As for the sorcerer named Ryuji,
Ryomen Sukuna didn't take him too seriously; in fact, he didn't care about him at all. He didn't see Ryuji as a particularly powerful figure.
But!
"Well then, let's see just how strong this so-called modern powerhouse really is!"
Sukuna had some knowledge of the Six Eyes and the Limitless techniques from the Gojo family.
Though in previous conversations, Sukuna had shown disdain toward Satoru, the strongest sorcerer of the present era, treating him like a mere pest, that was only on the surface.
If he were truly a reckless brute, Sukuna wouldn't have been able to get himself resurrected after a thousand years, occupying a new body.
In the end, they were both seasoned foxes who'd lived through the ages, each trying to outwit the other. And Sukuna knew well that if he were to be fully resurrected, he would inevitably face Satoru.
Better to get a sense of his power now than be caught off guard later.
"Heh!"
Thinking this, Sukuna smirked with a mixture of confidence and contempt. After all, in his mind, he alone would be the one left standing at the end.
"It's starting! It's starting!"
In the clubroom, as soon as the live stream was turned on, the screen was projected onto a large display. Mai's projector was high-quality, so the picture was crisp and clear. At the same time, a lot of people were tuning into this broadcast, including several wealthy backers.
"Hey! Hello, everyone!"
At the beginning of the broadcast, Gojo faced the camera directly, flashing his trademark cynical smile. That was so very "Gojo."
The chat immediately exploded with comments, most of them from young viewers who were hyped up and curious about sorcerers. Gojo, however, paid no mind to these messages, casually waving at the camera.
"I've already explained the different levels of cursed spirits and sorcerers in previous messages, so I won't waste time going over them again!"
He had no intention of covering unnecessary details.
"Now, I'll personally demonstrate how to handle a special-grade cursed spirit!"
Saying that, Gojo handed his phone over to Ijichi, who was there to handle the filming. It wasn't like Satoru could hold his phone and exorcise a Gojo spirit at the same time, though he probably could if he really wanted to.
"No problem, leave it to me, Mr. Gojo!"
Ijichi nodded solemnly, ready to carry out his task. Today, his job was to capture everything on camera. Not everyone could take on missions from Jujutsu High with the same carefree attitude as Gojo.
"Let's go!"
With his hands stuffed in his pockets, Gojo casually walked into the dense forest ahead.
The comments were still relaxed. It was clear most viewers hadn't yet grasped the gravity of what they were about to witness.
"Are all sorcerers this good-looking?"
"He seems so chill! Maybe cursed spirits aren't a big deal."
"Yeah, nothing to be afraid of!"
"How strong could a skinny guy like that really be?"
"So this is the so-called strongest sorcerer? Doesn't look all that impressive!"
People had all kinds of opinions, and naturally, some trolls were throwing shade at Gojo.
If he noticed these remarks, he didn't show it. Hands still in his pockets, he strolled onward, looking completely unbothered by the idea of facing a special-grade cursed spirit.
"So this is the strongest sorcerer?"
Back in the clubroom, Yumiko and the others were all curious about Gojo. After all, they didn't know much about him before this.
"Is he blind?"
Because of his cloth-covered eyes, it was easy to mistake him for a blind man.
"Even if he is, he walks like a regular person!"
"Looks cocky, doesn't he?"
Gojo's swagger, with his head tilted slightly upward as he walked, wasn't something just anyone could pull off. From a distance, he looked more like a yakuza than a sorcerer. It was hard to believe this was the strongest of them all.
"Haha!"
Ryuji chuckled at their curiosity.
"He's not blind. He just has the Six Eyes."
"Six Eyes?"
Other than Nanako and Mimiko, the rest of the group, including Yukino, didn't even know what sorcerers were, let alone what the Six Eyes meant.
"Yup!"
Ryuji confirmed, filling in the gaps while they still had time to chat before the fight started.
"The Six Eyes of the Gojo family! They give a 360-degree field of vision without any blind spots, and everything he sees is instantly analyzed by his brain. That's why he covers his eyes."
The analysis from the Six Eyes is automatic and continuous; he can't turn it off. Whatever the Six Eyes see, the information is immediately processed in his mind.
For instance, if he saw a new sorcerer he'd never encountered before, he could instantly understand their abilities and fighting style.
"And the Six Eyes also allow precise control over cursed energy, which is necessary for his family's Limitless technique. Without the Six Eyes, Limitless would be just an empty skill."
After hearing Ryuji's explanation, the girls finally understood. They were sorcerers themselves now, so they knew that appearance had nothing to do with a sorcerer's strength. Physical build wasn't a factor in power, this wasn't some street brawl where brute strength mattered.
"Oh, by the way, Ryuji, could you copy the Six Eyes technique?"
Mimiko suddenly thought of this and looked over at him. She'd heard about his abilities from Suguru before, and after spending so much time with Ryuji, she knew his skills were somehow related to imitation and copying.
"Who knows?"
Ryuji just smiled in response, offering no clear answer. But sometimes, that kind of answer says a lot without spelling anything out.
"Is that so?"
Understanding Ryuji's meaning, the girls exchanged knowing smiles.
"Of course, Ryuji is the real strongest sorcerer!"
They knew Gojo had to be powerful, but to them, Ryuji was still on a different level.
"We're here!"
In the live stream, Gojo had ventured deeper into the forest. Soon, a large, muscular man appeared on screen.
"Is that the special-grade cursed spirit?"
"Doesn't look much different from a regular person!"
"Yeah, just a bit bigger."
The viewers were confused. Aside from his size, the cursed spirit looked almost human.
Gojo casually explained, "Cursed spirits have evolved. It's not unusual for them to look human."
In the past, cursed spirits would attack without strategy. But as they merged with urban legends, newer cursed spirits started emerging, even those with intelligence at lower levels.
"Hey!"
The cursed spirit, noticing Satoru's approach, didn't immediately attack. Instead, he grinned and waved at Gojo.
"Want to join me in some muscle training?"
With that, he struck a few bodybuilding poses, showing off his impressive physique.
"You want muscles like mine?"
"Nope!"
Gojo responded with a wave, his voice as irritatingly nonchalant as ever.
"Those muscles are kinda gross, honestly!"
"???"
The muscular cursed spirit was taken aback, as if he couldn't believe what he'd just heard.
"Did you just say… disgusting?"
"Yup!"
Gojo spread his hands, speaking in a tone that could only be called infuriatingly casual.
"Don't you think so? If I had muscles like that, I'd probably puke!"
He made a dramatic retching gesture in front of the cursed spirit, which was clearly a provocation.
The air went still, heavy with tension.
"Disgusting, huh?"
"How dare he say muscles are disgusting!"
"Who is this idiot sorcerer?"
Several muscle enthusiasts in the comments flamed Gojo, but he would've ignored them even if he could see them.
The muscular cursed spirit's face twisted in anger.
"Did you just call my muscles disgusting? Unforgivable! Absolutely unforgivable!"
His skin turned red as he shouted, swelling up like an inflating balloon. His body started to expand, and the muscular man transformed into a towering ten-meter-tall creature, a monstrous being covered in bulging muscles.
The live stream chat fell silent, the viewers too shocked to type. They watched in disbelief as the seemingly ordinary man turned into a hulking beast.
"Huh! Showing your true colors, I see," Gojo muttered, unfazed by the transformation. He seemed more amused than surprised, watching the cursed spirit's metamorphosis with interest.
The cursed spirit, now fully transformed, bellowed, "I am a special-grade cursed spirit born from humanity's fear of muscles!"
Strange, unique cursed spirits were becoming more common, like the cursed spirit "Transformer," created from people's fear of cars.
"Any human who dares to insult muscles… will DIE!"
With that roar, he disappeared in a flash. Despite his massive size, the muscle cursed spirit was surprisingly fast, and within a heartbeat, he was right in front of Gojo, throwing a powerful punch.
BOOM!
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
It sounded like thunder crashing down.
The earth cracked and splintered. The force of the muscle curse spirit's attack reverberated outward, shaking the ground for hundreds of meters around. Trees were uprooted, splintering and scattering like matchsticks. Ijichi, who was recording the live broadcast with his phone, quickly retreated to a safe distance. He wasn't a fighter, but after years of working as the go-between for Jujutsu High, he knew better than to stay too close when danger struck.
Despite the chaos, the live stream remained unaffected, the viewers still glued to the unfolding scene.
"What the hell?!"
"Is the sorcerer dead?"
"Is this really a special-grade curse spirit? That can't be real!"
"Damn!"
At first, many viewers thought that even the so-called "special-grade" cursed spirits or sorcerers couldn't be that powerful, that it was all within the realm of human understanding. But now they realized how wrong they were. Just one punch from this creature had caused an explosion that looked like a missile strike. And this was just the beginning.
On screen, Gojo's figure had vanished in the aftermath of the attack. Had he been killed? Of course not.
Suddenly, he reappeared in the camera's view, still with that same mocking smile.
"Now you all should have a pretty good idea of what kind of power a special-grade curse spirit can have!" he announced with a smirk.
Thanks to Gojo's Limitless Technique, the destructive power of the curse spirit's punch couldn't even scratch him. There was no need for him to dodge at all; he had only done so to give the people watching a sense of the curse spirit's power.
"Holy crap! I'm an idiot!"
"Someone tell me how I can become a sorcerer!"
"Look out, he's coming back!"
"Be careful!"
The viewers suddenly noticed the muscle curse spirit's hulking form in the dust cloud behind Gojo. It leaped forward, barreling toward him with terrifying speed.
But Gojo remained nonchalant, glancing back at the live broadcast, as if he hadn't even noticed the monster closing in on him.
"Humans who look down on muscles… go to hell!"
For the muscle curse spirit, there was nothing more insulting than someone underestimating his muscles. With a roar, he threw a massive punch aimed directly at Gojo's head.
Gojo didn't turn around. He didn't even flinch.
Many watching thought he was about to die. But at the last moment, they saw the punch slow down and then… stop—just inches from his head, as if hitting an invisible barrier.
"What… what is this?" someone muttered in awe.
Gojo turned to the camera and explained casually, "This is my ability, the Limitless Technique."
He lifted the cloth covering his eyes, revealing his Six Eyes beneath. "In simple terms, it's the power of stopping. Anything that approaches me slows down until it stops. Essentially, as long as I'm careful, nothing can touch me."
The chat went silent. Despite Gojo's relaxed tone, everyone watching could tell how terrifying this ability was.
"You're amazing, Mr. Gojo!" someone in the Jujutsu High faculty room commented with a chuckle. The others laughed, familiar with Gojo's playful arrogance. They knew he was putting on a bit of a show for the viewers.
Meanwhile, back in the service clubroom, Ryuji suddenly stood up, catching the attention of the girls around him.
"Ryuji, what's up?"
He glanced at them, a slight grin on his face. "That muscle curse spirit… it's pretty powerful. It'd be a waste if it just got killed like this."
Ryuji had only been watching for fun at first. But seeing the muscle curse spirit's strength, he realized it was too rare a feast to pass up. His soul-devouring ability worked best on special-grade curses, and first-grade spirits just didn't have the same effect. Special-grade curses were rare, and it'd be a shame to waste this one.
"Ohhh, got it!" The girls nodded in understanding; they knew Ryuji had the power to consume souls, so they immediately understood his intent.
"You all stay here and keep watching the live stream," Ryuji instructed as he headed out of the room. With the live broadcast ongoing, it wouldn't be hard for him to track down Gojo's location.
The girls didn't protest. They knew they were still beginners and would only hold Ryuji back if they followed. There was no reason to worry anyway; they had complete faith in Ryuji's strength.
Meanwhile, in the live stream:
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
The ground cracked under the muscle curse spirit's feet as he put all his strength into his punch, trying to break through Gojo's barrier. But despite his power, his fist made no progress.
"How is this possible? My muscle strength… is it really so weak?" he growled, unwilling to accept that he couldn't land a single blow.
"Come on, come on! Just a little more!" Gojo teased, grinning like he was enjoying a game. He clapped his hands mockingly, as if cheering the curse spirit on.
The viewers were stunned into silence. They could hardly believe what they were seeing.
"Damn it!" The curse spirit's face contorted in anger. Every taunt from Gojo felt like a slap in the face.
After a moment, Gojo's grin faded slightly. "Alright, this is getting a bit dull."
With a bored sigh, he raised one hand and pointed it at the curse spirit in front of him. "Cursed Technique Reversal: Blue."
A sphere of blue cursed energy materialized in Gojo's hand, then blasted forward, creating an intense gravitational pull that sent the curse spirit flying backward, skidding across the ground and leaving a deep trench in its wake.
"Is that all you've got?" Gojo muttered, sounding almost disappointed. "I was hoping for a bit more of a challenge to show the audience what it's like when a sorcerer exorcises a curse spirit."
The curse spirit rose shakily from the rubble, glaring at Gojo with fury. "How dare you look down on me like this!"
The creature was intelligent enough to realize that Gojo could have killed him at any moment but had chosen not to. This realization only enraged him further.
"Can't help it," Gojo replied with a shrug, pointing to the sky in a grandiose gesture. "You're just too weak!"
The muscle curse spirit fell silent, the insult settling heavily on him. In that silence, the viewers felt the sheer weight of Gojo's power. Wealthy families watching in private rooms grasped the full implications of what they were seeing. Money and influence meant nothing in the face of such power. When it came down to it, even the richest person only had one life.
"Weak…?" The curse spirit murmured, momentarily lost in doubt. Then—
"SHAA!"
He lunged forward with renewed rage, throwing a relentless series of punches. "I'm a special-grade cursed spirit! You have no right to mock me! Die! Die! Die!"
His fists moved so fast they left afterimages, each blow powerful enough to crack the ground beneath them. But Gojo simply stood there, hands in his pockets, watching with a calm, detached expression. None of the attacks broke through the Limitless Technique.
"Damn it! Fine then—if that's how it is, I'll use my Domain!"
The curse spirit, realizing he couldn't land a hit, decided it was time to pull out his ultimate move.
"Oh, right, Domain Expansion!" Gojo said suddenly, as if the idea had only just occurred to him. His nonchalance caused the curse spirit to pause for a split second, thrown off by Gojo's attitude.
Ignoring the curse spirit, Gojo looked directly at the live broadcast. "For those of you watching, a domain is the ultimate form of a sorcerer's technique. It's basically our strongest move, and only a handful of sorcerers can create one. In most cases, the domain's effect is guaranteed, meaning the only way to counter a domain… is with another domain."
As he finished explaining, he turned back to the curse spirit with a smirk. "Alright, let's continue."
"You…" The curse spirit ground his teeth, furious at being treated so dismissively.
Gojo laughed lightly. "If you're not going to make a move, I will!"
He raised his hand, but before the curse spirit could act, Gojo spoke in a calm, commanding tone.
"Domain Expansion – Infinite Void."
With those words, an overwhelming sensation filled the air, and the muscle curse spirit was instantly pulled into Gojo's domain. The Infinite Void bombarded his mind with endless, useless information, rendering him completely immobilized. The curse spirit's brain struggled under the overload, unable to process anything.
Just as he was beginning to regain awareness—
"Cursed Technique Reversal: Red!"
A red sphere of cursed energy shot from Gojo's fingers, slamming into the curse spirit and sending him flying. Though it didn't kill him outright, it left him severely wounded and barely able to move.
Gojo chuckled. "Alright, I think that's enough for today. This is just about as far as we need to go."
The live broadcast was meant to show humanity that sorcerers could handle cursed spirits, that they were safe. But it also served to remind people just how terrifying sorcerers could be. This demonstration would hopefully keep anyone from foolishly trying to mess with them.
With a slight smile, Gojo With a slight smile, Gojo began moving his hands in a precise formation.
"Cursed Technique Reversal: Blue!"
"Cursed Technique Reversal: Red!"
As Gojo's voice resonated, a sphere of blue and red cursed energy formed behind him, swirling with immense power. The two forces slowly began merging, creating a ball of concentrated energy that pulsed with an ominous glow.
He raised his hands, aiming the fused power directly at the muscle curse spirit, who was now a hundred meters away, beaten and struggling to stay upright.
"Hollow Purple!"
The combined energy shot forward with overwhelming force, a spiraling wave of destruction that tore through everything in its path. The sheer intensity of the attack left the entire audience, both in the live stream and in person, completely silent. The blast of energy disintegrated everything in its way, carving a massive trench in the ground, and obliterating the muscle curse spirit completely.
For a long moment, there was nothing but silence as everyone absorbed what they'd just witnessed.
And then, as if it was the simplest thing in the world, Gojo turned to the camera with a small, satisfied grin.
Just then.
"Dissipate."
The cursed energy began to ripple outwards, causing the air itself to tremble.
The residual cursed energy that had been hanging in the atmosphere suddenly vanished without a trace, as if it had never been there.
"Hm?" Gojo raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
At that moment, the muscle curse spirit looked disoriented, clearly terrified by what had just happened.
"!!!"
"What's happening?"
"Where did that energy go?"
"Is this what sorcerers are really capable of?"
In the live chat, viewers who'd previously been skeptical of the whole "sorcerer and curse" business were now buzzing with shock. Despite the cursed energy dissipating, the massive gashes left in the earth made it clear that this power was far beyond anything they had imagined.
Gojo seemed to put the pieces together. A small smirk played on his lips as he looked off into the distance.
"Well, it's been a while… hasn't it, Ryuji-kun?"
It was clear that Gojo wasn't angry about the interruption. In fact, he looked amused, even pleased.
Just as everyone watching was wondering what he meant, Ryuji finally appeared on-screen, stepping into view with a confident grin.
"Long time no see, Gojo," Ryuji greeted, looking directly at him.
The live broadcast room fell silent. Many viewers, whether they knew Ryuji personally or not, couldn't look away.
Ryuji was young astonishingly so and he exuded a calm confidence. The marks on his face, representing the curse mark he used, were starting to fade away.
"You're not here to save that cursed spirit, are you?" Gojo asked, still grinning.
"Of course not," Ryuji replied with a casual shrug. "I'm just… a bit hungry."
The cryptic exchange left most viewers bewildered, as they couldn't understand the context.
The next moment—
"Soul Devouring!"
Chains erupted from Ryuji's hand, lashing out towards the muscle curse spirit. The creature, thinking itself fortunate to have survived, was still trembling in fear. But as soon as the chains ensnared it, its expression shifted to horror.
With no chance to resist, the curse spirit was dragged into a spatial rift, swallowed whole.
"Ahh… much better." Ryuji patted his stomach in satisfaction.
Although he wasn't completely full, the meal was a substantial improvement over consuming first- and second-grade curse spirits, which had hardly sated him at all.
"Wait… did he just EAT a cursed spirit?" one viewer gasped.
"Oh man, this guy's on another level!"
"Hey, wait, I know him! Isn't that Ryuji Hoshino? He goes to my school!"
"Hold up, this dude's still a student?"
"WHAT?!"
Sobu High students in the broadcast chat and even in the hallways were in a frenzy. Some even ran to Ryuji's classroom, peering inside just to confirm it was him. Their classmate—a terrifyingly powerful sorcerer? It was a shock they hadn't anticipated.
"Want to go grab some bubble tea?" Gojo tilted his head, extending the invitation with a casual smile.
There was no hostility between them. In fact, Gojo genuinely enjoyed the company of someone strong enough to challenge him. He'd been the strongest for so long, and the idea of meeting someone on equal footing, or perhaps even stronger, was invigorating. It gave him a reason to keep growing.
"Since when did Jujutsu High have so much free time?" Ryuji smirked, though he didn't decline the offer.
Gojo laughed, "Ah, we can exorcise curses while drinking bubble tea! Multitasking, you know?"
"Sure thing," Ryuji replied, about to accept—
But at that moment—
BOOM! BOOM!
The ground rumbled and started to split open, as if something monstrous was clawing its way out from beneath.
The earth cracked apart, and a cursed spirit resembling a colossal centipede emerged from the rubble, towering over twenty meters tall. Its body, half-buried underground, seemed endless, stretching far beneath the surface.
"Holy crap! Are curses this big now?"
"What… I don't think I can ever leave my house again!"
People who had been light-hearted about the existence of curses before were now terrified, realizing that curses like these could exist in their world. Some even hid in their homes, too frightened to imagine encountering such creatures in real life.
But on the live stream, neither Gojo nor Ryuji showed the slightest sign of panic. Gojo lifted his hand to his forehead, pretending to scan the creature like he was sizing it up.
"What a big one," he commented, amused.
"Yeah, I've never seen a curse spirit this huge before," Ryuji replied, equally unfazed.
"Not just the size—the form too. Guess humans must have a serious fear of centipedes?"
"Seems likely," Ryuji agreed.
The two of them continued discussing the centipede curse spirit, analyzing it with interest as if it were a specimen on display.
"Humans!"
The centipede cursed spirit let out an angry roar, its massive body curling to encircle Ryuji, Gojo, and Ijichi, who was still filming from a distance.
"Uh, um…" Ijichi stammered, gripping the phone with shaking hands. He looked like he was about to lose his balance, but the sight of Gojo nearby helped him steady himself.
He reassured himself, "It'll be fine… as long as Gojo's here, nothing bad will happen."
Gojo turned to Ryuji with a smirk. "So… you want this one, or should I take it?"
Rather than jumping into action, Gojo looked at Ryuji expectantly, fully willing to let him handle it. After all, this was supposed to be Gojo's live broadcast, but he didn't really mind sharing the spotlight. In fact, he was curious to see more of Ryuji's abilities.
"Much as I like a free meal, since you're offering, I'll take it," Ryuji replied, rolling his shoulders and getting ready.
He clasped his hands together in preparation.
"Going for a Domain, huh?" Gojo said, watching calmly, showing no signs of interference.
However, others weren't as calm.
"No… it can't be," murmured Sukuna, who had been watching through Yuji's eyes.
Up until now, Sukuna had been content to stay silent, simply observing the spectacle. But the gesture Ryuji made as he prepared his Domain stunned him, his disbelief clear.
A mouth suddenly appeared on Yuji's cheek as Sukuna spoke, his tone filled with shock.
"!!!"
The unexpected intrusion startled everyone around Yuji, who was immediately flustered.
"S-Sorry! Sorry!" Yuji stammered, pressing his hand over his mouth in an attempt to silence Sukuna. "I don't know why he spoke up!"
The others settled down, though their expressions remained serious. They knew that the King of Curses wouldn't break his silence without a good reason.
"So… what did that thousand-year-old curse just recognize?"
Everyone's Domain techniques were unique, and the hand signs they used to activate them were no exception. For Sukuna to react like this, he must have recognized Ryuji's initial hand signs.
But Sukuna said nothing further, retreating into silence once more, leaving everyone puzzled.
Within Sukuna's inner Domain, where he sat on his throne, his expression shifted from bored indifference to shock.
"No… it can't be. That hand sign, it's for the Malevolent Shrine. But… how could he possibly use that technique? It's impossible!"
He muttered to himself, denial evident in his voice. But in the next moment, the sight before him forced him into stunned silence.
In the live broadcast room, Ryuji's calm, measured voice reached everyone's ears.
"Domain Expansion—Malevolent Shrine."
A hum of energy filled the air, and within seconds, the entire surrounding area was enveloped in Ryuji's Domain.
"An open Domain?"
Gojo looked around, a bit surprised. Most Domains were closed, designed to prevent interference. Even his own Limitless Void was a closed Domain. Open Domains were rare, and in terms of sheer power, they could be more potent than closed ones.
As Ryuji moved his fingers, countless slashes of cursed energy materialized and rained down like lightning strikes, slicing into the massive centipede curse spirit.
"Shwip! Shwip! Shwip!"
Despite its enormous size, the centipede was helpless in the face of Ryuji's onslaught. The relentless strikes left it no chance to retaliate.
"Soul Devouring!"
Ryuji activated his technique, consuming the special-grade curse spirit. As the last remnants of the centipede curse disappeared, he gave a satisfied pat to his stomach.
He smirked, clearly pleased. Two special-grade curse spirits in one day, while it wasn't enough to completely sate him, it was leagues better than feasting on lower-grade curses, which barely had any effect at all.
"Whoa, he's insanely strong!" one viewer exclaimed.
To ordinary people watching, Ryuji's technique looked impressive and flashy. But to sorcerers, it was something much more, a display of raw, overwhelming power.
Before this, they'd only heard about Ryuji through rumors, as a name whispered by those who had seen his abilities firsthand. They knew he was strong, but few had truly grasped what that strength looked like.
Now, though, they understood. And one thing stood out to every sorcerer watching, Ryuji had effortlessly dispelled Gojo's Hollow Purple earlier with just a few words. Even Gojo's strongest technique was nullified in an instant.
In the Jujutsu High conference room, Mei Mei watched the screen with a thoughtful smile, her usual calculating demeanor unaffected. Then she chuckled, amused.
"Looks like the title of 'strongest' might be changing hands soon."
Despite Ryuji not having visited her in recent days, a fact she found mildly disappointing she couldn't help but feel a swell of satisfaction seeing him shine so brightly.
"Ahem! Let's hold off on declaring a new 'strongest' until Gojo gets back," Principal Yaga Masamichi interrupted, clearing his throat to draw everyone's attention. His tone was serious.
After all, regardless of Ryuji's impressive display, Gojo was still a member of Jujutsu High, and the title of "the strongest" was more than just bragging rights, it was a point of pride for the school. Even if Gojo himself probably didn't care about the title, Yaga knew how much it meant for the institution's reputation.
"..."
Mei Mei shrugged, not arguing. She understood Yaga's stance; he was the principal, after all. She wasn't here to pick a fight over titles. Instead, she turned to Nanami, who had been watching the live stream quietly.
"You mentioned before that you've seen Ryuji's Domain. Was it the same one he just used?"
Nanami shook his head. "No. The Domain I saw last time was entirely different from this one. They're definitely separate Domains."
The room went silent as everyone processed this. It was hard enough for a sorcerer to master one Domain. But two?
Nanami continued, "Ryuji's previous Domain had a completely different atmosphere, one filled with bloodlust and menace. This one felt… colder. Like a calculated execution." He frowned, thinking back to the different Domains he'd seen Ryuji display. They were worlds apart in style and purpose.
"Two Domains?" Maki looked incredulous. "That doesn't make any sense. How can a sorcerer use two Domains?"
"Believe me, I'm just as surprised," Nanami replied, nodding. "This is the first time I've ever encountered a sorcerer capable of wielding two Domains. And there's a chance he could have more."
Mei Mei's lips curved into a sly smile, a glint of interest in her eyes. "Now that's something. I'd love to see just how far Ryuji can push his abilities."
Maki and the others exchanged uneasy glances. The concept of a multi-Domain sorcerer was unheard of, something they'd only expect to find in legends or ancient records.
"Is that even possible?" Maki asked, looking to Principal Yaga for some kind of assurance.
Yaga sighed, taking a moment to gather his thoughts. "Based on our analysis… it seems Ryuji's technique, which appears to be some form of copying, allows him to replicate even the abilities within a Domain. It's highly likely he's one of the rare sorcerers capable of wielding multiple Domains."
Everyone in the room went silent, awestruck by the implications.
"...Incredible."
"Salmon!" Toge muttered, nodding in agreement.
Meanwhile, inside Yuji Itadori's mind, Ryomen Sukuna had been listening to the conversation, and his usual smug expression had shifted into one of intrigue.
"Copy, huh?"
Sukuna's curiosity was piqued. The Domain Ryuji had just used—"Malevolent Shrine"—was one that Sukuna himself knew well, a Domain that had belonged solely to him. The realization that Ryuji had somehow copied it sent a chill down his spine, something he hadn't felt in ages.
"When did he get the chance to copy my Domain?" Sukuna murmured, his mind racing. Then it hit him. Could it have happened when he lost those two fingers?
Could it be that Ryuji somehow absorbed the technique by coming into contact with his fingers? It sounded impossible, but Sukuna was a creature of logic as well as pride. When every other possibility had been ruled out, the impossible became truth.
"Well, well… this just got interesting."
For now, Sukuna didn't care about the specifics. All that mattered was that his power, his Domain, had been duplicated and that was something he couldn't ignore.
Through Yuji's eyes, he watched Ryuji in the live broadcast, a dangerous smile spreading across his face.
"So, my two fingers are in your possession, aren't they?" Sukuna whispered to himself. "Fine… keep them for now. I'll just make sure you return them to me… personally."
With that, Sukuna retreated into silence, his mind now wholly fixated on Ryuji.
Back in the forest, Ryuji had no idea that he'd caught the attention of the King of Curses. After finishing off two special-grade curses, he looked visibly pleased, patting his stomach in satisfaction.
"That should do it. I'll be on my way," he said, turning to leave.
"Need a lift?" Gojo offered, hands casually in his pockets. His Limitless Technique could transport people across distances with ease.
Ryuji hesitated for a second, but then shrugged. "Sure, why not?"
Gojo placed a hand on Ryuji's shoulder, grinning. Suddenly, a notification popped up in Ryuji's mind.
"Successfully connected with target: Gojo Satoru. Golden entry available. Would you like to load it?"
"Oh?" Ryuji thought, surprised but pleased. Success on the first try, this was perfect.
In the next instant, Gojo activated his Limitless Technique, and both of them vanished from the spot.
"Uh..."
Ijichi, who was left standing there with the live broadcast still running, stared in confusion, scratching his head as he tried to figure out what to do.
With the main stars of the broadcast gone, there wasn't much point in continuing.
Clearing his throat, he turned back to the camera. "Ahem! Well, that's it for today's live broadcast, folks! As you can see, sorcerers are here to protect you. No matter how terrifying cursed spirits may seem, as long as there are sorcerers like Gojo and Ryuji, humanity has nothing to fear!"
Ending on a positive note, Ijichi quickly shut down the live stream. He didn't exactly feel safe standing around alone, so he hurried off back to the school.
But even though the broadcast was over, discussions among viewers were just beginning.
"Is this what a sorcerer really is?"
For most ordinary viewers, the power of the sorcerers was awe-inspiring. Knowing that such people existed to fight back the horrors lurking in the world made them feel safer. Some were even grateful, realizing how much they'd underestimated the danger that cursed spirits posed.
Yet for others, the live stream awakened a sense of ambition. They wondered, could they too become sorcerers? Could they acquire such power?
Meanwhile, the reaction among more influential viewers, particularly those from wealthy families and conglomerates, was different. They understood that the existence of sorcerers like Ryuji and Gojo could reshape the entire world order. And they weren't about to let this new era pass them by.
Plans were already forming. They were determined to find ways to recruit or ally with sorcerers, understanding that securing such power could mean the difference between survival and obsolescence in the world to come.
Ryuji and Gojo's conversation hadn't lasted long. Beneath his carefree exterior, Gojo was well aware of the struggles within the Jujutsu society and the burdens of his role. Despite his usual light-heartedness, he wasn't a cold-blooded person—if he were, he would have already done away with the corrupt leadership at Jujutsu High.
Before they parted ways, Gojo brought up one last question. "What do you think about… managing things?"
Ryuji could tell Gojo was serious. He'd been searching for someone with the strength and vision to take charge of the Jujutsu world, to shape it into something better. This was why he'd stayed at Jujutsu High as a teacher, to nurture the next generation.
But Ryuji laughed, shaking his head. "If I wanted to manage anything, do you think I'd still be a student?"
He had no interest in the bureaucratic mess that was Jujutsu High. Endless paperwork, constant interruptions—no thanks. Ryuji valued his freedom far too much.
Gojo chuckled. "Yeah, I figured."
"But," Ryuji added, his expression shifting slightly, "I'll keep an eye out for someone who fits the bill. Someone who can handle it."
He had no desire to deal with Jujutsu High's politics himself. But it wouldn't hurt to place that kind of power in the hands of someone he trusted. A plan was already forming in his mind.
Gojo raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "That's fair enough. I'll take whatever help I can get."
With a final wave, Gojo turned and teleported away.
Once Gojo was gone, Ryuji checked the notification still lingering in his mind.
"Golden entry: Domain Expansion – Infinite Void."
"Oh?" Ryuji's eyes sparkled. So he'd managed to copy Gojo's Infinite Void after all.
Even though he already had multiple abilities, adding the Infinite Void to his arsenal was a huge advantage. It was a rare control-type Domain that could overwhelm opponents with an endless flood of information, shutting down their minds. Even someone like Sukuna wouldn't be immune to its effects.
While Sukuna's regeneration might help him recover, in a battle, even a few seconds of paralysis could mean the difference between victory and defeat.
"Load it," Ryuji commanded.
The entry was successfully added to his growing list of abilities.
He opened his status panel, looking over the impressive array of powers he'd accumulated. But despite all these abilities, he rarely needed to use most of them. Still, better to have them on hand than regret their absence later.
Satisfied, Ryuji closed the panel and returned to the service club in a good mood.
Using his spatial displacement ability, Ryuji didn't even need to walk, he simply appeared outside the clubroom door. But the moment he opened the door, he was surprised by the scene inside.
The club was unusually lively today. Besides Rikka and the usual members, even the five Nakano sisters he'd met before were gathered here. At the center of it all was Shizuka, who looked both relieved and slightly exasperated.
The moment she saw Ryuji walk in, Shizuka's face softened. Despite her typically composed demeanor, he could see she'd been worried about him. Seeing him safe and sound put her mind at ease.
"Ryuji-kun! I'm glad you're alright," she said with a sigh of relief.
"As expected of you, Ryuji!" one of the Nakano sisters chimed in, admiration shining in her eyes.
"You're a real hero now!" added another.
"Yeah, that was amazing!"
The room buzzed with excitement as everyone took turns expressing their awe, showering Ryuji with praise. He could tell they'd all seen the live broadcast, and judging by their wide-eyed expressions, they were still processing everything.
Ryuji felt a little overwhelmed by the attention, but he kept his cool, giving them a relaxed smile. With a wave of his hand, he signaled for everyone to settle down.