The night was as dark as ink, deeply saturating Kyoto. In a traditional Japanese house tucked away in a deep alley, far from the bustling townhouses, the lights were dim, seemingly isolating all sounds from the outside world.
Kamo Kenji knelt alone in a dimly lit tea room.
He had changed back into neat casual clothes, but the fatigue lingering between his brows and the trace of lingering fear that couldn't be completely calmed were impossible to hide with clothing.
The scene of the crushing defeat in the group battle, especially the oppressive feeling brought by those cold Vermilion Eyes, repeatedly flashed in his mind.
The phone screen in front of him was lit. The video function was not turned on; only the speaker icon indicated a call was in progress.
The light from the screen reflected on his face, flickering on and off like his current gloomy and uncertain mood.
"So,"
A processed voice, gentle yet unusually steady, betraying neither age nor gender, came from the speaker, breaking the silence of the room. "The first group battle of the exchange event has ended."
Kamo Kenji took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice calm and objective: "Lord Head of the Clan. The group battle... we suffered a crushing defeat. Tokyo School's strength far exceeded expectations."
"Oh? Do tell in detail." The voice on the other end seemed to pique a hint of interest.
Kamo took a deep breath and began his report: "The rules were favorable to us, with added points for elimination, deductions for the special member, and the location broadcast clause. Principal Gakuganji's intention was to use this to restrict Tokyo School, especially Gojo Satoru's operational space, creating more opportunities for confrontation."
"However, the effect was counterproductive."
He paused, a trace of imperceptible bitterness creeping into his voice. "Gojo Satoru's 'Six Eyes' completely ignored the interference of the location broadcast and even turned it against us, making it their tool for hunting us. Geto Suguru's 'Cursed Spirit Manipulation' was extremely efficient at clearing the field. Combined with Gojo Satoru's command, their advancement speed was beyond imagination. As for us..."
He recalled the strikes that surged like a tide yet were as precise as ghosts. "...We were powerless to stop their flat push."
"The main point."
Kenjaku's voice gently prompted, yet carried an unquestionable direction.
Kamo Kenji's heartbeat accelerated slightly. He knew what the other party wanted to hear.
"Yes. The main point is... Mukyoku Nagi."
When he spoke this name, his tone unconsciously became heavier.
"His performance far exceeded expectations."
Kamo organized his words, trying to accurately describe that sense of powerlessness.
"His 'Mukyoku Technique - Resistance Manipulation'... was applied extremely ingeniously, far beyond what the data showed. It wasn't just simple acceleration and deceleration... he could compress the force field to the extreme, forming an absolute 'immobilization' effect ('Congeal'), and even perform ultra-high-speed short-distance movement and direction changes ('Flash'). My 'Shadow Binding' was... almost ineffective before him. He could easily see through the nodes of shadow changes and predict all my attack and defense intentions."
He recalled the kick that nearly shattered his shadow shield, his arm seeming to ache faintly again. "His close-combat ability is extremely strong; his strength, speed, and timing are all impeccable. More crucially..." Kamo's voice lowered even further, carrying deep dread. "It's those 'Vermilion Eyes'."
"In combat, those eyes bring more than just an improvement in dynamic vision. It's as if... they can see through everything. My technique flow, Cursed Energy condensation, even my next attack intention, were all transparent before him. Nishimura Kenta's 'Qi Pulse Manipulation Bullet' couldn't even approach his body before being neutralized by an invisible force field. He... he was like an absolute controller, overlooking the battlefield from a higher dimension."
He finally voiced his most direct feeling. "Facing him, I felt a suffocating sensation... like prey locked onto by a natural predator."
"In the group battle, he alone dominated the flank defense and proactively attacked, easily suppressing me and eliminating several of our members. Gojo Satoru and Geto Suguru didn't even need to share much pressure for him. The tacit understanding between the three of them... can be called terrifying."
Kamo concluded, his tone carrying a dejection he hadn't fully realized himself. "All our tactics and rule advantages were meaningless in the face of their absolute strength."
Silence hung on the other end of the line for a moment, only the faint hiss of electric current audible. After a few seconds, Kenjaku's processed voice sounded again, the tone still gentle but seemingly carrying a few more elusive nuances:
"Absolute strength... is it? 'Vermilion Eyes'... the Curse of Love... indeed can nurture interesting things. Growing faster than expected, and also... more delicious."
Kamo Kenji held his breath, daring not to interrupt.
"Then, Kenji," Kenjaku continued to ask, "after engaging him, what do you think his weakness is?"
Kamo pondered for a moment and answered cautiously: "Based on observations from the group battle... he seems to have no obvious technique weaknesses. If I had to say... perhaps it's what he 'cares about'? Yesterday, when Zenin Ryuichi insulted his deceased mother, he exploded instantly, causing his power to go out of control. In today's battle, although he was calm, whenever an attack tried to bypass him targeting his teammates, especially Ieiri Shoko, his reaction was faster and more forceful. This might... be a breakthrough point."
"The shackles of emotion...? Both the source of strength and the anchor of vulnerability. Very interesting."
Kenjaku chuckled lightly. That laughter sounded exceptionally eerie through the voice changer. "You did well, Kenji. Your observations are valuable. Continue to watch him. The individual battle is a better opportunity for observation. Don't obsess over winning or losing. Seeing him clearly is your mission."
"Yes, Lord Head of the Clan." Kamo bowed his head in response.
"As for Gojo Satoru and Geto Suguru... their strength is within expectations. Truly... enviable youth and power."
Kenjaku's voice seemed to reveal a trace of genuine sentiment, but immediately returned to that steady tone of everything being under control. "Alright, go rest. In the individual battle, continue your 'performance'."
The call ended abruptly.
Kamo Kenji slowly put down the phone. The screen dimmed, and the tea room plunged into complete darkness. He sat alone in the dark, not moving for a long time. Lord Kenjaku's interest in Mukyoku Nagi far exceeded his expectations. It was an attitude mixed with appreciation, inquiry, and a certain... indescribable greed.
He clenched his fist, the numbness in his arm not yet fully subsided. Mukyoku Nagi... those cold Vermilion Eyes surfaced before him again. Weakness? Is it really just emotion? Can that feeling of seeing through everything and absolute control... really be easily exploited?
In the darkness, Kamo Kenji's brows furrowed tightly. The individual battle... he had a premonition that it would absolutely not be an easy fight, neither for his opponent nor for him, burdened with a mission. A heavy pressure quietly permeated his heart.
***
Location: A hidden Japanese-style room somewhere in Kyoto.
Moonlight filtered through the exquisite window lattice, casting cold spots of light on the floor. A figure knelt in the shadows, slowly and methodically brewing tea. The movements were elegant and calm, carrying a sense of precipitation through the years.
This person looked unusually young, his features even handsome, but those eyes were terrifyingly deep, as if sedimented with hundreds of years of time and conspiracy. Most strikingly, on his forehead was an extremely conspicuous scar resembling stitches.
It was Kenjaku. The body he was currently using belonged to a young Jujutsu Sorcerer named "Kurisaka Ni."
The faint sound of boiling water was exceptionally clear in the quiet room. Kenjaku lifted a cup of clear tea, sniffed it lightly at his nose, a playful smile on his face.
"Mukyoku Nagi... 'Curse of Love'? It's getting more and more interesting."
He muttered to himself in a low voice, gentle but carrying an inhuman coldness. "The intelligence Kenji sent is valuable. Resistance manipulation, extraordinary insight, perhaps even prediction touching the 'rule' level... These 'Vermilion Eyes' are more precious than expected."
He took a small sip of tea, his gaze cast toward the endless night sky outside the window.
"The previous mission intelligence 'error' was indeed correct. A little external pressure can make a gem bloom with even more brilliant light. The sudden appearance of the Slit-Mouthed Woman forced out part of his potential just right, and also allowed us to see that amazing reaction... and, that fatal reverse scale."
His smile deepened, as if appreciating a piece of perfect experimental data.
"Gojo Satoru's existence is indeed a huge trouble. But trouble can sometimes become the best catalyst, forcing others to grow faster... or, fall faster."
His eyes flickered slightly, seeming to weigh something.
"Geto Suguru..."
When mentioning this name, Kenjaku's tone carried a trace of indescribable, near-greedy anticipation. "Cursed Spirit Manipulation... that is the perfect key to the new world. His philosophy, his pain, his emptiness... are all fermenting perfectly. Truly looking forward to the mature fruit."
His gaze returned to the present, as if penetrating space and seeing Kamo Kenji far away in Tokyo.
"Kenji is still too cautious. Probing... needs to be a bit more direct."
Kenjaku put down the teacup, his fingertips tapping lightly on the tatami. "The individual battle is a good opportunity. Need to give him a bit more... explicit instruction. Let him touch that 'reverse scale' and see what kind of beautiful light this 'Curse of Love' can erupt with when pushed to the limit... and where it will lead its host?"
"As for Geto Suguru... seeing such a 'dazzling' companion, seeing this insurmountable gap, what will your heart feel?"
A distorted smile of extreme pleasure appeared on Kenjaku's face. "Anxiety? Jealousy? Or... deeper despair? Can't wait to see it."
He stood up slowly and walked to the window, the moonlight illuminating that eerie stitch on his forehead.
"The game has just begun. New variables... often bring the most unexpected fun."
He laughed low, his voice blending into the cold moonlight and disappearing.