"A special grade cursed spirit?"
Seeing the cursed spirit that suddenly appeared on the screen, fighting single-handedly against three from Tokyo and four from Kyoto, Satoru Gojo instinctively wanted to teleport immediately.
He had high expectations for this batch of students from Jujutsu High. Among them, Aoi Todo had already become a Grade 1 sorcerer.
For someone to stand firm under their combined assault, and even push them into a tough battle—only a special grade cursed spirit could do that.
However, this time his teleportation failed.
"Gojo, what are you waiting for?! Hurry up and support the students!"
Iori Utahime, a teacher from Kyoto Jujutsu High, looked extremely anxious.
"You think I don't want to?" Gojo rolled his eyes behind his blindfold. "Something's interfering with my technique. I can't teleport."
"So this special grade cursed spirit has backup?"
Yoshinobu Gakuganji frowned. "Something that can interfere with techniques... could it be a barrier? Their accomplice might be a barrier expert among the curse users?"
"I don't know. But we'll find out soon enough."
Gojo stood up and walked toward the door.
But just as he opened it, someone stopped him.
"I think I've found the cursed spirit's accomplice."
Mei Mei, in charge of monitoring the event with her Black Bird Manipulation technique, focused her attention on one of her crows.
One of the projected screens on the wall enlarged, showing a figure partially hidden under the shade of a tree.
While others were still trying to figure out who it might be, Gojo squinted his eyes.
Having recently had contact with Nightmare, he immediately recognized the figure standing in the shadows—it was the very Nightmare he had struck a deal with.
And his suspicion was quickly confirmed.
Nightmare didn't stay in the shadows for long; she soon stepped into the light and seemed to start talking to Megumi Fushiguro.
"That's Nightmare?!"
As her full figure came into the crow's view, everyone else also recognized who she was.
Their expressions turned grim.
Clearly, in their minds, the appearance of a special grade cursed spirit here had to be Nightmare doing.
And she herself must be the barrier user who cast the interference barrier preventing Gojo from teleporting.
"Why is she here?!"
Yoshinobu Gakuganji's eyes were filled with fear, as if he had seen a true nightmare.
Having been retired for nearly ten years, the newer generation of jujutsu sorcerers might not understand how terrifying this curse user was, but for Gakuganji, who was nearly eighty, he could forget his own name before forgetting the pressure and fear Nightmare once brought to the jujutsu world.
The Big Three families had once organized a large-scale hunting party to eliminate this cancerous existence from the jujutsu world and thereby boost their prestige.
But of all the elite sorcerers sent out—making up nearly all of the Big Three's strength—less than one in ten returned alive.
During that time, the jujutsu world in Japan was at its weakest in nearly a century.
The failed extermination didn't boost the Big Three's reputation at all. Instead, it validated Nightmare terrifying power, cementing her as the only special grade curse user and the most dangerous one of her era.
At that time, Gakuganji had just ascended to the upper ranks. Every time he thought about how, if he had risen just a bit later, he might've been sent into that extermination squad, he felt deeply relieved.
He also vividly remembered the atmosphere back then—how bleak and hopeless it had become.
Many thought Japan's jujutsu world was finished. The remaining sorcerers were unable to deal with the growing number of strong cursed spirits, let alone the curse users that lurked in the shadows. Everyone started giving up.
Fortunately, Nightmare, who only cared about killing and not about sides, while slaughtering countless high-level sorcerers, also exorcised many strong cursed spirits and bold curse users. This eventually restored a delicate balance among the three sides.
After several decades of recovery, the jujutsu world finally regained its strength.
"No, we can't let history repeat itself this time."
As the fear in his eyes turned into determination, Gakuganji picked up a weapon case and said in a deep voice, "Everyone, prepare for battle. Since Nightmare has appeared on our turf, we'll make sure she never leaves."
"Are you kidding me?"
Mei Mei looked up at Gakuganji like he was an idiot. "You want to fight Nightmare? Are you senile? If you want to die, go by yourself. I haven't even spent all my money yet. I'm not dying before I enjoy life."
"Come on now, old man. Your noble sense of duty is quite touching, but Grade 1 sorcerers joining a special grade-level battle? You'd only be a burden."
Gojo waved dismissively, seeming annoyed, and leisurely sat back down. "And besides, trying to keep Nightmare here? Unrealistic. Whether I can beat her or not is one thing. Even if I could, I still wouldn't be able to stop her if she wanted to escape."
Gakuganji wasn't surprised that Gojo thought he could defeat Nightmare.
After all, Nightmare retirement had coincided with Gojo becoming the strongest of the current era. The jujutsu world generally believed Nightmare had retired out of fear of Gojo.
Whether that was true or not, Gojo had no way of knowing.
But there was one thing he did know.
The returning Nightmare was not someone he could deal with.
At least, not until he figured out the principles behind her strange abilities.
He had already realized this during their fight two weeks ago.
However, he hadn't told anyone about that battle.
At the time, the Top Brass had sent Yuji Itadori and the others to the juvenile detention center with the intent of getting rid of them. So there weren't any other jujutsu sorcerers monitoring the mission, and even the surveillance equipment had been disabled.
Thus, no one in the jujutsu world, aside from Yuji Itadori, Megumi Fushiguro, and Kurumi Tokisaki, knew what had really happened back then.
"So you're planning to do nothing?"
Not knowing about that previous fight and thinking Gojo was simply shirking responsibility, Gakuganji glared at him. "Your students and mine are both in danger!"
"Calm down, old man. If you die of high blood pressure here, I'll be the one blamed."
Gojo didn't bother to explain and remained calmly seated, watching the projected screens.
When the special grade cursed spirit appeared, he had intended to go and support the students.
But the moment Nightmare appeared, he decided not to.
Because among everyone present, only he knew—Nightmare wouldn't harm the students, nor would she work with a cursed spirit.
After all, what would be the point?
Nightmare was already strong enough to do whatever she wanted, and no one had the ability to stop her.
Work with a mere special grade cursed spirit?
Would you collaborate with your food?
Of course not.
So, Gojo logically concluded that the reason Nightmare was here wasn't because she was allied with the special grade cursed spirit—but because she was hunting it.
As for whether she might kill the students while she was at it?
Naturally, that was impossible.
She still had a deal with him and was counting on his Six Eyes to help her find Kurumi Tokisaki in the sea of people.
Since she needed something from him, she wouldn't turn hostile—for now.
Of course, that's assuming Kurumi Tokisaki and Nightmare weren't working together.
Thinking of this, Gojo turned to Mei Mei.
"Miss Mei, can you bring up the footage monitoring Tokisaki?"
"Tokisaki area?"
Mei Mei was visibly confused.
There was a special grade cursed spirit and a special grade curse user appearing with Megumi Fushiguro group. That should've been the top priority.
Why shift focus to Tokisaki?
Still, since she was being paid, she didn't ask further questions. Soon, she reconnected with the crow circling above Maki Zenin's team.
"Even if Nightmare appearance here is likely to hunt the special grade cursed spirit... I still feel like things won't be that simple."
Gojo leaned back in his chair, his eyes flicking between the two screens.
"If they really are working together... maybe I can spot some clues during this operation?"
"It's quite lively here. Did I miss something?"
At the same time, Maki Zenin's team, running at full speed, had arrived at the location where everyone had gathered.
Seeing the three boys from their side and the remaining four from the Kyoto team all assembled here, yet surprisingly with no fighting taking place, Maki raised her eyebrows, momentarily unable to grasp the situation.
"Yeah, it is lively."
Panda chuckled bitterly and gestured toward a spot not far away. "Interested in seeing a battle between Special Grades?"
"Special Grade?"
Nobara Kugisaki looked confused.
Why would a fight between Special Grades break out during an exchange event?
However, when she followed everyone's gaze, she finally understood what Panda meant.
"Hey, hey, you guys actually dared to stay and watch?"
Nobara's voice trembled, no longer carrying her usual valiant energy. "Is that... the Nightmare?"
"Yes," Megumi Fushiguro replied calmly. "Where else could we even run to? There might be other Special Grade Cursed Spirits lurking in this forest, or other enemies. It's better to stay put right here."
"Aren't you afraid that once Nightmare finishes that fight, she'll deal with us too?"
"No need for that," Megumi shook his head. "If she wanted to make a move, she would've done it already."
After saying that, he looked toward the only one among the three who had remained silent since they arrived—Kurumi Tokisaki.
As if sensing something was wrong, he turned to look at her trembling body with concern. "Are you alright, Kuru—"
Before he could finish, Kurumi suddenly clamped a hand over his mouth.
Under Megumi surprised gaze, Kurumi raised a finger to her lips and mouthed a few words silently.
"Don't... say... my name."
Interpreting her lip movements, Megumi brows furrowed.
Kurumi Tokisaki didn't want him to say her name?
Why?
Could it be because the Nightmare was here?
But why wouldn't she want Nightmare to know her name?
Come to think of it, ever since Gojo-sensei's battle with Nightmare, he had gone straight to the hospital to visit Kurumi.
And right after returning from the hospital, Kurumi began wearing a mask to hide her appearance.
As if she were trying to avoid someone...
Being a sharp thinker, Megumi quickly connected all the dots in his mind.
"Kurumi... and Nightmare have some kind of relationship?"
The thought shocked Megumi.
Because it was hard for him to imagine that this gentle, kind, and loving girl could have any connection with the most evil Cursed User of the era.
Still, he didn't push for answers and simply nodded slowly to show he understood.
"No! No!"
Hanami's voice suddenly echoed in everyone's mind, interrupting Megumi thoughts.
Bringing their attention back to the Special Grade versus Special Grade battle, the stunned Megumi finally realized—the battle was already over.
Hanami's legs had been struck by flintlock bullets, and without the chance to heal in time, it was now firmly bound by nearly a dozen pale arms that stretched out from the shadows, dragging it down into the darkness.
It tried to resist, attempting to unleash its final trump card, but it was already too late.
Before everyone's eyes, a powerful Special Grade Cursed Spirit was completely devoured.
With Hanami completely gone, the cries of sadness in their minds stopped suddenly.
"Thanks for the meal."
Nightmare chuckled lightly, ending the battle.
Instantly, the rest of the group tensed up.
Unlike Megumi, they didn't understand Nightmare, so they all assumed she would now turn her attention to finishing them off.
Sure enough, Nightmare began walking toward them.
"Congratulations on devouring another Special Grade, Senior Nightmare."
Feeling the growing tension in the air, Megumi forced himself to step forward and smooth things over. "If you hadn't appeared, I'm afraid we wouldn't have been able to handle that Cursed Spirit. Thank you, Senior."
"Don't mention it. Saving you was just incidental."
Nightmare scanned everyone present and smiled. "This batch of newcomers isn't bad. I sincerely look forward to seeing you all grow stronger."
Hearing her encouragement didn't make anyone feel motivated—on the contrary, it sent a chill down their spines.
Was she planning to fatten them up before slaughtering them?
Though the idea was humiliating, they had to admit it brought a sense of relief.
Because whether she was planning to fatten them up or not, at least it meant their lives weren't in immediate danger.
"Well then, I won't disturb you any longer." Nightmare form gradually melted into the shadows. "Hope you all have fun."
"Wait, she's leaving just like that?"
Inside the monitoring room, seeing Nightmare about to leave, Satoru Gojo couldn't sit still anymore.
"That was way too fast—I didn't even get to see anything!"