Chapter 159 – The Prologue
Tokyo, Shinjuku.
Figures appeared on the rooftop of a high-rise building, overlooking the city twinkling with neon lights.
The cool night wind rustled, and the deep night seemed to be plotting something. The sky was pitch black with not a speck of starlight, even the moon hidden behind the clouds.
One could sense the endless hustle and bustle of this city that never sleeps, as the breeze carried whispers of revelry.
Kano夏油杰 continued to wear his traditional five-colored robe, his hair tied up in a bun, his half-closed eyes flickering with enigmatic light, always scheming.
“Are you all clear on the plan?” He asked gently. “Your primary task is to delay time. The barrier won’t hold off Satoru Gojo for long. Once the curtain breaks through, we’ll retreat.”
“Hanao isn’t here to save you. If there’s any casualties here, it would affect the subsequent plans significantly.”
“Hmph, I don’t need you to tell me that,” sneered a one-eyed cursed spirit with a volcano-like head, since surviving Satoru Gojo before, Ragou understood his gap with that monster.
“However, other jujutsu sorcerers are another matter.” Its face twisted into a menacing smile, as if responding to its mood, fiery plumes erupted from the volcano crater atop its head, and scorching steam burst out from both sides.
“Don’t underestimate and get killed. There’s an unknown jujutsu sorcerer too. It might be stronger than you.” Kano advised kindly.
“If so, let this guy try. It’ll either kill me or turn him into ashes!”
Ragou clenched his fist, as though he had taken over the city below.
“Go ahead then, just don’t cause me trouble,” said Kano helplessly as he shook his head and made an incantation, whispering “Born from darkness, darker than dark, cleanse all filth.”
Immediately, a translucent liquid-like curtain emerged above Shinjuku, rapidly spreading out to envelop the entire area.
Next came another curtain slowly descending within the first one.
Effect of the first barrier: ordinary humans inside cannot leave the barrier boundary.
Effect of the second barrier: everyone can enter freely but at the cost of Satoru Gojo unable to enter the curtain.
“So, let’s begin.” He spread his arms and his lips curled into a smug smile, “Our hundred spirits’ night.”
—
Behind Kano夏油杰, dark curtains spread in the air, sending ripples. One cursed spirit after another eagerly emerged from those ripples, dispersing in all directions, spreading despair and fear.
The first target was the brightly-lit company office building beneath Kano’s feet.
Not long after, screams pierced the air, and crimson blood splattered against the glass wall. The lights began flickering ominously.
Employees working late became the first offerings of this hundred spirits’ night.
Cursed spirits poured out continuously from the black ripples until Kano夏油杰 finally halted his technique and stopped releasing more.
After all, some were kept for defense.
“That done, let’s split up.” A man in a five-colored robe moved closer to a lifeless cursed spirit, “Hanao, let’s go.”
Suddenly, thick roots burst through the ground, wrapping around the pair, who sank gradually out of sight.
Only a whisper faded away in the wind, “If the plan succeeds, Summer Oil must feel happy, eh…”
After Kano夏油杰 and Hanao left, Ragou turned to address the gathered cursed sorcerers, “No rules, no plans. Just kill whoever you want.”
“What about you?” asked Nigorou, a bald cursed sorcerer wearing an octopus mask.
“I’ll wait for the jujutsu sorcerers to come so I can take them out one by one,” its eyes flashed dangerously before disappearing before the others.
Beside it, a foolishly cute octopus head cursed spirit lumbered slowly down.
Special-grade cursed spirits left; only cursed sorcerers remained.
“Since that’s the case, the run-of-the-mill aren’t worth my work,” Nigorou declared proudly. “What I crave most is the spine of Satoru Gojo!”
But not all cursed sorcerers were as reckless; there were also down-to-earth ones. For instance, the pony-tailed blond teen found excitement in casually hunting humans.
They departed in quick succession.
“Grandma, shall we go?” an elderly woman, leaning on a cane, slowly left, followed by her grandson—a gaunt man like he overdosed.
—
Dismissal, then become a jujutsu master:
Tōkyō Metropolitan Jujutsu High School.
On the winding stone steps of a hillside, Ijichi Kiyotaka was sprinting with his phone vibrating non-stop.
He despised these stone steps like never before. Even now, they felt endlessly long.
New calls kept coming, but Kiyotaka had no time to answer.
He knew these calls were about the sudden giant curtain appearing in Shinjuku.
Kiyotaka rushed towards school, carrying the message.
“Darn it, how come Satoru’s call didn’t go through, and I cannot reach Headmaster Yaegasi either!”
The earnest office worker rushed up the steep steps, then slowed down breathing heavily.
“Oh, isn’t that Mr. Ijichi?” a cheerful voice suddenly rang in Kiyotaka’s ears, like sweet music.
Spotting Yuuji and Junpei, Yuuji asked, “Yuuji and Junpei are heading to class. What’s up, Kiyotaka? So tired?”
“I’m, I’m running to meet Headmaster Yaegasi. Got urgent news.” Kiyotaka gasped.
“Want me to come along?” Yuuji offered.
“Eh?” Kiyotaka paused.
“Take your time, Junpei. I’ll catch up.”
So, Yuuji greeted Junpei and went to Kiyotaka, hoisting him onto his back.
As the wind swept past and snapped him back to awareness, Yuuji was already sprinting with Kiyotaka across the hall.
“What’s happening!?”
Fushiguro, walking out from his dorm, collided into the door, which bounced back and bruised his head. Red-faced, he peeked out in dismay, “What the…”
“Sorry Fushiguro, emergency!”
Yuuji had already dashed, leaving only his silhouette and a delayed apology.
Fushiguro frowned deeply, puzzled. He saw Ijichi on Yuuji’s back?
“Something wrong?”
Despite carrying an adult, Yuuji maintained calmness with a surprising strength, unlike Kiyotaka struggling visibly.
“The window spotted a large unreported curtain falling over Shinjuku. Likely cursed activity,” Ijichi explained.
“How bad!” Yuuji exclaimed, then added, “I’ll quicken my pace, hold onto me, Ijichi!”
Yuuji’s speed increased abruptly, colliding through like a cannon into Headmaster Yaegashi’s office.
Surrounded by dolls, Yaegashi was startled when Yujiju and Ijichi barged in, a needle pricking his finger.
“Gah…Yuuji, knock next time,” Yaegashi, wearing shades indoors, tried to stay composed.
“Emergency, Mr. Headmaster,” Ijichi reported, “Shinjuku has a large unreported curtain, affecting the whole area. Windows are cut off, uncertain about the situation.”
“Shit!”
Yaegashi stood up hastily, “Why weren’t we informed sooner!? Recalling the terror attacks in Shinjuku…”
“Your phone wouldn’t connect to Gojo’s either.”
“Sorry, a mistake.”
Yaegashi’s composure collapsed, glancing around until finding his phone under a doll heap.
“Is it just Shinjuku? Kyoto unaffected?”
“No.”
“Then deploy everyone. Send Gojo first, contact Kyoto Institute for backup! This excuses none.”
“Also, summon冥冥and the special-grade, they should help. We can discuss compensation.”
“I’ll stay to prevent enemy diversion.”
After calming down, Yaegashi efficiently issued orders, calling Gojo.
“I understand,” nodded Ijichi, asking next, “How do students react?”
“First year…” Yaegashi started but was cut off by Yuuji, “I will go.”
“Unaware, we’d have no choice, but knowing now, I can’t sit by. Watching while students and teachers fight.”
The bulky man fell silent and nodded, “All out!”
Pink-haired boy grinned, punching his palm, “Ye-ah!”
Call with Gojo connected finally, “Principal? Trouble again?”
“Not limited, Shinjuku attacked as well,” Yaegashi replied gravely.
“Much like Kaoru’s incident.”
“—” On the other end, silence, followed by a weary response, “Kaoru’s dead, known to you.”
“Not by Kaoru…Students join regardless, safer with you.”
“Got it, arriving now,” Gojo replied, “Ijichi reaching out was indeed urgent.”
With that, the call ended.
Ijichi and Yuuji’s faces twitched slightly.
—
Dismissal, then become a jujutsu master:
——
