On the other side, Geto Suguru had already brought Riko Amanai to the Tombs of the Star Corridor.
After saying their final goodbyes to Kuroi, Riko and Geto walked through the tunnel and entered the main shrine of the Tombs of the Star Corridor.
Layer upon layer of buildings stretched before them, forming the foundation of all the barriers.
Geto stopped before a stone archway.
This was as far as he could go. "After you go down the stairs and pass through the gate, keep walking straight until you reach the base of the great tree. The barrier there is different from the one surrounding Jujutsu High. Only those who've been summoned can enter."
"Lord Tengen will protect you there until your merger is complete."
Geto gave his final instructions in a solemn voice.
Riko listened calmly, her eyes slightly dim. She had already prepared herself, and felt little emotion about what was to come.
But Geto's next words made the light return to her eyes.
"Or... you can choose to go back."
"You can go home with Miss Kuroi."
Geto watched Riko with a calm expression.
He and Satoru had made their decision long before meeting Riko: if she didn't want to merge with Tengen, they would get her out of there at any cost.
Even if it meant going to war with Tengen—or with the entire world.
When Masamichi Yaga had given them this mission, he'd stressed that the so-called merger was, in a sense, an erasure.
That meant they would feel guilty about what they were doing.
At his words, Riko stared at Geto in a daze, unable to believe her ears. "You... what did you say?"
"It's all right. No matter what happens, Satoru and I will protect your future."
Geto emphasized again that he meant every word.
No matter what happened, they would find a way. After all, he and Satoru were the strongest.
Neither Geto nor Riko knew that the strongest, Satoru Gojo, had already fallen in a pool of blood. But after this, he truly would become the strongest.
Looking at the man before her, whom she'd known for only two days, yet who was willing to defy the world for her, Riko trembled, unable to speak.
From the very beginning, she'd never considered that she might have the choice to refuse.
Ever since she was born, she'd been called the "Star Plasma Vessel."
She'd lived as carefully as she could, avoiding danger while carrying out her duty as the Star Plasma Vessel. It had seemed to be the very purpose of her life.
She could barely remember her parents' deaths anymore. She'd long since grown numb to loneliness and grief.
Sometimes, she even felt that being separated from everyone after the merger wouldn't be such a big deal.
No matter how painful it was, sadness and loneliness would fade with time.
"W-Waaah..."
Tears and snot poured out as Riko burst into tears.
How could a girl in her teens not feel reluctant to leave this world?
Thinking of everything she'd experienced over the past two days, Riko sobbed and cried out:
"I still want to! I still want to spend more time with everyone!"
"Phew..."
At her words, Geto breathed a sigh of relief and smiled as he reached out, answering the girl's longing for the world.
"Little Riko, let's go home."
"Bang!"
A bullet fired from the platform above shattered the beautiful moment.
It tore through the air, heading straight for Riko's head.
Just as it brushed her hair, a figure flashed out from deep inside the tunnel, creating a series of deafening sonic booms.
In that instant, he broke the sound barrier!
"Smack!"
The veins bulged across his arm. A callused hand shot beside Riko and caught the bullet just before it pierced her skull!
The gust from his movement knocked Riko off balance, and she fell onto the ground.
"Ah!"
Riko hadn't even understood what had happened. She'd only heard a "smack," and then she was sitting on the ground.
Geto froze, staring at the man who'd suddenly appeared. Goosebumps rose across his skin as he instantly went on guard.
He moved beside Riko, lifted her up, and pulled her behind him.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm okay!"
Riko shook her head. Apart from a sore bottom, she hadn't been hurt.
"Phew... just in time. A young girl nearly died right in front of me."
The newcomer was Shinsuke Zenin. He opened his hand, revealing a flattened bullet resting in his palm.
He let out a deep breath, and the slight flush in his skin faded.
"..."
Toji appeared on the platform. He stared at the man who'd suddenly shown up, his expression gradually hardening as he stood there, stunned.
Shinsuke looked up at Toji and gave him a gentle smile. "Toji, long time no see. Did you miss your big brother?"
"Tch. Jerk. If you leave, don't come back."
Toji didn't look happy to see him. Instead, he suddenly grew angry, his face darkening as he turned and walked away, abandoning the mission altogether.
He still resented his brother for leaving without a word.
Why had he left all alone? Why had he left Toji behind?
"Uh..."
Shinsuke scratched his head with a wry smile. Looks like his little brother had grown up and wasn't as easy to fool as he'd been as a kid. He'd have to make things right with him.
Turning to Geto, who was watching him warily, Shinsuke smiled. "Sorry about that. My little brother caused you trouble."
"To make it up to you, I'll let you in on a secret."
Shinsuke leaned closer and whispered, full of sincerity: "Actually... the old man Tengen will be fine even if he doesn't merge with the Star Plasma Vessel."
With that, Shinsuke went after Toji, leaving them with one last remark: "Don't tell anyone I said that!"
Watching the man leave, his back alone radiating an oppressive presence, Geto let out a breath.
"What kind of guy is he?"
The man's speed alone was beyond anything Geto could imagine.
"Um, what do we do now?"
Riko was still shaken. She'd just been one step from hell. If that strange man hadn't suddenly appeared, she'd probably be dead by now, right?
"We should leave first."
Geto frowned slightly, staying highly alert and prepared for anything that might happen.
For now, he just wanted to find Satoru and make sure he was all right...
As for what Shinsuke had said about Lord Tengen, he didn't know whether it was true. They could think about it later.
Outside the Jujutsu High barrier.
Shinsuke caught up with Toji. Seeing his sour expression, he walked over and clamped a hand on his shoulder.
"What? Is that the face you make when you see your big brother? Want to experience a little brotherly love?"
Shinsuke narrowed his eyes and raised a fist in mock threat.
As his little brother, Toji was supposed to listen to him. As the older brother, Shinsuke had every right to teach him a lesson.
Standing before Shinsuke's towering frame, well over 190 centimeters tall, Toji looked almost small.
"Smack!"
Toji knocked Shinsuke's hand away and said flatly:
"Do you think you can still beat me?"
He wasn't the Toji he'd been back then. Just because Shinsuke was his older brother didn't mean he could take him on.
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