I felt guilty for leaving Yuji with Yuta, but I had no other choice. For days I waited for news, wondering if I had done the right thing by trusting him. Doubt gnawed at me until one of Megumi's shikigami appeared, summoning me to meet them.
After ensuring my mother was safe and circling Tokyo to confirm no one was following me, I headed to the meeting point. Relief washed over me when I saw Yuji standing there, smiling nervously beside Fushiguro. I ran toward them.
—It's such a relief to see you! For a moment I thought…
—Ah… well, maybe he did kill me… —Yuji scratched his head awkwardly. I frowned in confusion, and he quickly raised his hands in surrender. —W-wait, what I mean is… they had to fake my death. If the higher-ups knew I was alive…
—Yes, he explained it to me. I'm glad it worked. —I interrupted with a smile, trying to ease his nerves.
Before meeting them, I had already reported to the higher-ups, announcing Yuji's "death" at the hands of one of their executioners. The news shifted the focus of the great houses back to their internal conflicts and the eradication of remaining curses in Japan, preventing the world from doubting the government's ability to respond.
—Now that we're all together… what's next? —I asked, still uncertain. Fushiguro's dark eyes locked onto mine.
—We're going to see Master Tengen. —His voice was low, almost a growl. —We need to understand what awaits us with the massacre Noritoshi Kamo is preparing… and how to open the Gokumonkyo to free Gojo-sensei.
—Massacre? —I repeated, Yuji and I equally unsettled.
—Yes. He calls it the "Journey of Extinction." A game designed for those of us who inherited sorcery. —Fushiguro's fists clenched at his sides. Yuji's worried gaze lingered on him, and I could sense the weight pressing down on all of us.
—We'll meet the others at the school. We need to decide how to face this. —he added, stepping forward with determination.
Yuji hesitated, his feet rooted to the ground.
—Everything will be fine, as long as no one sees you. —Fushiguro reassured him, though his tone carried steel beneath the calm.
—We can enter through the same path Mahito used. —Choso's voice cut through the silence as he appeared suddenly beside us. —It's hidden, few know of it. We'll infiltrate undetected.
Fushiguro and I exchanged startled glances at his sudden arrival, but Yuji barely reacted. He seemed used to Choso's unpredictable appearances.
Yuji's expression grew pensive, weighing his options. After a long pause, he nodded.
—If this fails and the higher-ups find out, all your families will suffer. —His cautious gaze swept over us, lingering on Fushiguro and me. —And Sukuna… he has plans for both of you. If I lose control while you're near…
—Don't worry. You're not foolish enough to let him take over again. —Fushiguro's calm smile was sharp, almost mocking. —Now we need to gather the others and find Master Tengen.
—I'll take a different route. —Yuji stepped back. —I don't trust myself. Fifteen fingers… he could manifest at any moment.
His eyes met mine, and memories of Sukuna's manifestations when I was near him resurfaced. If Fushiguro and I were both present…
—If you lose control again, I promise I'll kill you. —Yuta's voice rang out as he appeared, his sword dripping blood. His words were not a threat, but a vow.
Yuji sighed, strangely relieved despite receiving two direct threats. I couldn't help but smile at his expression.
—Hey! Don't laugh at me. —Yuji said playfully, giving me a gentle tap on the shoulder.
The tension between us eased as we walked together toward Jujutsu High. For a fleeting moment, it felt like old times, as if nothing had changed in these months of darkness. Yet deep down, we all knew the calm was only an illusion, a fragile pause before the storm.
Perhaps the most striking difference was that the streets, once alive with noise and light, were now silent and shadowed. At every corner, the presence of curses lingered, and the metallic scent of blood filled the air. With each step toward the school, I could see Yuji's jaw tighten, his body tense as if bracing against invisible chains.
—Are you alright? —I asked softly.
He turned to me with a gentle smile, but it was false, a hollow mask compared to the genuine ones he once carried. I nodded quietly. Maybe it was best to leave him alone, not to press further. Yet I knew deep down that guilt was consuming him, and the anxiety of being so close to us gnawed at his spirit.
We arrived at the school, and before meeting Master Tengen, we gathered with Maki and Tsukumo in one of the underground classrooms. Sitting there with a relaxed yet defiant posture was a blonde woman, appearing to be in her late twenties. She lifted her head, her striking eyes scanning the five of us. When her gaze met mine, her smile widened.
—I see the matriarch of the Mizuki family has joined us… good. This will be more entertaining than I imagined. —She rose gracefully. —The leaders of the Zenin and Mizuki clans together… this meeting will mark history.
Megumi began to speak about Tengen's barrier, but Choso placed a hand firmly on his shoulder.
—I'll explain. Between the sanctuary and the gates lies a vault where my brothers' remains are hidden. With my cursed technique, I should be able to find them.
We all nodded, though Maki and Tsukumo seemed unsettled by Choso's presence. Tsukumo let out a soft laugh, then stood and walked toward the exit with Choso. We followed her; her movements were confident, as if she knew the path by heart.
She led us down a solitary, dark corridor until we reached a wooden door. Choso opened it without hesitation.
—Here lie my brothers' remains. There doesn't seem to be any danger in passing through.
Choso and Tsukumo led the way. Despite the suffocating darkness, they moved with ease. As we drew closer to Tengen's chamber, traces of an old battle became visible: fractured walls, scorched stone, and dried stains across the floor.
—This is the Hall of Stellar Death. —Tsukumo's voice was calm, almost reverent.
—Hey… is this blood? —Yuji asked, staring at a blackened pool. —What happened here?
We had reached a vast open space, connected to multiple tunnels that stretched into endless shadow.
—What you see, boy, is the beginning of the massacre. It happened twelve years ago, when everything collapsed. —Tsukumo's tone was sharp, as if lecturing children. —This was only the start of that madman's plan.
Her voice grew darker. She turned her back to us and continued down one of the tunnels. We followed in silence, unwilling to ask more. After several minutes, a pure white light appeared at the tunnel's end. It was so radiant that we froze, wondering if it was safe to approach.
—Come on, don't fall behind. —Tsukumo's voice carried authority, pulling us forward.
We stepped into an enormous chamber, completely white. There was nothing—no walls, no figures—just an infinite blank expanse that seemed to swallow reality itself.
—That bastard is keeping us away. —Tsukumo growled, biting her lip. —Though Tengen rarely interferes with reality… perhaps he has rejected us. We cannot see him unless he accepts us into his domain.
With frustration etched across her face, Tsukumo turned away. The rest of us followed suit—until a voice shattered the silence that had swallowed the endless white chamber.
—Welcome, all of you.
The calm, monotone words froze us in place. We turned back, astonished, to see a figure entirely white standing at the center of the vast hall. Its humanoid form blended seamlessly with the surroundings, as though it were part of the chamber itself. Arms crossed over its chest, it regarded us with blank, expressionless eyes—if they could even be called eyes.
We all swallowed hard.
—Tengen… —Tsukumo whispered, her lips curling into a satisfied smile.
The being—Tengen—nodded and looked at each of us in turn.
—It is a pleasure to meet you. —A faint crack formed across its lips, perhaps an attempt at friendliness. Its gaze lingered on us with unsettling familiarity, as if it had known us all our lives.
—The children of the Zenin clan… the descendant of Michizane… one of the Nine Rot… the vessel of Sukuna… —It named each of us with alarming precision. When its gaze fell on me, its smile twisted. —And the head of the Mizuki family… the traveler of time.
A chill ran down my spine. I hadn't expected it to know. Suddenly, everyone around me vanished. I spun in terror, searching the empty chamber.
—Calm yourself. —The voice was gentle, like soothing a frightened child. —I merely separated you from the others.
When I turned back, the Master of Cracks stood beside Tengen.
—I am glad to see you again, ***. —As he spoke my true name, a strange distortion interrupted the sound, like static interference. —It is a miracle to see you sane and whole. Most time travelers lose their minds… or die far too soon.
—Hah… don't doubt my ability to adapt. —I smirked arrogantly. I had survived worse back when I was a student.
—You have reached the point of no return. —The Master of Cracks spoke with a sinister edge, and my spine straightened instinctively.
—In our world, time travelers are known for their knowledge of works and events yet to come. Many have interfered with predestined occurrences… some achieved feats that filled history with awe. But others failed miserably, dying prematurely without altering the timeline at all. —Tengen's voice reverberated through the chamber, calm yet heavy. —The wisest among us have known of their existence since time immemorial. Even in the Heian era, there were many who perished for meddling too deeply.
I swallowed hard. Perhaps Sukuna already knew something about the time travelers who had existed long before me, and that was why I had drawn so much of his attention…
—And Sukuna… does he know about this? —I asked anxiously.
Master Tengen shook his head.
—He is clever, yes. He may suspect something, but he is not certain. Still, you have alarmingly caught his attention. He will likely be interested in using your power to travel across worlds. —Tengen's voice was calm, yet tinged with concern.
—But now, child, you have very few options. —The Master of Cracks interrupted. With a flick of his hand, a massive fissure opened between us, revealing a vision that froze the blood in my veins.
I recognized my body… or what was left of it. It was the intensive care unit of the hospital where I worked, the cubicle number 2. In the bed lay my face, so wasted it resembled that of an old woman. My once chestnut hair was falling away, my arms and legs thin and frail. Machines surrounded me: ventilators connected to a tube in my mouth, monitors tracking heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature. A catheter in my neck delivered medication, and another—newly implemented—was the Prisma, Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy. My body was deteriorating rapidly.
If they were already using that equipment, it meant at least six months had passed. I remembered my supervisor mentioning that specialists would come to train us in handling it.
—As you can see, your body will not wait much longer. The original powers of Kuroha and Yamikiri, which you failed to master from the beginning despite being their creator, have increased the strain on your physical form. —The Master of Cracks spoke with severity.
Instinctively, I stepped toward the fissure.
—Do not even think of entering! —his warning stopped me cold.
—That fissure is unstable. We cannot be sure that crossing it would return you to your world. You might be cast into another… wandering through countless realms until you become a lost soul when your body finally succumbs. —Tengen's voice was cold, almost chilling.
—When you find the true fissure, you will be in the midst of a decisive moment. You will know it instantly… and there, you must make the choice you deem right.
Before I could answer, the Master of Cracks began to fade. The others reappeared at my side, all of them dazed and frightened, unaware that I had vanished. I turned to Tengen. He seemed fully aware of what had transpired, yet continued speaking to the group.
—So… if we gather enough points, we can exchange them to create a new rule. —Yuji's voice was thoughtful.
—That is correct. —Tengen replied with a trace of impatience. Judging by his tone and the confused faces around me, none of them truly understood what he was explaining.
I looked around. Unlike when we had first arrived, everything had turned into a deep, oppressive black. Above Tengen floated a series of rules, suspended in the void.
—You're telling us that what this man is trying to do… —Fushiguro growled.
—Yes. He seeks to force human evolution across all of Japan by fusing humanity with me. —Though his voice seemed devoid of emotion, alarm pulsed beneath every word. —And in my current state… I could not resist such a fusion. Being omnipotent, with no clear division between one individual and another… if even one were to turn evil, that corruption would spread to all, expanding like a virus.
The air grew suffocating. We all held our breath, fully aware of the horror that would unfold if his words became reality. Tengen exhaled slowly, lifting his head to study each of us in turn. His gaze lingered on me longer than the others, and in that silence I understood: his eyes were telling me that my role in the coming extinction would be pivotal.
At the most crucial point, I would have to find the fissure that could lead me back home… or remain within this story, interfering with its course, even if it meant my body's death.
—Your duty now is to interfere with Kenjaku's plans… before the destruction awaiting Japan spreads to the rest of the world. —His solemn voice carried the weight of a final judgment, like the closing words of a trial.
The tension was unbearable.
—Enough. It's time we leave. We must seek allies willing to join us in this madness. —Tsukumo's voice cut through the oppressive silence as she tossed her blonde hair, breaking the suffocating atmosphere for a moment.
We all released the breath we hadn't realized we were holding. One by one, we began to leave the chamber, our steps heavy, as though each stride dragged us deeper into the darkness of fate.
—And Kuroha… —Tengen called my name one last time.
I turned back. For a fleeting instant—like an illusion—the Master of Cracks stood beside him, raising a hand in farewell.
Time was closing in on me.