Yuji Itadori snapped his eyes open. The ceiling filled his vision. He had returned from the Dream Migration.
He lay there in a daze, paralyzed on the bed, savoring the aftertaste of his battle with the old man, Awasaka. This wasn't Yuji's first time fighting with everything on the line. In fact, during the Curse of the Yasohachi Bridge incident, he, Megumi Fushiguro, and Nobara Kugisaki had been attacked by a Curse Womb that evolved into a Special Grade after consuming one of Ryomen Sukuna's fingers.
In that battle, the risk of death had shadowed their every move. Eventually, they triumphed over the Special Grade, but fear, despair, anger, and anxiety had plagued them throughout the fight—right up until the moment Megumi broke through his limits and unleashed an incomplete Domain Expansion to turn the tide.
But this battle was different.
When his Cursed Energy collided with Awasaka's, their fighting spirits ignited simultaneously. They were locked in a duel of life and death, yet their emotions were in perfect sync. Their mental states seemed to fuse into one. Aside from the overflowing murderous intent and the boiling, manic lust for battle, all other emotions vanished.
It was a death match, yes, but it was also pure enjoyment.
It was a supreme bliss, like a wingless mortal suddenly sprouting pristine white wings to soar through the sky, the sun within arm's reach. Though he had only fought this one death match, Yuji Itadori understood completely.
"I see now." The scorching emotion in Yuji's heart spilled from his lips. "So this is the Jujutsu Sorcerer's paradise: Dream Migration."
Yuji sprang from his bed, rushing out the door. His heart was still immersed in the duel, pounding rhythmically against his ribs. Hot blood flowed like magma through his veins, making it impossible for his Cursed Energy to settle down.
The benefits of a death match for a sorcerer's growth were blatantly obvious. As the victor, Yuji could feel that in that short span of time, his strength had increased more than it would have in a week—no, two weeks—of training! And this was despite his strength far exceeding Awasaka's. If he were to meet a truly equal rival and engage in a no-holds-barred death match, Yuji dared not imagine how drastically his strength would spike, or how surging the combat experience would be.
What made Yuji even happier was that although he had killed Awasaka with his own hands, he felt no emotional burden. Because Awasaka would definitely resurrect in the future! Before returning, he had specifically asked Kogane how much resurrection cost. Kogane had answered casually that there were no tiers; the uniform resurrection cost for everyone was 100 points—cheap enough that Yuji felt it was an absurd joke.
And for this death match, the points Yuji received were: 5,000 points! Enough to revive 50 times!
This was just his first fight. As he fought other powerful enemies, his points would only get higher and higher! These points could purchase secret Jujutsu knowledge, powerful Cursed Tools, alter one's Cursed Energy talent, or even embed new Innate Techniques into oneself! Despite only slightly understanding the Dream Migration, despite only participating in one fierce battle, Yuji was completely hooked.
No need to worry about harming innocents, for everyone there was a fanatical gladiator. No need to worry about dying, for resurrection was unbelievably cheap.
No need to worry about living conditions, because points could be directly exchanged for real Japanese currency. According to Kogane, the United States would join in the future, making exchange for US dollars possible too. If one didn't need money, points could be exchanged for real estate, shareholder status in listed companies, or even a seat in the Diet.
The players of the Dream Migration had only one thing to do: find the strong and kill each other!
Aside from that, nothing else mattered. This was indisputably a true paradise for battle maniacs and sorcerers thirsting for strength!
*BANG!* Yuji pushed the door open in excitement. "I'm back!"
"Too loud! And you're back too late!" Mai Zen'in scolded angrily.
They were currently at Tokyo Jujutsu High. After Satoru Gojo heard Mahito's complete declaration of the game, he immediately used the Limitless to return here and summoned all the students and everyone he could find:
Principal: Masamichi Yaga.
Faculty: Atsuya Kusakabe, Shoko Ieiri.
Students: Yuta Okkotsu, Panda, Toge Inumaki, Maki Zen'in, Rice Shower, Megumi Fushiguro, Yuji Itadori, Nobara Kugisaki. And finally, the initiator: Satoru Gojo.
Everyone from Tokyo High was now gathered in this conference room. As for the other staff, they had been dismissed, including the cleaning crew. All trivial matters were now handled by Yaga's Cursed Corpses. From this moment on, Tokyo High was officially a military fortress.
Presumably, Kyoto High was doing the same.
Gojo anticipated this situation would last until Mahito was defeated—or until Gojo died and Mahito ascended to godhood.
"Don't be so impatient, Maki-chan," Gojo laughed. "I know it's frustrating that you can't enter the Dream Migration, but you shouldn't take it out on your juniors."
A vein popped on Maki Zen'in's forehead.
If this were the old Maki, who still possessed a meager amount of Cursed Energy, she would have been judged by the Dream Migration as someone with Jujutsu potential and sucked into the barrier in her sleep. But the current Maki was a bona fide zero-Cursed Energy human. She had prepared fully to welcome the Lord of Cursed Spirits' ascension ritual, even fantasizing about using her Heavenly Tyrant abilities to deliver a fatal assassination blow, avenging the destruction of the Zen'in clan. But now, she was told she couldn't even enter the battlefield?
What utter lack of mercy!
The conflict and irritation in Maki's heart could fill a book on melancholy.
Shoko Ieiri undermined Gojo, smiling, "Don't talk about Maki. Aren't you the same? You gathered so many people, held a secret meeting, and even resolved to kill the Jujutsu Headquarters higher-ups without hesitation if they got in the way. In the end, when this ascension ritual came out, you were dumbfounded too, weren't you?"
Gojo mocked himself, "I really didn't expect the so-called ascension ritual to take this form! I thought Mahito's ritual would be solemn and grave, like a fated tournament ring. The fated ring is indeed set up, but it's in the form of a Battle Royale! This really exceeded all our expectations. We got played."
In everyone's imagination, the ascension ritual should have been as grand as a national carnival. Tengen, in particular, was certain the ritual would affect all of Japan because Tengen knew exactly what kind of terrifying great barrier Kenjaku's Culling Game was designed to be. That was why Gojo hadn't hesitated to call the secret meeting.
Unfortunately, Tengen was wrong—absurdly wrong.
If it were the original timeline, Tengen's judgment would have been accurate. Preparing in advance would indeed have required Gojo to mobilize everyone he trusted. But who could have guessed that the finalized Culling Game would transform into the Dream Migration? Even Tengen couldn't have predicted that.
Yuji looked around and quickly found a seat.
Masamichi Yaga nodded. "Good. Since Yuji has finally arrived, let's begin the summary of this Dream Migration session."
Gojo asked curiously, "Why are you back so late?"
Yuji let out a "Hah!" and grinned. "I got into a fight with an old guy. It took some time."
Panda, sitting next to Yuji, wondered, "Isn't your Cleave technique a one-hit kill? If you sent a Dismantle at an opponent, is there actually someone who can tank it?"
Panda was Yaga's masterpiece, a Cursed Corpse with a soul. Due to his relationship with Yaga, he had sparred with Yuji frequently during the two-month special training period. Panda knew exactly how terrifying the Cleave technique was. If Yuji didn't hold back during sparring, Panda was 100% certain he would be sliced in two in a single encounter.
Possessing such a terrifying technique, Yuji himself was a combat genius, with athletic abilities that were inhuman. Even by the strict judgment of Jujutsu Headquarters, Yuji was a top-tier Grade 1 Sorcerer, perhaps even a Grade 1 capable of handling Special Grade Curses.
It was no exaggeration to say that as long as Yuji grew normally, he would become another Special Grade Sorcerer. How could such a terrifying person be tied down by a random passerby?
Yuji frowned in thought. "The old man was strong. Oh, he said he was a Grade 1 Curse User named Jiro Awasaka."
"Grade 1 Curse User?!" the students exclaimed in unison.
Yuji scratched his head, confused. "Didn't Gojo-sensei say I already have the strength of a Grade 1 Sorcerer? Is fighting a Grade 1 Curse User of the same level really that unbelievable?"
"Curse Users and Cursed Spirits are different!" Megumi said, his voice low. "Curse Users are experts at killing humans. They are far more dangerous than Curses."
"Oh, so that's how it is," Yuji said blankly.
"You didn't understand a word, did you?!" Nobara raged. "Don't give me that indifferent attitude! If you meet that kind of dangerous Curse User in the future, just run! With your physical specs, even a Grade 1 Curse User won't be able to catch you. As for fighting, wait until we group up. We'll help you get revenge!"
Yuji frowned. "But... only by fighting strong enemies can I get points. And even if I die because of it, I can buy a resurrection."
Atsuya Kusakabe spoke coldly, "That is exactly what the Lord of Cursed Spirits expects. He wants every player who enters the Dream Migration to be resurrected by his hand at least once!"
Kusakabe was a middle-aged man. He had a square, righteous face that looked dependable, but his expression was as dispirited as an overworked salaryman. Dressed in a black suit with a long katana placed beside his seat, he possessed no Innate Technique but had reached Grade 1 solely through New Shadow Style swordsmanship. He was the only modern Grade 1 Sorcerer without an Innate Technique.
Yuji's eyes went blank. "What does that mean?"
Gojo spoke slowly. "The cycle of Cursed Energy evaporating within the Great Barrier of Japan is an existence that can be called 'The Heavens.' Generally speaking, when we sorcerers make a Binding Vow, we are swearing it to the Heavens. The atmospheric circulation of Cursed Energy intertwines with our own. When this act is established, those under the Binding Vow can clearly perceive its existence.
"The reason Vows enhance our abilities is that, within this entanglement with the Heavens, the Cursed Energy that would normally only cycle through the atmosphere temporarily merges into our own Cursed Energy. This Cursed Energy bestowed by the Heavens is a universal component capable of fulfilling any of our intentions.
"Of course, Vows between individuals are more complex. If you fail to fulfill the Vow, the Heavenly Cursed Energy restriction will strip away your abilities in other ways. This is because the Heavens incorporate the Cursed Energy cycle between individuals into an even more complex system.
"This is also why only Jujutsu Sorcerers can possess Binding Vows. Ordinary people cannot perceive the existence of Cursed Energy at all. Whether it's the cycle in the atmosphere or the Cursed Energy they emit themselves, ordinary people can't sense it, so naturally, they cannot make Vows.
"Binding Vows are a power exclusive to Jujutsu Sorcerers.
"The so-called ascension ritual is also built upon these Vows.
"When every player in the Dream Migration has been personally resurrected by Mahito once, and subconsciously believes that 'as long as I am in the Dream Migration, I can resurrect infinitely,' Mahito will truly possess the authority of resurrection. This is because all the sorcerers in the Dream Migration have subconsciously made a Binding Vow. This collective Vow will instantly allow Mahito to break through the world's limits and arrive at the domain of a God."
*Wait!* Yuji thought to himself with solemn gravity: *I didn't understand a single word!*
Kusakabe interjected, "There's also immortality. Eternal life was a promise heavily emphasized by the Lord of Cursed Spirits. I've heard of Kinji Hakari's immortality—that's an immortality tied to the lifespan of the heavens, achievable only through the atmospheric Cursed Energy cycle of Japan's Great Barrier. But the other players who fall into this don't know that. They only know it as 'immortality.' Once someone truly obtains immortality, the subconscious of all players will inevitably form a Vow that 'he can grant immortality.'"
Masamichi Yaga added, "It doesn't stop there. The 'Finite Infinity' wishes are also a critically important Vow. When Mahito advertised the Finite Infinity wishes, he essentially placed a Vow that spans the entire planet. He didn't limit the Vow to Japan, nor to Jujutsu Sorcerers. He declared that anyone participating in the Dream Migration could have their wish granted, even wishes related to ordinary society.
"He also explicitly stated that wishes could be transferred to others. This scope undoubtedly covers all sentient life on this planet, not just humans."
Which meant that even if it was a Cursed Spirit's wish, he would accept it.
No, even if a talking parrot made a wish, he would fulfill it!
Shoko leaned back in her chair, her expression serious. "This must be a step-by-step approach. First, the authority of Resurrection. Next, the authority of Immortality. Finally, pointing the sword at Finite Infinity wishes... He intends to compare himself to God, to become a genuine, omniscient, and omnipotent deity!
"I can imagine it. Once he claims victory, he will make a wish to himself: 'I wish to become God!'
"Then, the massive Binding Vow spanning the entire planet will begin to turn. He fulfills the Vow, and the world will help him complete the remaining results."
The principle was unexpectedly simple, wasn't it?
It was just like in the original timeline when Kento Nanami placed a Vow on himself: if he was still working past clock-out time, he would enter a Vow called 'Overtime.' This Vow would significantly boost Nanami's Cursed Energy output for a short period.
The principle of the Dream Migration's Vow was essentially the same. The difference was...
If Kento Nanami's Vow was on the scale of using natural gas to boil water—where the natural gas is worth mentioning—then the Lord of Cursed Spirits' Vow was on the scale of a star named the Sun. Nuclear fusion, gravitational pressure, radiation pressure, burning for 10 billion years, and with enough fuel to burn for another 5.5 billion years, eventually forming a supernova.
—The scales of the two were worlds apart.
The conference room was as quiet as a desolate valley; even the occasional breeze seemed lonely. Even gods had strengths and weaknesses. Tengen had once said that even if she truly ascended to godhood, she would definitely not be a match for Satoru Gojo or Ryomen Sukuna. In ancient times, Ryomen Sukuna had even slain the Yamata-no-Orochi (Eight-Headed Serpent). To display his achievements, he even placed the serpent's corpse within his own Innate Domain.
But Mahito's level was different.
Resurrection, immortality, the omnipotence of Finite Infinity. If Mahito relied on the Dream Migration to become a true deity, he would surely transcend time and become the strongest God King. By then, creating a planet with a true ecosystem wouldn't be impossible, would it? At that point, Mahito would undoubtedly become a small-scale Creator God.
[Anything humanity can imagine, I can realize.] This was definitely not an empty boast!
The entire conference room remained silent for about two or three seconds. Suddenly, a clap rang out. Gojo slapped his hands together.
"Alright, that's enough doom and gloom. Let's start the real meeting! First, who can tell me the rules of this Dream Migration?"