December 20, 2018.
Dream Migration, Sakurajima Colony.
Rice Shower looked at the river channel in front of her and asked in confusion, "This should be the place, right?"
As the end of the year approached, most sorcerers had temporarily given up on killing each other and started to truly consider the [Keys]. According to the rules, only those holding a [Key] at 0:00:00 on December 24th would qualify to meet the Lord of Cursed Spirits, Mahito. And only by truly defeating the Lord of Cursed Spirits could one obtain the [Finite Infinity] wish.
In this Dream Migration, after nearly two months of deathmatches, most winners had already been decided. Of course, this victory didn't refer to the outcome of mutual slaughter; in this Dream Migration where death didn't exist, so-called death could be easily overcome. Death was not the critical judgment point for victory.
The true judgment points were the indisputably powerful sorcerers in their respective colonies. Whether through poison assassination, conspiracies, head-on collisions, or deathmatch win rates, the strongest in their colonies were:
Tokyo No. 1 Colony: Ryomen Sukuna.
Tokyo No. 2 Colony: Hiromi Higuruma, Fumihiko Takaba, Kenjaku.
Sendai Colony: Yuta Okkotsu.
Sakurajima Colony: Satoru Gojo.
One could even assert that, aside from the overly fierce competition in Tokyo No. 2, the Key holders in other colonies were without suspense. Even in Tokyo No. 2, in most people's eyes, Takaba's comprehensive ability was overwhelmingly high.
Takaba's ability was too strong. But even with such power, facing Higuruma's [Confiscation] and [Executioner's Sword], he was highly likely to be one-shot if the conditions were met. And Kenjaku's adaptability had broken through Takaba's technique several times. This made it impossible for him to lock in a victory despite possessing a nearly invincible technique.
Leaving aside that exception, in the final countdown, the [Strongest] of the other colonies finally decided to make their move on the [Key Keepers]. And in the Sakurajima Colony, Gojo's choice was:
"Anyway, within these 9 days, fetch the Key from the Key Keeper for me."
That was why Rice Shower was here.
Rather than easily grabbing the Key himself, Gojo chose to let his students and friends retrieve it for him. Standing beside Rice Shower were Kento Nanami, Nobara Kugisaki, Panda, and Toge Inumaki.
Nanami adjusted his glasses. "Since the points have been consumed, the location must be correct."
"But there's nothing here," Rice Shower looked around, sighing. "If it's a [Key Keeper], they wouldn't refuse a sorcerer's challenge. It's said to be one of the rules of the Dream Migration. They won't hide or flee; they will only accept challenges head-on... That's what Kogane said."
"Maybe our [Key Keeper] is special?" Panda guessed. "Look, the Key Keeper of Tokyo No. 1 reportedly signed a new Binding Vow with Sukuna personally. The Key Keeper of Tokyo No. 2 was killed on the first day, and the Key has been circulating between Higuruma, Takaba, and Kenjaku ever since. The Sendai Key Keeper and our Sakurajima Key Keeper haven't appeared at all. Maybe this is their fighting style?"
"Possible," Inumaki nodded.
Originally, due to his *Cursed Speech* technique, Inumaki had trouble controlling his words from unconsciously channeling Cursed Energy. So he used various ways to prevent his words from triggering his technique, creating the impression that he spoke strangely.
But through training in the Dream Migration and purchasing knowledge with points, he could finally speak normally. Being able to stabilize *Cursed Speech* was at least the mark of a Grade 1 Sorcerer. Without a doubt, he had crossed his limits and reached a new realm.
Rice Shower pondered. *This is probably why Gojo didn't get the Key himself but sent us instead, right? Gojo wants to train me and the others.*
Many sorcerers were assigned to the Sakurajima Colony, but most had consciously avoided Gojo after watching his battles with Sukuna. This meant that while Gojo held massive points, almost all were earned from deathmatches with Sukuna on the first day. A small portion came from Gojo boredly hitting Cursed Spirits, and a tiny, tiny fraction came from reckless sorcerers actively provoking him.
Gojo's strength hadn't visibly increased during this period. According to him, apart from the [Finite Infinity] wish, points were useless to him. His strength was already at the world's peak; to break through again, he could only clash with the Lord of Cursed Spirits once more.
Nobara looked impatiently at the other sorcerers guarding the perimeter, waving her small hammer. "I say, what's the use of discussing so much? Since Kogane said the [Key Keeper] can't refuse a challenge, let's just call the [Key Keeper] out directly."
"How?" Nanami frowned.
"Like this!" Nobara took a deep breath.
Then, she roared: "[KEY KEEPER], WE'RE HERE TO CHALLENGE YOU! COME OUT!"
Nobara's idea was simple. It was the same logic as when she challenged Tsumiki Fushiguro in Tokyo No. 1. She had bought the Key Keeper's location with points and charged in without hesitation. It was the same now. If Kogane said the Key Keeper couldn't refuse, then shouting "I challenge you" should make refusal impossible given such a clear demand.
The [Key Keeper] indeed responded.
Nanami instinctively pulled out his blunt blade—a cleaver completely wrapped in bandages. At this moment, the bandaged cleaver emitted a ghostly blue Cursed Energy flame, proof that Nanami had entered combat state.
He was the sharpest person present, so he was the first to notice. "Careful!" he shouted a warning.
The next moment, countless waves erupted from the river channel. Huge waves crashed against the embankment, splashing water all over Rice Shower, who stood at the front.
*BOOM!*
Something emerged from the spray. Massive Cursed Energy filled the surrounding space almost instantly. Everyone could feel the humidity of the tide; it was as if they were suddenly at sea. With every breath, they could smell the "scent of the ocean" carried by the sea breeze.
This was a Cursed Spirit strongly related to the sea. Everyone with formal training realized it.
The [Key Keeper] had truly appeared.
*Thud.*
The Key Keeper slammed onto the embankment, its appearance finally revealed to everyone—
"...What is that thing?" Nobara shouted in shock.
It was a round, cute Cursed Spirit. Big round eyes, a face like an octopus, a red body, black stripes on its facial tentacles. It was only half a person's height, looking less than a meter tall—shorter than a middle schooler. A white cloth was draped over it, making it look like a red dumpling.
Nobara pointed at this seemingly juvenile Cursed Spirit. "This thing is the Key Keeper? Someone nominally on the same level as Sister Tsumiki? Are you kidding me?"
"Puu."
Suddenly, the red dumpling made a sound.
Nanami suddenly pulled Nobara behind him, roaring, "Defensive positions!"
"PUUU—!" The red dumpling suddenly let out a horrifying screech. The octopus tentacles on the lower half of its face suddenly flared open, like a terrifying beast opening its mouth. As the tentacles opened, a hole indeed appeared in the center. At the same moment—
A flood raged forth!
Inumaki opened his mouth at max speed. Circular curse markings appeared around his mouth. The instant the markings appeared, Inumaki uttered "Cursed Speech."
—Technique Release: —Cursed Speech! "[STOP!]"
The oncoming torrent seemed to hit an invisible wall. Inumaki's eyes widened, feeling as if his throat were being torn apart! *Cursed Speech* wasn't actually good at dealing with continuous attacks because its effect usually triggered the moment the words fell, then vanished at an astonishing speed. In other words, the moment the words were spoken was when the effect was strongest. It was useful against single attacks, but continuous attacks required continuous speech.
But this flood jet—happened to be an endless, continuous attack!
"Enough, Inumaki!" Nanami shouted, raising his blunt blade high and stepping in front of the flood held back by the invisible wall.
The next instant, the *Cursed Speech* effect canceled, and the endless torrent poured toward the group. It was at this moment that Nanami brought his blunt blade down with astonishing speed.
—Technique Release: —Ratio Technique!
Nanami's Ratio Technique could divide the target's length into equal parts and forcibly create a weak point at the 7:3 ratio mark. Hitting this weak point would trigger a [Critical Hit].
Any part could be designated as the target, including non-living objects. For example: this flood!
Accompanied by a massive roar, the entire flood was split in half by the blunt blade in Nanami's hand. The massive volume of water parted on either side of Nanami, like Moses parting the sea in legend.
This slash continued to extend, finally crashing into the red dumpling spewing the flood, knocking it into the sky in one hit.
This should have been a killing blow, but Nanami's pupils contracted. "...Is that... molting?"
*Riiiip.* The sound of the red dumpling shattering rang out as it flew into the sky. Piece after piece of red skin drifted away with the wind, and the white cloth fell slowly.
"Truly an excellent technique." Suddenly, someone spoke. "You must be Kento Nanami? I heard Mahito speak of you. He rates you very highly, saying your technique can create miracles. If others using Black Flash can only generate attack power to the power of 2.5, you using Black Flash with your technique would far exceed that data. This makes your attack power far beyond common sense; no matter the desperate situation, you have the potential to end the battle with a miraculous strike."
The voice came from the sky. Everyone looked up.
It was a tall, humanoid Cursed Spirit. Only the face bore a trace of the red dumpling's shadow, but those watery big eyes were gone, replaced by the cold gaze of a curse manifestation. He had shed his juvenile skin and evolved strong, healthy limbs. While his main body remained red, his abdomen was black, and a pair of black wings grew from his shoulders.
These wings looked particularly small compared to his robust body, but as a Cursed Spirit, as long as it had the [Meaning], it could function. He relied on these wings to hover, looking down on the sorcerers.
Nanami glanced at the others, his heart sinking. *Did anyone have flight capabilities?*
With this Cursed Spirit's water manipulation and the backing of the river channel, wasn't this a textbook high-ground advantage? Air-to-ground? Bomber vs. Little Tank?
"Before you, there were other sorcerers who came to challenge me. Some couldn't find me, cursed at Kogane, and silently left. Some were smart enough to provoke me, but I easily defeated them in my juvenile form. Sorcerers who challenged me almost never came a second time because they understood the gap between us," he said. "But you are different... You are sorcerers who can truly challenge me. I will give you respect."
This Cursed Spirit, who had unceremoniously attacked with a flood, now bowed elegantly to the sorcerers in the sky.
He said, "Key Keeper."
"The manifestation of humanity's curse towards the ocean." Dagon.
"Let's begin!"