Jujutsu Headquarters — Council Chamber
This place was the political heart of the jujutsu world.
Behind layers of wooden screens sat the conservative higher-ups—elder sorcerers who had long abandoned the battlefield.
Instead, they governed the world of jujutsu from the shadows.
Manipulating missions.
Issuing execution orders.
Deciding the fate of young sorcerers.
The room smelled heavily of incense.
A scent meant to appear dignified—
Yet it felt closer to the stale odor of decaying authority.
Today—
They had summoned someone.
Yagami Sora.
A voice spoke slowly from behind the screen.
Old.
Arrogant.
"Yagami Sora."
"Although you possess power comparable to a Special Grade sorcerer, the rules of Jujutsu Headquarters still require a formal evaluation before promotion."
"This rule has existed for generations."
"Even Satoru Gojo underwent the official procedure."
"The content of your examination will be as follows."
"You must exorcise a registered Special Grade cursed spirit independently."
"The location will be—"
"Stop."
Yagami Sora cut the voice off mid-sentence.
He stood in the center of the hall.
Surrounded by multiple Grade 1 sorcerers assigned as guards.
Yet he behaved as if the entire building belonged to him.
He casually picked at his ear.
"I'm not interested in playing childish games."
"I have more important things to do."
"I don't have time to perform for an audience."
"Insolence!"
Another elder's voice exploded with rage.
"These procedures are the rules of the jujutsu world!"
"The hierarchy of sorcerers must be respected!"
"How dare a mere child speak like this!"
"You think raw strength gives you the right to disrespect tradition?!"
"Rules?"
Sora laughed.
The sound echoed through the chamber.
"Rules exist because the strong created them to restrain the weak."
"But when someone stronger appears…"
"…those rules become meaningless."
"You can't control someone who stands above them."
"And frankly…"
"You're not qualified to control me."
The elders behind the screen trembled with anger.
They were accustomed to Gojo Satoru's rebellious attitude.
But even Gojo usually played along—at least superficially.
Yagami Sora did not.
He simply flipped the table.
Then stepped on it.
"Didn't you say there's an exam?"
Sora snapped his fingers.
Madness flickered briefly in his eyes.
"Then let's do it now."
"Save everyone the trouble."
"What do you mean?"
"Release a Special Grade cursed spirit."
"Right here."
"With the resources of Jujutsu Headquarters…"
"You must have plenty of dangerous toys locked away."
"Have you lost your mind?!"
One elder shouted.
"This is the headquarters of the jujutsu world!"
"If a Special Grade cursed spirit goes out of control here—"
"The consequences would be catastrophic!"
"Out of control?"
Sora laughed.
"That phrase doesn't exist for me."
"All vectors are within my calculations."
"…Or are you afraid?"
"Afraid you might die?"
The elders fell silent.
"Since you're too scared…"
"I'll help."
Sora pulled out his phone.
Dialed a number.
"Hello, Ijichi?"
"Bring one of the sealed cursed objects from the warehouse."
"Yeah."
"Ryomen Sukuna's finger."
"Deliver it to headquarters."
"Right now."
"What are you doing?!"
The elders panicked.
Now they realized—
He wasn't bluffing.
Thirty Minutes Later
Inside the council hall—
A monstrous cursed spirit stood roaring.
The creature had devoured Sukuna's finger.
Its body had mutated grotesquely.
Four arms.
Twisted flesh.
Cursed energy leaking like poison.
The pressure alone filled the entire hall.
Even the surrounding Grade 1 sorcerers struggled to remain standing.
"ROOOAR—!!"
The cursed spirit lunged forward.
Mad with hunger.
Craving slaughter.
Behind the screens—
Several elders began preparing escape routes.
The "threat" they constantly lectured about…
Now terrified them more than anyone.
Sora looked up at the monster.
Then sighed.
"…This?"
"You call this a Special Grade test?"
He shook his head.
"Pathetic."
"It's not even worthy of standing near Sukuna."
The cursed spirit roared in fury.
Its claws tore through the air.
In a blink—
It reached Sora.
But to Sora—
It moved like a snail.
He didn't deploy Black Wings.
Didn't use any advanced technique.
He simply raised one finger.
"It's over."
WHOOSH.
Air compressed instantly.
All the atmosphere within hundreds of meters—
Forced into a single point.
At his fingertip.
"Air Cannon."
BANG.
The explosion echoed like thunder.
The cursed spirit's head detonated instantly.
Like a watermelon struck by an anti-tank rifle.
Blood and bone splattered everywhere.
Even reaching the elders' screens.
The monster's body stumbled forward two more steps.
Then collapsed.
Disintegrating into ash.
One attack.
One finger.
No cursed technique.
Just compressed air.
The hall fell completely silent.
Everyone stared in disbelief.
That had been a Special Grade cursed spirit.
An enemy many sorcerers would die fighting.
Yet Sora erased it—
With a single gesture.
He blew imaginary smoke from his fingertip.
Then looked toward the elders' screens.
His eyes full of mockery.
"So?"
"Did I pass?"
"Or do you want me to kill another one?"
No one answered.
Fear sealed their throats.
They stared at him the same way civilians stared at curses.
With pure terror.
"Since no one is speaking…"
Sora shrugged.
"I'll assume that means I passed."
He turned and walked away.
Leaving behind an arrogantly relaxed silhouette.
"Don't summon me again for pointless games."
"I'm busy."
"Busy saving the world."
"I don't have time to play politics with a bunch of fossils."
The chamber remained silent even after he left.
A long time passed.
Finally—
A weak sigh emerged from behind the screens.
"…Another Gojo Satoru."
"No."
Another elder whispered.
Fear filled his voice.
"He's worse."
"Because Gojo still had limits."
"But that boy…"
"…is a complete madman."
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