The forest was alive.
But not in a good way.
Takeru felt it first—a pulse beneath the ground, unnatural and suffocating. The air grew thick, heavy with cursed energy so dense it pressed against his lungs.
"…You feel that?" Yuji asked, his voice quieter than usual.
Takeru nodded slowly. "Yeah."
Behind them, footsteps approached—heavy, confident.
"A presence like this…"
Todo stepped into view, his expression no longer playful. For the first time, he looked serious.
"…this is no ordinary curse."
Then—
A scream echoed through the forest.
Elsewhere—
The ground exploded.
Roots burst upward like spears, tearing through the earth and everything above it. A massive figure stood at the center—tall, humanoid, its body intertwined with bark, branches, and nature itself.
Hanami.
A Special Grade.
A curse born from the fear of nature, ancient and overwhelming.
With a single motion, a spiked root shot forward—
—and cleanly severed a curse that had been deployed against it.
Its head fell to the ground.
Effortless.
"Stay focused!"
Megumi stepped forward, shadows twisting at his feet as his shikigami lunged forward. Beside him, Toge Inumaki raised his hand, cursed energy gathering in his throat.
"Blast away!"
The command rang out—
A shockwave slammed into Hanami, forcing it back, tearing through branches and splintering bark.
For a moment—
It worked.
But only for a moment.
Hanami's body regenerated, roots digging deeper into the ground.
Noritoshi stepped in, blood forming into sharp projectiles mid-air. "We need to keep pressure on it!"
The attacks came in sync—shadows, sound, blood—
But Hanami didn't fall.
It adapted.
A branch shot forward—too fast to dodge—
Noritoshi was struck and thrown back violently, crashing into a tree.
"Tch—!"
A pulse spread through the battlefield.
Small buds—unnatural, pulsing with cursed energy—sprouted across the ground and nearby surfaces.
Megumi's eyes widened. "…What are those?"
Too late.
One burst open—
Cursed energy exploded outward, disorienting, destabilizing.
"Cursed Buds…" Megumi muttered, gritting his teeth. "They're amplifying its power…"
Toge stepped forward again, pushing himself further than before.
"Stop!"
Hanami paused—but only slightly.
The strain hit immediately.
Toge coughed, blood spilling from his mouth as he staggered back.
A blur cut through the battlefield.
"Move."
Maki Zenin entered, wielding the Playful Cloud staff, her strikes precise and powerful. She shattered incoming branches, clearing space instantly.
"Megumi—target the buds!" she ordered.
He didn't hesitate. Shadows surged forward, destroying several of the pulsing growths.
For a brief moment, Hanami faltered.
"…That's it," Maki muttered. "That's the weakness."
But Hanami adapted again.
More roots. Faster. Stronger.
One slammed into Maki, sending her skidding back. She caught herself, breathing heavier now.
"Not worth overextending…" she muttered.
She stepped back.
A tactical retreat.
Above it all, a barrier shimmered.
A curtain.
Outside of it—
Satoru Gojo stood still.
"…Of course," he said softly, almost amused. "They really went all out."
The barrier pulsed, designed to keep him out.
And for once—
Even he couldn't just walk in.
Back inside—
The battlefield was breaking.
Megumi stood his ground, but even he was reaching his limit. Toge was down on one knee. Noritoshi hadn't moved.
Hanami stepped forward.
Unstoppable.
Then—
A voice cut through the chaos.
"Hey."
Hanami paused.
Three figures stepped into the clearing.
Yuji.
Takeru.
Todo.
Yuji cracked his knuckles. "Looks like we made it just in time."
Todo rolled his shoulders, eyes locked onto Hanami. "Now this… this is worthy."
Takeru stepped forward quietly, adjusting his sunglasses. His gaze didn't waver.
The mouth on his cheek slowly formed—
"Ah…"
Sukuna's voice curled with interest.
"Now this is… entertaining."
Takeru ignored him.
For now.
He looked at Hanami.
At the destruction.
At his injured allies.
And took a breath.
"We'll take it from here."
The air shifted.
Three against one.
And yet—
It felt like the real fight was only just beginning.