High noon on the day of the Goodwill Event.
The monitor room at Tokyo Jujutsu High.
Screens lined the walls, displaying every corner of the forest battlefield. Gojo Satoru, Iori Utahime, Principal Gakuganji, and Mei Mei sat inside, watching the match unfold.
"My, the first-years seem quite energetic this year."
Gojo sat with his legs crossed, a bag of Kikufuku in hand, looking completely relaxed.
"Especially our Maki. She seems to have... changed a lot lately."
Sitting in the corner, Hayashi En pushed up his glasses and tapped on a calculator, cross-referencing accounts. As a 'Logistics Consultant,' he was also permitted to be here.
"Indeed."
Hayashi En replied without looking up.
"As one of my 'VIP clients,' it would ruin my reputation if she couldn't even make it through the first round."
Principal Gakuganji snorted, his cloudy old eyes filled with disdain.
"She is nothing more than a failure of the Zenin clan."
"Without cursed energy, no matter how much she struggles, she is still just trash."
Hayashi En and Gojo exchanged a glance, both wearing meaningful smiles.
"Then you'd better... keep your eyes peeled."
...
Inside the forest area of the battlefield.
"Let the match begin!"
As Gojo's voice broadcasted across the field, the battle erupted instantly.
Tokyo High's strategy was simple: split into two groups.
That monster Todo Aoi headed straight for Itadori.
Meanwhile, Maki stood alone, blocking the path of the Kyoto High main force.
"Maki?"
Kyoto's Miwa Kasumi gripped her sword, looking at the tall figure blocking the way with some hesitation.
"Are you alone?"
"One person is enough."
Maki held her long-handled naginata, a weapon she had used for a long time.
She didn't take a defensive stance; she just stood there casually. Yet for some reason, Miwa felt as if she weren't facing a human, but a waking beast.
"Don't underestimate me!"
Miwa drew her blade. "New Shadow Style: Simple Domain!"
She prepared to launch her quick-draw technique.
However.
"Too slow."
Maki's voice rang out right beside her ear.
Miwa's pupils shrank.
'When?!'
She hadn't even seen Maki's movements. In a blur, the figure had crossed over ten meters and smashed right through her defense!
No fancy cursed energy reinforcement.
Just pure, absolute speed.
"Bam!"
Maki's foot slammed into Miwa's wrist.
The long sword flew out of her hand.
Immediately after, the butt of the naginata struck Miwa heavily in the abdomen.
"Urgh!"
Without even letting out a scream, Miwa was sent flying like a cannonball, snapping a large tree before falling unconscious.
An instant knockout.
"This..."
Nishimiya Momo and Kamo Noritoshi, following behind, were both stunned.
'Is this the "trash with no cursed energy"?'
'This kind of explosive power... Even a Grade 1 sorcerer reinforced with cursed energy is only about this strong.'
"Next."
Maki turned around and adjusted her glasses, her eyes terrifyingly calm.
After Hayashi En's 'Cursed Energy Stripping Surgery,' the stagnant '0.5' units of cursed energy in her body had mostly vanished.
While she hadn't reached Toji's level of 'Absolute Zero Cursed Energy' yet, the shackles on her physical body had been unlocked.
Her five senses had become exceptionally clear.
The flow of air, the rustle of leaves, the contraction of enemy muscles...
Everything was under her control.
"This feeling..."
Maki tightened her grip on the naginata, a wild curve forming on her lips.
"It's wonderful."
...
Inside the monitor room.
A deathly silence.
Principal Gakuganji stared fixedly at the screen, nearly snapping the cane in his hand.
"Impossible..."
'No cursed energy fluctuations... She's relying entirely on physical strength?'
'What exactly did that girl do?'
Utahime was also wearing a face of total shock.
Only Gojo was laughing loudly.
"Hahahaha! See that? That's youth!"
He turned to Hayashi En with a hint of curiosity in his eyes.
"En, what on earth did you give her?"
"Nothing much."
Hayashi En closed his ledger and calmly took a sip of tea.
"I just helped her clear out the 'excess trash' in her body."
"Now, she has finally touched the threshold of the 'Heavenly Tyrant'."
...
On the other side of the battlefield.
Mai was hiding in the bushes, her revolver already loaded.
She watched Maki tear through the Kyoto High defenses as if they weren't there, her eyes overflowing with jealousy and resentment.
'Why...'
'Why are you always ahead of me...'
"Die!!"
Mai pulled the trigger.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Three bullets infused with cursed energy flew toward Maki's blind spot in a triangular formation.
At this distance and angle, they were impossible to dodge.
However.
Maki didn't even look back.
With a flick of her wrist, her naginata danced behind her, leaving an afterimage.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
Three crisp sounds echoed.
Three bullets were precisely deflected, sparks flying.
"What?!" Mai couldn't believe it.
'Blocking bullets with a cold weapon? Is she even human?'
Before she could react, a gust of wind rushed toward her face.
Maki had appeared in front of her before she realized it.
The tip of the naginata stopped steadily right before Mai's forehead.
"If it were the old me, you might have been able to force me back."
Maki looked at her terrified younger sister, her eyes devoid of any emotion.
"But now..."
"Your movements look like slow-motion replays to me."
Mai's body went stiff, her back instantly drenched in a cold sweat.
She could feel it.
The overwhelming gap between them.
This was no longer the sister who was weak despite her efforts.
It was an awakening... monster.
"Mai."
Maki retracted the naginata and didn't spare her another glance as she turned to walk deeper into the forest.
"You're too weak."
"Don't get in my way."
Mai knelt on the ground, watching Maki's departing back as her nails dug deep into the dirt.
Utter defeat.
...
The monitor room.
"The outcome is decided."
Mei Mei commented as she watched the screen.
"Zenin Maki... this is one stock that's about to hit its limit."
Gojo whistled.
Meanwhile, Hayashi En glanced at the clock on the wall.
"It's about time."
He stood up and straightened his suit.
"Everyone, I'm heading to the restroom."
"What? You're leaving just when it's getting good?" Gojo asked.
"No."
Hayashi En reached the door, placed his hand on the handle, and looked back with a gentle smile.
"It's because... I've been holding it in so long that I'm about to piss my pants."
Utahime and the others' lips twitched.
Just as he finished speaking.
"BOOM!!!"
A thunderous explosion followed, making the glass in the monitor room hum.
On the screens, the once-clear sky suddenly darkened.
A layer of black, ink-like Veil descended from the sky, shrouding the entire battlefield.
A shrill alarm sounded.
"Enemy attack!!!"
Principal Gakuganji and Utahime bolted upright.
Gojo's expression darkened.
"A Veil of this level..."
Only Hayashi En quietly exited the room amidst the chaos.
He didn't go to evacuate.
Nor did he go to support Maki and the others.
He moved against the crowd, heading toward the deepest and most secluded part of the school—the cursed warehouse.
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