Light.
Blinding, sacred light.
The entire Kiroko Quarry training ground in Saitama Prefecture seemed to transform into a furnace forged from pure radiance.
High above the ground floated Hana Kurusu.
Six wings of luminous cursed energy spread from her back, each feather shimmering with holy brilliance.
This was the ultimate ability of the Angel.
Jacob's Ladder.
A technique capable of extinguishing cursed techniques themselves.
Not merely attacking an enemy—but erasing the very concept of cursed energy bindings.
"Disappear."
"All false shackles… dissolve."
Hana's voice rang out across the quarry.
The pillar of light intensified.
Originally only several meters wide—
It expanded until the entire quarry was submerged in holy radiance.
Even the surrounding rock cliffs glowed white.
"So powerful…"
Yuji Itadori raised his arm to shield his eyes.
The energy burned against his skin.
Even though the attack wasn't directed at them—
The overflowing power alone made his heart pound violently.
"So this is Angel's power…"
Beside him, Yagami Sora narrowed his eyes.
His gaze pierced through the blinding pillar of light.
At the center—
Rested the Prison Realm.
The small cube trembled violently.
The grotesque eyes embedded on its surface began to close—
One by one.
The seal was breaking.
"It has to work…"
Yuta Okkotsu tightened his grip on his katana.
His palms were soaked in sweat.
This was their final hope.
If even Angel couldn't break the seal—
Then Satoru Gojo would remain imprisoned forever.
Then—
A sound.
"Crack…"
A tiny fracture appeared across the surface of the Prison Realm.
Everyone froze.
Then—
"Bang."
A dull sound echoed.
The cube—
Vanished.
Not shattered.
Not exploded.
Simply erased.
Like a concept that had been deleted from reality.
The pillar of light slowly faded.
Hana descended weakly from the sky.
Yagami Sora quickly stepped forward and caught her before she collapsed.
"Did it work?"
Yuji rushed forward anxiously.
"Did we free Gojo-sensei?"
Everyone stared at the empty stone platform.
Nothing remained.
Only scorched rock.
Maki frowned.
"Where's the Prison Realm?"
"And… where's Gojo?"
Panda's voice trembled.
"Don't tell me…"
"Angel accidentally purified him too?"
"Impossible."
Hana shook her head weakly.
"My technique erases cursed techniques and cursed energy."
"Gojo Satoru is neither a curse nor an evil spirit."
"He was merely sealed."
"If the Prison Realm disappeared…"
"…then the seal has been broken."
"But…"
She looked around.
"…where is he?"
Everyone fell silent.
Then suddenly—
Yagami Sora's eyes widened.
"…Wait."
"This might only be the back side of the Prison Realm."
Everyone turned toward him.
"The Prison Realm has two sides."
"The front gate that seals the target…"
"And the back gate that can release them."
During the Shibuya Incident, Gojo had been sealed using the front gate.
Later, Tengen gave them the back gate.
If Angel opened the back gate—
Then Gojo would emerge…
From the front gate's location.
The problem was—
Where was the front gate now?
Meanwhile — The Japan Trench
Depth: 8000 meters beneath the sea.
Absolute darkness.
Unimaginable water pressure crushed the ocean floor.
Here—
Hidden beneath layers of barrier techniques—
Lay the front gate of the Prison Realm.
It had been deliberately placed here by Kenjaku.
Three barrier layers surrounded it.
Countless powerful cursed spirits guarded it.
Even if Gojo escaped—
The ocean pressure alone could crush steel.
Kenjaku had prepared this place as Gojo's grave.
Inside a deep-sea submersible—
Kenjaku stared at the radar screen.
A small red dot pulsed slowly.
The Prison Realm.
"Hehehe…"
A satisfied smile spread across his face.
"Gojo Satoru…"
"Even if you escape the seal…"
"Eight thousand meters of water pressure will finish you."
"And just to be safe…"
He raised a detonator.
"Boom boom boom boom!!!"
Depth charges detonated across the trench.
The seabed collapsed.
Mountains of sediment buried the Prison Realm.
A perfect tomb.
"Goodbye, strongest."
Kenjaku prepared to ascend.
But then—
Something changed.
"Buzz—"
A tremor rippled through the ocean.
Not from the explosions.
Not from an earthquake.
It felt like—
Reality itself had shuddered.
Kenjaku's smile vanished.
He stared at the radar.
The red dot had disappeared.
Then suddenly—
It exploded into a blinding signal.
Growing.
Expanding.
Rapidly.
"Warning! Warning!"
The submarine's alarm screamed.
"Unidentified energy surge detected!"
"Energy level—unmeasurable!"
Kenjaku's pupils shrank.
"…Impossible."
Then—
The seabed ruptured.
A pillar of blue cursed energy erupted upward—
Like a divine sword piercing the ocean.
It blasted through 8000 meters of seawater.
This was not ordinary light.
It was Limitless cursed energy compressed to its absolute limit.
Barriers collapsed instantly.
Cursed spirits disintegrated.
The trench split open.
Kenjaku trembled.
"…He's back."
The man who defined the ceiling of modern jujutsu.
The strongest sorcerer alive.
"Gojo Satoru."
Kenjaku roared in disbelief.
The next second—
The beam swallowed the ocean.
The sea boiled.
A colossal tsunami erupted outward.
As if the world itself were announcing—
The return of the strongest.
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