In the quiet, pressurized atmosphere of the Hilton conference room, the actors sat with the leather-bound scripts Leo Vance had personally distributed.
Julian Cross (Suguru Geto), who played the mysterious "Brain" in Season 1, didn't have many scenes in the debut season. Leo hadn't explained much about the character's origin then, simply stating he was a long-term villain with a deep, scarred history with Gojo.
Julian was looking at the prequel script now, his thoughts racing. The transition from the "Strongest Duo" of high school friends to the bitter, ideological split was haunting. Julian had initially assumed "Brain" was just a generic evil entity that had always been at odds with Gojo. He never expected his character to have such a soulful, tragic beginning.
However, he was still missing a piece of the puzzle. Suguru Geto and "Brain" were not exactly the same person. Leo hadn't made the distinction clear yet. If Julian knew the full "body-hopping" identity of his character, it might cause him to lose the earnest, "Justice-driven" performance needed for the teen version of Geto.
"Hello everyone, I'm Andrew Stone," the martial arts veteran said, breaking the silence. His voice was gravelly and professional. "It's an honor to work with this crew. Please take care of me."
Andrew began to flip through his script. When he reached the sequence at the academy gates, where he stabs teen Gojo in the throat and proceeds to systematically dismantle both Gojo and Geto, his hands froze.
Good lord.
The previous night, Andrew had re-watched the first season of JJK. As a veteran stuntman, his admiration for Leo Vance's portrayal of Gojo had deepened. It was the best male lead design he'd seen in a decade, powerful, arrogant, and devastatingly cool.
And now, on his first day, the Director wanted him to... assassinate the world's favorite character?
Andrew broke into a cold sweat. His elementary-school-aged daughter hadn't even watched cartoons recently; she was obsessed with Jujutsu Kaisen. She had watched Gojo's "Infinite Void" sequence over twenty times. When he'd asked her why, she'd simply squealed, "Instructor Gojo is so handsome! I want to marry him when I grow up!"
Andrew didn't dare imagine what his precious daughter's reaction would be when she saw her own father murdering her "husband" on the big screen.
Across the table, Della Rose was reading her guest-appearance script with relish. If one didn't know she was a global superstar, they'd think she was an obsessive fan. She would look at the lines, then sneak a glance at Leo, then look back at the script.
Della wiped a tiny bit of drool from the corner of her mouth. She could already visualize the "Awakened Gojo" scene. It was going to be the visual peak of the decade.
Hmph, Maya West... you're so arrogant you turned down these 'minor' guest roles? Della thought, imagining her rival's face. Just wait. When the movie drops and I'm standing by the King's side, you'll be the one begging me for spoilers!
Natalie G. sat beside her, wearing a similar expression of fanatical excitement. They were guest-starring as the twin sisters Geto saves. Normally, stars of their caliber would demand millions for a cameo, but both had essentially packed their bags and flown to the set the second Leo called, willing to work for craft services and a peek at the script.
"I... I die?"
To Della's left, Ava was staring at the script for Riko Amanai, her face pale. She was completely distraught. Just a moment before, Riko and Geto were smiling and talking about a future of freedom. And in the very next heartbeat, as she reaches out her hand... Bang.
Leo Vance watched them with a calm, director's eye. He saw the genuine shock on their faces and knew he had the right cast.
"Director," Julian Cross asked, tapping his script. "This stitch on Geto's forehead in the 'Future' scenes... is he really the same man?"
Leo offered a slight, mysterious smile. "That involves Season 2 and the Shibuya arc. You don't need to know that yet. You just need to perfectly immerse yourself as the 'Justice' Geto of the high school years."
Leo's words were a classic non-answer, but Julian and the others couldn't help but ponder the implication. Suguru Geto of the 'Hidden Inventory'? Does that mean he stops being Suguru Geto later?
While the JJK movie was beginning its secret production, Leo's other project, The Outcast, was reaching a fever pitch on national television.
The Raten Taishou matches were in full swing. After Jo (Riley Evans) hilariously knocked the soul out of an opponent named Xiao, the scene shifted.
Silas (Zhuge Qing) and Wang Ye (Leo Vance) stepped in to help the boy retrieve his soul before the tournament moved to the main event.
"Gentlemen, since you've stepped in, there's no need to rush off!" the referee announced over the stadium speakers. "The next match is about to begin!"
"Silas vs. Wang Ye!"
The internet exploded. This was the match every fan had been waiting for.
Leo Vance's Gojo Satoru had been a visual god. Now, they wanted to see if his "Salted Fish" Daoist, Wang Ye, could actually fight.
The live stream chat was a chaotic betting parlor:
[Who wins? I bet on Silas! He's a descendant of the great Zhuge! He looks fierce. If he loses, I'll eat three pounds of spicy hotpot broth!]
[I bet on Wang Ye! If he loses, I'll eat ten pounds of it! Don't let the robe fool you, he's probably just Gojo in disguise. He'll put on a blindfold and unleash 'Purple' and Silas will vanish!]
[+1! Will he lose? Wang Ye: 'I'd win.']
[Silas looks like a protagonist. Wang Ye looks like he's looking for a nap. I'm betting on the 'Occult Matrix'!]
On the screen, the match began.
Silas offered a confident smile. "I greatly admire your cultivation, Daoist Wang. But why do you always seem so... unmotivated?"
"Unmotivated?" Wang Ye smiled, his voice a lazy drawl. "Depends on the person, I guess."
With a sudden, violent burst of speed, Wang Ye flashed forward. He performed a set of Tai Chi that was both fierce and powerful. To the untrained eye, it looked like a standard martial arts sequence. But to actual experts watching the show, the footwork was profound—a level of mastery that suggested decades of practice.
"So fast!" Silas thought, his body easily dodging the palm strikes. "He's laying down a force field around me! I can't get caught in the flow!"
"Yin Hand!" Wang Ye shouted, slamming a palm out. "Got you."
A stream of vibrant green energy wrapped around Silas's wrist. As Wang Ye pulled him in, Silas countered with a devastating elbow strike, the signature move of Eight Extremities Fist (Bajiquan).
"Eight Extremities Fist?" Wang Ye sounded impressed.
Silas stomped his foot onto the arena stone, and the cinematic special effects of the Occult Matrix manifested around him. "I never underestimate my opponents. Please, Daoist Wang, do not underestimate me."
"Oh! You really know a lot," Wang Ye said helplessly.
Wang Ye lunged, aiming a palm at Silas's abdomen.
"Gen Position: Kunlun!" Silas chanted.
Wang Ye's strike hit Silas, but there was no impact. It was as if he had punched a solid block of granite.
"Kan Position: Water Bullet!" "Kun Position: Earth River Cart!" "Kun Position: Flowing Stone!"
As Silas unleashed his wondrous techniques, massive boulders appeared out of thin air, surrounding Wang Ye and crushing the terrain. The special effects were maximized, the budget was clearly visible in every frame.
Wang Ye was sent scrambling, his robes dusty and torn, looking genuinely disheveled.
The live chat became arrogant:
[ASHER REED FANS, WHERE ARE YOU?! Wang Ye is getting washed! Silas is the real MC!]
[I'm ready to see that one guy livestream eating those ten pounds of spicy broth! Renounce your faith now!]
But just as the audience thought the outcome was decided, Silas stopped his assault. His expression turned dark and suspicious.
"Daoist Wang... are you looking down on me?" Silas asked, his eyes narrowing.
"Actually... you're also a 'Sorcerer', aren't you?"
The reversal was instant. The lazy "Salted Fish" Wang Ye stood up, wiped the dust from his shoulder, and his sleepy eyes suddenly gained a sharp, chilling clarity. The battle was about to enter a new realm.
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