When the first ray of dawn pierced the gloom over Tokyo, the entire Japanese jujutsu world had already descended into unprecedented madness and turmoil.
Inside a hidden underground command center at Tokyo Jujutsu High, the atmosphere was thick enough to choke on.
Masamichi Yaga leaned both hands against a massive tactical table, his face grim as he watched the red warning signals flashing continuously across the large screen.
"Ten million people..."
"That lunatic Kenjaku is actually dragging ten million ordinary people into this death game!"
Yaga slammed his fist heavily onto the table, the sheer force cracking the solid wood deeply.
Standing beside him was the principal of the Kyoto School, Yoshinobu Gakuganji, whom Yaga had just rescued from the executioners.
This conservative elder, once stubborn and regarding rules as absolute, now appeared aged and utterly exhausted.
He stroked his graying beard and let out a sigh.
"Now that things have come to this, those cowardly rats among the higher-ups are completely useless."
"All they care about now is clinging to their own power; they don't give a damn about the lives of ordinary people."
Gakuganji looked up, his gaze conflicted as he stared toward the command center's entrance.
"Yaga, our only hope lies with Yoru and the others."
Accompanied by a series of steady, powerful footsteps, the heavy metal doors of the underground command center slowly pushed open.
Yoru strode in at the head of the group.
Behind him followed Suguru Geto, Yuta Okkotsu, Maki, Yuji Itadori, Megumi Fushiguro, and the three Choso brothers.
Each of them radiated a chilling, terrifying aura, resembling an army of Asuras marching out from the depths of hell.
Megumi walked near the center of the formation, his refined features looking exceptionally austere, with a grim determination burning in his deep eyes.
As the new head of the Zenin family, he not only bore the heavy burden of saving his sister Tsumiki Fushiguro, but also carried the duty of uniting the core strength of the jujutsu world.
Watching this battle-ready group of young sorcerers, Yaga and Gakuganji exchanged a glance, a mix of relief and awe flashing across their eyes.
This lineup was indisputably the most formidable and terrifying in the history of the jujutsu world.
Special Grade sorcerers, a Sorcerer Killer, Sukuna's Vessel, the Cursed Womb: Death Paintings...
Any single one of them was a monster capable of standing alone against the world.
Yoru walked straight up to the tactical table, placed both hands on the surface, and let his crimson eyes gleam with sharp intensity.
"I won't waste words on pleasantries."
"Jujutsu High's intelligence network has confirmed that Kenjaku has erected ten massive barrier colonies across Japan."
"Shinjuku and Shibuya in Tokyo, Shinsaibashi in Osaka, Nagoya, Sendai..."
"Every single barrier is an isolated killing arena—the so-called Culling Game."
Yoru raised his head, his piercing gaze sweeping over everyone present.
"Our mission isn't to go in and play games with those ancient sorcerers, nor is it to blindly harvest points."
"What we're going to do is punch straight through these barriers as fast as possible, using the most overwhelming force!"
"Everyone, welcome to the Barrier Destruction Squad!"
That domineering declaration instantly ignited the fighting spirit in everyone's chest.
Without skipping a beat, Yoru began assigning their objectives.
"Yuta, you head to the Sendai Colony."
"According to reports, that's where the largest concentration of ancient sorcerers and rampaging Special Grade cursed spirits have gathered. It's the most chaotic warzone, and civilian casualties are at their worst."
Yuta Okkotsu offered a faint smile, though a bone-chilling coldness surfaced in his gentle eyes.
"Leave it to me, Senior Yoru."
"I'll pacify that place in short order. Anyone trying to harm civilians will be thoroughly purged."
Yoru nodded, then turned his gaze toward Maki.
"Maki, you take the Sakurajima Colony."
"Your body has undergone a complete metamorphosis and awakened your full Heavenly Restriction. The Sakurajima Colony is crawling with monsters favoring close combat—a perfect proving ground to test your limits."
Maki gave her spear a deft twirl through the air, a bloodthirsty smirk curving the corner of her lips.
"Suits me fine."
"I'll smash anyone who gets in my way straight into paste, right along with the barrier's walls."
Yoru turned his attention to Megumi Fushiguro.
"Megumi, take the remaining Zenin elite and enter the Shibuya Colony."
"As a core pillar of the Barrier Destruction Squad, your duty is the heaviest. Shibuya is not only one of the Culling Game's central nodes, but also the location where Kenjaku has stationed heavy defenses."
Megumi drew in a deep breath, clenching his fists tight as he replied with unshakeable resolve.
"Tsumiki... I will definitely bring her back safe and sound! Any enemy standing in the way of breaking the barrier will be utterly buried by my shadow technique!"
"Choso, you, Eso, and Kechizu take the Nagoya Colony," Yoru continued issuing orders.
Choso gave a cold snort, an abyss of pure hatred toward Kenjaku churning in his eyes.
"Rest easy."
"The poisonous blood of the Death Paintings will dissolve every enemy inside that barrier. So long as they are Kenjaku's lapdogs, not a single one will be spared!"
Finally, Yoru's gaze landed on Yuji Itadori.
"As for Yuji..."
Yoru paused deliberately, drawing everyone's full attention.
"Your situation is unique. As Sukuna's Vessel, Kenjaku will definitely be keeping a close watch on you."
At that moment, Yuta Okkotsu stepped forward and picked up the thread.
"Senior Yoru, regarding Yuji, I have a plan."
A sharp glint flashed through Yuta's eyes.
"The higher-ups have given me an absolute order to execute Yuji personally."
"We can use that to put on a show."
"I will 'kill' Yuji before everyone's eyes, allowing him to slip into the colonies under the guise of a dead man!"
Hearing this plan, everyone in the room drew in a sharp breath.
Deceiving the world by faking death!
Yoru looked at Yuta approvingly.
"Excellent. We'll do as you suggested."
"On the surface, Yuji Itadori will have been executed by Jujutsu High."
"In the shadows, he will become our sharpest concealed blade plunged straight into Kenjaku's heart!"
Yuji nodded vigorously, without a shred of hesitation or fear in his eyes.
"Count on me!"
"I'll definitely track down clues about the Angel inside the colonies!"
Suguru Geto, who had remained silent all this time, slowly walked up to Yoru's side.
"And what about you, Yoru?"
"Which colony do you plan to head to?"
At that question, everyone held their breath, waiting for the answer from their strongest leader.
Yoru lowered his head slightly, gently brushing his fingers across the hilt of Shiranui at his waist.
"Me?"
"I'm going to look for the Angel, Hana Kurusu, whom Tengen mentioned."
"At the same time, I intend to personally pay a visit to those so-called 'strongest' who have awakened from a thousand years ago!"
Yoru snapped his head up, his crimson eyes seemingly surging with mountains of corpses and seas of blood.
"I want those conceited ancient sorcerers to understand... in this era..."
"Who the true God is!"
Boom!
An indescribably terrifying sword pressure erupted from Yoru's frame, sending the lights in the underground command center flickering frantically.
It was invincible confidence; it was absolute power!
"We have only one goal!"
"Destroy the barriers, halt the Culling Game! And protect the innocent civilians as much as we can!"
"Do you understand?!"
"Understood!!!"
Deafening roars echoed throughout the underground command center, reverberating without end.
Time slipped away second by second.
Night fell, and only a few minutes remained until midnight on November 10th.
Yoru stood alone atop the highest roof of Jujutsu High, the howling wind rustling his haori wildly.
He looked down over the brightly lit cityscape of Tokyo, his eyes completely cold.
The ticking second hand of the countdown echoed in his heart.
"Ten, nine, eight, seven..."
"Three, two, one!"
The moment the clock struck zero, the skies over Japan seemed drenched in blood. A terrifying catastrophe plotted for a millennium finally unveiled its most hideous visage in the silence of the deep night.
The Culling Game had descended.