Raging flames erupted into the sky as columns of fire soared upward, accompanied by rolling waves of lava that surged across the forest floor. The trees and land sizzled under the intense heat, gradually turning black and crumbling into ash.
The sky seemed to rain fire. Magma and flame surged toward James, and even from a distance, the sheer heat was suffocating.
Yet James's expression remained calm. Everything felt painfully slow to him, as if the entire attack were happening in slow motion. He could've dodged every bit of it easily.
But he didn't bother.
Using his fingers as blades, James casually slashed through the oncoming inferno. With a loud boom, a straight path tore open in the sea of flames. The fire on either side crackled and hissed, but not a single ember touched him.
Walking calmly through the blaze, James strolled as if on a garden path. His robes didn't even catch a spark.
Louhu, hiding within the flames, stared in disbelief. Still, his hands didn't stop weaving seals. He transformed magma into multiple shapes, trying to ensnare James, but each attack was effortlessly dispelled.
Should I use Domain Expansion?
Louhu hesitated. If he activated his domain, James would almost certainly respond with his own.
And based on Nozomi's calculations—and his own—the chance of surviving James's domain was exactly zero percent.
Even his escape technique wouldn't trigger fast enough.
So it's not time yet. Just stall... make him bored or impatient… then we'll change tactics.
Suddenly—
"Found you."
The voice came from directly behind.
Sweat poured down Louhu's face. His body froze.
When did he get behind me?!
"I'm going to get a little more serious now," James said softly. "So I don't accidentally kill you."
Though his tone was calm, an overwhelming force filled the air. Black lightning crackled around him, warping the space. Tiny black scorch marks appeared on Louhu's skin.
He's too fast. I can't dodge it—!
James's right fist drew back. Dense cursed energy swirled around it, compressing into something thick, twisted. Crackling black lightning danced around his knuckles.
Let's not overdo it. Just a Black Flash… maybe add one broken bone.
Louhu screamed in his heart.
Nope! This is not okay!!
BOOM!
A sonic boom tore the air apart! The sheer force distorted space itself. Air particles burst into fragments. Louhu was engulfed in a terrifying wave of death.
Am I about to explode?!
This was no metaphor.
This was literal annihilation.
Noose—save me!
The emergency spell kicked in at the last second. A white light flared, and most of Louhu's body vanished, teleported away. But even so, the remaining portion of his body was instantly shattered by the shockwave.
SMASH!!!
Everything in front of James's punch was obliterated. Forest, rocks, earth—flattened.
The shockwave carved out a crater hundreds of meters wide before crashing into the edge of the black barrier and causing it to tremble violently.
Waves rippled along its surface. The barrier groaned under the pressure.
Far away, Luosuo coughed blood again. His face was pale as a sheet. Nearby, Louhu, half his body gone, was silently healing his wounds.
James glanced at his smoking fist, flexed his fingers, and sighed.
"As I thought… swords are faster. I still prefer kendo."
---
The massive disturbance drew everyone's attention.
Okkotsu Yūta, in the middle of his fight with the grinning Cursed Spirit, looked toward the sky, startled by the shuddering barrier above.
His opponent instantly understood—Louhu had lost.
Time to retreat.
Licking his lips, the Cursed Spirit chuckled.
"Little boy, we'll meet again."
Yūta smiled gently, raising his long sword.
"You're not going anywhere."
"Hmph. You still want to—"
Yūta raised his left hand, forming a hand seal. Cold light filled his eyes.
The Cursed Spirit's grin froze.
Yūta spoke softly, clearly:
"Domain Expansion."
---
Farther away, Tōdō Aoi, Itadori Yuji, and Nishimiya Momo were still hammering Hanamiya with wave after wave of attacks. From time to time, Tōdō would clap his hands, and Hanamiya would be swapped right in front of Itadori—
BOOM!
—who would unleash a deadly Black Flash against the Cursed Spirit's armored body. Dust and fragments flew into the air.
Itadori's talent for hand-to-hand combat was monstrous. After learning the trick to Black Flash from Gojo Satoru, he quickly mastered it—though he still couldn't maintain it consistently.
Gojo had once said, "If anyone can push Black Flash beyond the edge of human limits, it's either Yūta or Yuji."
James, upon hearing that, smiled and said:
"In that case, I'll adopt both as my disciples."
In the sky, Nishimiya Momo unleashed sweeping gusts and wind blades, disrupting Hanamiya's techniques. Hit high, hit low—they kept hammering away.
Hanamiya was growing frustrated. Several Black Flashes had weakened her considerably. She was tempted to use Domain Expansion...
But if I activate it and fail to kill them instantly…
And if another sorcerer arrives before I can dismantle the spell…
She hesitated.
Then—
BOOM.
The black barrier in the distance shook violently again, followed by a massive shockwave that bent the air.
What now?!
Before Hanamiya could move, her body froze.
Behind Itadori and Tōdō, a tall figure appeared—his ice-blue eyes and long black hair unmistakable.
James.
Hanamiya's face turned pale.
Without hesitation, she crushed a white charm in her hand.
In a flash of white light, she vanished.
James didn't chase.
There was no point.
They would meet again—and such a convenient ability definitely had side effects. In the world of Jujutsu, everything sought balance.
Power always came with cost.
Jujutsu Kaisen—Jujutsu Reversal, Curse and Consequence.
---
"James-sama!!"
Nishimiya Momo screamed from above, her voice full of delight. She leapt from her broom and landed beside him, her eyes shimmering.
Itadori and Tōdō, now realizing how close James had been, broke into cold sweat.
He had approached them without making a sound.
Is this the strongest Jujutsu sorcerer in history?
Were we too weak to even perceive his presence?
Inside Itadori's body, Sukuna's eyes opened wide.
Even he hadn't seen James move.
Impossible. Though Sukuna's powers weren't fully restored, his senses were sharp.
Could it be true…? Had another King of Curses appeared—and been defeated?
---
A rumble echoed from the distant battlefield. The fight wasn't over yet.
"That's right!" Itadori snapped his fingers. "We need to find Megumi and Kugisaki!"
He tugged on Tōdō's arm and started running. Staying near James made him feel far too exposed.
It was as if those piercing eyes could read every hidden part of him.
James lifted Nishimiya Momo with his left hand. She squealed with joy—and promptly fainted.
James-sama picked me up!!
I'll never change my outfit again. Ever.
In a few quick flashes, James vanished.
When he reappeared, he was carrying a very confused Itadori in his right hand.
"Wait—huh?!"
"You're coming with me for special training," James said, his tone matter-of-fact.
Gojo Satoru had bargained for this, offering his most cherished limited-edition dessert as a bribe.
James didn't even like sweets.
But watching Gojo suffer made it worth it.
"Huh? Why didn't anyone tell me this!?" Itadori shouted.
Nearby, Nishimiya Momo had just regained consciousness.
She turned to him with envy and whispered, "Idiot."
Not far away, the battlefield where Yūta was fighting had finally gone quiet.
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