Naobito and Naoya were already well-known for their strength in the jujutsu world, but compared to someone like Uraume, who had lived for an unknown amount of time, the gap was enormous.
Projection Sorcery barely interrupted Uraume's attack.
But Uraume had far more techniques at her disposal.
With a swift shift in her ice manipulation, Naobito was instantly frozen into a block of ice.
No matter how powerful Projection Sorcery was, to an experienced Curse User like Uraume, it was nothing more than the Zenin family's hereditary technique.
If not for the Ten Shadows Technique, Uraume would never have even considered the Zenin family worth acknowledging.
If she had any real concerns, she would not have come to the Zenin estate alone.
In truth, Uraume felt a slight regret.
She wielded mastery over ice techniques, and she also knew that Satoshi held a Zanpakutō capable of controlling ice and snow, one that could even unleash Bankai.
If possible, she wanted to test her power against Satoshi's Zanpakutō, Sode no Shirayuki.
But Uraume understood the gulf in power between herself and Satoshi. She could only suppress that desire, prioritizing the task of killing the Star Plasma Vessel.
"Sakura Storm."
As her voice fell, frost spread over the entire Zenin residence.
Naobito shattered the ice encasing his body, his eyes filled with shock. This vast ice barrier was not an ordinary Cursed Technique.
"This is Domain Expansion!"
Naoya's body trembled at Naobito's words.
The harmless-looking woman before them actually possessed Domain Expansion.
What did that mean?
It meant that within this Domain, the Zenin clan had no chance of resisting.
Uraume exhaled, and the air temperature plummeted. In no time, every ordinary person in the Zenin estate would be frozen solid inside her Domain.
She had no patience to search for the Star Plasma Vessel.
Killing everything within the Zenin residence was simpler, and that alone was enough to complete her mission.
Ogi clutched his folding fan to his chest while Maki and Mai shivered beside him.
At this moment, the entire Zenin family was overcome with despair.
They had long boasted of being one of the Big Three Sorcerer Families, claiming to be the strongest in the jujutsu world. Yet now, a single Curse User had left their clan head and even their Grade 1 sorcerers helpless.
No one could understand why a Curse User capable of Domain Expansion would target the Zenin family.
After all, news about Amanai Riko had been tightly suppressed by Ogi and Naobito.
If it weren't for the family's upper echelons, no one else would have known.
"Can anyone save us?"
Mai hid behind Maki.
Her father was gravely injured, her cousin Naoya was being crushed by this strange Curse User, and Naobito himself was powerless.
Everything showed clearly that the Zenin family had no ability to resist.
The temperature kept dropping. It would not be long before Maki and Mai were frozen into sculptures within Uraume's Domain.
It's all coming to an end.
Although Maki was strong-willed, in the face of such an overwhelming disparity, what could a child's determination change?
Perhaps it would be better if I died. Then Mai and I wouldn't have to struggle anymore, right?
Such thoughts flickered through her mind.
It was a moment of release before death, though in truth, she still clung to survival.
"Maki, Mai, drag me into the inner room! The defenses there are stronger, they'll hold out longer! Hurry, don't just stand there! Do you want me to die?"
Ogi barked at his daughters, ignoring the fact that their lips were blue and their bodies frozen stiff. They could hardly move, let alone drag him anywhere.
But Ogi didn't care. Faced with death, he still cursed his daughters.
He wanted to live. As long as he reached the inner chamber, perhaps he could last a little longer.
The Gojo family would hear of this attack. If he could just survive long enough for Satoru or Satoshi to arrive, he might yet be saved.
At this moment, all of his hopes rested on the Gojo family.
He completely forgot how he had once humiliated Yagyū Hidetsugu, the Gojo family's representative, during the general directorate meeting.
The arrogance he once displayed was gone, replaced only by fear.
He didn't want to die. He didn't want to die at the hands of an unknown Curse User.
Within Uraume's Domain, countless ice cones fell like heavy rain once more.
This time, with their movements restrained by the Domain, Maki and Mai could not protect Ogi.
Suddenly, Ogi grabbed both daughters and dragged them in front of him.
If they shielded his vital spots, he might survive.
As long as he didn't die, Ieiri's Reverse Cursed Technique could heal him.
I must not die!
Ogi's actions were ruthless. To survive, he was willing to sacrifice his daughters.
Maki and Mai looked at him in horror. Watching his movements, they realized what was about to happen.
If nothing unexpected intervened, they would be skewered into hedgehogs by the next wave of icicles.
Is it over?
Maki felt a deep weariness. Life with such a father was unbearably empty.
Perhaps death was a kind of release. At least she and her sister would be free of Ogi, who never cared for them.
In these final moments, the only thought that remained was of her mother.
How heartbroken would she be when she learned her daughters had died?
"Sister, don't be afraid!"
Maki pulled Mai into her arms, pressing her face into her chest, shielding her from witnessing their deaths.
Though still young, her life was already flashing before her eyes.
She didn't have many memories worth cherishing. The happiest times had been before her frailty and lack of talent were discovered.
She had been carefree then.
And now, in her last vision, a man appeared before her eyes, the very image of the heaven-defying tyrant she longed to become and surpass.
"How ugly..."
Maki's body trembled as a male voice echoed in front of her. The figure she had imagined was suddenly standing there in reality.
(To be continued.)
***
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