"Emerge from darkness, blacker than black."
"Purify that which is unclean, exorcise all filth."
As the incantation concluded, a pitch-black barrier descended from the sky, instantly enveloping the entirety of Satozakura High School.
A Curtain.
This was a barrier technique capable of obscuring the sight of ordinary people while creating a sealed space within.
It was currently lunch break.
The bustling campus fell silent the moment the Curtain dropped, as if someone had pressed a mute button.
On the sports field, students playing soccer suddenly noticed their surroundings growing incredibly dim, as if night had fallen prematurely.
"What's going on? Why did it get so dark?"
"Is it going to rain?"
Panic began to spread through the crowd.
Meanwhile, on the roof of the school building.
Mahito sat on the railing, swinging his legs with that signature innocent yet cruel smile on his face.
Although the wound Yoru had carved into his chest had healed, an ugly scar remained.
It was a scar on the level of the soul, one that could never be fully erased.
"I'd love to go straight for that brat with the sword and get my revenge."
Mahito tilted his head, watching the panicked crowd below like a swarm of ants.
"But Suguru was right. I'm not perfect yet."
"I need more growth, more souls..."
In his hands, he toyed with several grotesque dolls twisted by cursed energy.
They were test subjects he had snatched up nearby on a whim.
"Well then, let's begin!"
Mahito gave a light hop and dropped from the height.
"Let's have ourselves a delightful little massacre."
........
Simultaneously, outside the barrier.
Two figures were rapidly approaching.
"Nanamin! That's a Curtain up ahead, right? It's definitely that guy's doing!"
Yuji Itadori pointed at the building shrouded in the black barrier, his face full of anxiety.
He had only heard about the situation here from Junpei yesterday; he hadn't expected trouble to strike today.
"Calm down, Itadori-kun."
Kento Nanami adjusted the goggles on the bridge of his nose as he ran.
"If it's Mahito, things will get very difficult."
"Remember, your task is to stall him. Do not let him touch your soul under any circumstances."
"I know!"
Yuji gritted his teeth, accelerating even further.
The two burst through the edge of the Curtain and entered the barrier.
As soon as they entered, a nauseating stench of cursed energy assaulted them.
On the plaza in front of the school building, over a dozen monsters twisted into grotesque forms wandered aimlessly.
They were products of Idle Transfiguration.
"That bastard... I'll never forgive him..."
Yuji's fists clenched tight, the fury in his eyes nearly overflowing.
"Yo, you guys got here fast."
A mocking voice called out from the platform above.
Mahito leaned against the railing, playing with a shrunken transfigured human in his hand.
Seeing Yuji and Nanami, he tossed the transfigured human down like a discarded toy.
Mahito grinned, revealing a mouthful of sharp teeth.
"Since you're here, why don't you all stay and play with me!"
BOOM!
Before he could finish, Kento Nanami was already on the move.
His blunt blade, swathed in cursed energy, slashed toward Mahito's weak point from a razor-sharp angle.
"Ratio Technique: Collapse!"
At the same time, Yuji charged from the flank, his fists glowing with red and black sparks.
"Divergent Fist!"
BAM! BAM!
Both of their attacks landed simultaneously.
Mahito's body was sent flying, crashing into the wall of the school building.
But he emerged shortly after as if nothing had happened, brushing the dust off his clothes.
"That hurts."
Despite his words, his face showed no hint of suffering.
"But attacks of this level won't work on me."
He spread his hands, his body instantly splitting into countless fleshy chunks to evade Nanami's follow-up.
Then, he reformed behind Yuji.
"Your soul looks quite delicious."
Mahito's palm lunged toward Yuji's back.
In the nick of time.
A clear, resonant ring of a blade suddenly pierced through the din of the battlefield, echoing throughout the school.
Clang—!
Immediately following it was a stiflingly hot aura that instantly blanketed the area.
Flames.
Mahito's movements suddenly froze.
'It's him!'
Swish!
A streak of gold and red light fell from the sky, precisely cleaving the arm Mahito had extended.
Snikt—!
There was no resistance.
The arm that had been reaching for Yuji's soul was severed clean off at the shoulder!
At the stump, gold and red sparks danced wildly, preventing any possibility of regeneration.
"AAAAAARGH!"
Mahito let out a piercing shriek, clutching his severed shoulder as he scrambled backward in a frenzy.
The dust settled.
A boy in a black Jujutsu High uniform stood quietly before Yuji, holding a pitch-black katana.
There wasn't a trace of cursed energy radiating from him, yet everyone present felt their hearts skip a beat.
Yoru looked up, his crimson eyes appearing as though two eternal fires were burning within them.
"Nanami-san, leave the babysitting to me."
Yoru's voice was calm and frigid.
At the same time, a crisp system notification rang in his mind:
"[SYSTEM: DING! CRITICAL PLOT INTERFERENCE DETECTED. SYNCHRONIZATION RATE INCREASED TO 16%!]"
"[SYSTEM: UNLOCKED: PROFICIENCY INCREASE FOR SUN BREATHING: FORMS FOUR THROUGH SIX!]"
"[SYSTEM: UNLOCKED: PROGRESSION IN THUNDER BREATHING DEDUCTION!]"
Shiranui trembled slightly in Yoru's hand, as if thirsting for blood and battle.
He looked at the terrified Mahito, a faint curve forming on his lips.
"I told you."
"Your hands are too filthy."