The smoke in Shibuya had not yet fully dissipated, but a larger, more invisible storm was sweeping the globe, originating from that video meticulously edited and released by Uraume.
At first, there was skepticism.
"This is too fake, right? The special effects are pretty realistic, though."
"A new movie trailer? The style is so dark."
"Is it an AI-synthesized video? Technology is terrifying nowadays."
However, as the video was forwarded, analyzed, and slowed down by countless people, it was proven to be 100% original footage.
Following that, sporadic but unfalsifiable "corroborating evidence" emerged.
Some dug up vague reports of bizarre incidents from historical archives. Others shared psychological trauma or physical scars left behind after encountering "indescribable things."
Furthermore, in some corners of the dark web, anonymous posts from fringe figures calling themselves "Window" or "Curse Users" began to appear, analyzing the battles in the video with professional terminology. The precision of the details was spine-chilling.
Once cracks appeared in the dam of doubt, the flood of panic became unstoppable.
The authorities attempted to block the information and debunk the rumors, claiming it was terrorist propaganda from an extremist organization or the malicious consequence of a large-scale social experiment, urging the public to remain calm.
But in the face of the brutally clear combat footage, Uraume's cold and definitive declaration, and the primal fear brought by Sukuna's non-human form, any official explanation seemed pale and powerless.
Especially when "leaked" reports of low-level Cursed Spirit attacks in major cities—incidents that had been strictly covered up in the past—began to appear sporadically, the trust system of the entire society began to collapse.
"Curses... are real?"
"That monster called Sukuna killed the strongest Jujutsu Sorcerer?"
"Have we been living in a lie all along? Those accidental deaths..."
"Is the world coming to an end?"
Social networks crashed and were restored, then crashed again.
In streets and alleys, people gathered, whispering in terror, their eyes constantly darting toward the shadows as if something indescribable could crawl out at any moment.
Panic buying hit supermarkets, especially for items like salt, candles, and Bibles.
Police forces everywhere increased patrols but were helpless against the invisible panic permeating the air.
The Jujutsu World, in particular, fell into unprecedented chaos and upheaval.
Satoru's death was like the collapse of a central pillar. It didn't just mean the loss of the peak combat power, it meant the complete shattering of the balance maintained for over a decade, deterred by "the strongest."
The Higher-Ups were in a total mess. The conservatives, radicals, and moderates argued incessantly but could not produce any effective plan to deal with the King of Curses being fully resurrected and declaring war on the world.
Jujutsu Sorcerer families everywhere felt endangered, while Curse User groups were restless, sensing the scent of a power reshuffle.
And within this soil of panic, chaos, and collapsing beliefs, a seed quietly sprouted and began to spread at an astonishing speed.
Jujutsu Kaisen.
A manga suddenly appeared in major weekly magazines and online platforms, featuring exquisite art, hardcore settings, and a tense story.
Its protagonist was a youth who gained Cursed Energy by swallowing a special grade cursed object, "Ryomen Sukuna's finger," adventuring with companions in a crisis-ridden Jujutsu World.
The depiction of Cursed Energy, Cursed Spirits, Jujutsu Sorcerers, and Jujutsu High in the manga was jaw-dropping in its professionalism and detail.
Even more unbelievable was that "Ryomen Sukuna," appearing as a key antagonist or a legendary existence of ambiguous morality, matched the four-armed being in Uraume's video perfectly in terms of image, abilities, and even certain dialogue styles.
Initially, people thought it was just a work riding the coattails of the hype.
But soon, readers discovered that the rigor of the manga's setting and the realism of its depiction of the world of "Curses" far exceeded imagination.
Someone came forward to speak for the manga, claiming that while the story might not be true, the setting was real.
It didn't seem like fiction, it felt more like... non-fiction literature? Or perhaps someone in the know was using the medium of manga to reveal a tip of the iceberg of this hidden world to the public?
"This manga... it couldn't be real, could it?"
"The Sukuna inside looks just like the one in the video."
"Jujutsu High? Does such a school really exist?"
"So this is how Jujutsu Sorcerers fight."
"So Gojo Satoru... is he really as strong as depicted in the manga? And did he really lose?"
Panic spawned a thirst for knowledge, and Jujutsu Kaisen happened to provide a seemingly credible explanatory framework.
Although it might have beautified or dramatized some content, its core settings resonated eerily with the "truth" that had just been exposed.
The manga's popularity exploded at a viral speed, and related discussions swept across all social platforms.
The name Ryomen Sukuna was no longer just a blurry image in a horror video, it was endowed with a more specific and complex "character setting."
Fear and curiosity intertwined, further deepening the imprint of the concept of "Sukuna" in the collective human consciousness.
In Tokyo, inside the deepest private room of a high-end, members-only Kaiseki restaurant.
In stark contrast to the world-shaking panic outside, this place was filled with the enticing aroma of food and a peculiar sense of calm.
Beside an exquisite hinoki wood table sat a figure. It was a man with pink hair and a face that was almost eerily beautiful, wearing a white kimono made of fine materials with elegant patterns, leaning lazily against a cushion.
The man was using a pair of non-human, crimson vertical pupils to observe the various dishes before him, which were plated like works of art, with great interest.
Two of his four arms rested naturally on the table, while the other two elegantly held chopsticks, dipping a piece of fatty tuna belly into a bit of wasabi soy sauce before bringing it to his mouth.
It was Sukuna, who had changed his form.
A fully restored physical body naturally had to enjoy the delicacies of this era.
"Hmm, the fat is rich, it melts in the mouth, and the preparation is just right. The seafood and culinary skills of this era are indeed much more interesting than a thousand years ago." Sukuna commented, his voice carrying a hint of satisfaction.
Below him, Uraume, still in white robes, sat respectfully to the side, with only a cup of clear tea in front of them.
They were holding a specially made tablet, reporting in a monotone voice, "Sukuna-sama, the video you ordered to be released has achieved exponential spread across major global network platforms. Currently, search volumes for keywords like 'Curse', 'Cursed Spirit', and 'Sukuna' have reached historical peaks and are still climbing."
"The panic index has risen by 37% in various regions, and the monitored average concentration of Cursed Energy has increased by about 15%, which is in line with expectations."
"Official suppression measures have had limited effect, and chaos is spreading."
"The number of spontaneously organized 'Refugee Groups' and 'Truth-Seeking Societies' among the people has surged, and some have already begun to show extremist tendencies. Internal communication frequency within the Jujutsu World has increased by 300%, but coordination is chaotic, with no unified effective response strategy yet."
"The Higher-Ups have completely moved underground, and their movements are unknown."
Sukuna picked up another piece of lightly seared Wagyu beef, placed it in his mouth, and chewed slowly, as if savoring the "flavor" of the data converted from Uraume's report.
"Well done, Uraume. The fermentation of fear requires time and the appropriate catalyst."
He looked up, glancing at the three slightly uneasy young girls and the dignified woman on the other side of the table.
Utaha, Eriri, Megumi, and Sayuri.
Having experienced the horrors of Shibuya and the shock of Jujutsu High, the three girls all carried a sense of composure that didn't match their age.
Sayuri maintained her poise as a noble lady, but deep in her eyes, there was a lingering trace of gravity.
"What about the feedback on the manga?" Sukuna asked, his gaze falling on Eriri and Utaha.
Eriri immediately straightened her back, her blonde twin-tails swaying. Although still somewhat nervous facing Sukuna, her eyes lit up when her professional field was mentioned.
"It's an explosive hit. The editorial department's phones are practically ringing off the hook. The first volume has been reprinted five times and still can't keep up with demand."
"The discussion heat online has surged to number one on all platforms. So many people are analyzing the plot and setting, saying... saying it's almost like the real thing."
She paused, adding in a small voice, "Of course, following Sukuna-san's wishes, we've applied artistic processing and plot adjustments to certain details. We won't expose the specific situation regarding us or... Jujutsu High."
Utaha took over, her voice calmer than usual. "Public opinion is basically following expectations. Although Sukuna-san's image appears as a 'Legendary Curse' and a 'Villain,' his immense strength, unique personality charm, and the subtle complexity shown in the manga have indeed attracted massive attention and... discussion."
"Fear and awe, and even a portion of power-worshipping adoration, are brewing. The concept of 'Ryomen Sukuna' is being deeply implanted into the public consciousness in the form of a cultural product."
Megumi nodded slightly and added, "The promotional resources deployed by Sawamura-san have had a significant effect, ensuring the manga's exposure in key channels. Currently, 'Jujutsu Kaisen' and the 'Uraume Video' have formed a strange intertextual relationship, pushing each other and greatly accelerating information dissemination and conceptual deepening."
Sayuri took a sip of tea and smiled. "When the power of capital and media is used in the right direction, the results are always significant. Sukuna-san, according to our agreement, the Sawamura family will continue to provide necessary support. Of course, please... continue to look after my daughter and her friends."
Sukuna gave a noncommittal "Mm" and took another taste of the delicious matsutake mushroom soup.