Chapter 10: Slaying Hanami, Recovering Sukuna’s Finger

"Huh?"

Yuji Itadori grew increasingly confused.

A monster claiming to be the planet's guardian was way beyond his comprehension.

"What do you want with me?"

"For our grand wish, we need your body for an experiment."

Hanami produced a finger. "Yuji Itadori, eat this."

"No way!"

Yuji turned and bolted.

The finger looked disgusting, and he had no reason to comply.

But before he could get far, vines burst from the ground, binding his arms and legs.

"You can't escape. Everyone in this town who could save you is occupied."

Hanami appeared before Yuji, forcing the Sukuna finger into his mouth.

Black markings spread across Yuji's face, an ominous aura rising.

Thud!

The vines binding Yuji snapped as if sliced by an invisible blade, shattering into pieces.

Freed, Yuji sprouted two new eyes on his cheeks.

The four eyes scanned around, finally locking onto Hanami.

"A cursed spirit? That's unexpected."

Sukuna stretched Yuji's body. "You've got one minute. State your purpose."

"I need information on Lizevim."

Hanami cut to the chase. "A thousand years ago, how did you find that devil?"

"Lizevim? What an unpleasant name."

Sukuna snorted. "He came to me. I didn't seek him out."

"I see."

As if expecting this, Hanami remained calm.

But before he could press further, a boom echoed.

A figure wielding a demon sword crashed through the ceiling, landing above Hanami.

In an instant, Hanami's right arm was severed, falling to the floor.

"You're… Rias Gremory's new familiar?"

Pulling back, Hanami recognized his attacker.

"Why are you here?"

"To find you, obviously."

Glancing at 'Yuji Itadori,' who watched with interest, Roy aimed his sword at Hanami.

Boom!

…

"Hm?!"

On Kuoh Town's north side, Rias, fresh from slaying a cursed spirit, whipped around.

"President, what's wrong?" Koneko asked nearby.

"There's a Special-Grade cursed spirit. Roy's fighting it."

Koneko thought for a moment. "A Special-Grade spirit? Roy-senpai should handle it, right?"

"A normal Special-Grade, sure. But this enemy feels different."

Rias had faced Special-Grade spirits and exorcised a few.

That's why she could tell the spirit at the hospital was abnormally strong.

Its cursed energy was several times greater than a typical Special-Grade.

"President, go help Roy-senpai."

Grasping the gravity, Koneko's expression hardened, volunteering. "There aren't many spirits left here. I can handle them."

"Then I'm counting on you."

Rias was worried too.

Roy was strong, but he'd only been a devil for a short time.

If he fell into an ambush, he might actually be in trouble.

…

This was bad.

Hanami felt a bitter pang.

Roy's strength didn't match the intel.

According to their information, Roy was a mildly talented newbie, a regular human turned devil just a week ago.

His strength was, at best, equivalent to a Level 2 sorcerer—nothing to fear.

But in reality…

Watching Roy slice through a small forest with one swing, closing in, Hanami wanted to curse.

You call this a Level 2 sorcerer?!

Missing an arm and unable to deploy his domain, Hanami could only retreat, buying time to recover.

But then, Roy's aura surged.

"Time's up."

Completing his fourth Multiplier cycle, Roy activated his Pawn entry, promoting to Queen class.

Under dual amplification, Roy's power peaked, and he unleashed everything.

In a flash, all obstacles in his path were obliterated.

Power of Destruction gathered at his sword's edge, unleashing a dozen sword slashes in an instant.

Like a hot knife through butter, the destruction-infused demon sword tore Hanami's body apart.

"Now, you're next."

Roy turned to the side. "What should I call you? Yuji Itadori, or Ryomen Sukuna?"

"The answer's obvious."

Sukuna twisted Yuji's neck, cracking it loudly.

"You think that kid could wrest control from me?"

"You're so loud."

Yuji's voice suddenly cut in.

The black markings faded, and Yuji's appearance returned.

Sukuna was stunned. "What did you do?!"

"Took back my body, duh."

Yuji poked at the extra eyes on his face.

"Roy, what's going on?"

"My head's a mess. I can't make sense of any of this."

"That's normal."

Roy strolled over. "For now, just take a nap."

Thud!

A heavy punch landed, and Yuji, unprepared, collapsed, unconscious.

Roy flipped him over and began an operation.

When Rias arrived, she saw Yuji, gutted open, and Roy rummaging inside his body.

"What are you doing?"

Rias blinked, the scene wildly different from what she'd imagined.

"A cursed spirit fed him Sukuna's finger. I'm performing separation surgery… Got it."

Using Senjutsu, Roy successfully extracted the finger from Yuji's body.

Activating the Healing Bracelet, Yuji's wounds began to mend.

"So you were recovering the finger."

Rias sighed in relief, having briefly thought Roy had developed some bizarre hobby.

"It didn't need to be recovered, but I'm curious about this thing."

Roy stared at the finger for two seconds. "Rias, can I take a bite to see what it tastes like?"

Rias: "No way!"

She'd relaxed too soon.

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