November 1, 2018.
Tengen boarded the flight bound for the United States. She was draped in a heavy, traditional white shiromuku, the pristine fabric concealing her grotesque, mutated body. An oversized hood shrouded her face, with a veil of pure white silk cascading from the brim. On her feet, she wore white tabi socks and boat-shaped wooden geta sandals.
Satoru Gojo, who had come to see her off, let out a flippant whistle. "If I didn't already know what you looked like under there, that outfit would really leave things to the imagination."
"I will use Barrier Techniques to obscure my true appearance," Tengen replied flatly. "Humans are visual creatures. If I were to expose my true form, I imagine America would lose all reverence for me. They would brand me a monster, plotting every second of the day on how to carve up my flesh and blood. While I am willing to travel to America for Japan's sake, I refuse to become a freak on an American dissection table."
"You think hiding your face with a barrier is going to stop them from treating you like a monster?" Gojo sneered. "Trust me, once you touch down in the States, you'll be homesick for the wonderful captivity the Jujutsu world provided you."
"And that is exactly why I'm tagging along with Tengen," Yuki Tsukumo laughed, standing beside them.
That was correct. After careful deliberation, Yuki Tsukumo had decided to act as Tengen's personal bodyguard.
Just as Gojo had pointed out, whether Tengen arrived looking like a monster or not, she would inevitably be shuttled into an American research facility under some monstrous pretext. While Tengen was a peerless master of Barrier Techniques, her actual combat capabilities were severely lacking. Forget the likes of Satoru Gojo or Ryomen Sukuna—if Yuki fought Tengen head-on, she could easily beat her to a pulp. Offensively, Tengen was nothing special.
To prevent Tengen from being used and discarded, a bodyguard was absolutely essential. The problem was the timing: they were on the verge of a decisive war with the Lord of Cursed Spirits' faction. Siphoning off any combatant to play bodyguard was a massive tactical loss.
Ultimately, Yuki Tsukumo stepped up.
"I'm basically useless now anyway," Yuki admitted frankly. "My soul has been completely dissected by Mahito. Everything in my arsenal is totally ineffective against him. Unlike you or Yuta Okkotsu, I'm just an empty Special Grade title holding dead weight. Rather than wasting rations here, I might as well escort Tengen and see what America has to offer."
There was also a much darker, unspoken thought lingering in Yuki's mind:
If the United States dared to pull any dirty tricks during such a critical period, Yuki wouldn't mind testing out whether the strongest military force on the planet could withstand her fists. Just because she couldn't beat the Lord of Cursed Spirits didn't mean she couldn't beat America, right?
She might be the weakest of the three modern Special Grade Sorcerers, but that was entirely relative.
The weakest Special Grade Sorcerer was still a *Special Grade Sorcerer*! Unless the US government was willing to drop a nuclear bomb on a populated city, Yuki was fully confident she could punch her way through the entire country.
Actually, wait—with Tengen's Sunyata Barrier, even if a nuke *did* drop, she could just casually dip into the barrier's sub-space. As long as she dodged the immediate blast radius, she could rely on her Reverse Cursed Technique to tank the radiation and walk right back out to keep killing. Thinking about it that way, there was absolutely nothing in America to be afraid of!
Yuki's blood pumped with anticipation. "I'm actually hoping America tries to get cute with us. I'd love to see what a so-called 'Superpower' is actually made of!"
Having Tengen as backup was way too damn convenient!
"It seems you've harbored grievances against America for a long time?"
Yuki spat casually on the ground, entirely devoid of her usual grace, and sneered. "As a fully awake Japanese citizen, did you honestly expect me to have a favorable impression of the States?"
"Make sure you don't say that to the President's face!" Gojo burst out laughing.
"Relax, I've spent way more time overseas than domestic. I know how the game is played."
"I'm already getting a headache," Tengen sighed.
Gojo and Yuki laughed simultaneously. Even though the final battle was looming, neither Gojo nor Yuki showed any signs of worrying for the other. On this stage that would decide the fate of humanity, they had both crystallized their resolve. Success or failure, nothing could shake them now.
Tengen's expression grew serious. "Satoru Gojo. Before I leave, I have one final piece of advice for you."
"Let's hear it."
"Do not settle for mutual destruction with the Lord of Cursed Spirits," Tengen said with heavy gravity. "Whether you win or the Lord of Cursed Spirits wins, humanity can accept either outcome. Even if you die in the process, as long as the Lord of Cursed Spirits survives, there won't be a problem... But you absolutely cannot give Sukuna the opportunity to rise from the ashes. He is the *only* one whose victory cannot be permitted."
This was the conclusion Tengen had reached after confirming Kenjaku had resurfaced.
In Tengen's estimation, while Mahito's faction was swarming with Curse Users and Cursed Spirits, Mahito himself was a king who adhered to an ancient, benevolent code. Since Kenjaku had submitted to Mahito, he wouldn't dare pull any stunts—Kenjaku knew how to read the room. As long as an overwhelming pressure kept him in check, he would never betray them. But the moment that pressure vanished, all bets were off.
If either Gojo or Mahito survived the final battle, Kenjaku would simply kneel and beg for his life. But if Gojo and Mahito wiped each other out...
Kenjaku would absolutely resurrect Sukuna. He would crave rivers of blood, joyfully watching as the world was devoured for entertainment. If it was Kenjaku, he would undeniably orchestrate that exact nightmare!
Tengen was utterly convinced of this.
"Kenjaku is that thousand-year-old Curse User parading around in Suguru's body, right?" Gojo asked.
"Correct. That is him."
Gojo reached up and rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly asking, "In other words, as long as I kill Kenjaku and Sukuna first, taking Mahito down with me is perfectly fine?"
Tengen stared deeply at Gojo before replying evenly, "Kenjaku alone is a massive threat, but Yuta Okkotsu can handle him. If you and Mahito can permanently eliminate Sukuna, then mutual destruction is acceptable."
"Hey, Satoru. Don't do anything stupid!" Yuki frowned.
She could perfectly read between the lines. In this deathmatch that would decide the fate of humanity, Gojo was actually planning to sweep all other variables off the board first, just so he could enjoy an unburdened, regret-free brawl with Mahito.
This guy... he was prioritizing his own battle lust over the fate of the human race! And Tengen was actually encouraging him!
"A Jujutsu Sorcerer in their prime is a completely different breed of creature," Tengen waved her hand dismissively. "If Satoru Gojo can eliminate Sukuna ahead of time, then how he fights the Lord of Cursed Spirits is entirely his business. Yuki Tsukumo, you care far too much about 'duty.' That is exactly why you can never reach the true pinnacle of Jujutsu."
Yuki clicked her tongue aggressively.
"You still haven't figured this old hag out?" Gojo pointed rudely at Tengen and roared with laughter. "As long as the fundamental balance of the Jujutsu world remains intact, she couldn't care less if the heavens fall and the earth shatters! Sukuna and Kenjaku are the only bastards capable of permanently breaking that balance, which is why she only cares about them. As long as those two are dealt with, she'll happily swallow whatever ending comes next!"
That perfectly struck the core of Tengen's philosophy, so she offered no rebuttal. She simply waved gracefully at Yuki. "Yuki Tsukumo, it is time for us to depart."
Tengen and Yuki stepped onto the jet bridge toward their private plane. Gojo gave a final wave and turned to walk in the opposite direction.
And then, in that exact moment—
—Across the entirety of Japan, a voice suddenly echoed within the minds of anyone possessing even a shred of Jujutsu talent:
[Hey, hey! This is the Lord of Cursed Spirits, Mahito!]
[Hey, hey! And this is the thousand-year-old Curse User, Kenjaku!]
Gojo's expression instantly warped.
[Starting right now, November 1, 2018, simply by going to sleep, you will automatically become a player in a game personally designed by Kenjaku and myself!] Mahito's voice chirped happily like a lark.
[It was mostly my doing, actually! Reprogramming the Japanese Barrier was exhausting!] Kenjaku complained loudly. [Ah, like I just mentioned, you have to be physically sleeping on Japanese soil for it to work. After all, it's the Japanese Barrier that I modified.]
[You can't just explain it like that, only the hardcore nerds will understand what you're saying!] Mahito scolded.
[Well, only the capable ones have a shot at winning anyway.] Kenjaku chuckled. [We say anyone with Cursed Energy talent can join, but I highly doubt total novices with zero fundamentals will survive for very long.]
[Ah, I mean, I completely agree, but you can't just say that out loud! That's terrible PR for game devs!] Mahito retorted. [Give the casuals a lifeline, otherwise they're going to dox us and send death threats to our families!]
Mahito and Kenjaku simultaneously burst into uproarious laughter, as if that was the funniest joke in the world.
The veins on Gojo's forehead bulged dangerously.
"Those two bastards! Tengen hasn't even boarded the plane yet!"
Gojo immediately spun around. He knew that if Mahito and Kenjaku were brazenly using the Japanese Barrier to broadcast, it meant the entire national barrier system had already been compromised. Just as Tengen had predicted, the moment she stepped away from the Tombs of the Star, Mahito's faction immediately hijacked the system. Yuta Okkotsu and the allied Barrier Sorcerers had failed completely to stall them.
Forget stalling—they hadn't even triggered an early warning! The gap in barrier expertise was so astronomical that Yuta Okkotsu likely hadn't even realized what was happening yet!
Gojo had calculated he could still act while Tengen was boarding. But when he turned back around, the jet bridge was completely empty.
Tengen and Yuki Tsukumo had vanished right out from under his nose!
Gojo violently clicked his tongue.
[Before we get into the rules, I'm sure what everyone cares about most—aside from the winner's prize—is their own personal safety, right?] Kenjaku asked.
[I know this game might sound suspicious and make you hesitate.] Mahito's tone dropped from its previous flippancy into something more serious. [But don't worry. As long as a Sorcerer doesn't get too greedy, participating in this game theoretically won't cause any permanent harm to your real body.]
[Because every single aspect of this game takes place entirely within your dreams!] Kenjaku declared proudly. [Whether you get injured, maimed, or dismembered in the game, it won't affect your physical body in reality—well, aside from the phantom pain and mental trauma, of course.]
[But please pay attention: Death is the exception,] Mahito stated grimly. [Although it happens in a dream, dying in the dream means your soul dies: If you die in the game, you die in real life. Unless—]
[—Unless you buy a respawn with points!] Kenjaku laughed uproariously. [That's right! Even death can be conquered as long as you have enough points! Spoiler alert: this is one of Mahito's special abilities. Even if you die, as long as you die within the Dream Migration, Mahito can record your Cursed Energy Residuals. Whether it's your allies buying you back, or you purchasing an auto-revive beforehand, points can bring you back from the dead!]
It was exactly like a video game. Gojo ground his teeth. If they could even conquer death itself, this dream barrier would become an absolute lawless paradise. Curse Users who had been suppressed by Gojo's very existence, and conservative Sorcerers who had been forced to hide their cruelty, were going to absolutely *love* this!
[Oh, you forgot to mention the Cursed Energy part, Professor Kenjaku!] Mahito added cheerfully. [The entire game runs on the Japanese Barrier system, but sustaining a barrier of this magnitude requires an astronomical circulation of Cursed Energy. And that Cursed Energy will be continuously supplied by all of you talented Sorcerers!]
[To put it simply: Cursed Energy emission! Violent, explosive Cursed Energy emission!] Kenjaku's voice peaked with excitement. [When countless Sorcerers engage in brutal combat within the dream, the Cursed Energy they expend will be absorbed to power the barrier! The fiercer the battle, the faster the energy burns! The stronger the Sorcerer, the larger the output! All of this massive energy will be directly funneled back into keeping the game online. Theoretically, as long as we have enough players fighting hard enough every single day, this barrier will exist for eternity!]
Gojo heard the crisp snap of a finger. Likely Mahito's.
Mahito spoke again: [So, my dear Sorcerers, you don't need to worry about how to farm points. Aside from putting your life on the line, simply refining and expending your Cursed Energy will passively generate points for you. Naturally, the more intense the fight, the faster you farm.]
Gojo remembered his previous candid conversation with Mahito. Mahito had sworn that his ascension ritual would not threaten the structural integrity of the Japanese Barrier.
"So that's how he's playing it," Gojo let out a dark chuckle. "He's right. If everything is contained within a dream space, it won't put any stress on the physical Japanese barriers, and the secrecy of the Jujutsu world remains technically intact... But by announcing it so publicly to anyone with Cursed Energy talent, the existence of Jujutsu can no longer be hidden from the masses!"
[Next up, the second most important detail.] Mahito deliberately lowered his voice for dramatic effect. [What exactly is the grand prize?]
[It's an absolutely mind-blowing reward.] Kenjaku announced with aggressive enthusiasm. [You could say this reward encompasses all of creation! If you can imagine it, we can make it a reality!]
[So what is it?] Mahito prompted.
[It's 'Finite Infinity'!] Kenjaku said with a grin.
[What the hell is 'Finite Infinity'?]
[It is exactly what it sounds like!] Kenjaku laughed heartily. [Are you Sorcerers constantly frustrated that you can't master your Innate Technique? Let this thousand-year-old Curse User personally teach you how to optimize it!]
[Unsatisfied with your innate Cursed Energy talent? Let Mahito personally force your biological evolution!]
[Depressed because you're a blank-slate Sorcerer with no technique? Let Mahito physically engrave a tailored Innate Technique directly into your brain!]
[Dreaming of a specific Cursed Tool? Let the greatest Construction technique user in a millennium forge it specifically for you!]
[Or perhaps you have more mundane desires?]
[Money?]
[Power?]
[Raw strength?]
[We have it all!]
Gojo's heart plummeted. *Dammit!* The Jujutsu world was an undeniable meritocracy built on Social Darwinism. While Gojo's faction of reformists sought fairness, they were overwhelmingly outnumbered. Gojo hadn't been suppressing the Jujutsu world long enough for his ideals to truly take root. As he had noted earlier, Curse Users and traditionalists would already be tempted by a lawless playground to unleash their sadism. Now, the Lord of Cursed Spirits' prize pool was dropping a sledgehammer perfectly onto their most primal desires.
If they had hesitated before, they would now dive in without a second thought.
They didn't even need Gojo to join the game. The massive influx of regular Sorcerers and Curse Users alone would easily sustain the Dream Migration barrier. In fact, if Gojo *refused* to participate, it would benefit Mahito even more. Once Mahito descended upon the world wielding the divine authority of his ascension, even Gojo would have no choice but to submit or die.
Gojo licked his dry lips. "You've really outdone yourself, Mahito."
[Those are all way too boring, Professor Kenjaku.] Mahito complained dramatically. [What if the player is just a normal person? What is the most important thing to a normal human being?]
[Immortality, I suppose.] Kenjaku said with a sly smile. [If someone wishes for immortality, we can grant that too.]
[Would a normal person really want immortality?]
[Even if you don't want it for yourself, you can use the gift of immortality to trade for whatever you actually want.] Kenjaku's voice dripped with implication. [Are you utterly disgusted by modern society, but entirely powerless to change it? Don't worry. Dangling the bait of immortality will make men of absolute power crawl on their knees like dogs and do whatever you command.]
"He's dragging normal human society into this!" Gojo gritted his teeth furiously.
[And so, this is 'Finite Infinity'.] Mahito said with a smile in his voice. [As long as it is something human society is capable of, we can make it happen. Whether you want your manga to be serialized...]
A mangaka drawing at his desk suddenly froze, his pen halting.
[Whether you want justice in the court of law...]
A lawyer sitting blankly on a park bench suddenly sat up straight.
[Whether you want to show the world your true comedic genius...]
A struggling comedian stared into space, stunned.
[Or maybe there's someone you want to find?]
A young girl suddenly remembered the boy who had saved her in the past.
[No matter what your wish is—whether it's pathetic, grandiose, selfish, or utterly selfless. Whether it's a childhood dream, a growing pain, or absolutely anything else. As long as modern society can achieve it, or Jujutsu can manifest it... we will deliver it to you! All you have to do is play our game!]
Mahito's voice climbed higher and higher, eventually reaching the boiling point of magma. He roared:
[Come! Come! COME!]
[Welcome to the Dream Migration!]