Puff, puff!
The ugly transfigured humans, looking like grotesque moths, picked up the unconscious Uraume from the rubble of the B5F platform.
The trio led by Mei Mei split up and began to act based on Mechamaru's information.
Yuji Itadori rushed to the outer perimeter of the subway to relay the message to the teams above and call for support.
Meanwhile, Mei Mei stood in the shadows of the fifth floor.
Her giant battleaxe was stained with drops of blood. She stepped over a pool of blood, squinting as she synchronized her vision with her crow.
Black Bird Manipulation.
Its true essence lay in the suicide attack: Bird Strike.
By forcing the crow into a Binding Vow that removed its Cursed Energy limits in exchange for its life, the crow became a lethal projectile. Its single-shot power far surpassed most Grade 1 attacks and could severely wound a Special Grade.
Additionally, Mei Mei could share the crow's vision. She wore her hair in two braids covering the front of her face to prevent being distracted by reality when she synchronized her sight.
"I saw what Mechamaru mentioned... the Prison Realm."
"It's in the hands of the Fake Geto."
Sensing the crow's instantaneous death after hitting a barrier Kenjaku put up, Mei Mei murmured to herself.
Ignoring the Curse User's corpse split in two at her feet, Ui Ui clapped his hands with an expression of pure adoration.
"Sister is amazing! You found out information about a top-level Sorcerer so easily!"
"Don't be careless, Ui Ui."
Mei Mei took out her phone. She typed out the information: Gojo Satoru is sealed. The Prison Realm is held by the Fake Suguru Geto. She sent it to the secure Jujutsu High network.
Because Yuta Okkotsu had destroyed the inner three Curtains with his Black Rope, the B5F was no longer completely cut off from signal transmission.
If Gojo Satoru being sealed wasn't shocking enough, they desperately needed to call for more support.
The message sent, Mei Mei turned her deep, unfathomable gaze toward the darkness ahead.
...
Night. 21:59.
A high-speed bullet train bound away from Shibuya sped down the tracks.
The spacious Car Number 4 was completely empty, save for a single girl.
She wore a black Jujutsu High uniform and had long, smooth, sky-blue hair.
Kasumi Miwa.
Clutching the small mechanical earpiece in her hands, Miwa was already in tears.
Kokichi Muta had left behind three insurance policies before his death.
One on B5F. One with Yuji Itadori.
The last one was reserved for the girl he had secretly loved for years.
In order for his comrades to survive this war, Mechamaru had deliberately manipulated the mission assignments given by the Higher-ups. He had ensured the Kyoto students (except Aoi Todo) were sent far away from Tokyo.
He succeeded. He had kept the girl he loved out of the terrible storm in Shibuya.
"Sorry, Miwa," Kokichi's pre-recorded voice crackled from the device.
"I died a little over ten days ago... at the hands of a Cursed Spirit named Mahito."
Mechamaru's words were slightly different from what he told Yuji.
He intentionally omitted Zenin Mirai and Kenjaku. He knew that if he told his friends the true scale of the monsters who killed him, they might try to seek revenge.
Naming Mahito—the weakest of the masterminds—was Kokichi's final attempt to protect his comrades from a hopeless fight.
It was the final tenderness left behind by the machine.
"Go back, Miwa."
"The battle at Shibuya... I'm sorry I won't be there."
"WHY?!!"
A suppressed sob suddenly tore from Miwa's throat. Her tears fell onto the cold metal.
"Why did you never mention this to me?!"
"Why didn't you discuss this with everyone?!"
"And why..."
Hot tears slid down her face. Her broken voice echoed throughout the empty carriage.
"Did you go and die without permission?!"
"Is it because I'm too weak...?"
The cold mechanical creation gradually quieted down.
"I have someone I love very much," Kokichi's voice grew faint, as if the Cursed Energy powering the recording was fading.
"No matter how the world changes... I ask for nothing more than for her to live a peaceful life."
Even if the knight she longs for isn't me...
As the last word fell, the flashing light on the earpiece went out completely.
"NO!!!"
Miwa gripped the mechanical device tightly against her chest, her voice hoarse and strained.
At this point, Kokichi's unrequited love ended without fruition. He never got to say it to her face.
Outside the door of Car 4.
Utahime Iori, Maki Zenin, Mai Zenin, Momo Nishimiya, and Noritoshi Kamo stood in silence.
They listened to the devastating sobs inside.
Momo slowly gripped her broom, a murderous intent rising on her cute face.
"How dare you make my lovely junior cry!"
"That bastard... I'll kill him without mercy!"
...
Shibuya. B3F (3rd Basement Level).
The squad led by Kento Nanami—consisting of Maki, Nobara, and Megumi—officially entered the third underground level.
"Wait!"
Nanami held up a hand, stopping the three students.
His wary gaze fixed on a figure floating behind a concrete pillar.
Big, round eyes. Its upper body resembled a red, deep-sea octopus, and it had a pair of short, stubby arms. Its lower body was draped in something resembling a white cloth.
It was Dagon (in his Cursed Womb form).
SWISH!
Before the Cursed Spirit could react, Maki lunged forward with her Naginata!
With lightning speed, she delivered a powerful slash to Dagon's soft, squishy abdomen!
Tears welled up in Dagon's large eyes from the pain. But before the beast could even hit the ground, it was struck again!
"Ratio Technique: 7:3!"
Nanami brought his blunt, wrapped cleaver down precisely on the area Maki had slashed, landing a brutal critical hit!
BANG!
Dagon crashed to the ground, tearful and writhing as if it were about to vomit.
Nanami solemnly held out an arm, stopping Maki and Nobara from pressing the attack.
The previous critical hit hadn't seriously injured it. The Cursed Spirit before them... was undoubtedly a Special Grade!
If they approached rashly, the students were extremely vulnerable to death. As the leader, Nanami had a duty to ensure their safety.
Raising his cleaver, Nanami spoke in a deep voice.
"Seven to three."
"My technique can divide the target's body into a seven-to-three ratio. That exact point is forcibly designated as a weak spot."
A dense layer of Cursed Energy rose from the blade.
"Head, abdomen, arms, thighs... any part of the body, even non-biological structures, can be the target."
By explaining how his Cursed Technique worked to the enemy, Nanami formed a Binding Vow that significantly boosted the technique's power.
Intelligence was sacrificed in exchange for raw output. Like doubling down on an open bet.
BOOM!!!
The flames of Cursed Energy surged. Nanami unleashed the full, boosted force of the Ratio Technique!
He slammed the cleaver hard onto Dagon's head!
"VOMIT—!"
Purple blood splattered!
The blasted creature suddenly convulsed and spat out countless human skeletons onto the ground—the remains of the civilians it had eaten.
At the same time, the Cursed Energy fluctuating around Dagon suddenly skyrocketed!
Shedding its delicate, cute appearance, the Cursed Womb burst open.
Dagon emerged in his true, muscular, terrifying Special Grade form! The pressure in the room became suffocating.
...
On the staircase leading down from the second basement level.
White Zetsu (in Kokichi's body), trying his best to conceal his Cursed Energy aura, watched the battle below with great interest.
Dagon raised his hands, forming a seal.
"Domain... Expansion!"
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