the sanatorium, unleashed a deafening thunderclap into the sky with lightning speed.

The time has come.

Meanwhile, several blocks away from the sanatorium, in a deliberately chosen, empty wasteland.

Upon receiving the signal, Itsuji took a deep, deep breath.

He closed his eyes, then suddenly opened them again. The clear light that once belonged to Khajiitsu was quickly swallowed and covered by a scarlet hue and endless violence.

He released the suppression of his own consciousness and growled at the surging malice within him:

"Come out."

"Sukuna!!!"

The pure and terrifying aura of cursed power, like a ferocious beast that had been dormant for thousands of years suddenly opening its eyes, erupted fiercely from the center of the staff, soaring into the sky!

Although it lasted for less than the time it takes for one heartbeat, it was suppressed like the receding tide.

But the pressure of the strongest curse, which swept across half of Tokyo in that instant, was enough to make any sorcerer with keen senses, especially those whose souls were etched with this aura, tremble!

In the ward.

Wan felt as if he had been struck hard by an invisible hammer, and his whole body trembled violently.

"It's...it's him! It really is him!!"

Wan muttered to himself, his voice trembling, and the liquid metal wrapped around Fu Hei's neck unconsciously loosened.

She whirled around, staring intently at Fu Heihui, whose face remained impassive, her gaze seeming to want to devour him whole.

"How do you know about Sukuna?!"

"What did you just do?!"

"Why did he suddenly release his aura?! What is your relationship with him?!"

"explain!!!"

Faced with Wan's repeated questions and almost tangible killing intent, Fu Hei simply pushed away the now powerless metal wire around his neck and leisurely straightened his collar.

He spoke clearly and calmly:

"I am his..."

Fuhei paused deliberately for half a second, admiring Wan's breathless expression of extreme tension and anticipation.

"Maid."

"...personal male servant."