Kenjaku watched with narrowed eyes as a thoroughly deflated Haruta Shigemo shuffled dejectedly through the spatial portal. Kenjaku hadn't lied; he had set the portal's exit coordinate to Tokyo, specifically sending him to attack Jujutsu High.
Of course, previously, Haruta had been nothing more than a pathetic loser. Kenjaku's only expectation of him was to launch a sneak attack if an opening presented itself; simply drawing a fraction of the enemy's attention would have been considered a successful mission. But things were different now. Kenjaku had decided to apply a little pressure and entrust him with a heavier burden. Surely, Haruta would be thrilled, right? After all, hadn't the man just declared himself invincible?
Since he was invincible, he might as well go clash with the truly invincible Satoru Gojo. Kenjaku was very much looking forward to the results of that collision.
"Hmph, am I late? What a shame, I didn't get to see Mahito's Idle Transfiguration in action." A raspy voice suddenly broke the silence. A Cursed Spirit materialized atop the coastal cliff.
With the croaking voice of an old man, a tattered floral kimono, and a head resembling an active volcano, Jogo lumbered slowly down toward the shoreline. He was flanked by two newly arrived Cursed Spirits—one following closely behind, the other resting by his side.
Mahito looked past Kenjaku with keen interest.
The one behind Jogo was a Cursed Spirit with a profoundly bizarre aura. He was deathly pale, his bare upper torso marred by intricate black patterns. These markings pulsed and expanded slowly across his musculature like living branches. Two black lines wept downward from his eye sockets, but from those sockets sprouted not eyes, but wooden branches resembling deer antlers.
His left arm was bound tightly in white cloth, leaving only a muscular right arm exposed, the fingers tapering into ink-black, beast-like claws.
Even as he walked barefoot toward them, Mahito could barely detect his Cursed Energy. When it came to the sheer suppression and concealment of Cursed Energy, he was arguably superior to even the Millennium Curse User, Kenjaku.
"—" The entity vocalized a bizarre sound. Though the words were incomprehensible, their meaning manifested clearly within the minds of everyone present. She was introducing herself.
Hanami. Special Grade Cursed Spirit. A sentient Curse born from humanity's hatred and fear of the forests.
Mahito broke into a wide, welcoming smile, throwing his arms wide open to greet her. No, it wasn't right to call her 'him.' Despite a physical form that leaned toward a grotesque, imposing alien entity, her gentle, almost maternal nature and soft mental voice dictated she be referred to as 'she.'
"Hanami, it's a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for coming. I've been looking forward to this for a long time."
Mahito meant every word of it. To him, Hanami was arguably the most unique Cursed Spirit in this world. Though classified as a Curse, she was far closer in nature to a true nature spirit. She possessed almost none of the overt malice typical of Cursed Spirits.
Every Cursed Spirit was driven by an innate biological imperative to kill. Even Mahito, an anomaly who originated from outside this world, couldn't entirely suppress the inherent urge to cause harm. It went without saying for other Cursed Spirits. To the point where lower-level Curses—beasts driven purely by instinct without a shred of logical thought—could never be compared to sentient Curses like Mahito or Jogo, even if Jujutsu Headquarters slapped a 'Special Grade' label on them.
But Hanami was entirely different. She possessed zero inherent desire to cause harm. Her every thought and action was driven by a single, overriding motive: to protect nature.
The only reason she killed was not out of biological instinct, but rather a cold, rational conclusion: she despised humanity because she believed nature and human civilization could not coexist. To protect the flora and fauna of the planet, humanity had to be eradicated.
This was incredibly fascinating. So absolutely fascinating that Mahito couldn't wait to thoroughly dissect and study her nature!
It was entirely possible that Hanami's very existence could propel Mahito's understanding to an entirely new echelon. He held high expectations for this. In a way, Hanami was a crucial research subject necessary for him to ascend to the next stage of evolution. Naturally, he treated her with the utmost favor.
*Poof—*
As the Cursed Spirit at Jogo's side neared Mahito, he suddenly leaped into the air, landing squarely in Mahito's arms. He stared up at Mahito with massive, unblinking eyes, murmuring something unintelligible.
It was a bizarrely shaped Curse, looking almost pathetic in its weakness. He was no larger than a toddler, wrapped in a white, rounded cloak, with a red, octopus-like face and massive, watery eyes. He constantly babbled softly, though if one listened closely, it sounded more like the wet, rhythmic sound of chewing.
"Dagon, stop doing dangerous things like that. Honestly," Jogo complained.
He was the Curse born from humanity's profound terror of the deep ocean. Like Jogo, Hanami, and Mahito, he was a sentient Special Grade Curse spawned from an oversaturation of negative human emotion.
Mahito's interest in him wasn't quite as fervent as his interest in Hanami, but that didn't mean Dagon lacked research value. On the contrary, Dagon was uniquely special—he was the only Special Grade Cursed Spirit capable of indefinitely maintaining his Cursed Womb state. He would only undergo metamorphosis and mature when he consciously desired to do so.
It was just that, compared to Hanami's ideological purity, Dagon's anomaly was a bit less flashy.
Mahito caught the little creature effortlessly, holding him close. He looked down at the tiny Curse with amusement. It was hard to imagine that something so petite and delicate would eventually undergo a horrific metamorphosis into the curse of the sea. Currently, he hadn't fully matured, and both Jogo and Hanami took meticulous care of him. And now, he had welcomed a new family member—Mahito.
"So you're Dagon. Jogo has told me all about you. It's nice to meet you," Mahito said, his smile radiant.
Jogo shuffled over to stand beside Mahito and Kenjaku. He spared a brief glance at Dagon, who was squirming happily in Mahito's arms, and didn't seem to mind. Turning to Mahito's beaming face, Jogo asked with keen interest, "Judging by your expression, the experiment was a success?"
The experiment Jogo referred to was the enhancement of the Curse User.
Mahito continuously poked at Dagon with his finger, teasing him like a kitten. He was having the time of his life, like a child who had just been handed a fascinating new toy.
He replied casually, "Very successful. Plus, I managed to figure out the answers to quite a few of my questions."
Kenjaku chimed in from the sidelines. "The Curse User I brought in was indeed heavily reinforced by Mahito's technique. While I don't know the exact mathematical multiplier, according to the Curse User himself, he felt he had grown ten times stronger. Though... I highly doubt the amplification was that exaggerated."
Mahito replied coolly, "It certainly wasn't that exaggerated. It was a three-fold increase, at best. And that was only possible because the Curse User in question was exceptionally weak to begin with, allowing for such a massive proportional spike. If I tried that on a Sorcerer who was already powerful, there's no way I could achieve that kind of instantaneous multiplier."
To be precise, Mahito hadn't entirely deciphered the architecture of a *powerful* Jujutsu Sorcerer just yet. The reason he had been able to enhance Junpei Yoshino so drastically was because his modifications on Junpei weren't aimed at turning him into a Sorcerer at all—he had modified Junpei to be closer to a Cursed Spirit.
Since Mahito himself was a Cursed Spirit, he intimately understood how to reshape Junpei's soul in that direction. But Haruta Shigemo was a different story.
Haruta was a pure Jujutsu Sorcerer, and Mahito hadn't wanted to waste such prime material. Therefore, his modifications were aligned with traditional Jujutsu Sorcery—which naturally included amplifying the speed and intensity of the subject's negative emotional output. That was likely the core reason Haruta's ego had inflated so rapidly.
From that perspective, *all* powerful Jujutsu Sorcerers were inherently arrogant, without exception. The only thing keeping their egos in check was the oppressive, looming presence of Satoru Gojo. Every Sorcerer was acutely aware of the insurmountable gap between themselves and Gojo. Thus, they maintained a sense of self-awareness; no matter how arrogant their power made them, they were forced to view themselves rationally in his shadow.
In a way, Satoru Gojo truly acted as the anchor holding the entire Jujutsu world together. It was terrifying to imagine the sheer chaos that would engulf Jujutsu society if Gojo were to suddenly die.
Jogo nodded in admiration. "Still, that's incredibly impressive. I never imagined Idle Transfiguration possessed such terrifying utility. At this rate, when the time comes to wage war on Jujutsu society, even those trash Curse Users will serve as adequate cannon fodder."
Kenjaku narrowed his eyes, his perpetual smile fixed in place. He shook his head slightly. "It's useful... to an extent, yes."
Jogo shot him an irritated glare. "Are you about to bring up Satoru Gojo again? Is that man truly that much of a monster?"
Kenjaku dropped his smile, his expression turning deathly serious.
He slowly swept his gaze across the gathering. Standing before him were:
The manifestation of humanity's terror of the earth. Special Grade, sentient Cursed Spirit: Jogo.
The manifestation of humanity's terror of the forests. Special Grade, sentient Cursed Spirit: Hanami.
The manifestation of humanity's terror of the oceans. Special Grade, sentient Cursed Spirit: Dagon.
And finally, the last piece of the puzzle:
The manifestation of humanity's terror of humans themselves. Special Grade, sentient Cursed Spirit... the entity whose ultimate ambition was to become the shared god of both humans and Curses. The most extraordinary Curse of all: Mahito.
It was no exaggeration to say that if this lineup couldn't overthrow Jujutsu society, then the era guarded by Satoru Gojo would never, ever fall.
Therefore, now was the perfect time.
Kenjaku knew he had to lay his cards on the table—to present his genuine, concrete master plan for the destruction of the Jujutsu world.
Kenjaku slipped his hands into his wide sleeves, his eyes curving into pleasant crescents. "Well then, shall we discuss exactly how we intend to dismantle Jujutsu society?"
That sentence instantly sobered the gathered Curses. Correction: it sobered everyone except little Dagon, who remained utterly unbothered, perfectly content in Mahito's arms, seemingly addicted to Mahito's petting to the point of refusing to get down.
Jogo, the most eager of the group, spoke up first. "Finally ready to talk, are we? Are you implying that all the pieces required to topple the Jujutsu world are finally in place? I knew it—it's because Mahito's abilities have exponentially boosted our combat capabilities, isn't it?"
Kenjaku stroked his chin, smiling as he nodded. "That is certainly a significant factor."
Hanami hummed softly, a mental vibration urging Jogo to show some patience.
Jogo bristled. "Argh, you're always so vague! And Hanami, stop telling me to be patient! I've been incredibly patient!"
Kenjaku chuckled, his slightly closed eyes opening just enough to reveal irises as black as the abyss.
"Then, allow me to make one final confirmation regarding our Binding Vow. While our ultimate endgame goals may differ, our immediate interests are perfectly aligned: the complete dismantling of current Jujutsu society. Until that primary objective is achieved, we are strictly forbidden from betraying one another in any capacity."
Jogo opened his mouth to reply, but out of the corner of his eye, he caught Mahito's deeply contemplative expression. He immediately pivoted. "I defer to Mahito."
Hanami chimed in with a soft hum, indicating she too would follow Mahito's lead.
Dagon just cooed, "Puu, puu," already looking like Mahito's biggest fanboy.
The corners of Kenjaku's mouth twitched downward in a helpless sigh. "Honestly... Mahito-san was the last one to join our little group, yet he appears to be the undisputed king you all rally behind. Ah—forgive me. I should say, our *future God*, shouldn't I?"
Jogo stated flatly, "That's because I've realized how laughably naive my previous ideals were. After hearing Mahito's vision, I recognize my own ideological flaws. Mahito is different. He possesses unparalleled intellect, and his ambition is absolute. I acknowledge his superiority."
Jogo wasn't lying. Prior to meeting Mahito, his sole, burning ambition had been the total eradication of humanity.
Historically, Jogo believed that human existence was built entirely on a foundation of lies and deceit. Any positive emotions or actions displayed on the surface were invariably driven by hidden, selfish motives. Because of this, negative human emotions—hatred, bloodlust, despair—were the only inescapable, undeniable truths. And it was from those pure, unadulterated truths that Cursed Spirits were born.
Following this logic, Jogo concluded that Curses were the true, pure form of humanity. Humans, in contrast, were mere counterfeits—filthy fakes that deserved to be wiped out.
This ideology... well, it was certainly reflective of Jogo's incredibly accurate self-assessment regarding his own lack of maturity. It was a terribly juvenile philosophy, reeking of the kind of edgy 'chuunibyou' phase a middle schooler might go through. It possessed a certain innocent, childish cruelty.
The most glaring logical fallacy in his grand plan—which Jogo himself inherently knew—was that Curses were birthed from human negativity. If he actually succeeded in eradicating humanity, Cursed Spirits would naturally go extinct right alongside them. What future would Curses have then? He would be actively severing his own species at the root.
Before meeting Mahito, Jogo had never once questioned his own dogma. It was only after hearing Mahito's intricately plotted ambitions that Jogo recognized the fatal paradox in his own reasoning. His submission to Mahito had absolutely nothing to do with physical power; it was entirely based on the fact that their intellects were not even in the same stratosphere. Jogo might have been a brute, but he had enough self-awareness to know when to follow the one with the actual brains.
Therefore, he firmly backed Mahito. The fact that Mahito was currently weaker than him in raw combat power didn't bother him in the slightest.
Hanami sighed softly, remaining silent.
Her internal conflict was far more extreme than Jogo's. Unlike Jogo's childish ignorance, her ideology was born from deep, agonizing deliberation. She truly believed that the only way to heal the planet was to excise the human infection. To achieve that, she was fully prepared to sacrifice her own life without a second thought.
If sacrificing herself was all it took to restore the earth's natural balance, she would gladly pay the price. But... if that sacrifice also required the deaths of Jogo, Dagon, and the newly befriended Mahito, she found herself paralyzed by hesitation.
Eradicating humanity meant eradicating Cursed Spirits. If she succeeded in wiping the earth clean of humans, her own family would turn to ash alongside them.
Her unyielding devotion to nature was now violently clashing with her love for her newfound family, leaving her entirely lost on what path to take.
This paradox was precisely why she had rushed over the moment she learned of Mahito's existence. She desperately hoped to borrow Mahito's vast intellect to find a compromise—a perfect solution that satisfied both imperatives.
Or, taking it to a more extreme conclusion: she would assist Mahito in ascending to godhood, and then rely on the omnipotence of a God to solve her impossible dilemma.
As for Dagon...
Well—
He didn't really have any complex thoughts at all.
Sensing the steadfast loyalty radiating from Jogo and Hanami, Kenjaku clearly understood who he actually needed to seal the Binding Vow with. He shifted his piercing gaze squarely onto Mahito.
"Well then, Mahito-san. Do you have any objections or questions regarding the Binding Vow I've proposed?"
Mahito didn't answer immediately. He gently set Dagon down on the ground. Only then did he turn his heterochromatic eyes to stare directly into Kenjaku's face. Kenjaku suddenly remembered—whenever Mahito locked eyes with someone, that person could not lie. Even carefully crafted, manipulative rhetoric would be stripped bare. Those eyes were the absolute bane of any old fox trying to play games.
And right now, those mismatched eyes were boring straight into Kenjaku's soul.
Mahito suddenly asked an entirely unrelated question.
"You've been constantly emphasizing just how obscenely powerful Satoru Gojo is, insisting we need to formulate a complex plan to deal with him. But I have a question. Theoretically, we Cursed Spirits possess limitless lifespans. Humans, on the other hand, no matter how ridiculously powerful they become, cannot extend their natural lifespans unless their Innate Technique specifically allows for it. So, if overturning the Jujutsu world right now is so impossibly difficult because of Satoru Gojo..."
Mahito tilted his head, his tone utterly pragmatic.
"...why don't we just wait for Satoru Gojo to die of old age before making our move?"