"YOU MONSTER!"
In a desperate, heart-wrenching struggle, Kokichi Muta (Mechamaru) mobilized all the stored Cursed Energy within his body. Seventeen years, five months, and six days of agonizing accumulation. A blue tide of Cursed Energy surged behind him.
He wanted to live. He wanted to return to his companions with this intact body! He wanted to quietly watch over Kasumi Miwa's growth!
"New Shadow Style: Simple Domain!"
He unleashed his ultimate attack, hoping to bypass the intangibility and strike directly at the souls of the monsters before him. His ferocious face was filled with the pure desire to live.
Zenin Mirai looked back at him with a calm demeanor. There was neither sorrow nor joy in his eyes. The unrequited love Mechamaru held for Miwa was a tragedy Mirai remembered from his past life reading the manga.
But in this lifetime... he was the villain.
Mirai slightly turned his body, casually dodging Kokichi's final outburst.
SQUELCH.
Mirai's hand phased through the Cursed Energy shielding Kokichi's chest. Then, he crushed the boy's heart.
The law of the world: The strong prey on the weak. The strong take all. The losers eat dust. This was the absolute truth.
Warm blood spilled from Kokichi's mouth. The light in his pupils slowly dimmed, and he fell to the floor, dead.
...
Shinjuku. The Star Religious Group.
The second basement level was covered with the remains of Cursed Spirits. Kokichi's corpse, now immersed in a thick, syrup-like preservative, showed no external damage. Except for the fist-sized hole in his chest.
The hole was filled with a pure white flower. The trembling petals seemed to be composed of countless fine plant roots, weaving into the veins of the human body. Despite being a symbol of purity, the white flower exuded an eerie aura.
Mirai sat on a black throne formed from shadows. He rested his forehead on one hand.
"If you can't fully control this body, you shouldn't participate in the big show in ten days. The enhancement this body provides to you will be no less than Number One (Toji). In fact... it should be stronger."
"Really?!"
White Zetsu stepped to the edge of the bath, his greedy gaze sweeping over the cold, lifeless body. "A flawless Heavenly Restriction! This is a vessel tailor-made for Master Zetsu!"
Kokichi needed seventeen years to accumulate his Cursed Energy. But White Zetsu didn't. Through the void connection at Mirai's shoulder, the near-endless Cursed Energy of the Gedo Mazo (Outer Path Statue) was continuously poured into the container, using the Divine Tree's flower as a medium.
Number One (Toji) had zero Cursed Energy. It relied purely on physical strength. But this body had Cursed Energy. Which meant, once White Zetsu took over... he would be able to use Domain Expansion.
...
October 31, 2018.
Tokyo, Shibuya. 7:00 PM.
The steel skyscrapers reflected dazzling neon lights. The streets were filled with crowds dressed in Halloween costumes. Intoxicating alcohol, raging music, and a bustling, noisy scene. A night of revelry.
It was also the day of upheaval for the Jujutsu World. Centered on the Tokyu Department Store, a Curtain (Barrier) with a radius of about 400 meters quietly fell.
BANG.
"Hey, you're such a loser," a man holding a wine glass laughed loudly, seeing his friend fall. "Drunk after one drink, you piece of trash."
The fallen man stood up in a daze. He reached out and pushed against the air... and felt the resistance of an invisible wall. They were trapped.
...
8:20 PM. Outside the Curtain.
Unaware of the full truth, the police set up cordons. With the lives of tens of thousands of people at stake, all available Sorcerers from Jujutsu High were mobilized.
Team Kusakabe: Kusakabe, Panda, Inumaki.
Team Mei Mei: Mei Mei, Ui Ui, Yuji Itadori.
Team Nanami: Nanami, Maki, Nobara, Megumi (recently promoted to Grade 1).
They prepared to launch separate operations from different points around the barrier. Kiyotaka Ijichi held his report, analyzing the situation for Team Nanami.
"The barrier does not exclude Sorcerers, but it restricts ordinary humans from leaving. The trapped civilians are chanting one thing: Bring us Gojo Satoru."
Nanami adjusted his glasses, staring at the inky black outer shell. "Ordinary people don't know Gojo Satoru's name. The enemy is using them to convey a message."
It's a trap specifically for Satoru.
Nanami turned to Maki. "What about White Zetsu? Have you gotten any intel out of him?"
The White Zetsu under house arrest at the school was still in Haruta's body. Since he couldn't be killed, they tried interrogating him. Maki shook her head. "About ten days ago... that body fell into a deep sleep. It hasn't woken up."
(Because Zetsu's soul had transferred to Kokichi's body).
"Will Zenin Mirai be involved in this?" Nobara asked, her voice tight. "I feel like a big shot of his level wouldn't resort to such a despicable hostage scheme."
She desperately didn't want to fight the man who used to be their teacher. Before anyone could answer, the radio crackled. Gojo Satoru had already stepped into the barrier.
...
Shibuya Subway Station. B5F Platform.
The civilians trapped on the platform were unaware of the impending danger. They chatted idly, waiting for rescue. Among them stood three figures.
"Suguru," Jogo frowned, his single eye scanning the crowd. "Although I hate to admit it... isn't it redundant for me and Choso to wait here with you?"
Jogo felt he should be on the upper levels, slaughtering Sorcerers. Kenjaku (Pseudo-Geto) tucked his hands into his kasaya sleeves.
"We must be thorough. If Gojo Satoru is held back by these monkeys... we need to test Zenin Mirai. Although I don't think Mirai is soft-hearted... it's good to see how he reacts to human hostages. Seeing is believing."
Kenjaku chuckled. "If they end up fighting and weakening each other, we'll seal one and join forces to kill the other. Wouldn't that be better?"
Jogo seemed tempted. Removing two mountains at once would guarantee the Age of Curses. Choso, standing quietly to the side, frowned.
"If we seal Gojo... and Zenin Mirai still has resources left, what do we do? That guy's attitude toward Curses isn't friendly. He crushed Hanami without hesitation."
Jogo shuddered slightly, remembering the terrifying aura of the Zenin Head. "Yes, Suguru. Those eyes... he won't be restrained by human morals. What if he attacks us?"
"Don't worry," Kenjaku smiled gently. "I have signed a Binding Vow with Zenin Mirai. He won't kill us before Sukuna takes control of Yuji's body."
Kenjaku said the words aloud to reassure them. But internally, he silently erased one word from his thought.
He won't kill ME.
The Vow protected Kenjaku. It did not protect Jogo or Choso. They were expendable pawns.
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