December 10.
Two weeks remained until the final battle.
Deep within the forest behind Tokyo Jujutsu High.
The winter wind moved softly through the trees.
Sitting quietly on a rock was Yuta Okkotsu.
His eyes were closed in silent concentration.
Floating beside him was a large, pale cursed spirit.
Rika Orimoto.
But this was no longer the original vengeful spirit.
After the events of Jujutsu Kaisen 0, the real Rika had passed on.
What remained now was a shikigami-like manifestation created through Yuta's cursed technique—an external storage vessel that held cursed tools, techniques, and immense cursed energy.
Still…
To Yuta, she was irreplaceable.
"Yuta…"
Rika's voice echoed gently.
"I'm here."
Yuta opened his eyes and softly patted her head.
A faint smile appeared on his usually calm face.
"Ready?"
A familiar voice sounded from above.
On the branch of a tall tree stood Satoru Gojo.
In his hand—
A bag of Kikufuku sweets.
He casually took a bite.
Yuta stood up.
His gentle demeanor disappeared.
What remained was a sorcerer preparing for war.
"Yes."
Gojo smiled lazily.
"Good."
"Show me the results of your training."
Yuta inhaled slowly.
Then formed a seal.
"Cursed Technique: Copy."
BOOM.
A surge of cursed energy erupted around him.
But this wasn't reinforcement.
It was replication.
Above the forest—
A massive cursed spirit appeared.
A grotesque cockroach-like monster.
Gojo raised an eyebrow.
"That's…"
Kurourushi.
The special-grade cursed spirit Yuta defeated in the Sendai Colony.
"Technique — Festering Life Sword."
A blade formed from swarming cursed insects.
Disgusting.
But deadly.
Gojo chuckled.
"Not bad."
Yuta switched hand seals.
"Granite Blast."
BOOM!
A massive beam of condensed cursed energy erupted into the sky.
The attack belonged to Ryu Ishigori, the sorcerer with the highest cursed energy output in history.
Even without Ishigori's original efficiency—
Yuta's enormous cursed energy reserves made the blast devastating.
The beam tore through the clouds.
Gojo whistled.
"That one hurts."
Yuta formed another seal.
"Sky Manipulation."
The technique of Takako Uro.
The space in front of him distorted.
The sky itself seemed to bend like fabric.
Gojo tossed the bag of Kikufuku toward him.
The moment it reached the distorted space—
It twisted.
And bounced back.
Gojo caught it again.
"Nice."
"You've mastered the basics."
Yuta took another deep breath.
His expression became serious.
Because the next technique was extremely difficult.
"Technique… Angel."
A blinding light erupted.
Six wings of radiant energy unfolded behind him.
The forest glowed as if bathed in divine sunlight.
This was the technique of Hana Kurusu.
Jacob's Ladder.
A technique capable of erasing cursed techniques and purifying cursed spirits.
Because Yuta was not the Angel's vessel, the output was limited.
But even a partial manifestation was terrifying.
Gojo's eyebrows rose.
"…Wow."
"That one's impressive."
The light faded.
Yuta slowly withdrew the wings.
He was breathing slightly heavier.
"This technique consumes too much cursed energy."
"And I can only maintain it for five minutes."
Gojo rubbed his chin.
"Five minutes?"
He smiled.
"That's plenty."
"For a fight with Sukuna…"
"Five minutes is enough to decide everything."
Then he pointed at the ring on Yuta's finger.
"When Rika fully manifests…"
"Your cursed energy becomes virtually unlimited."
"Combine that with copied techniques…"
Gojo laughed.
"Even Sukuna would think twice before taking your attack head-on."
Yuta remained silent for a moment.
Then spoke quietly.
"There's one more."
His eyes turned slightly complicated.
Because this technique came from someone important.
Toge Inumaki.
"Cursed Speech."
Yuta pulled out a large megaphone.
A special cursed tool designed to amplify Inumaki's technique.
Even though Inumaki had lost an arm during the Shibuya Incident—
His power remained formidable.
"If necessary…"
Yuta said quietly.
"I'll use this."
"Even if it destroys my throat…"
"I'll stop Sukuna."
Gojo nodded slowly.
"I like that determination."
Then he placed a hand on Yuta's shoulder.
"But remember something."
"You're not fighting alone."
"There's Maki."
"There's Panda."
"There's Inumaki."
"And…"
His eyes gleamed.
"There's Yagami Sora."
"Still hiding somewhere training like a lunatic."
Gojo laughed.
"We're a team."
"And when we fight together?"
"Nothing is impossible."
Yuta clenched his fist.
His resolve hardened.
To protect his friends.
To protect the world they fought for.
Even if the enemy was the King of Curses—
He would not retreat.
The God of Pure Love had finished preparing.
Now…
He simply waited.
For the day of battle.
When he would show Ryomen Sukuna—
Just how powerful love could be.
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