Low-level Cursed Spirits swarmed through the shadows, screeching and prowling, but Yuji Itadori had no attention to spare for them.
He moved through the ruined streets like a cheetah, weaving through debris and chaos. Whenever a Curse lunged into his path and couldn't be avoided, he crushed it with a Cursed Energy-coated fist without slowing down.
"Get lost!"
A Fly Head burst apart under a single punch. Ignoring the splattered residue on his face, Yuji kept moving.
Only one thought filled his mind.
Higher. I need to get somewhere higher.
So everyone can hear.
The building he had spotted was already within reach.
Avoiding the main entrance where Curses were likely gathered, he found an exterior fire escape and began climbing. His hands and feet moved frantically as he scaled the metal ladder. The structure groaned under the strain.
Below him came the roars of pursuing Cursed Spirits and the desperate screams of trapped civilians.
Yuji never looked back.
He climbed.
Higher and higher.
At last, he burst through the rooftop access door. A fierce wind immediately struck his face.
Stumbling toward the edge, he gripped the cold railing and looked out over Shibuya.
The city resembled a living nightmare.
A massive Curtain enveloped the central district. Beyond it, flashes of Cursed Energy lit up the darkness as battles raged across the city, appearing and disappearing like dying sparks.
Yuji took a deep breath.
He poured every ounce of Cursed Energy into his throat and shouted with everything he had.
"Everyone, listen up!"
His voice tore through the wind and echoed across the battlefield.
"Gojo Satoru has been sealed!"
"He was sealed by Sol, the first-year student Sol, using a small square box!"
"I'll say it again! Gojo Satoru has been sealed! Sol did it!"
The desperate announcement echoed repeatedly throughout Shibuya.
Below, Kento Nanami was in the middle of fighting a Curse when he suddenly froze.
His blunt blade slowed for a fraction of a second, nearly allowing the Curse's claws to reach him.
Adjusting his glasses, he looked toward the source of the voice.
For perhaps the first time in a long while, visible shock cracked his usually composed expression.
Elsewhere, Nobara Kugisaki had just pinned a Curse to a wall with her nails when she abruptly turned her head.
"What?!" she shouted, her face draining of color. "What is Itadori talking about?!"
Beside her, Naobito Zenin nearly forgot to swallow the sake in his mouth. The liquid dripped from his beard as he narrowed his eyes toward the distant rooftop.
"Gojo's been sealed?" he muttered. "And by one of our own?"
In another area, Megumi Fushiguro had just summoned Nue to rescue an injured civilian.
The moment he heard the announcement, his concentration faltered.
Nue nearly lost control before Megumi forcibly steadied himself.
Though he quickly regained composure, his tightened jaw and constricted pupils revealed the turmoil beneath the surface.
The news spread like a spark thrown into dry tinder.
Sorcerers throughout Shibuya heard the announcement.
Disbelief.
Suspicion.
Confusion.
Panic.
The emotions spread rapidly among the scattered fighters, causing the already fragile battlefield to waver.
After repeating the message several times, Yuji finally slumped against the railing.
His lungs burned.
Every breath felt painful.
Looking down at the reaction spreading throughout the city, he knew his objective had been accomplished.
Yet there was no relief.
Only a heavy weight pressing against his chest.
Slowly, he lifted his gaze toward the depths of Shibuya Station.
The overwhelming presence of Cursed Energy still lingered there.
Nothing seemed different.
Yet everything had changed.
At the same time, Sol stood atop another skyscraper.
The Prison Realm rested in his hand.
He casually rotated the ancient cube between his fingers, tracing the intricate carvings engraved across its surface.
From within, he could sense the immense and turbulent Cursed Energy belonging to Gojo Satoru.
To Sol, however, the Prison Realm felt more like an interesting toy than a prison.
He wasn't particularly concerned.
Being trapped inside for a while wasn't a serious problem for someone like Gojo.
His perception spread outward like an invisible web, encompassing the entire battlefield.
He saw Yuji racing through the streets toward Nanami's location.
He saw Megumi directing his shikigami while assisting evacuations.
He saw Nobara and Naobito working together to eliminate airborne threats.
He also noticed the Curse Users and special-grade Cursed Spirits moving through the shadows and ruins without restraint.
Most of them were converging toward a single target.
Yuji Itadori.
Sukuna's vessel remained their highest priority.
Sol watched without emotion.
He had no intention of dealing with those minor threats himself.
For the others, this was a struggle between life and death.
For him, it was merely a necessary stage of the larger objective.
All he needed to do was ensure this training did not result in truly irreversible losses.
Meanwhile, Yuji continued sprinting through collapsed streets and shattered walls.
Cursed Energy surged through his legs, pushing his speed to the limit.
"Itadori-kun."
A composed voice called from the intersection ahead.
Yuji looked up immediately.
Nanami stood there, having just exorcised a Curse with his blunt blade. His expression remained steady beneath his blond hair, though a slight furrow had appeared between his brows.
Takuma Ino stood beside him, gripping his weapon while keeping watch.
"Nanami! Ino-senpai!"
Yuji rushed over, breathing heavily.
"Did you hear? Gojo-sensei, he..."
"We heard."
Nanami interrupted him while adjusting his glasses.
A cold reflection flashed across the lenses.
"We understand the situation. Our immediate priority is destroying the Curtain preventing sorcerers from entering Shibuya. We need to create a path for reinforcements."
His voice remained unwavering.
It was as though Gojo Satoru's sealing was simply another tactical complication to overcome rather than a catastrophe capable of shaking the entire jujutsu world.
That composure had an immediate effect on Yuji.
The panic raging inside him gradually settled.
"Yes!"
Yuji nodded firmly.
===
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