"Satoru Gojo is the biggest obstacle to our plan, and Seele Vollerei is the key variable that could derail everything. To successfully execute our scheme and reincarnate Sukuna, the most critical steps are restraining these two individuals."
In the dim stairwell of an apartment building, Kenjaku, who had secretly retrieved Jogo, calmly explained the next phase of the plan.
Nothing unusual had happened below; he was merely outlining the strategy.
Jogo, rescued from the Gojo clan, listened to Kenjaku's words with an impassive face, as if utterly indifferent.
Kenjaku wasn't surprised by Jogo's current attitude.
After being nearly obliterated by Gojo and Seele, it was hard for Jogo to trust him—especially since Kenjaku had even drunk with him using Hanami's body.
That Jogo hadn't directly attacked him already showed immense tolerance.
Thus, Kenjaku proposed a feasible plan to bolster Jogo's confidence and rekindle his desire for Sukuna's revival: "The Celestial Cursed Spirit has joined our ranks."
Jogo finally lifted his eyelids.
After being taken into the Gojo household, he had naturally resisted, only to be effortlessly suppressed by Satoru Gojo.
Honestly, he didn't know whether the Herrscher of Sentience or those two sorcerers were stronger.
After all, both of them could annihilate him in an instant—just like the Celestial Cursed Spirit. When you're wiped out that fast, it's impossible to gauge their true power.
Though he had a vague feeling that the Celestial Cursed Spirit was stronger—since he didn't even understand how he lost to her, whereas Gojo had defeated him by deploying his Domain—that wasn't conclusive evidence.
Jujutsu abilities often involved compatibility and counters.
It was possible that without Domains, one side could overwhelm the other, but once Domains were activated, the situation could completely reverse.
That was perfectly normal.
So, while this sparked a flicker of hope in Jogo, it wasn't enough to make him trust again.
"Of course, we have a supporting plan," Kenjaku said with a slight smile.
"Soon, the higher-ups of the jujutsu world will order Gojo and Seele Vollerei to enter the barrier alone. Remember those fingers we previously obtained from Jujutsu High?"
"After those two enter the barrier, I will simultaneously launch a second Night Parade of a Hundred Demons outside. Meanwhile, Jogo, you must find an opportunity to feed all those fingers to Yuji Itadori."
"This barrier, seemingly targeted at them, is actually a cage designed to disrupt everyone's sight and cut off their contact with the outside world."
Kenjaku revealed a triumphant smile.
"Once they enter the barrier, they'll inevitably think that finding the barrier caster and dismantling it is a top priority. I've placed the barriers in different locations, each guarded by sentries."
"Splitting up to protect hostages and dismantle the barriers is the inevitable choice for efficiency."
Hearing such certainty, Jogo's confidence grew considerably. "So next, I resurrect Sukuna outside, while you pick them off one by one inside."
"Exactly."
Kenjaku finally had a willing executor, his expression growing more relaxed.
"Our primary goal is to seal Gojo first. By then, you should have nearly revived Sukuna. Once both plans progress to that stage, Seele Vollerei will be nothing but a trapped turtle in a jar."
"But how can you ensure Seele Vollerei won't interfere before Gojo is sealed?" Jogo raised his final doubt. "Given her strength, your so-called guards are just paper thin, easily torn through."
"That's thanks to our ally's assistance."
Kenjaku naturally knew this and wasn't worried at all. "The Celestial Cursed Spirit is far more captivating than you imagine, Jogo."
Thinking of the substantial aid the Herrscher of Sentience had provided for this operation, Kenjaku felt almost certain of victory. It was as if fate had ordained their triumph.
At that thought, Kenjaku's brow slightly furrowed. "They're in."
He rose from the steps. "Jogo, we must act quickly. Although Yuta Okkotsu is still abroad, Yuki Tsukumo—even as a freelance sorcerer not heeding the higher-ups—will undoubtedly be notified of the situation here. In that case, she'll definitely come."
Jogo now had a sort of PTSD towards special grade sorcerers.
Thus, upon hearing Yuki Tsukumo's name, he instinctively swallowed. "How does her strength compare to Gojo and Seele?"
"The gap is significant," Kenjaku assessed, "but she's not someone you can handle easily, Jogo. A misstep could be fatal. And if she arrives, the plan to revive Sukuna will basically fail."
Hearing this, Jogo relaxed. As long as it wasn't someone who could annihilate him instantly like those two, it was manageable.
"Leave it to me. Other than Gojo and Seele Vollerei, humans are just creatures to be killed at will—hypocritical and weak."
His confidence had returned.
"Then it's in your hands."
Kenjaku handed the pouch containing the fingers to Jogo, then turned and headed for the barrier.
--+--
On the other side, Satoru Gojo's thoughts aligned roughly with Kenjaku's.
Since this was a trap targeting them, dismantling the barrier was the top priority. If the hostages could be released, they wouldn't have to fight in an enemy-prepared battleground.
The enemy would certainly anticipate their desire to dismantle the barrier, so they'd likely set an ambush at the barrier caster's location.
With his Six Eyes, which had near X-ray vision, Gojo was less susceptible to ambushes and could more easily identify the barrier's weaknesses.
But according to his Six Eyes, the barrier's residual cursed energy was scattered in different places, clearly indicating multiple casters. Taking down one wouldn't guarantee safety.
And the most dangerous one... was probably the subway station.
What a cunning plan. In such a confined space, they couldn't attack freely or deploy their Domains.
Although Domains could pull specified targets inside while pushing others out, the hostages in the subway station were mere mortals.
Deploying a Domain would crush them between the Domain and the walls, potentially turning them into pulp.
Moreover, this natural trap was the most likely spot for an ambush.
In this situation, Gojo naturally couldn't let his students handle it. He was an adult and a teacher; standing in front of his students to bear risks was natural.
He assigned Amber to the surface, tasked with finding the other barrier casters or cursed tools maintaining the barriers.
This mission was clearly much easier than Gojo's. Amber didn't refuse, setting an anchor on Gojo for instant teleportation support before they set off separately.
Meanwhile, Kenjaku also timed the release of the cursed spirits under his control within the barrier network.
The sorcerers maintaining the barriers suddenly found endless cursed spirits emerging from all directions. Though not vast in number, the quality was surprisingly high.
"What's going on!?"
The sorcerers stared in disbelief at the eerily familiar scene.
"So many cursed spirits appearing simultaneously...!"
The Jujutsu High group, who had just arrived in Shibuya by car, felt their scalps tingle.
They hadn't even seen the barrier yet—they'd just reached the outskirts of Shibuya—and already they encountered numerous cursed spirits. It was hard to imagine what Shibuya had become.
Maki's expression was a mix of shock and fury. Though she hadn't witnessed this scene personally, it felt all too familiar. "This... only Cursed Spirit Manipulation can achieve this, right!?"
But hadn't Satoru Gojo killed Suguru Geto?
Yuji didn't know what Cursed Spirit Manipulation was, but he knew that if they didn't exorcise the cursed spirits quickly, everyone in the city would be in danger.
Panda's brow furrowed deeply. "If it really is Suguru Geto, the previous Night Parade of a Hundred Demons should have depleted many of his cursed spirits. This time, the numbers definitely can't be larger than last time... but..."
"Last time, the Night Parade was announced in advance, so residents were evacuated," Fushiguro's face was equally grim.
"But this time it's different. Although some evacuation occurred due to the barrier, there are still many ordinary people in the city!"
"Move out now!"
Maki stepped out of the car, shouting to the others, "Hurry up and eliminate these cursed spirits! We can't let them harm civilians!"
"Right!" ×N.
--+--
Inside the subway station.
Gojo arrived to find another barrier within the station.
His eyes narrowed. Though he couldn't see inside, relying on his immense strength, he stepped through.
The scene before him was hell on earth. Severed limbs and bodies were everywhere, the air thick with the pungent smell of blood. Countless cursed spirits rampantly feasted on human flesh.
Gojo's expression turned icy, grateful he hadn't brought his students down.
He pressed forward, casually obliterating every cursed spirit in sight as he descended deeper, awaiting the true ambush.
The subway station wasn't vast. Soon, the bloodshed diminished, as if entering a vacuum devoid of cursed spirits.
In the underground plaza, a group of humans huddled together, trembling, their faces terrified as they watched their surroundings, aware that stepping out meant certain death.
With his Six Eyes, Gojo clearly saw the cursed spirit standing among the crowd.
The people looked puzzled by Gojo's unscathed arrival, but no one dared make a sound.
Gojo simply pointed behind him at the bloody path. "This leads back to the surface. If you don't want to die, I suggest moving quickly."
Unfortunately, the thoroughly terrified crowd saw it as another cruel trick and didn't budge.
"Haha, give up. We've prepared countermeasures for everything you might do here."
The blue-haired, stitched-up cursed spirit—now reverted to his true form as Mahito—stood among the crowd, smirking mockingly at Gojo.
Gojo noted the positions of all the cursed spirits.
Three special grade incarnations—the stolen Death Paintings Womb, right? One unfamiliar blue-haired special grade in human male form, and another gray-haired special grade in human female form.
But the one that drew his attention most was undoubtedly the special grade cursed spirit with a cocky grin, now stepping out from the crowd.
Her cursed energy was on a scale Gojo had never seen before.
Yuta Okkotsu's reserves were vast, but hers surpassed even his. With that level of cursed energy, her combat prowess couldn't be underestimated.
Although... the amount of cursed energy didn't determine the upper limit—for sorcerers. But for cursed spirits, beings formed from negative energy, the quantity directly indicated strength.
Though inwardly extremely wary, Gojo still taunted, "With such power, you still resort to these petty tricks? No matter what, cursed spirits are like rats at heart, only fit to lurk in the shadows."
The Herrscher of Sentience laughed. "You're practically trembling with nerves, aren't you? Why the tough act? Relax, I'm not here to bully you. If you can last ten rounds against me, I'll let all these people go."
'Feels like I've been looked down on a lot this year,' Gojo thought, but he wasn't angry. Instead, he continued, "The word of a cursed spirit isn't very trustworthy."
"You have to believe it. You have no choice, 'Strongest'," Mahito said with a laugh.
"My word is law!" the Herrscher of Sentience retorted.
"Honestly, I'm not really with these guys. But since they're my comrades, as their boss, I ought to show some support."
"Oh?" Gojo hadn't expected disunity among the cursed spirits. After all, Jogo had refused to reveal any information about his companions.
This was good news—but it came with bad news.
The enemy couldn't be unaware of his technique.
Yet, she confidently claimed he only needed to last ten rounds. It couldn't just be because he couldn't fight freely here; she likely had a way to bypass Infinity.
But as the strongest jujutsu sorcerer, Gojo couldn't refuse the challenge.
Facing the cursed spirit's provocation, he removed his blindfold, a confident smile spreading across his face. "Then I'll play with you."
"Play?" the Herrscher of Sentience raised an eyebrow.
"Of course. Don't forget—you're the challenger here," Gojo stated.
In the shadows, Kenjaku watched the provocative Herrscher of Sentience without surprise.
Though it deviated slightly from the plan, it conveniently allowed him to observe the Celestial Cursed Spirit's power.
However, he didn't know that he, who believed he was overseeing everything, along with all he observed, was actually inside a transparent black sphere—held in someone's palm.
The girl observing the developments within the sphere smiled faintly, idly waiting for the schemer to become ensnared in his own trap.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
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If you guys wanna check it out.