"No way… We've only been here for a year!"
Xia Youjie quickly formed a hand seal and opened a small crack in the air. Through it, a shadowy figure was faintly visible behind him.
Gojo Satoru's eyes sparkled as he focused intently on James's movements.
Domain Expansion—one of the highest achievements in Jujutsu Kaisen. Those who master this technique can, through the ultimate understanding and refinement of their cursed technique, expand it into a spatial domain centered on themselves. Within this domain, their abilities are greatly enhanced, and the environment itself becomes an extension of their will.
Once activated, everyone caught within its range is forcibly pulled into the domain. The caster gains powerful advantages:
1. Guaranteed Hit Effect: Inside the domain, the caster's technique is automatically successful—it cannot be dodged, blocked, or neutralized by conventional means.
2. Massive Power Boost: The caster's technique receives a significant boost in strength and effectiveness.
3. Additional Effects: Depending on the user, the domain might alter or add unique rules to the technique, providing even more versatility or restrictions to manipulate the opponent.
Naturally, the best way to fight someone like Gojo Satoru—whose techniques can't be blocked under normal circumstances—is to counter him with a Domain Expansion of your own and leverage its guaranteed hit effect.
Geto Suguru tugged Gojo Satoru back just as a female Cursed Spirit emerged from the shadows. Her messy black hair covered most of her face, but beneath the strands, a dozen pairs of eyes glinted faintly.
Her mouth—if you could still call it that—was split grotesquely from ear to ear.
The Slit-Mouthed Woman.
With a haunting grin, the spirit turned her gaze to James and asked in a voice like broken glass,
"Am I beautiful?"
Xia Youjie had summoned the Slit-Mouthed Woman for a reason. Her specialty? Releasing a Simple Domain.
When facing a Jujutsu Sorcerer or a Cursed Spirit who can perform Domain Expansion, there are generally only two viable responses:
1. Escape the Domain — an extremely difficult task unless the domain is unstable or the caster is distracted.
2. Counter with Technique — through field collisions, expansions, or a Simple Domain that neutralizes the opponent's guaranteed hit.
A Simple Domain is just that: a minimal domain that creates a sealed area where sure-hit effects are negated. Think of it as a prison made of invisible lines—a defensive mechanism against full Domain Expansions.
Simple Domain Activation!
Geto Suguru narrowed his eyes and watched closely, waiting for James to make his move.
The leaves rustled softly. As night deepened, moonlight finally pierced the white clouds and cast a soft glow on the earth.
Stillness. Nothing moved. Nothing happened.
"You are very beautiful," James said with a smile as he lowered his hand, the one he'd been using to make seals.
"What Domain Expansion? That was a bluff. No need to waste your energy—bye now!"
He waved at the two of them casually. A spark of black lightning cracked beneath his feet—and he vanished.
They were tricked.
Geto Suguru, who had just completed releasing the Simple Domain, suddenly felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned in surprise—only to find Gojo Satoru standing behind him.
"Forget it. Let's not chase him," Gojo muttered, hands stuffed in his pockets as he turned and walked away beneath the stars.
Geto Suguru let out a deep sigh. He had seen something in James's actions—something unshakable. That kind of determination, the ability to stand alone against the entire world, made him reflect on himself.
Could he do the same? Could he hold his ground so firmly for what he believed in?
No one could answer those questions but himself.
When the two left, only ruins remained—a pile of broken buildings and a strange bird circling overhead.
---
In a distant lounge, Yaga Masamichi watched the entire scene unfold through the eyes of the strange bird, Jue Hai. His expression was heavy and conflicted.
He had dispatched the bird earlier with a letter addressed to James. Inside was the truth: plans made by the upper ranks of Jujutsu society to eliminate him. They wanted James to be assigned to the most dangerous missions, hoping he would perish by accident.
In the end, James had no choice but to leave.
---
The very next day, an announcement was issued across all regions of the Jujutsu world.
> First-Grade Jujutsu Sorcerer James — Has Defected!
Classified as: Curse User
Threat Level: Extra — Extremely Dangerous!
Alongside the notice was a bounty poster featuring a portrait of James. The reward was sky-high, with blood-red letters across the top reading:
"DEAD OR ALIVE!"
"I must admit… I'm a little tempted by this amount," Mei Mei said, elegantly crossing her legs as she sipped tea from a porcelain cup. In her other hand, she held James's wanted poster.
"Please don't joke, Miss Mei Mei!" Yaga Masamichi said nervously, standing beside her. He quickly urged her to give up on the idea.
What a terrible thought! If she went after James, she might claim the reward—but what about the tutoring fees she had charged him? Unrecoverable!
"I don't know where that kid ran off to… But I bet plenty of people are hunting him down already."
---
Far away from Jujutsu High, James was riding a small electric scooter at full speed. The whistling wind blew across his face—it felt… good.
Since leaving Tokyo, he had headed south. Along the way, he encountered several waves of bounty hunters and Jujutsu Sorcerers trying to collect the reward. None of them were a real challenge.
His target? Kyushu Island. Why? Pure instinct.
On the long road ahead, cars passed by now and then. The quiet hum of the scooter blended with the breeze, and the sun was already beginning to set.
James was nearing his destination.
---
Time passed slowly.
Meanwhile, Gojo Satoru and Geto Suguru had resumed their mission—escorting the Star Plasma Vessel.
James's earlier interference had led many Q Group members to mistakenly believe the vessel was elsewhere. Eager to snatch the bounty, they diverted their forces toward James instead.
Unsurprisingly, the Q Group suffered massive casualties before they could even attempt an attack on the Star Plasma Vessel. Now, they were licking their wounds in secret.
With the threat neutralized, Gojo and Geto decided to relax a little and spend time with Tenriko. Their outlook had shifted, clearly.
---
Back in Kyushu, James locked his electric scooter, pocketed the key, and stepped into a nearby convenience store.
He grabbed some daily supplies—soap, batteries, snacks—and approached the counter.
"That'll be 5,000 yen," said the store owner.
"Here."
"Thank you. Please take your items."
As James gathered his bag, the shopkeeper smiled and added, "Oh! We're running a special event today. Here's a complimentary cake for our customers."
He pulled out a beautifully wrapped cake box from beneath the counter. The woman behind the register beamed.
"Today is our wedding anniversary."
James chuckled. "Wow, perfect timing for me, huh?"
He thanked them, accepted the cake, and stepped out.
---
After some wandering, James reached the outskirts of Nogata City, where he decided to settle temporarily.
Looking around at the rustic surroundings, he muttered under his breath, "This dump is called Kyushu? What a joke…"
He placed the purchased items in the scooter's trunk and sat down to eat the cake.
Undoing the ribbon carefully, he lifted the small box with his left hand.
Wait.
A cake?
Inside the box was a small black cube. On the front, an LED screen glowed red.
0.5… 0.1…
James narrowed his eyes.
"Interesting."
BOOM!!!
A blinding orange-yellow fireball erupted from the scooter's location, lighting up the entire sky. A shockwave ripped through the air, tearing buildings apart and incinerating nearby pedestrians in a flash. A massive mushroom cloud rose high above the city.
Fire. Ash. Smoke. Chaos.
The explosion shook the area for nearly ten minutes. Alarms blared as debris rained down.
From the heart of the destruction, James emerged.
His entire left arm was gone. His body was scorched black, skin charred and peeling.
But then—his flesh writhed. His arm reformed from nothing, smooth and pale again. His wounds healed rapidly, the blackened skin replaced by white as jade.
He stood amidst the rubble, eyes cold, face calm..
"So… the Jujutsu masters on Kyushu Island don't seem very welcoming."
He stepped forward, his foot crushing broken gravel beneath it.
Øóffer going on for diamond tier
pàtreøn (Gk31)