If nothing unexpected happened, Riko Amanai's head would be thrown off-course by the bullet's kinetic force, and a burst of blood would bloom from her temple.
In that moment, time would slow. Suguru Geto would watch the blood spatter in front of him, then watch as Riko Amanai fell to the ground, her eyes wide open—staring at him.
Her right hand would've stayed outstretched, fingers spread.
"Riko…-chan?"
Suguru Geto would've murmured, filled with regret.
In the end, their hands would never have met.
...
Sōjun Minamoto stepped out from the shadows and approached Riko Amanai, flicking the bullet away with a flick of his finger.
He rubbed his middle finger.
"Ah, made it just in time."
Finally, the variable made its move.
Sōjun Minamoto looked at Riko Amanai.
Kukuku~
Scared you, didn't I?!
He waved his hand in front of her dazed face, snapping her back to awareness.
Sōjun Minamoto took her hand and led her to the predetermined location. A short spike jutted out of the ground. He stomped it down with his foot, then raised his sword-formed fingers to his lips.
"Emerge from the darkness, blacker than darkness. Purify that which is impure."
A spherical Curtain expanded. Sōjun Minamoto gave it a gentle push, and it enveloped Riko Amanai before vanishing into the void. A faint golden ring of light glowed on the ground.
This Curtain wasn't like the others—it served a single purpose: to prevent Toji Fushiguro from entering.
"Riko, stay inside until I say otherwise."
Riko Amanai froze, then nodded instinctively.
Sōjun Minamoto patted her head. "Good girl."
It was no surprise that neither Satoru Gojo nor Suguru Geto could stop the intruder.
The enemy's intel was too complete—every technique, ability, and behavioral pattern had been thoroughly analyzed. Nothing remained hidden.
Even Sōjun Minamoto had faced interference during the mission.
...
Suguru Geto glanced over at Riko Amanai and breathed a small sigh of relief. Then he turned to the approaching figure—
"Why are you here?" His pupils shrank, and he instinctively summoned a Cursed Spirit.
Its antlers were like a deer's, its head like a camel's, eyes like a rabbit's, neck like a snake's, belly like a mirage, scales like a fish's, talons like an eagle's, paws like a tiger's, and ears like an ox's.
It closely resembled the mythical dragon.
"What do you mean, 'why'? Oh, that." The man was Toji Fushiguro. He held a pistol in his right hand, eyes slightly lifted as if caught in a memory. Then he smirked.
"Satoru Gojo? I already killed him."
At those words, Suguru Geto's expression fell, his face shadowed in darkness. It was impossible to read.
The Rainbow Dragon loomed over him, snarling, claws flexing in anticipation.
Toji Fushiguro smiled, ignoring the impressive Cursed Spirit. He spun the pistol at his finger.
"The Tombs of the Star are inside a hidden barrier, guarded by Tengen himself. So the entrance isn't even protected. As long as you know the location, it's like walking into an empty house. And with Jujutsu High crawling with Cursed Spirits now, it's utter chaos."
His eyes grew deep as he looked up at the Sacred Tree.
"To people like you, someone like me—without Cursed Energy—is practically invisible."
"But when I wield Cursed Tools, the Cursed Energy from the tools makes me visible. That's why I used an ordinary blade to seriously injure Satoru Gojo, and planned to shoot Riko Amanai to death. Too bad…"
The Rainbow Dragon finally lunged, jaws wide open.
But Toji Fushiguro calmly aimed at Suguru Geto—
Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang.
He fired several shots, all landing on another Cursed Spirit summoned by Geto.
Casually, he tossed the gun aside and sidestepped the Rainbow Dragon's charge. "No need to rush."
The two faced off once more.
"I raised a storage-type Cursed Spirit and stashed my tools inside it. Then I had it compress itself and hide in my stomach…"
"Urgh—"
He reached into his mouth and pulled out a bloated, thumb-sized human head.
"The insides of an invisible person are invisible too, right? So I can carry all sorts of tools and walk freely in and out of the barrier."
"See? Even Six Eyes didn't spot me."
The grotesque spirit unfurled itself, coiling around Toji Fushiguro's shoulders. It spat out a hilt, which he grabbed and drew the rest of the blade.
"This is the blade I used to kill Satoru Gojo. Three or four stabs, that's all it took."
He gave the blade a few swings.
"Life is fragile. Doesn't matter if you're a sorcerer or just a regular person."
"Oh, right—ran into a maid on the way here. She's probably dead too. I was in a rush, didn't really care."
The shadows on Suguru Geto's face deepened as he suddenly shouted, "Just die already."
He waved his hand. The Rainbow Dragon charged in response.
Toji Fushiguro didn't retreat—instead, he charged forward.
"Relax. We're all gonna die eventually."
He lunged head-on, cleaving the Rainbow Dragon in half with the broken blade.
Cursed Spirit Manipulation? Just a bunch of rabble.
Toji Fushiguro looked unbothered—until the next instant, when he found himself in a strange setting.
He stood in a dim hall supported by stone pillars. A pale woman in a white dress appeared, her face obscured by long black hair.
Suddenly, she asked, "Hey, am I pretty?"
Toji Fushiguro stayed calm, observing her.
She repeated herself, faster this time. "Am I? Am I? Am I pretty?"
Hmph. Cheap parlor tricks.
Toji Fushiguro smirked. "If I had to say—nah, not my type."
AAAAAAAH—
The woman screamed, tossing back her head to reveal her face. Her features were twisted—especially her mouth, sewn shut with countless fine threads. She forced it open, revealing a pitch-black maw.
An Imaginary Cursed Spirit—Kuchisake-Onna.
In these question-answer domains, a wrong reply triggered a rule-based attack.
She lunged with giant scissors, others appearing out of thin air and slashing at Toji Fushiguro. Blood sprayed from his body.
He let her attack at will. But when the next wave of scissors came, he raised the Inverted Spear of Heaven and deflected them all—then, in her shock, beheaded her.
The rules were shattered.
The illusion collapsed, and Toji Fushiguro returned to the entrance of the Tombs of the Star.
Suguru Geto was already behind him.
"Cursed Spirit Manipulation allows a sorcerer to subjugate Cursed Spirits and use them freely. If the gap in grade is two or more, subjugation can be skipped—you gain control nearly unconditionally."
That was the Binding Vow of public technique disclosure—revealing the technique's secrets in exchange for a power boost.
He extended his right hand.
"My real target is your arsenal. As long as I can touch your storage spirit—"
His hand neared the puffy-faced cursed spirit's head.
Bang!
His hand was knocked back. The broken blade had reappeared between them, forcibly canceling the technique.
What?!
Suguru Geto was in disbelief...
Cursed Spirit Manipulation couldn't take over a spirit that already had a master!
But did this even count as ownership?
Toji Fushiguro stepped back, tossed the Inverted Spear of Heaven, and gripped the Split Soul Katana—
In an instant, he slashed two deep wounds across Suguru Geto's chest.
It nearly tore him apart.
He kicked Geto to the ground and yanked out the blade.
"You really are talented!"
He suddenly felt a sense of emptiness and turned toward the Star Plasma Vessel.
"People like you, favored by heaven, couldn't even stop a wild monkey like me who doesn't know any jujutsu. If you want to live long—don't forget this day."
His voice sounded like it came from the heavens. By the time it reached Suguru Geto, it was already too faint to make out. He reached out weakly—then collapsed, powerless.
…
"What a pitiful sight, Geto."
Sōjun Minamoto had just finished securing Riko Amanai when Suguru Geto collapsed, gravely wounded and on the verge of death.
A glance was enough to tell he wasn't in immediate danger.
If a Cursed Spirit Manipulator dies, their spirits run wild. Toji Fushiguro had held back to avoid unnecessary complications.
Sōjun Minamoto stepped toward Toji Fushiguro, half his face cloaked in shadow. His unreadable expression only amplified the air of menace. He stretched his limbs slightly—his blood finally began to boil.
Under Toji's deliberate control, no one had been able to properly coordinate their strength. That suited Sōjun just fine.
Heavenly Restriction, huh? Let's put that to the test.
"You've caused me a hell of a headache," Toji said, resting his blade on his shoulder. "One after another, lining up to die. Wouldn't it be easier to just hand over the Star Plasma Vessel? I'm not into guys."
"Heh." Sōjun smiled, tapping a finger toward him. "Heavenly Restriction is the same as a technique—it boosts power by making information public. Those mind games don't work on me. Forget your mission. You should start worrying about how to get out of Jujutsu High alive."
The two were similar in build, but Sōjun stood a head taller, with smoother, more defined musculature.
He said nothing more. His body twisted unnaturally midair, stars flickering in his eyes. As starlight surged, a ribbon of light stretched out—Sōjun appeared beside Toji in an instant. He planted his left foot as an axis and launched a kick with his right leg.
Toji raised his arm to block.
Boom—
The collision sent shockwaves rippling outward. The kick landed like a battle axe, carrying crushing force.
Sōjun had anticipated the block. As fist met arm, a second burst of power exploded, crimson energy attempting to erode Toji's flesh. Toji froze for a few seconds before tearing himself free.
Heavenly Restriction clashed with Cursed Energy. Toji's physical resilience was equally powerful, too tough to corrupt—
Just as Sōjun expected.
Toji retreated a few steps, frowning slightly. This guy's strength was abnormal. That blood-red energy was weird, too. His presence felt completely different from other sorcerers—almost like his own. Something was off.
He started to get fired up. His hands itched for a proper fight.
But before he could counter—
Sōjun had already leapt back, putting distance between them.
From that single exchange, Sōjun had gauged it: in terms of physique, strength, and speed, he was still a notch behind. So this is a Heavenly Restriction.
But this was still a world of jujutsu.
Cursed Energy erupted from within him. His muscles bulged and hardened, every fiber visible and twisted together like braided steel cables.
His fascia, tough as rubber, interlinked muscle groups, moving in sync.
His skin turned grayish-white, marked with strange, marble-like patterns.
His fingernails encased his fingertips, reshaping into sharp, willow-leaf-like cones.
The black lines across his upper body gleamed, pulsing with energy.
A bone-white shell covered his skull, sealed behind a full-face mask.
At his brow rose a diamond-shaped light, with three pronged fins stretching back from each side—longer than his skull, their tips curling slightly in a graceful arc.
Intricate black patterns marked where his facial features should be, tracing faint outlines of eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. His wrists and ankles bore similar markings.
The purpose of the fins and markings was simple—enhanced perception. Sight, sound, smell, taste, touch—and the sixth sense. Now, the flow of air, temperature, humidity, malicious intent, watching gazes... it all flooded into Sōjun's awareness with unmatched clarity.
He could even sense Toji's hostility.
Where there is thought, there is perception.
He wasn't quite there yet—but it was close.
Sōjun now stood over 2.5 meters tall. His shirt had long since shredded, so he tore it off. His once-loose pants were now tight cropped trousers.
His body was fully clad in pale armor, radiating an overwhelming presence. A deep, rhythmic thumping—like an engine's heartbeat—echoed underground, syncing everything nearby to its beat.
His heart pumped furiously, driving blood through his body. Heat poured from the patterns on his flesh, and faint white steam swirled around him, blurring his form like a tyrant ready to pass judgment.
Sōjun moved slightly—his condition was perfect.
This was his ideal form. Long limbs gave him reach without sacrificing agility or increasing his vulnerability.
...
From pulling away to full transformation, it had taken only seconds.
His physical power had reached its limit—but at the cost of nearly all his Cursed Energy.
Every curse was poured into attack strength. Sōjun raised his head and stared down at Toji—
It was time to test him directly.
He stomped his right foot. As the ground cracked, his figure shot toward Toji. Four more arms sprouted from his sides.
Six arms, each moving differently, each laced with a strand of black light.
His Cursed Energy was now fully depleted.
He threw a punch straight at Toji's head. Toji barely managed to raise his blade.
Crack—
The Split Soul Katana buckled, splintering under the force.
Toji stumbled back. Sōjun pressed forward.
A hand chop slashed his throat.
Claws pierced his lungs.
A heavy punch hammered his kidney.
Another arm drew back, coiled with force—then slammed into Toji's chest with explosive might.
Toji wasn't wrong—human life is fragile. With Sōjun's understanding of anatomy, every strike targeted vital points.
The Split Soul Katana came up again—and shattered completely, shards flying. Some clanged harmlessly off Sōjun's armor. Others stabbed into Toji's body.
Toji couldn't spare a second to swap weapons.
The onslaught was too fast. No matter how he tried to retreat, Sōjun kept him within a fixed range. Every hit landed—he couldn't reach his opponent in return.
He had to break the rhythm. He prepared to retreat by force.
But Sōjun grabbed his left arm.
He even predicted this move?!
Toji yanked himself backward—
His arm was torn off at the shoulder.
"Argh—!"
Huff... huff...
Harsh gasps escaped his lips. Sweat trickled from his forehead. He dropped to one knee, clutching his shoulder, bracing himself against the wall.
How long had it been since he trained properly?
Since the day he was called a "Sorcerer Killer"?
No—maybe since the day he was told he had no Cursed Technique?
There was a woman once, who'd helped him pull himself together. But she died. He thought of the son they had...
What was his name again?
Megumi?
His movements grew erratic. He clutched his abdomen, chest, throat—there wasn't much pain, but as the blood flowed, his body weakened. It had been a long time since he'd felt this helpless.
The enemy's attacks were strange. He had a sinking feeling that he'd lost his left arm for good.
He looked up at his opponent—someone just like him. Nothing more to say. Maybe it was time to retreat.
They both paused, silently in agreement.
Sōjun's armor had bruises here and there.
He watched Toji's injuries slowly begin to heal and couldn't help but admire the strength of Heavenly Restriction. Still, opinions varied—just look at Toji's defeated expression.
For Sōjun, what he had was best.
That was the difference between him and most sorcerers—he had clarity.
He dismissed the extra arms. His back hunched, body ready to attack again. Swirling negative emotions accelerated his Cursed Energy regeneration.
He looked at Toji.
I'm waiting for my energy to return. What are you waiting for?
His armor had fully recovered. The wildness in his expression finally burst free. He clenched his right fist again, gathering another strand of black light, and hurled it at Toji's chest, wind screaming around it.
Toji was already back on his feet. He pulled out a three-section staff—Playful Cloud.
Also a Special Grade Cursed Tool. It had no special effect—only unmatched hardness, maximizing physical power.
Time to go blow for blow.
He bared his teeth.
They charged simultaneously. Sōjun didn't back down. His fist slammed into the bottom section of Playful Cloud, bending the staff. The impact pushed both the staff and his fist into Toji's chest. Toji braced himself, catching the middle section with one arm and swinging the upper section at Sōjun.
Sōjun took the hit head-on, trusting his armor. He smashed his left fist into Toji again.
Toji staggered back two steps. Sōjun retreated just one.
They both halted—then burst forward once more.
Their shadows flickered across the shrine hall.
The walls, floor, railings—all cracked like spiderwebs. And that was under the protection of the barrier.
Sōjun's advantage grew. His pressure became overwhelming. Victory was within reach.
Playful Cloud went flying.
Toji pulled out the broken Inverted Spear of Heaven. He slashed Sōjun—but it barely left a scratch.
It could cancel techniques—but not the results of one. The armor didn't need a technique to stay active.
The spear was quickly taken from him.
Toji drew a chain—Chain of a Thousand Miles.
Another Special Grade Cursed Tool.
Its tail ended in a clasp, gripped tightly in his hand. He concealed the head in his other. As long as the head wasn't seen, the chain could stretch infinitely—thus the name.
Clang—clang—clang...
The sound echoed underground.
Countless chains whipped toward Sōjun, striking sparks. The patterns on his mask lit up. Ignoring the bindings, he grabbed a length of chain and followed it back—his hand sliced down, severing half of Toji's neck.
Toji recoiled just in time to dodge the full blow. With a swing of his remaining arm, the chains tightened around Sōjun. Then, in a disheveled blur, Toji fled the shrine's main hall—
He escaped.
Sōjun was briefly restrained. He tore free of the chain and gave chase...
But the opponent had vanished.
So you had an escape plan, too.
Fearing a diversion, Sōjun turned back and returned to the Tombs of the Star.