Jogo and Mahito stood on a surface that had been covered by a simple domain, Devouring Time.
The City of Devouring Time.
That was the true domain of Kurumi's main body.
It existed to replenish time. Any living being that stepped into its range would have its time forcibly drained away, and its body would grow heavy and immobile.
If they wished, the clones could also deploy the City of Devouring Time, but doing so would reveal far too much.
That was something none of the Kurumis would allow.
So what the cursed Kurumi had used here was an imperfect, weakened version of that domain, a simple domain called Devouring Time.
Normally, a simple domain was used to counter an enemy's domain and was cast centered on oneself.
Kurumi, however, twisted that principle. Devouring Time excluded her and wrapped around everyone else.
It greatly accelerated the siphoning of time from those caught within it, and every clone Kurumi could deploy it together.
Even so, no matter how many Kurumis acted at once, the effect still could not match the true City of Devouring Time cast by the main body.
There was a limit to what numbers could do when all the power was concentrated at a single point.
But for combat, Devouring Time was already more than enough.
...
Right now, inside Devouring Time, Jogo and Mahito could not move their bodies at all.
As special grades, they would normally be able to struggle within the domain and even break free with some effort.
However, they had already taken several bullets earlier, leaving them in no condition to resist.
If one paid attention to the fluctuations of their cursed energy, it was obvious their strength was steadily being shaved away.
One by one, Kurumi's clones faded until only the original remained.
The night wind brushed past, and for the first time, the girl truly looked like the terrifying special grade curse she was.
Perhaps, when dealing with Shun Gojo, she had simply been in the mood to dote on him.
"Cursed spirits' time really is full of impurities..."
Feeling the flow of time continually pouring into her, Kurumi shook her head.
Whether Devouring Time or the City of Devouring Time, the ideal source of time was actually humans.
Curses, though long-lived, carried all sorts of impurities in their time.
It was not suitable for replenishing her Eleventh Bullet or Twelfth Bullet.
Still, for combat, it was more than enough.
Just then, a dark shadow burst out of a nearby wall and slammed into the Devouring Time field.
In an instant, the simple domain shattered.
The frozen Mahito and Jogo were freed.
The shadow's true form became visible as well.
Kurumi frowned.
It was a curse, and not a stranger to her... one of the few grade 1 curses she had left alive in Sendai City.
But forcing its way through Devouring Time had ruined it.
Kurumi raised her guns again, expression turning cold. "Who is it?"
Clap, clap, clap...
Applause drifted from the shadows.
"Miss Nightmare really is as powerful and mysterious as the rumors say."
A man in monk's robes stepped out, sutures running across his forehead.
Geto Suguru.
Though in his current state, he was no longer truly the original man.
Jogo and Mahito both struggled back to their feet.
"You two look absolutely pathetic," Geto said with a small shake of his head. "All I asked was for you to invite Miss Nightmare, so how did it end up like this?"
"Tch."
Jogo snorted coldly, glaring up at Kurumi floating above.
He had to admit he had lost this round.
If he had opened his domain immediately, who knew which side would have won.
Then again, little Jogo had never had an accurate sense of his own limits.
Mahito, meanwhile, shot Kurumi a wary glance.
"Oh, so you are with their little group too," Kurumi said, narrowing her eyes.
None of these people were good news.
"It feels like you might have some misunderstandings about us," Geto said mildly.
"We truly did come with sincere intentions, to invite you to join us."
"And if I do not join?"
Kurumi spun one of her pistols between her fingers, smiling as she watched him.
If he said even one wrong word, the bullet would be in his body before the sentence ended.
Not everyone had the kind of ability Shun and Satoru possessed, the sort that could completely ignore external attacks.
Geto shrugged. "Then we can only leave empty-handed."
"Well, the monk is at least a little more gentlemanly than the other two," Kurumi said with a soft laugh.
She would be an idiot to actually believe him.
"So what is your answer?"
"I would prefer to stay here quietly and mind my own business. As for your great ideals, a small woman like me has no interest in getting involved."
"That is truly a pity."
Geto's face showed what looked like disappointment.
Although no one watching would have taken it at face value.
...
On another rooftop, Shun Gojo had just about arrived.
He did not reveal himself immediately.
"Well now, three special grade curses and a special grade curse user, all having a little party together."
He stood at the highest point, looking down on everything below.
Strangely, despite him standing there in plain sight, not a single person on the ground noticed him.
Probably thanks to the technique he had specifically developed back when he needed ways to avoid Gojo Satoru.