Seeing the scenes unfolding before them, joy erupted in the eyes of Yuji and Megumi.
“It’s a Domain Expansion?
And one without a barrier?
Controlled so perfectly?” Megumi watched everything in disbelief.
Domain Expansion is the pinnacle of the Jujutsu World, a technique only mastered by top-tier Jujutsu Sorcerers and top-tier Cursed Spirits.
Furthermore, after seeing Minoru deploy his Domain Expansion, inspiration regarding domains immediately sparked in Megumi’s mind.
Minoru’s image in Megumi’s mind became almost as lofty as that of Satoru.
They won?!
Just like that…
they won?!
Just as a flicker of joy ignited in the eyes of Yuji and Megumi upon seeing this scene—
Rumble!
Minoru’s domain shattered.
The next moment, they were struck dumb, as if their blood had frozen solid.
Seeing everyone’s reaction, an amusing idea popped into Minoru’s mind.
He decided to put on a good show.
Minoru was still standing tall and straight but he suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, his face turning pale, and his figure becoming shaky.
“Shibata!
What’s wrong!”
Yuji, holding the two children, had eyes filled with rage and terror.
Megumi felt cold all over, his mind a complete blank.
It was over…
Everything was over…
Minoru’s body was covered in countless small wounds, blood continuously flowing out, staining the large white T-shirt red.
His aura was rapidly weakening at a visible speed.
He was seen clutching his chest with one hand and supporting his forehead with the other, looking as if he would collapse any second.
“Power…
exhausted…”
“Don’t worry about me…”
run…”
Was this man, who had just ignited their hope, really about to fall?
“Shibata!”
Yuji’s eyes were bloodshot, practically going insane, and he raised his leg, ready to charge out.
He had to bring Minoru back, immediately!
But Megumi’s hand clamped down on him like an iron vice.
“What are you trying to do!?” Yuji turned his head and roared.
“Don’t squander the chance Shibata bought with his life.”
As a Jujutsu Sorcerer, Megumi’s duty was to protect everyone.
He noticed that the chunk of charred flesh, burned by ‘Open,’ had not completely dispersed.
Megumi’s eyesight was excellent, he clearly saw the piece of flesh the size of a fingernail, it was still squirming.
Although extremely slow and faint, it was definitely expanding.
Megumi couldn’t believe that such a creature existed in this world.
How exactly could they be defeated?
A sense of powerlessness enveloped his heart.
“You take everyone and evacuate.” Megumi’s voice was hoarse and resolute.
“I will hold the line here.
No matter what happens next, don’t look back.”
“Go now!
Right now!”
How could Megumi not want to rush forward?
But it was this very desire that made him realize with painful clarity how weak he currently was.
Yuji gave Megumi a deep look, his eyes filled with unwillingness and pain.
In the end, he chose to trust his companion and led the group to continue their desperate sprint.
Watching the group’s receding figures, Minoru “weakly” sat beside a charred tree trunk and showed a relieved smile toward Megumi’s direction.
“Don’t worry.
It’s just a mere fatal injury.
As long as…
you guys are safe…”
His current goal was simple: to test Muzan, just in case.
He wasn’t sure if Muzan truly had no ability to resist.
It was true that he was nearly out of power, and it was true that he was injured.
Although the injuries weren’t serious and there was even an element of self-sabotage, where he used Cursed Energy to wound himself slightly, the usage time for Sukuna’s power was now down to the last five seconds.
If Muzan could still recover, or refused to flee, or had some hidden trump card, then Minoru would truly be out of options.
The best method now was to make Muzan believe he was weak and lure him into making a move.
Just like before, the key was exploiting the information gap.
If Muzan could still recover, he would definitely run away.
If Muzan couldn’t recover anymore, then there would be nothing to worry about.
He could just blast him to smithereens.
Minoru glanced at the squirming chunk of flesh nearby, wanting to see how Muzan would react.
Sure enough, that piece of flesh trembled violently, and the speed of regeneration seemed to accelerate slightly, having expanded considerably compared to before.
‘Oh, did he take the bait again?’ A smile curled up on Minoru’s lips, unnoticed by anyone.
However, his previous dialogue about the hero’s twilight became the final straw that crushed Megumi’s psychological defense.
Megumi looked at the continuously regenerating piece of flesh.
Just now, Muzan was able to recover instantly even after being smashed into pieces.
It was probably no exception now.
And by then, Minoru, having suffered fatal injuries, and they, these “ants,” would have no power left to fight back.
“How am I…
how am I so weak!”
Megumi clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms.
He roared toward the sky, his voice filled with endless regret.
He now fully realized that Minoru was a good person, willing to stake his life for strangers.
And he himself could only watch this hero walk toward death.
No!
Absolutely not!
“You can see for yourself whether or not I am the ‘enemy’ you must risk your life, or even summon Mahoraga, to stop here.” Minoru’s words echoed in his mind.
A crazy idea rose in Megumi’s heart.
Even if it means mutual destruction, I must secure a sliver of hope for you.
“Wuth this treasure…”
He formed a hand sign.