Tokyo No. 2 Colony.
Under a clear blue sky, Kenjaku stood with his foot planted on Fumihiko Takaba. He raised both hands high, tears streaming down his face from sheer emotion, and roared with a sobbing voice: "I... finally... WON!!"
Pinned under Kenjaku's foot, Fumihiko Takaba also began to howl with tears in his eyes: "I... I actually lost... I, I can't accept this!"
"What the hell can't you accept?!" Kenjaku roared back in fury. "I played the straight man for your stand-up! I practiced witty banter with you! In the end, I even set aside my knowledge as a Jujutsu Sorcerer just to keep up with your brain rot! For two whole months, I genuinely unleashed my own comedic talent just to make you admit defeat! What exactly are you dissatisfied about?!"
Takaba suddenly turned serious. "That's exactly it! That is what I can't accept!"
"What?"
"Your final victory... you weren't laughing loudly. You were crying. How is that acceptable?" Takaba, still prone on the ground, spoke with earnest conviction. "You should be laughing. Why aren't you laughing? Why won't you laugh?!"
"I can't take this anymore!" Kenjaku covered his face with both hands and screamed, "Kogane! Come out! Check if the Cursed Technique 'Ubermensch' has been inscribed into the Wish List yet!"
Unlike the original timeline—where Kenjaku also engaged Takaba like this, but it was Takaba who approached him—in this scenario, although Kenjaku knew of Takaba's anomaly, he hadn't paid it much mind. It wasn't until Takaba's Cursed Technique truly ensnared him that Kenjaku began to treat it seriously.
In the original story, Kenjaku remained calm and unhurried throughout their encounter. He reacted quickly to every situation and ultimately won the battle of 'Comedy,' forcing Takaba to admit defeat himself. He defeated Takaba, leaving behind the comment, "You were pretty funny," bringing an end to the nonsensical duel.
But now, things were different. Kenjaku had discovered Takaba's talent instantly. While observing Takaba, Kenjaku was constantly analyzing this power, brimming with confidence that he could truly *kill* Fumihiko Takaba.
Well, looking at the scene now, it was obvious: even though Takaba was trampled underfoot, Kenjaku had failed to kill him. In fact, Takaba had driven Kenjaku to the brink of a mental breakdown.
This was to be expected. This was the Dream Migration. One could purchase almost anything from modern society using points—including 'comedic talent,' which had nothing to do with being a sorcerer. The key to activating Takaba's Cursed Technique lay in his confidence in his own humor. As long as he believed he wouldn't fail, he absolutely could not fail.
By the same logic, as long as he believed he wouldn't die, he would not die.
In the original work, Takaba struggled with his comedic ability. But the Dream Migration allowed him to acquire these skills effortlessly. Furthermore, over the past two months, relying on knowledge exchanged within the Dream Migration, Takaba had finally found his footing on the comedian's stage. This was a stark departure from the canon.
In the original, Kenjaku could launch a psychological attack by seeing through Takaba's insecurities, making Takaba accept his own failure. But now? Kenjaku had to genuinely compete against Takaba—an active, confident comedian—using nothing but professional-grade comedy skills.
How could Kenjaku not go insane?! He was completely mentally broken.
*How can such an unreasonable Cursed Technique exist?!*
Kogane appeared from the void: "Beep-bop! Master, your Wish List has been updated! New Cursed Technique added: 'Ubermensch'."
"Cursed Technique: Ubermensch (Superman). Phenomenon Creation.
"The materialization and enforcement of the user's imagination.
"By twisting the rules of the real world, processing one's own imagination, and rewriting the will of others, it causes a temporary overwrite of reality. Whether it is the laws of physics, rewriting one's own state, or the state of others, 'Ubermensch' can achieve it with ease."
There was a line in the original work that summarized the potency of this technique: *[A Cursed Technique capable of rivaling Satoru Gojo].*
In the late stages of the original work, there were two 'wild' Special Grade Sorcerers: Hiromi Higuruma and Fumihiko Takaba. However, their reasons for becoming Special Grade were different. Higuruma relied purely on his own talent and growth potential—talent so immense it was even acknowledged by Ryomen Sukuna. Takaba was different. His aptitude for Jujutsu was mediocre, perhaps even poor, yet he still became a Special Grade Sorcerer.
Why?
Because of his Cursed Technique.
To qualify as a Special Grade purely based on a Cursed Technique is something even Satoru Gojo couldn't achieve (Gojo required the combination of the Six Eyes and the Limitless). Takaba didn't even need that! Regarding his technique 'Ubermensch,' Kenjaku once said in the original text: *[Against him, a thousand years of Jujutsu knowledge is useless!]*
This was the technique Kenjaku wanted to obtain from the Dream Migration, even if it meant forging a Binding Vow!
Initially, he wanted to kill Takaba directly and let him resurrect once. Because of the resurrection, all of Takaba's soul information would inevitably be inscribed into the Dream Migration system. Kenjaku could then purchase the technique via the Wish List.
If he had this technique, combined with his thousand years of Jujutsu knowledge and strict Binding Vows, he might be able to escape the judgment of 'God Mahito.' Even if he couldn't escape and was cast into another world, 'Ubermensch' offered far greater survivability than a technique like 'Body Hopping,' which was purely for lingering survival. Even with a tragic background, he would have room to struggle.
That was Kenjaku's thought process. That was his plan.
But there was an accident... He couldn't kill Takaba!
He couldn't kill him no matter what! Forget killing him; even during their battle, Kenjaku's own will was rewritten several times. There were moments where he found himself playing the straight man to Takaba's jokes, becoming his partner within the Dream Migration, bringing waves of laughter to the cursed spirits and sorcerers of the Tokyo No. 2 Colony...
—*Laughter, my ass!!*
Even now, Kenjaku couldn't kill Takaba. Takaba's 'Ubermensch' was too exaggerated. As long as Takaba willed it, he could pull off a literal resurrection from the dead! In the original work, Kenjaku realized this and chose a comedy battle instead of physical means.
Killing him was genuinely impossible.
He had to rely on a professional comedy competition!
To make Takaba admit defeat, Kenjaku had to abandon his millennium of Jujutsu knowledge and delve into the professional skills of a comedian. He had to play the manzai game with Takaba time and time again. And finally, just now, he had truly defeated Takaba in the realm of professional comedy, making Takaba admit 'defeat' from the bottom of his heart.
This filled in the last missing piece of 'Ubermensch,' causing the option [Cursed Technique: Ubermensch] to appear on Kogane's Wish List.
Kenjaku's face was covered in tears!
Kenjaku stomped his foot down violently: "Die! Fu! Mi! Hi! Ko! Ta! Ka! Ba! You are no longer useful!"
*Pfft-chk.* Takaba exploded entirely. There was even a giant text graphic reading "BOOM" overlaying the explosion effect. Kenjaku was hit by the blast of the 'real' explosion, but he stood immovable. When the smoke cleared, his face was charred black like charcoal, with only his eyes and teeth remaining shockingly white—and, of course, he was now sporting an afro.
Kenjaku took a deep breath. "I! Fucking! Hate! You! Takabaaaaaa—!"
"Hahahahaha!"
Takaba had unknowingly appeared atop a high-rise building. He stood with one foot on the edge, one finger pointing at Kenjaku. A cape suddenly materialized on his back, fluttering dramatically in a gust of wind.
Maintaining a pose straight out of the final shot of a superhero movie, Takaba unleashed a laugh that shook the heavens and the earth. Floating text characters of "Hahahaha" even materialized in the air around him.
Takaba shouted loudly: "Kenjaku! You really were a worthy rival! But I'm feeling a bit under the weather today, so let's meet again another time—! Ha, haha, hahahahaha...!"
Kenjaku, face wooden and expressionless, looked up at Takaba vanishing amidst the classic three-stage villain laugh. His shoulders slumped involuntarily.
"I really lost to you," Kenjaku sighed. "Aiya, if Mahito wasn't chasing me from behind, maybe I could have actually enjoyed playing with you. But while you can be carefree, I am facing eternal torture at any moment."
Saying this, Kenjaku looked at Kogane. "Kogane, exchange."
Suddenly, Kogane emitted a static noise. "Bzzzt-bzzzt. Jujutsu Sorcerer releasing hostility detected! Jujutsu Sorcerer releasing hostility detected! Master, Master, a Sorcerer is attacking!"
*Pop.* Kogane vanished.
As if timed perfectly, a figure slowly walked out from a small alleyway between the high-rises.
Kenjaku frowned, looking at the attacking sorcerer. It wasn't that people hadn't attacked him and Takaba before, but without exception, those people were dragged into Takaba's technique and became supporting characters in the comedy theater, making the script even funnier. Any sorcerer who experienced that once chose to stay far away from them thereafter.
Kenjaku's battles were at least somewhat grounded in logic, but fighting Takaba was pure nonsense. A battle where Jujutsu knowledge was useless and one had to keep up with Takaba's brainwaves just to survive was disgusting to experienced sorcerers who viewed combat as glory—like being splashed with frog piss.
Because of this, most people who wanted to challenge the Special Grade Sorcerer would wait until Kenjaku and Takaba's battle ended before leisurely walking out to announce their name and challenge Kenjaku. As for Takaba... they pretended that guy didn't exist.
Kenjaku felt annoyed, thinking another one of those types had arrived.
"Ahhh, enough already." Kenjaku adjusted his bangs. "Let's finish this quickly so I can exchange for 'Ubermensch' and end this Dream Migration. I'm really going to have nightmares."
"Don't say that. I've been looking forward to this battle for a long time," the newcomer said, stepping out of the shadows.
Kenjaku's pupils trembled in shock. His hand stopped mid-adjustment of his bangs.
"Yo." Suguru Geto, wearing his kasaya, greeted Kenjaku. "First time meeting like this. You, the thousand-year-old Curse User wearing my corpse... I am Suguru Geto. I am the true owner of the body you are wearing. I have returned from hell to collect my debt."
Kenjaku slowly lowered his hand, remained silent for a moment, and then revealed a thoughtful expression. "I see. So you are the secret weapon Mahito prepared for me."
Kenjaku fell into deep thought right in front of Geto, muttering to himself, "Come to think of it, the reconnaissance Cursed Spirits I released recently have been disappearing inexplicably. I thought other sorcerers were killing them casually—after all, even Grade 4 Curses are points to them. It's normal to kill them in passing. I didn't expect it to be you."
"Because it would be troublesome if you found out." Geto stood firm.
Kenjaku took a deep breath, his hands forming a seal. "Looks like you don't intend to chat with me much."
"No, I do." The corner of Geto's mouth twitched. "But at least clean up your face. Even I don't want to fight a guy with a charcoal face and an afro."
Kenjaku looked blank.
***
Approximately ten minutes later.
With a clean face and long hair cascading down his shoulders, Kenjaku spoke with a serious expression. "I see. You are indeed the secret weapon Mahito prepared for me. Thinking about it carefully, you are certainly someone who should hate me deeply. Furthermore, my characteristics are indeed countered by you. If I'm not mistaken, as long as I fall into a weakened state, your Cursed Spirit Manipulation will activate against me. Even in this Dream Migration, I will become a spirit manipulated by you."
Geto nodded slightly. "Cursed Spirit Manipulation allows for the free absorption of Curses, but historically, all Cursed Spirits have had intelligence lower than beasts. Even if absorbed, releasing them made no difference to me. But you are different, Kenjaku. If I absorb you, I don't know if the resulting Cursed Spirit will retain its consciousness."
The conversation between the two was incredibly serious. Their murderous intent clashed, both revealing expressions of confidence.
...They had both forgotten the moment they just met, counting this current conversation as their true first encounter.
Kenjaku waved his hand violently. "Then... let's see what you're capable of!"
Kenjaku's confidence was well-founded. Aside from his own Body Hopping technique, he possessed two other Cursed Techniques: the same Cursed Spirit Manipulation as Suguru Geto, and the Anti-Gravity System from Yuji Itadori's mother.
Even without relying on the Dream Migration, he held multiple techniques. Unless facing the top-tier powers of this world—Mahito, Satoru Gojo, and Ryomen Sukuna—Kenjaku was confident that no one else, not even Yuta Okkotsu or Yuki Tsukumo, could stand against him!
Ultimately, Suguru Geto's Cursed Spirit Manipulation relied on Cursed Spirits. He himself wasn't physically overpowering.
And Geto had just been resurrected. In these two months, he simply wouldn't have had the ability to collect many Cursed Spirits. Kenjaku was the exact opposite. He had seen many Curses over the millennium and knew the locations of uncleansed Special Grade Curses. After obtaining this body, he had actively collected them. His quantity and quality were far beyond what Geto could compare to.
So, how could he possibly view Geto as a threat?
"I'm being underestimated," Kenjaku said calmly. "Then let's try it out, Suguru Geto. Let's see if you are qualified to be the 'secret weapon' that snipes me."
Geto formed a hand seal. "I'll show you exactly what I've been doing while you and Takaba were playing your endless comedy routine."
*BOOM—!*
A massive surge of Cursed Energy erupted from behind Suguru Geto.
It wasn't one or two sources. It was ten, twenty.
No, more!
Fifty. Seventy.
Nearly a hundred Special Grade Cursed Spirits manifested one after another behind Suguru Geto. These spirits, subservient to Cursed Spirit Manipulation, lowered their heads submissively while glaring at Kenjaku with eyes full of curses.
Suguru Geto had not lied to the people of Tokyo Jujutsu High. His theory was correct.
As time passed, the Cursed Energy Residuals of countless sorcerers in the four major colonies intertwined endlessly. Among them were the residuals of Special Grade Sorcerers. From these residuals, terrifying Special Grade Curses were born within the Dream Migration.
The number of Special Grade Curses on the scene might still be less than a thousand years ago—after all, Ryomen Sukuna had rampaged for a long time back then, and God was killed in that era. At least now, in the Dream Migration, no God had been killed yet, so the quality was slightly lacking.
But don't forget. In that era, Special Grade Curses appeared one by one. And now—
They had all been collected.
Not just from the Tokyo No. 2 Colony. When Special Grade Curses appeared in other colonies, the people from Tokyo High kept their promise. If they could spare the Special Grade Curses without killing them, they did. They used Kogane to transfer these Special Grade Curses to Suguru Geto, allowing him to absorb them.
The nearly one hundred Special Grade Curses here represented the total number generated across all Dream Migration colonies over the past two months. Especially the Sendai Colony—inside Yuta Okkotsu's barrier, there were multiple Special Grade Sorcerers engaged in death matches, contributing the most Special Grade Curses.
Although their quality was far inferior to Jogo, Hanami, and Dagon, the quantity was astounding. With such numbers, plus the fact that every Special Grade Curse had a unique Domain Expansion, there was no doubt: the current Suguru Geto stood at the absolute peak of Cursed Spirit Manipulation in history.
"Are you ready, Kenjaku?" Geto smiled. "How is this secret weapon of mine?"
Kenjaku licked his lips and smiled. "Can you give me a chance to exchange for [Cursed Technique: Ubermensch] before we fight?"
"Right now, you're not in a battle with Takaba, Kenjaku," Geto chuckled softly.
What was the characteristic of fighting Fumihiko Takaba? It was imagination, fantasy, and...
—*Day! Dreaming!*
Then, his expression turned serious:
"Special Grade Curse User," said Suguru Geto.
"Prepare yourself—!"
Approximately 2 hours later.
Kenjaku was absorbed into Suguru Geto's Cursed Spirit Manipulation.