Nue circled above the forest, each beat of its enormous wings stirring up a gale that made the treetops below ripple like green waves.
Satoru Gojo stood at the front of Nue's back with his hands in his pockets, his white hair streaming behind him in the wind. His eyes were half closed, a faint light shimmering through the gaps beneath his lids as his Six Eyes worked.
"Shinya's already been dealt with," Zhiyan said. His voice scattered somewhat in the wind, but the other two heard him clearly. "The remaining Kyoto Jujutsu High members will probably split into two teams. That's the most sensible arrangement I can think of."
Xian Di nodded.
"Mahiru isn't stupid. He'll probably guess we're coming to intercept them, so he'll split his forces. Even if we stop one team, the other can keep exorcising cursed spirits. At least that way, they won't all be wiped out."
"And-" Xian Di narrowed his eyes slightly. "If all three of us go after one team, the other will have no one blocking them at all. They can rack up their cursed spirit count without worrying. By the time we finish with the first team and head over, we might not have enough time left."
Satoru Gojo turned and glanced at them both.
"So we need to move fast. Stop Mahiru's team before they can react, then immediately turn around and intercept the other team."
Zhiyan nodded.
"Right. So-"
He looked at Satoru Gojo.
"Have you found the next team?"
Satoru Gojo's lips slowly spread into a confident grin.
"Of course."
He turned his head, looking toward a particular part of the forest.
Two unusual fluctuations of cursed energy stood out sharply there.
A hint of amusement colored Satoru Gojo's voice. "Ten o'clock, about five hundred meters away.