🌟 HEAR YE, HEAR YE, BRAVE SOULS! 🌟✨
🔥 Let the drums of destiny roar and the skies sparkle as we welcome our newest LEGENDARY adventurers…⚔️ Wilnet Duverne! ⚔️ & ⚔️ Colin Crossan! ⚔️ 🎉⚡️ With their arrival, our grand voyage just became even MORE epic and electrifying! 🚀✨
💎 These fearless champions have taken the leap, joined our elite crew, and unlockedEXCLUSIVE rewards, legendary perks, and early access to the greatest adventures ahead! 🌍💫
👑 Who's ready to step into greatness and forge their own legend? 🔥✨ The gates to glory are OPEN, and YOUR journey awaits! 🚪🌠
🚀 Don't be left behind—JOIN US NOW and embrace your destiny! 🏆⚡️🎊
***********************************
Gojo's expression didn't falter, though his tone dipped into something more persuasive. "Think of it as an invitation—one that could benefit both sides. You've got skills, Nakamura, and Tengen's got… insight."
Before Liam could respond, Riko's voice broke the moment. "Gojo? Is that you?"
She appeared from down the hallway, her eyes lighting up at the sight of the sorcerer. "What are you doing here?"
Gojo straightened, his grin softening into something more genuine. "Just checking in, Riko. Wanted to make sure everything's going smoothly for you here."
Riko smiled warmly. "Everything's fine. Liam's been…" she glanced at him, teasing, "...strict, but it's not so bad."
Liam's gaze flicked between Riko and Gojo before settling back on the latter. "Alright, Gojo. Let's say I'm interested in this meeting with Tengen. What's in it for me?"
Gojo's grin returned, more mischievous this time. "Ah, there's the Liam I know. Always looking for the trade. Fine, name your terms."
Liam smirked, his eyes glinting with challenge. "I'll agree to meet Tengen—but I expect you to owe me a favor in return. And you don't get to weasel out of it, Gojo."
Gojo chuckled, his laugh carrying a note of genuine amusement. "A favor, huh? Alright, deal. Just don't make me regret it."
Riko glanced between them, a spark of curiosity in her expression. "What's this all about?"
"Nothing for you to worry about, Riko," Liam said, his tone lighter but still edged with caution. "Just… grown-up business."
Gojo's chuckle deepened, and he gave Liam a mock salute. "Well then, shall we? You can keep grilling me inside, but I promise you—this is worth your time."
----
The sleek black car wove through the bustling streets of Tokyo, the hum of the engine a quiet counterpoint to the charged silence between the two passengers.
Gojo leaned back in his seat, one arm draped lazily over the door, his trademark blindfold replaced by dark sunglasses that barely concealed his mischievous grin.
"So, second time at Jujutsu High, huh?" Gojo said cheerfully, breaking the silence. "It's a bit more… rustic than you might expect. But hey, we've got character!"
Liam, seated beside him, gazed out the window, his sharp eyes reflecting the passing cityscape.
"Rustic, huh?" He replied dryly. "Somehow, I doubt you brought me here for sightseeing."
Gojo smirked. "Touché. But trust me, you'll want to see this. Tengen's lair isn't something most people get to experience—at least, not unscathed."
The car pulled into a secluded area, the towering gates of Tokyo Jujutsu High looming ahead. As they passed through, Liam took in the surroundings: the aged stone walls, the sprawling grounds, and the faint hum of cursed energy that seemed to saturate the air.
Students in training sparred in the distance, their movements precise and purposeful.
"This is it," Gojo said, stepping out and gesturing grandly. "Welcome to Jujutsu High. Home to some of the most powerful sorcerers in the world—and also my charming self."
Liam stepped out, his tailored black coat catching the breeze. His expression remained neutral, though his eyes flicked to the students with mild curiosity. "Charming isn't the word I'd use."
Gojo laughed. "Oh, come on. Let me have this one."
He led Liam deeper into the campus, pointing out various landmarks with a mix of genuine pride and exaggerated flair. But as they approached the Tomb of the Stars, the atmosphere grew heavier. The air seemed to ripple with layers of intricate barriers, each one humming with an ancient power.
"Impressive, isn't it?" Gojo said, his tone quieter now. "Tengen doesn't mess around when it comes to security."
Liam remained silent, his gaze fixed ahead. As they passed through the final barrier, the space opened up into a vast chamber bathed in a soft, ethereal glow.
Waiting in the center was a group of figures.
Lord Tengen, seated cross-legged in his evolved form, radiated an otherworldly presence. His head was featureless, save for faint swirling patterns, and his voice, when he spoke, seemed to echo from every direction. Beside him stood Masamichi Yaga, his burly frame a stark contrast to Tengen's ethereal appearance. His stern expression softened slightly at the sight of Gojo and Liam.
And then there was Mei Mei. Her sleek silver hair glinted in the dim light, her cool, calculating gaze resting on Liam. She wore her usual composed smile, though the glint in her eyes hinted at her ever-present scheming nature.
"Ah, Liam Nakamura," Tengen greeted warmly, his voice reverberating through the chamber. "Welcome. I've been expecting you."
Liam's gaze didn't waver, though a flicker of surprise crossed his face when he saw Mei Mei.
"Quite the gathering," he said, his voice smooth but edged with caution. His eyes lingered on Mei Mei. "I wasn't aware even she was involved in this."
Mei Mei tilted her head, her smile widening slightly. "I'm not directly involved. Let's just say… I like to keep an eye on interesting developments."
Gojo stepped forward, his casual demeanor never faltering. "Alright, alright, let's not scare the guy off. Tengen's got something important to say, don't you, old man?"
Tengen chuckled softly. "Indeed. But first, let me thank you, Liam. For sparing Riko Amanai and taking her under your care. You showed mercy and compassion when others would not have."
Liam's expression didn't flicker, his silver-gray eyes locked on Tengen with an intensity that could pierce steel.
"Let's not pretend it was an act of altruism," He said flatly. "Riko's fate didn't sit right with me, but don't mistake my choices for kindness. I didn't do it for you."
Tengen's ethereal form tilted slightly, as if nodding. "Regardless of your motives, your actions saved her life. That cannot be denied. And in doing so, you've shown a side of yourself that may yet prove pivotal in the battles ahead."
Liam's lip curled in faint disdain. "Battles ahead? Spare me the vague prophecies, Tengen. Why am I here?"
Tengen's glowing patterns shifted subtly, reflecting a moment's hesitation. "You are a variable, Liam. A special-grade sorcerer, yes, but there is something… unique about you. Something I cannot fully grasp. I called you here not to reprimand or coerce, but to offer you a path."
"A path," Liam repeated, his tone dripping with skepticism. "That's one way to phrase it. What are you really asking for?"
"To study jujutsu here," Tengen replied, his voice unwavering. "To hone your abilities and perhaps understand your true nature. I believe you are capable of great things, but I also fear the path you might take if left unchecked."
Liam laughed, the sound low and bitter. "Great things? Don't make me laugh. You talk as though cursed energy is some kind of blessing. It's not. It's a plague—a poison that infects this world and destroys lives. The sooner it's eradicated, the better."
Yaga, silent until now, stepped forward, his deep voice cutting through the tension. "Cursed energy isn't inherently evil, Liam. It's a tool—one that reflects the user's intent."
Liam's gaze shifted briefly to Yaga, his jaw tightening.
"I know that but I've to use it because I had no choice. That doesn't mean I believe it should exist. People like me… like you, Gojo," He added, casting a pointed glance at the white-haired sorcerer leaning casually against a pillar, "We're anomalies. The world wasn't meant to bear this kind of power. For the average person, cursed energy brings nothing but suffering."
--- ✦ ✦ ✦ ---
Thank you for being a part of this journey. May these stories bring excitement and inspiration to your life, and I look forward to bringing you many more adventures!
If you've enjoyed my stories and want to help keep this adventure going strong, consider joining my Patreon! For as little as $2, you'll unlock extra chapters, exclusive art, and tons of perks.
🔮 Myth Guild 🦉
Patreon: patreon.com/Myth_Valley