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Satoru stood amidst the remnants of the abandoned farm, his thoughts swirling like leaves in a storm. "What a ridiculous hiding place," he mused to himself, eyeing the dense forest ahead where the curse user lurked.
"Well, maybe it's because I wasn’t the one looking," he remarked aloud, a wry smile playing on his lips.
The outskirts of Tokyo sprawled around him, a chaotic symphony of urban noise punctuated by the rustling of leaves. Satoru recalled a comment that Ari had made in the past.
“Did you know that there is no place on earth that is completely silent? And I'm not talking about natural noises, but artificial ones. Wherever you go on earth, there will always be a source of noise, whether distant or barely noticeable. It’s a bit sad."
His Six Eyes pierced the veil of foliage, honing in on the elusive target nested within the trees. "Interesting," he murmured, noting the clever camouflage.
But before he could ponder further, reality shifted around him, engulfing him in a desolate wasteland. A lone tree stood sentinel in the barren landscape, signaling the onset of a domain.
"I can't believe it," a voice echoed, tinged with surprise and anticipation. "Satoru Gojo himself in my lair?"
Satoru's lips curled into a knowing smirk. "Only an animal would call their domain a ‘lair.’ This place might need some decoration. It’s quite barren."
The voice chuckled in response, dripping with defiance. "Certainly, a sorcerer of your caliber hasn't come here to give me decorating tips."
Satoru's keen instincts recognized the rarity of the situation. Most curse users wilted in the face of his power, but this one met him with brazen laughter.
"I'm certainly not stupid enough to believe that I can defeat Satoru Gojo," they taunted, their laughter bordering on hysteria. "However, I can’t explain your presence here. Someone like you wouldn't care about 'small fish' like myself."
Satoru's demeanor remained calm, a mask of calculated composure. "It's a favor to a friend. In fact, this time I'll make an exception," he offered, his tone dripping with ominous promise. "I’ll promise that I won’t use my Infinity.”
The curse user's facade faltered briefly, curiosity glinting in their eyes. Why?
Satoru's reply was swift, laden with unspoken intent. "Let's just say I would prefer to kill you with my own hands."
With a lightning-fast strike, Satoru unleashed his power, rendering the curse user helpless at his feet. Yet, to his surprise, they greeted their defeat with manic glee.
"HA HA HA! I see… I see!! So you are here for her!" they exclaimed, unraveling the mystery with unsettling clarity.
Satoru's facade cracked, his stoic facade betraying a flicker of vulnerability. "…"
The curse user seized upon his silence, delving into his psyche with unnerving precision. "There is no need to hide it! I saw it all with a simple touch. Your thoughts, your emotions ... amidst all of that, there is also something that you’ve tried to bury, isn't there?"
Satoru's laughter echoed hollowly. "Well, I'll be damned. What an annoying skill."
Undeterred, the curse user met his onslaught head-on, embracing their fate with chilling resolve. In their eyes, Satoru glimpsed a twisted reflection of his own darkness.
"You won't even try to defend yourself?" he queried, towering over them with cold detachment.
"Why should I? I won, Satoru Gojo," they declared triumphantly, their defiance a testament to their madness.
Satoru's resolve hardened, his grip on reality unyielding. "I wouldn't exactly say that," he murmured, his words a prelude to judgment.
As the curse user attempted to vanish into the earth, Satoru beheaded them.
The domain dissolved, leaving behind only silence and the weight of unanswered questions. Cradling the lifeless body in his arms, he teleported with it to the Metropolitan College. Although his goal had been achieved, Satoru didn't feel an ounce of satisfaction.