Shibuya, Tokyo.
Inside the underground station.
A man stood there draped in monk's robes, his eyes narrow and long, with a distinct scar stitched across his forehead.
Geto Suguru!
No, it was Kenjaku, currently occupying Geto Suguru's body.
Beside him stood several Cursed Spirits, all looking down at the ground together.
A stone-like cube was embedded in the floor, its surface covered in countless blue eyes that seemed to be shedding tears.
"And with that, Gojo Satoru has been successfully sealed."
"Without Gojo Satoru, the gap between the sorcerers and us has vanished!"
The one-eyed Cursed Spirit with a volcano-like head split his mouth open, revealing pitch-black teeth.
Beside Jogo, Mahito—his body covered in stitches—destroyed a nearby surveillance camera and walked over.
"It seems our situation has been exposed. Those sorcerers will do everything in their power to charge in here and rescue Gojo Satoru."
"What do you two plan to do next?"
Choso's expression remained calm, his gaze firm.
"I'm going to kill Itadori Yuji and Kugisaki Nobara to avenge my brothers!"
"Then, I will take back my other brothers kept by Jujutsu High."
Jogo objected, "I don't care about that girl, Kugisaki, but Itadori cannot be killed. We need him to resurrect Sukuna."
"That has nothing to do with me!"
Choso's words immediately drew Jogo's ire.
Seeing the two on the verge of a fight, Mahito stepped in to stop them.
"Jogo, cool it."
"Speaking of which, I want to kill Itadori Yuji as well!"
"Mahito, what did you say!?" Jogo barked.
Mahito stroked his chin, a wicked smile spreading across his face.
"You said it yourself just now—without Gojo Satoru, we're evenly matched with the sorcerers. Resurrecting Sukuna would give us a massive advantage and a guaranteed win, right?"
"But with our current combat power, we should win anyway. So, let's just kill Itadori Yuji."
"Mahito, are you serious?" Jogo asked back.
"Of course I am!" Mahito said. "Besides, even if Sukuna is resurrected, there's no guarantee he'll take our side."
Jogo blinked his single eye, still unable to agree. "Resurrecting Sukuna might carry a higher risk for us, but as long as he returns, the age of curses will inevitably arrive!"
"A hundred years from now, I don't need to be the one laughing in the wilderness. As long as curses can stand tall as the true humans of this world, that is enough!"
"Yes, yes, Jogo, I know what you're thinking. How about a little contest? Whoever finds Itadori first gets to deal with him their way."
Mahito waved his hand dismissively and looked toward 'Geto Suguru'.
"And you? I assume you're on Jogo's side. What are you going to do next?"
"I need to handle the Prison Realm here."
'Geto Suguru' swept his narrow eyes over the three of them. His expression was calm, but his heart was heavy.
After occupying this body, he had not only inherited the Cursed Spirit Manipulation technique but also Geto Suguru's original memories.
When leafing through those memories, he saw something buried in the deepest depths—a brief but profoundly significant moment from Geto Suguru's student days.
To think... while he was alive, Geto Suguru had actually encountered a being walking the world in human form.
A God!
No, a Soul Reaper who held dominion over death!
That Soul Reaper had clearly been paying attention to Geto and his two companions.
And he, without knowing a thing, had stolen Geto Suguru's body?!
When he first discovered this, his mind felt like it had been struck by a heavy blow, his head ringing.
His worldview of nearly a thousand years came crashing down, almost causing his will to crumble.
It took considerable effort to calm himself, and he could only comfort himself with optimistic assumptions.
'That Soul Reaper was clearly watching Geto Suguru, yet He still let me occupy this body. Does that mean He doesn't care at all?'
'He is a Soul Reaper; the world of the living is not His domain. That's why He's indifferent to worldly affairs!'
If that weren't the case, how could He watch everything happening in the world with such indifference?
Even when he took over Geto Suguru's body, He hadn't shown the slightest reaction.
No divine punishment had descended, nor had any vengeful spirits come for his life. Did this mean... He had given His tacit consent?
Carrying these thoughts, he refused to give up his plan. He tested the waters step by step, gradually confirming his suspicions.
'That Soul Reaper... He really won't intervene in the world!'
Tonight, this grand play he had orchestrated was both his original plan and his final test.
If the Soul Reaper truly didn't come to stop him, then he could finally act without restraint in the future.
Kenjaku felt slightly more at ease. He looked at the three before him, his voice suddenly turning solemn.
"You can do whatever you like with the other sorcerers, but there is one person you must never lay a finger on!"
Seeing 'Geto Suguru' issue such a grave warning, Mahito was filled with curiosity.
"I've never seen you look like this. Who is it?"
"The Grade 1 Sorcerer, Mei Mei!"
'Geto Suguru' added in a low voice, "She's a woman with silver hair covering her face. Her technique involves controlling crows. If you encounter her, make sure to stay away."
"Even if she attacks you, you cannot harm her. Just take it."
Hearing this, not only Mahito but even Jogo and Choso beside him became curious.
Jogo looked puzzled and asked sharply, "Hey, what's this about? She's just a Grade 1 Sorcerer. Does she have some special ability?"
"Letting someone attack me without fighting back is not my style," Choso muttered.
"What happens if I kill her?" Mahito asked, eager to try.
"You will die."
"Is that woman really that powerful?"
"No, you'll be killed by me."
Kenjaku's gaze turned icy as it swept over Mahito, his voice carrying a killing intent that chilled to the bone.
Of the three who had met the Soul Reaper back then, Geto Suguru had died at the hands of Gojo Satoru, so that had nothing to do with him.
Now, only Gojo Satoru and Mei Mei remained.
Although Gojo Satoru was sealed, his life was thankfully intact. That was the limit of what he could manage.
He absolutely could not allow their side to take the lives of those three.
If by some chance it drew the Soul Reaper's attention, his lifelong pursuit would never be fulfilled.
Thinking back to the indescribable majesty of the Soul Reaper in those memories, Kenjaku felt as if he were there in person; cold sweat instantly broke out on his forehead.
"So scary, so scary."
Mahito laughed airily, but feeling the heavy killing intent in the air, he immediately put on a pitiful act and hid behind Jogo.
"Jogo, he wants to kill me. Say something!"
Jogo narrowed his eye, staring intently at 'Geto Suguru'.
"Are you serious about this?"
"Everything is to ensure our plan proceeds smoothly!"
Kenjaku spoke, Geto Suguru's gentle voice now sounding resolute and unyielding.
"If someone actually provokes her and ruins the plan because of it, I'd rather just exorcise those delusions of yours right now."
Plans could be adjusted, but they couldn't be ruined by the accidents caused by these Cursed Spirits.
Everything else was fine, but Mahito's technique was still too immature. It would be a pity to harvest it now.
Seeing his solemn demeanor, Jogo nodded heavily.
"Since you put it that way, I won't provoke that woman either."
"Mahito, did you hear that? Absolutely no unnecessary trouble!"
Jogo turned his head, only to see the ground behind him empty.
"Where's Mahito?"
"Over there."
Choso pointed toward the elevator, where Mahito's figure was already running upward.
Seeing them notice, Mahito shouted loudly, "Don't worry, I won't cause trouble! I'm going to find Itadori Yuji first!"
"That guy ran off while you were halfway through your speech," Choso said, before heading toward the upper platform as well.
"Mahito, you bastard, wait for me!"
As the three left one after another, Kenjaku squatted down, staring intently at the Prison Realm embedded in the ground, his expression pensive.
"Doing this... is still too risky after all."
"No, Mahito has a vile personality. He really can't be trusted!"
Once he finished dealing with the Prison Realm, he would immediately go find Mei Mei to ensure her safety.
His gaze shifted, and he turned to look at the dazed crowd nearby.
Two young girls were hiding in the crowd, looking at him with eyes full of hatred.
"Oh, it's you two. I remember you were Geto Suguru's little followers."
"Forget it. Just small fry. Doesn't matter."
In the dim underground tunnel.
Because of the incident at the center of Shibuya, the trains had been forced to stop. The entire underground track was eerily quiet.
The emergency lights on the walls emitted multicolored glows, bringing a sliver of light to the dim space.
At least it was enough to see what lay ahead.
Mei Mei shouldered her massive axe and walked along the train tracks.
The crisp sound of her footsteps echoed in the silent underground environment, sounding quite prominent.
Her younger brother, Ui Ui, followed behind her.
Since separating from Itadori Yuji, she had continued deeper with her brother.
After casually disposing of some small fry they encountered along the way...
As she was about to enter Shibuya Station, she suddenly stopped.
She lifted the braid covering her face, her two exposed eyes narrowing as she stared intently ahead.
"How surprising. I never thought it would really be you."
"Itadori brought a communicator earlier. I found the information hard to believe at the time, but seeing you with my own eyes now, it seems it's true."
"Miss Mei, it's been a long time."
A figure flickered in and out of the darkness ahead.
Thud, thud, thud!
Footsteps rang out as the figure emerged from the darkness into the light of the emergency lamps, revealing his true face.
It was Geto Suguru, controlled by Kenjaku.
Mei Mei let her hair fall back into place. Her giant axe rested on the ground as she propped herself up with one hand, her single visible eye curling slightly.
"You certainly talk the talk, but who are you exactly?"
"I recall Suguru was killed by Gojo Satoru last year... and that stitched scar on your head... You've taken over Suguru's body, haven't you?"
Since meeting that Soul Reaper during their student days, perhaps because they shared the same experience, her relationship with Geto Suguru and Gojo Satoru had been relatively close.
Unlike the rebellious Geto Suguru or the self-centered Gojo Satoru, she considered her own personality to be more reliable.
On the afternoon she met the God, she was approached again by the Soul Reaper's apostle. Although she paid a heavy price, it successfully put her in contact with the Divine.
After the Soul Reaper departed, an apostle was dispatched to remain in the human world.
Over the years, while accepting commissions from the Jujutsu world to exorcise curses, she had also been working secretly for the Soul Reaper to earn pay.
If she truly died one day, she would have enough savings to establish herself in the afterlife.
Outside of work, she would also exchange information with the Soul Reaper's apostle stationed in the world.
According to that red-eyed Soul Reaper apostle, Geto Suguru's soul had been taken away as soon as he died a year ago.
Mei Mei had even heard that Geto Suguru was doing quite well in the afterlife and had even entered an afterlife school to study.
So now, the identity of this Geto Suguru appearing before her was truly bizarre.
"Miss Mei, you were so certain 'I' was dead the moment you saw me. It seems you really do know something."
Seeing Mei Mei's attitude, 'Geto Suguru's' lips curled into a smile.
Although it was only a little, it was enough for him to deduce many things.
"I won't hide it—I have indeed occupied Geto Suguru's body, and thus gained some of his memories. That includes the God the three of you met that day!"
"According to my deductions, you've been in contact with those beings all these years, and you've heard things from them—for instance, about Geto Suguru's soul being taken away."
"That's why you were so adamant that I was someone else the moment you saw me!"
After obtaining Geto Suguru's memories, Kenjaku had replayed the encounter with the God, including His personality and goals, countless times in his mind.
The Soul Reaper only wanted the souls of the strong. Geto Suguru was not weak, so his soul would definitely be taken by the Soul Reaper.
Mei Mei raised her giant axe, silently heightening her vigilance as she watched the movements of the person before her.
"Suguru—I'll call you that for now."
"What's the use of knowing all this?"
Kenjaku waved his hands repeatedly, trying his best to show he had no hostile intent.
"Miss Mei, there's no need to be so guarded. I have no malice toward you and will never harm you."
"I only came here to confirm one thing with you."
Mei Mei shook her head in refusal. "I'm not going to tell you, Suguru-kun."
"Actually, you don't need to say anything. This contact was my test."
Kenjaku gave a light chuckle, his voice sounding somewhat relieved.
"I've already gotten what I wanted."
He had approached Mei Mei so blatantly, yet the Soul Reaper hadn't responded. He was still perfectly fine, which made him completely certain.
The Soul Reaper really was uninterested in the world of the living!
In that case, he could be even bolder in his future actions.
"Miss Mei, would you mind withdrawing from Shibuya?"
"There are a lot of dangerous fellows here. It would be quite a hassle if you were accidentally injured."
Mei Mei looked at him strangely, her eyes scanning the 'Geto Suguru' in front of her.
"Are you serious?"
"Naturally."
"I refuse," Mei Mei said immediately. "I've accepted a commission; I can't just abandon the reward I'm about to get."
"Then there's no other way. Please stay here for a while."
Kenjaku suddenly turned and ran into the darkness.
Mei Mei lifted her axe to give chase, but a series of rustling sounds suddenly erupted from the darkness ahead.
The sounds drew closer, moving into the light.
Cursed Spirits!
An almost endless wave of Cursed Spirits in various forms filled the tunnel ahead, packed tightly together.
'Geto Suguru' was already long gone, leaving only his voice echoing back.
"Miss Mei, these are all Grade 2 and 3 Cursed Spirits. They're enough to keep you trapped here."
Looking at the tide of Cursed Spirits ahead, Mei Mei swung her axe and let out a helpless sigh.
"It seems this Suguru really has no intent to kill me."
Behind her, Ui Ui nodded.
"It would appear so."
"These Cursed Spirits won't pose a threat to you, sister, but there are enough of them to delay you."
"By the time we deal with this place, things outside will likely be over."
Mei Mei smiled faintly. "This is perfect—a workload that matches the pay given by the Jujutsu world."
"Let's clear this out as quickly as possible."
With that, Mei Mei brandished her giant axe and charged into the wave of Cursed Spirits.
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]