The next day, at Tokyo Jujutsu High, the site of the Sister School Goodwill Event.
The sky was a clear azure, and a gentle breeze rustled through the dense woods, making a soft soughing sound.
The students from both schools had already gathered at their respective starting points.
Meanwhile, inside the observation room built specifically for this event.
Satoru Gojo sat in a chair with his legs crossed, looking completely unrefined as he sipped a cup of milk tea he had gotten from somewhere.
Beside him was the Kyoto School's lead teacher, Utahime Iori, who was scooting away from him with a look of pure disgust.
"Gojo, can't you act like a teacher for once?"
Utahime couldn't help but snap.
"Principal Gakuganji is watching right over there."
Following her gaze, Yoshinobu Gakuganji sat upright in the seat of honor, eyes closed as if meditating, looking like a withered wooden statue.
"Oh, Utahime, you're just too stiff. That's why you're still single, you know."
Gojo replied with a grin, successfully causing a vein to pop on Utahime's forehead.
"At an exciting moment like this, you should relax a bit."
Gojo turned his gaze toward the row of monitors in front of him, a playful smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"After all, the show is about to begin."
"Is everyone ready?"
Gojo's flippant voice came through the speakers.
"Well then, the Sister School Goodwill Event's first match, the team battle—begin!"
With that command...
From both ends of the forest, over a dozen figures dashed out almost simultaneously.
On the Kyoto School's side...
Noritoshi Kamo took the lead, followed by Momo Nishimiya, Mechamaru, Mai, and Kasumi Miwa.
As for Aoi Todo, that uncontrollable wildcard had already vanished the moment the match started.
"Proceed as planned,"
Noritoshi Kamo commanded calmly.
"Never mind where Todo went. Our primary targets are Yuji Itadori and Yoru."
"Nishimiya, take to the air for reconnaissance and confirm their positions."
"Roger."
Momo Nishimiya took off on her broom, quickly disappearing above the canopy.
"Mechamaru, you're in charge of suppressive fire."
"Understood."
Everything was proceeding systematically.
Following Principal Gakuganji's instructions, they intended to use their numerical advantage to surround and eliminate those two targets immediately.
However, before they had even penetrated five hundred meters into the forest...
An anomaly occurred.
Zzt—!
An extremely faint but exceptionally piercing sound of electricity suddenly rang out in the silent forest.
Immediately after, the temperature in the air began to rise sharply.
"What's that sound?"
Kasumi Miwa instinctively tightened her grip on her sword's hilt, looking around warily.
"Watch out! Something's coming!"
High in the air, Momo Nishimiya suddenly let out a terrified scream.
"It's too fast! I can't even see it!"
Before she could finish...
BOOM—!!!
A blinding red light, like a bolt of divine punishment, instantly tore through the layers of trees, surging straight toward the Kyoto School team with unrivaled momentum.
Golden arcs of electricity were mixed within that red light; everywhere it passed, trees were instantly charred, and the ground cracked open.
"Scatter!" Noritoshi Kamo shouted, his pupils shrinking.
The Kyoto students reacted quickly, immediately dispersing in all directions.
Crash!
The red light slammed heavily into where they had just been standing, kicking up a massive cloud of dust.
The powerful shockwave sent Kasumi Miwa and Mai, who were closest, flying backward.
"Cough, cough..."
As the dust gradually cleared...
Everyone looked at the crater in shock. Was this really the kind of destructive power a sorcerer could wield?
It was like a small missile had made a direct hit!
'Is this... the power of that monster?'
Noritoshi Kamo wiped a trace of blood from his cheek where a piece of debris had grazed him, his expression growing extremely solemn.
Before they could recover from the shock...
A slender figure slowly emerged from within the dust.
Wearing the black Jujutsu High uniform with a jet-black tachi—the Special Grade Cursed Tool, Shiranui—hanging at his waist.
The boy stood there casually, yet he felt like an insurmountable mountain blocking their path.
Yoru looked up, his golden-red eyes calmly observing the Kyoto group before him.
There was no nauseating bloodlust coming from him; instead, there was only a suffocating pressure.
"I thought I'd have to run a bit further to run into you all."
Yoru's voice was clear and steady, reaching everyone's ears distinctly in the quiet forest.
"It seems you were all in a hurry to find me, too."
Seeing the boy standing alone in the middle of the path, Noritoshi Kamo's expression became incredibly grim.
He hadn't expected the opponent to be so arrogant.
To actually dare break away from the main group and charge directly into the heart of the Kyoto School's territory to intercept them all by himself!
"Yoru..."
Noritoshi Kamo narrowed his eyes, quietly clutching a blood bag in his hand.
"Are you planning to surround all of us by yourself?"
"No."
Yoru shook his head, the corners of his mouth curling up into a faint smile.
He slowly placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, giving it a slight push with his thumb.
Click.
The handguard and scabbard met, producing a crisp sound.
"I just wanted to tell you..."
Yoru lowered his stance slightly, shifting into an Iaijutsu drawing stance.
In an instant, a scorching aura erupted from him, and the surrounding air seemed to ignite.
"This path is closed."
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