(Pov Satoshi)
After the Goodwill event ended things went back to normal at the school. I spent my time training the students and occasionally taking on some of the tougher missions. It was during that December, though, when we got a strange message from Jujutsu Headquarters. Ever since Riko had refused to merge with Tengen, they had been looking for a new Star Plasma Vessel, though they had not seen any success until now. They had received word of a new Star Plasma Vessel that had emerged and was willing to merge with Tengen.
It wasn't impossible that the reason why a new one didn't appear in the original story was that Toji killed her, and his Heavenly Restriction put him outside of fate, meaning he could kill the vessel, and a new one wouldn't be formed, unlike if she had been killed by a sorcerer, or like this time, refused. Something similar had happened when Yuki refused, and Riko became the new vessel. Now there was another vessel, and it seems they knew about the world of Jujutsu, as they had relayed to Tengen and the headquarters that she wished to be escorted by Yuta and me.
So it was in late December that we went out to find and bring the new vessel back to Tengen. She was staying in a compound out near Sendai. She was from a small Jujutsu clan who were all too happy to help, based on what had been shared with us. Thankfully, this time there wasn't a crazy religious group trying to kill the vessel, so this should be smooth sailing.
I was, of course, wrong, as on the way to the compound, we came under attack by curse users. It seems there was yet another bounty this time, though none of them knew where the vessel was, or else they would have gone right there, but they knew that we knew and went after us. This was a mistake.
We had been driving along on the road up to Sendai in a forested area when the attack happened. A giant wall suddenly appeared in front of the car. I only barely managed to get around it before totaling the car, but after that, at least a dozen curse users poured out of the woods around us. They came at us in a group, half going for me and the other half targeting Yuta. I wasted no time in engaging the enemy, rushing forward with my speed to catch them off guard before slamming the closest one into the ground. I then went to work disabling the remaining curse users. I didn't feel the need to use any cursed tools, given how average these guys were.
In short order, my part of the battle was ending with the ones sent after me either dead or about to be, while Yuta had managed to do quite well holding his own, and a few of his opponents were dead as well. I quickly joined him, and with my help, the remaining curse users were defeated with little issue. Unfortunately, none of them were in a state to answer questions about who sent them and why, but if we could just get the vessel back, it wouldn't matter. So once we finished up, it was time to get moving again, and before long, we had made it to Sendai with no other issues.
Once we arrived in the city, we met up with a representative of the clan who agreed to show us the way to the main compound and to the Star Plasma Vessel. As we moved through the city, I felt something was off about this situation. The whole process seemed too easy. Sure, we had been attacked, but only twelve random guys and no other follow-ups? Something wasn't adding up, and this feeling grew once we arrived at the clan estate.
It was like the whole place was deserted, but I could still notice the clan members hiding inside, who seemed to be watching us. I couldn't let it show I was on to whatever was happening, though not until I knew what it even was, so I kept following our guide until he led us to a large warehouse-type building away from the main clan area. Once inside we were told the vessel would come out soon and then the guide left and closed the door behind him.
Not long after, I heard footsteps making their way towards us, and wanting to be prepared, I brought out the inventory curse. Soon after, a young woman approached from the other side of the room, having entered through a large door, and what I saw confirmed my worst nightmare.
As the girl looked up and at us, there were stitches across her forehead. "Yuta, get behind me and don't engage." I said, pulling out Playful Cloud.
"Gojo-Sensei, what's wrong? Isn't that the person we were supposed to meet?" he asked.
"Not anymore," and with that, I began to approach as well, readying my weapon.
"Oh my, it seems you've noticed something, then I suppose that was to be expected from you, Gojo Satoshi with your Heavenly Restriction." The girl said in a creepy voice. "Now, why don't you make this easier on all of us and just let me have the boy?" She said, gesturing to Yuta behind me.
"Not a chance!" I yelled and rushed forward, trying to catch them off guard to end the fight, but before I could reach them, I felt an immense pressure on my body like I was being held down by a giant, and before I could take another step, I was on the ground. It was gravity manipulation; there is no doubt now about the enemy.
It was Kenjaku who had taken the body of the Star Plasma Vessel and intentionally lured us out here. He must know how Yuta's technique works and wants to steal it, and I can't move from the gravity. This is the worst-case scenario at this point. Yuta is no match for Kenjaku even without Geto's body.
"YUTA RUN SHE'S AFTER YOU!" I shouted, doing my best to at least get him out of here, but Yuta didn't move.
"Don't worry, boy, this won't hurt much. Just hold still." Kenjaku began to move towards Yuta, and I still couldn't stand the pressure; it was too intense. Then Kenjaku stepped near me as he was making his way to Yuta. I had one chance to stop him, so using all my strength, I moved my hand and grabbed his leg. Suddenly eh fell too, now also being crushed by the gravity from my hand.
"What are you doing? Let go!" He shouted, but I couldn't know this was my chance to change everything. The pressure increased, and it felt like my entire body was about to explode, but still I held on.
"I WON'T LET GO! I KNOW WHO YOU ARE, KENJAKU, AND I SWEAR I'LL KILL YOU HERE AND NOW!" I yelled, using my might to move my other arm and grab his other leg as well.
Now, both of his legs were being crushed by his own gravity. A look of surprise and anger flashed across his face. Then the gravity reversed, and I shot up towards the ceiling, though I still managed to hold on. Then, as suddenly as I had been lifted, I went back down, smashing into the ground at full force.
Yet I still held I knew if I could kill him now, even at the cost of my own life, it would be worth it just to stop his madness.
"I really hate this guy!" Kenjaku seethed, and once again, I went up and down, and each time I could feel another bone break, but I couldn't afford to let go. Soon, even Kenjaku couldn't take it and released the technique, and my body no longer felt like it was being crushed, though it now felt as if it had been crushed already. I could barely move, but Kenjaku's legs weren't looking good either. But it was for nothing as I watched Kenjaku begin healing his legs. It was slow due to the amount of damage, but it was only a matter of time.
"Gojo-Sensei, hold on!" Yuta yelled, and I saw him run over before delivering a solid punch to Kenjaku, before he could get up, launching him back. "Gojo-Sensei, are you ok?"
"Not really, but you need to run Yuta. This isn't a normal enemy." I managed to get out, though I suddenly felt better, and when I looked, I saw Yuta had placed his hand on my arm, and I could feel the bones in it knitting together again. He had managed not just RCT, but he could output it as well, which was cool. Then he stood and walked toward where Kenjaku landed, not cool.
Then I saw Rika forming behind him. "Yuta, who is that?" She asked in her broken voice. "That's a bad person, Rika," he responded voice calm voice.
"Do you hate her?"
"Yes, I do."
"Then I will hate her as well!"
With that, Yuta put the ring he kept as a necklace on his finger. "Come out, Rika!" Then Rika manifested her entire being, preparing for battle alongside Yuta. "Rika, I promise to give you everything so I need the same back no matter the cost." He said before rushing forward.
The fight was more even than I had anticipated. Kenjaku was still healing from the injuries I inflicted, and he couldn't use his technique so soon after forcefully turning it off. This gave Yuta and Rika the advantage.
Yuta's sword swung, each cut either cutting flesh or close to it, which also forced Kenjaku to continue using RCT on the new injuries. Rika was no slouch either, dealing out heavy damage with her fists, though that wasn't all. Kenjaku had managed to knock Yuta back, only for Yuta to grab a megaphone with the Inumaki snake symbol on it. "Don't Move!" He said into it, and Kenjaku froze in place, allowing Yuta to not just land a hit but a full Black Flash. Kenjaku went flying through the wall of the warehouse, and I lost track of him. Shortly after, I finally passed out.