Inside the Yorozuya, Jogo and Yuto stared at the scene displayed by the live broadcast Curse Corpse. Then they turned to Zenin Toji and asked the question on both their minds.
"Toji, if you were facing Satoru's attack, could your body withstand it?"
If Toji couldn't withstand it, then neither could Satoshi.
Under the focused gazes of Jogo and Yuto, Toji shook his head.
"I can't block it."
His response was unequivocal. If he could block it, he would say so. If not, then he couldn't. It was that simple.
If this were a real battle, Toji was confident he could kill Satoru before the attack was released. The moment Satoru activated Red, Toji could close the distance and end him instantly.
Satoru wouldn't even have the chance to unleash the technique, let alone test if anyone could survive it.
But this wasn't an actual combat scenario. This was a direct confrontation of techniques.
And now, even Toji was looking forward to what Satoshi would do next.
If Satoshi's body was on par with his, then he couldn't possibly survive that hit.
So why was Satoshi facing the attack head-on?
Did he have something else prepared?
Toji's eyes brightened, filled with anticipation.
Inside the Yorozuya, Jogo and Yuto exchanged glances, feeling a wave of anxiety rise within them.
Unlike Toji, they didn't share the same confidence. Over the past nine years, they had personally witnessed Satoru's terrifying growth.
In direct combat, both Jogo and Yuto had been defeated by Satoru—even without him drawing his Zanpakutō.
They were well aware of how monstrous Satoru's strength truly was.
Even though Satoshi was strong, wasn't it reckless to challenge Satoru's Reversal: Red without preparing a backup?
...
While everyone was worrying over Satoshi's fate, He reached its maximum speed and slammed violently into him.
Iori Utahime, who had been watching intently, instinctively shut her eyes. She couldn't bear to witness the brutal scene that would follow.
Bang!
A thunderous explosion erupted, and Utahime could already picture the gruesome sight of Satoshi being consumed by the blast. She still didn't open her eyes—until she heard Mei Mei's startled cry.
"What... what is that?!"
The shock in Mei Mei's voice was unmistakable, prompting Utahime to raise her head instinctively.
And when she opened her eyes, she saw something she would never forget.
Satoru's Red had exploded directly behind Satoshi.
The towering flames that shot into the sky had struck what seemed like a transparent wall. Instead of devouring Satoshi, the black flames were forced upward into a sea of swirling cursed energy that burned against the invisible barrier.
The ground scorched by He became a storm of violent force. The energy reflected off the wall rolled back wildly, and the surrounding forest was quickly swallowed by the aftermath.
A deep fissure split the earth, and even spectators at the main goodwill event venue felt the tremors of the blast.
...
Even the Curse Corpse providing the live broadcast began to shake violently in midair, the signal flickering as if it might cut out at any moment.
Satoru's attack was undeniably powerful and terrifying. But what was even more astonishing was the square-shaped transparent wall that had appeared behind Satoshi.
The audience watching through the Curse Corpse feed could only guess that it must have been the Kidō Satoshi had chanted earlier.
But without firsthand experience, they couldn't grasp the sheer pressure of standing so close to it.
Right now, the trio facing He—Mei Mei, Utahime, and Kamo Kenshin—were overwhelmed by fear and awe.
Satoshi, walking leisurely through the chaos like he was in a garden.
The giant, square-shaped transparent wall.
The black flames erupting from the explosion.
The jungle and terrain being swallowed whole.
This entire scene shattered their expectations.
Even Kamo Kenshin, who had previously clung to confidence and a secret weapon from the Kamo clan, felt completely powerless.
In that moment, Satoru's devastating technique had become little more than a backdrop for Satoshi. And Satoshi—leisurely walking through the flames—looked like a demon stepping out of hell, about to claim their lives at any moment.
Mei Mei stared blankly at Satoshi. The black crow in her hand had already been released, and she had been prepared to trigger Black Bird Manipulation: Kamikaze the instant Satoshi was hit.
But after seeing his composure now, she completely gave up that idea.
Even if she used her trump card, Kamikaze, Satoshi wouldn't take it seriously, would he?
As for Utahime, she was overwhelmed with relief. She had been fortunate enough to witness Satoshi's Kidō.
Bakudō #81: Dankū.
So that was it. So that's the level of defensive Kidō he had used.
At this point, Utahime had forgotten her role in the goodwill event. All she could think about was whether she could learn Dankū too.
If I could master Satoshi's Kidō, then I wouldn't just be a support. I could protect others too—and fight beside them, right?
Utahime's heart was filled with longing for Satoshi's strength. As someone burdened by a Heavenly Restriction, he had still mastered the mysterious power of the Kidō arts.
She believed that Satoshi must have found a way to transcend the natural limitations of his cursed technique...
(To be continued.)
***
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