"When the dragon awakens, the world will tremble—not from fear, but recognition."
—Old Spiral Prophecy, Fragment 13
Jujutsu High – Aftermath Room 03-A
Man, you could slice the silence in here with a cursed knife. Akashi sat slumped in a recovery room, the only light is a lantern humming with talismans—honestly, it looked like someone had stuffed a lightning bug inside a paper bag. His arms? Wrapped up tight in bandages stitched with charms, all cracked and still sparking from that brutal Domain Expansion. Even now, his skin buzzed with leftover cursed energy, like static that you can't shake.
Gojo lounged by the wall, casual as ever. "You slept for two days?" he said, like he was talking about the weather.
Akashi blinked at him. "Still dreaming. Or maybe just… remembering."
Gojo's eyes narrowed behind that ridiculous blindfold. "She said your name before she faded, you know. You caught that?"
Akashi just nodded. "I Saw her. Caged up, but still her."
Gojo's voice dropped a little—rare for him. " The Spiral Warden's gone, but those cult freaks? Not even close to done. That throne was just a pit stop."
"They were trying to wake something," Akashi said, voice rough. "I stopped it. Barely."
"So now what?" Akashi asked, already knowing the answer would be trouble.
Gojo's grin went razor-sharp. He nudged his blindfold down, eyes glinting. "Now, my friend, it's time to we go deeper."
The Karmic Depths — Entrance Portal
Beneath Jujutsu High's oldest building—way down, where even the rats probably need a permit There sat a floor sealed tighter than a bank vault. Obsidian slabs, carved with kanji that basically said, "No posers allowed. Only the truth gets in."
Gojo slapped his hand on the seal. "Time to face what's really riding your soul. This is where all the skeletons come out—karmic baggage and all."
Akashi didn't bother with a reply. He just followed. The Portal swung open like it'd been waiting for them all along.
Within the Depths
You Ever felt like your guts just got yanked through a blender? That's about what it was a space and memory warping, everything melting from shapes into feelings. Akashi landed on black sand, sky above is a mess of blood-red spirals and ghostly white orbs, floating like the world's creepiest mobile. Every orb is a forgotten soul flickering in and out.
Gojo appeared, unfazed as always. "This is it. Consciousness, raw and ugly. Everything you ever did or your ancestors, for that matter is screaming for attention."
Akashi's blood ran cold. Standing before him: hundreds of faceless figures. Some looked human. Some dragonish. All with those hypnotic spiral eyes.
Then one stepped forward.
It was him. Except not.
The Mirror of the Spiral
The double spoke, voice like shattered glass. "This is what you could've been. The dragon king they wanted. All power, no heart."
The Scales are black as oil, eyes are like eclipses. The Chains snaked around its wrists, every link engraved with the names Akashi would bleed for Nobara, Yuji, Megumi, even Gojo.
"They tried to make you a god of destruction," it hissed. "Too bad...Tch.. love screwed up everything."
Akashi didn't flinch. "Look, I'm not here to kill you. I'm here to own you."
"What?"
"You're my pain. My baggage. My mom's ghost. The Spiral's curse."
He reached out, hand pressed against the thing's chest. "But I pick my own path. As a Protector, not as a weapon.And i will Never be your puppet."
The copy shuddered, then bursts into golden threads, sinking into Akashi's core. The sky glitched, crimson spirals flickering.
Gojo let out a low whistle. "Damn. That was poetic."
New Technique Unlocked – Dragonsoul Infusion
Back in the real world, Akashi felt it instantly. His cursed energy snapped into focus—clean, sharp, finally free.
[New Passive Skill Unlocked]: Dragonsoul Infusion
He could channel the emotions of his bonds with rage, grief, even love that will boosting his instincts. Sometimes pain's a better teacher than any sensei.
Gojo tossed his shades back on. "Look at you. All grown up."
Akashi grinned, a little wild. "Nah, I'm just getting started."
Elsewhere — Spiral Cult Remnant Site
Under a dead tree, a guy in robes sat with ink swirling up his arms, watching Akashi through a bone mirror. Creepy, right?
"So he passed the Karmic Gate. Figures."
A woman's voice, burning blue. "Not the dragon king they wanted. Maybe it's worse—a storm they can't control."
He shrugged. "Let it come. Second Codex is ready."
Behind them, an ancient coffin throbbed with cursed energy. Because, of course it did.
Now we're at Akashi's Dorm Balcony
Nobara propped herself against the railing, eyes on the stars. Akashi stood next to her, still feeling the aftershocks.
"You really went through hell again, huh?" she teased.
"Yeah. Still crawling out, but… I'm not alone."
She smirked. "Better not be."
He glanced over, grateful. "Thanks for waiting."
Nobara snorted. "Wait? Please. I was busy kicking my ass myself you know.."
They stood together, shoulder to shoulder, silent but steady.
Now the dragon inside Akashi is curled up. Finally, at peace,for now....