"What... what did you say?"
The intelligence officer's voice trembled, his face pale as he stared at the readout. "Shibuya... the residents... almost everyone has been slaughtered!"
"How is that possible?!"
Akari Nitta threw open her laptop. "This is the final segment of footage captured by the surveillance drones!"
The massive screen flickered to life, revealing a landscape of nightmares. Ruined skyscrapers and heaps of severed limbs were piled high like gruesome monuments. In the center of a lake of gore, a figure lay reclined, casually soaking in the warm blood as if it were a luxury spring.
As if sensing the camera's gaze, the figure looked up and flashed a jagged, predatory grin.
Static...
The screen cut to snow. In the briefing room, every fist was clenched tight, the air thick with murderous intent.
"I'm going to kill him."
Satoru Gojo stood up slowly, his face shadowed by a cold, dark fury. He began to stride toward the exit, but just as he reached the door, it swung open. Souma Gojo stood on the threshold.
"Brother!" Satoru's eyes lit up. "You've finally finished your seclusion?!"
Souma nodded, his gaze sweeping the room. "The situation is dire, and I've been briefed. Satoru, don't be reckless. This isn't as simple as it looks."
Souma walked to the head of the table, his eyes turning toward the higher-ups with a look of pure disdain. "That creature is the legend itself—Ryomen Sukuna."
"He has been resurrected without using the vessel of Itadori. It seems Kenjaku isn't quite as moronic as the rest of you."
A few of the elders flinched, their faces reddening with indignation. They opened their mouths to protest, but seeing the frost in Souma's eyes, they wisely chose to remain silent.
Souma didn't waste another breath on them.
"Listen carefully. I am taking command of the combat operations."
"First, we use Tengen's barrier to lock down the entirety of Shibuya. Grade 1 sorcerers will lead teams to guard the nodes. Your mission is two-fold: rescue any survivors and ensure no cursed spirits leak out. We contain this disaster here."
"Nitta, contact Suguru Geto, Yuta Okkotsu, and Yuki Tsukumo. Tell them to return to Tokyo at maximum speed."
Satoru blinked. "Brother, you're making Shibuya the final battlefield?"
"Sukuna has already butchered ninety percent of the population there," Souma said grimly. "It's a tragedy, but practically speaking, it is now the most suitable place to go all out."
"However, even with the barriers, the shockwaves will be catastrophic. I want the three Great Families to use their influence to evacuate the rest of Tokyo."
"The whole of Tokyo?" someone gasped. "Is it really that serious?"
Souma shook his head. "We plan for the worst. Ryomen Sukuna is a sadist. He represents absolute malice. Once the fighting starts, he will specifically target crowds just to spite us. I won't have my hands tied by civilians."
After delegating the logistics, Souma pulled Satoru aside.
"Satoru, the massacre was just the lure. This Shibuya Incident is a trap designed for you, me, and Suguru."
"Kenjaku intends to use the Prison Realm on you. So..."
Satoru listened intently to Souma's instructions, nodding as the plan took shape. Finally, he looked at his brother. "And Sukuna?"
Souma fell silent for a moment, his gaze drifting toward the horizon. "I'll handle him."
"I can feel it. That monster... he's specifically waiting for me."
The Sea of Blood, Shibuya
"So, you want to duel Souma Gojo alone?"
Kenjaku looked at Sukuna, who was still lounging in the crimson pool. The request was unexpected.
Sukuna didn't open his eyes. He seemed to be savoring the lingering taste of death in the air.
"A delicacy that fine should be enjoyed by one person. I am not the type to share, nor do I want anyone interrupting my meal."
"Of course, if the man turns out to be a fraud, I might consider consuming all three of them simultaneously. Perhaps that would keep me from getting bored."
"Very well," Kenjaku replied, turning to leave. "I will ensure you have your stage."
Kenjaku met with the Disaster Curses shortly after. Jogo, his body fully restored, was fuming. "That bastard Sukuna... does he really think he's our lord and master?"
Kenjaku smiled thinly. "Why don't you go tell him that to his face?"
Jogo: "..."
"I'm just venting. I'm not suicidal."
Kenjaku shook his head. "Souma Gojo is Sukuna's problem. But there are other variables. Satoru Gojo is one. Suguru Geto is another. Yuki Tsukumo and Yuta Okkotsu count as half a variable each."
"Satoru Gojo isn't as terrifying as Souma, but he is far from an easy mark. The three of you will coordinate with me to take him down."
"Once the Prison Realm is open, we only need to keep Satoru within a four-meter radius for one minute..."
"What?!" Jogo interrupted, his eye bulging. "One minute? Are you trying to get us killed?"
Kenjaku sighed. "Not one minute of physical time. One minute within Satoru's mind."
"Because of the Six Eyes, Satoru processes massive amounts of data. His imagination and memory are vastly superior to a normal human's. We just need to trigger a specific memory. A minute of his past can happen in a flash of reality."
Jogo went silent, accepting the logic.
"And that woman, Yuki Tsukumo!" Uraume interjected coldly. "Our last battle ended in a stalemate. This time, I will be the one to kill her."
Kenjaku shrugged. "As you wish."
"That leaves Suguru Geto and Yuta Okkotsu. But there is one more man..." Kenjaku's eyes turned cold. "Toji Fushiguro. The Inverted Spear of Heaven in his hand must not get anywhere near the Prison Realm."
Kenjaku took a deep breath. "The holder of the Black Rope is Suguru's foster daughter, a weakling who doesn't belong on this battlefield. But Toji is different. His strength is on par with a Special Grade. If he reaches the Prison Realm, the plan to seal Satoru will fail."
"So what? I go kill him?" Jogo offered.
Kenjaku shook his head. "You are needed for Satoru. I have other arrangements for Toji Fushiguro."
Kenjaku retreated to a private underground barrier, carrying several cursed objects.
"Toji Fushiguro... his name used to be Toji Zenin, wasn't it?" Kenjaku flashed a wicked smile. "Since he's from the Zenin family, let's have the Zenin family settle their own debts."
He pulled out an incarnation object marked with four distinct characters: Zenin Takeshi.
Placing the object down, Kenjaku rubbed his chin. "Yuta Okkotsu. A Special Grade, but still a novice in the grand scheme of things. Four Special Grade cursed objects... that should be enough to finish him, right?"
One by one, he laid out his tools of war.
"And finally..." Kenjaku's eye twitched. "Suguru Geto. He's the wildcard."
"Personally, I don't think he compares to the Six Eyes. But to be called 'The Strongest' alongside those two monsters? He can't be a fraud."
Kenjaku's grin widened, a glint of pure curiosity in his eyes.
"The 'Strongest' of today versus the 'Strongest' of four hundred years ago. I wonder which one will walk away?"
"What a thrilling battle this will be."
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