The tremor from the deep ocean spread across the entire Japanese archipelago.
Even in Saitama Prefecture's Kiroko Quarry, the ground trembled faintly.
Everyone stood silently.
Although the Prison Realm had vanished—
Satoru Gojo had not appeared.
The silence grew suffocating.
"What's taking so long…?"
Yuji Itadori clenched his fists.
"Did something go wrong?"
"Calm down."
Yagami Sora suddenly raised his head.
His gaze fixed on the distant sky.
Then—
A rare expression appeared in his eyes.
Shock.
And joy.
"…He's coming."
Everyone turned.
Far beyond the horizon—
A blue streak cut across the sky like a meteor.
No.
It wasn't a meteor.
It was a person.
White hair.
Black Jujutsu High uniform.
Blindfold.
"GOJO-SENSEI!!!"
Yuji's voice cracked.
Tears burst from his eyes.
This time—
Not grief.
But overwhelming relief.
"Whoosh—"
The figure stopped in front of them instantly.
No sonic boom.
No wind pressure.
Just… presence.
Like space itself had calmly made room for him.
Gojo Satoru stood there.
His clothes were damp with seawater.
A few strands of seaweed clung to his shoulders.
Yet the moment he appeared—
The oppressive atmosphere of the Culling Game seemed to loosen.
"Yo."
Gojo raised a hand casually.
That familiar teasing smile returned.
"Long time no see."
"Miss me?"
"GOJO-SENSEI!!!"
Yuji and Panda immediately rushed forward.
Yuji grabbed his arm like a lost child finding his parent.
Even normally composed fighters like Yuta Okkotsu and Maki Zenin couldn't hide their emotions.
The strongest had returned.
And with him—
Hope.
"Oh wow."
Gojo laughed.
"Didn't expect such a warm welcome."
He patted Yuji's head.
Then casually glanced around.
"Well… I'd love to chat."
"But first—"
His eyes sharpened.
"…some garbage needs to be taken out."
BOOM!!
A black-and-red slash tore through the sky.
The attack descended straight toward Gojo.
"Watch out!"
Yuji shouted.
But Gojo didn't move.
The slash stopped—
Centimeters from his face.
Frozen in place.
As if space itself refused to let it pass.
This was the Limitless Technique.
The neutral state of Infinity.
An infinite division of space preventing all attacks from reaching him.
"Dismantle."
A cold voice echoed from above.
Descending slowly—
Was Ryomen Sukuna.
Now inhabiting the body of Megumi Fushiguro.
Four eyes.
Calm smile.
Pure malice.
"Gojo Satoru."
Sukuna stared at him with predatory excitement.
"So you finally crawled out of that box."
"I wondered if you'd die in there."
Gojo shrugged.
"That cheap cursed object?"
"Hardly a coffin."
Then his gaze darkened.
"…But you."
"You're wearing my student's body."
"You've got guts."
Sukuna smirked.
"This is simply natural selection."
"The weak perish."
"Even you."
Sukuna vanished.
The next instant—
He appeared behind Gojo.
In his hand was a cursed tool.
Kamutoke
Lightning surged from the weapon.
"Die."
CRACK!!
Thunder exploded.
The weapon swung toward Gojo's head.
Gojo didn't even turn.
He simply raised a finger.
"Too slow."
Tap.
BOOM!!
A violent repulsive force erupted outward.
Cursed Technique Reversal: Red
The shockwave blasted Sukuna backward.
He crashed through a quarry cliff.
The entire mountainside collapsed.
Dust clouds exploded across the battlefield.
From afar—
Yagami Sora watched silently.
His eyes widened.
"…So this is Gojo Satoru."
Even with his own vector abilities—
He could feel the difference.
Not just power.
Precision.
Control.
Absolute dominance over cursed energy.
This was the result of:
Six EyesLimitless Technique
Absolute defense.
Absolute offense.
A perfect sorcerer.
From the rubble—
Sukuna stood.
Unharmed.
His grin widened.
"Hahahaha!"
"Good!"
"Very good!"
"This is the opponent I've been waiting for!"
His hands formed a seal.
"Domain Expansion—"
"Hold on."
A calm voice cut through the battlefield.
Standing at the edge of the quarry—
Was Kenjaku.
Stitches across his forehead.
The body of Suguru Geto.
"Sukuna."
"Remember our agreement."
"This isn't the time."
Sukuna narrowed his eyes.
Kenjaku continued calmly.
"Besides…"
He glanced at the sorcerers behind Gojo.
"You'll destroy half the country if you start here."
"And you're not fully adapted to Megumi's body yet."
Even Sukuna acknowledged the logic.
There were still powerful sorcerers present:
Yagami SoraYuta OkkotsuMaki Zenin
If battle erupted now—
Victory might come with unacceptable cost.
"Tch."
Sukuna withdrew his cursed energy.
He pointed at Gojo.
"Remember this."
"December 24."
"On that day—"
"I will kill you."
"I'll deliver your head as a Christmas gift to that brat Itadori."
Gojo raised an eyebrow.
"Christmas Eve?"
"How romantic."
Then he smiled.
"Sure."
"If you're that eager to die."
"I'll schedule you in."
But then—
His eyes moved to Kenjaku.
To the body of his best friend.
"…Suguru."
He spoke softly.
For a moment—
Kenjaku's body twitched.
A leftover instinct from Suguru Geto.
Kenjaku smiled.
"Long time no see, Gojo."
"Let's hope you survive until then."
Their figures faded into the darkness.
Gojo turned back to his students.
The terrifying aura vanished instantly.
He looked almost like a normal teacher again.
"Sensei…"
Yuji's voice trembled.
"…Megumi."
"I know."
Gojo placed a hand on his head.
"Relax."
"Now that I'm back—"
"Everything will be fine."
"I'll bring Megumi back."
"And I'll clean up the trash."
He looked toward the sky.
Blue eyes shining behind the blindfold.
Then he grinned.
The arrogant smile of the strongest.
"Throughout heaven and earth…"
"I alone am the honored one."
"I am the strongest."
And at that moment—
Everyone felt it.
For the first time since Shibuya—
The sorcerers' dawn had returned.
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