The Abyss.
Mirai sat on his wooden throne, sipping tea. Kenjaku, healed but naked from the waist down, sat opposite him on a conjured sofa.
"I need your knowledge," Mirai said calmly.
"You possess Barrier Techniques comparable to Master Tengen. I want everything you know about Barriers. Curtains, Domain Amplification, Screening. Everything."
Kenjaku raised an eyebrow. "Is that all?"
"Secondly," Mirai continued. "I want a copy of your research on your latest experimental subject."
"Itadori Yuji."
Kenjaku's eyes narrowed. "You know about him too? You really are well-informed, Ancient One."
"Don't go too far," Kenjaku warned. "I'm not the type to enjoy fighting, but killing a Special Grade isn't impossible for me."
"Don't be nervous," Mirai smiled. "I'm not asking for your soul. Just information."
"And in exchange... you get Suguru Geto's body."
"Fair, isn't it?"
Kenjaku considered it. He needed Geto's Cursed Spirit Manipulation to seal Gojo Satoru. If he refused, he'd have to fight Mirai here, and he might lose.
"Fine," Kenjaku nodded. "But let's add a condition."
"We form an alliance. The goal is to seal Satoru Gojo."
Mirai tapped his fingers on the table, pretending to hesitate.
"Deal."
...
The Surgery.
"Let's sign the Binding Vow," Kenjaku said, extending a hand.
"Not yet," Mirai smirked. "Change bodies first. I prefer dealing with the Monk."
Kenjaku sighed. "You have strange tastes."
He stood over the coffin.
Pop.
Kenjaku grabbed his own head. With a sickening sound, he unscrewed the top of his skull.
Mirai watched with interest as Kenjaku lifted his own brain out of Kaori Itadori's body.
It was a milky-white brain with a mouth and teeth. It looked grotesque.
No Cursed Spirit aura. But not human either, Mirai analyzed with his Mangekyō Sharingan. A cursed mutation? Or something else?
Kenjaku placed his brain into Suguru Geto's empty skull.
Squish.
Cursed Energy flared. The body twitched.
Half an hour later.
Suguru Geto opened his eyes. He sat up in the coffin, stretching his neck. The stitches on his forehead were fresh.
"Ah," Geto (Kenjaku) sighed. "This body is excellent. Much better than the woman's."
He flexed his fingers. "And the Cursed Spirit Manipulation... it's intact."
He checked the body for traps. Mirai watched him silently.
"Don't worry," Mirai said. "I didn't plant a bomb in him. I honor my deals."
"Good," Kenjaku smiled, showing Geto's face. "Let's sign."
They formed a Binding Vow.
Kenjaku gives Mirai Barrier data + Itadori data.
Mirai gives Kenjaku the body.
They form a non-aggression pact until Gojo is sealed.
"Pleasure doing business," Kenjaku said, standing up. "I'll be in touch."
He walked away into the shadows.
Mirai watched him go. His smile vanished.
The seeds are sown.
...
Meanwhile. The Underground (Second Level).
While Mirai was busy, chaos erupted below.
"That guy seems busy upstairs!" Haruta Shigemo giggled, holding his hand-sword. "Is it really okay for us not to run?"
"Shut up and fight!" Juzo Kumiya roared, swinging his hammer.
They were rebelling.
Naobito Zenin blocked Haruta's dagger with his Projection Sorcery. He moved like a blur, slashing at Haruta.
Slash!
Haruta screamed. "It hurts! It hurts!"
But the wound healed instantly. The markings under his eyes faded. Miracles.
"Juzo! Help me! This old man is fast!"
"I'm busy!" Juzo yelled, blocking a wave of earth sent by Zenin Hisashi.
Hisashi, despite having one arm, was holding his own. He slammed his hand on the ground, creating rock spikes.
"Hey!" Juzo shouted at the figure hiding behind him. "Are you gonna help or what?! Do you want to rot here?!"
A short, hunched figure stepped out of the shadows.
"Hang in there," it rasped. "I'm casting a spell!"
Suddenly.
Click-clack.
Footsteps echoed from the stairs.
A burst of light flooded the dark tunnel.
"It's quite lively down here, isn't it?"
A familiar, gentle voice rang out.
Haruta froze. Juzo dropped his hammer. Ogami stopped her chant.
They looked up.
Standing on the stairs, holding a teacup, was Mirai.
He was smiling.
Haruta stared blankly at that smile.
A chill rushed from his heels to the top of his head.
His whole body trembled uncontrollably.
The Devil is back.
....
.....
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