The firelight was exceptionally stark in the late-night outskirts of Kyoto.
The Zenin estate, once a symbol of absolute power and glory in the jujutsu world, was now reduced to smoldering ruins.
Clouds of billowing smoke rose into the air, masking the nauseating scent of blood.
Maki stood silently before the vermilion gates.
Her body was covered in thick, viscous blood—the blood of the decayed elders, of Naoya, and of her own father, Ogi Zenin.
Her once-neat Jujutsu High uniform was in tatters, revealing skin covered in bruises and gashes left behind by the battle.
Yet her back was as straight as a rod, like a peerless, solitary sword thrust into the heart of the wreckage.
The Pseudo-Soul Splitter Katana in her hand hummed softly, as if relishing the memory of the massacre it had just unleashed.
Behind her lay the deathly silent estate.
A total of three hundred and eighteen people.
Every sorcerer, every member of the combat units, and all the stubborn direct descendants of the Zenin family had fallen beneath the moonlight this night.
In the history of the jujutsu world, this was an unprecedented tragedy, a cataclysmic upheaval capable of shaking the very foundations of power and order.
However, there was no sense of triumph in Maki's eyes.
There was only a bottomless void and a profound uncertainty about the future.
"It's over," she whispered, her gaze hollow as she stared into the distance.
For the sake of revenge, she had lost almost everything.
"It's not over yet, Maki."
A gentle yet powerful voice drifted slowly from the shadows behind her.
Maki did not turn around, but her tense shoulders relaxed slightly.
Yoru emerged from the ruins, carrying a dim lantern as he walked to her side.
His face was still somewhat pale; clearly, the price he paid to forcibly sustain Mai's life was not small.
"Where is Mai?" Maki asked, her voice rasping and dry.
"She's been sent to Shoko. Choso and Senior Suguru are escorting her."
Yoru stood beside Maki and turned his head, looking calmly at the blood-stained young woman.
"Though her soul's foundation was damaged because she forcibly constructed a Special Grade Cursed Tool, she's currently in a deep sleep."
"But with my Binding Vow in place, her vital signs have stabilized."
"Given enough time, she will wake up one day."
At the words 'wake up,' a faint spark of light finally flickered in Maki's deadened eyes.
She gripped the hilt of her sword tightly, her knuckles turning white from the force.
"Thank you."
This was the first time Maki had offered such a solemn word of thanks to anyone.
If not for Yoru, even if she had awakened the power of her Heavenly Restriction, she would be left with nothing but Mai's corpse to weep over in the darkness.
"Don't thank me. This is an opportunity you earned for yourself."
Yoru shook his head and looked at the burning ruins before them.
"Now, the Zenin family is completely gone."
"You're free, Maki."
"Free?" Maki let out a self-deprecating sneer, looking at her blood-soaked hands.
"A freedom bought with hundreds of lives?"
"Instructor Yoru, do you think a monster like me even has the right to talk about freedom?"
Yoru didn't answer directly. Instead, he pulled an exquisite brooch from his pocket.
It was something he had found in a corner of the ruins—Mai's most cherished possession.
"Mai risked her life to take the cursed energy from your body specifically so you would no longer be bound by this family."
Yoru held the brooch out to Maki.
"She wants you to live on—not as a stain on the Zenin family, but as Maki herself."
"If you feel empty inside, if you feel this power is too heavy to let you breathe..."
Yoru paused, a look of unprecedented seriousness flashing in his eyes.
"Then join us."
Maki was slightly stunned and looked up at Yoru.
"Join you?"
"That's right."
Yoru reached out, pointing toward the distant map of Japan shrouded in darkness.
"The Culling Game has begun. Kenjaku's conspiracy is spreading like a malignant tumor."
"This world is collapsing. Countless ordinary people and weak sorcerers like you and Mai are facing a hell even darker than the Zenin family."
"Maki, you possess a body that can rival the gods and a blade that can sever karma."
"Are you going to waste that power on self-exile and guilt?"
Yoru's voice echoed in the night wind, each word striking heavily against Maki's heart.
"Join my team."
"Work with me to drag out that brain who toys with human lives and completely shatter this damn jujutsu order."
"Do it for Mai, and for yourself."
Maki remained silent for a long time.
The only sounds were the crackling of the flames and the occasional mournful cry of a night bird.
Finally, she slowly reached out her right hand, took the hairpin, and carefully tucked it into her shirt.
Then, she looked up. In those hollow eyes, a light more intense than fire and more determined than moonlight began to burn.
"Since this world is already rotten to the core, then I'll be the one to cut it down completely."
Maki looked directly into Yoru's eyes, a wild, unbridled smile tugging at the corner of her lips.
"Instructor Yoru, I hope you won't regret taking in a murderer like me."
Yoru smiled and lightly bumped his fist against Maki's shoulder.
"Welcome to the team, Maki Zenin."
"No," Maki shook her head, casually tossing her waist tag engraved with the Zenin crest into the fire.
"From today on, Maki Zenin no longer exists."
"Just call me Maki."
On this night, the Zenin family, one of the Big Three Families of the jujutsu world, was declared extinct.
But at the same time, a second-generation Sorcerer Killer named 'Maki' officially joined the game that would determine the fate of the world.
Yoru watched Maki's resolute silhouette and understood in his heart.
With this tyrant joining them, the upcoming Culling Game would become even more spectacular.
"Let's go. Back to Tokyo."
Yoru led the way, with Maki following close behind, the Soul Splitter Katana in hand.
Their shadows stretched long under the moonlight.
Behind them, the last plaque of the Zenin estate crumbled into ash amidst the flames.
An old era had ended.
However, just as they were about to board the train back to Tokyo, Yoru's face, which had just regained a hint of color, suddenly darkened.
The specialized communicator in his pocket let out a piercing, shrill beep.
It was the highest-level emergency contact frequency left for Ijichi.
"Lord Yoru... something's happened!"
On the other end of the line, Ijichi's voice was filled with unconcealed panic and despair.
"The General Headquarters... the General Headquarters has issued a final execution order!"
"On the charges of inciting Satoru Gojo to cause the Shibuya Incident, they have sentenced Principal Masamichi Yaga to... immediate execution!"
"The executioners are already heading to Jujutsu High with the higher-ups' death squads!"
Yoru's steps came to a sudden halt. A killing intent even more terrifying than when he had severed the twins' bond erupted from his body.
"Higher-ups... Rotten Oranges..."
A predatory red light flickered in Yoru's eyes.
"It seems I've been far too lenient with them."