The incessant drone of cicadas in the peak of summer echoed through the dense canopy of trees.
The scorching sun pierced through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the rugged mountain path.
This hidden mountain road leading to Tokyo Metropolitan Jujutsu Technical High School was usually serene and quiet.
But today, the air was thick with a suffocating sense of anxiety and fatigue.
"
Heavy, labored breathing rang out clearly in the silent mountain pass.
Satoru Gojo walked at the very front of the group.
His signature sunglasses had slipped slightly, revealing the "Six Eyes" that seemed to reflect the entire heavens.
However, these eyes, hailed as the most brilliant jewels of the jujutsu world, were now bloodshot with fine red veins.
His usually fair skin was now a sickly, ghostly pale.
Even his back, which he always kept ramrod straight, was uncharacteristically hunched.
He was exhausted.
Ever since the attack at the Okinawa aquarium, Yoru had left the escort team to hunt down the mastermind and the extremely dangerous Toji Fushiguro.
Although Yoru's departure had drawn away some of the eyes watching from the shadows...
...it also meant that the full burden of protecting the Star Plasma Vessel, Riko Amanai, fell entirely onto the shoulders of Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto.
To ensure Riko's absolute safety on the way back to Jujutsu High, Gojo had made a reckless decision.
He had never deactivated his Limitless technique.
One day.
Two days.
Three full days and nights!
From the beaches of Okinawa to the flight back to Tokyo, and through this entire journey on foot.
Gojo's Limitless technique was like a precision gear that could never stop, spinning frantically in his brain under a massive overload.
No sleep, no closing his eyes—he hadn't dared to let his mind relax for even a single second.
He knew that over these three days, countless greedy eyes had been staring at them from the darkness.
Fanatical believers of the Star Religious Group, curse users who would do anything for a bounty, and restless cursed spirits.
Any slight opening could result in the Star Plasma Vessel being killed on the spot.
"Satoru, are you alright?"
Walking behind him, Suguru Geto watched Gojo's swaying back, his eyes filled with undeniable concern.
As the person who knew Satoru Gojo best, Geto understood better than anyone how horrifying the strain of keeping Limitless active for three consecutive days was on the brain.
It was like placing someone's soul over a constant flame.
The pain of a brain nearing its boiling point and nerves on the verge of snapping was something no ordinary person could endure.
"Why don't you deactivate your technique and rest for a bit?"
Geto stepped forward quickly and grabbed Gojo's arm, his tone pleading.
"We've already entered the school's barrier range. With Master Tengen's barrier protecting us, there shouldn't be any danger."
"I have a few cursed spirits specialized in scouting that can take over the watch..."
"No need."
Gojo brushed Geto's hand away.
He shook his head violently, trying to dispel the intense vertigo that threatened to pull him into an abyss.
"Suguru, don't forget the warning Yoru gave before he left."
Gojo's voice was hoarse, but his tone was resolute.
"Even if I don't know what filth is hiding in the shadows..."
"...we can't relax for a moment until Riko is safely inside the Tombs of the Star Corridor and handed over to Master Tengen."
At that point, Gojo forced the corners of his mouth up into a signature, cocky grin.
He turned around, looked at Geto, and gave him a thumbs-up.
"Don't worry, I'm the strongest!"
"Going three days without sleep is nothing. It's just like pulling an all-nighter for video games!"
However, his fingertips, trembling slightly from extreme fatigue, ruthlessly betrayed his current weakness.
Riko Amanai, walking between the two, saw everything.
The young girl, who had just survived kidnapping and assassination attempts and was forced to accept her fate as Master Tengen's vessel, bit her lip hard.
Her eyes filled with tears of guilt.
"I'm sorry..."
Riko lowered her head, her voice barely a whisper.
"It's all because of me... If it wasn't to protect me, you wouldn't be in such a state..."
"And Mr. Yoru wouldn't have to face such dangerous enemies all by himself..."
Hearing the girl's self-reproachful sobs...
Gojo stopped and turned around.
He reached out with a hand stiff from maintaining his technique for so long and roughly ruffled Riko's hair, turning her neatly combed locks into a mess.
"Hey, hey, stop making that miserable face, kid."
Gojo grinned, a defiant light flashing in his eyes beneath the sunglasses.
"Protecting the weak is the duty of us strongest sorcerers."
"Besides, being escorted by me with this much effort means you've hit the jackpot. You should be happy!"
Though Gojo's mouth still spilled such arrogant and annoying words...
...Riko could feel the incredibly reassuring warmth from the palm resting on her head.
Seeing this, Geto couldn't help but chuckle.
"Riko, you don't need to feel sorry."
Geto spoke gently.
"Satoru may be an idiot, but he's right about this."
"This was our choice as sorcerers."
"And we promised you—if this is your final wish, we'll help you fulfill it even if we have to make the entire jujutsu world our enemy."
Riko looked up at the two teenagers who were battered but still standing firmly in front of her.
Tears finally streamed down her face.
In this cruel jujutsu world, in this hopeless abyss where everyone saw her as a mere tool to be sacrificed...
...it was these two boys, along with Yoru, who was cold but always silently cleared away all obstacles, who gave her the last and warmest light of her life.
"Thank you... thank you so much..."
Riko nodded heavily while wiping her eyes.
"Let's go."
Gojo turned back and continued toward the school gates at the top of the mountain.
"Let's finish this damn mission soon. I want to go back and sleep for three days and nights, then eat ten Kikufuku!"
Finally, after a long and grueling trek...
...the ancient and solemn gates of Jujutsu High came into view.
When they stepped through the torii gate carved with incantations and felt Master Tengen's vast, immense barrier energy envelop them...
...an indescribable sense of relief instantly swept through everyone's hearts.
It was like a small boat that had been sailing through a violent storm finally entering an absolutely safe harbor.
"Phew..."
Gojo let out a long, heavy breath.
The nerves that had been taut for three full days and nights finally relaxed completely the moment he stepped inside the barrier.
The bloodshot veins in his eyes receded slightly, and a hint of color returned to his pale face.
"Finally... we're here."
Gojo looked up at the sky, which appeared exceptionally blue through the barrier.
"Now, I can finally relax a bit."
He casually deactivated the Limitless technique he'd maintained for three days, letting the heavy wave of exhaustion wash over him.
Geto also let out a long breath and retracted his scouting cursed spirits.
Riko collapsed onto the steps in front of the school as if drained, panting heavily.
They were safe.
Inside Jujutsu High, guarded by Master Tengen's own barrier and known as the safest place in Japan...
...no one could infiltrate unnoticed, and no one could bypass the barrier's detection to launch an attack.
They were finally safe.
However, just as Gojo deactivated Limitless and everyone was savoring this hard-won peace...
...they didn't realize it.
In this world, there is a type of person born specifically to break the rules.
When the strongest defense voluntarily disarms, and all vigilance drops to its lowest in the illusion of absolute safety...
...would this sigh of relief...
...be exactly what the reaper hiding in the shadows had been waiting three whole days for?
The most fatal opening?
The bell of Jujutsu High echoed slowly through the distant mountain woods.
It sounded like a celebration of their triumph, yet also like a death knell for the tragedy to come.