Mid-January, 2019. Morning.
Half a month had passed since the Apotheosis Ritual.
Sakurajima.
Yuta Okkotsu led his underclassmen toward the island. Originally, Sakurajima wasn't exactly a bustling hub of development. But now, it was packed with people coming and going, the lively atmosphere persisting around the clock. The old, dilapidated houses on the island had been completely renovated within half a month. These renovations were commissioned entirely to sorcerers possessing the [Earth and Stone Manipulation] innate technique. Since most of these sorcerers lacked formal architectural training, the quality of the renovations varied wildly from person to person. The upside, however, was that it was incredibly cheap and lightning-fast.
The topic of jujutsu was no longer taboo in Sakurajima. People openly and freely discussed cursed techniques and sorcery in the streets. Even though the Apotheosis Ritual had concluded, the Dream Migration remained active. All sorcerers were still free to battle within the colonies, accumulating points to purchase knowledge and techniques.
It was almost unimaginable that just a few months ago, all knowledge of jujutsu had been strictly quarantined from the public. Now, it was casually discussed and recognized by the masses. There were even quite a few ordinary people eagerly looking for ways to become true Jujutsu Sorcerers. And this wasn't an impossible dream; the Dream Migration point exchange system included options that could bestow a mundane human with the innate talent of a sorcerer.
"I heard America has already started mass-producing sorcerers," Megumi Fushiguro remarked. "You can imagine how rapidly their numbers are inflating. Give it a few years, and I suspect the total number of American sorcerers will actually surpass Japan's."
Nobara Kugisaki frowned deeply. "Are they out of their minds? Wherever Cursed Energy gathers, Curses are born. Instead of properly regulating the sorcerer industry and honestly focusing on exorcising Curses, they're blindly chasing quantity? What exactly is the point of that?"
"Who knows what they're thinking." Megumi shrugged. "Anyway, Master Yuki is stationed over there. If any truly dangerous Cursed Spirits pop up, she'll handle them."
Speaking of which, Megumi turned to Yuji Itadori. "You're planning to participate in the next 'Finite Infinity' tournament in America, right? When do you plan on leaving?"
Yuta remembered a conversation they had right before Gojo-sensei's final battle against the King of Cursed Spirits. Yuji had mentioned his intention to head to America to seek out new possibilities. Yuji was an exceptionally talented sorcerer; considering the second tournament was being held in America, he genuinely stood a solid chance of claiming victory.
No, 'King of Cursed Spirits' was no longer an appropriate title. Mahito had truly ascended to become a God.
Nowadays, it was customary to refer to him as [His Holiness Mahito].
...It still felt incredibly weird to say.
"After I meet with... with His Holiness Mahito, and say my goodbyes to everyone else, I'll probably head straight to America," Yuji said. "I've heard the atmosphere over there is completely different from Japan. For a Jujutsu Sorcerer, adapting to the environment is crucial. I need to get a feel for the place first, and then I'll start pushing toward victory."
"That's the spirit," Yuta praised.
Yuta's thoughts drifted to the other second-years. Maki Zen'in had been formally invited back to the Zen'in clan. The current Zen'in clan was in no position to act arrogant or pursue petty political dominance. With the other sorcerer factions eyeing them like hungry wolves, the sheer combat power of a Heavenly Tyrant like Maki was absolutely vital for their survival.
All the decrepit old men running the Zen'in clan had been slaughtered anyway, so Maki had half-reluctantly agreed to return. And considering Megumi Fushiguro fiercely protested the idea of becoming the clan head under any circumstances, it was highly likely that Maki Zen'in would eventually succeed as the head of the Zen'in clan.
Panda and Toge Inumaki had decided to remain at Tokyo Jujutsu High to further their studies. Neither of them harbored grand ambitions. In the future, they would likely become the new instructors at the school, taking over Satoru Gojo's role to educate and guide the next generation.
While Yuta was lost in thought, Yuji continued speaking.
"I'm not really worried about the local American sorcerers. What worries me are the Japanese sorcerers heading over there just like me. Especially Higuruma. That guy's Domain Expansion is an absolute nightmare to deal with. And his Cursed Energy manipulation is at the absolute apex. They say his control over Cursed Energy rivals Ryomen Sukuna's. He's incredibly driven to win; it's highly likely he'll make the exact same choice I did."
"There's also that other rogue Special Grade, Fumihiko Takaba. But that guy doesn't act like a sorcerer at all. He just treats the Dream Migration like his own personal comedy stage. He has zero drive to win. Completely different personality from Higuruma."
Listening to Yuji, it was obvious just how seriously he was taking this. He wasn't just casually going to America; he was actively and meticulously preparing for war. He was genuinely determined to become the champion of the second tournament to fulfill the promise he had made to Yuta.
The promise: *'I'm going to resurrect Gojo-sensei.'*
Yuta genuinely envied people like Yuji Itadori. They possessed no hesitation. Once they locked onto a goal, they would relentlessly pursue it to the bitter end. Even if they hit a brick wall, they wouldn't turn back. Yuji knew perfectly well that resurrecting Satoru Gojo would be highly controversial among those who had already sworn fealty to [His Holiness Mahito], and many would try to stop him. Yet, Yuji chose to walk that path anyway, pushing forward without a shred of doubt.
Nobara sighed. "So, I guess this means we're splitting up, huh."
"What are you planning to do in the future, Kugisaki?" Yuji asked.
Nobara looked up at the sky, her tone complex and hard to read. "I don't know yet. For now, I'll just stick to being a Jujutsu Sorcerer. I'm not like you meatheads; I don't have some crazy obsession with getting stronger. I'll probably just treat sorcery like a regular 9-to-5 office job. As long as it pays the bills and keeps me fed, I'm good."
Megumi and Yuji spoke in perfect unison: "You have zero ambition."
"SHUT UP!" Nobara snapped back irritably.
Yuta, who was leading the way, suddenly stopped. They had arrived at their destination.
This was the reason Sakurajima had suddenly become so bustling. A massive, sweeping stone staircase was carved into the side of a towering mountain right before Yuta's eyes. Every five meters, a brilliant red torii gate stood proudly over the steps. The mountain was neatly lined with cherry blossom trees. Even though it was mid-January and nowhere near the season for cherry blossoms, the trees were in full, glorious bloom. A gentle breeze swept past, scattering countless pink petals over the torii gates and the stone steps.
This shrine had been erected in a single day. It was constructed using a combination of techniques, including but not limited to Earth and Stone Manipulation, Metal Manipulation, Forest's Benevolence, Sculpting Techniques, Resonance, and Stasis Techniques. In fact, the mountain itself had been physically manifested by His Holiness Mahito. It was a genuine, literal divine mountain.
However, the mountain was protected by a barrier. The entire structure was hidden within the gaps of spacetime. Only those who had received a formal invitation could set foot upon the mountain and behold Mahito's shrine at its peak.
Despite knowing that only the invited could meet the True God, countless people still stubbornly flocked to the island, hoping for a miracle. The prices of ordinary, unremarkable houses skyrocketed. Everyone knew that this island was destined to become the absolute safest place on earth—a sanctuary where no natural or supernatural disaster could ever reach.
Yuta couldn't even begin to imagine how wildly Sakurajima would develop in the future. But for now, the rapid influx of wealth had breathed new life into the island. Every local resident walked around with a bright smile, as if all the world's tragedies had simply vanished.
Yuta took a deep breath. "Alright. Let's go meet [His Holiness Mahito]."
Although Mahito was now a God, prior to this, he was the King of Cursed Spirits. His subordinates consisted entirely of Cursed Spirits and Curse Users—a veritable army of freaks and monsters. As Yuta led his underclassmen up the stairs and through the torii gates, he mentally braced himself for how he was going to interact with his bizarre future colleagues. He had already made up his mind to join Mahito's faction, to witness the future His Holiness intended to create with his own eyes.
He had expected to walk into a chaotic den of demons.
But the reality was completely different.
The scene unfolding before him looked virtually identical to any popular, bustling shrine in Japan during a festival.
Hundreds of devout—or at least seemingly devout—believers were quietly and respectfully climbing the stairs. There were designated rest areas beneath the torii gates, where people sat drinking water and catching their breath. It wasn't entirely solemn; there were plenty of young men and women walking up with curious expressions. But no one spoke loudly; they merely whispered among themselves. Occasionally, someone would glance at Yuta and his group, but no one approached them.
Yuta even recognized a few familiar Jujutsu Sorcerers. None of them looked surprised to see him; they simply offered polite nods. The atmosphere was far more sacred than a standard festival, radiating a profound, divine dignity.
"Are you Mr. Yuta Okkotsu?" As they passed through the final torii gate, a shrine maiden approached them. Yuta recognized her. She was the eldest sister of the second-generation intelligent Cursed Spirits. Rumor had it her prototype was a Kappa, but looking at the girl before him, you couldn't see a single trace of it. She had a beautiful face and wore a traditional miko outfit, but instead of the classic red-and-white, her attire was black-and-white—a white top and a flowing black skirt. A long katana rested at her waist.
Yuta nodded. "In accordance with the Binding Vow forged between His Holiness Mahito and Gojo-sensei, I have come to join His Holiness's faction."
"I am Sha." Sha offered a slight bow. "I will guide you from here. Please, follow me."
The shrine grounds were massive, which made sense considering the foundation was an entire mountain. The wooden corridors were far wider than Yuta expected. To their left and right were tranquil lotus ponds and meticulously pruned cherry trees. The ponds featured traditional bamboo water fountains (shishi-odoshi). The water flowed gently, occasionally punctuated by the hollow, echoing *clack* of the bamboo striking the stone.
Yuta and the others were completely stunned. Even knowing that the girl leading them was a second-generation intelligent Curse, the sheer, radiant divinity of the place was overwhelming. Everyone instinctively softened their breathing. It felt as if even the act of breathing required strict adherence to etiquette in the presence of the divine.
An elderly man approached from the opposite direction, led by a girl with snow-white hair cascading down her back. As the two groups passed each other, they exchanged polite nods.
Yuta's breath hitched slightly. He recognized the elderly man passing by. From the news.
He was the current Prime Minister of Japan.
No, it wasn't just him. As they continued walking, more and more political figures and celebrities passed them. Supreme Court Justices, standing members of the National Diet, chairmen of massive associations, old-money aristocrats, and famous television personalities—both recognizable and obscure—all walked past Yuta's group.
In just a short walk, over a dozen of Japan's most elite figures had crossed their path. Some looked anxious, others looked ecstatic, but every single one of them maintained a posture of absolute, solemn reverence. They walked with far more caution and trepidation than the high schoolers trailing behind Yuta.
Suddenly, Yuta's pupils dilated in pure shock. The figures approaching them weren't politicians from the television. They were people he knew intimately.
Masamichi Yaga and Yoshinobu Gakuganji!
The principals of the Tokyo and Kyoto Jujutsu High schools were walking right past him.
"...So it isn't just mundane society. Even the jujutsu establishment has submitted," Yuta murmured under his breath. "I didn't expect Principal Yaga to accept this so easily."
Gakuganji walked past them without sparing a single glance. Yaga, mirroring the politicians before him, offered Yuta a polite nod. Although Yuta's mind was swimming with questions, he returned the nod respectfully. They were the last group they encountered before Sha finally led them to the doors of the main reception hall.
Sha gently slid open the crimson fusuma doors, bowed her head, and took two steps back. Yuta took a deep breath and stepped across the threshold.
It was a spacious reception hall. Two rows of low tables and cushions were arranged neatly on the tatami mats. At the very front of the room, a bamboo blind (sudare) hung from the ceiling, concealing the person seated in the place of honor. This was a traditional Japanese method of displaying supreme authority—concealing one's form and expressions, sometimes going so far as to have others relay one's words. Without a shadow of a doubt, the entity seated behind that blind was the sole True God of this nation, and perhaps the entire world.
The [Finite Omnipotent God], Mahito.
With a heart full of complex emotions, Yuta stepped fully into the hall. And then—
The bamboo blind was violently yanked aside.
"Yo, Yuta! I've been waiting for you for half a month!"
"YOUR HOLINESS! You can't just tear the blind open like that!" a girl's voice shrieked in absolute exasperation. "Please, have some dignity!!!"
Yuta had fully expected the entity seated behind the blind to be clad in the most exalted, pristine Shinto robes imaginable, radiating the solemn, untouchable majesty of a living deity. After all, Mahito *was* a living deity. He should naturally exude a distant, sacred aura, looking down upon the myriad phenomena of creation with the detached gaze of a god.
Instead, the man who stepped out from behind the curtain was wearing a casual white dress shirt. His hair was messy, sticking up at the ends from a lack of grooming. He was wearing a simple pair of jeans, and he didn't even have socks on. He had been sitting cross-legged behind the blind. He flashed a bright, clear smile. Those heterochromatic eyes, which could easily radiate divine terror, were currently crinkled in a relaxed grin. He looked exactly like a lazy college student who had just cranked up the AC on a hot summer day. There wasn't a single ounce of divine majesty to be found.
Yuta's jaw dropped. "Your Holiness... you really don't care about appearances, do you?"
"Before I became a god, I had to obsess over appearances just to survive. If I have to keep obsessing over appearances *after* becoming a god, doesn't that make the whole 'becoming a god' thing totally pointless?" Mahito casually tossed the bamboo blind aside, stepped down from the dais, and stretched luxuriously. "Man, I never realized playing the mysterious deity was this exhausting. Thank god the next guests were you guys, I can finally drop the act and relax."
Following Mahito out from behind the curtain was a young girl. And her identity caused Yuta's eyes to widen once again.
"Rice Shower! You actually became His Holiness's Chief Shrine Maiden!" The one who spoke wasn't Yuta, but Yuji Itadori, who had stepped up behind him. Yuji stared in shock at the girl dressed in the black-and-white miko outfit. Even though she was wearing the sacred garments, her face was twisted in profound grievance. She was massaging her temples as if fighting a massive migraine, only looking up when she heard Yuji's voice.
"Yuji! Long time no see." She forced a tired smile.
Megumi looked at Mahito, then looked at Rice Shower, his face filled with profound sympathy. "Having to deal with a god like him... you have my condolences, Rice Shower."
"Hey, hey! I'm standing right here!" Mahito complained loudly.
Yuta peered behind Mahito. Rice Shower was the only one who had emerged. He looked at Mahito, thoroughly confused. "I heard Hakari-senpai was sticking by your side, but I don't see him here?"
Rice Shower sighed and explained, "The entity standing before you is indeed His Holiness Mahito. However, there are other versions of His Holiness currently occupying other spaces within the shrine. He has currently split himself into over a dozen physical clones. These clones are all tangible, sharing a networked consciousness. They are all 'His Holiness Mahito', allowing him to process multiple affairs simultaneously. I am accompanying this specific iteration of His Holiness, while the others are currently entertaining different guests alongside other attendants. Hakari-sama is currently with one of the other clones."
In fact, it wasn't just Kinji Hakari and Rice Shower. Ashiya Sadatsuna, Jogo, Hanami, Choso, and Eso were all currently acting as attendants for the other clones.
Kechizu and Dagon were absent. Their intelligence simply wasn't high enough for diplomatic duties. The two of them had formed a 'doing absolutely nothing' duo and were currently wandering around playing, bored out of their minds every single day.
There was an ancient legend about a divine child born with the ability to listen to ten people speaking simultaneously. The current Mahito had vastly surpassed that legend. Hearing this, Yuta finally felt a genuine sense that the entity before him was truly a God.
Mahito casually plopped down at one of the low tables, completely abandoning any pretense of authority, and waved them over. "Come on, come on, don't be shy. Grab a seat anywhere."
*Pop.*
The illusion shattered. The tiny shred of 'divine aura' Yuta had just started to feel instantly evaporated.
All the solemn majesty he had felt walking up the mountain was completely ruined!
"Your Holiness..." Rice Shower groaned, her soul practically leaving her body.
"Alright, alright, relax! I just finished dealing with a bunch of stuffy old politicians. I've done my part, right? The other 'me's can handle the rest of the boring stuff!" Mahito said smugly. "Ah, having clones is the best. It's seriously the best thing ever."
*We're doomed,* Yuta thought in despair. *The fate of the entire world has been handed over to this guy. We are so incredibly doomed!*
Once everyone took a seat, Megumi couldn't wait any longer. "Excuse me... where did my sister, Tsumiki Fushiguro, go? Ever since the Apotheosis Ritual ended, I've been trying to find her, but I can't. I even tried using my points in the Dream Migration to purchase her coordinates, but the system said she was 'outside the service area'."
"She went on a trip. Along with your dad," Mahito smiled.
Megumi blinked. "A trip? To where? America?"
"To another world," Mahito replied.
Megumi froze. "Another... world?"
"I recall you being one of Satoru's secret operatives, so you must have heard from him that I discovered a way to travel to other dimensions. Neither your sister nor your dad had any desire to stay in this world—mostly because they didn't want to deal with you. So, they both jumped ship." Mahito chuckled. "By the way, they each left a message for you."
Megumi actually *had* heard about this. Mahito had sensed the presence of souls from other dimensions within the River of Souls, and even before the ritual began, he had dispatched Curse Users to explore those other worlds. But Gojo had only mentioned it in passing; with the apocalypse looming, no one had the mental bandwidth to care about 'Isekai' travel.
But now that the ritual was over, the multidimensional travel project had apparently been fast-tracked.
Anyone who didn't want to remain in this world was casually yeeted into another dimension by Mahito.
Megumi's mouth twitched. "...Let's hear it."
"Tsumiki's message: *'Do not chase after useless remnants. Do not cling to the dust of the past. Step forward, understand the agony of the stars, and meet me once again upon the eternal wasteland.'*"
Nobara looked thoroughly impressed. "That's so poetic. As expected of Tsumiki-san."
Mahito deadpanned, "Translation: *'Stop fucking following me. I am no longer the sister you remember. If you keep chasing me, I won't hold back. I will beat you mercilessly. If you want to stand before me without getting your teeth kicked in, go train!'*"
Nobara's awe instantly vanished. She shot Mahito a vicious glare. Mahito pretended not to notice.
Megumi covered his face with his hands, letting out a low, exhausted groan.
"Oh, and I have a message from your dad, Toji Fushiguro, too," Mahito added.
"I don't want to hear it," Megumi replied instantly.
"His message: *'Satoru Gojo is the one who killed me.'*"
Megumi paused for a second, then his voice turned entirely cold. "What is that supposed to mean? Is he telling me not to be sad over Gojo-sensei's death? He's overthinking it. I don't give a damn about Gojo-sensei or Toji Fushiguro."
*Clap. Clap. Clap.* Mahito applauded loudly, turning to Rice Shower. "Look at that! That's the comrade you admire so much! Isn't he just wonderful?"
Rice Shower looked utterly dead inside.
Yuji looked back and forth, quickly changing the subject. "Your Holiness, I'm planning to participate in the American Dream Migration. When are you planning to start the next 'Finite Infinity' tournament? Also... since it's called 'Finite Infinity', that means you'll grant any wish as long as it's within your power, right? If I win and wish for Gojo-sensei's resurrection... you wouldn't reject it, would you?"
The first part of his question was just fluff. The real meat was the final sentence. Yuji stared at Mahito nervously, his heart pounding in his chest.
In Yuji's mind, resurrecting Satoru Gojo—the only man capable of threatening Mahito's divine authority—would surely cause even a God to hesitate. He fully expected Mahito to deliberate, and ultimately agree only with severe caveats. Maybe Gojo would be resurrected with a different appearance, or missing memories, or perhaps entirely stripped of his Cursed Energy.
It was the natural instinct of a ruler to suppress a challenger. Yuji understood that.
He was fully prepared to accept those terms—he just wanted his teacher back alive. He wouldn't push for anything more.
But as Yuji's mind raced through a thousand terrifying scenarios, Mahito finally spoke.
He said casually, "Sure."
Yuji waited a few seconds, realizing Mahito hadn't added any 'buts'.
"...Just like that? Sure?" Yuji couldn't stop himself from pressing. "No restrictive conditions or anything?"
Mahito chuckled warmly. "Did you seriously think I'd slap a bunch of restrictions on his resurrection? Or do you actually believe Satoru Gojo coming back would cause me any trouble?"
Yuji opened his mouth, then closed it. *Yes, that's exactly what I thought!*
Mahito spoke calmly, "When the Western empires established new regimes, they rarely executed the former emperors. Instead, they kept them in their palaces, giving them titles like 'Historical Archivist'. Why? Because the old emperor posed absolutely no threat to the new society. Keeping him alive served as a living exhibit to everyone else that the past was truly over."
"Satoru Gojo is that old emperor. The only reason I killed him was because he absolutely insisted on settling things with me through violence. If he had knelt before me that day, that battle wouldn't have even happened."
"The only reason I haven't resurrected him myself is because his death serves as a warning. A warning to anyone else who thinks about challenging me."
"But since the warning has already been delivered, Satoru's value as a corpse has expired."
"If his student manages to win the new Finite Infinity tournament and uses their incredibly precious wish to bring him back... why on earth would I sabotage it with restrictions? Not only would it ruin my credibility as a wish-granter, but it would also set a terrible, petty precedent for future tournaments."
"I wouldn't do something so utterly classless."
Yuji stood frozen in pure shock.
He suddenly realized something. Ever since Mahito appeared, aside from the incident where he forcibly swapped Rice Shower's gender, he hadn't really done anything stereotypically 'evil'. And even the gender-swap thing was, in the grand scheme of the jujutsu world, basically just a really elaborate prank.
And by the time the Dream Migration rolled around, Rice Shower had the points to easily swap back to being a man, but *she* had actively chosen not to.
*Wait a minute...* Yuji thought. *Aside from his incredibly twisted personality... is this guy actually a super nice person?!*
Yuji's expression twisted into something indescribably complex, before finally settling into profound, genuine reverence. "Yes! I understand perfectly!"
Mahito's gaze finally landed on Nobara Kugisaki. "And what about you? What do you want to ask me? This is a rare opportunity. This might be the last time you ever get to speak with a God face-to-face. Ask me anything you want. Even if you want to know the future, I can answer you."
Nobara fidgeted awkwardly, swaying from side to side before finally mumbling, "I didn't really think of anything. I just saw Fushiguro and Itadori coming here, and I felt awkward being left out, so I just kinda tagged along to read the room."
This was an answer even Mahito hadn't anticipated. He burst into uproarious laughter. "You really are the most entertaining one, Nobara-chan!"
Nobara looked even more mortified.
She muttered defensively, "I couldn't just leave these two idiots unsupervised, could I? One of them overthinks literally everything, and the other is a complete meathead with nothing but muscles for brains. If I wasn't here to balance this team out, God knows what would happen!"
This was a lie. The truth was exactly what she said first: she just tagged along because of the FOMO.
Mahito laughed even harder.
Nobara sighed heavily, aggressively scratching her head and messing up her neat bob cut. Then, she suddenly asked, "Before I moved to the city to become a sorcerer... there was an older girl I was really close to... Saori. Could you tell me where she is?"
When given the chance to ask a God anything, some ask for wealth. Some ask for power. Some ask for love. Some ask for their ideals to be realized. Some ask for the fulfillment of their ambitions. And some get greedy and demand a hundred more questions.
Only the purest of souls would use that opportunity to seek closure for a childhood regret.
Mahito looked deeply at Nobara, a faint smile touching his lips. "She works at a corporate office now. It's incredibly grueling. All her former elegance and spirit have been completely ground out of her. She's just an ordinary, exhausted salarywoman. Every day, she's as tired as an old dog in the dead of summer, panting heavily in the shade just trying to survive. Knowing that... do you still want to know where she is?"
Mahito wasn't lying. This exact scene had been depicted in the original manga. The elegant, sophisticated older sister figure Nobara had idolized in the countryside had been utterly defeated by the crushing reality of corporate life. In the manga panels, when Saori remembered Nobara, it was through the rose-tinted glasses of nostalgia. She sincerely hoped Nobara found happiness, completely unaware that she herself had already been devoured by the beast known as mundane reality.
Nobara froze, completely at a loss for words.
Mahito raised his hand and lightly swept it across the low table. A pen and a sheet of blank white paper materialized. He tapped the paper gently. A manga panel rendered itself onto the page—his manga-precognition. By actively focusing on finding Saori's location, the technique automatically generated the future where he found her.
Mahito canceled the panel, jotted down the address on the paper, and handed it to Rice Shower. Rice Shower took small, elegant steps and presented the paper to Nobara.
Mahito smiled gently. "If you want to go find her, then go. But prepare yourself. The elegant, cool older sister from your childhood no longer exists. Your reunion might not be as beautiful as you imagine."
Nobara's emotional defenses completely shattered. She clutched the piece of paper tightly, buried her face in her arms on the table, and let out muffled, incoherent groans of frustration and sadness.
And finally—
Mahito shifted his gaze to Yuta Okkotsu.
"Yuta. Ever since I learned of your resolve to join my faction, I've been waiting for you. Half a month has passed... are you fully prepared?"
Yuta took a deep breath, his expression hardening. "Yes! I am prepared! From this day forward, please instruct me, Your Holiness!"
This was a decision Yuta had finalized long ago. He had told Yuji this back during Satoru Gojo's final fight. If Gojo died and Mahito successfully ascended, Yuta would stand by Mahito's side to witness exactly what kind of world his rule would create.
And now, half a month later, Yuta had settled his affairs and arrived to fulfill that oath.
Mahito nodded in satisfaction and slapped his hand hard against the table. "Excellent. Then I have your very first mission."
"I am ready!" Yuta pressed his lips together, his face radiating the stoic determination of a samurai.
"I received an invitation letter... and honestly, I'm too scared to go myself. So, you're going to act as my vanguard and check it out." A sealed envelope suddenly materialized in Mahito's hand. He casually tossed it directly to Yuta.
Yuta felt an immediate sense of impending doom. *What kind of letter could possibly terrify the 'Finite Omnipotent God'?!*
He looked at the envelope. Written in elegant, flowing calligraphy were the words: *[To Mr. Mahito]*.
With trembling hands, Yuta broke the seal and pulled out the letter. It read:
*[To the boys and girls burdened with extraordinary gifts and endless troubles:]*
*[If you wish to test the true limits of your 'Gifts',]*
*[Cast aside your families, your friends, your wealth, and everything else in your world, and come to our 'Little Garden'.]*
If you were wondering what Yuta Okkotsu had been doing for the past half-month... well, anticipating that Mahito might deploy him to other dimensions, he had used his Special Grade processing speed to binge-watch virtually every popular 'Isekai' anime in existence.
Because of that intense cram session, the moment he read the incredibly familiar phrasing of the letter, he instantly realized exactly what was happening.
Mahito chuckled cheerfully. "I told Tengen once that I could feel a specific gaze watching me from the River of Souls. And when I fought Satoru, that gaze locked directly onto us, watching our battle intently."
"I didn't know what that gaze belonged to back then. But right after the battle ended, this letter simply appeared in front of me. I still don't know *who* was watching us... but I know exactly *where* they're watching from."
"[Problem Children Are Coming from Another World, Aren't They?]."
"Yuta-san. You've read that light novel, haven't you?"
Yuta's only response was to stare blankly and utter a single word:
"Fuck."
In the next instant, Yuta's vision violently and abruptly expanded.
The situation escalated instantly. He found himself in freefall, plummeting from an altitude of roughly four thousand meters.
As the crushing air pressure of the terminal velocity drop assaulted his senses, Yuta felt a profound, self-destructive urge to just give up on life entirely. He screamed with blood-curdling fury:
"MAHITO—! YOU MOTHERFUCKER AAAAAAHHHHHH!!!"
Before his eyes lay a landscape he had never seen before. The horizon stretching out before him ended in a sheer, impossible cliff that looked like the very edge of the world.
Looking straight down, he saw an unknown, sprawling metropolis, completely enveloped within a gargantuan, reality-defying canopy that completely destroyed any sense of scale.
The world unfolding beneath him—was a flawless, completely realized alternate dimension.
THE END