"The gods made monsters to test kings. The monsters made fire to kill them."
— Old Spiral Proverb
Tokyo Jujutsu High — Night
Smoke curled up from what was left of the shopping district. The emergency barriers? They sputtered out, like dying fireflies. Crows just kinda perched up on the wires, eyeballing the wreckage. Creepy as hell.
Akashi stood on the rooftop where he'd stomped the Worm. His uniform was in shreds, flapping around in the wind. His back still throbbed from whatever the hell he'd turned into. Cursed energy buzzing through him—wild, ravenous, like it hadn't decided what it wanted to be yet.
"It wasn't just a test," he muttered. "It was a message."
Footsteps behind him. Nobara, moving slow, bandages everywhere. "The Worm knew you, huh?"
Akashi nodded. "And it wasn't just some rando cultist sending it, either."
She didn't push him for further details. She already knew. That's the thing about her—always two steps ahead.
Kyoto — Spiral Cult Hideout
The Flesh-Priest was on his knees in a nasty circle of bones, clutching this old, half-rotted scroll stained red. Dragonblood, apparently.
"He's passed the final flame," he croaked out. "But he's still uncrowned."
Out of the shadows: someone else, all cloak and menace, cursed energy like broken glass and old royalty.
"Then we crown him in death," the figure said. "Bring out Yoru-no-Kami. The Forgotten Dragon."
The priest went pale. "That thing's been locked up for centuries—"
"Then break the damn seal."
Tokyo Jujutsu High — Headmaster's Briefing Room
Gojo was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, looking like he'd already solved every problem in the room. Blindfold cocked just enough to be smug.
Utahime, Mei Mei, Nanami, Yaga—everyone tense, ready to snap.
"We can't let Akashi run wild again," Nanami said. "His cursed energy is a freaking hazard."
"And strong," Mei Mei chimed in, eyeing the numbers. "Way too strong for a kid."
Yaga grumbled. "If the Spiral cult gets to him first—"
"They won't," Gojo cut in, sharp. "We'll get there first."
"You're gonna train him?" Utahime pressed.
Gojo grinned. "Nope. I'm gonna prep him. Not the same thing."
Akashi's Dorm — Later
Akashi stared at his own reflection. Dragon markings crawled up his arms, scales etched in like weird tattoos. Sometimes his eyes went gold, just for a second.
Nobara sat nearby, cross-legged, cleaning her hammer like it was a therapy.
"You've changed," she said.
"Too fast?"
"No." She looked up, way too serious. "Just... don't ditch me."
Akashi turned, voice barely above a whisper. "Never."
They reached for each other. No words needed. Yeah, it's cheesy—so,sue me if you want heheh...
Somewhere in Siberia
A giant black monolith split open in the frozen wasteland. Ice cracked, something huge clawed its way out—thirty feet tall, wrapped in black armor, horns curling like a demon king's crown.
Yoru-no-Kami. The Forgotten Dragon. The one that almost wiped out the whole Spiral clan.
It cracked its jaw open, voice like the end of the world.
"Crownless… flame…"
Jujutsu High — Next Morning
Gojo strolled alongside Akashi, sunlight catching on the dew. Too peaceful for what was coming.
"So you wanna fight a dragon god?" Gojo asked, like he was talking about the weather.
"Pretty sure I have to."
Gojo actually grinned. "Even better. I brought you a sparring partner."
And from the gates—Toji Fushiguro. Or, okay, the cursed spirit version, thanks to Kenjaku's latest nonsense. Temporary alliance and all that.
Akashi just stared. "You're kidding right."
"Nope," Gojo said. "Get ready to get wrecked."
Meanwhile — In Sukuna's Realm
Sukuna cracked open one eye, watching through a cursed mirror. Saw Akashi's dragon form, the fight, the whole flaming circus.
He smirked. "Another kid trying to play at being a god, huh?"
He stretched, all casual menace.
"Let's see if he lasts long enough to face me."
Final — Nowhere Good
An Old lady kneeling at a cursed altar, mumbling to some shadowy thing behind her.
"The Crownless is here. But his head's still human."
The shadow nodded, slow and cold. "Then break it."
A black blade, sharp as regret, formed out of the dark.Oh shit it's Not a good sign.