Eve of the Decisive Battle

December 23, 2018.

Tokyo, Jujutsu High's underground conference room.

The atmosphere was so heavy it seemed ready to drip with water. The long conference table was surrounded by the elite fighting forces of modern Jujutsu Society.

Satoru Gojo sat at the head of the table. Rarely, he was not lounging with his legs crossed, but had his hands clasped beneath his chin. Even through his blindfold, his Six Eyes made everyone feel the weight of his gaze.

To his left sat Yuta Okkotsu, Kinji Hakari, and Maki Zenin. To his right were Yuji Itadori, Nanami, Choso, and Shiyue Shuo.

"So, Kenjaku escaped. His death hasn't been confirmed. But now that Sukuna has fully incarnated, he's most likely hiding somewhere to watch the show." Shoko Ieiri leaned against the wall, an unlit cigarette between her fingers. Her lazy tone carried a trace of exhaustion.

"The priority now is Sukuna." Atsuya Kusakabe pointed at the Shinjuku map on the projection screen. "According to the Windows' observations, every cursed spirit in the Shinjuku area has vanished. With cursed energy pressure at that level, even cursed spirits wouldn't dare approach."

"Tomorrow is the day of the decisive battle." Gojo spoke, his voice steady. "As agreed, I'll go to Shinjuku alone."

"No!" Yuji shot to his feet, his chair scraping harshly across the floor. "Sensei, Sukuna has Fushiguro's technique now, and Mahoraga too! If it's one-on-one..."

"Yuji." Gojo cut him off. "This is a battle that belongs to 'the strongest.' If I lose, it won't be too late for you to step in."

"If even Sensei loses, wouldn't we just be throwing our lives away?" Hakari flipped a coin between his fingers. His tone was casual, but his eyes were exceptionally sharp.

"If I joined too, I'd only distract Sensei." Yuta spoke softly, clenching his fists. "Our mission is to take over the battlefield after Sukuna has been weakened, or... in the worst-case scenario."

The conference room fell deathly silent.

Every plan rested on the assumption that Gojo could win, or at least perish together with Sukuna. It was tragic, but it was also reality.

"I have a suggestion."

A slightly abrupt voice shattered the silence.

Everyone's eyes immediately turned toward the boy in the corner.

Shiyue Shuo was lowering his head, fiddling with the newly replaced tactical watch on his wrist. Feeling everyone's gazes upon him, he slowly raised his head. A nearly insane calm glimmered in his clear eyes.

"Tomorrow, I'll go first."

"Huh?" Maki frowned, lightly tapping the table with the blade in her hand. "Shiyue, have you lost your mind? You did well in the Culling Game, but your opponent is Sukuna."

"Shiyue, this isn't the time to be reckless." Yuta also tried to dissuade him, his eyes full of concern.

"I'm not joking." Shiyue Shuo stood up, bracing both hands on the table as he looked directly at Gojo. "Sensei, you know Mahoraga's traits, right?"

"It adapts to all phenomena." Gojo nodded.

"That's right. Sukuna now possesses not only slashing attacks, but also the Ten Shadows Technique. If you enter the fight directly, then once Mahoraga adapts to Limitless, the battle will collapse in an instant." Shiyue Shuo's voice was quiet, yet every word struck home. "You need a vanguard—someone who can force Sukuna to reveal his trump cards, or even force Mahoraga into meaningless adaptations."

"And I'm the most suitable candidate."

"Why?" Gojo did not reject him outright. Instead, he looked at him with interest.

"Because of my power."

Shiyue Shuo raised his right hand.

"Bzzzz—"

The air twisted instantly. The phantoms of twelve talismans slowly appeared behind him. This time, they were no longer flickering chaotically, but followed some ancient, mysterious pattern to form a perfect ring.

A ripple of rules that was not cursed energy, yet stood above cursed energy, instantly filled the entire conference room. The pen in Kusakabe's hand fell to the floor, while Choso instinctively assumed a defensive stance.

"This is..." Kusakabe staggered back half a step in shock. "What kind of power is this?"

"This is my own innate technique." Shiyue Shuo clenched his fist, and the phantoms vanished. "Mahoraga's adaptation is based on cursed energy analysis. But how can it adapt when facing twelve entirely different, independent abilities? If it adapts to fire, I'll use water. If it adapts to force, I'll use the soul."

"And..." Shiyue Shuo paused, his expression becoming somewhat complicated. "There's something I need to confirm."

"Confirm what?" Yuji asked.

"Nothing..."

Shiyue Shuo hesitated. Ever since he had forcibly opened his domain in Shibuya, his body had undergone a fundamental change. The talismans were no longer external objects—they had become his organs. He needed an extreme battle to verify the endpoint of this path of evolution.

Gojo stared at Shiyue Shuo for a long time. His Six Eyes seemed determined to see through the boy's soul.

After a long while, Gojo smiled. He stood, walked over to Shiyue Shuo, and vigorously ruffled the boy's hair.

"Approved."

"Gojo-sensei!" Maki and Yuji cried out at the same time.

"Don't be so tense." Gojo waved a hand. "Shiyue's right. That old bastard Sukuna is definitely hiding something up his sleeve. Since Shiyue's confident, let him go make some trouble. Besides..."

He pointed at himself.

"If he can't handle it, I'll step in."

At that moment, the strategy was set.

December 24, the decisive battle in Shinjuku. First battle: Shiyue Shuo versus Ryomen Sukuna. Second battle: Satoru Gojo.

By the time the meeting ended, night had deepened.

On Jujutsu High's rooftop, the cold wind howled.

Shiyue Shuo sat alone on the railing, looking out at the brightly lit Tokyo in the distance. Tomorrow, one corner of that city would become ruins.

"Not afraid?"

Footsteps sounded behind him. It was Maki.

She had already cut her hair short, and the burn scars on her face made her look even colder. Carrying a longsword, she walked to Shiyue Shuo's side.

"I am." Shiyue Shuo admitted frankly. "That's Ryomen Sukuna—the kind of monster who can turn someone into sashimi with a flick of his finger."

"Then why are you rushing to die?"

"This isn't suicide. It's a gamble." Shiyue Shuo turned to look at Maki. "Senpai, how's Mai doing now?"

At the mention of her sister's name, Maki's hard expression softened for an instant.

"She's doing well. She opened a flower shop in a small town in Hokkaido. No cursed energy, no Zenin Clan—just an ordinary girl."

"That's good." Shiyue Shuo smiled. "That's one of the reasons I fight."

"You..." Maki sighed and handed him the longsword. "Take it."

"What for? Mai left that to you."

"I'm lending it to you." Maki looked into the distance. "This sword can cut the soul. Your fists may be hard, but having another option is always better. Don't break it, or I'll kill you."

Shiyue Shuo accepted the longsword, feeling the familiar, faint presence belonging to Mai within the blade.

"Thanks."

After Maki left, several others came up one after another.

Yuji brought the protective charm his grandfather had left behind. It held no great cursed energy, but the sentiment was heavy.

Yuta Okkotsu directly cast a Reverse Cursed Technique on Shiyue Shuo. It would only last a few hours, but it was better than nothing.

The last to come up was Gojo.

He brought nothing. With both hands in his pockets, he merely stood beside Shiyue Shuo.

"Shiyue."

"Yeah."

"Don't die."

"Sensei, are you raising a death flag?"

"I'm serious." Gojo removed his sunglasses, his eyes reflecting the starry sky. "Even though I'm the strongest, I don't want to write any more elegies for my students. Yuji died once. That feeling was awful."

"Don't worry, Sensei." Shiyue Shuo jumped down from the railing and patted the dust off his pants. "It won't be easy for me to die."

"And besides..."

Shiyue Shuo clenched his fist, sensing the power within him that had already reached its critical point.

"I want to try that so-called King of Curses too."

Gojo watched the boy's departing back, a smile curling at the corner of his lips.

"Then go raise hell."