NOVEL NEXT Chapter 224
Chapter 224 – Chapter 33 – Unexpected
The space at that moment twisted as the abundant curse energy transformed into pitch-black lightning.
Black Flash!
The bad-looking (Kako) looked in shock at his severed arms, his eyes losing focus as he whispered, “What is this black light?”
When Fushiguro Megumi swung his knife towards him, he could have dodged, but behind him was his brother. If he moved, his brother would be trapped between enemies.
So, he could only use his hands strengthened by curse energy to try to resist, but he didn’t expect that the black knife would sever both his hands and cut deeply into his abdomen.
Crimson blood gushed from the wounds.
“Brother… Brother…” a weak voice echoed behind Kako, who turned with difficulty, trembling, “Younger brother!?”
In contrast to Kako’s waning strength, Ketsudo’s chest was shattered by Tiger Tag Youji’s Black Flash punch, which penetrated through with a burst of curse energy.
Ketsudo fell lifelessly to the ground, vitality fading quickly through the hole in his chest.
“Brother! Don’t die, little brother!”
Kako knelt down in panic, directly exposing his back he had always been cautious about to the enemy.
His eyes showed nothing but concern and worry for his younger brother.
But regardless of Kako’s calls, Ketsudo could not wake up anymore, as if that last call had drained all his remaining strength.
Crystal tears rolled down his determined face, falling onto his younger brother’s lifeless body.
We were like one entity…
“Sorry, brother, even with me here…” Kako murmured blankly as tears ran down his face.
Seeing him like this, Itadori Yuuji froze, fists loosening and clenching again.
Such severe abdominal injuries suggested that Kako could barely survive without Yuuji and Megumi’s help.
After seeing the two bleeding badly and Ketsudo’s corpse not dissolving, experienced Tag Yuuji knew they were not merely cursed spirits but living beings.
Had they known this earlier, they could have ended Kako’s life, but neither Yuuji nor Megumi could bring themselves to do it.
They stepped back, watching silently as he embraced his brother’s lifeless body.
Fresh blood continued to flow from his wounded abdomen, pooling beneath them.
“Rest easy, brother, I’m with you,” Kako gently said, his vision becoming blurred. The continuous loss of blood drained the warmth from his body.
An unstoppable cold slowly crept over his body.
As it did during their 150-year journey, which was long and dark — but not lonely.
Only…
“I’m sorry, big brother, I leave you alone.”
Kako said, holding his brother’s corpsed body, closing his eyes peacefully.
He died.
Itadori Yuuji silently observed the brothers’ remains, walking to Megumi, complex emotions in his words, “Even though we won, I can’t feel joy.”
“I’m the same,” Megumi admitted after a moment.
This wasn’t the first time Yuuji had killed life, but he couldn’t get used to it.
“Anyway, they were enemies, likely Special Grade. Facing such opponents, we had no choice other than to kill them.”
“I know, I know…” Yuuji glanced at his blood-stained hand, slightly distracted. “But after seeing his brother die in front of him, that guy cried.”
“We’re glad we could win, but despite that, I still can’t help wondering.”
“I guess even lives I take cry too.”
Seeing his dejected look, Megumi sighed, “There’s no point dwelling on this. We should find Senpai Yukinoshita.”
“Heh, you’re right.”
At that moment, a strong aura suddenly appeared within their perception. Even a clueless Yuuji could sense its owner.
“It’s Sukuna’s finger?!” Megumi exclaimed, turning his head toward the source of the aura.
“Is it from Senpai Yukinoshita?”
Without time for mourning their foes’ deaths, the two exchanged a glance before rushing toward the direction of the finger’s aura.
Not long after, they saw a black-haired girl heading in their direction. Upon confirming she was safe, they both breathed a sigh of relief.
“Looks like it’s settled.” As they gathered, Yukinoshita Yukino asked, “Any injuries?”
“No, where is Senpai Yukinoshita? We sensed the aura of Sukuna’s finger,” Yuuji anxiously asked.
“Oh, it’s here.” Yukinoshita’s opened palm revealed a wax finger lying quietly, ominous energy spreading outward.
“The cave’s master is a Special Grade cursed spirit who devoured Sukuna’s finger. He looks like the one met at the juvenile detention center, but stronger,” the black-haired girl explained.
“Like that. Impressive, Senpai Yukinoshita, handling a Special Grade Cursed Spirit alone!”
Frowning in thought after a moment, Megumi understood, glancing at puzzled pink-haired boy. “Probably due to Itadori—Sukuna’s fingers dispersed across areas regained power because of his possession.”
“Resonance… I see.”
Yukinoshita nodded thoughtfully. But when she realized something worth asking Itadori and Megumi about their opponents, she hesitated knowing they must have handled it.
Ah well, there will be another time.
Shaking her head, the black-haired girl offered the finger to Yuuji, “Take it.”
“Alright, eat it then?” Yuuji readily accepted.
“Hold on!” Megumi stopped him, vexed. “Why are you so nonchalant?”
“What’s wrong?” Yukinoshita inquired.
“We don’t know how many fingers Itadori can safely hold. If more than that, Sukuna might take over.” Megumi explained, exhausted.
“But Lin Qi let Itadori eat one.”
“That guy… Lin Qi handles Sukuna effortlessly, but we can’t.”
Yukinoshita comprehended and took the finger back, “Right, I didn’t consider that. Sorry.”
“Really, we don’t have to eat it?” Yuuji was relieved. Not having to eat it cheered him up.
“Let’s go find Miss Arata.”
“Alright!”
…
Event at Eighty-Eight Bridges: Both Yukinoshita Yukino and Megumi benefited greatly.
The former gained insight into her Special Grade capabilities; the latter mastered Black Flash, advancing significantly toward understanding curse energy.
Though it was unfortunate for not extracting information from the interlopers, Yukinoshita was content with their mission’s outcome.
Unexpectedly, the information she sought regarding the mastermind behind New Host Ghost Parade the next day came forth.
“Ms. Yukinoshita, emergency.”
The anxious Ijichi Kiyotaka approached her the day after returning from the bridge.
“What happened?”
“Beetle and Yoshino couldn’t be contacted during the mission, now two days past,” sweat pouring down Ijichi’s face.
Despite the initial warning, they had no withdrawal chance.
Yukinoshita’s gaze hardened, “Take me.”
Hurrying out of the institution, they met a returning white-haired man.
“Students in trouble? I’ll join in,” Gojo smiled. “If Riri knows his students faced problems due to high school missions, he’d confront me.”