The white void trembled again.
This time, it did not form a simple dungeon.
It split.
Multiple gates opened at once.
Five.
Each radiating different cursed energy signatures.
Blue text appeared.
Trial Type: Multi-Gate Clearance
Objective: Simultaneous Control
Restriction: User Must Command Shadows Directly
Gojo raised an eyebrow.
"So now I have to lead."
The four guardian-class shadows stood behind him in silence.
Until now, they had simply obeyed basic commands.
Attack.
Defend.
Stand.
But this trial required more.
The first gate erupted.
Insect-type curses poured out in waves.
The second gate released armored humanoid creatures.
The third radiated poisonous mist.
The fourth vibrated with unstable gravity.
The fifth remained closed.
Silent.
Gojo didn't move immediately.
He observed.
Then he pointed.
"You. Gate one. Crush them."
One shadow moved instantly.
It charged into the swarm, tearing through the insect curses with raw force.
"Two and three. Coordinate."
The second and third shadows advanced together. One broke formations. The other targeted cores.
Efficient.
But not perfect.
Gojo noticed hesitation.
The shadows waited for micro-commands.
They had power.
They lacked autonomy.
Gate four exploded open.
A high-speed curse shot directly toward Gojo.
He dodged without using Infinity.
He let it pass.
Then he looked at his fourth shadow.
"Adapt."
The shadow hesitated for half a second—
Then adjusted its movement pattern and intercepted the curse midair.
Gojo smiled faintly.
"Good."
Blue text appeared rapidly.
Command Authority Increasing
Shadow Response Speed: Improving
The battlefield grew chaotic.
The insect swarm evolved mid-fight.
The armored enemies reinforced their cores.
The poison mist thickened.
Gojo stepped forward at last.
He entered the center of the battlefield.
Not to fight.
To control.
He redirected cursed energy through the shadows themselves.
Strengthening their cores.
Stabilizing their structure.
This wasn't domination anymore.
It was synchronization.
The fifth gate suddenly cracked open.
From it emerged a larger entity.
A commander-type curse.
It emitted pressure that destabilized the weaker shadows instantly.
Two shadows staggered.
One was nearly destroyed.
Gojo's eyes sharpened.
"So you're the real objective."
The commander curse extended its arm.
Dark chains shot out, binding one of Gojo's shadows and crushing it.
The shadow shattered.
Gone.
Silence fell for a brief second.
Blue text appeared.
Shadow Unit Lost
Gojo didn't react emotionally.
But something shifted in his aura.
"Interesting," he said quietly.
He stepped forward.
But instead of attacking directly—
He issued a command.
"All units. Focus fire."
The remaining shadows moved in perfect coordination.
One distracted.
One locked movement.
One struck from blind angle.
Gojo waited for the exact opening—
Then used a condensed Red blast directly into the commander's exposed core.
The curse disintegrated.
The battlefield slowly dissolved.
Only three shadows remained.
White void returned.
Blue text appeared.
Multi-Gate Trial Complete
Leadership Parameter Unlocked
Shadow Limit Increased: 10
A new message followed.
Shadow Evolution Available
The three remaining shadows stood taller.
More stable.
Denser.
They were no longer simple guardians.
They were evolving.
Gojo crossed his arms.
"So this is the next step."
Another line appeared.
Army formation requires sacrifice.
Gojo looked at the space where the destroyed shadow had vanished.
Then back at the Archive.
"You're teaching me command through loss."
No denial came.
The void remained silent.
Gojo turned toward the endless doors again.
His army was smaller—
But stronger.
And now he understood something important.
Power wasn't just about being the strongest.
It was about what stood behind you.
The white void flickered again.
Somewhere beyond it—
The observer watched closely.
Because the vessel was progressing faster than expected.