Gone in an instant

In the dark underbelly of Jujutsu Society, there existed a certain group of people.

They possessed everything, yet had nothing.

Wealth, status, power... They had easily become Grade 1 Sorcerers through their inherited innate cursed techniques, and wanted for nothing.

They held immense authority and could have done countless things to bring light into the world, yet all they knew was how to claw and bite at one another in the mire of political intrigue.

And so, the meaning of life slipped through their fingers like sand, leaving behind only an "evil" so pure it was almost transparent.

They could commit evil simply for amusement, without even needing a reason or motive.

Murder, arson, abducting women by force-all of it came as naturally as breathing to them. They were every bit as loathsome as those "American military animals" who trampled human lives at will...

These were not merely countless individual cases piled high throughout the thousand-year history of the Three Great Families. They were also a shared portrait of the countless pitiful souls who had latched onto this rotten system and ultimately twisted themselves into monsters.

And now, Dio was about to bring all of it to an end.

He bestowed the concept of the "Six Eyes" upon himself, loosely clenched his right fist, and took a step forward. Cursed energy began to surge.

Dio did not draw his sword.

Against these remaining rotten creatures, too weak and too cowardly even to kill themselves, he considered even the act of "slashing" unnecessary. He simply threw a punch through the air.

The effect of Red erupted fully at his knuckles, unleashing a straight, red blast of air across ten meters like a pillar of annihilating light.

"Die! Eat my military killing fist!"

The tangible shock wave spread forward in a cone, instantly blasting the exquisite screen and the several old men huddled behind it into a storm of fragments and blood mist.

Still, these decrepit men had occupied high positions for many years. Even if they had long since become useless parasites, they had once ranked among the finest Grade 1 Sorcerers to climb this high.

Though Dio's casual blow was terrifying, he had necessarily held back to avoid bringing the building down.

When the dust cleared a little, one man among the wreckage was still breathing.

His limbs were mangled, his pompadour drooped listlessly over his face, and blood poured from all seven orifices. His breath was as feeble as a candle flickering in the wind, yet he still clung to life.

His fingers even twitched faintly in the pool of blood as he secretly gathered his last scraps of cursed energy.

"Tenacity that bears no relation to strength... Sometimes that's a waste, too." Suguru Geto frowned slightly. "He's bleeding from every opening and barely alive, but he's still trying these pointless little tricks."

"Should I finish him off?"

Atsuya Kusakabe rested his hand on his sword hilt, eager to try.

"Bleeding from every opening is one thing. Being dead is another.

He looks like he's putting on a pathetic 'dying man' act, but he's actually sneaking in preparations for one last gamble!"

For some reason, Kusakabe showed remarkable initiative when it came to "cutting down the conservative old bastards at Jujutsu Headquarters."

His fingers tightened slightly as he silently calculated: After spending all this time on edge, has my chance to act finally come?

"It's fine." Dio shook his hand, dispersing the cursed energy lingering around his knuckles. "They really are very weak."

Rather than retreat, he took another step forward and spread his arms toward the broken body in the pool of blood, as though reciting a theatrical monologue:

"Come on, come on! Let your final spark blaze, and let me admire it!

The curtain has risen on a new era. The world must be told-I have arrived!"

The last "old bastard's" futile, frenzied death throes failed to leave even the slightest ripple worth recording on the walls of this dark chamber, which had witnessed countless intrigues and bloodshed.

Who deserved death a thousand times over, with no possibility of pardon; who had waded into murky waters but committed no capital crime; who was merely a tool swept along by the old system.

During the previous three days of almost "open conspiracy," Dio, Satoru Gojo, and Suguru Geto had repeatedly worked through scenarios, argued, and weighed their choices late into the night.

Now, their answers had been written.

Every core "reactionary" who needed to be eliminated had met their final reckoning in this dark chamber, the symbol of Jujutsu Society's highest authority.

The heavy stench of blood still lingered in the air, mingling with the peculiar chill of cursed residue. Beneath it lay a vacuum-like silence left by the forcible end of an old era.

Dio, the new director of jujutsu whose appointment had been witnessed and acknowledged on the spot by the heads or acting heads of the Three Great Families, slowly turned around. He surveyed every face gathered there and solemnly announced, "Now, we can tell the world!"

After bestowing the concepts of "leadership" and "orator" upon himself, his voice was not loud, yet carried a peculiar penetration and persuasiveness.

His cadence rose and fell, each word ringing out with the force of a heavy hammer striking metal.

"Give every registered sorcerer three days to prepare.

At ten o'clock sharp on the morning three days from now, we will convene an assembly of all sorcerers in the former Jujutsu Headquarters' main auditorium."

"Three days?" Masamichi Yaga frowned slightly. The schedule was tighter than he had expected.

"Setting aside the time needed for the news itself to be passed down through the ranks and confirmed, there's transportation alone...

Sorcerers stationed in remote areas or carrying out long-term assignments might barely make it to Kyoto by the deadline, even if they leave as soon as they receive notice."

"Three days." Dio's answer was firm and allowed no argument.

"Two days to tie up loose ends, one day to travel.

Unless they're somewhere utterly cut off from the world, like deep beneath the Antarctic Ice Sheet or in the heart of the Amazon Rainforest, they should theoretically be able to reach Kyoto using modern transportation and jujutsu.

As for those who genuinely face practical obstacles-sorcerers unable to travel far due to injury or illness, or those who must remain at critical local facilities and truly cannot leave...

I won't force them.

The assembly's central proceedings and important content will be recorded in full. They can watch the recording afterward."

"We discussed this. There are two reasons we set this 'deadline.'

First, to give them a necessary sense of urgency.

To make them understand that this is no ordinary meeting they can brush off or watch from the sidelines. It is a turning point that will determine our direction for decades to come, and they must take it with the utmost seriousness.

If they can come, all the better. If they can't, they must still pay attention."

Suguru Geto spoke at just the right moment, lending context to Dio's words.

"Second, we want to see how quickly sorcerers across the country respond over these three short days, how efficiently they act, and...

Most importantly, which side they choose and where they stand.

Will they actively prepare to leave, stall and wait, or resist through inaction?

Their behavior over these three days will itself be a clear barometer."

Dio nodded slightly and concluded, "That is precisely why we ultimately agreed that three days was a reasonable length of time.

The opening act of reform has begun. No one can hide behind the curtain forever.

Whether they step willingly into the light or are swept onto the stage by the tide of the times-three days will be enough to see the first signs."

"Then does that include assistant supervisors and independent sorcerers who hold no positions within Jujutsu Headquarters or Jujutsu High?"

Masamichi Yaga sought further confirmation. This would determine how broadly attendance extended.

"Anyone registered with Jujutsu Society who holds sorcerer status, or currently performs duties involving the exorcism of cursed spirits or the handling of curse-related matters, is included.

This is a gathering for the entire 'industry.'"

Dio's gaze swept over the group.

Suguru Geto added, "Over these three days, I'll mobilize the cursed spirits under my control, deploying them throughout major hubs and important locations with barriers attached for surveillance.

If any curse too stupid to know better, or anyone harboring ill intentions, dares to stir up trouble at this critical moment...

Then, once the assembly has concluded successfully, they will have the honor of receiving joint 'special attention' from all four of us Special Grade Sorcerers.

I imagine it will be the most 'grand' conclusion to their brief careers as curses."

Naobito Zenin considered for a moment, then looked at Dio and raised a more fundamental question:

"Then, regarding your appointment as director, the deeper purpose of this assembly, and your subsequent plans, may we inform some trustworthy colleagues in advance?

Doing so would not only help stabilize the current situation and build internal consensus, but also allow key personnel in critical positions to adjust their approach and prepare accordingly for the various complications that might arise.

After all... You and I both know that among jujutsu sorcerers, there are probably very few truly flawless individuals whose conduct conforms entirely to ordinary law.

Most have strayed into gray areas to some degree, or even crossed lines they would rather not discuss.

Though I consider myself reasonably cautious in my conduct and have no concerns on that front.

Still... Surely we cannot investigate everything?

If we truly dig deeply, who can guarantee that we won't unearth some embarrassing matters from the past?

If we suddenly launch a comprehensive purge under excessively strict standards, I fear it would not only shake the foundations of the existing system, but could also leave vast regions without protection against curses.

The balance within Jujutsu Society would then become even more precarious, creating truly unpredictable chaos-and that would be a situation that genuinely endangered ordinary people.

So I believe this matter may require a more cautious approach from you."

"Wrongdoing naturally has a statute of limitations, too.

I won't dredge up those old accounts, but from now on, they must never repeat their offenses.

On that point... You may use your own judgment and inform those you consider truly trustworthy, or capable of shouldering the responsibility of reform."

Dio appeared quite casual about it, almost permissive.

"The more allies, the better, naturally. And the same goes for enemies."