Chapter 223: Jogo, You Have Already Become Weak to This Extent
"...Geto??!"
No matter what, it was impossible for Jogo not to recognize the figure of his human collaborator. In fact, the very operational plan these cursed spirits were currently executing had been proposed by him first and then jointly discussed by them as partners.
But just as Jogo had said before, he looked down on any ordinary cursed spirit that wasn't one of his companions, let alone a collaborator like Kenjaku who was, in the end, just a human.
The cursed spirits didn't even know that Kenjaku's true identity was a curse user who had survived for nearly a thousand years. But even without knowing that, as cursed spirits, they had never truly trusted Kenjaku—and they knew he felt the same about them.
Their cooperation was built purely on shared goals and interests.
Therefore, once either side altered their original objective or completely lost their value as a tool, the partnership would immediately become precarious, potentially shattering in an instant.
They were clearly in such a situation right now.
Dagon was still trapped in its own Domain with its status unknown, though one could guess it wasn't doing well. Jogo himself was in the same boat, having been pushed nearly to the point of total exhaustion by these Jujutsu High students.
Kenjaku chose this specific moment to show his face; how high were the chances of him bringing good news? To Jogo, the man currently felt less like an ally and more like someone several times more dangerous than Itadori and Fushiguro combined.
And then, there were the words he had just spoken...?
"What do you mean by that? Have you forgotten that we still have a common enemy in front of us that we need to deal with?!
And Dagon... it threw itself into that danger just to help us stall that guy!"
Jogo didn't want to get into a direct argument with Kenjaku right now. Compared to these personal emotional issues, he was far more concerned about Dagon's safety and the implementation of the overall plan. If possible, the best scenario would be for them to maintain their cooperation to weather this crisis together—something even Jogo could easily figure out.
"My, was my meaning not clear enough just now? To think I'd have to repeat such a thing.
To put it simply, I am disappointed with the strength and performance of you cursed spirits... I feel that I can completely discard such filthy, futureless creatures.
The only silver lining is—before that, you can still provide some 'remaining heat' to prove that cursed spirits have contributed a meager amount of power to the new world of the future."
While speaking words that continuously belittled the other, Kenjaku actually approached Jogo step by step, seemingly not worried in the least that Jogo might suddenly snap and harm him.
Was it confidence? Or did he truly not consider Jogo worth a glance at this moment?
"What is the meaning of this? You're choosing to tear off the mask... right now?!"
Jogo truly couldn't understand.
Right now, their common enemy was still terrifyingly strong. Even if they worked together with one heart, they might not necessarily defeat him.
Where did this guy get the confidence to tear the group apart from within? Jogo was starting to wonder if the Kenjaku before him was a Jujutsu High member in disguise.
"If you insist on seeing it that way, then so be it... regardless, I never treated you cursed spirits as objects particularly worthy of trust anyway."
Kenjaku's reference to "trust" here didn't even concern their relationship; it was about whether these cursed spirits could actually achieve the plan's goals—a point he found unworthy of his faith.
"Well then, there isn't much time left to waste words with you... That guy could break out of the Domain at any second. I must complete everything in the shortest time possible."
Precisely because Kenjaku clearly knew he was no match for Emiya, he chose to appear at the exact moment the opponent was temporarily trapped in the Domain. If he missed this window, he would truly have no chance of achieving his plan... at least not in an era where Emiya remained alive.
Once Emiya returned from the Domain, Jogo and Dagon would inevitably be exorcised, and then he would truly have very little combat power left to exploit.
According to Kenjaku's judgment, this brief period while Emiya was trapped in the ocean Domain was his greatest—and only—opportunity.
Under the weight of such absolute power, he had no room for error.
"Ridiculous! Did you think I would let you act as you please at a time like this!!!"
Since they had already fallen to this state, it didn't matter to Jogo whether this would cost their side its combat strength... at the very least, he was absolutely not going to let this disgusting guy have his way!
BOOM!
Before he even finished speaking, Jogo turned and unleashed a desperate strike toward Kenjaku. But the condensed flames and lava seemed to hit an obstruction, being intercepted
out of thin air in front of Kenjaku, only to dissipate into the surroundings in a hideous, unwilling manner.
"Have you truly become weak to such a pathetic degree, Jogo?"
Kenjaku maintained that incredibly punchable smile as he reached his palm out toward Jogo's head.
"I don't care if they're having an internal rift or what... just attack them both at once, Itadori!"
Even though the situation looked favorable for his side, Fushiguro Megumi wasn't foolish enough to sit back and watch. He immediately called out to Itadori to attack the opponent alongside his Mahoraga.
"You got it! We definitely have to take both of these guys down!"
In the very first instant Fushiguro spoke, Itadori followed Mahoraga in striking at the two in the center from different directions. However, their attacks were likewise fixed and blocked in mid-air by an unknown force, just as Jogo's had been.
"To think it's actually the final shikigami of the [Ten Shadows Technique]. How did you manage it?
Hmm..."
Kenjaku marveled slightly at Mahoraga's existence, then shifted his gaze to Itadori, showing a peculiar expression.
"And what kind of rare fighting style is this? Can you even be called a jujutsu sorcerer?"
What kind of sorcerer carries a weapon weighing several tons and fights without relying on a technique at all?
Sorcerers from a thousand years ago weren't even that primitive.
This was exactly why, with such people around, he had always wanted to make humanity evolve to a new stage.
"It's about time... for that guy to step forward."
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