When Akiyama Ren summoned the Star Gate, even Maki Zen'in, who had mentally prepared herself, was visibly shaken. That swirling, otherworldly blue vortex exuded a mysterious aura, as if it connected to the very fabric of the multiverse.
Ren chuckled at her wide-eyed reaction. "Come on, Maki. It'll be fine. Let's go."
"Mm..." Maki nodded, though she instinctively reached out and took his hand. The nervousness in her grip was obvious.
Ren gently squeezed her hand and pulled her into the Star Gate. The moment they stepped through, the Main World vanished behind them.
In a flash, they found themselves standing in a small, wooden house in the heart of Orario—the Dungeon World.
Maki Zen'in blinked in surprise. The room they were in was dimly lit, sparsely decorated, and filled with rustic charm. No electricity, no appliances—everything looked like it came straight from a European medieval town.
"It's... kinda primitive," she muttered.
Ren grinned knowingly. "This world isn't modern like Earth. It's a place of swords, sorcery, and gods. Technology hasn't evolved much, but their magic stone tech makes up for it in some ways."
"Magic stone tech?" Maki tilted her head.
"Yeah, like lamps powered by monster cores, elevators, even heating systems. Not bad once you get used to it."
She nodded slowly, absorbing the information. Though Ren had explained some of the Dungeon World's systems the previous night, experiencing it firsthand gave her a different impression.
When Ren mentioned it was a world of swords and magic, her excitement grew. If she trained here, she could become even stronger—perhaps reach heights she never thought possible.
"Then this house..." she looked around again.
"Bought it yesterday. It'll be our base while we're in this world," Ren replied casually.
"Mm! Got it," Maki nodded with quiet determination.
The two of them stepped outside together, the wooden door creaking open. Maki instantly froze in awe as her gaze fell upon the towering structure piercing the sky.
A colossal white spire stood before them, glowing in the daylight.
"Wh-What the heck is that?!" she exclaimed, pointing at the massive tower.
"That's the Tower of Babel," Ren explained, smiling at her reaction. "It sits right on top of the Dungeon, in the center of Orario. Fifty floors tall. The lower floors are filled with shops and clinics. The upper floors house the residences of the more powerful gods."
"Wait, why only the powerful gods?"
"Because those floors are a status symbol. Gods who descend to the mortal realm must seal their divine powers. The only way they can exert influence is through their Familia. The stronger your Familia, the higher you can climb—literally."
Maki looked thoughtful. "So even gods here have to play by the rules, huh... That's kinda admirable. Also, it sounds like they're just bored and looking for something fun to do."
Ren laughed. "That's actually pretty accurate. A lot of them are just looking for new experiences."
Maki smiled bitterly.
Unlike this world filled with gods trying to help humanity grow stronger, her own world—filled with Curse Spirits, vengeful souls, and yokai—was a battlefield. In Japan, Jujutsu Sorcerers constantly risked their lives to protect others.
The disparity was painful.
"In our world," she said, voice low, "people with cursed techniques are rare. But Curse Spirits... they're everywhere. They never stop. Most Jujutsu Sorcerers die young. There's no retirement. No peace."
She clenched her fists.
"Why do we have to carry the burden of the world's hatred alone? Why can't our world have gods like this? Gods who help people... instead of just watching us suffer."
Ren looked at her, his expression softening.
He understood her frustration all too well.
The Main World wasn't just based on Jujutsu Kaisen—it blended the settings of Tokyo Ravens, Ga-Rei: Zero, Mieruko-chan, and more. That meant their world didn't just have curses, but also spiritual beasts, rogue gods, wandering yokai, and all manner of malevolent entities.
In this world, humanity was besieged by supernatural threats from every direction.
Even the strongest Sorcerers often died in battle.
In canon Jujutsu Kaisen, only four Special Grade Sorcerers existed. But in the Main World? There were eight.
And that was just Japan.
In massive countries like China or India, where population density—and thus negative emotions—were much higher, things were even worse.
According to the World Jujutsu Association, China alone had registered 86 Special Grade Curse Art Masters.
It made sense. Japan had 125 million people and 8 Special Grades. China, with over 1.4 billion, naturally had many more.
It was a world where death and sacrifice were commonplace, where the burden of humanity's darkness fell on the few who could wield cursed energy.
Maki Zen'in, once again, felt the familiar fire of resentment in her chest.
If her world had gods like this, how different would things be?
Ren noticed the glint in her eyes.
He knew what she was thinking.
He stepped beside her, quietly gazing at the Tower of Babel. "We'll change it one step at a time. You and me. We'll create a place where people like us don't have to suffer alone."
Maki turned to him, eyes wide, then smiled.
"Yeah... Let's do that. Together."
....
As Akiyama Ren and Maki Zen'in wandered hand-in-hand through the vibrant streets of Orario, their steps eventually brought them to a familiar destination—the grand storefront of the Hephaestus Familia's equipment shop. Its wide, gleaming glass displays sparkled under the midday sun, drawing the eyes of passersby like moths to a flame.
Inside the windowed cases, a variety of exquisite weapons and armor shimmered with craftsmanship that surpassed ordinary mortal skill. Some radiated heat as if forged from the breath of dragons, while others glowed faintly with embedded enchantments.
Maki Zen'in's steps halted the moment she laid eyes on the displays. Her expression froze in awe, and her gaze locked onto a row of elite-grade spears and swords, each more majestic than the last.
Ren chuckled at the sight. "If you like something, just buy it. Don't even think about the price," he said casually, his tone filled with indulgent affection.
"But we don't have any valis… We should just leave it," Maki muttered, shaking her head. She wasn't the type of modern girl who'd bleed her boyfriend dry over something superficial. Spending months of his hard-earned money on a single sword felt unnecessary, no matter how tempting.
"What a silly girl," Ren said with a smirk. "I'm a god, remember? Making money in this world is a trivial thing."
Right before her eyes, Ren extended his hand and conjured several large sacks filled with freshly minted valis. The coins clinked audibly as they materialized in the air, falling into neat stacks with impossible precision.
Maki Zen'in's eyes widened in disbelief. She quickly covered her mouth with her hand to suppress a gasp.
After a second, she leaned in closer and whispered urgently, "Wait, aren't gods in this world forbidden from using divine power in the lower world?"
Ren gave her a teasing flick on the forehead. "Maki-san, sometimes you're really sharp, and sometimes you're adorably slow. I'm not a god from this world. The restrictions placed on native gods don't apply to me."
"Oh… right!" Maki giggled awkwardly, scratching her cheek. "I keep forgetting that."
"Now go pick whatever you want. Don't hold back," Ren said, gently pinching her cheek. His voice was soft and full of warmth.
"Okay!" Maki lit up, practically skipping inside the store with newfound confidence.
Ren followed her inside and watched as she made a beeline straight for the high-end section, eyes gleaming with joy. Without hesitation, she began selecting weapons, armor sets, and enchanted accessories like a kid in a candy store.
Having confirmed that her man could summon valis on a whim, Maki became surprisingly unrestrained.
In just ten minutes, she'd chosen seven different gear sets, including elite armor with curse-resistance, a dual-bladed naginata with magic-enhancing properties, and even a rare set of gauntlets capable of redirecting kinetic force. All of it totaled over a billion valis.
And as the finishing touch, she selected the shop's most prized possession—a greatsword imbued with the "Indestructible" enchantment. The weapon was forged with divine fire and engraved with ancient runes. Price tag? One hundred sixty million valis.
Ren paid the massive sum without so much as blinking.
As they walked out of the store with bags piled high, onlookers gawked in disbelief.
Once they reached an empty side alley, Ren nonchalantly waved his hand, and the entire mountain of equipment disappeared into his System storage.
Maki looked on with open admiration. "Ughh, spatial abilities are just too convenient… I wish I had item storage like that."
Ren chuckled. "That's easy. When I have time, I'll make you a spatial ring."
"Eh? Really?!" Maki's face lit up like a firework. "You're the best, Ren-kun!!"
Without warning, she wrapped her arms around his neck and planted a kiss on his lips, standing on her tiptoes as her trench coat fluttered in the breeze.
Ren didn't resist, and the two of them kissed passionately under the shade of the alley.
But that peaceful moment didn't last.
From both ends of the alley, a group of shady-looking adventurers began to close in. Their leader—a large, greasy boar-man—grinned menacingly.
"Oi, rich boy," the boar-man sneered. "Seems like you've got some coin to spare. How about sharing a bit with your friendly neighborhood adventurers?"
Maki Zen'in scowled, stepping in front of Ren. "Figures. No matter the world, trash will always crawl out of the gutters."
Ren calmly summoned the newly purchased indestructible greatsword from his storage. "Maki, want to test out your new toy?"
Her lips curled into a smile. "I was just thinking the same thing."
The thug group, however, clearly didn't get the memo. The boar-man laughed arrogantly. "Still wanna act tough? Alright then. I've changed my mind. I want your wallet and your woman."
"Yeah, boss! Let's break him in front of her!" one of his cronies shouted.
Ren's expression immediately turned cold.
He didn't give Maki the chance to move. Raising his hand, his eyes shimmered with divine light as an overwhelming divine aura exploded from his body. The pressure slammed into the alley like a tidal wave.
Under the crushing might of a god, the thugs didn't even have time to scream. Their bodies burst apart one by one—flesh, bones, and all—reduced to dust in an instant.
And yet, Ren wasn't done.
He raised his hand again, and from the scattered debris, several flickering souls floated into view—pale and trembling, unable to escape.
"Beg all you want. It's too late," Ren said coldly.
His fingers slowly curled inward.
An invisible force clenched the soul fragments, crushing them with a dreadful finality. The last trace of those scumbags vanished—souls scattered into oblivion.
Maki stood silent, watching the entire thing. Her anger had faded, replaced by a strange warmth. Ren had killed not out of cruelty—but because they insulted her.
She walked over and gently tugged on his sleeve. "Ren-kun… I'm fine now. Let's go."
Ren exhaled and nodded. "Right."
By the time curious adventurers and a few gods arrived, the alley was empty—except for faint traces of blood and fragments of the shattered pavement.
Oblivious to the crowd gathering behind them, Ren and Maki had already moved on. Their next stop? A tailor's shop that specialized in adventurer gear.
Maki personally picked out a sleek black combat outfit for Ren—one that clung to his form and was reinforced with light armor around the shoulders and chest. He looked like a cool mercenary out of a manga.
Ren returned the favor by selecting a stylish ensemble for Maki: tight black shorts, over-the-knee boots, a fitted leotard with armored accents, and a flowing coat layered over her shoulders.
The vibe was striking—an imposing blend of strength and beauty reminiscent of Satsuki Kiryuuin from Kill la Kill.
Maki twirled once and grinned. "How do I look?"
Ren smirked. "Like someone who's about to clear a dungeon solo."
"Then you better keep up, Ren-kun," she said with a wink.