Jujutsu Kaisen: The Shibuya Divergence

by Neko4DKawaii-desu

"Gojō Satoru is hailed as the strongest and most powerful Jujutsu Sorcerer in the present day due to the Six Eyes and the Limitless. What if that was just half the truth? What if there was another Sorcerer? Someone who could truly challenge the Six Eyes and Limitless. Someone who could potentially change the world as well." AU/OC, One-Shot, cover art @feelslikecanvas

2. Chapter 2

Spoiler Alert: The Match of the One True Heavenly Honoured vs the King of all Curses has been all kinds of madness! If you haven't been following the manga, you should now, and also new anime season is out as well so y'all better check that out!

Enjoy and happy reading of the Part 2 of this one-shot fanfic. Covers altered manga events between chapters 113 – 130 and also events that led to the ending of Part 1 of this one-shot.

Disclaimer: Jujutsu Kaisen is the property of Gege Akutami

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The Shibuya Incident: (the) Encounter

II

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-Present-

Orchard Rd – Bunkamura-dori st

Dōgenzaka-2, Udagawacho

It was chaos in front of one, Fushigoro Megumi.

"MhehehAhahHAHAHAHAAHAHA!"

A maniacal laughter shook the streets of Shibuya as Megumi, huffing with exhaustion and injuries, focused on the enemies in front that had brought up the chaos in this instant. An injured Nanami with an exhausted Nobara and Maki, and the old Zen'in clan head Naobito stood gazing at the spectacle that was occurring in front as a laughing Itadori Yūji faced the two buildings he had slashed through, destroying their top half; a kneeling Uraume beside him while Chōsō sat a few meters beside the two, seemingly shaken, with Mahito a few steps back.

'Shit, if it weren't for that old man and Kugisaki, Nanami and Maki-senpai would've been a goner the next moment.' Megumi gritted his teeth as he tried to catch his breath.

Uraume had appeared out of nowhere, freezing the entire battlefield in his vicinity and had went on ahead to feed a fully frozen, half-beaten, Itadori Yūji, Sukuna's fingers. With the current state of everyone on the sorcerer's end as seen by Megumi he was sure they were in a very tight spot when Sukuna had quickly taken total control of Yūji.

'This is bad! That guy had so many fingers and we just let Itadori get fed!'

Megumi couldn't help but blame himself a little bit as he watched the spectacle happen. The battles had been one shit-show after shit-show as they were being pressed from all sides. The country had been turned upside-down as soon as the news of Satoru's sealing had spread like wildfire, and it didn't stop just there. It was huge, a moment of turnaround for the many Curses and Cursed Spirits around the whole of Japan, as they had all heard and felt it as well.

Gojō Satoru's sealing opened up a whole new can of worms and Megumi could feel it right now, the pressure that mounted over him and all the other sorcerers in the country. Megumi knew all too well, of how much the sealing was of importance to the beginning of something bad.

He knew the enemy would be bolstered up with confidence. Over the news that the most powerful sorcerer was currently out of the picture so they all felt like they could wreak havoc all around more easily. A barrier had even been put up to stop the sorcerers from being able to help but then it happened. It had been only some time but they had all felt the barriers around the station being broken through. It was a surprise for everyone but Megumi and company didn't waste time and headed out to confront whoever it was that had sealed Gojō Satoru.

But that plan was derailed as soon as they had come face to face with the Cursed Womb, Chōsō, who then proceeded to face off against Yūji. Megumi and Ino had tried to help but Ino was taken out of the fight rather quickly, and Mahito had surprisingly joined the fray as well, as the two students were forced to take a detour around the city, fighting the two enemies while fending off the other low level Cursed Spirits and transmuted humans of the district with an injured Ino on Yūji's back. Nanami had intervened rather quickly and the others had joined the fray as well after a while but they knew it was only for a short reprieve. They just had one plan then which was to stall, and they were able to keep it up for a moment as they knew they were on the losing end.

But, Uraume happened.

'The more time we waste on these fights the more we lose our chances of finding Gojō-sensei. Firepower on the other side is busted as hell. Kugisaki and Maki-senpai are here but I doubt we can even do more than just tickle, even with that old clan head geezer. Also, Kugisaki is running low on Cursed Energy from that last fight, Nanami is injured as well. Itadori was our one small chance but he is also already possessed so what the hell do we do?'

Currently, Megumi did not like his and his team's chances. They were being wrecked and, right now, surrounded on all fronts by the enemies that stood before them. (('I can't believe I couldn't see this coming!')) Gritting his teeth Megumi's thoughts raced while the possessed Yūji, now Sukuna, turned to face the sorcerers in the streets that were with Megumi.

'We need to regroup, fast. The old geezer had joined but they were too late. Maki-senpai may have escaped that blast, by whatever this Mahito had become, due to Kugisaki but Nanami is not in a good shape. Ino-senpai had been charted off that's the only good thing that had come out of it. We have more wounded on our team so it won't be beneficial for anyone here to prolong this fight and now….

….we got Sukuna, of all people, to worry about along with whoever that guy was beside him. He seems to be able to create ice, hella powerful ice at that. We need more sorcerers here! Damn it, if Gojō-sensei was here. (("ttch!"))'

"Fushigoro, stay focused." Nanami's calm but strained voice cut through.

"Nanami?"

"The only thing that currently matters is the survival of each and every student sorcerer and the remaining humans in this place, including you and Itadori, by any means necessary. ((Nanami got ready clenching his Cursed Tool)) There was a domain activated somewhere around the station, we all felt it. That would mean that someone had just encountered a powerful foe. We also haven't come across any person that would indicate who broke the barrier veils so we can assume they are probably somewhere in Shibuya."

'The mysterious person who broke through the veil?' Megumi nodded at Nanami's deduction as he asked,

"You think they are allies? So we should try and stall for time?"

Furrowing his eyebrows Nanami replied, "There are a few other Grade-1 Sorcerers out and about Megumi, especially Mei-san. I can only hope she knows what is going on around here."

"You don't seem to have much confidence on her."

"Well, her avarice can be a bit disconcerting." Megumi merely scoffed as he kept his focus on the front towards the enemies as Nanami continued,

"Do not lose hope, Megumi. We do know that someone had broken through the veil. That is one of the most unexpected blessings in disguise for us as that would mean we can take our wounded out and bring in reinforcements now. We only don't know if that person is a friend or foe so we will not assume anything upon whoever it is. Best thing to do right now, with the way things are looking, is to try and stall this for anyone who can reach here to help us out.

Also, I have it in good faith that Shoko Ieiri is in Shibuya. If we can survive this we can fight another day. Only thing left to do now is try and figure out a way to get off this mess. Also see if Itadori can be brought forth in control like before." Nanami replied. Megumi was relieved, slightly, at the fact that Ieiri was in the vicinity. (('Well I guess Ino-senpai will be in good hands atleast.'))

Still he sensed a clause in Nanami's words.

"But…?"

"But I don't think we can do that because we might not have enough firepower currently to deal with that." ((Nanami pointed at the entourage that stood behind Sukuna))

Before Megumi could respond, Zen'in Naobito spoke, "The King of Curses, Sukuna, huh? So the wretched thing is currently in control of that boy again?"

"He got fed fingers before this. You saw that!" Megumi spoke out while Nanami focused on Naobito.

"Your assistance was a little late Supreme Grade-1 Zen'in but still appreciated. Your presence here can help to mitigate some things but still we cannot afford to take this battle on. We have injur-!"

As soon as Nanami paused, he felt a disturbance right in the corner of his peripherals. This wasn't your typical thing you sensed with Cursed Energy sensing or all that, no. This was that moment when every cell in your body would react to a certain instinctual stimuli when danger approached, a stimuli, that led to Nanami screaming out,

"EVERYBODY DUCK!"

The moment that everybody touched the ground, three huge horizontal slashes destroyed the buildings behind them as Sukuna laughed wearing Yūji's face.

"It's been such a long time since I felt this elated. The freedom of the skies, the screams of horror and terror, ahahahahahahahahahaHAHAHAAHAHA!"

Megumi shifted, bringing in his hands together. Naobito quickly tried to respond with some melee attacks but Sukuna merely dodged and then punched the Zen'in clanhead away while mocking him. Nobara tried to help but Nanami had to block the high-speed punch that was set to take Nobara's head off but instead Nanami intercepted it; additionally getting his hands broken while he was bodily tossed away to the sidewalks.

'This guy! We can't face him like this. Sukuna is merely toying with everyone right now! Itadori is out and Sukuna won't let him take over easily.'

It was the truth because Megumi had witnessed the part when Itadori got force-fed the fingers. There were a lot of them in the monk's hand which led to Megumi's doubts as to whether Yūji would be able to take back control as the potency would surely increase with each increasing number of fingers fed to him; on top of that Yūji was already on the verge of losing consciousness as well due to the fight beforehand.

'It's truly chaos around here right now as I watch all this things happening. This is not something we can make a strategy out of. We need something to create confusion and chaos as well. Sukuna is the chaos here we didn't account for. We need something that would give us ample time to react, something that would change the battle scene, something that nobody expects.' "A wildcard."

A fleeting statement of Gojō Satoru rang in the back of Megumi's head as he had an epiphany of sorts.

(("Give it all, your very best. It's okay to be selfish Megumi. Don't die and win. Die victoriously."))

'I still have that.'

"So much potential." Sukuna's voice rang close to Megumi's left as Sukuna continued saying, "It's a shame you're wasting yourself, Fushigoro Megumi."

Widened eyes merely looked to Sukuna on his left when Naobito appeared with Nanami and tried to apprehend him, but it was for naught. Megumi moved as Nanami and Naobito co-ordinated their strikes, kicking up a huge blast of dust and dirt.

Sukuna was able to block the kick by Nanami and the punch by Naobito as he launched them both away with brute force but not before Naobito's technique, Tōsha Juhō (Projection Sorcery), had been able to stop Sukuna's movement, just for a split second, which had been enough for Megumi.

"Datto (Rabbit Escape)!"

A swarm of rabbit shikigami piled over the area where Megumi was which distracted the motionless Sukuna and as Sukuna recovered rather quickly, Megumi had already retreated from that vulnerable spot. (("Ho! A new kind of Sorcery! That old geezer! Haha!"))

"Any other ideas?" Maki asked as she held her naginata tight while Nobara and the others watched Sukuna merely shrug off any kind of attack that the Grade-1 Sorcerers were dealing upon him. She couldn't deny she was a little bit intimidated by the appearance of the King of Curses.

"I got one."

Maki turned towards a darkened corner of the street as Megumi appeared slowly from the shadows. Exhausted Megumi said, "I have an idea which is both crazy and really, really, stupid."

"What have you got Fushigoro?!" Nobara asked him as she kept her gaze on the fight ahead.

"It's called can't back the F down! I've got a treasure, a wildcard."

"Megumi?"

"You know about it Maki-senpai. In the history of the Zen'in clan ((Maki just grinded her teeth together when she heard the name)) the Tokusa no Kage Bōjutsu (Ten Shadows Technique) has been used to collectively use Shikigamis to fight with. Shikigamis that we have to exorcise first and only then will we be able to use them."

"Hmph, keep going Megumi, and?"

"Do you remember the one treasure that had never been exorcised, Maki-senpai?"

Maki had to raise an eyebrow as her forehead crunched up trying to remember something, which had then slowly clicked for her after just a short moment.

"Exorcised? Megumi, you can't mean-!"

"Please forgive me senpai, but right now that is our best shot at making something out of this situation."

Maki did not the like the odds of the plan that Megumi proposed but then again, with the way Nanami and Naobito were being currently handled and Sukuna in the midst of it all, it Maki wondered if the risk was worth it.

"Megumi, you do know the conditions right?" "Oh yeah I do, that's why I warned first."

Deep within, her heart had already made up her decision.

"What is it Fushigoro, what's got Maki-senpai like this?" Nobara asked from the side, seeing the expression that came over Maki's face.

"Bet you never thought it would come to this Kugisaki. Haah, but I hope you can brace yourselves for this because in a matter of moments we're all gonna have to pull ourselves together for this one. This is my wildcard."

"Tch, well if it's been led to that."

GhRRDHoOOM!

Maki got ready as she turned to look at Sukuna, who had already seemed to have dealt with Grade-1 Sorcerers, Naobito and Nanami, whom she saw looked even, more, worse for wear than before; but he was nowhere in her sight again. Megumi merely took position when Sukuna appeared in front of Nobara and him, completely ignoring Maki to the side.

"You can't run that easily from me Fushigoro Megumi."

"Who is running?" Sukuna merely raised an eyebrow but his eyes widened in wonder as the next words of Megumi registered in his head.

"With this treasure, I summon….."

A line of howling wolves, a bright light in the center; a divine intervention summoned from the wails of the moaning night dogs, everyone could only stand and stare for a moment as Megumi spoke the name,

"….Yatsuka-no-Tsurugi…." A divine wheel is seen as the towering body appeared.

"..Ikaishinshō…" A glowing blade in its right hand and four wings instead of eyes with a tail in the back of its head as its whole body gets summoned from the anti-thesis of shadows.

"..Makōra."

((Eight-Handled Sword Divergent Sila Divine General Mahoraga))!

-UNIQLO, Near Exit A0-

Dōgenzaka st over Tokyu Den-en-Toshi Line, Shibuya

"MMMFFF! MMHH MMH MMMHHHH HHMMM MMMMMMMHHHH!"

Three figures, one of them being dragged behind the other two by some kind of rope, could be seen scaling the rooftops of the buildings around Dōgenzaka. Tsubaki had been able to hitch a ride upon the back of Panda after they had all witnessed the destruction over in a distance. They had decided to move quickly with Kusakabe already barking for them to move.

Except, Kusakabe didn't want them to move towards the fighting but away from it, to supposedly look for stragglers, and had proceeded to argue with Tsubaki over the fact whether they should mostly investigate the explosions from the outskirts or fight the enemy themselves before it is too late. Kusakabe just shrugged Tsubaki's arguments off as if she were a child, which compared to him she was, technically, who only needed to be evacuated and kept safe.

Of course that didn't sit well with Tsubaki.

"MMfFF!"

"Can you shut up Oji-san? This is just embarrassing for you as an adult. Is this the level of Jujutsu Sorcerers in the academy, a teacher at that too?" Tsubaki spoke as she watched Kusakabe being bound by thick white binding cloth piece that covered his whole body right up to his nose, leaving his eyes and hair out in the open.

Similar to a cocooned sac being dragged around Tsubaki merely had Panda heft the man on to their left hand and kept moving towards the destination.

"You know he is still a teacher and I might get into trouble for all this later?" Panda spoke up as they reached the streets below. Panda had to admit, Kusakabe had been a bit too aggressive when he had spoken about them retreating back towards the other parts of Shibuya instead of trying to investigate. The argument had been a mess and the aftermath was an even bigger mess.

"You are adorable Panda, don't worry. It's just a binding cloth nothing more and he shouldn't have talked about retreating when something big seems to be going on at that ((Tsubaki nodded at the distance where smoke and dust coupled with few flames lit the skyline)) place."

All three of them could feel the intense presence and clashing of various Cursed Energies around the vicinity. The fight could be felt till their spot and Tsubaki wondered, "Those are some fiery Cursed Energy bursts mixed in with the evil aura. Whoever's fighting must be pretty strong there, and also really dark from the feel of it."

"Strong or not, I can only hope Maki and the others are safe." Panda replied. The way they had felt that ominous Cursed Energy envelope the place, Panda was worried if his classmates were already engaging there or were, more, safer in other places.

"They your friends?" Tsubaki asked.

"We are all part of a team. Me, Maki and one other, Inumaki Toge. We also have another teammate but he is currently somewhere else on a mission, I think. His name is Okkotsu Yūta."

"Cool." (("Don't ignore me you brats!"))

Kusakabe had been able to, out of nowhere, get out of the bindings as he steadied himself, straightened his clothes and threw away the binding cloth strips that he cut off. "Damn bindings. ((Pointing the hand that held his Katana at Tsubaki)) Don't you ever do that to me again little lady, understood?!"

Tsubaki didn't even heed his words again as she engaged with Panda (("Tell me about your Principal. You said he created you?")) while Kusakabe's eyebrows twitched in irritation at being completely ignored again as Panda tried to ineffectively defuse the current volatile, odd, situation. Kusakabe walked up to the pair while they all started to walk a steady pace towards the battlefield. The girl was an oddity.

Kusakabe had doubts but he couldn't detect, or, till now, see a smidge of any kind of trap around the girl when she had tagged along after him and Panda met up with her back in Shibuya Mark. Kusakabe noted she had a well and efficient Cursed Energy flow around her and that blade that she carried on her back, it gave off the impression of being more than a normal Nōdachi. Kusakabe also noted that her Cursed Energy output control was impeccable.

'Her Cursed Energy levels are low, currently, but I doubt she has it truly that low. She is definitely strong. If this Shimizu Takumi is her sensei then this Shimizu must be a sorcerer as well.'

All in all, Kusakabe could say that the girl was obviously combat-trained. Amongst all this things though, one thing that had Kusakabe give the girl a chance was that Tsubaki reminded Kusakabe of the soft visage that was of his sister, which is also the reason why when he saw her, he didn't want the girl to get caught up in the serious situation in Shibuya; but he wouldn't let this one reason be known to anyone except himself.

'Tch, I try to reason with her over the fact that we shouldn't be hanging around those kinds of heavy hitters and what does she do? She wraps me up like some fly caught in a spider's web and then takes me building hopping like it was a joyride of sorts! Ridiculous! I doubted she was strong before but her speed was off-the-charts!'

The girl in front had effectively incapacitated Kusakabe before he could even complete a technique of his which had led to the ridiculous mess of him being pulled around in a cocooned sac, hopping over buildings and ledges. Tsubaki surprised the faculty member of Jujutsu High as she was able to wrap him from head to toe completely in just a few short and fast movements.

But now, it wasn't time to think about those times. Now, Kusakabe needed to, somehow, get the two sorcerers, especially the girl, before him to agree with some of his plans so as to minimize their own chances of facing strong opponents.

"Sigh~ Listen here, Tsubaki." Kusakabe started as they were walking through a street but he couldn't complete his sentence as someone spoke up from a height.

"You are Jujutsu High Sorcerers right?"

A female voice interrupted the three as they turned collectively towards a ledge of a building where they could spot two figures standing, looking over them. Kusakabe merely raised an eyebrow as the other two just looked on while the male spoke,

"Why don't you guys give up already? Isn't it over for you now that Gojō Satoru is sealed? I really don't want to kill a Sorcerer too now?"

"Hmm?" Kusakabe stood still and hummed for bit and then merely shrugged while Panda whispered from the back, "Kusakabe, I smell four around the area."

"I can sense them, there are probably more hidden around the place as well." Kusakabe replied back in a low voice but turned towards the other two sorcerers. Inside Kusakabe was somewhat giddy and so proceeded to speak out loud,

"Oh well, I don't wanna kill a bunch of ladies and boys tonight as well and I don't wanna be killed either, but I simply can't say "For sure!" y'know! So please, take your time and tell us your story for all this."

For Kusakabe this was merely stalling again. It was a blessing for him that they were confronted themselves instead of Kusakabe's team finding them. As mentioned before Kusakabe did not want to go towards the place where the big fights were seemingly happening because deep down Kusakabe had decided, he had no chance against the power houses of this battlefield and so he did not want to contest any fights and get injured. Or worse, even die.

'Better to get these ones to keep talking and waste my time than deal with anything that's going on at the far side of this street corner. They don't seem Special Grades and all the others seem to have piled over on the outskirts of Shibuya instead of the station.'

"We have inherited the will of our Master Getō. For students and alumni like you who attend Jujutsu High I imagi-!"

Suddenly a holy aura mixed in with the most powerful Cursed Energy output swept the place in a wave as the area where the five stood came to a standstill for a reason while also stopping the female's speech. A cold tremble in the spine to the raised hairs on one's body, everyone could feel it, a summoning. All at once they turned to look at a certain part of the district, they knew. Something had appeared and it was powerful.

"Oh yeah, you can keep trading stories but I'm bailing out." Tsubaki spoke out with wide eyes as she narrowed her gaze towards the city where she could feel the epicentre of this energy output.

"Panda, I hope you can keep up. I'm going." ("Hm?")

With that said, Tsubaki, without any other kind of warning or signal, made a dash (("Huh, that girl?!" Kusakabe reacted late)) towards the place where she felt the energy wave come from. (("STOP HER!")) Three masked figures swooped in to the streets to cut her path off and take her on when Tsubaki merely clenched her sword handle.

"Iaikata: Hifūun (居合型: 秘浮雲, Sword Drawing Form: Untold Words in Floating Clouds)"

SHnKtwooOSH!

Before anyone could blink, the three assailants had seemingly been slashed through their bodies in two halves as Tsubaki didn't even deign to stop and look back. (("What the-! Who the hell is that girl?!" Kusakabe spoke grumbling as Panda meanwhile looked shocked)) Another two assailants appeared to which Tsubaki merely dodged their attacks while piercing through one's torso; she proceeded to rotate and catch the other in her left knee and broke his neck while she withdrew her sword from the former assailant and then pierced it through the head of the second. She pierced the head of the former assailant too right after.

All the while she didn't even stop for a second as she merely kept her pace, swiping away the blood from her sword and then sheathing it while she scaled another building top. Tsubaki had no fear of what was to happen next. Taking lives had been something she became insensitised to when her own family had been in the profession for a living.

All her life, Tsubaki had only known the four walls of an underground bunker, the weapons made of iron and steel, the fake displays of affection and the bright, dazzling, lights of the mansion that she lived in; until the day she had met her sensei. She was destined for something else, to watch the world through darkened lenses but it all changed when he came for her. Shimizu Takumi, the man that would later on become her teacher, changed her life.

In one night, Takumi had destroyed her destiny and had shown Tsubaki what she had always been obscured from. A world more beautiful than what she was told of, a world that she never would've known if she were still the same Saito Tsubaki as before. It had been around four years since they started travelling, and one thing Tsubaki could truly attest to, was the fact that Takumi had become a very essential part of her life.

More than a teacher, Takumi was someone Tsubaki felt she could truly trust and rely on, and he had always been the rock for her in all their travels and training. Now, her sensei's friend was currently indisposed and her sensei proposed an adventure. She had come asking for another wild ride of sorts, an event that her sensei told her she could truly enjoy, and so far it had been a true wild ride.

Everything since they had entered the veil had been all about non-stop action since the beginning. Cursed Spirits, Curse Users, different techniques, it was all diverse and so interesting, but deep inside Tsubaki still knew it was just starting to get interesting.

RRAAaaaAAAAAaaAAAHHHHHHH!

'That is what is getting interesting, ahehehehe~'

The monstrous yell that came out of nowhere left Tsubaki faltering a bit but that excited look on her face never even diminished as she paced herself through, forgetting about her previous companions. Another jump towards a ledge later the scene before her left her in wide wonder.

A monstrous being with wings in its head and a sword tapped to its right hand, and then the giant floating wheel. A being of pure unadulterated raw power stood towering over the streets below.

Then there stood four figures right beneath and around the monstrous being. Four figures, amongst which Tsubaki was able to single out the evilest signature right away (('Is that who I think it is?')).

Looking at the scene before her with wonder eyes, the only thing that went through Tsubaki's mind was,

'Sensei really upped the level on his adventure senses!'

-Around an Hour ago-

Railway Tracks near B5F

Between Meiji-jingumae and Shibuya

"It's been a long time now hasn't it, Mei?"

"You have guts to say that after you sent all those assassins my way, Getō."

Brown eyes narrowed at the Cursed Spirit user standing a few feet in front of her as Mei Mei replied to the small talk but her mind had already started grinding out possibilities of the sorcerer before her due to the sheer disbelief that flooded her mind for just an instant.

Around the time that Takumi had been pre-occupied with Jōgo and Uraume, Mei Mei and her brother Ui Ui were already walking down the rail tracks of the nearby underground metro station platform. The two had entered from a different route when they sent Itadori Yūji to help inform any and all sorcerers around of the news of Gojō's sealing. Mei Mei could only shake her head thinking about the events that had led up to the sealing but, she couldn't help but feel elated and intrigued too when the veils were torn down out of nowhere.

Now, facing off against an old, junior, alumni Mei Mei couldn't help but feel that something was wrong, something was amiss. Mei Mei had been aware of the incident in Kyoto that had Getō and Gojō right in the middle of a civil war. The Night Parade of a Hundred Demons had been a very widely known incident that shocked the Jujutsu world for a time but Mei Mei also knew one thing.

'Did Gojō mess up the last time? Why is it that Getō is still alive?'

Getō Suguru was already killed by Gojō Satoru at the aftermath of that incident, everybody had been informed about it and Gojō himself testified. It was undoubtedly taken as a fact that Getō Suguru was executed by Gojō Satoru after the fight against Okkotsu Yūta. It made Mei Mei suspicious as to truly why someone, who is supposed to stay dead, can still be alive right now?

'Are Gojō and Getō in an alliance? No, no~ that is unlikely. If Gojō wanted to he could kill everyone in this country with no problems, he can't be joining Getō like that. I don't think Gojō is petty enough to even give a thought of Getō that much after that whole drama.'

"You know I had my money on you rather than on Gojō? Your soft smile and that nihilistic charm that you exuded. You could've been so much better but I guess with time people change. Youngsters become adults and they think they know all. Sometimes kōhai's tend to go overboard…"(('From what I can figure out from past events…))

"…it's only fair that they are reprimanded well. It's a shame I will have to squash your potential right here too Getō." ((….this Getō is most definitely a fake.'))

Mei Mei couldn't believe for a second that the Getō in front of her was the Getō she knew because she always rechecked her investments. It was what business and money was all about after all, if not careful they could all slip away. Mei Mei had exclusive proof of the fact that Getō was killed and thus she kept her vigilance up as the fake Suguru smiled with that eye-smile of his.

"Ahh Mei, it seems like we are one and the same in the way we think."

While saying that, fake Suguru proceeded to summon something in front. "For shame, to think that I would have to kill a former senpai of mine."

VwOoooOM!

A Cursed Spirit, long dull hair covering its upper part and head, two tusks extending from its mouth, arms covered in pox bumps, a sphere in its lower portion that ended in a tail, floated besides the fake Suguru.

"Special Grade, Disease Cursed Spirit, Hōsōgami (Smallpox Deity)."

The summoning brought the worst of dilemma, for a moment, to Mei Mei as she watched the Cursed Spirit summoned in front of her. This was actually surprising. She was caught off-guard at the fact that the fake could even perform Cursed Spirit Manipulation, it seemed, as it was an innate technique and she knew innate techniques couldn't be replicated just like that. (('Huh, maybe I'm wrong. He can use Jurei Sōjutsu too so he could be someone like Getō?!'))

Gripping her axe tight and getting ready to fight, fake Suguru merely continued speaking, "It is a shame that I lost quite a few Cursed Spirits at my disposal last year. Unfortunate as it is that I had lost so many I assure you though, the quality hasn't suffered. If it weren't for that I would assume Shimizu Takumi would've been troubling when we met."

'Shimizu Takumi?!'

"There, I see something in those eyes of yours Mei, a recognition! You know him too!"

The name, for a moment, brought everything to a pause for Mei Mei at that small gap of time. Unseen by many was a small seal that flickered just for a split second at the far end of the axe Mei Mei held in her hand.

"It is really interesting, how a name could bring such expressions and incite such a response. This Shimizu Takumi seems to be a known entity yet no one has ever mentioned him once. But whenever I try to remember, it is always like I have known him."

Narrowed eyes focused at fake Suguru as he said that while Mei Mei's mind ran many theories and reasons as to the significance of the name that had brought her to a halt.

Before meeting up with the fake Suguru Mei Mei had waited for a few moments and tried to figure out how the curtain veils had been broken through like that, but she didn't have to wait long when she felt a fight occur right in the lowermost levels of the station she was walking down to with Ui Ui. She didn't witness the fight but she had watched the many, more powerful Cursed Spirits all converge upon one energy signature she could feel shining like a sun above the ground. An energy she could feel a very distinct familiarity to.

The name the fake Suguru said and the energy that she felt explode above, even now, Mei Mei figured he must be someone she had known, someone she had met and forgot about or else she wouldn't have felt it so damn calming, so damn familiar in a way; and that was unforgivable that she could forget about something like that. 'No! Shimizu Takumi, I know him. I know the name! I know the face! It cannot be that I can forget that stupid cute face, no way! Could it really be?' (("How interesting things have become."))

The underground walls shook as the fights above seemed to have increased in intensity while fake Suguru spoke.

"The fights above have been getting pretty intense as well but I do have a schedule to keep to. ((fake Suguru turned around whilst keeping his eyes focused at Mei Mei and Ui Ui)) For now, I am going to leave you here with this. I'm letting the humans in B5F stay as they are."

Fake Suguru started walking away as the Cursed Spirit seemed to make some sort of preparation. "I might be waiting for you ahead Mei so why don't you try and exorcise this one, and then, I will be your next opponent."

As soon as that was said, before Mei Mei could muster a response; a burst of Cursed Energy later, Mei Mei found herself standing amongst various gravestones in a patch of ground with a barrier in the edges. 'Ryōiki Tenkai?!'

The next moment, Mei Mei had been sucked inside something congested and dark (('Oh this could be troubling.')) as Hōsōgami made a hand-sign and trapped the sorcerer in a black coffin of sorts. Ui-Ui shouted (("Nee-chan!")) but Mei Mei had already been trapped.

"Grave."

A ceremonial tombstone dropped over the black coffin as the coffin disappeared from sight after the explosion of dirt and dust. Ui Ui watched with disbelieving eyes while the Cursed Spirit started to seemingly count down from 3. The countdown never reached the end as Mei Mei eventually escaped the tombstone by destroying it altogether from the inside sending shockwaves in the vicinity.

"Oh my!" Mei Mei started, "I wonder how long it has been since I've found myself in danger, even for a moment?" (("Neee~-chaaaan~!" Ui Ui exclaimed wriggling))

-Nine Years ago-

Near Shōden-ji Temple, Kita ward, Kyoto

KrrRusScH!

"Hwuuaah~! It truly is exhausting to work alone!"

In the forests that surrounded the area around the temple of Shōden-ji a veil shattered in a certain part. A much younger Mei Mei in her Jujutsu High female uniform, rocking a ponytail for her hair, stretched herself out as she walked out of the veil that was slowly disappearing behind her.

"But it seems like I've got way better pay-outs for being a solo act. My ~ look at all those zeroes. Pay me more like this, you, business morons."

Smiling at the screen of her phone that she took out, Mei Mei enjoyed the notifications that had popped up on her screen which mostly dictated new income. 'Oh well, time to have a small break for a few more weeks. I wonder if I will have to take permission again.'

Closing her phone and putting it in her pocket Mei Mei was about to walk away when suddenly she felt a spike of Cursed Energy coming from around her vicinity. 'Wait, did I miss something?!'

Turning in her vicinity she let her eyes roam the surrounding for any disturbance when suddenly she felt something loom over her.

ChHeyyuuUoosSSH!

She felt the intent of an attack as she instinctively dodged, barely, the abnormally fast thrust from some sort of a tongue that could be used as a weapon (("Wha-?!")). Aimed straight towards her head Mei Mei had to move, bending her body in a way she never did, to dodge the attacker.

Kicking away from the place of the attack, Mei Mei looked at her attacker as it came into focus before it seemingly disappeared off in front of her eyes, but Mei Mei's eyes narrowed, 'Hmm? It can camouflage?! Well, well~'

For the brief moment that Mei Mei saw it, the Cursed Spirit looked like a mutated toad with enlarged head and small limbs with a sort of abnormal growth on its back seemingly with a tear running through its middle back. It had disappeared into the background foliage, as if melding into it, while Mei Mei kissed her teeth. 'Seriously?! This job was only about a single big one with a couple of small fries, not two big ones. I better get some bonus for this~'

She initiated the use of her Innate Technique but had to cancel it quickly when she felt the intent to attack, again, coming straight form her front (('Full frontal?!')). She had to open her eyes as the appendage from before was thrust on to her direction from the, now, visible Cursed Spirit and seeing it Mei Mei had to pull out a bladed weapon she kept on her person and try to slash the appendage. The Cursed Spirit had retracted the appendage quickly though, while Mei Mei steadied herself. The Cursed Spirit disappeared from her view again.

'Hmm, I can't use my Innate Technique while trying to keep track of this thing at the same time. I've already used a lot of Cursed Energy while exorcising the first one before this.'

The previous Cursed Spirit had been a Grade 2, surprisingly bordering Semi-Grade 1, in powers as it was able to trap Mei Mei in an incomplete Domain of its own but Mei Mei had been able to defeat it far too quickly before it could even use the incomplete sure-hit effect of its technique. The fight had exhausted Mei Mei off a little of her reserves but she was far more annoyed by the current situation she faced.

The hide-and-seek game being played by the Cursed Spirit irritated Mei Mei more than worried her as it made the Cursed Spirit a very tricky opponent to fight. Confident in her skills, if the previous Cursed Spirit hadn't been a surprise Semi-Grade 1, Mei Mei knew she could've, most probably, defeated this new Cursed Spirit with ease, even though it also gave off a Semi-Grade 1 aura after the few scuffles that they had been through currently.

At these times Mei Mei merely remembered back to the moments when she would be berated by Utahime for putting herself in danger quite deliberately. "I do miss Iori's presence by my side a little bit.", Mei Mei muttered to herself.

The Cursed Spirit appeared a few distance to her right as Mei Mei grasped its position (("There you are!")) and made a dash towards it even though it had already sent an attack towards her.

Manoeuvring herself in an angle to not be grazed by the bullet-like appendage she got inside the vulnerable zone of the Cursed Spirit, and before it could even think of retracting its appendage Mei Mei grinned and cut off the whole tongue appendage of the Cursed Spirit from right near its mouth as it howled in pain and tried to disappear.

"Oh no, you don't!" Seeing the slowly disappearing Cursed Spirit trying to escape, Mei Mei merely moved and then proceeded to stab and slice the Cursed Spirit with a few kicks as well before it could even complete its camouflaging technique. Howling in pain, the Cursed Spirit was sent flying a few distance, away, (('Now, better to end it fast before it can use any kind of new surprises it has.')) and Mei Mei went in for the kill-shot.

But it seemed the Cursed Spirit had another new trump card up its sleeves, as the outgrowth on its back tore open, all of a sudden, from the middle and various thin tendrils erupted from the inside right at Mei Mei whose eyes widened (('What is that?!')) at the scene in front of her.

Screeching sounds followed as the tendrils launched towards Mei Mei in blinding speeds which caught her off guard and despite Mei Mei trying her best to dodge and weave through, they were numerous, and some of the tendrils were able to pierce through some places in her body. Mainly two, one in her left side of the gut and the other in her right shoulder while the others were missed, small, cuts. (("Ghhhkh!"))

It was a mistake by Mei Mei, something she took in stride at that moment but it did not quell the amounting rage inside her that had overtaken, at being injured by a Cursed Spirit of all things! Dangling in the air with two pierced tendrils on her, the other tendrils proceeded to quickly wrap around Mei Mei tightly as the Cursed Spirit opened its mouth wide for her.

GHhHrrRdhoOM!

Out of nowhere, two giant, spiked, blocks of earth squashed the Cursed Spirit in front of Mei Mei like a bear trap locking in (("Huh?!")), sending dust and debris everywhere with the subsequent explosion. Mei Mei fell from the air as the tendrils loosened and she was able to cut loose from the binds. With the Cursed Spirit seemingly exorcised, landing on the ground Mei Mei winced at her injuries but kept her focus on her surroundings.

"Yo! You need a hand there lady?!"

A young male voice shouted from the top edge of the two giant earth blocks as Mei Mei turned her gaze upwards at the direction of the voice and saw a silhouette crouched.

The figure jumped down from the top and as he landed in front of Mei Mei she saw the features more clearly now. (('A redhead? What are the odds?')) A modified, dark blue Jujutsu High uniform with a higher neck-raise and slightly short pants with black-and-white designed shoes belonging to a certain wavy red haired, green eyed teenage boy.

"Woah! A real life blue haired babe. You were all the more worth saving."

Mei Mei couldn't help the incredulous expression on her face, on that statement, that turned into a giggle as she grabbed the hand which was offered to her. The boy stood there for a moment, holding her hand and staring at her, whole, (('Ohhh~ Is he starstruck?~ Oh boy~')) before blinking once then he pulled her up, steadying her lightly in a better position as he, to Mei Mei's surprise, started using Reverse Cursed Technique to heal her wounds.

'Is he a new entrant at the school? He looks so young and is able to use Reverse Cursed Technique of all things!', It wasn't a stretch to say that Mei Mei was quite impressed, for that part, as she knew about the intricacies of using that technique and she also knew, that not many sorcerers could perform it in such a high level as, she observed, the boy in front was doing.

"Name's Shimizu. Takumi Shimizu." The boy said while healing her wounds.

It wasn't the fact that the introduction had Mei Mei laughing but the accent, manner, and tone with the dead eyes, the now named, Takumi used while introducing himself that had taken her off-guard due to a certain resemblance with a specific spy movie character. "My, my~ Shimizu-kun~ (("Call me Takumi.")) AAh? Takumi-kun…~

...aren't you bold enough to pick an older girl like me up in a place and time like this~"

"My timing needs work but you, my dear, aren't just an older girl. You're a work of art." A bright shine later, it seemed the healing had been finished of Mei Mei by Takumi.

"Really? ((Mei Mei saw her wounds were already healed enough and she could breathe better than before)) Thank you for this, although I am pretty sure I don't recognize you except for the uniform. Tokyo? Oh where are my manners! ((Mei Mei pointed at herself)) Takumi-kun, my name is Mei Mei."

"Mei Mei, more like Mommei." Takumi whispered under his breath but Mei Mei had heard his grumbling whisper and her smile grew even more. "Nice to meet ya, and yeah, I'm a second year in Tokyo Jujutsu High. You look like someone from Jujutsu High as well though, judging from your actions and what you were doing around here."

"Hmhm~, well we do have another sister school right here in Kyoto." (('He looks quite young for a second year in Jujutsu High. Younger than even Gojō was if I remember correctly.'))

"Oh yeah, Satoru-yuung told me about it. Now that I think about it, he did mention someone named Mei Mei a few times, as a senpai of sorts, alongside some Music Princess that he can't seem to take seriously for some reason." Takumi merely smiled at her.

Mei Mei laughed at the 'Music Princess' part because she knew exactly who the sorcerer was talking about.

"So he talks about us does he~? Gojō-kun?~" Mei Mei couldn't help but show more of her mischievous smile at hearing about that.

"Not frequently but sometimes." Takumi replied continuing, "I'd appreciate his company more if he talked about girls like you but he only tends to mention you when throwing shade on Music Princess. Then there is Yuki-naaooo too who is an A but she is off-campus and I miss her already."

She loved the kid already. (('This boy really doesn't play around, does he? Such a refreshing brand of confidence!')) An intrigued expression ran along the face of Mei Mei as Takumi talked about the things that the Jujutsu High alumni knew for a fact he couldn't have known much about if he weren't a true student, especially when he mentioned Yuki with such familiarity. (('I didn't know Yuki knew someone from Tokyo like him. Oh well, she hasn't stayed long in the country for much anyway.'))

"Hmm, so Takumi-kun, if you're a student of Tokyo then what brings you to Kyoto? Thinking of changing schools?"

"Mmm, nah, I actually have some things to take care of in Kyoto and then I'm heading down to Osaka. I had actually wanted to see the temple area again cuz it was in my route but then I sensed a spike in Cursed Energy. ((Takumi pout his lips)) And well, then I found your gorgeous self."

"My, you sure know flattery~ But that's okay. ((She leaned in)) Because you seem like you're worth your own words from the looks of it and I like that potential I'm seeing." Mei Mei was sold. 'I like your style, Shimizu Takumi.'

With the small doubt of the boy, in front, being some kind of an enemy, now, mildly settled in the back of her mind, Mei Mei had to ask one more thing before she proceeded forward. Something that had popped up in her head when Takumi had mentioned Yuki as well.

A particular news or rumour that had been floating around the place, about a young, new, Special Grade Sorcerer, that had been admitted in Jujutsu High other than the first three that were Yuki, Getō and Gojō. A new powerful ally or an enemy?

'Is this boy him? The name, now that I think about it, seems familiar as well.' "Say~ Takumi-kun. ((Mei Mei leaned in towards Takumi)) Are you the new boy that was designated a Special Grade license that I've been hearing Gojō-kun seemingly brag about this past few months?"

"Satoru-yuuung brags about me?!" Takumi asked back incredulously.

"Hmm? ((A chibi Gojō Satoru says, "Ya, ya Mei Mei! You see, we got this cool kid here! Super strong, super cool jutsu! You all should come make it here next Goodwill and bring that weakling princess too! We'll be doing cool jutsu battle, me and him! Even Getō can't match him now hahahaha~!")) Yeah something like that."

"Nice. ((Takumi smirked)) And yeah, I was listed as "Special Grade" because I am one of those special kinds anyway."

"Seems like you know your worth well."

"Lady~ I am godlike."

And that was the first meeting between the Special Grade Takumi and the Kyoto alumni Mei Mei in the forests of Kyoto.

-Present-

Before Sukuna's Revival

Around Shibuya Center Gai, Udagawacho

"BANSHŌ (MAX ELEPHANT)!"

GhrrRRooOOOOMMMMM!

Fatigue was something Yūji never had many problems with. Ever since he could remember he had always been active, always full of energy, always ready for any kind of action in his life; and he had never gotten tired. It's always been him that everybody in the sports and track teams wanted back in his old High-school and it had always been him that had broken records with no sweat.

But today, as he watched the giant elephant shikigami that Megumi had summoned right on top of Chōsō while he was being pulled back from his spot by another toad-like shikigami of Megumi named Gama (Toad) whose tongue had got a hold of him, Yūji could surely appreciate his blessings for he felt himself lose some of the vigour he had always been proud of as his eyes struggled to stay awake. (('Shit, that attack really got me in the guts and my head is fucked up. Can't seem to stay awake, shit!')) Yūji was not happy.

'Damn it, I lost even Mechamaru's earpiece in that fight!'

With Chōsō seemingly crushed by the shikigami, Banshō, under its weight with a big explosion of dust and debris erupting right after, Megumi rushed towards his shikigami that had an, almost, half-dead Yūji with it while keeping his eyes on the spot where Chōsō was last seen. Megumi gritted his teeth in frustration while his thoughts raced,

'This fight isn't going anywhere. Itadori looks to be on his last legs with how much injuries he is packing. Even I'm not in that good of a condition. Damn it, what do we do?!' Megumi couldn't help but grumble a bit whilst looking at the battles currently taking place around.

Rewinding back a long while ago, when Megumi and everyone first felt the curtain veil around Shibuya and the stations had been broken through, Nanami had proceeded with a slightly altered plan of attack. They were to head in from around the Meiji-dori Ave exit and East side exit around the Inokashira station Line, in tandem, towards the place where they had deduced Gojō was currently sealed in the underground station.

Yūji and Megumi had been accompanied by Ino towards the East side while Nanami was to enter from the other because he had wanted to find some of the other sorcerers that had been trapped or were seemingly lost in the curtain edges when things had gone south. Ino took a detour mid-way to cover more area while Yūji and Megumi stuck close to each other and entered the station.

But things got even more awry as soon as the two had reached the third level of the underground station. That was when Chōsō encountered both of them and then in the subsequent battle he was able to separate Yūji from Megumi in a battle that seemed to heavily favour the Cursed Womb and the various Cursed Spirits that followed through with the Cursed Womb's attack.

'We got separated on that first ambush but I managed to find Itadori. The transmuted humans and Cursed Spirits took a lot out of me. I hope Ino-senpai has been taken to a safer place, that's the only win we can possibly take, and if it weren't for Nanami's intervention it would've been way worse! This other Cursed Spirit is all kinds of insane too.' A few distance away Megumi watched as Nanami had a really hard time against the vile Cursed Spirit that was Mahito, even with his classmates helping him. (('Even that one's all kinds of bad!'))

Back when Megumi and Yūji were being overpowered and outmanned, Ino had intervened in the battle rather quickly as he had been close by when the attack happened. While Megumi was busy with the Cursed Spirits and even transmuted humans, Ino had been able to find Yūji battling with Chōsō, heavily injured. Ino fought the Cursed Womb but was quickly overwhelmed by its sheer versatile ability to utilize the Kamo clan's Sōden Jutsushiki, Sekketsu Sōjutsu (Blood Manipulation), in ways he couldn't imagine any living Kamo clan members could. This same surprise to the manipulation ability would prove fatal for Ino.

A sneaky attack of condensed and pressurized blood arrow (("Senketsu (Piercing Blood)." Chōsō whispered)) that was launched in blinding speeds had been the first thing that took the sorcerer off guard as Ino got grievously pierced through his sternum with Yūji barely dodging the same attack that also went his way, with it lightly grazing his arms. Yūji was already heavily injured as it is but then things took an even, more, worse turn as Mahito decided to jump in the fray right at that moment and (("Tajūkon: Battai (Soul Multiplicity: Body Repel)!" Mahito exclaimed)) Yūji barely dodged the transmuted human-body attack that Mahito sent out towards him.

The subsequent argument that took place between Mahito and Chōsō due to Mahito's interference had been the moment that Yūji was able to retrieve the unconscious Ino and make a quick dash to a safer spot. Meanwhile Megumi, after dealing with his lot of enemies, had been able to reach Yūji and Ino just in time to escape with Datto and a quick shadow dive after, towards a different location.

"Itadori, get Ino-senpai out of here. I'll handle this one for a while."

"Fushigoro?! But won't y-! (("What is going on right now?!" Yūji turned towards the earpiece he had)) Mechamaru?!"

"Mechamaru?"

"Fushigoro Megumi. So you are here as well, tell me what's going in?"

"Where were you all this time?" Yūji asked urgently.

"I was conserving energy for a while, I would have to do something very quick. Tell me about the situation."

Yūji merely turned the face of the earpiece and it spoke, "Chōsō and Mahito?! How did they get here and against you two?! And how is Ino-senpai that injured?!"

"They are distracted Mechamaru, and Ino-senpai got booked by that blood using Cursed Spirit. You know anything about them?"

"I faced Mahito. It is a Special Grade and it can transmute humans ((Yūji clenched his fists at that)) and if Chōsō can use blood then that would most likely point towards the ability to use the Sekketsu Sōjutsu. (("You know about it?" Yūji asked)) Kamo uses it as well, the same Cursed Technique. It is one of the most prized and treasured Cursed Technique of the Kamo family passed through its generational line.

Closed-quarters, mid to long range, it is hailed for its versatility and overall balance in the arts of combat."

"Then you must know it's weakness as we-!" "I do not know its weakness, Itadori Yūji." "Huh?!"

"Clan secret?" "That is correct Fushigoro Megumi, just like your Tokusa no Kage Bōjutsu is one of the most prized techniques of the Zen'in family, the Sekketsu Sōjutsu is a prized treasure of the Kamo family as well and thus not much is known about it to the outsiders."

"So that would me-!" DhhooOOOM!

A section of the wall near them was blasted away as they felt the two Cursed Spirits get closer.

"No time to talk Itadori. Get Ino-senpai out of here. I'll handle these guys till then."

"Fushigoro-!"

Little did the two know though that Yūji was already marked by Chōsō's blood and so, unknowingly, which is why they were found out so quickly, which had led to the duo's retreating fight and had them at a very big disadvantage due to the injured combatant the duo held with them, on the streets of Shibuya. (("There is no time to argue. Just get it done and run back. I won't die!")) Megumi had then proceeded to distract the two Cursed Spirits with his shikigami as Yūji gritted his teeth (("Listen to him. Let's get Ino-senpai out and we get back here in no time. I can assume the Kyoto detail is also on the move so don't worry." Mechamaru said)) and without much more talk picked up his pace while carrying Ino's body with him, disappearing into the alleys.

"Gyokuken: Kon (Divine Dogs: Totality)." A shadowy black dog-like figure that didn't form into a full-shaped summon, shot out towards Chōsō's direction who appeared in front of Megumi but Mahito, who was well out of the vicinity, dodged, while Megumi dashed towards a different direction.

Summoning Nue, Megumi jumped on its back and flew upwards into the sky right over where Chōsō had torn through the shadow wisp-like shikigami. A big gust of wind from the beating of Nue's wings swept Mahito away as he tried to run towards Yūji's direction but wasn't able to. The gust had also pushed Chōsō back but Chōsō steadied himself and then quickly compressed another pint of blood that he shot towards Megumi.

Lucky or not, Megumi couldn't help but be elated when in the next moment Nanami had appeared out of nowhere and proceeded to cut through and save Megumi from being pierced by the attack of Chōsō whilst Yūji had enough time to disappear with Ino. At least that was what Megumi had thought.

"I'll take the other one. I'm familiar with him. Can you handle this one Fushigoro?"

((Megumi breathed heavily)) "Tch, no sweat Nanami."

No other words were spoken as Nanami gathered Cursed Energy on to his blade and dashed a few steps ahead while slamming down the blade into the ground.

"Jutsushiki Kakuchō: Garagara (Technique Extension: Collapse)."

A huge fissure divided the battlefield that was the streets of the city as Nanami engaged Mahito while Megumi focused on Chōsō. Megumi tried to keep his distance with Chōsō but the Cursed Womb had surprisingly closed the distance between him significantly closer. Megumi dodged the blood arrow by diving into the nearby building shadow but when he appeared back he found Chōsō waiting and Megumi could only proceed to fight close-quarters.

Relentless attacks were being dished out by Chōsō and so Megumi was forced to only keep dodging the blindingly fast melee attacks. Megumi was on the back-foot. In a pure melee brawl, Megumi knew he couldn't stack up to the Cursed Womb unlike Yūji who could go toe-to-toe. Megumi had tried to keep his distance but Chōsō was able to reach him with his better physique and throw a punch which Megumi blocked but he still got sent flying.

'Tch, Itadori escaped with that sorcerer. There's this new guy as well, but Mahito is busy with him. Oh well, I know Itadori will come back, until then, might as well beat this one down.'

Walking into the smoking building Chōsō had to quickly dodge a knife-like weapon aimed at his face as he felt someone's presence behind him. He then dodged the subsequent swipe at his torso while launching a kick that was blocked. Making a few distance, Chōsō saw it was Megumi who then made a new handsign.

"*Gōkuma (Roaring Bear)!"

A shadow fell over Chōsō as the Cursed Womb turned his head over him and saw a shadowed thundering paw punch headed straight towards him. As the punch landed it sent a shockwave around the area while Chōsō disappeared into the explosion. Megumi heaved deep breaths while he watched the smoke.

The shikigami had disappeared quite fast into the shadows as Megumi had sweat and exhaustion catch up. 'I can't use that shikigami for prolonged time still. Shit, my Cursed Energy is getting low as well?!'

As the smoke cleared Megumi saw the Cursed Womb disappear as he spread his senses and instantly felt an attack coming from the right. Megumi dodged the punch by mere centimetres as he dove straight towards a shadow but couldn't. Chōsō caught Megumi's leg and threw him at distance as the Cursed Womb created another blood arrow and launched it straight towards the recovering Megumi. A shadowy incomplete dog intercepted the arrow as Megumi stood and made a run to the opposite side of Chōsō.

'Shit he outmatches me too much in hand to hand. He is too much of a freak physically like Itadori!'

A swipe of blood came in Megumi's vision as he dodged the sailing blood blade that sliced through the building walls he was running through as he kept low and dived out towards the streets. Megumi subsequently dived into the shadows again for a bit of reprieve as he planned for his next move.

'I need to surprise him somehow. He can still sense my Curse Energy when I come out of my shadows and he is always nearby.' Megumi peeked out of the shadow of a bridge as he looked around when the bridge itself got sliced down (("Gama!")) and Megumi had to summon his frog shikigami to get him out of the wreckage as the Chōsō came in view with his arms joined and stretched in front.

'He is going to do that attack again!'

Chōsō shot another blood arrow in blinding speeds as Megumi barely brought up his blade to block the incoming attack. Megumi steadied himself while Gama disappeared as he used the blade stop his tumbles while Chōsō dashed in towards his location. (("Sekirin Yakudō (Flowing Red Scale)." Chōsō whispered)) Megumi only had a moment of notice before Chōsō closed the gap between them (('He got faster?!')) and Megumi swung his blade but the Cursed Womb caught his arms and tried to elbow Megumi's neck. But Megumi dodged the elbow and kicked himself off of Chōsō as he tried to dash in towards a nearby shadow again for a surprise attack.

But Chōsō was faster to recover and he appeared right in front of Megumi who slid under the attack that followed through. Megumi tried to unbalance Chōsō by swiping at his legs but the Cursed Womb merely dodged and then launched a series of punches to the streets that Megumi was forced to dodge and he dodged quite a few, but the last one came up really fast and Megumi braced for impact.

DhmM!

Kicked to the face, Chōsō blocked the surprise attack that had come from the side, but the Cursed Womb still got sent away from the force as Yūji appeared on the scene while Megumi, seeing his teammate, couldn't be more happier for the time being.

"Oy, Fushigoro, you ok? I found Kugisaki and the others on my way and Ino-senpai is currently being taken out of this place."

A raised eyebrow showed the intrigue of Megumi at hearing their other teammate's name, and that they were headed here as well. He couldn't help but be a bit eased learning that more sorcerers were coming.

"That's good. You mind if we take this guy down now, Itadori?"

"I'm, all, ready Fushigoro. Where's Mahito?"

"Nanami came in."

"Got it."

Meanwhile, Nanami kept Mahito busy after the fissure attack from before that split the battlefield. Nanami had singled out the Cursed Spirit to fight against even though he had known from their first encounter, with the same Cursed Spirit, that his own technique was heavily countered by the Cursed Spirit's own technique ability. 'I know my Tookaku Juhō (Ratio Technique) is basically useless against this one. His soul manipulation can overwrite and negate my technique's damage and with only me to face him I cannot seem to do much, then there is his domain as well ((Nanami's eyes narrowed)) so I should only try and buy time for now.'

((Nanami sighed)) "I'm always overworking in this job it seems lately."

He dashed towards Mahito and tried to swipe at him but Mahito dodged and let lose a torrent of transmuted human snakes with massive jaws as Nanami indifferently slashed through a series of them but had to back off and dodge the rest of the torrent as he made a distance between himself and the Cursed Spirit. Mahito meanwhile had been having absolute fun.

"IS that All?! Come on! I know you can do better than that Jujutsu Sorcerer!"

'It seems like I have the advantage here ((Mahito grinned goofily)) Hmm~ Even though I can't seem to reach Itadori Yūji, guess I'll play around with this guy again for a while. From the looks of it, Jōgo is fighting somewhere, hmm. I want to see the look on Itadori Yūji's face when I present him a transmuted sensei. Hehehehe~'

"I told you once didn't I? You'd be the perfect specimen to experiment on with my technique! ((Mahito proceeded to dash forward with a transmuted battle-axe right hand with glee)) I still haven't changed my MIND!"

Dodging the slam from Mahito, Nanami proceeded to wrap around, the sealing wrapper of his blade, in to his right hand as Nanami then proceeded to quickly punch Mahito in his torso but Mahito blocked it with a human rubber shield. Nanami quickly steadied himself and then launched a barrage of slashes and punches that destroyed quite a few monuments and buildings. Mahito dodged all the attacks with mirth.

Quickly covering the distance between, Mahito tried to touch the torso of Nanami but the sorcerer felt him coming in and by a very small margin was able to dodge the touch. Nanami then tried to slash off the head of Mahito which Mahito blocked but his hand got damaged and Nanami was able to kick him away.

'He is keeping his distance from me. He knows he cannot touch me deliberately or let himself be touched so he is keeping me at that blade's length. His Cursed Energy is only growing at this point. Is that the binding vow in effect that he told me about?'

It was pretty much a short stalemate at this point for Mahito but he knew he still had the advantage over the sorcerer in front due to his technique. He had already faced the sorcerer and had him at the palm of his hands once and it was only Yūji's presence that had saved him last time. The only thing he had to fear right now is the fact that he couldn't have Itadori Yūji locked and killed inside his domain like the sorcerer, in front, as that would mean Mahito would need to confront Sukuna. (('But not this sorcerer~'))

The only other major player that Mahito currently worried about was the new sorcerer he had come in contact with before everything went down. The red-haired sorcerer with the poisonous Cursed Energy that ran through his veins, Mahito couldn't help but remember back to the beat down.

'I don't know who that one was and Getō won't tell me more about him, but I could care less now if he is nowhere around, close. Oh well, back to the fight.'

Creating another shield of human mass Mahito blocked the incoming slash and then sent a punch but Nanami turned, dodged and tried to take Mahito's head off but the Cursed Spirit merely made distance jumping away as Nanami also dodged the swipe of Mahito's hand. Mahito steadied himself but Nanami had slashed on to the building behind Mahito as the Cursed Spirit dodged the various huge debris chunks that fell over.

Nanami covered the distance and tried to cut Mahito's arms off but Mahito got in towards Nanami's range by changing shape and then touched the side torso of Nanami. But he, Nanami, had moved at the last minute as well, and as Mahito touched only a small portion of the sorcerer, Nanami on the other hand cut off the hand of Mahito and kicked him away.

It didn't stop a small portion of Nanami's torso from being damaged by that slight touch still as the wound started to bleed out while Nanami heaved deep breaths. He watched Mahito stand up and face him with glee in his eyes as Nanami clutched the blade in his hand. 'Damn it, if it were a direct touch, I'm sure that was the last of me.'

"Haha! You're really trying harder than before aren't you?! Just a fraction of a second fast than me are ya, sorcerer? Hmhm~"

As laughter followed Mahito regurgitated out three small packages (('He still has transmuted humans?!' Nanami wondered as he saw the act)) that changed into three medium-sized deformed humanoid beings with sharp elbow outgrowths, short legs and no facial structure except for a sharp teethed mouth opening.

The humanoids dashed in towards Nanami who gritted his teeth and then dashed towards the humanoids. Mahito grinned as the heaving Nanami punched the first one, then slashed the second into pieces and then sliced and punched the last one but before Nanami could steady himself fully and expect Mahito on his front, (('Hmm!?')) the Cursed Spirit appeared from the side ready to touch the whole face of Nanami.

The moment had stopped for a fleeting second for Nanami as he could only see the five fingered open palm headed straight towards his head, ready to use the technique of the Cursed Spirit, to tear and render his soul and finally put an end to his life.

If only that was how it had went.

SwwWoOOP!

Two nails pierced Mahito's elbow and neck and before the Cursed Spirit could do anything else his body had jerked to a stop, (('What the hell?!')) and Nanami, being the Grade-1 he was, seeing that very short, and slim, chance launched a devastating Cursed Energy focused punch right into Mahito's open front.

"Kokusen (Black Flash)!"

And in that moment of chance, the phenomenon that occurred for the miniscule blessed ones, took hold; flashing black for a moment and then, Mahito was launched through buildings. The distant walls crashed down as Nanami took a breather while under the debris Mahito couldn't make out what had gone wrong, between the rubble and wall he was stuck in to. 'What the hell was that?! It hit that place?! It reached my soul?!'

"Nanami! Are you alright?!" the voice of Maki called out as Nanami turned to his left and saw her following a running Nobara, both moving towards him. Nanami turned fully to receive them as they reached him and replied,

"I'm ok, Maki. It seems you found us at the right time."

"Yeah we heard explosions and felt a lot of Cursed Energy being used around here. Nitta is currently with Ino and we met some other sorcerers who were taking the wounded back, so Nobara and I raced towards you after we met Itadori. The old geezer is here too but he probably went off towards Megumi."

"Hm, that's fine. Thanks to you I was able to fend this one off, for now." Nanami turned to look at the direction Mahito was launched away and continued saying, "If it isn't any more trouble, we should get ready right now. The Cursed Spirit is getting back up."

Surely, Mahito could be seen stretching himself out as he walked out of the rubbles and into the open street again while Maki and Nobara got ready with their Cursed Tools. Briefly turning his head towards the two Nanami said,

"That attack from before, the nails, they seem to have had some effect on him. Seems like we can have an advantage and put some pressure on him this way. ((Nanami gripped his weapon tighter)) He can use Ryōiki Tenkai so be prepared. Let's go, Maki, Kugisaki."

On the other hand Mahito merely watched as the sorcerer from before came in to view with two newer additions.

'Ah, I don't know what that was before, but I guess my guy has two new pals too and they are girls~ ((Mahito grinned in a dopey manner)) My, my, what should I do next, oh wait, one of them probably has that nail attack so I should try and scope out the one who did that first. Itadori can wait for now. I saw one of those girls and she was quite close to Itadori if I remember correctly. What would his face look like when I present him with his friend all deformed and mangled along with his sensei. Hmmhnnnm~'

"Ok ((Mahito stretched himself as he watched Nanami dash towards him with Nobara and Maki)) I guess it's time for round two. Let's see if this one works even better."

Regurgitating even more souls into the palm of his hands Mahito put his arms forward as he clapped once gathering the large amount of souls.

"Tajūkon: Kikon Isetai (Soul Multiplicity: Polymorphic Soul Isomer)."

A pair of transfigured humans stood before Mahito as he grinned and got ready for the upcoming fight.

'Chōsō you have your fun. But the only one to put Itadori Yūji in despair before he dies is going to be me!'

-Metropolitan Expressway Route No.3-

Shibuya Tollgate Line

While Mahito and Chōsō raged their battles on to the far sides of Shibuya's interior, the outer sections had become a silent reprieve for the, once, trapped sorcerers that were now able to make their way out of the different places they were trapped in due to the curtain veil that had fallen prior.

The Expressway that ran through Shibuya had become one of the few spots that had been created to take in the injured sorcerers that were brought in by the many other sorcerers and even some humans. In this particular spot of recovery though, a familiar face was seen walking through the tents displayed up as the figure entered a particularly bigger tent that seemed to have another figure, female, inside it that was seemingly treating an injured sorcerer in one of the beds.

"Oh you're here then, Principal. Let me just finish this and join you."

The female didn't even deign to look at the other as she said the words and then without any other response, the figure merely watched the female figure work for a few more minutes.

--

"It's surprising that you took the initiative like that, but I think it was for the better. If you hadn't called me in this moment and waited for Nanami I might say that we'd have had a lot more vacant posts to fill, and it's all thanks to you Principal." Shoko said as she and Principal Yaga, both stood outside at the expressway rails overlooking the city down below.

"The curtain is gone.", was the only response from Principal Yaga as he looked towards the city as well.

"Ahh yeah, I was surprised as well. When I met the first of the surviving sorcerers bring in their wounded altogether I was equally baffled to see them running towards me. You told me there was a curtain."

"Yes I did Shoko, and I want to know how this was possible. Did any of the others tell you about anything regarding who did this?"

"Not one of them knows about it. They only say that they felt the curtain banning the entry and exit of sorcerers and even some curtains inside the same vicinity that must've been trapping Gojō in break away in a flash."

"Hmm, somebody must've entered the curtain and broke it away from the inside."

"Couldn't it be one of ours?"

"Then we would've gotten something Shoko."

"A new sorcerer we don't know about?"

"Or a third party that has taken an interest in this mess."

"But then why break the curtains away Principal? Why let the only thing that could potentially keep the sorcerer, or them, hidden for longer break way like that?"

"You are assuming they're a sorcerer Shoko. It could be someone entirely new. The curtain could probably have fallen due to a fight, perhaps?"

"Hmm, either way, if this third party has no interest in our sorcerers then we can potentially let it be for now don't you think so Principal?" As soon as Shoko said that, she pulled out a box of cigarette and proceeded to pick one out and light it.

"It's better to be cautious for now Shoko. You're one of the most integral part of this mess. We will need you in the long run."

"That sounds ominous Principal. ((Shoko looked at Yagi as she puffed out a smoke)) Don't tell me you're about to do something stupid in Gojō's absence."

"Don't make it sound like you haven't been doing the same lately, and what's this? All by yourself in this place, like once before?"

"Sheesh you don't need to tell the obvious. Anyway, if you're so suspicious about the third party why not go in? I'll be fine here."

"Not a chance."

"Hwaahh~ There are Cursed Corpses stationed around here and there nearby, Principal. I'll be fine on my own."

"Even so, there are probably sorcerers of our own that are already in there. They will be enough in my opinion. Nanami is also there, so there is my confidence we will be successful."

"Smart of you on that. It's better that you let Nanami out on the field rather than let him be on his phone duty. It would've been a waste."

"He was already raring to go anyway. I would never stop him like that, but unlike him ((Principal Yaga looked at Shoko)) you are irreplaceable Shoko."

"Is that a fact, aren't you just overestimating my ability?"

"Hmph, never overestimating. You are irreplaceable Shoko. Using Reverse Cursed Technique to heal others is a skill that a lot of sorcerers just can't do. It's something even Satoru can't do but you can. It's a priceless boon that we are very short on and with the events that have been occurring lately, I fear you will be needed a lot more than us old sorcerers."

"Really not, obviously, ominous Principal."

"Ieiri-san!" Someone called out to Shoko from a distance, somewhere, around her right bottom-side.

Nitta appeared with another two sorcerers in uniform who helped her carry an unconscious, injured, Ino towards Shoko and Principal as they made their way towards the small group.

A few moments later, Ino was seen laid out on a bed inside a medical tent as Shoko watched over his unconscious body and proceeded with her diagnostics.

"Whatever pierced him missed the heart by a really small bit, and to break through the sternum?! ((She looked towards the only female sorcerer inside the tent)) You mentioned meeting Itadori, Nitta. What more did he tell you?"

"Ahh! ((Nitta was flustered)) Umm, when Kugisaki-san and the others met Itadori-san he was in a real hurry and only mentioned Ino-san being pierced by some blood attack. (("Sekketsu Sōjutsu?" Shoko whispered)) He really didn't wait long since he told us Fushigoro-san was fighting alone against two Cursed Spirits and he didn't want to leave him like that. That was it, he just bolted after that. The others, Kugisaki-san and all, beside me just followed after towards him while I was let to take Ino-san to you. That was when I met up with the other two."

Concern wrought the face of Principal Yaga as he looked at Ino and heard Nitta say her piece. Shoko meanwhile completed her diagnostic as she exhaled out another puff of smoke and said, "Ino's lucky you know. His chest got totally punctured. I could heal the excess damage but it will be up to him if he can recover fast."

"He will. Nanami has high hopes for him, he will recover. It's thanks to you as well he could be healed at least."

"Again with that?"

"You fail to see your value in this Shoko. Satoru might be powerful but he still got sealed, that brat! I am more concerned about Fushigoro and the others, especially Itadori. It might be for the best that at least the Zen'in clan head is with them. I can only hope that Nanami has gotten into the thick of it to help them as well."

"You can still go you know."

"And like I said Shoko. No chance in hell I am leaving you unprotected or out of my sight. Until this thing gets done, you'll be under my watch. ((Principal Yaga glared a bit)) And I thought you told me that you had quit smoking already and why are you smoking inside with a patient?"

"It won't do anything don't worry. I just felt nostalgic you know, ((Shoko puffed out a smoke and then proceeded to smudge out the cigarette)) just remembering my student years."

-Back with Megumi and others-

The fight that had raged on between Chōsō and the two student sorcerers had been at a stalemate for a while after Yūji had joined the fray. With Megumi's summons and Yūji's own physical prowess, the teamwork that the two boys showed had the Cursed Womb to resort to being on the defensive as Megumi piled on shadow attacks with his summons from unexpected angles while Yūji kept the focus of Chōsō on the brawl of hand-to-hand with him, trying to divide his attention between the two.

"Karibarai (Slicing Exorcism)."

A stream of blood sliced through diagonally whilst Yūji bent forward to dodge it as he then dashed inwards and did a rotating low to high kick towards Chōsō who blocked it, grabbed Yūji's leg and smashed him towards the nearby wall but before Chōsō could follow through he is stopped by Datto again as the numerous rabbit shikigamis piled up in his front and around him.

'Tch, distraction!' Megumi appeared overhead with a slicing motion but at the same time, Yūji appeared and was able to punch Chōsō away when the Cursed Womb went for the dodge from Megumi's attack and came in range of Yūji's (("Keitei Ken (Divergent Fist).")) attack.

'Hmph! A double impact punch again? He uses strange technique!' "Itadori Yūji, ((Chōsō steadied himself)) for being responsible in my brothers' deaths I will kill you as you stand here!"

Byakuren (Convergence), a Kamo clan specialty technique, was prepared as small condensed blood droplets floated around the vicinity of Chōsō. Yūji narrowed his eyes at the blood orbs (('Is he going to do something with those orbs again?')) but he and Megumi had to quickly remove themselves from their previous spot when a Cursed Spirit seemingly appeared out of nowhere distracting them as Chōsō let loose another blood arrow in blinding speeds.

Easily dodging the big mouth of the Cursed Spirit that tried to swallow them whole, Megumi and Yūji destroyed the Cursed Spirit but they did not expect the blood arrow to also pierce through the Cursed Spirit and appear right in front of them. Yūji kicked Megumi away from the arrow trajectory while he tried to block the attack for himself but it pierced through his shoulder as Yūji kissed his teeth. That was the chance that Chōsō had waited as when Yūji staggered in his falling position, the Cursed Womb dashed with hardened blood around his fists (('Close-quarters I'll beat you down Itadori!')) and sent the first punch. Yūji could only side step slowly but the second punch didn't miss and hit his left side although Yūji poised himself still, grabbed the hands of Chōsō and hurled him towards the building walls. Chōsō knocked off a sidewalk water line as he rolled away when Megumi also joined the fray.

"Nue."

Before he could barely register Chōsō felt the surprising summoning of the bird shikigami as it, out of nowhere, blitzed him through a building, at a height, while its wings had some electricity charges around it. Chōsō felt the numbness in his torso as he looked at the shikigami that flew away while he was left at the mercy of gravity. 'Can't move!'

Free-falling, Chōsō found himself close to the ground below and as he fell he staggered for a bit getting up while a big piece of debris got hurled towards him, which he dodged barely. Yūji had dashed in with a Cursed Energy infused punch, where Chōsō appeared at, that got the right side of the Cursed Womb and he was again launched into the nearby building wall. Yūji tried to follow up quickly as he threw a piece of rubble that Chōsō dodged while simultaneously he drove another enhanced punch towards the face of Chōsō but the Cursed Womb had enough sense to dodge barely and let his shoulder catch the brunt of the attack by hardening the blood around the area.

Landing the punch Yūji felt the rebound on his fist as he felt a few of his knuckles crack which gave Chōsō the chance (("Chōshinsei (Supernova).")) to unleash a Chōsō original technique. By condensing the small droplets of blood around the vicinity that had fallen when he took the attack of Yūji, Chōsō unleashed reinforced blood spikes around the back and top of Yūji as he exploded the condensed blood droplets around like a buckshot.

"Itado-!" BZZrK!

"GhkH! What?" the cut off of Mechamaru's voice indicated the problem. Yūji realised that the last attack had destroyed the communicating device that Mechamaru had slipped on to him. Before he could think further though Chōsō had recovered enough sense to proceed with an attack as he drove a hardened blood, fist, right in the guts of Yūji and launched him towards the opposite end of the street. But before Chōsō could follow up he was picked up by Nue again out of nowhere as he was taken in to the air and dropped but that wasn't all.

All Chōsō could do was brace for impact as another huge shadow fell over him and the next moment, an immense sized elephant shikigami had buried him to the ground and Chōsō could only barely hold on to his senses as the force of the fall may have been lessened by him hardening and cushioning himself with another layer of blood underneath him, but the weight of the shikigami had enough force to slightly cave in his bones and body. The shikigami had then vanished off quickly as well. Left in the crater was Chōsō who coughed once and then slowly stood up.

'BhhkKH!, it vanished quickly. It must take a whole of a lot of Cursed Energy to summon it. That's good for me. ((Chōsō took a few short moments to gain his bearings)) The bird is annoying but for now, I can max it up in close-quarters with them more. The other one doesn't have much good hand to hand so I will take care of him first before piling it up on Itadori.'

Inhaling and exhaling once Chōsō focused on manipulating the blood inside his body as the Cursed Womb increased it for a whole new level of enhancement. The marks in his face thickened and grew arrows as his eyes grew much more, full, in color and his fatigue with the injuries slowly regenerated.

"Sekirin Yakudō: Sai (Flowing Red Scale: Stack)."

A step forward (("Here I come, Itadori Yūji.")) and Chōsō dashed in towards the two student sorcerers. Seeing him move Megumi went in for a side slash but Chōsō easily dodged it (('Did he just get faster than before?!')) and tried to grab his hands but Yūji dashed in with a low kick that Chōsō blocked and then locked Yūji in place before turning and sending a concealed small blood arrow towards Megumi whose right neck got grazed as he barely dodged the attack.

Getting free of the lock of Chōsō, Yūji tried to direct another punch but Chōsō was quicker and redirected the punch before sending a palm thrust to knock Yūji away. Megumi rushed as Yūji got knocked away but Chōsō had known and he blocked the strike, caught Megumi's hand and then threw him away towards a wall. Before Megumi could do more Chōsō had already continued on by sending another blood arrow towards his vicinity but Yūji had recovered enough to dash in and make Chōsō miss his aim by tackling him in the torso.

Grabbing the shoulders Chōsō cancelled Byakuren and tried to throw Yūji off but the boy had a tight grip (('Strong!')) and before Chōsō knew it he was thrown to the side and a kick approached his face which he blocked and tried to somersault back to stand up. Yūji seemed to have entered a kind of trance on that few seconds of movement when he just blindingly started to dish out punches towards Chōsō but the Cursed Womb could see all the attacks and had defended enough to not incur any further injuries, although a bit shaken.

'He has been able to land only a few blows on me ((Chōsō redirected one punch and both Yūji and him made distance)) but those blows have been able to leave some major damage. It's only because I hardened some blood all over my body that some of his attacks haven't had much effect, ((Chōsō shook his right shoulder and looked at the unseen shaking left torso of his)) but I can still feel some small aftershocks till now.

Hardening my blood isn't good for the long run though. I can feel some kinks forming in my hands due to the prolonged clotting inside but ((A short memory of Yūji gaining an advantage over him just before plays)) Itadori is injured as well and I doubt he can hold for long. He is too physically resilient himself so he isn't giving out easily either. The other sorcerer is annoying with his summons but I guess the constant summoning and dispelling is slowly catching up to him. Itadori Yūji, you ((Chōsō watched Yūji get ready again)) only you're truly worth every ounce of my hate!'

Another Byakuren is prepped up as seeing that action Yūji merely first observes and just when Senketsu is used Yūji dashes. Able to manoeuvre around the initial trajectory of the attack Yūji is able to close the distance, but bending the trajectory of the attack, Chōsō tried to cut Yūji but the boy was faster this time and tried to swipe at the Cursed Womb's legs. Chōsō dug his legs to the ground as Yūji low swiped him but could only make Chōsō kneel a bit which Chōsō took advantage of to try and send a concealed hardened blood blade right into Yūji's head.

VwwWoOHM!

Except Yūji did not conform to how Chōsō had planned and to the Cursed Womb's surprise, Yūji swiftly changed his trajectory of his whole body, twisting it so that Yūji is able to launch a low to top kick right inside Chōsō's strike zone. Due to planting his feet earlier, Chōsō's response is delayed for a fleet second and he gets kicked in his chin.

'Tch, didn't expect him to do that!' Chōsō brought his hands together again for Byakuren but Yūji merely went for another punch and Chōsō was forced to cancel out the technique to block the oncoming punches. For a few moments Chōsō and Yūji again proceeded to have an intense bout of close-quarters, again with both of them equally dishing out attacks and defending.

'I can do this! Don't worry about yourself you only need to bring time! Fushigoro can't help you at the moment but bringing Gojō-sensei back has not changed. ((Chōsō dodged a punch as Yūji is kicked away)) It is the only thing that matters! ((Yūji steadied himself and had to sidestep but failed to block an elbow))

GhkH!

I only need to buy some more time! Only I am capable of what I do best! ((Yūji blocks the subsequent blood attack but he still gets injured)) Even if I'm destined to die it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter if I can't be the one to save sensei! ((Yūji clenches his hands around the back of Chōsō and throws the Cursed Womb away as he, himself, steadies his wobbling body)) Take it all in, the pain, the fear, the hatred. ((Cursed Energy flows out of Yūji as he takes poise and focuses)) Take it all in Yūji. Empty your mind of distractions! Turn these emotions into focus. Turn these emotions I feel into Cursed Energy. I understand now. What I truly have to do.'

Dashing in, Yūji redoubled his efforts as he and Chōsō again meet back for an all-out fist fight again.

'PshH, you won't go down easy huh?! I'm still shaking from those attacks I took from you Itadori Yūji. ((Yūji goes for a left jab but Chōsō blocks and goes low to swipe)) You're fighting like a sacrificial lamb now with nothing to look forward to, but that's okay. I will grant you your death that you rightfully deserve. ((Chōsō blocks a double side kick as Yūji goes for a punch)) My brothers will watch as I give them the peace they shall have at your demise.'

Countering the side kick that Chōsō sent out Yūji tried to grab it but Chōsō merely brought in the leg and launched a blood arrow from a blind spot that Yūji barely dodged as it grazed his skull. Staggering a bit Yūji tried to turn and punch but Chōsō already got in position with another Byakuren prepared. But before Chōsō could release Senketsu he felt himself get grabbed from his shadow as his vision got distracted, (('Fushigoro!')) and as his vision shifted Yūji seeing that opportunity (('His left side's open, I'll get him for real this time.')) was able to land a Cursed Energy infused punch from the right side right towards Chōsō's left chest in the moment that the Cursed Womb couldn't react.

GrGhchink!

'Wha-?! ((A small distraction)) Did he have it hardene-!'

But it was all for naught as that small moment of surprise from Yūji as well had given Chōsō enough time to counter quickly with a back hand to the face of Yūji, sending him back a few feet, while Megumi was forced out of his shadow when Chōsō moved to attack him.

While in the open Megumi tried to make a swipe with the blade in his hands but again Chōsō launched Senketsu and Megumi's right side got grazed as he moved to dodge. Chōsō dashed in and tried to punch Megumi but Nue appeared in front and took the brunt of the hardened blood punch and both, the shikigami and Megumi, were launched through a nearby building.

At that very moment, Yūji tried to attack Chōsō from behind but the Cursed Womb was ready, blood enhancement flowing through his body as he ducked, turned behind and let loose a kick that Yūji blocked and sent him back a few feet. Chōsō tried to follow it up with a Senketsu but had to catch a broken door piece hurled towards him. (('Where-!?')) Yūji punched through the door piece but Chōsō turned and dodged on the spot but he didn't realise that Yūji had cleverly planned the next move (('Knew you'd turn! Guarding your left side a lot, thought I wouldn't notice!')) as he launched a surprising jab straight at the left torso of Chōsō.

'Huh?'

An ominous feeling fell as Chōsō grabbed Yūji's fist buried in his torso, locked him in place (('Wait-! He expected me to do this?!')) and Yūji couldn't do anything when Chōsō pulled him in, making the boy lose his footing (('Shit! Gotta take it!')) while Chōsō drove a punch straight to the middle of Yūji's chest.

Eyes widened, Yūji's body stopped at the impact of the punch for a moment as Chōsō (("Too bad.")) didn't even waste any more time before driving another punch straight to the guts of Yūji and launching him away towards a wall. There were no further movements from the boy.

Chōsō approached the motionless Yūji (("Still breathing huh?")) and looked at the boy on the verge of unconsciousness.

'At last, Itadori Yūji, you're at my mercy. Right before my very form.'

"Itadori Yūji ((Byakuren formed in one of his fists)) when you get to the other side, be sure to beg for forgiveness from my brothers."

Senketsu through the head would've followed but then…..

BdDum~

…..at that very crucial moment, a memory was born inside Chōsō. (("What…..is….this?!")) A memory so powerful it stopped his technique and his whole being. Chōsō remembered a day that he knew didn't happen. A memory, it seemed, he never knew existed. (("Why?"))

BbDdum~

A table for four, four figures, Chōsō, his two brothers but the most surprising of all, was the visage of one, Itadori Yūji. (("Why are you there?"))

A past event that had never truly happened formed the complete image in Chōsō's mind while he staggered back from the prone Yūji.

"Itadori Yūji, why are you a part of it?!"

Deep inside the soul of Yūji, a row of grinning teeth only muttered, "Hoh? Interesting."

--

Meanwhile, nearby, on a different part of the city Mahito had been at an impasse with the three Jujutsu sorcerers the Cursed Spirit was facing. With the two transmuted humanoid beings that he created already taken care of relatively easily by the three sorcerers, Mahito had to reconsider the threat level of his opponents.

'That girl! It's her! The one with those nails! She can hit my soul with them! It's only because of her the others got this much advantage on me!'

Forced to be on the back foot at parts of the fight when he incurred a lot of damage from the surprise attacks of one, Kugisaki Nobara, Mahito could only do hit-and-run techniques for a bit.

Tomonari (Resonance) was an extension technique based upon the innate technique Sūrei Juhō (Straw Doll Technique) wielded by, one, Kugisaki Nobara. A signature move that had been essential for when she had defeated the Cursed Womb brothers of Chōsō along with Yūji, Nobara displayed the most intriguing property of the technique when she had been able to confront the Cursed Spirit that was Mahito. Tomonari, in its basic state, helped Nobara's Cursed Energy attacks to apply damage to anyone and anything with the help of her nails and the straw doll effigy she used.

The technique had a varied response and, also, effects that depended upon the opponent's own skill level, the targeted spot of the opponent and also, the special ability to echo damage back on towards anyone in link or connected to the opponent as well, but that wasn't all. With a myriad ways to target anything with Tomonari, Nobara used a unique property of the technique to reach out and connect to the one thing that could potentially leave long lasting damage onto the Cursed Spirit as seen when he had faced a certain puppet user at the Jujutsu Academy grounds.

It was Mahito's very soul that was targeted during the attack and Nobara had been able to injure him with Tomonari to the point that Mahito had been second-guessing himself the whole fight when Nobara and Maki joined Nanami in the attacks.

That was until a reinforced double of the Cursed Spirit, that he had already created prior to joining the present battle, had appeared and proceeded to face off with the two girls while he, the original, engaged the Grade-1 sorcerer before him who, despite his fatigue and injuries, had been giving Mahito a truly long and drawn out fight. (("Tch, annoying seven-three sorcerer."))

Using his Binding Vow to full effect, Nanami, during the entirety of the fight, he had been able to keep Mahito on his toes and didn't let the Cursed Spirit have an inch of advantage at any occasion while the other two were engaged with the doppelganger.

'His doppelganger doesn't have a Cursed Technique it seems ((Nanami saw Nobara and Maki tag team an attack and sent the copy flying)) or it would've tried to close the gap between the girls even more aggressively. I have already informed them about the hands but the one thing that is irking me is why?! Why are you not using your domain right now?'

Letting loose another slash, Nanami cracked the footpath as Mahito watched the area around him gain marks as the wall beside him collapsed and exploded while Mahito easily dodged them.

'He could've tried and used Ryōiki Tenkai a lot more earlier but he still hasn't used it. Why is it that he hasn't used it? Was the last one a fluke? But domains cannot just be materialized like that, one should have a true culmination of their own technique's knowledge to use it-wait! ((Nanami remembered the way Mahito's veil was broken before)) Could it be that Sukuna has something to do with it? Some kind of injury?'

On the other side, Mahito was recovering from the previous attack and dusting off while the building crumbled behind him.

'Hmm, this one's just too straightforward. He is no fun at all, unlike Itadori, so I can't rile him up like I could the boy. ((Mahito steadied himself)) The past few minutes that girl has been the main problem for my well-being. Oh well~, but they are still his students, right? ((Mahito smiles)) The two girls look like his students and since I already remember that nail girl who was with Itadori as well, I think I can switch targets. But then again, ((Mahito frowned remembering the effects of the attack beforehand)) she is my natural enemy just like Itadori. Wait~ I think this would be even better~'

Dodging the subsequent slash from Nanami Mahito let loose two more transmuted human attack as some sort of an elongated missile which Nanami blocked, turned and then dashed in towards Mahito again who had disappeared. Suddenly, Mahito appeared on the side of Nanami (("Shit!")) and he couldn't dodge the touch that came afterwards, but Nanami still kicked him away and maintained a little distance with Mahito laughing.

'Damn it, he got me there! If it wasn't for me reinforcing that place I would've certainly been unable to continue anymore!' Nanami gritted his teeth as he looked at Mahito's still laughing form while trying to not focus on the singed torso on his right. 'That touch was dangerous as usual. It's a shame my technique cannot seem to do any damage to him at this level.'

"Hahahaha! You were lucky sorcerer! I didn't expect you to expend so much Cursed Energy onto that part. It saved you a bit but not by much still. ((Mahito leered)) You're pretty injured and your Cursed Energy is slowly waning. That binding vow is slowly making your soul gain fatigue, I can see it. ((Mahito gathered Cursed Energy in his hands)) I will only need a few more touches and then, your soul will be a present for Itadori Yūji."

The fight resumed again with Mahito expanding the size of his hands and letting off punches that damaged a whole lot of area around as Nanami, as injured as he was, struggled to maintain his balance while dodging the attacks. Nanami jumped over a ledge and kicked off of it as he struck a nearby wall with Garagara again and let the Cursed Energy imbued debris fall upon the Cursed Spirit.

"Again with that trick sorcerer?! ((Mahito transformed into a bird as he dodged all debris)) Lame!"

Transforming back into normal human form, mid-air, Mahito proceeded to transmute his hands into giant clubs and brought them down onto where Nanami stood as the area exploded but Nanami dashed in from the smoke and let off a kick to the midsection of Mahito which launched the Cursed Spirit away.

'Ah~ I want to use my domain so badly~ ((Mahito sighed audibly)) It's a shame that the fight would be finished as soon as my domain comes out. I don't think this one has it anyway and he doesn't have any tricks like that puppet user which could harm my soul. Even though he is really good for a Grade-1 he looks like your average mule that just reached this level with a competent routine and devotion to his job. Like humans and their need for promotion at workplaces, hehe~ ((Mahito regurgitated two more transmuted humans)) He can't use Kan'i Ryōiki (Simple Domain) from the looks of it so I don't need to worry about that. But who am I kidding? I want to see even more despair on these human sorcerers' faces.'

A Battai was launched at Nanami in blinding speeds as the Grade-1 sorcerer managed to react to the attack quickly and slashed at the giant mouth that approached him (("Boo!")) and he was also ready for the next attack, for Mahito to appear from within the side as the clothed fist, Nanami had, landed straight towards the face of Mahito. Putting his all on to it, Nanami hurled the Cursed Spirit away as brutally as he could. Mahito flew back and then rolled away in the streets but quickly got back up, laughing, and Nanami tried to catch his breath.

'The last time we met he was very inexperienced, a child-like disposition looking in to his abilities and learning, growing even. It should've been then that I exorcised this Cursed Spirit and now, his abilities have grown further more problematic and he had learned a lot more new things it seems. Humanoid soldiers, doubles, enhancements and worst of all, the ability he hasn't shown ti-!'

"Ryōiki Tenkai."

The very thing Nanami feared (('Shit, now?!')) it happened all of a sudden as Nanami tried and tried but he couldn't escape the hands of darkness and confinement that fell over him. Nanami saw the night sky darken even more as the veil fell over him and a few moments later, Grade-1 sorcerer, Nanami Kento, had been captured and sealed inside the barriers of one's own innate domain, a domain created by his enemy. A domain created by a Cursed Spirit.

"Jihei Endoka (Self-Embodiment of Perfection)."

The pinnacle of Jujutsu Techniques for any kind of sorcerer, Nanami sighed as he watched the various hands amongst the blackness of the veil and his very form stand upon the palms of a hand. "I'm back in it huh?"

"BffKh!"

"Hmm?"

KrrrrrraaaaaaaaassccchhH!

Outside before the domain was wrought upon Nanami, a few yards away Maki and Nobara had kicked the doppelganger right into the alleyway exits that lined the streets. Laughing, the doppelganger merely tried to use mostly hit-and-run tactics and had been successful at that but that seemed to only irritate the girls more. Nobara had been able to keep the Cursed Spirit on its toes and the Mahito double could only make a run for it with laughter as it tried to maintain distance.

'That girl's technique is more or less annoying. The other girl though, her soul is quite different, and she has really good raw strength but she has no Cursed Energy. What a surprise and she still wants to fight~ Sorcerers are really stubborn bunch.'

"Think you want to get serious Patch-face! You know you're famous for always running away from fights. Oh wait! You're a freaking double! Of course you're weak!"

"Ahahaha! And still you can't seem to catch me or beat me!"

It all seemed to be fun and games for Mahito doppelganger on the other hand as the slightly reinforced aura around it, courtesy of the revival ritual right before its original made it, gave it quite a few enhancements. Normally, it was a slightly better double than the original had intended. Ducking the overhead swipe of a long pole's blade the Mahito double tried to dash in and try to smash Maki who came around its side but Nobara dropped an ad-board upon the Cursed Spirit.

The double caught it but then a rattling was heard over the other side of the board as the board seemed to explode with various nails covered in Cursed Energy blasting towards it but the double merely let it go and then shrinking itself it slipped past the two girls while Nobara landed near Maki.

With another swipe of the long pole Maki tried to cut off the hands of Mahito but the Cursed Spirit changed its hand shape and then tried to dash in before having to dodge two more nails headed straight towards its head. Maki made for another sweep but had to block the enormous spiked ball for a hand as she was slammed away while Nobara sent a few more nails that Mahito dodged some but caught one or two as well.

"Seriously, you two have the advantage for range currently and yet you feel so damn boring to play with. I don't know what difference you were making before, but I might just end you two now and show your corpses out."

"Big talk Patch-face when you haven't even tried getting closer. You don't have your Cursed Technique to begin with and it's likely that you can only use it on yourself. Typical of a double, making bad decisions."

"Hmmm, well you've been missing all this nails in the end. I guess you're just too good~"

"You think I missed?" ((Nobara smirked))

"Hmm?"

It was a quick instinctual reflex that had the double Mahito jump away from the swipe of the long pole by Maki but as it was thinking about the dodge (("Kanzashi (Hairpin).")) the numerous littered and the missed nails that were stuck to the walls all around the alleyway and the vicinity suddenly detonated with an explosive amount of Cursed Energy that engulfed the double along with the rubble that fell all around.

Changing its shape quickly enough, the double had been able to find an escape route and when it came into the open, Nobara had been waiting in the front (("Kanzashi.")) and the nails that littered around were instantly shot up as Nobara sent a reinforced nail that hit the ground and sent the littered nails flying around through the double as it felt each and every piercing of the explosive nails while turning back to normal size.

'Ghkh! Clever~ ((Maki appeared to the side and kicked him towards Nobara)) That was pretty nice. Now what com-! A domain by the original?!'

Distracted by the sudden feeling of a domain being expanded Mahito double never saw it coming.

SwooShhHH!

The strike of a nail to the front of his head, right to the center of his forehead, with an ability it underestimated quite a bit. A technique that was only to occur at the time of perfect alignment of everything, a state of balance and synergy between the body and mind as the Cursed Energy of Nobara flowed outwards in concentration to her technique; and it was when she had reached the peak of the flow, the phenomenon took place as did activate her technique.

"Tomonari/Kokusen!"

As the sparks blessed the attack, Mahito double could only feel the imminence of death over its soul that it toyed with and that was the moment two major things happened.

Tomonari could echo around the linked parties and thus when Nobara activated it on the double, it truly caught its soul in the attack and when it did, the damage had been relayed back to the original's soul striking a pivotal place in their soul, right in their mind. At that very moment, unknown to Maki and Nobara, the original had sustained a critical hit to their system and thus the first miracle occurred and the domain that the original had put up, it shattered all around as Nanami could barely believe his luck for a moment.

Secondly, as the domain was destroyed and the original sustained the hit, Tomonari displayed another interesting aspect about it as before Maki and Nobara could proceed to do anything more, the double in front of Nobara suddenly convulsed and its head well and truly exploded partially around its front as the double could only reel in absolutely shock. (("What-?!"))

The damage had rebounded from the original right back towards the double that faced Nobara and Maki.

"Huh? So I was able to do it again. ((Nobara gathered Cursed Energy as she grinned at Mahito)) Whatever I did with that flash of black energy, it seems like you're in a pinch against us weaklings, Patch-face!"

And it most probably was.

The Mahito double hacked and coughed out copious amounts of its blood as it stared into the ground with its busted open forehead while it slowly tried to mend and regenerate the part that was destroyed. (("Just like then!")) The double couldn't help but remember back to when he had faced the puppet wielding sorcerer as it tried to make sense of what happened.

'A rebound and that flash, they both took out a portion of our souls! Shit, did she find the core essence of her technique and is evolving? This is bad. ((The double decided)) Ah well, I guess it's time to get back with the original then. We've been split so we aren't even working on full capacity.'

With that thought on its mind the double made a beeline straight towards where he felt the original was at but the path was blocked by Maki (("Where do you think you're going stupid shit?!")) who wanted to split the double up by an overhead slash but then the double split itself right when the slash dropped. (("What the-?!")) The various splits ran in different directions when Nobara sent out various nails again and activated Kanzashi but it was for nought as the double was able to trick them by using the latent Cursed Energy it had.

'Hmhmhm~ It stings a bit that I couldn't manage to kill these girls but I guess the original would do the job, hmm~'

The girls gave chase to the one split piece that they found had taken the lead in its retreat as the others just exploded harmlessly around. Nobara and Maki could only follow as they gave chase and reached the place where Nanami was, blade in hand with heavy injuries with the original Mahito slowly healing himself up again and getting ready to attack.

The original was truly shocked when the attack had happened out of nowhere as he was about to use his domain technique. The soul piercing attack that Nobara did upon his double had reached the main source and it hurt like hell. It had also left Mahito vulnerable enough and injured to actually fully deactivate his domain due to his concentration breaking away.

'Tch, that sorcerer girl really is a pain. She can also relay the damage?! Sheesh, my domain broke again.' Mahito only grinned madly as he coughed out blood and his forehead bled out as well but he kept his eyes upon the now, breathing heavy, and lucky, sorcerer in front of him. 'So lucky you~'

Just then, as the split reached the vicinity of the original, (("No you don't!" Kugisaki shouted)) Mahito merely grinned and let the split assimilate itself back with him. Healing himself up in tandem, the Cursed Spirit ignored Nanami completely in favour of dashing in towards the direction of Nobara and Maki. With far more speed than usual Mahito crossed the distance, whilst he healed himself completely, and tried to grab Nobara but she could dodge the swipe and Maki followed in by trying to slice Mahito's hands off. Mahito retracted his hands, blocked a few more hits of the long pole and then he had some hidden transmuted humans in between his fingers, which he proceeded to use and send a point blank Battai upon both of the girls, exploding the vicinity and sending the two girls flying off.

Fearing the worst Nanami was running towards them but as the smoke and dust settled he saw, Maki's pole arm had been broken with injuries on her person being a few cuts on her face but otherwise, it seemed to Nanami that the girls had blocked the attack successfully for themselves.

The three sorcerers would've proceeded with another set of attacks upon the Cursed Spirit as they got back their footing…

FwooooOOoShcchhHHKK!

…out of nowhere, a huge column of ice had frozen more than a few blocks worth of space in the city as Nanami along with the other three as well, everyone turned towards the place where they could feel a chill beginning to form while looking at the enormously frozen city-line. As the temperature dropped for everyone around the vicinity they had no idea of the very end they were moving on to as a certain player had seemed to have decided to move ahead with their own plans.

"Now what fresh hell is this ice I wonder?" Nanami could only speak this with a sigh as the temperature dropped and the chill fell along with a foreboding sense of dread.

--

Back at the end of Chōsō, he had tried to understand the vision that he had; tried to understand what it meant as Yūji drifted between conscious and unconsciousness before him but he couldn't bring himself to even think of anything as he just, sort of, had a mental breakdown right in the middle of the streets. Megumi had been nowhere to be found for a while but it seemed that Naobito had been able to reach the vicinity.

He had just started to jump in when someone else, with a monk's attire, had entered the field and then started to advance towards the seemingly unconscious Yūji laying in the streets. Naobito saw the other Cursed Spirit seemed to be having a breakdown so he had tried to first engage that opponent but something about the other one had the Zen'in clan head feel anxious.

This led Naobito to change his opponent mid-way but he found his folly. The monk, Uraume, had proceeded to use their ice technique and freeze the whole of the alley and beyond, with everyone caught in it, whoever was in the range of the attack.

-Near Exit A4-

Shibuya Chikamichi, Dōgenzaka

Around the time that Uraume had proceeded to attack and interfere in the fight that included one, Itadori Yūji, on the other hand it was surprising for fake Suguru that Mei Mei seemed to have changed and decided for a completely different approach towards the entirety of the game this time around than before when she met him back again. Complete opposite of what fake Suguru had expected.

'My, she really did a number on me. It was surprising what that axe could do, I didn't know it had that kind of property.'

After she had dealt with the one Cursed Spirit that the fake Suguru had her to fight and exorcise, Mei Mei had reached the place where the fake sorcerer had been waiting. Not so surprised but equally not so happy about the quickness of her previous battle, fake Suguru had been waiting for her as he mentioned earlier. He waited for her to challenge him but it seemed, as if she had had a revelation during, her, fighting the Special Grade he had summoned for her.

Memories of Getō Suguru painted Mei Mei as an avaricious female, with much of their interests that lay in the monetary side of things. She loved doing business and had advertised herself as an ally for anyone with the means to pay big. She valued usefulness equal to one's, as she had titled, service potential and fake Suguru himself, simply for mere humour, had pitched in a business offer himself as well, just for a slight mischief to the side of things in his words. But Mei Mei had outright seemed to reject the offer absolutely and had mentioned just a simple thing.

"You're not worth much than the one I am focused to meet with Getō, or are you even him?" Mei Mei had laughed after that and then proceeded to engage in their battle with much ferocity. Fake Suguru was intrigued by the way Mei Mei fought and had to give her credit as she was a much more interesting sorcerer to have appeared before him. Her Innate Technique wasn't anything special to begin with but she was an absolutely crazy combatant physically and close-quarters. Even more intriguing was the axe she carried for her Cursed Tool which seemed to have a whole different story to consider though.

'The aura of that energy in her axe was acutely similar to the one that I had already felt when I was looking over the remains of and also healing back Mahito after his confrontation with Shimizu Takumi. ((fake Suguru looked at the torn helms of his own attire)) It could even stop Reverse Cursed Technique application which was pretty annoying. I don't seem to remember or even Suguru remembers she could do that.'

Mei Mei had some really choice words for Getō Suguru but fake Suguru knew she had already deduced out the fact that he was a fake after all so he could make out the references.

The fight they had though, even if it was short, was a very destructive brawl that had "redecorated" the entire basement levels of the underground station that spread out in the centre beneath Shibuya. Fake Suguru hadn't used anything else except for Suguru's very own innate technique but Mei Mei had somehow upgraded herself, it seemed to fake Suguru. Fake Suguru narrowed his eyes as he remembered that, during battle, with every cut and slices that axe of hers seemed to glow and reeked bloodlust of its own.

Mei Mei had mentioned that she could remember why, slowly but surely, (("I'm slowly starting to get small things back. Like memories, as clips. It's like a replay that just started off slow with these supposed clips from my past after you mentioned that name. It's slowly making sense now. This axe of mine, I know, and remember, that there was a rune carved into it at one place." Mei Mei had mentioned)) memories unfamiliar, yet so close to her. She remembered how her axe gained the ability to sharpen its edge every time it was smeared in blood. She remembered the name that the fake Suguru kept throwing around yet she still seemed to not remember the face it belonged to.

The short fight the two had between them, mostly due to fake Suguru having multiple options in store and bombarding the area with Semi-Grade 1 or higher Cursed Spirits without making any loss of time was still, as fake Suguru called it, a hard-fought battle where he had emerged the, mostly disputed, victor still but he knew, for sure, that the female sorcerer was not dead yet.

'Hmph, that little brother of hers is a convenient mule for her to drag around. Such a unique relationship yet it has the most merits and benefits in the sense of the Jujutsu world. Family connections always had some advantages after all in this society.'

Not even finding it in himself to look for, if the female sorcerer was truly dead and gone, fake Suguru merely turned and walked away from the place where he had blasted the female sorcerer with a concentrated, condensed, Uzumaki (Uzumaki) and had caved in the floor level of the station. A Gokunoban Jutsushiki (Maximum Technique), which were said to unleash the greatest potential of their innate techniques besides a Ryōiki Tenkai, fake Suguru had unleashed that attack upon Mei Mei and seemingly blasted her off along with anything in the level they were in.

Mei Mei had been able to reach him though, before that, and she had declared the fact that she was interested in finding out more about this Shimizu Takumi that had awakened her intrigue and that she wanted to invest some more time in this place and stay instead of her old plan of just bailing out quickly as soon as her part was done. (("I don't know why but the name, it gives me the same feeling as when someone mentions Gojō when he is about to fight." Mei Mei mentioned)) She was here due to the job for Gojō and now, she wanted to stay for Takumi.

This new player in the game had brought a whole new ball game on the very court that fake Suguru had created for himself and fake Suguru was truly intrigued by him due to the fact that nobody seemed to have any clue over his existence.

As fake Suguru made his way towards the streets above he kept his thoughts fixed on whatever he could remember or connect over the name of Shimizu and the person known as Shimizu Takumi. Fake Suguru had sealed off Gojō Satoru away for the game that was upcoming in this next few weeks, he at the very least wanted nothing to interfere anymore in the plans he had for the future and it seemed that the future plans were already looking quite different even though it was going as much as predicted.

'Hmph, it seems like balance, as they say, is always brought in for stability. I would've hoped that sealing Satoru away would make it all simpler but it just brought in new faces.'

It was obvious for fake Suguru. He needed more information.

'Hmm, ((fake Suguru walked out into one of the nearby benches and sat down)) the Shimizu clan, as far as I remember, were exiled or they self-exiled themselves to the outskirts of Kyoto near to Osaka during the precious era of Kamakura, right after Heian ended. All I can remember is that they were ostracized for their beliefs and also their basis upon why they wouldn't follow the Jujutsu authority that was slowly forming around a century earlier during the golden age. If I remember correctly, they weren't called Shimizu then. ((fake Suguru's eyes narrowed)) Also, they were cursed for it, the exile.'

"Hmm, it would seem that a travel will be needed for me, ahh~ I guess I will probably have a conversation or look into the family records for it. There should be something. Shimizu Takumi, what an anomaly you are. ((fake Suguru merely looked intrigued)) It would be an experience looking into your history before I decide whether you are worthy of looking into the new world that is to come."

Satisfied, fake Suguru nodded to himself and started walking but suddenly he felt the sensation of someone, an awakening, in the inner parts of the city as the sensation spread outwards.

"Hmm? Sukuna has been released?"

The very next moment, fake Suguru felt something else as well from the opposite side (("Huh, a domain just collapsed.")) and he grinned even more as for him, this was just getting exciting now.

"Such an interesting turn of events, but I say, Tengen, you sure are still so ancient with your thoughts. It seems the threads of fate have changed and so shall the outcome. You seemed to have something of a new card in your sleeve as well Tengen, and now that it's been brought out in light I say, good move."

A few moments later as fake Suguru was walking, (("Hmm?")) he felt the aura of Takumi race past him in a distance as it seemed to approach the place (("So he has that in priority than Satoru?")) where he felt Sukuna was centred in. He also felt a familiar aura move a few blocks underneath the city as he chuckled, (("My, my, this is certainly getting interesting. It is so unnatural of you Mei Mei, but at the same time, I can't wait to see through this intriguing turn of events.")) and just proceeded to keep walking towards the place where he felt Sukuna's aura erupt from.

-Present-

Bunkamura Grand Hall

Dōgenzaka, Shibuya City

KRraaAaAaSssSHH!

The roof of the grand hall building of Bunkamura crashed down as smoke rose in the air while a chuckle emerged from the lone figure that came into view as the dust subsided, standing on rubble, while debris fell all around him. A maniacal grin on a tattooed face with four eyes and pink hair with a slight brown tinge to it Yūji, who had been taken over by Sukuna, kept looking into the moonlit view as something else followed from the skies above.

DhuuuUUmMsSF!

A titan followed the path as it stood over the tiny human beneath it as the wing-faced shikigami, Mahoraga, stood at its splendid glory again.

"Now that's more like it. (('Hmm, before, that was the Taima no Tsurugi (Sword of Extermination). A deadly blade for Cursed Spirits as it is filled with Positive Energy. That could've been a problem.')) So you sent me flying, what's next?"

As if the shikigami knew what Sukuna had said, Mahoraga blindingly swung down its bladed right hand as it destroyed even more of the building they were currently in. Sukuna had been in the air (("Kai (Dismantle)")) when he used his technique and the shikigami suddenly had laceration lines appear bursting with blood in a criss-cross design from its head to torso. The shikigiami stood still for a moment as Sukuna landed.

KinhK!

The wheel took a one handle turn as (("Oh?!")) Mahoraga slowly stood up again with its wounds incredibly healed and then towered over Sukuna. (("Hmm, that's neat. You looking down on me?")) Sukuna activated Kai again but to his absolute surprise the shikigami deflected it to the outside. Sukuna's eyes widen as his face gained an intrigued smile.

'Wait, you can see it! You can actually see my Cursed Technique, enough to deflect it!'

The next moment Sukuna had to lean in a bit to block the swipe of the shikigami's bladed hand as the force behind the punch launched Sukuna away from the building again and through several other high rise.

One more building through and then stopping at a wall, denting it, Sukuna chuckled (("Good one.")) as he got ready for the counter but the dashing in shikigami was sent flying downwards into the streets as another figure appeared in front of its dash and kicked it straight to the ground. For a moment Sukuna was confused.

"Huh? Now who's this trash?" Sukuna growled as he jumped out the building and into the streets right as he watched the shikigami get trapped by the large spikes emerging from the ground pierce it through. It seemed to be that the figure Sukuna saw, a few feet, ahead of him was responsible for the situation as the figure turned to look back at him while the shikigami struggled to get free.

Red wavy hair wearing a modified black Jujutsu High uniform with a green tinge and a slightly high neck collar Takumi grinned, standing in front of Sukuna as Mahoraga, in front, was slowly carving itself out of the spikes.

"Yo, so you are Sukuna now, correct?"

Sukuna merely raised an eyebrow at that as he put his hands in his pockets and replied, "Ohh? And what is it to a small fry like you?"

In truth, Sukuna was intrigued, just for a bit, at the sorcerer in front as it matched a certain description he was given by Uraume after he had awakened

'There is a new sorcerer out there, Master. Red hair and green eyes. It seems like he can manipulate the elements and ((Uraume shuddered)) he seems to be able to turn Cursed Spirits into Cursed Tools. I am just letting you know about an interesting adversary of this era, my Master.'

((Takumi chuckled)) "As expected, of the King of Curses. No one else is to be respected when one is at the top. ((Takumi faced him fully as Mahoraga had freed itself and the wheel behind it started turning)) Well, I want to face this shikigami because I have a pending challenge left. ((Mahoraga got ready to swing its sword hand)) Don't mind my presence, King of Curses."

WhhhHAaaMgGH!

Swinging down its hand, Mahoraga seemed to keep an enjoying grin on its face but Takumi was flying in the air, right above the shikigami as it then slowly turned to look above its head.

The Shimizu clan was a clan of rejects. A clan of cursed shamans degraded by the Jujutsu world at large. For that very reason, the techniques that the clan had for its wealth were unknown to everyone in the Jujutsu world. The clan had unknown techniques but when Takumi was born, the chain of fate that bound the clan seemed to have shattered, similar to how, one, Fushigoro Tōji did for the thread of fate that bound the Six Eyes and the Star Plasma Vessel with Tengen.

The day Takumi was born was the very moment history was changed for the Shimizu clan.

As everything came undone with new history to be made, it was back from the start now and Takumi had grasped that very principle when he learned about his Innate Technique. As the world moved slow for Takumi, his mind focused upon the intricateness of everything that mattered for the technique he was about to activate. Cursed Technique, Reverse Cursed Technique, no, at that moment in time, all that mattered to Takumi as his aura rose, was one clear thing in life. A sole action, one action, that starts from nothing; how it brings about the first step in change.

"My technique is whole and for that sole notion, I am one, true. ((Takumi extended his right hand downwards to Mahoraga as he floated above it while his aura gathered)) Gokunoban….

((An enormous amount of white energy with black borders and a bright yellow shine condensed into the palm of Takumi as he uttered the technique name))

….Rei (零, Zero)."

fwwWoOM!

A towering blast of white and yellow energy reached the night skies of Shibuya as the shockwaves sent debris and rubble, with vehicles and other things, flying as well as destroying parts of the buildings in the vicinity while shockwaves tore through the outer parts of the blast radius and shook the entire city.

Watching with wild and excited eyes, Sukuna merely grinned at the grandiose display of destructive technique in front of his eyes (("Hoh? That is some firepower you have boy.")) He merely moved in towards the receding smoke from the crater that remained in the streets as he came upon the form of a mangled Mahoraga looking truly worse for wear as the smoke receded from around its body. He noticed the Dharma wheel upon its back didn't seem to have taken any sort of damage at all.

'That wheel. Every time I attacked, it had its wheel turn and the injuries were all healed ((Briefly, Sukuna remembered a recent event)) it could even see my Cursed Technique after that. Only then it could've deflected it there is no other reason. Even the sword. The first time it attacked me it had positive energy wrapped over it. The second time it sent me flying the energy wasn't positive, it was Cursed Energy. Does it learn as it tanks the attacks? The wheel, turning, it's like Yamata no Ōrōchi. Adaptation to any phenomena? ((Sukuna got even more intrigued by the minute)) Wait, could it be possible?' An idea seemed to have formed in Sukuna's mind.

"Hehe, Fushigoro Megumi ((Sukuna grinned as it watched the shikigami groan and try to stand up slowly as the wheel on its back seemed to glow a bit)) it seems you have truly shown me the way."

'But it's strange now. ((Sukuna noticed something)) It's taking quite a bit of time to regenerate this time though. That attack ((Sukuna's eyes narrowed at the floating Takumi)) it had almost no Cursed Energy.'

"Seems like there are new pioneers in this new era as well, how very interesting. It is good you let me know Uraume. Now I will have ample bugs to squash."

The next thing Sukuna spoke was only word.

"Open."

Meanwhile, Takumi landed a few distance away as he watched the smouldering form of Mahoraga slowly try and stand up while the wheel on its back started glowing and slowly moving. (('It still wasn't enough? Even a Gokunoban Jutsush-!)) Before Takumi could think further ahead he felt a searing heat near him as Takumi instinctually activated another technique that barely redirected the attack, that seemed to approach his vicinity, off of him straight to the still recovering Mahoraga.

ffccChhoOM!

Adapting to any and all phenomena was something that was quite literally overpowered if truly utilized well. Gaining immunity to anything that could potentially defeat or kill you just by getting hit by it once was something that could change any fight's course. Sukuna had deduced the one thing as did everyone who knew about and faced Mahoraga as well.

The only way to defeat it was to slaughter it with a new attack before it could start to adapt.

A big flaming blast exploded from the place where Mahoraga was again as Takumi covered his face with his hands while shockwaves and winds blew around the street sending debris flying again. As the smoke cleared again, Takumi seemed to realise it was the end for Mahoraga as only the wheel was left in the smoking crater that had been left in its wake. Takumi could only sigh at the situation in hand.

"It seems I was late to attack and you found the perfect lucky angle. ((Takumi gazed at the wheel for a few more minutes before he turned towards Sukuna)) Looks like you want a fight now King of Curses. A literal thief in the night. Should I be amazed?"

"It looks like there can never be enough human vermin to splatter in any kind of era."

"Ironic that you're stuck in a human vessel King of Curses or should I say, the sealed King who can't even win in a soul battle against a mere teenage boy."

"Heh, but the thing is the brat's asleep so who cares? You feel different than all the sorcerers I've met. I think I'll have fun smashing your brains in while learning about your technique."

"You can try King of Curses. It seems Satoru would have to wait. ((Takumi seemed to contemplate)) Hmm~ nah, yeah, he can wait. Who cares so much about Satoru right now, let him have his vacation. So ((Takumi focused on Sukuna)) you challenged me alright?"

"Is that so?"

FwpP!

Takumi's eyes narrowed as something just flew past his vicinity, getting redirected much more difficultly as the far destroyed buildings behind him with the streets in front, all had three slices running down there front and the ground.

"Hoh? You're able to redirect Kai, just like that Gojō guy. ((Sukuna grinned maliciously)) I think I'll have fun slaughtering you for the time being I'm in control."

"Oh my Sukuna~ ((Takumi's eyes glowed as he grinned)) that's a proposal I could get behind~"

The New World Sorcerer and the King of Curses grinned at each other as the city of Shibuya never could imagine –

…..the disaster that was to occur in a short while.

---

Part 3: Finale, in progress.

A/N: Next up is the final chapter and the showdown between Sukuna and my OC Takumi. Tsubaki shall also make an appearance so stay tuned.

* means fan-made original technique for Canon

Hope you enjoyed reading.

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