Sol appeared completely indifferent to Mechamaru's little toy. Casually storing away the Prison Realm that now held Gojo Satoru, he shifted his gaze back to Kenjaku and the gathered special-grade Cursed Spirits.
Under that calm stare, the air seemed to grow heavy. Even their Cursed Energy felt as though it might solidify.
"You... what exactly are you?" Jogo asked, a faint tremor hidden in his voice.
Sol showed no intention of attacking them. Instead, he spoke with casual indifference.
"Your part isn't over yet. Don't just stand there."
The moment the words left his mouth, he vanished without a sound.
Silence followed.
The special-grade Cursed Spirits stood frozen, utterly confused, while Kenjaku remained restrained where he stood.
Several seconds later, the force binding Kenjaku quietly disappeared.
Kenjaku inhaled sharply, his expression darkening. He immediately examined his surroundings. The Prison Realm was gone. Gojo Satoru had been sealed and taken away by Sol. The entire plan had been thrown into chaos.
Yet the most troublesome obstacle, Gojo Satoru, had indeed been removed from the battlefield.
"What the hell was that guy's deal?!" Jogo roared.
Kenjaku took a deep breath, suppressing the shock and confusion raging inside him.
"I don't know. But Gojo Satoru has been sealed. This is our chance. Stick to the original plan and continue."
The process had become completely unpredictable, but the result was somehow still favorable.
The special-grade Cursed Spirits exchanged uncertain glances before finally turning their attention back to Itadori Yuji.
Jogo stepped forward, preparing to force-feed the vessel all ten of the Sukuna fingers they had collected.
Meanwhile, at Meiji Shrine.
Yuji's communicator suddenly rang.
A message from Mechamaru appeared on the screen.
The moment everyone read its contents, they froze in place as if struck by lightning.
Sol had taken the Prison Realm.
Sol had sealed Gojo Satoru.
"Impossible..." Yuji muttered, disbelief written across his face.
Meanwhile, the person responsible stood atop the highest point in Shibuya.
Sol overlooked the city below, watching the battle become even more complicated because of his intervention. His dark red eyes remained calm and unmoved.
A whetstone was only valuable when used to its fullest potential.
Deep beneath Shibuya, inside the subway station, Kenjaku continued forcing down the unease growing within him.
Everything had gone wrong.
Yet somehow, everything had also gone right.
Sol had appeared without warning, taken the Prison Realm, sealed Gojo Satoru through methods none of them could comprehend, and then disappeared just as suddenly.
What was his objective?
Was he an ally or an enemy?
No one knew.
But one fact remained.
Gojo Satoru was gone.
That alone made this a rare opportunity.
"What are you all standing around for?" Kenjaku said, regaining his usual composure despite the doubts filling his mind. "The greatest obstacle has been removed. Continue the plan."
Jogo's single eye narrowed.
"Hmph. Whoever that brat is, he helped get rid of Gojo Satoru. That's enough for me. Hanami, Dagon, move out."
On the other side, Yuji and the others reached a different conclusion.
Before anything else, they needed to find Sol and free Gojo Satoru.
Four curtains currently covered Shibuya.
One trapped ordinary civilians.
One specifically confined Gojo Satoru.
One prevented sorcerers from entering.
And another trapped civilians within a larger area.
Because cell phones could not function inside the curtains, the majority of Jujutsu Sorcerers operating throughout Shibuya remained completely unaware that Sol had already sealed Gojo Satoru inside the Prison Realm.
Sol...
Sealed Gojo-sensei?
The thought felt absurd.
Sol had always fought alongside them. He had repeatedly saved them during missions.
How could someone like him do something like this?
A crushing sense of disbelief and betrayal gripped Yuji's chest so tightly that breathing became difficult.
"Impossible!" Yuji suddenly looked toward Mei Mei, his voice trembling without him realizing it. "Miss Mei, there has to be some mistake! How could Sol..."
Mei Mei's expression was equally grave.
The crow shikigami under her control circled uneasily overhead.
The footage sent by Mechamaru had been blurry, but several details were unmistakable. The Prison Realm. The activation. The moment Gojo Satoru disappeared.
More alarming than that was the overwhelming pressure Sol had displayed while acting.
It had been effortless.
Completely beyond comprehension.
"The information came from Mechamaru," Mei Mei said, her usual relaxed demeanor gone. "He has neither a reason nor the courage to lie about something like this."
Her gaze sharpened.
"As difficult as it is to believe, Gojo Satoru was sealed by your classmate, Sol."
After a brief pause, she quickly reached a decision.
"Itadori, listen carefully. Everything has changed. The news of Gojo Satoru's sealing must be delivered to every sorcerer operating in Shibuya immediately."
She continued without hesitation.
"Communication through normal channels is impossible inside the curtains. Leave at once. Find Nanami, the Zenin clan head, and every combat-capable sorcerer you can locate. Tell them personally. Understood?"
Yuji's face remained pale, but he forced himself to nod.
Now was not the time to collapse in shock.
Gojo-sensei was gone.
They would have to act on their own.
"I understand. I'll go right away!"
He turned and sprinted toward the exit.
"Wait," Mei Mei called out.
Yuji stopped.
"Be careful of Sol. His intentions are completely unclear now. If you encounter him, don't hesitate. Retreat immediately and warn the others."
Yuji's body stiffened.
He did not turn around.
Instead, he clenched his fists tighter.
Then he exploded forward.
Like an arrow released from a bow, he raced into the chaos consuming Shibuya, carrying the devastating news with him.