Shibuya was burning.
Concrete had shattered. Glass was scattered across the streets. Cursed energy made the air feel heavy. Distant screams echoed, yet at the center of the battlefield there was an unnatural silence.
Standing in that silence was Satoru Gojo.
White hair. Black coat. Eyes that could see everything.
In front of him stood Ryomen Sukuna.
Mahoraga's wheel rotated slowly. Each turn felt like a countdown.
Sukuna was smiling.
He did not look confident.
He looked certain.
Gojo spoke with light sarcasm,
"Is the adaptation complete, or is this still a demo?"
The wheel clicked.
Mahoraga moved.
A slash.
Infinity slowed it, like it always did.
Like it always would.
But this time, the slash did not stop.
Like water finding its way through stone, it slipped through the gap in Infinity.
A thin red line appeared across Gojo's torso.
Blood scattered into the air.
Gojo stepped back.
Shock appeared on his face for a single second.
Only one.
Infinity had been breached.
Sukuna stepped forward.
"You didn't understand, Gojo Satoru,"
he said calmly,
"Adaptation takes time. But it never stops."
Gojo immediately activated Reverse Cursed Technique.
The wound began to close.
But his Six Eyes had already calculated it.
Mahoraga had understood the concept of Infinity.
The next exchange was brutal.
Teleport.
Counter.
Clash.
Every movement was precise. Every strike lethal.
For the first time, Gojo looked defensive.
This was not a fight he controlled.
This was a fight where he reacted.
He decided to initiate Domain Expansion.
But Sukuna was faster.
Two slashes at once.
One at Infinity's structure.
One at timing.
Infinity flickered.
Like a blinking light.
In that fraction of a second,
Sukuna's slash connected.
Deep. Clean. Decisive.
Gojo's body fell.
The sound dulled.
As if the world's volume had been lowered.
Sukuna stood over him.
"The strongest," he said quietly.
"That was a title. Not the truth."
The final slash came down.
Everything went dark.
No pain.
No sound.
No time.
Only empty darkness.
Then a blue light flashed.
Like a screen turning on.
Text appeared in the air.
Strongest Sorcerer Detected
Result: Defeat
Gojo's voice echoed in the void,
"Am I alive?"
A new line appeared.
Cause of Defeat: Inefficiency
Gojo replied with irritation,
"Inefficiency? That's a new insult."
The text shifted.
Reattempt Available
Compatibility: 98%
Archive System Initializing
A neutral voice spoke.
Emotionless. Mechanical. Ancient.
You did not lose due to lack of power.
You lost due to a flawed path.
Gojo stayed silent.
Then asked,
"What are you? A cursed technique? A barrier? An illusion?"
I am the record of those who failed to become perfect.
The silence grew heavy.
Do you wish to correct your fate?
Gojo answered without hesitation,
"Yes."
Consent registered.
The world shattered.
Like cracking glass.
Gojo opened his eyes.
Shibuya Station.
People were running. Curses were present. Everything familiar.
It took him one second to recognize the timeline.
"Shibuya…?" he murmured.
Geto stood nearby.
The same calm smile.
The same trap.
Gojo looked at his hands.
No wounds.
Perfect condition.
Blue text appeared again.
Current Point: Shibuya Incident
Objective: Survive Sealing
Reward: Archive Access
Gojo laughed.
"So it's a time rewind."
Geto called out,
"Satoru."
The Prison Realm opened.
Darkness spread.
This time, Gojo did not resist.
He was observing.
The cube pulled him inside.
Complete darkness.
Then slowly, a white space revealed itself.
Endless. Silent. Boundless.
Gojo took a step. His echo rang out.
Welcome to the Archive.
Sealing is not punishment.
It is preparation.
Multiple doors appeared.
One opened.
Cursed energy poured out.
Familiar.
Jogo.
Hanami.
Choso.
Their eyes were blank.
Like memories, not living beings.
Simulation Start
Gojo cracked his fingers.
This time, his smile was different.
There was confidence.
But also curiosity.
"Second round," he said.
Cursed energy surged around him.
And the Archive began its first lesson.