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

Heavy rain.

On the ruined plaza, lava and water mingled, and billowing white mist was torn into pieces by the gale and then reformed.

The water clock stood in the center of the square, its small size radiating a suffocating sense of oppression.

Tiger Cane stood in front of Fushiguro Megumi, his fists clenched, and cursed power burned on his knuckles.

"Get out of my way!" Itadori's voice was deep, filled with suppressed anger.

"I already said, no." The water clock's tone was calm, yet it left no room for argument.

"You little brats, you're not going anywhere."

Dongtang stood beside Huzhang, his eyes fixed on the water clock, ready to launch an unjust game at any moment.

"My dear friend, this guy is not easy to deal with," Dongtang said in a low voice.

"I know, but what about Rito..." Itadori gritted his teeth.

Dongtang remained silent. He glanced at Huzhang, then at Fuhei, who lay charred black in the ruins.

Fu Hei's school uniform was completely charred on the right side, broken into pieces and stuck to his skin. His exposed arm was covered in burn blisters from his elbow to his fingertips.

His chest was still rising and falling, and you could barely see any signs of life.

The domain was shattered head-on by the leaky pot; the [Inlaid Dark Courtyard] couldn't even last half a second against the [Coffin Iron Mountain].

If Fuhei hadn't used most of his magical power for defense at the last moment, he would already be a charred corpse.

"Your companion is still alive, but soon he will join you and become part of these ruins," the water clock said calmly.

As soon as he finished speaking, he clapped his hands together.

The ground trembled, and several columns of magma erupted from beneath Huzhang and Dongtang's feet.

"East Hall!" Itachi roared.

"An unjust game!"

Snapped!

The position of Tiger Staff was instantly replaced by a stone imbued with magical power, and magma shot up from where he had just stood, melting the stone.

Dongtang himself used the remaining force of the spell to roll to the side, avoiding the impact of another pillar of magma.

"This can't go on." Dongtang quickly got up after landing.

"Its spell has too wide a range; if we delay any longer, your best friend, Haddō, could be in danger!"

"I know!" Huzhang gritted his teeth, his eyes fixed on the direction behind the water clock.

That is the realm of real people.

The sealed barrier, like a giant gray eggshell, trapped Li Ren and Zhen Ren inside.

He had no idea what was happening inside.

But what he knew was that Rito was facing that special-grade cursed spirit alone.

"We need to find a way to break through its defenses. Toudou, hold him off for three seconds," Itadori said, taking a deep breath.

"Three seconds?" Dongtang glanced at him. "What do you want to do?"

Itachi's gaze fell on the outer wall of the Real Person Domain. "Smash that thing open. As long as we can make a crack, I can..."

"Naive boy," came the water clock's voice from above.

The two looked up abruptly and saw that the water clock had somehow leaped into the air, a dazzling white fireball gathering in its palm.

"Die!"

The fireball fell the next second.

boom--!!!

A heatwave swept through, blasting a crater nearly ten meters in diameter into the ground.

At the last second, Itadori and Todo were separated by his Unjust Game, but the shockwave still sent them flying.

Huzhang rolled several times on the ground before stopping, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

A large section of the bandage on Dongtang's right arm was charred, and the reddened skin underneath could be vaguely seen.

"This guy... doesn't take us seriously at all." Itari stood up, supporting himself on his knees, breathing rapidly.

"My dearest friend was actually underestimated by something like this!" Dongtang spat out a mouthful of blood.

He took a deep breath, raised his right hand, and clenched it into a fist in front of his chest.

"Hey, my best friend."

"Um?"

"When I shout, run in that direction. Remember, no matter what happens, never look back."

Haddō was taken aback: "Then you..."

"Just focus on your work, leave the rest to me!" Todo grinned.

"What? You don't even trust your best friend anymore?"

Itadori opened his mouth, then nodded firmly. "I believe you, my dear friend!"

"Don't make that face. My best friend's best friend is my best friend." Todo patted Itajiro on the shoulder, then turned to face the clepsydra and said nothing more.

Snapped!

Tiger Staff's figure disappeared from the spot and reappeared three meters to the right of the East Hall.

Meanwhile, Dongtang himself was transported out of thin air to the front of the water clock.

"What?!"

The water clock's pupils contracted, and before it could react, Dongtang's fist had already slammed into its chest.

boom! ! !

A dull thud resounded, and the water clock slid backward several meters, leaving two charred marks on the ground.

Dongtang clenched his fists tightly, but the skin on his knuckles was already red from the high temperature, and a wisp of smoke was faintly rising between his fingers.

"Now!!"

There was no hesitation in Huzhang's eyes.

He stepped onto the ground, his entire body transforming into a blur as he charged toward the defensive line of the Real Person Domain.

"Don't even think about it!"

Louhu steadied himself, and with a wave of his right hand, several pillars of magma rose from the ground, blocking Huzhang's path.

But Itsuji had already anticipated this move.

He lightly touched the ground with his toes, twisted his body in mid-air, and narrowly passed through the gap between the magma pillars.

"Ten meters left!!"

Huzhang gritted his teeth, his fist already raised.

He was calling out Rito's name, but he could barely hear his own voice.

All that could be heard was the sound of the wind and the dull thud of the East Hall behind him.

Just one punch.

With just one punch, a gap could be smashed open in that thin outer wall.

Then--

boom!!!!

A terrifying magical power erupted from the Real Person's Domain.

The shockwave forced Huzhang's body to a stop less than three meters from the outer wall of the domain.

The ground beneath his feet cracked, and he was pushed backward several meters.

"What...is this...?" Itadori's eyes widened.

Not only him, but even the water clock, which was locked in a fierce battle with the East Hall, stopped its movements.

That cursed power, that deathly stillness, that feeling of life ending... it was too eerie!

It was as if all life, all vitality, and all the meaning of existence itself were erased within that barrier.

In an instant, spiderweb-like cracks began to appear on the outer wall of the Real Person Domain.

"How is that possible..."

A real voice emanated from within the realm, filled with unbelievable horror.

"Domain...why...?"

Dongtang felt that aura, and the hairs on his body stood on end.

He turned to look at Tiger Stick, only to find that Tiger Stick was also looking at him.

In that instant, the world fell silent.

The rain stopped.

The wind stopped.

Even the sound of boiling magma seemed to be cut off by some invisible force.

Then they heard it.

That voice came from the depths of the Real Person's Realm.

It's like a person who has finally reached the end after a long journey.

"Domain Expansion—"

"The Palace of Annihilation!"