The Advantage Was Mine

"'Assimilation' doesn't mean 'death.' Lord Tengen is me, and I am Lord Tengen!"

All this time, Riko Amanai had comforted herself with those words.

But now that the time for "assimilation" had truly come, Riko Amanai felt inexplicably restless.

"Riko? Riko?"

"Huh?"

Riko Amanai jolted awake and looked up to see her teacher and classmates staring at her in confusion.

"I'm very sorry, teacher!"

The teacher felt Riko's forehead. "What's wrong? Are you sick?"

Riko Amanai gave an awkward smile. "Something happened at home, so I got distracted."

"Is that so?"

The teacher patted Riko Amanai's head. "Riko, I feel like you've been acting strange today. Is everything really all right at home?"

Riko Amanai had recovered her usual cheerfulness and shook her head at the teacher.

"I'm fine, don't worry!"

Gojo Satoru looked up at the blue sky and white clouds, then couldn't help yawning.

"This is so boring!"

Gojo Sawa flicked his little brother on the forehead. "Boring means nothing's happening. That's a good thing!"

"A good thing?"

Gojo Satoru's face fell. "Bro, do you really think it's a good thing for Tengen and Riko Amanai to assimilate?"

"What's wrong? You've only met once. Already can't bear to part with her?"

Gojo Sawa teased him.

Gojo Satoru blushed. "Shut up! I just think this kind of thing is hard to accept!"

"Why should an innocent person be sacrificed for some so-called greater good just because that old hag says so?"

Suguru Geto said calmly from the side, "Lord Tengen specializes in Barrier Techniques. At least ninety percent of the barriers throughout Jujutsu Society were created and reinforced by him."

"If Lord Tengen fails to evolve and the barriers fall out of control, they'll collapse, and all of Jujutsu Society will be thrown into turmoil."

"Having the Star Plasma Vessel assimilate with him is also for the greater good."

"Tch~"

Gojo Satoru rolled his eyes. "I hate moralizing and grand principles!"

"Whether it's Tengen's safety or the stability of Jujutsu Society, what does any of that have to do with Riko Amanai? Just because she's the Star Plasma Vessel, does that mean she has to bear all of this alone?"

"Disgusting!"

"Bro, what do you think?"

Gojo Sawa said nothing.

Gojo Satoru blinked and sat up in his lounge chair. "Hey, bro, don't tell me you agree with Geto? That's not like you!"

Suguru Geto also looked at Gojo Sawa, curious about his stance.

Gojo Sawa didn't discuss the topic. Instead, he abruptly said, "Reverse Cursed Technique is kind of difficult. Do you think I should try killing myself?"

"..."

"Wait!"

Suguru Geto suddenly furrowed his brow. "Sawa! Satoru! Go check the school! Riko's in danger. Two of the Cursed Spirits I sent out have been exorcised!"

Everyone immediately set off.

Suguru Geto went to investigate where the Cursed Spirits had been exorcised, while Gojo Sawa and Gojo Satoru went to check on Riko.

Misato Kuroi followed them, but she had only taken a few steps when Gojo Sawa picked her up.

"Huh?"

"I'll leave Riko to Gojo Satoru. You stay by my side. I'm worried those guys are trying to lure us away, then kidnap you after we leave!"

"Satoru, go on ahead!"

Gojo Satoru nodded and used his teleportation to head for Riko Amanai's school.

Misato Kuroi lowered her head, feeling like dead weight.

"Don't make that face."

Gojo Sawa comforted her. "You're Riko's only family. She'll need you to look after her in the future!"

"Huh???"

Misato Kuroi's eyes widened. "Y-you mean...?"

Gojo Sawa grinned. "Shh! Nothing's set in stone yet!"

Even so, Misato Kuroi was still extremely excited.

Following the information provided by his Cursed Spirits, Suguru Geto arrived at a covered walkway.

But as soon as he stepped inside, a figure blocked his path.

"Allow me to introduce myself. Kenji Nakamura."

He smiled as he held a talisman between his fingers. Cursed Energy dripped onto the ground like water, forming a pool of shadow.

Then two Cursed Spirits crawled out of the shadow.

Suguru Geto watched with interest. "A Cursed Technique that controls Cursed Spirits? Looks like we're the same kind of Sorcerer!"

As he spoke, Suguru Geto made no hand signs and used no Cursed Tool. He simply willed two much more powerful Cursed Spirits to crawl out of the shadows.

Kenji Nakamura's eyelid twitched.

"Cursed Spirit Manipulation"—an extremely rare innate Cursed Technique. Without a doubt, it was the strongest Cursed Technique for controlling Cursed Spirits.

Although he knew his Cursed Technique was nowhere near as powerful as his opponent's, Kenji Nakamura didn't panic. On the contrary, he was brimming with confidence.

Because his greatest strength wasn't controlling Cursed Spirits, but hand-to-hand combat!

And Sorcerers who controlled Cursed Spirits were, without exception, poor at hand-to-hand combat. They were like fragile mages.

"By summoning two Cursed Spirits first, I'll make him think I'm not good at close-quarters combat!"

Kenji Nakamura's eyes gleamed as he imagined his fight with Suguru Geto, picturing how he would ultimately kill him.

"Mm! Perfect! Everything's under control!"

"The advantage is mine!"

The next moment, Suguru Geto struck.

A gigantic Sandworm filled the entire walkway. Its cavernous maw, packed with sharp teeth, engulfed Kenji Nakamura!

Boom!!!

The fight seemed to end quickly.

Suguru Geto relaxed his tense body. "That's taken care of. Now I should meet up with Sawa and Satoru."

Just then, the window to his upper right shattered.

Kenji Nakamura had leaped out through the window at the instant the Sandworm charged. Then, just as Suguru Geto let down his guard, he burst back through the window!

Short sword in hand, he went for a killing blow!

But Suguru Geto seemed to have anticipated it. He dodged to the side, and a Cursed Tool appeared in his hand.

"Is that... Playful Cloud?"

Kenji Nakamura was shocked. He never would have expected to encounter this legendary Special Grade Cursed Tool here.

Suguru Geto chuckled. "This is its first time in a real fight. Lucky you!"

Suguru Geto planted his left foot, instantly closing the distance to Kenji Nakamura. The three-section staff whirled like a dancing butterfly!

"How is this possible? Your hand-to-hand combat... Ack!"

"Huh? Tasuke? Tasuke! It's you!"

"Compared to my parents, who preferred my talented younger brother over me because I could see things ordinary people couldn't, only you, Tasuke, always stayed by my side!"

"Come to think of it, Tasuke, it's been fifty years since we last saw each other, hasn't it? Ever since you died..."

"Ah... These scenes are a life flashing before my eyes!"

The yellow Shiba Inu "Tasuke" vanished before his eyes, replaced by a black-and-red three-section staff that cracked the sound barrier!