This was a massive, ring-shaped meeting room hidden beneath the bustling metropolis.
Dim lighting, ancient screens, and rows of elevated seats shielded by sliding paper doors—all of it broadcasted the absolute authority this institution had wielded over the jujutsu world for a thousand years.
At this moment, a heated argument was raging within the room.
"Masamichi Yaga's execution must be carried out immediately! There can be no more delays!"
"And that transfer student, Yoru—the power he displayed during the Shibuya Incident is too dangerous. He even interfered with the sealing of a Special Grade Cursed Object. A warrant must be issued for his arrest at once!"
"Agreed! With Satoru Gojo sealed, this is our best opportunity to restore order to the jujutsu world. We cannot allow such 'uncontrollable' variables to exist!"
These rotten oranges, hiding behind their paper doors, were shamelessly plotting how to carve up the power vacuum left by Satoru Gojo.
In their eyes, no matter how many civilians died outside or how terrifying the Culling Game became, as long as their power and status remained unthreatened, everything was under control.
However.
"BOOM—!!!"
A deafening roar instantly cut through their shouting.
The reinforced steel doors of the General Headquarters—said to be capable of withstanding a full-strength blow from a Special Grade Cursed Spirit—were blown away like wet tissue paper by a force of extreme violence!
The multi-ton door slammed into the center of the conference table, smashing the antique piece of furniture that symbolized their authority into splinters!
"Who is it?!"
"Guards! Where are the guards?!"
The high-ups hidden behind the paper doors shrieked in sudden panic.
The dust settled.
Three figures, treading over the rubble and the high-ranking guards lying in pools of blood, slowly entered the inner sanctum of the jujutsu world's highest authority.
Leading them was Yoru, his black hair and red eyes matching the blade of Shiranui in his hand.
To his left was Suguru Geto, wearing his gojo-kesa and wearing a gentle yet skin-crawling smile.
To his right was Choso, his arms crossed and crimson blood already seeping from his fingertips.
The sight of these three monsters—each a walking calamity—appearing simultaneously plunged the entire room into a deathly silence.
"Yo... Yoru?! And Suguru Geto?!"
The voice of one of the oldest elders turned shrill with extreme terror.
"How dare you break into the General Headquarters?! This is rebellion! A capital offense!"
"Noisy."
Yoru didn't even blink.
"Pfft!"
A column of crimson blood shot out like a bolt of lightning!
Without a moment's hesitation, Choso's Piercing Blood tore through the paper door in front of that elder and pierced straight through his shoulder!
"AAAHHH!!!"
The elder fell from his seat, screaming in agony as blood stained the expensive tatami mats.
"From now on, unless I tell you to speak, don't you dare say another word."
Yoru casually stabbed Shiranui into the ground and swept his cold gaze across the rows of screens.
"Or you die."
A chilling killing intent accompanied his words, physically weighing down on the room like a heavy shroud.
These high-ups, who were usually masters of political maneuvering but had long forgotten the reality of combat, were now like ducks with their necks squeezed. They didn't even dare to breathe too loudly.
"Just now, you seemed to be discussing how to execute Principal Yaga and how to put a bounty on me?"
Yoru walked to the center of the room, pulled over a mostly intact chair, and sat down with a domineering air.
"Well, I'm right here."
"Whoever wants me dead, step forward."
Complete silence.
Facing a monster who could slice through Sukuna's Domain with a single strike and who brought two Special Grade fighters along, who would dare to stand up?
"Since no one is stepping forward, it's my turn to speak."
Yoru leaned forward slightly, his hands clasped over his knees.
"Gojo-sensei is sealed, Shibuya is in ruins, and the Culling Game is about to begin."
"At this moment of existential crisis for humanity, all you rotten oranges hiding underground can think about is how to eliminate your rivals and consolidate your power?"
"Your existence is not just a disgrace to the jujutsu world; it is a desecration of every sorcerer fighting for their lives on the front lines!"
Yoru's voice grew louder, each word striking the hearts of the high-ups like a sledgehammer.
"Yoru... don't be so arrogant!"
Another elder shouted from behind a screen, trying to hide his cowardice with bluster.
"We represent the legitimate order of the jujutsu world! Without us, the entire system would collapse!"
"Even if you kill us, you cannot silence the world!"
"Order?"
Suguru Geto suddenly began to laugh. He paced slowly toward that particular screen.
"Is your so-called order the sacrifice of innocent people to preserve your positions?"
"BOOM!"
Suguru Geto suddenly punched through the screen, and a massive cursed spirit instantly coiled itself around the elder, squeezing the life out of him.
"Twelve years ago, you used that same disgusting excuse to force me to kill an innocent girl."
"Now, you want to use the same excuse to execute those who are actually fighting to protect this world."
Suguru Geto's eyes flashed with a dangerous light.
"Your rotten order should have been ground into dust a long time ago."
Watching their colleague trapped by a cursed spirit and on the verge of death, the remaining high-ups completely broke down.
They finally realized that these three monsters were truly capable of slaughtering every single one of them.
"What... what do you want?!"
The highest-ranking Great Elder asked, his voice trembling.
"It's simple."
Yoru stood up, pulled Shiranui from the ground, and gave it a casual flourish.
"As of today, the General Headquarters is disbanded."
"All high-ups will surrender all authority to mobilize sorcerers and cursed tools."
"Full command of the jujutsu world will be taken over by Principal Masamichi Yaga."
Yoru walked right up to the Great Elder, looking down on him with contempt.
"I'm not here to negotiate. I'm here to give you notice."
"You rotten oranges."
There was no mercy in Yoru's gaze.
"Either submit."
"Or die."
Dead silence.
Faced with Yoru's absolute military might, no one dared to raise an objection.
Power had shifted in this moment through the bloodiest and most direct of transfers.
Half an hour later.
Yoru led Suguru Geto and Choso out of the underground base of the General Headquarters.
Behind them were the former high-ups, thoroughly purged and forced to relinquish all their power.
"That felt unsavory. Why didn't we just kill them all?"
Suguru Geto pouted as he looked through several core secret files in his hand.
"Killing them is easy, but cleaning up the mess they'd leave behind is a hassle."
Yoru looked up at the dawn sky.
"Principal Yaga needs time to reorganize the jujutsu world. We need their intelligence networks and funding channels."
"Keeping them as puppets is more valuable than leaving behind a pile of corpses."
Yoru took a deep breath.
With the destruction of the Zenin family and the purge of the General Headquarters, the old order had been thoroughly shattered.
But this wasn't the end. It was a more brutal beginning.
"Next up is the real fight."
Yoru turned his gaze toward the massive barriers beginning to manifest across Japan.
The Culling Game—the frenzied game known as the 'human meat grinder.'
It was finally about to officially begin.
And a new jujutsu world would find its true rebirth within this baptism of blood and fire.