On the other side, Geto had already brought Riko to the Tombs of the Star Corridor.
After bidding their final farewell to Kuroi, Riko and Geto passed through the tunnel and entered the main hall of the Tombs of the Star.
Countless overlapping structures stretched above them, representing the foundation of all barriers.
Standing before the stone-arched tunnel, Geto stopped in his tracks.This was as far as he could take her.
"After going down the stairs, pass through the gate and keep walking straight until you reach the base of the great tree. The barrier there is different from the one surrounding Jujutsu High. Only those who have been summoned can enter."
"There, Master Tengen will protect you… until your assimilation is complete."
Geto's tone was heavy as he gave his final instructions.
Riko listened with a calm face, though her eyes were slightly dim. She had already prepared herself, and thus, no great emotional waves showed on her expression.
However, the words that Geto spoke next rekindled the light in her eyes.
"Or… you can choose to go back."
"To return home with Miss Kuroi."
Geto's face remained steady as he looked into Riko's eyes.
He and Gojo had already decided before ever meeting Riko. If she didn't want to assimilate with Tengen, then they would defy the consequences and send her back home.
Even if it meant going to war with Tengen. Even if it meant going to war with the entire world.
When Masamichi Yaga had given them this mission, he'd stressed one thing — assimilation, in a certain sense, was nothing more than erasure.
That meant this mission would inevitably leave behind guilt in their hearts.
Hearing this, Riko's eyes went blank. She couldn't believe her ears. She stared at Geto in a daze.
"You… what did you say?"
"It's fine. No matter what happens, Satoru and I will guarantee your future."
Geto emphasized again, his words serious.
No matter what happened, there would always be a way. After all, he and Gojo were the strongest.
At this moment, neither Geto nor Riko knew that the strongest, Satoru Gojo , was already lying in a pool of blood. Though… after this battle, he would indeed become the true strongest.
Looking at the man before her — someone she had only known for two days, yet who was willing to turn against the world for her — Riko trembled all over, unable to form words.
From the very beginning, she had never even considered that refusal was an option.
Since her birth, she had been called the Star Plasma Vessel, carrying that mission, she had simply tried to avoid danger and survive until today. That seemed to be her only reason for existing.
She could no longer even remember the scene of her parents' deaths. She had long since grown numb to loneliness and grief.
Sometimes, she even thought that assimilation and separation from everyone wasn't such a big deal. No matter how much it hurt, sorrow and solitude would eventually fade with time.
"Uuuh…"
Suddenly, tears and snot flowed freely. Riko burst into sobs.
After all, she was only a teenage girl in the bloom of youth. How could she not yearn to stay in this world?
Thinking back on the past two days, Riko cried out between sobs:"I still want to! I still want to stay with everyone… just a little longer!"
"Phew…"
Hearing this, Geto exhaled in relief. With a smile, he reached out his hand, answering her yearning for life.
"Riko… let's go back."
"Bang—!"
A gunshot rang out from the high platform above, shattering the tender moment.
The bullet pierced through the air, aiming straight for Riko's head.
In the instant it grazed her hair, a figure flashed from deep within the tunnel, the air erupting into violent sonic booms.
In that moment—his speed had broken the sound barrier!
"Clap!"
Veins bulged along his arm as a calloused hand snapped out beside Riko, seizing the bullet just as it was about to pierce her skull.
The shockwave from his body's movement toppled Riko backward, leaving her stumbling to the ground.
"Ah!"
Before Riko even understood what had happened, she had already fallen with a thud.
Beside her, Geto froze, his body prickling with goosebumps as he stared at the man who had suddenly appeared. His entire being snapped into battle readiness.
He stepped to Riko's side, pulling her up and shielding her behind him.
"Are you okay?"
"I—I'm fine!"
Riko shook her head. Aside from her sore bottom, she wasn't injured.
"Whew… just in time. Another moment later and a girl in her prime would've lost her life before my eyes."
The newcomer was none other than Jinsuke. He opened his palm to reveal a flattened bullet lying quietly within.
Letting out a deep breath, the faint redness of his skin slowly faded back to normal.
"..."
Up on the platform, Toji's figure appeared. His gaze locked onto the man before him, his expression stiffening, his mind briefly blank.
Jinsuke raised his eyes to meet Toji's, a gentle smile on his face.
"Toji… it's been a long time. Did you miss your big brother?"
"Tsk… bastard. If you left, you should've never come back."
Rather than joy, Toji's expression twisted into anger. His face darkened as he turned away, abandoning the mission altogether.
Toward this brother who had disappeared without a word, Toji still carried resentment. Why had he left alone? Why had he left him behind?
"Eh…"
Seeing this, Jinsuke scratched his head with a bitter smile. So, Toji had grown up. He wasn't as easy to coax as when he was a child. Looks like he'd need to put in some real effort to mend things.
Turning to Geto, who stood bristling with vigilance, Jinsuke gave a small laugh.
"Sorry about that. My little brother caused you some trouble."
"As an apology, let me share a little secret."
His tone was sincere, and he whispered:
"Actually… that old man Tengen doesn't really need the Star Plasma Vessel to assimilate."
With that, Jinsuke chased off in the direction Toji had left, tossing back one last line:
"Don't tell anyone I said that, okay?"
Watching the man's retreating back—his mere silhouette radiating overwhelming pressure — Geto finally exhaled.
"What the hell… was that guy?"
Never mind anything else—just that speed alone was already beyond his imagination.
"What do we do now?"
Riko was still shaken. She had just stepped one foot into the abyss. If not for that stranger, she would've been dead.
"For now, let's leave."
Geto's brows furrowed as he kept his guard up, alert to any danger. Right now, all he wanted was to find Gojo. Please, let him be safe…
As for what Jinsuke had said about Master Tengen, Geto couldn't tell if it was true. That would have to be considered later.
Outside the Jujutsu High barrier—
Jinsuke caught up to Toji. Seeing Toji's sour expression, he clapped a hand down on his shoulder.
"What's this? Showing your brother that face… do you want to feel some brotherly love?"
Jinsuke squinted his eyes, raising his fist in a mock threat.
A disobedient Toji… as the elder brother, he had every right to discipline him.
In front of Jinsuke's massive frame—towering over 190 cm—Toji seemed almost small.
"Slap!"
Toji swatted his brother's hand away, his face expressionless.
"You think you can still beat me now?"
He was no longer the Toji of the past. Just because the man was his brother didn't mean he had the strength to lecture him anymore.