(Pov Satoru)
8:35 pm
There were still too many people here. Satoshi was on his way to evacuate, but he must not have made it here yet. He could also be held up ever since he sent out that first message warning about Mahito being around; there had been multiple reports of ambushes by crowds of transfigured humans and curses.
It was very quickly made clear that we had been expected, which also meant I was likely walking into a trap. I was needed, though there were reports of large groups of civilians trapped in the metro line and the possibility of Mahito making his way there, so I couldn't just sit by.
Still, I realized the issue: with so many people in one place, I couldn't afford to use Limitless, as the collateral damage would be too much. This was definitely a trap, and I had expected as much, and so did Satoshi. He had been really worried about that, actually, and kept saying I needed to 'be careful.' he worried too much.
I finally made my way to the bottom floor of the subway, and just as I did, a commotion broke out near the rails. A bunch of cursed spirits were running out of the tunnel, and a group of people had fallen there as well. Usually, the average person couldn't see a cursed spirit, but if their life was in danger, that changed. It was only about a dozen curses, but the panic was spreading. I had to deal with them quickly.
I jumped down in front of the charging curses, and the first ones suddenly stopped as they collided with my Infinity. I made sure the civilians had made it behind me before beginning my own attack. Without being able to use most of my technique, I had to rely on my cursed energy itself, which only meant this would take slightly longer.
Cursed energy flooded through my body and into my fists and legs, and I began smashing my way through the curses. They weren't particularly strong; none were above Grade 2. Most likely, they were here to cause chaos. They also might have given one of the weaker groups some trouble. How unfortunate for them that they had run into me.
I began my attack, smashing each curse as it got close, exorcising them on the spot. As I was smashing my way through them, I noticed an incoming train. 'So this is the trap.' I thought. The curses may have been easy, but there were still people on the track, meaning I had to exert more effort to save them.
It wasn't a bad idea, and it might have even worked on anyone else. They should know that, though, so what was the real plan? I could worry about that later; I needed to get the remaining civilians out of danger. Leaping over, I began tossing the remainders onto the platform. There was no time to be gentle with them.
Once the last one was off the track, I jumped back on the platform and, shortly after, the train came rushing through. I could see a large amount of cursed energy gathered in the train itself, with the majority coming from a single source. It had to be that cursed spirit, Mahito; he could prove annoying, especially with so many people still around.
I finally undid my blindfold. I would need more sight to find Mahito before he caused any major chaos when the doors opened, though what came out wasn't a crowd of panicking people but a horde of monsters. Mahito had transfigured an entire train and unleashed it onto the station. This had been the plan.
They knew I didn't want to risk killing the civilians by using my technique or even my domain, so they put me in an impossible decision: use my technique to stop Mahito and his army and kill others, or fight without it, resulting in civilians' deaths as well.
At the back of the crowd, I saw the curse himself emerge from the train, a smile splitting his stitched-up face. The transfigured humans began their assault the moment they made it onto the platform, attacking anyone nearby. I had no time left. I had to do something now.
My domain would work, but a regular person being hit with Infinite Void for however long it took to eliminate Mahito and all the others would leave them catatonic for life. What if it could be done faster? If I only used it for a moment, it would stop everyone, but the civilians would recover.
Yeah, that would work from the barrier and imbue Limitless all in one move. Leave it open just long enough to apply the sure hit, 0.2 seconds should be good. I raised my right hand and crossed my middle finger behind my pointer finger.
"Domain Expansion: Infinite Void."
In an instant, my domain blasted out the familiar darkness of the void, spreading through the station. But just as soon as it expanded, my domain ended, leaving everyone, including Mahito and his transfigured humans, immobile. If I were right, Infinite Void being open for 0.2 seconds had imparted six months' worth of information into everyone's mind. Mahito would recover fastest, so I couldn't wait.
In an instant, I began to move using cursed energy to increase my speed. I ran around smashing through transformed humans as fast as possible. It wasn't difficult; each one was only about as tough as a regular person, but there were hundreds of them. Moving faster and faster, I continued taking out the enemies, and by the time I had gotten the last one, I was tired. I had almost forgotten the feeling.
I had done it, though; now I just needed to take out Mahito, and even like this, I wasn't worried about him.
"Gate open."
I heard a voice, and it was familiar for some reason. As the voice finished, though, a red, fleshy wall with an eye in its center appeared. This was the real trap they had been waiting for me to use my domain and burn out my technique. Still, even without Limitless, I could move; I just had to make some distance.
"Satoru-Kun, it's been too long." That same voice again, it couldn't be who I thought he wouldn't be here. I turned around and saw who had been speaking. "Uncle Toshi?"
(Pov Satoshi)
8:56 pm
This was taking too long. I had heard that Satoru had entered the tunnel to help evacuate civilians, so I had been trying to make it to the metro line. Key word being trying every street I went down, groups of curses or curse users attacked me. It was getting annoying.
I knew why it was happening. Kenjaku knew Satoru was here, and the plan to seal him must already be in effect. I was running out of time, and what Haruta said about the man with white hair had put me on edge. It was as I ran down the streets that I heard a muffled voice coming from the worm. I fished out the radio and just barely caught the end of what was being said.
"-peat Gojo Satoru has been sealed and is trapped on floor b5." The voice said it was Mechamaru; he must have attached himself to one of the walkie-talkies. This was bad, but it wasn't over yet. The prison realm would take time to process Satoru, and until then, it couldn't be moved. I just had to get there before then and grab it from Kenjaku, though I'm sure he expects that.
Just as I was about to return the radio, I heard another voice. "Satoshi, pick up, we've got trouble." It was Maki; she had been put in a group with Nanami, Megumi, and Mai. Also, if things had been similar enough, then Zenin Naobito should be nearby.
"What's the issue?" I asked, I knew how strong their group should be, so if there was an issue, it needed to be taken seriously.
"There's some guy here who joined in the fight with one of the enemy Special Grades, and then he went for Megumi. They went out onto the street." She said before adding. "I think he's like you."
"Shit, alright, stick to evacuation. I'll handle this, then we'll grab Satoru. Stay safe." I responded and returned the radio to the worm without a response. I took off down the street, moving towards the above-ground metro entrance. Things were happening weirdly. The timing of this couldn't have been worse, but I didn't have a choice.
It was time for a rematch, Fushiguro Toji.