"What does this mean?" Mukyoku Nagi's voice sank abruptly, asking word by word. "What do you mean by guarding her safety, then erasing her in the end?"
"It means literally what it says." Yaga didn't explain much.
"Have you finally gone senile?" Gojo Satoru held his chin, looking at Yaga with a gaze sizing up a new creature.
"Maybe because he's already slated to be promoted to principal of Tokyo Jujutsu High next year,"
Geto Suguru added lightly from the side, tone indistinguishable between teasing or sarcasm. "So he's over-excited and started talking nonsense."
He paused, pulling the topic back on track: "In other words, Master Tengen's technique is about to reach a critical point and needs to be 'initialized,' right?"
"Hmm? Tengen? Initialization?" Mukyoku Nagi was confused, turning to ask Gojo Satoru. "What does that mean?"
"I don't know either~" Gojo Satoru spread his hands very straightforwardly, putting on an innocent "Don't ask me, I know nothing" expression.
"Aren't you the young master of the Gojo family, one of the Big Three Families? How come Suguru knows more about the Jujutsu world than you?" Mukyoku Nagi narrowed his eyes and complained sharply; he usually focused more on technique development.
"Shut up~ Is knowing this stuff amazing?" Gojo Satoru puffed up his cheeks like a punctured balloon, turning his head away awkwardly.
"You should know Master Tengen at least." Geto Suguru sighed, looking helplessly at Gojo Satoru.
"Of course I know that. She can be said to be the cornerstone of barrier techniques, maintaining the great barrier covering all of Japan. Also the reason why Assistant Directors can easily cast Curtains and other barrier techniques now. What about it?"
"That's right,"
Yaga took over, voice heavy. "Master Tengen's technique is 'Immortality,' but not eternal youth. If it's just aging, that's not a problem. But when her body ages to a certain extent, her technique will attempt to reconstruct the body, achieving 'Evolution'."
"Evolution?" Mukyoku Nagi keenly caught this word. "Doesn't sound like a bad thing?"
"Yes, although it means transcending the human level and becoming a higher-level life form."
Geto Suguru chimed in to explain, tone devoid of joy. "But according to Master Tengen, once reaching that stage, she herself cannot control the direction of evolution. Simultaneously, the so-called will ceases to exist. At that time, Master Tengen will no longer be the original one. In other words..."
Mukyoku Nagi understood instantly, adding on his own.
"In other words, after evolution, she might not even be certain if she's friend or foe. Moreover, she controls barriers all over Japan. If her evolution pushes her to the opposite side of humanity, that would be an unprecedented catastrophe!"
Everyone looked at Mukyoku Nagi and nodded in affirmation.
Mukyoku Nagi took a deep breath, continuing to question, gaze returning to Yaga:
"Then, what exactly is the Star Plasma Vessel, and merging... what does it have to do with Tengen?"
"The Star Plasma Vessel is the compatible one selected for Master Tengen."
Geto Suguru continued, "Merge with the Star Plasma Vessel every 500 years to rewrite the body's information. As long as the body is renewed, the technique's effect will naturally be thoroughly restored, preventing evolution."
"I see, it's the difference between evolving into MetalGreymon or SkullGreymon." Gojo Satoru looked serious.
Geto Suguru's mouth twitched: "...Uh, although the metaphor is weird, but if you insist... it's not wrong."
"So, Teacher Yaga."
Mukyoku Nagi suddenly spoke again, eyes staring sharply and directly at Yaga Masamichi.
"'Merging'..."
He asked slowly, enunciating every word extremely clearly, as if chewing this word apart. "For the 'Star Plasma Vessel' themselves, this process, their consciousness, their memories, their existence as a 'person'... what exactly is the final outcome?"
"This..."
Yaga's speech showed an obvious pause and hesitation lasting several seconds for the first time. A trace of imperceptible struggle flashed across his rugged face. He subconsciously looked away, fingers tightening unconsciously, daring not to meet Nagi's overly sharp, persistent, even judgmental gaze. The air in the office seemed to solidify.
"I understand, no need to say it."
But no joy or anger could be seen on his face. A cold, thorough understanding and some extremely complex emotion surged deep in his eyes, then was forcibly suppressed. He stopped questioning, as if that silence itself, that slight hesitation, was already the clearest and cruelest answer. The end point of that ritual named "merging" was undoubtedly the complete erasure of individual existence.
"Nagi..."
Unknowingly, Ieiri Shoko had quietly arrived at the classroom door, leaning against the frame, witnessing Nagi's instant emotional change and that forcibly recovered calm. She silently walked behind him, one hand gently resting on his shoulder, silently conveying support. She could feel the instant tension of his shoulder muscles.
Gojo Satoru and Geto Suguru also put away all jokes and teasing, focusing on him with concern. They all felt the surging undercurrent beneath Nagi's calm exterior.
"I'm fine." Mukyoku Nagi didn't turn back, just raised his hand, gently covering the back of Shoko's hand on his shoulder, then continued listening to the mission details.
................................................
Yaga breathed a sigh of relief secretly, but his mood was also heavy. He operated the computer, projecting the intelligence from the screen.
"Anyway, your mission is to ensure the safety of the Star Plasma Vessel—Amanai Riko—from the following two major factions until the merger is complete."
Two organization logos and brief information appeared on the screen.
"First, the Curse User group desiring chaos, attempting to make Master Tengen lose control to overturn the current Jujutsu world order—'Q'."
"Second, the religious group that believes in and fanatically worships Master Tengen's current form, thinking her 'purity' cannot be defiled, thus extremely opposing the merging ritual—Time Vessel Association, 'Star Religious Group'."
Yaga's gaze swept over the four students with different expressions before him, voice resolute:
"This mission concerns the stable foundation of the entire Jujutsu world and even society! Failure is not allowed! Everyone, give me 120,000 percent effort! Understood?"
"Understood." x3 The three responded, but tones and moods were different.
Inside a hidden basement somewhere in Tokyo.
The light was dim, air filled with stale smells and some ominous Cursed Energy residue.
Kenjaku elegantly held a pitch-black vessel covered in strange runes, filled with a viscous substance like concentrated darkness. A playful smile hung on his lips as he chanted ancient incantations in a low voice.
The dark substance in the vessel began to boil and squirm violently, as if something was being bred and reorganized within.
"Go,"
Kenjaku's voice was soft yet full of malice, as if calling a dear pet. "Go join the fun. Go find him... 'Mukyoku Nagi'..."
The darkness in the vessel suddenly soared into the sky, condensing into a vague, massive phantom emitting extreme fear and ominous aura—that form was shockingly identical to the Special Grade Cursed Spirit "An" exorcised by Mukyoku Nagi back then! Only the aura seemed colder, more resentful, as if forcibly pulled back from the abyss of death and infused with new malice!
Special Grade Cursed Spirit "An," with extreme resentment toward a specific person... returns.
It let out a silent roar, then merged into the shadows, disappearing.
The smile on Kenjaku's face widened.
"The stage is set, actors are in place... Let me see what kind of fruit will be borne this time."
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