What was once a warehouse for dangerous cursed objects had now become a secret stronghold for the core combat power of the jujutsu world.
Under the dim lights, the air was so heavy it felt as if it could condense into water.
"Is everyone here?"
Yoru sat in the center chair, idly fingering the hilt of the pitch-black Shiranui.
His voice wasn't loud, yet it reached everyone's ears with crystal clarity.
Satoru Gojo, Kento Nanami, Mei Mei, Utahime Iori, Shoko Ieiri...
And Kokichi Muta—Mechamaru—who insisted on attending in a wheelchair despite being wrapped in bandages like a mummy.
Even the three Cursed Womb: Death Painting brothers, recently purified, huddled quietly in a corner.
This was a meeting significant enough to overturn the jujutsu world—a high-stakes gamble for survival.
"Since everyone is here, let's begin."
Yoru looked at Kokichi and nodded.
"Tell us everything you know."
Kokichi took a deep breath, his trembling fingers tapping a few keys on a keyboard.
A holographic projection flickered to life, showing footage captured from the perspective of miniature mechanical mosquitoes.
On screen were several Special Grade Cursed Spirits radiating terrifying auras—Jogo, Hanami, and Mahito.
They stood atop a high-rise in Shibuya, seemingly listening to someone's orders.
However, the figure of the mastermind remained hidden in the building's shadows; the mechanical mosquitoes had failed to capture a clear shot of his face.
Only a voice, calm enough to be unsettling, drifted from the shadows.
"October 31st, Halloween."
"Location: Shibuya."
"Target..."
"The sealing of Satoru Gojo."
Boom!
The room erupted the moment those words were spoken.
"Huh? Seal Gojo?"
Utahime was the first to jump up, her face a mask of pure disbelief.
"Have those cursed spirits lost their minds? How could they possibly achieve something like that?"
"Exactly."
Mei Mei let out a soft chuckle, swirling the red wine in her glass.
"As much as I'd enjoy seeing Gojo taken down a peg, I have to admit, he's invincible."
"As long as he's there, the sky won't fall on the jujutsu world."
Every gaze turned toward the white-haired man sitting with his legs crossed, boredly snacking on Kikufuku.
Satoru Gojo.
The strongest jujutsu sorcerer of the modern era.
Simply by standing there, he was a living nightmare for all cursed spirits.
"Hey now, what's with those looks?"
Gojo swallowed the last of his dessert and pulled off his sunglasses, revealing Six Eyes as deep as the boundless sky.
"They want to seal me?"
"Interesting."
"Very interesting!"
The corner of his mouth curled into an arrogant arc—the absolute confidence of a supreme power.
"Then let them try."
"I'll crush them all..."
"Into dust."
"Don't be too overconfident, Gojo."
The usually silent Kento Nanami pushed up his glasses, his tone grim.
"If they dare to devise such a plan, they must have a method that poses a real threat to you."
"...I don't know the specifics," Kokichi's voice rang out again, laced with deep dread and regret.
"My mechanical mosquitoes couldn't get too close. I only know they've prepared a core trump card."
"One that even Gojo-sensei... won't escape!"
Silence.
The previously relaxed atmosphere froze instantly.
A trump card capable of sealing Satoru Gojo?
It sounded like a fairy tale, but looking at Kokichi's somber expression, no one could bring themselves to laugh.
"Sealing me, huh?"
Gojo stopped smiling. His gaze grew sharp, though a hint of amusement remained.
Yoru sat in his chair, his eyes flickering. He, of course, knew exactly what it was.
The Special Grade Cursed Object—Prison Realm.
A cursed object formed from the remains of the monk Genshin after his passing, possessing the power of absolute sealing.
"That thing is..."
Just as Yoru was about to speak a warning, a piercing alarm blared in his mind.
[WARNING! WARNING!]
[CRITICAL PLOT POINT DETECTED!]
[INFORMATION REGARDING 'PRISON REALM' MUST NOT BE REVEALED TO CANON CHARACTERS. FAILURE TO COMPLY WILL TRIGGER UNCONTROLLABLE TEMPORAL COLLAPSE!]
Yoru's words stopped abruptly.
An invisible force seemed to choke him, making it impossible to utter those three words.
"It's what?" Gojo looked at Yoru curiously.
"...It's nothing."
Yoru took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the system's warning and changing his tune.
"Regardless of what that trump card is, sealing Gojo-sensei would require extremely stringent conditions."
"For example... stalling for time or restricting his movements."
"Therefore, they will definitely start by manipulating the battlefield environment."
"The battlefield environment?" Gojo raised an eyebrow.
"Exactly."
Yoru stood up and walked to the holographic projection, his finger tracing a path across the map.
"Based on my deductions, they've prepared four layers of Curtains."
"The first layer: ordinary people can enter, but not leave."
"The second layer: jujutsu sorcerers can enter, but not leave."
"The third layer..."
"The core battlefield. It's an execution ground prepared specifically for you."
"Tens of thousands of civilians will be trapped in the subway station as hostages."
"They're betting that you won't dare to expand your Unlimited Void in a public space."
"Betting that to protect those people, you'll be forced to fight with one hand tied behind your back."
"And then..."
"They'll use a human wave tactic of Special Grade Cursed Spirits to grind you down!"
A chill ran through everyone in the room as they listened to Yoru's analysis.
It was insidious.
The plan was tailor-made to exploit Satoru Gojo's humanity!
To use the mercy of the strong as a grave for the strong.
That was Kenjaku's conspiracy.
"Now that we know the plan, shouldn't we just go early and kill them all?" Mei Mei suggested.
"No."
Yoru shook his head.
"They're cunning."
"If we move too early, the mastermind will just go into hiding."
"The man has lived for over a thousand years; his greatest talent is laying low."
"If we let him slip away, it might be another hundred years before we catch him again."
"So..."
A flash of manic coldness swept through Yoru's eyes.
"We'll beat them at their own game."
"Instead of stopping them, we're going to play our parts in their little play!"
"What do you mean?" the others asked, confused.
"It's simple."
Yoru pointed to the map of Shibuya, his finger pressing firmly onto Shibuya Station.
"On October 31st, Gojo-sensei will enter the Curtain as planned."
"Give them the illusion that everything is going according to plan. Meanwhile..."
"We will be lying in wait outside the Curtain."
"The moment they've played their hand and think victory is in their grasp..."
"We spring the trap!"
"But..." Kokichi sounded worried.
"What if Gojo-sensei actually gets sealed?"
"That risk is..."
"There are no 'what ifs'."
Yoru cut him off and turned to look at Gojo.
Their gazes met in mid-air, almost sparking with intensity.
It was the unspoken understanding of the powerful—absolute trust.
"Because I'm here."
Yoru patted the Shiranui at his waist.
"As long as this blade is with me."
"No one seals Satoru Gojo. And if they try..."
"I'll cut that fate down myself!"
In that moment, Yoru's presence erupted.
It wasn't cursed energy.
It was an intent far purer and more domineering than cursed energy.
It was as if a scorching sun had risen behind him, chasing away all shadows.
"Good!"
Gojo laughed heartily and stood up.
"Then it's settled!"
"October 31st, Shibuya."
"Let's throw those rotten oranges and cursed spirits..."
"A grand funeral!"
The meeting concluded.
The crowd dispersed, beginning their preparations for the impending war.
Only Yoru remained in the basement.
He stared at the crimson dot on the holographic map, his brow furrowed slightly.
On his system panel, the red exclamation mark was still flashing.
[WARNING: UNFORESEEN VARIABLES DETECTED.]
[CURRENT MISSION DIFFICULTY: EXTREME.]
[HOST IS ADVISED TO PREPARE FOR DEATH.]
'Unforeseen variables, huh...'
Yoru clenched his fist.
He knew the original plot had been changed beyond recognition.
This Shibuya Incident wouldn't be as simple as the one in the books. There might even be...
Monsters that even he couldn't control.
"I don't care what variables appear."
"If they stand in my way..."
Clang!
Shiranui slid slightly from its scabbard, the cold steel reflecting his resolute face.
"I'll cut through them all!"