October 31, 2018, Wednesday, 7:00 PM.
Tokyo, Shibuya.
Shibuya was unlike any other day.
The air was thick with the scent of cheap makeup, alcohol, and hormones.
As Asia's most bustling intersection, it was currently filled with colorful "monsters."
Vampires, werewolves, zombies, and scantily-clad witches...
On this day known as "Halloween," young people donned otherworldly skins to vent their excess energy.
Noisy advertisements played across massive electronic screens.
No one knew that true monsters had already blended in among them.
Shibuya Hikarie Building, 33rd Floor, Executive Lounge.
This place offered an exceptional view overlooking the entire Shibuya crossing.
Isolated from the clamor of the streets, soothing jazz flowed through the lounge.
Hayashi En sat on a sofa in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, lightly swirling half a glass of iced cola.
He wore a well-tailored dark gray suit tonight, with a black-and-gold badge symbolizing "Exchange No. 8" pinned to his lapel, looking like a young noble awaiting a business negotiation.
"Truly a spectacular sight."
Hayashi En took a sip of cola and let out a refreshing "Ah."
"You remember everything I told you, Junpei?"
Junpei was at the table, organizing cursed tools.
Hearing his boss, he turned and replied, "I remember, Boss."
"But Boss, I'm still curious. Is something that big really going to happen tonight?"
Hayashi En chuckled, wearing an enigmatic expression.
In reality, he just didn't know how to explain it.
He couldn't exactly say he was a transmigrator who knew the plot, could he?
Since the boss didn't say, Junpei naturally didn't ask further.
Feeling the bustle below, Junpei knew.
Many people would definitely die tonight.
[19:00:00]
At that exact second.
A deeper shadow suddenly descended from the dark night sky without warning.
A pitch-black barrier, like spilled ink, rapidly expanded in a hemispherical shape centered on the Tokyu Department Store, instantly enveloping the entire Shibuya commercial district.
The Veil had fallen.
...
On the ground, at the Shibuya crossing.
A slight commotion broke out among the revelers, but it was quickly drowned out by the greater noise.
"Hey, what gives? My phone has no signal?" complained a young man dressed as Captain Jack Sparrow, holding up his phone.
"Mine too! I can't post on Twitter!"
The disturbance spread like ripples. Soon, people realized it wasn't just a signal issue.
"We can't get out! The subway entrance is blocked!"
"What is this black film? It's so hard!"
"Is this a terrorist attack? Where are the police?!"
Panic began to ferment in the hearts of hundreds of thousands.
...
The Hikarie Building.
Hayashi En looked at the black canopy outside the window and let out a long breath.
It had begun.
Even now, Hayashi En couldn't be sure if everything he had done would work as intended.
But the arrow was already on the string.
Just then, his phone vibrated.
It was an emergency group text from Ijichi Kiyotaka, the content brief:
[SYSTEM: THE SHIBUYA INCIDENT HAS BEGUN. SPECIAL GRADE EMERGENCY. ALL STANDBY SORCERERS, ASSEMBLE OUTSIDE THE VEIL BY SQUAD. SATORU GOJO WILL ENTER THE VEIL ALONE TO SETTLE THE SITUATION.]
Hayashi En walked to the window and examined himself in the reflection.
His heart beat slightly fast, but his breathing remained steady.
His cursed energy and physical condition were at their peak.
The current Hayashi En had reached his optimal state.
...
20:31, inside the Veil.
Crowded, suffocating, and chaotic.
Tens of thousands trapped inside the barrier found their only lifeline amidst extreme fear.
Someone took the lead in shouting that name: "Bring Satoru Gojo here!"
As if in response to that desperate call, the indestructible Veil suddenly rippled.
A tall figure stepped through the barrier.
He wore a black blindfold, his silver hair strikingly visible in the night.
As soon as he entered, he bumped into a passerby.
The man didn't stop, only lazily raising a hand. "Ah, sorry."
The strongest modern sorcerer, Satoru Gojo, had arrived!
...
Meanwhile, in various places outside the barrier, the Jujutsu High sorcerers were preparing intensely, just like in the original story.
They were split into several squads of three.
According to the higher-ups, their task was to intercept any stragglers.
Satoru Gojo would carry out this operation alone.
However, unlike the original story, Zenin Maki was nowhere to be seen.
And on Yuji's side, there was the addition of Junpei, who had just been dispatched by Hayashi En.
...
20:38, Shibuya Hikarie Building, B1 Floor.
Thousands of ordinary people in Halloween costumes crowded here, shoulder to shoulder, making even breathing difficult.
Seeing the crowd, the blindfolded Satoru Gojo leaped up.
He moved forward by stepping on people's shoulders above the crowd.
Then, he jumped down, landing beside the tracks of the Fukutoshin Line.
Simultaneously, Shibuya Station, B5F, Fukutoshin Line platform.
This was the center of the Veil and the bottom of the trap.
Jogo leaned against a pillar on the platform, his single eye darting irritably. "Is that guy really going to come? In front of all these humans?"
"He'll come."
Hanami's tall form emerged from the shadows.
"Because he is the 'strongest' and 'justice' itself. That means he cannot abandon these people."
Just then, the sound of clear footsteps echoed.
Tap, tap, tap.
The footsteps were steady and unhurried, coming from the opposite side.
A tall figure walked in at a leisurely pace, hands in his pockets.
A black blindfold, spiked white hair, and a casual yet suffocating smile.
The strongest modern jujutsu sorcerer, Satoru Gojo, appeared.
This was the first battlefield of Shibuya.
All the fighting would begin here.
The strongest modern sorcerer would also be sealed here.
But for now, he was still the strongest.
"Yo."
Gojo stopped and tilted his head slightly. Even through the blindfold, those eyes—the Six Eyes—instantly locked onto the Special Grade cursed spirits present.
This should have been an overwhelming encirclement.
Thousands of hostages.
Two and a half Special Grade curses.
And the restriction on using Domains.
But the moment Satoru Gojo appeared, the pressure in the air instantly reversed.
Gojo's lips curled up, revealing that wild smile that had terrified countless curses.
"Hehehe. It looks like you've come well-prepared this time."
He slowly extended his right hand, his index finger sweeping across the two and a half Special Grade curses.
"If you lose again, you won't be able to find any excuses."
The two and a half curses opposite him were also poised to strike.
A malicious grin spread across Jogo's hideous face. "As for you..."
"Have you thought of an excuse for your first defeat, Satoru Gojo?"
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