After the exchange event ended—
Life at Tokyo Metropolitan Jujutsu Technical College appeared to return to normal.
But in the world of jujutsu sorcerers—
Peace never lasted long.
Soon after the event, Megumi Fushiguro received a mission request.
The location:
Yasohachi Bridge in Saitama Prefecture.
A series of mysterious deaths had occurred there.
Rumor claimed that anyone who visited the location during a "test of courage" would die days later under unexplained circumstances.
Even worse—
Megumi discovered something disturbing.
Years ago—
His sister Tsumiki Fushiguro had also visited that same location.
"I'm going too."
Yuji Itadori immediately volunteered.
"Same here," added Nobara Kugisaki without hesitation.
Megumi sighed quietly.
He had expected this.
Before he could protest—
A voice came from the couch nearby.
"I'll go as well."
Yagami Sora slowly sat up and stretched lazily.
"I've been bored lately."
"Fresh air might help."
Megumi paused.
For a brief moment—
Relief flashed in his eyes.
With Sora present—
Almost nothing in the jujutsu world could truly threaten them.
Saitama Prefecture — Beneath Yasohachi Bridge
The four arrived at the bridge later that day.
The place was infamous among local students.
A classic "test-of-courage" location.
Even during daylight—
The atmosphere felt wrong.
Thick moss covered the bridge supports.
The river beneath had long dried out.
Cracked earth and scattered stones filled the riverbed.
Wind passed through the arches of the bridge.
The sound resembled distant whispers.
As if countless unseen voices murmured in the darkness.
Yagami Sora stood quietly on the dry riverbed.
His eyes scanned the surroundings.
"…That's a lot of cursed energy."
The air itself felt viscous.
Threads of malice clung to his senses.
"And this presence…"
"…feels familiar."
Megumi looked up.
"Familiar?"
He wiped sweat from his forehead while searching for clues.
"Yes."
Sora pointed toward a specific spot beneath the bridge.
"To be precise…"
"It resembles the aura left behind by Sukuna's finger."
At that location—
Space itself looked slightly distorted.
Like cracked glass.
An unstable boundary between worlds.
"There's an incomplete domain here."
Sora crouched slightly.
"Not a full Domain Expansion."
"More like an undeveloped innate domain."
"It only opens under certain conditions."
Megumi frowned.
"Such as?"
"When the cursed energy concentration reaches its peak."
Sora smiled faintly.
"And right now…"
"…that condition is satisfied."
He snapped his fingers.
"Vector Manipulation — Spatial Oscillation."
A tiny vibration spread from his fingertip.
The vibration amplified.
Then resonated with the distorted space.
The air screeched.
A sharp sound like grinding glass echoed beneath the bridge.
Then—
Reality tore open.
A dark opening appeared above the riverbed.
A swirling maw of cursed energy.
It reeked of decay.
"Let's go."
Without hesitation—
The four jumped inside.
Inside the Domain
The sensation lasted only a moment.
But it felt like falling through something organic.
Like sliding through the throat of a giant creature.
Then—
They landed.
Inside a massive underground cavern.
The environment was disgusting.
Walls covered in slime.
Bones scattered across the floor.
The smell of rot and sewage filled the air.
Deep within the cavern—
Something moved.
A grotesque mole-like cursed spirit.
Its bloated body twitched as it gnawed on human remains.
Its cursed energy wasn't on the level of Hanami—
But it was still extremely powerful.
Likely Grade 1.
Megumi clenched his fists.
If this curse hadn't existed—
Perhaps Tsumiki wouldn't have fallen victim to the unknown curse years ago.
Anger surged inside him.
But Sora spoke first.
"Yes."
"That's probably the origin of the curse."
Then his gaze shifted deeper into the cavern.
"…But we're not alone."
Two figures stepped out from the darkness.
Their presence carried immense pressure.
The first wore a grotesque mask.
Large wing-like structures extended from his back.
His body was unnaturally twisted.
Like muscles formed from writhing snakes.
The second creature looked more primitive.
Its body resembled a swollen lump of flesh.
Blood smeared across its back.
Venom dripped constantly from its mouth.
Sora observed them calmly.
Then smiled slightly.
"The Cursed Womb: Death Paintings."
"Specifically…"
He pointed.
"Eso and Kechizu."
Both were experiments created over a century ago.
The result of forbidden research conducted by the ancient sorcerer—
Noritoshi Kamo.
The most infamous curse user in jujutsu history.
Their objective was obvious.
Sora pointed toward the mole-like curse.
Inside its stomach—
A powerful cursed energy signature pulsed.
"Sukuna's finger."
"You're here to retrieve it."
Eso's eyes narrowed.
"You know quite a lot."
He studied Sora cautiously.
Instinct told him something terrifying stood before him.
A predator far above their level.
"Since you understand…"
Eso spread his wing-like appendages.
"…then you should also understand one thing."
"Anyone who interferes…"
"…must die."
Blood erupted from his body.
The liquid turned into countless sharp projectiles.
The cursed technique activated.
Rot Technique — Decay and Corrosion.
The crimson projectiles shot forward.
Leaving foul-smelling trails through the air.
They curved toward the four sorcerers—
Like poisonous arrows.
The battle had begun.
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