In the center of the reinforced underground war room of Jujutsu High—deep beneath the school's temple ruins—everyone had gathered.
It was the first time since the Shibuya catastrophe that this many top-tier sorcerers stood under the same roof. The atmosphere was dense with tension, trauma, and burning anticipation.
A long rectangular table stretched across the chamber. At its head stood Mei Mei, arms folded, eyes sharp behind her bangs. Beside her, Utahime stood with a tablet loaded with everything Shoko had sent. Ui Ui sat beside her, sipping tea nervously, constantly looking like he didn't belong here—which, arguably, he didn't.
Around the table, one by one:
Itadori Yuji, eyes cold with resolve.
Fushiguro Megumi, composed but exhausted.
Kugisaki Nobara, smirking with one eye bandaged.
Maki Zenin, her arms covered in scar tissue, a blade across her back.
Yuta Okkotsu, calm, observant, yet distant.
Choso, leaning back, arms crossed.
Inumaki Toge, quietly watching, a notebook on hand to communicate.
Aoi Todo, his arm now prosthetic, but his ego larger than ever.
Panda, sitting on the table, casually eating rice crackers.
And lastly, Yuki Tsukumo, leaning against the wall with a cigarette, saying nothing, but clearly listening to everything.
Mei Mei started.
"This isn't about pride. This isn't about honor. This is war. Kenjaku is creating something far worse than Shibuya."
She tapped the screen. A holographic grid lit up showing multiple Japanese prefectures.
"The game will span across cursed zones—barrier zones. We're expecting multiple layers, objectives, traps, and coordinated cursed users. Think of it like… a death match laced with Kenjaku's madness."
Everyone remained quiet.
Utahime stepped forward.
"We've confirmed with Shoko: the winner of this 'game' will face Kenjaku. If we win, we get the key. The key to the Prison Realm."
"And if we lose?" Nobara asked flatly.
"We lose Gojo," Utahime said. "And possibly the world."
Mei Mei resumed, raising a hand.
"Which is why we'll play in duos. No solo acts."
That caused murmurs.
"Why?" Yuta asked. "Some of us are stronger alone."
"This isn't about strength," Mei Mei said. "It's about survivability. Kenjaku thrives in confusion. If you fight alone, you die alone. But if you're paired—if one of you falls—the other can adapt, escape, recover, or retaliate."
"That's actually… clever," Megumi admitted.
"I know," Mei Mei said, with a confident nod.
She pointed to the screen again, where zones began to glow.
"Each of you will choose a partner. The zones will open simultaneously, and the game will begin. We don't know when yet—but it's soon."
"So basically," Panda said with his mouth full, "we're heading into a cursed version of a battle royale."
"No," Yuki chimed in finally, stepping forward. "It's not a battle royale. It's a filter. He wants to see who rises to the top. Because Kenjaku doesn't want survivors—he wants successors. A world shaped by his hand. We have to make sure that world never gets built."
Todo stood and slammed his hand on the table.
"Then let us fight with every ounce of our cursed souls! I, Aoi Todo, shall protect my brother Itadori!"
Yuji groaned. "Stop calling me that."
Mei Mei ignored them.
"You'll decide your pairs within the next 24 hours. Prepare your techniques. Reinforce your minds. Because once this game begins…"
She leaned forward, her eyes sharp.
"…there's no such thing as mercy."
Around the room, they all looked at one another. Some smiled. Some burned with rage. Some simply nodded.
But none were afraid.
Not anymore.