After Kota and Jonah learned the truth — that Takashi was David Martinez in his past life, and that Alex was the actual Demon King — things became a little easier between them. But unfortunately, Kota, being a hardcore anime and video game fan, began bombarding Alex with an endless stream of questions.

Alex’s head was already starting to buzz from this verbal storm. Even Jonah and Takashi were seriously considering throwing Kota out of the Humvee, leaving him on the roadside, or… feeding him to the zombies.

Of course, Alex understood Kota’s enthusiasm. After all, in one car were Takashi — a man who had lived through an isekai — and himself, the Demon King. Any fan in Kota’s position would behave exactly the same way.

For a moment, Alex even recalled himself at the beginning of his journey — and involuntarily cringed at how ridiculous he had been back then. It all started out fun… until he accidentally got involved with a group of evil gods. That one moment of interference changed everything. From that point on, his life stopped being peaceful.

He sighed heavily, feeling a pang of frustration. But deep down he understood: sooner or later, he would’ve had to face Evilus and the mysterious avatar of Nyan-Nyan anyway. No matter how much he clung to the hope of a peaceful life — it would’ve ended either way.

While Kota continued his relentless interrogation, Alex tried to answer, though it was clearly forced. The questions came in waves: where he was from, what he did, where he had been. Even Jonah grew curious — wanting to hear about Alex’s travels.

When Kota found out that Alex had come from Orario, he immediately began throwing questions about the Dungeon and what it really looked like. Alex could feel a headache creeping in. For every answer he gave, ten more questions followed.

Not surprising, though — a fan who just found out all anime worlds are real simply couldn’t stop. Even the valkyries inside Alex’s spiritual domain were beginning to lose their patience.

Hlökk was the first to snap.

“Could you shut up for at least a couple minutes!?” she snapped, appearing right in front of everyone, visibly irritated.

There was a flash of light, and Hlökk materialized… right on Alex’s lap.

Takashi, Jonah, and especially Kota froze, staring at the girl who had appeared out of nowhere. Her angry tone, directed at Kota, stunned them.

Alex, slightly surprised, met her gaze. From the look on her face, he could tell — they shared the same headache when it came to Kota. He sighed and gently ran his hand through her hair, trying to calm her down a little.

“I know you!” Kota suddenly blurted out, finally snapping out of it. “You’re Hlökk! The Eleventh of the Thirteen Valkyrie Sisters! But why are you with Alex? Isn’t your battle partner supposed to be Jack the Ripper?”

“Why would I, the great Hlökk, ever team up with that pathetic murderer? Hmph,” she scoffed and turned away arrogantly.

“She fought by my side against Hercules,” Alex explained calmly, still stroking her hair. “In the world of Brunhilde, events unfolded a bit differently, so she ended up on my side.”

“And how was it there?” Takashi asked, turning to Alex. “If I remember right, according to that fat guy, it was a war between gods and humans.”

“He lied to everyone. Throughout the entire Ragnarok,” Hlökk replied, folding her arms across her chest. “He deceived both the gods and the humans.”

Alex nodded, but seeing the expressions on the three guys’ faces, decided to explain how he managed to fool everyone. He calmly told them how he had replaced all the fighters with himself, changing his appearance and sending his clones into the arena. Meanwhile, he remained near Brunhilde so no one would question where he disappeared to during the fights.

Alex described each persona he took on during the battles in detail. And when it came to the fight against Beelzebub, Kota nearly jumped on him — he was desperate to see the Grey Knight’s duel with the demon. Alex had no choice but to show him the recording.

Thankfully, that finally got Kota to shut up.

Meanwhile, as Alex drove the Humvee and Hlökk comfortably settled on his lap, the three guys were eagerly rewatching the battles against the gods. Alex glanced at Hlökk and once again wondered when this spoiled Valkyrie would finally return to his spiritual space. And, as always, he forgot that Valkyries could hear his thoughts. Hearing yet another unflattering thought, Hlökk suddenly bit into his cheek without warning.

Feeling the Valkyrie’s teeth on his face, Alex once again questioned why every girl seemed to have the urge to pinch or bite his face. Gently pushing Hlökk aside—though not stopping her from “chewing” on his cheek—he refocused on the road while the guys enjoyed the spectacle.

The biggest shock came when they learned that Adam himself turned out to be Alex’s brother. That had been unexpected.

“So what happened next?” Jonah broke the silence. “I mean, yeah, you won the war and protected humanity… but it feels like something’s missing. Didn’t you want revenge for your brother?”

“I resurrected everyone and made peace between humans and gods,” Alex replied with a slight smile. “It took a lot of work to change the Valhalla system itself, but I did it. By the time we left, everyone was busy with test duels.”

“Wait a minute…” Kota muttered. “So you just lured out the main villain, who turned out to be Odin, and then changed the entire ancient Valhalla system that had existed for thousands of years? That’s badass…”

“I told you: my job is to save worlds, not destroy them,” Alex replied calmly.

“And what’ll happen to this world?” Jonah asked the important question. “After you save it?”

“It’ll be left in the hands of the people,” Alex answered, easing off the gas a little. “My interference here is no longer needed. There are already people working to unite others against the common enemy. All I have to do now is beat the crap out of two villains, and my mission will be over.”

“And then what? Another world, another job?” Takashi asked.

“Almost,” Alex chuckled. “First, we’ll go back to Orario. I’m taking a week off with the family. But you, my dear son, will have your own adventure.”

He glanced at Takashi playfully.

“And what kind of adventure awaits Takashi, if it’s not a secret?” Kota asked with curiosity, practically crawling forward between the seats.

“Hero Siegfried—he’s basically Takashi’s adopted brother. So he’ll need to make a name for himself too. He’s getting his own journey, whether he wants it or not,” Alex said with a smirk, looking at his son’s face.

Takashi’s face fell. The prospect of an adventure was absolutely not to his liking. He wasn’t like Alex, who easily saves worlds while bringing order with him. He had no intention whatsoever of repeating Siegfried’s feats. Even though he didn’t know much about mythology, he clearly understood that killing a dragon, bathing in its blood, and becoming a legend was definitely not for him. Takashi hoped he could talk to his two moms and convince Alex to drop the idea.

“Can we come with him?” Kota asked enthusiastically. “You know, go on an adventure, defeat the Demon King of some world—that sounds awesome!”

“Why not?” Alex shrugged. “I was actually going to suggest some people move to Orario to start a new life. Takashi is coming with us anyway. I’m not leaving that brat in this world. Jonah, if you want to leave and live peacefully too—take Malka and your family, I don’t mind. My world is way safer. In Orario, no one would dare harm the kids.”

“And where am I supposed to get money to live in your world?” Jonah asked calmly, casting an empty look at Alex. “Money doesn’t just fall from the sky.”

“You’ll have two options: become an adventurer or work for me. I’ll send you to different worlds, and all you have to do is take out some small-time villain who’s causing trouble. It’s simple,” Alex explained.

“Can I come too?” Kota jumped in. “I wouldn’t mind living in a fantasy world, especially if there are catgirls and elves! Heh-heh-heh…”

“Shut your mouth, pervert,” Takashi grimaced. “Just try saying that around Merne or the other girls—at best, they’ll lock you up at home.”

Alex and Jonah exchanged a look of disgust at Kota simultaneously. Even Hlökk snorted and called him disgusting. Under the weight of their disapproval, Kota cleared his throat and started mumbling excuses—like, every guy’s dream is to find a catwife or meet an elf girl. But no one responded—the disgust in the three guys’ eyes didn’t fade.

Deciding to change the subject, Jonah asked:

“So what’s actually the difference between being an ‘adventurer’ and what you want me to do? This is all new to me. Before all this, I lived in a country torn by civil war. I was a soldier, trying to feed my younger brothers and sisters. Then volunteers saved us, took us to Japan, where an elderly couple took us in. While the little ones went to school, I worked at a family restaurant, helping our new parents…”

Alex decided to explain the difference between an adventurer and the role he had in mind for Takashi. He started with the basics:

“An adventurer is someone who descends into dungeons, fights monsters, collects crystals, and sells them,” Alex said calmly.

Kota couldn’t help but add:

“But first, you have to join the family of a god, receive a blessing—and only then do you become a proper adventurer.”

After that explanation, Jonah and Takashi roughly understood who these adventurers were. Alex glanced ahead and realized they had already arrived — a shopping mall. He turned off the engine and, along with the other three, climbed out of the Humvee. They moved toward the building, clearing a path from zombies wandering around.

Once inside, Alex continued:

“I want you to understand, Takashi, your path will be different. There are worlds where villains win, where the course of history is broken, and everything is heading toward destruction. That’s exactly where you’ll be sent.”

“So… you want me to kill villains? Like a hero or something?” Takashi asked, walking beside Alex.

“Almost,” Alex nodded. “But you don’t need to act like a hero who inspires others. Your task is simpler — become stronger and kill the villain. That’s it. How exactly you do it is your choice. Want to blow them up? Go ahead. Want to snipe them in the head? I won’t stop you. But don’t worry, I’m not going to throw you straight into dangerous worlds right away.”

“Yeah, sure, and you’d send him to Dark Souls. That would be fun!” Kota joked with a laugh.

“If you keep being smart, I’ll throw you into Yharnam. You’ll have lots of fun. Really,” Alex replied, giving Kota a calm but heavy look.

At the mention of Yharnam, sweat instantly appeared on Kota’s forehead. He began shaking his head furiously, clearly unwilling to have anything to do with that nightmare place — where the line between knowledge and madness is thinner than a hair, and every step could be your last.

Meanwhile, they continued to sweep through the mall, marking supply spots on the walls with markers. While doing this, the conversation went on. Noticing how Kota’s face changed after Alex’s words, Takashi and Jonah couldn’t help but ask out of curiosity:

“Why is he so scared?”

Alex smirked slightly:

“Because Yharnam isn’t just a city. One wrong step — and you lose your mind. The whole city is crawling with creatures that used to be people but have now turned into monsters. And that’s not even counting the gods who dwell there and keep the world trapped in an eternal nightmare.”

Jonah and Takashi exchanged glances, then looked at Kota. He just nodded frantically, confirming every word Alex said, sweating more and more from fear.

Alex laughed:

“I’m just joking. I’m not sending anyone there. Even if I had to — I’d go myself. Alone.”

Kota breathed out in relief.

As they continued their search, the guys confirmed there were no demonic nests nearby — already good news. However, Alex reminded them that he had seen an Imp earlier that morning. Such demons rarely appear alone. Nevertheless, the new modules hadn’t detected any signs of a nest, and the mall itself looked empty, as expected after so many days since the apocalypse began.

Fortunately, they managed to find some usable canned food — supplies that could be delivered to the military base. Alex marked the spot where they could scavenge and they continued to check every corner of the building.

After an hour of searching, they hadn’t found anything critically important — only edible supplies and useful items that could come in handy in Anchorage. When they finished, Alex contacted the other groups. Judging by the reports, things were quiet everywhere — just zombies and mutants, which they quickly dealt with.

On the way back to the Humvee, Alex got in touch with the girls to check on how they were doing. Judging by Rebecca and Stitch’s loud laughter in the background, their day was going much more fun than his with the three guys.

After saying goodbye to the girls and asking them to keep an eye on Rebecca so she didn’t get too carried away, Alex went outside with Takashi, Kota, and Jonah and headed toward the Humvee. But as soon as they stepped out the door, they were stopped by an unexpected sight — the zombies that had been wandering the street were now frozen, as if encased in icy sarcophagi.

Alex squinted, assessing the situation. Kota, Takashi, and Jonah frowned, tensed up, and instinctively grabbed their weapons.

At that moment, clear, measured footsteps echoed nearby. Turning around, they saw a man approaching — a monk with short white hair reaching his chin, dyed bright red in the center forming something like a halo. His eyes were dark pink with long lashes, and he wore traditional Zen Buddhist monk robes: a black uttarasanga with white accents and a purple antarvasaka.

Alex and Kota immediately recognized him.

“Uraume…” Kota said grimly, aiming his rifle at the monk. “What is he doing in this world?”

“I guess I forgot to mention,” Alex replied calmly, not taking his eyes off the uninvited guest. “One of the main villains in this world, before we showed up, gathered an army of the chosen from conquered worlds. But Uraume… doesn’t quite fit their ranks.”

Hearing the conversation, Takashi and Jonah exchanged confused looks. Kota briefly explained who Uraume was and what dangerous abilities he possessed. After hearing this, the guys quickly understood where the frozen zombie sculptures came from.

Alex raised an eyebrow, continuing to study the monk. In his mind, guesses were already spinning: could it be that Uraume decided to attack, planning to kill him and then feed the body to Sukuna to make him stronger? The thought didn’t seem far-fetched to Alex. Sukuna fit perfectly into the category of “the chosen” that Davoth — the new Dark Lord, capable of convincing even someone like Sukuna — was gathering. No matter how powerful Sukuna was, he still wouldn’t stand against Davoth.

“And what is Sukuna’s little dog doing here? Did the master tell him to come and die?” Alex asked mockingly, lighting a cigarette.

He knew perfectly well that Uraume would not tolerate any mockery directed at Sukuna and would react immediately. And so it happened — the monk’s face twisted with rage, and at that very moment sharp icy spikes began to shoot up from the ground, aiming straight at Alex and his group. But Alex didn’t even flinch — he simply kicked the ground hard. A crack spread from the impact, and all the icy spikes instantly shattered into dust.

“What about the classics?” he continued with a smirk. “Talking about your evil plans, posing, explaining your world domination scheme? Or are you just a dog that snarls when its master is insulted? Although… your master isn’t that great. Sukuna — a thief. Always stealing power from his brother. Your ‘King of Curses’ is a pathetic, jealous thief. And you… a mutt on a leash.”

“Shut up!” Uraume shouted, trembling with fury. “My master is great! He is the undisputed King of Curses!”

“Great?” Alex sneered. “He’s now a lapdog running errands for the Dark Lord. And you’re the dog kissing another dog’s ass. You guys really are like some demonic centipede.”

“Enough! Maximum output — Frosty Gale!” Uraume roared, launching his attack.

A thick icy mist burst from his mouth, instantly transforming into huge pillars of frost and ice that rapidly spread across the entire parking lot, freezing everything in their path. Alex immediately stepped in front of the guys, shielding them with his body.

“Reverse Rotation Technique: Red,” he whispered, and a bright crimson sphere began to form on his finger, slowly glowing brighter and brighter…

Kota stared in amazement at the red sphere igniting on Alex’s finger. His eyes lit up — he recognized the technique immediately. It had been used against Uraume in the manga… but now he was seeing it live. In this world. Against a real enemy.

The sphere shot off Alex’s finger and sped forward, cracking the icy pillars along its path. Uraume sensed the threat and sharply jumped aside, but the sphere still grazed his arm, tearing it apart like paper. His eyes narrowed. He recognized the technique. And it threw him into confusion.

There should be no cursed energy in this world, let alone anyone from the Gojo clan. But he had just witnessed the opposite. This gave Uraume a moment to recover. He grabbed the stump of his arm and, activating reverse cursed technique, restored the limb.

Alex calmly watched, not interfering. At the same time, he raised a barrier around Takashi, Jonah, and Kota — so they wouldn’t get hurt while he “beat the crap” out of Uraume.

Approaching, Alex stopped a few steps from the monk. The monk didn’t take his eyes off him, intently watching every move. Alex just smiled — playfully and mockingly, as if he was amused by what was happening.

“Well, Uraume? Didn’t expect to see the ‘Red,’ huh? Looks like you’re pretty shocked,” Alex said, slowly taking a drag from his cigarette.

“Who are you? How do you wield techniques of the Gojo clan? There isn’t even a trace of cursed energy in this world!” Uraume narrowed his eyes.

“A million-dollar mystery, don’t you think? Maybe you can guess. But for now… I’m thinking: should I beat the crap out of you or give you a chance to struggle?” Alex said with a smirk, flicking his cigarette aside.

Uraume’s eyes narrowed into thin slits. He didn’t take his eyes off a single movement of his opponent. A slight flick — and a sharp icy spike suddenly shot out of the ground, piercing Alex’s body through and through.

But… there was no blood. Alex’s body remained motionless, impaled on the ice.

“Well, you’re bold, Uraume. Didn’t even give a warning,” a voice sounded nearby.

The monk spun around sharply — Alex was crouched beside him, smirking as he looked at him from the side.

Uraume darted backward, trying to break away, but Alex reached out his hand. A blue sphere began to whirl in his palm — the “Blue” technique of attraction. Uraume almost got caught in its range but managed to create an ice wall and leap away.

He realized — the opponent had already used the second technique of the Gojo clan.

Assessing the situation, Uraume felt the danger emanating from Alex. Alex stood up and easily waved his hand.

“Dismantle,” he said calmly.

Uraume reacted instantly, jumping back. But he still didn’t fully evade — one motion took off his arm and leg. Blood flowed onto the ground. Uraume’s eyes widened with horror — he recognized the technique. It was Sukuna’s own technique.

Only he could use it.

Activating reverse cursed technique, Uraume began restoring his limbs. But Alex had vanished.

The monk started frantically searching for his presence.

“How do you like that, Uraume? That’s your master’s technique. Surprised?” came the voice behind him.

Wasting no time, Uraume fully activated reverse technique to restore his body. He abruptly activated his innate technique — “Icefall,” sending a deadly avalanche of ice toward Alex, trying to overwhelm him for sure.

“Show yourself,” Alex’s calm, confident voice rang out.

All the ice created by Uraume began melting rapidly, and thick steam rose into the air… then vanished instantly without leaving a drop of moisture. Even the humidity in the air evaporated immediately, and the concrete and nearby vehicles began melting as if in hell. Uraume saw flames dancing in Alex’s hands, making the very space tremble. It was divine fire, hot enough to melt reality itself.

But Alex didn’t intend to burn his opponent — he only wanted to melt all the ice.

Meanwhile, Kota, Takashi, and Jonah watched the scene from inside the protective barrier Alex had created. Kota was the most excited — he literally trembled with delight, as Alex was using techniques straight out of the manga, fighting one of its antagonists. He kept babbling the names of the moves and explaining how they worked, helping even Jonah and Takashi understand the ongoing battle.

Alex, however, wasn’t in a hurry to finish it quickly. He long preferred a ruthless reckoning, especially for those who truly deserved it. He glanced at the sky and addressed Geirölul, asking her to activate Völundr — and transform into a special weapon.

In his hand appeared the Flail — a massive metal spiked ball attached to a heavy chain. When Alex dropped it onto the ground, it slammed against the concrete with a dull crash, sending sparks flying.

At that moment, Uraume truly felt fear for the first time. His body was frozen by chilling terror. Even the feeling he had when Sukuna confronted the Dark Lord was insignificant compared to the horror Alex inspired. He lifted his eyes — and met a cold, murderous gaze full of hatred and emptiness.

Alex slowly approached, dragging the Flail behind him. The spiked ball scraped against the asphalt, leaving a furrow and scattering sparks. Each of Alex’s steps seemed to press down on Uraume’s chest.

Overcoming the paralyzing fear, Uraume decided to retreat. He had to survive — he had to tell Sukuna who he was really dealing with. Until now, he thought Sukuna shouldn’t bother with the “false savior,” but now… everything had changed. Uraume turned around and tried to run.

Without wasting a second, Alex swung the Flail. The metal chain rapidly lengthened, and the spiked ball crashed into the ground in front of Uraume with a roar, while the chain wrapped tightly around his neck.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Alex said coldly, continuing forward. “Did you really think you could just come and leave whenever you want? No. No one leaves… unless I say so.”

The chain began to squeeze Uraume’s throat, cutting off his air. Alex stepped closer and kicked Uraume hard in the back. A crack sounded — his spine snapped. His legs buckled, and he collapsed to the ground like a broken doll. Alex loosened the chain and flipped him onto his back. Uraume’s eyes, filled with fear, met Alex’s cold, empty gaze. There was not a trace of compassion — only darkness and cruelty.

Even those watching from inside the barrier — Kota, Takashi, and Jonah — shuddered. They had never seen Alex like this.

“Everything comes with a price, Uraume,” Alex said in an icy voice. “You fed people to Sukuna. Now reap the fruits of your deeds. And know this… death is not a release. What I will do to you will make you beg for mercy.”

He raised the Flail and slammed the spiked ball onto Uraume’s chest. A dull crack sounded — his ribcage shattered. Another swing — and the ball struck his face, breaking bones and tearing skin. The spikes dug into his flesh, disfiguring his entire face.

But Alex was in no hurry to finish. He knew how to make someone suffer.

After several blows, Uraume’s body began to glow faintly green — healing magic activated. The pain started to recede, wounds closing.

Alex looked down at him and smirked.

“I told you,” he whispered. “As long as I’m here… forget about death. I won’t let you die until I decide you deserve it. And if you do die — I’ll bring you back. Consider it karma catching up with you… but karma’s got the day off today. So I’ll play that role.”

He spread a wide, terrifying smile, revealing sharp teeth.

Uraume was plunged into an endless cycle of pain, suffering, and healing. Even when Alex accidentally went too far and killed him, he effortlessly brought him back to life—only to repeat it all over again. Uraume’s body was torn apart, shattered, and twisted inside out again and again. All of this was done with just one weapon—the chain with the massive spiked ball at its end, which, like a possessed force, came down on Uraume’s body with dull thuds, breaking bones and ripping flesh.

Kota, Takashi, and Jonah watched this nightmare, struggling with all their might to hold back their nausea or at least not look at what was happening. Uraume’s screams echoed across the entire parking lot, resonating even in the surrounding neighborhoods. Alex healed him once more but suddenly noticed—the light of life in Uraume’s eyes was fading. That meant only one thing: he was completely broken.

“Yeah, you didn’t last long,” Alex muttered, looking at the limp body.

Seeing that he no longer responded, Alex thought for a moment with a slight grimace. But soon the decision came by itself. In his shadow lived an unusual girl—a ghost capable of absorbing souls and taking the power of those she “consumed.” Alex became curious: could Zhang Ya absorb the power of ice if she devoured Uraume’s soul?

“Zhang Ya, want to help? Who knows, maybe you’ll master the powers of ice?” Alex asked, glancing at his shadow.

His shadow trembled slightly, and from the darkness rose the figure of a girl with flowing black hair. Zhang Ya emerged from the shadow and immediately gently wrapped her arms around Alex’s neck. Her empty, cold gaze fell on the motionless Uraume. Without a word, she merged with the shadow, which instantly slid forward and ended up beneath Uraume’s body. Bloody hands burst out from it, grabbed him, and dragged him down—into the bottomless abyss.

Kota, Jonah, and Takashi instinctively felt a soul-chilling fear. But Kota, being a fan, immediately recognized the ghostly girl.

“She’s here too?.. Damn…” he muttered, turning pale.

“Do you know who that is?” Takashi asked, struggling to control his inner trembling.

“Yeah… It’s Zhang Ya. One of the most dangerous ghosts. And on top of that—a yandere. It’s… it’s terrifying,” Kota replied, his teeth chattering.

“Kota, you better keep your mouth shut,” Alex intervened. “Zhang Ya is a very sweet and kind girl. She hasn’t harmed anyone yet. But that doesn’t mean she’ll tolerate any words said about her.”

The guys looked at Alex… and noticed Zhang Ya’s gaze shift directly onto them. A chill ran down Kota’s spine. He awkwardly tried to smile, but it looked more like a desperate attempt not to soil himself with fear. Alex, noticing this, gently stroked the ghost girl’s hand. Zhang Ya immediately averted her eyes and silently returned to the shadow.

Nevertheless, Kota still felt her gaze… even though she had disappeared.

“Yeah, Kota… I’m still amazed you managed to get a girlfriend. And not just one, by the way,” Alex joked, approaching the trio and lowering the barrier.

“I’m not you! I’m not cool enough to let a yandere ghost live in my shadow,” Kota grumbled, still glancing suspiciously at the shadow.

“Don’t worry. She’s busy digesting Uraume right now. So you’re safe for the time being. But still, watch your words,” Alex said with a smirk.

“What do you mean ‘digesting’?.. What happened to him after those hands dragged him into the shadow?” Takashi asked cautiously, looking toward the shadow.

“Zhang Ya has the ability to absorb the powers of those whose souls she devours,” Kota explained with a deep sigh. “Now Uraume will be absorbed, and she’ll most likely gain his ice control abilities. She’s going to become even more dangerous.”

“Sounds like an incredibly unfair power,” Jonah said, looking at Alex.

“Eh… Life’s unfair in general,” Alex shrugged with a smile. “Alright, kids, let’s move on. The villain’s defeated, we saw the ghost, the show’s over.”

Kota, Takashi, and Jonah nodded in response to Alex’s words and headed toward Hamvy. To their misfortune, the car had slightly melted—a side effect of Alex using divine flame. All three cast him a tired, meaningful look that clearly said:

“Couldn’t you have finished off the enemy more carefully so Hamvy wouldn’t get damaged?”

Alex just rolled his eyes and snapped his fingers—Hamvy immediately restored itself as if it had never been damaged. He was the first to take the wheel.

“It’s convenient when you have powers like that,” Jonah remarked, settling into the back seat.

Alex waited until everyone was seated, started the engine, turned the wheel, and pressed the gas pedal, driving out of the shopping center parking lot.

“Listen, Alex… If Uraume was here, does that mean Sukuna can also be in this world?” Kota said thoughtfully.

“Not ‘can be’—he definitely is,” Alex answered calmly, slightly opening the window to light a cigarette. “But that’s my problem. So relax—evil Sukuna won’t come to eat you in your sleep.”

“Heh, I’d love to watch you guys fight. Damn, that would be the battle of the century!” Kota exclaimed enthusiastically.

Alex rolled his eyes again. He wouldn’t exactly call meeting Sukuna “the battle of the century.” More like another beating of some mutant… Only this mutant has a couple tricks up his sleeve.

Marking the new destination on the map, Alex continued on. But the calm in the car didn’t last long—soon it was time for another round of questions from the ever-curious otaku Kota. He bombarded Alex with inquiries about his techniques, the chain attack, the ghost girl, and much more.

Alex nearly hit his head on the steering wheel, wishing he could activate some soundproof magic or just knock Kota out for a couple of minutes. Even Jonah and Takashi sighed in unison, clearly a bit tired of their friend’s chatter.

In Alex’s spiritual space, the valkyries held an emergency vote:

“Drop Kota by the roadside or feed him to the nearest zombies?” — the second option won by a slim margin.

Alex could only sigh resignedly and continue patiently answering the endless questions.

To be continued…

+3 Chapters on my Patreon: p*treon.com/GreedHunter

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep