In the previous chapter, Gojo and Kaito continued their battle with an unprecedented level of power. Kaito summoned Ea, a sword that defies the laws of reality, while Gojo took his cursed energy to a new level, fusing time and void into devastating attacks. The two unleashed techniques that shook mountains, distorted the sky, and altered gravity itself.
As the battle escalated, Kaito revealed his full sword style and unleashed devastating techniques such as the Final Point Thrust and the Perfect Elimination Slash, while Gojo responded with his ultimate ability: Eternal Return, concentrating time and void into a single sphere of destruction.
The final clash between Ea and the Eternal Return caused a massive explosion that leveled the entire battlefield. Although both were on the verge of collapse, it was Kaito who remained standing. About to deliver the final blow, Ea stopped him. And so, Kaito chose to leave, leaving Gojo's fate in the hands of chance... or his will to continue living.
At the moment
Elsewhere, moments before the end of the fighting, explosions still echoed in the distance, shaking the city. Two cars sped down the road, both heading in the same direction.
In one of them were the first-year students of the School of Sorcery. Ijichi drove seriously, pressing the accelerator firmly. Beside him, Shoko kept her gaze fixed straight ahead. In the back seat, Itadori, Megumi, and Nobara remained silent, absorbed.
In the second vehicle, Akari Nitta was behind the wheel. Beside him and in the back seats, the sophomores peered out the windows, alert for any sign of disaster in the distance.
Itadori broke the silence with a relieved, though still tense, tone.
—At least we managed to coordinate with the others for the evacuation. We finished just in time, don't you think?
Megumi, without taking her eyes off the road, nodded slightly.
—Yes... it was a good decision. I don't want to imagine what would have happened if those two had come to the city.
Nobara, arms crossed and gaze fixed on the horizon, murmured:
—Those monsters fighting... they're scary. I wonder who will win.
Itadori looked out the window, still feeling the distant rumble of the explosions.
"I find it hard to believe that someone could do all that... destroy mountains, the sky itself..." he said, his tone a mix of wonder and fear.
Megumi nodded, serious.
"We're not talking about simple sorcerers. This is far beyond what any of us could face. If that battle had reached the city... it would have been the end."
Nobara frowned.
"And to think one of them is Gojo-sensei. I always saw him as invincible..." she said softly, crossing her arms tightly. "But now, with that guy, that Kaito guy... I'm not so sure."
There was a brief silence between the three of them. The only sounds were the roar of the engine and the wind rushing through the cracks.
"What if Gojo loses?" Itadori finally asked, breaking the silence with a lower voice. "What do we do if he's gone?"
Megumi gritted her teeth and answered without hesitation:
—Then... we'll have to be prepared. Like it or not, if Gojo-sensei doesn't win... we'll be next. We have to be ready to face Kaito.
He looked up at the sky, where a glow still illuminated the clouds in the distance.
—It's not time to think about that yet. If anyone can come out of that fight alive... it's him.
Itadori, without taking his eyes off the horizon, murmured:
—I just hope he wins. Kaito is too dangerous...
Shoko, from the front seat, spoke confidently:
—He'll win. He's an idiot sometimes… but in moments like this, he doesn't lose.
Then he turned his head toward the three students in the back seat and asked:
— "But tell me, who is this Kaito?" Shoko asked, without taking her eyes off the front of her. "When the explosions started and the cursed power spread throughout the city, the higher-ups authorized the evacuation. Most of us sorcerers were sent to help in the areas near the fighting, although the police were the ones in charge directly. We didn't even know who was fighting... until you guys showed up."
Megumi replied, keeping her tone serious:
—We were assigned a mission. The curses in an area of the city had been removed, but we didn't know who was behind it all. So we investigated and met Kaito. He was different from the others. He told us it was a curse, not a sorcerer... or at least, that's what we understood.
Shoko leaned back in her seat and asked thoughtfully:
—So it's a curse? What else did Kaito say?
Itadori, with a somewhat confused look, added:
—Kaito seemed... more human than we thought. I mean, he was inhabiting a human body, the same way Sukuna inhabits mine.
Shoko frowned, intrigued.
—A highly specialized curse... I wonder what kind of curse it is, or how it was created to be able to even confront Satoru.
Megumi and Itadori glanced at each other briefly, before Nobara spoke with a serious expression.
—That guy said he had two names in the past. One was "The Cursed God," and the other... "The First Curse."
Ijichi and Shoko opened their eyes in surprise.
"Really?" Shoko said, incredulous.
Nobara nodded, keeping her face serious.
—Yes, and he also said that he was the one who created the curses that spread throughout Japan.
Ijichi and Shoko were silent for a moment. Shoko was the first to speak, still processing the information.
—Wait, did you see him creating a curse or something?
Megumi nodded without hesitation.
—That's right. He invoked a highly specialized curse. That curse was able to touch Gojo-sensei and even cut him.
Shoko sighed and leaned back in her seat, looking thoughtfully out the window at the scene of the battle.
"Damn... this is complicated." Then, looking at the sky where the crack is, he added, "So, you brought me here just in case things got complicated, right? So I could heal him or something."
Megumi nodded.
—That's right. It's possible that the fight could end with Gojo-sensei injured. You're the only one who can heal him. This kind of fight is difficult to predict; we don't know what might happen.
Shoko spoke, looking out the window:
—But we're still halfway there, we're in the middle of the city.
Megumi, with a serious expression, replied:
—It's best to get as close as possible. The pressure caused by that cursed energy is enormous. Even we had to retreat before the fight reached this level of power to avoid being crushed by the pressure.
Shoko nodded, understanding the situation:
—I see. Then we'll stop further ahead, where we can see some of the fight, at least to see if it's over.
The cars continued moving forward at full speed until they reached a clear area, close enough to try to see if the fight was over.
"Let's wait here," Shoko said. "We're very close to the place now."
Ijichi stopped the vehicle, and the second car did the same behind them. Shoko was about to get out when, at that instant, a wave of cursed pressure paralyzed them. From the battle zone, a beam of red and white light crossed the sky in all directions, while the cursed energy continued to increase.
Shoko slowly got out of the car, sweating. The others did the same, gathering in silence as their gazes turned to the source of the catastrophe.
"Damn…" Megumi muttered, frowning. "What a dense, cursed energy… Before, it felt heavy but bearable, even from a distance. But now… it's like we're right in the middle of combat."
The second-year students approached, watching closely the sky torn by the cursed energy.
"This isn't a fight between sorcerers anymore," Maki said, her face serious, gripping her spear tightly. "It's a war between monsters."
"What if Gojo loses?" Panda asked, his tone serious, crossing his arms. His normally relaxed eyes were now fixed and tense.
Inumaki, frowning, muttered:
-Salmon...
Maki nodded.
—Yeah... I feel it too. That pressure... it's unbearable. And yet, those two keep fighting like the world can take it.
A thick silence spread for a moment. Distant explosions, the cursed energy vibrating in the air, and the reddish light illuminating the clouds created an apocalyptic picture. But, after a few seconds, another wave of cursed energy was unleashed, increasing the pressure even further. The sorcerers opened their eyes in surprise.
Itadori, with a tight smile, commented:
—This power... belongs to Gojo-sensei. He's on Kaito's level.
Megumi nodded, impressed:
—I never imagined it could generate such a large amount of cursed power...
Shoko, who was also watching, said:
—Me neither... That's an impressive amount. It might even match Kaito's.
Nobara, frowning, muttered:
—Those two keep increasing their power...that's how it was throughout their fight.
Maki, her eyes fixed on the horizon, spoke with determination:
—This may be the final attack for both of them.
Megumi replied, in a serious tone:
—So it seems.
At that instant, Kaito's cursed energy increased even further. All the air pressure seemed to accumulate, and a golden glow appeared in the sky, expanding in all directions. In the blink of an eye, Gojo and Kaito's two attacks collided. The energy expanded rapidly, and the sorcerers, almost unable to stand due to the pressure, fell to their knees.
From where they stood, they could see their attacks colliding, each trying to prevail over the other. The tension was so great that, at one point, their cursed energies merged, creating an explosion so powerful that everything shook.
—BOOO ...
A dome of energy suddenly appeared, its intensity so overwhelming that the atmosphere itself seemed to tremble. Instantly, a shockwave propelled itself from the epicenter of the impact, sweeping everything in its path with tremendous force. The sorcerers, though they tried to protect themselves by raising their forearms, could not avoid being struck by the magnitude of the explosion. The air was filled with unbearable pressure as the cursed energy dispersed in all directions.
The sorcerers lowered their forearms, giving up trying to protect themselves. They looked toward the blast site, where the dome of cursed energy was slowly beginning to fade. The pressure of the cursed energy was also dissipating, but a dense, charged air still remained.
Everyone stood there, wide-eyed, speechless. Finally, Itadori broke the silence.
"Is it over yet?" he asked, looking around. The explosions had stopped, and the cursed energy from both fighters had disappeared.
Megumi frowned thoughtfully.
—The explosions... have stopped?
They stared at the horizon for a while longer, waiting for some sign, but nothing appeared. Then, Shoko spoke, breaking the silence:
—Let's go. We'll take the cars and head over. If anything's wrong, we'll pull everyone away immediately.
Everyone nodded silently and quickly headed to the vehicles.
As they drove, they began to notice that many buildings and houses were damaged, with broken windows and obvious signs of damage. After a long drive, they reached the edge of the city and were all surprised to see that the landscape seemed untouched, as if nothing had happened. Neither the streets nor the buildings bore any traces of the battle that had taken place moments before.
Even when they took the path up the mountain and entered the forest, everything remained unchanged, as if the destruction had never happened.
They looked at each other, confused, trying to understand what was happening. The strange calm of the area was unsettling, but they couldn't understand why everything seemed in perfect condition, despite the devastation they knew had occurred.
Itadori asked, with a doubtful expression on his face.
—"What's going on here?"
The others could not respond, as they had no idea what was happening.
As they continued up the road, Ijichi slammed on the brakes. The car came to an abrupt stop, causing everyone to jolt in their seats.
"What happened?" Shoko asked, alarmed.
Ijichi pointed ahead with a pale face.
—Look… the road is gone.
Everyone got out of the car. The second vehicle, seeing them stop, also slammed on its brakes. The others quickly got out and walked to where Ijichi was pointing. When they looked ahead, their eyes widened in surprise.
In front of them lay a gigantic crater. The nearby mountains had disappeared. Everything that had once been forest and relief was now a destroyed wasteland. To descend into the crater, they had to jump over a ravine several meters high.
"How many kilometers wide is this?" Itadori asked, his voice still trembling.
"I don't know... but there are a lot of them," Megumi replied, looking into the distance. "And in the center... there's another, even deeper crater."
Nobara turned around, looking back at the path they'd come in from. She frowned.
—So why is this patch of forest untouched? And the houses too? As if nothing had happened here…
"There must be something else," Shoko murmured. "But now we need to find the others. Can anyone sense Satoru's energy?"
Itadori closed his eyes and concentrated. After a few seconds, he slowly opened them.
—No… I don't feel anything.
"Me neither," Megumi added tensely. "It's like something's interfering."
The others shook their heads, confirming that they couldn't trace the cursed energy either.
"It must be the residual energy," Shoko explained. "It's like trying to use a compass in a magnetic field. You can't determine a clear direction."
"It's best if we split up and explore the area," Maki said, looking at the crater. "It's too big to search as a group."
"What if we split up and Kaito's still around?" Megumi asked hesitantly. "I don't think we can take him on if he shows up."
"Kaito?" Maki repeated, frowning. "Is that the name of the guy Gojo was fighting?"
"Yes, that's his name," Megumi confirmed. "And I don't have to tell you how dangerous he is… you saw for yourself what he was capable of."
Maki nodded silently.
—But who exactly is he?
Nobara stepped forward and told them everything she knew. The second-years were in shock, nodding with serious expressions at every word.
"So… how will we split up?" Itadori asked, looking around.
Megumi took a deep breath and nodded.
—Let's organize it properly. We can't fail now.
"We'd better go in groups of two," Maki said firmly.
Megumi nodded, and immediately prepared to summon her shikigami.
energy trail.
Everyone nodded at the plan.
The teams were organized as follows:
First group: Shoko, Itadori and Megumi.
Second group: Panda and Inumaki. Third group: Nobara and me.
Shoko looked at the audience and spoke seriously:
—Ijichi and Nitta had better stay here, in case things get complicated.
They both nodded without objection.
Then Megumi stepped forward, quickly clasped her hands together, and concentrated her cursed energy.
—Escape Rabbit —he said.
From his shadow, hundreds of small rabbits made of cursed energy emerged. The shikigami began to spread out in all directions.
The rabbits crossed the forest, went down the crater, slipped between rocks, ruins and debris, while the groups separated and advanced towards different areas of the devastated terrain.
The groups continued their search, each exploring different areas of the terrain. Some ventured deeper into the gigantic crater, advancing cautiously until they reached the central crater.
Panda stopped at the edge of the abyss, staring down at the inside with a tense face.
"This hole is huge… I can't even see the bottom. How the hell did they do it?" he said quietly.
Inumaki, frowning, muttered:
-Salmon.
Panda crossed his arms, trying to calculate.
—It must be between three and five kilometers in diameter, maybe more… And the depth… we're standing inside the largest of them all. It's difficult to measure precisely.
Inumaki muttered:
-Salmon.
Panda nodded.
—It's best to keep searching, but the cursed energy here is too dense. Even my body feels heavy just walking... Let's keep going.
Inumaki nodded as well, and the two continued their exploration through the cursed mist that still permeated the air.
Meanwhile, Nobara and Maki's group circled another section of the large crater. In the distance, they made out a chain of mountains. Several were pierced by a gigantic gap. Some had even collapsed, others were completely destroyed.
Maki narrowed her eyes and spoke in a serious tone:
—How much damn energy does it take to do something like that?
Nobara replied seriously:
—Maki- senpai … when we saw the fight between Gojo and Kaito, at first it seemed like Gojo had the advantage. But at one point, his hold was destroyed. Kaito countered it… without even using his own.
Maki opened her eyes in surprise, looking back at the mountain.
"That's... incredible." He gritted his teeth, taking a deep breath. "Let's keep looking."
The group of three—Shoko, Megumi, and Itadori—reached the far side of the large crater. It was then that they noticed a vast path of destruction, a deep trench that cut straight through the terrain, as if something had been pulled with tremendous force.
The three looked at each other in silence, and without saying a word, they began to walk in the direction of the destruction.
After several minutes, they reached the foot of a mountain. Looking up, they stopped immediately.
There, embedded in the rock, was Gojo.
His body seemed suspended half a meter from the center of the vertical crater. His clothes were torn, his face hidden in shadows, and his cursed energy was barely perceptible… but he was still alive.
The three of them opened their eyes, frozen in place.
They didn't know what to say. Or what to think.
Itadori was the first to react.
—Gojo-sensei!
Shoko dropped her cigarette to the ground as she saw the figure embedded in the rock.
"Satoru…" he whispered, his face serious.
Megumi clenched his fists, tense.
—Gojo-sensei… but how come you're here? This place is several kilometers from the main crater…
Itadori looked at the crater in the mountain with a frown.
—Besides, it's huge… we have to get it down from there. But how?
Shoko quickly turned to them.
—Itadori, call the others. Megumi, use your shikigami. The best ones for this. Gojo is hurt, he has deep cuts and is losing a lot of blood. We need to get him down carefully.
Megumi nodded wordlessly. He took a step forward, clasped his hands, and muttered the invocation. A silhouette began to materialize in front of him, shrouded in dark smoke.
"Nue," he said firmly.
From the shadows behind Megumi, the winged figure emerged, flapping its wings with a low roar. Nue streaked across the sky, rising swiftly and flying toward the crater.
"Put him down carefully," Megumi ordered, without looking away.
Nue descended to where Gojo lay, gently grasped his shoulders, and with slow but steady movements, freed him from the rock that imprisoned him. Then, he began to descend, carrying his master's wounded body until he lay on the ground in front of the group.
Shoko approached without a word, knelt beside him, and began a quick examination. Her expression changed when she saw the wounds.
"Deep cuts, multiple fractures… he's losing a lot of blood," he said softly. He placed his hands on Gojo's chest as he began to channel his regeneration technique. "But he's still breathing… he's still alive."
The silence thickened as everyone watched. Megumi and Itadori stared at their teacher, covered in blood, but still alive.
"Hang on, Satoru," Shoko murmured, cursed energy flowing over the open wounds. "Don't you dare die now."
Itadori took out his phone and called the others.
"We found him," he said, his voice firm. "Come to our location."
It took a few minutes for Shoko to finish the initial treatment.
"It seems he's no longer in immediate danger, but his cursed energy is almost depleted," he said, his face tense.
"Then he won't wake up anytime soon," Megumi commented.
—I'll have to run more tests. There might be brain damage too… We can't know that here, so we need to get him in as soon as possible.
At that moment, the others rushed over. Seeing Gojo unconscious, they fell silent. Itadori and Megumi explained how they found him and that they planned to take him immediately.
"It's best if no one else knows Satoru is in this state," Shoko said seriously. "Not everyone likes him... and if word gets out, they might come after him. It's best to keep this a secret until he wakes up."
Everyone nodded without arguing.
Itadori bent down, carefully picked up Gojo, and carried him on his back. Without saying a word, he started walking back to the car. Beside him, Megumi undid the summons with a quick movement of her hands.
After a while, everyone arrived at the vehicle. They carefully loaded Satoru into the back seat. No one said anything. The atmosphere was still tense.
Shoko sat in front and quickly dialed the address.
—Take us to a safe place. I have the necessary medical equipment there. We can't waste time.
Ijichi nodded silently and started the car. The second vehicle followed closely behind.
The chariots advanced through the destroyed landscape, moving away from the crater, the intact forest, and the mystery left behind by that battle between monsters.
After arriving in the city, the vehicles headed straight for the shelter designated by Shoko. It was a discreet, reinforced, and emergency-ready building. They carefully unloaded Gojo and wasted no time, carrying him inside.
Shoko quickly prepared the stretcher while the others stood outside in silence.
"Leave him here," he ordered, and immediately began the medical examinations.
As the minutes passed, the monitors displayed unstable readings. Shoko watched Gojo's brain waves and the flow of cursed energy with a frown. Finally, she sighed and left the room.
"He's in a coma," she said firmly, looking at the group. "I don't know how long it will last. His cursed energy is still present, but it's minimal. Neurological damage could also be interfering. I'll monitor him constantly to see how he progresses."
There was a moment of silence. No one said anything at first. Then Megumi stepped forward.
—We'll take turns standing guard. We won't leave him alone.
The others nodded. No one questioned him.
Itadori looked through the glass, observing his teacher lying motionless on the stretcher, covered in bandages, on life support. He clenched his fists.
—We'll be here when he wakes up.
Nobara crossed her arms, serious.
—And if anyone comes looking for him with bad intentions, they'll have to go through us.
Somewhere else, before everything.
Kaito just sighed. He took one last look at Gojo, then looked ahead and disappeared from the scene.
A moment later, in a distant area, Kaito appeared in the air, hovering above a nearly destroyed building. He looked around: everything was in ruins. The only thing still standing, albeit barely, was the building beneath his feet.
He began to descend slowly, until he reached the rooftop . He stood there silently, assessing the damage.
—So the power struggle has come to an end… —he thought.
He looked up for a moment, thoughtful.
—Now that I think about it… why didn't Satoru have any burns on his body? His body was injured, yes… but there was no sign of heat or combustion. Did he use his Infinity Barrier at the last moment? Or was it something else?
The sword in his hand vibrated slightly. Kaito looked down and sighed.
— Tch …
He rose again and floated toward a hole in the side of the building, on the top floor, the same one he had exited with Gojo before the fight. He entered through the opening leisurely, floating into his apartment.
Everything was destroyed.
Kaito silently descended into the living room. He looked at the remains for a few seconds, then spoke indifferently:
—This is a disaster…
Kaito released the Ea sword and it began to float around him.
He crouched down and placed the palm of his hand on the ground.
"Restore," he murmured.
He unleashed his cursed power. Red lines emerged from his hand, rapidly branching out through the building. An instant later, Kaito sent out more power. The lines spread through the nearby houses, part of the forest, and the dry land around them.
Then everything began to be rebuilt.
The ground closed, sticking together as if it had never been damaged. The concrete knit itself together again. The trees regained their original shape, branches snapped back into place, and broken windows mended themselves, sealing every crack in the building.
The restoration was perfect, as if the destruction had never occurred.
Kaito stood up as light slowly returned to the apartment. He let out a long breath, walked over to the couch, and sank down calmly, feeling his body weight rest on the barely restored structure. His armor hung broken over his body; half was completely destroyed, the other half cracked and worn all over.
He turned his head towards the window, watching his reflection in the glass.
—I don't think you can still think of me as Shiro Tanaka. I took his body… fused it with my own, choosing the best of both. But this body is also a weapon.
He closed his eyes slowly.
—Restoration, modification function…
Red lines began to run across his skin, but just then he opened his eyes sharply, brought his hand to his mouth, and spat out blood. He looked at her.
—Damn… I ran out of damn energy…
He leaned forward, breathing heavily.
—I can still do it… I can still change it…
His voice cracked a little, but he didn't hesitate.
—Restoration… modification function…
The red lines ran through him again, this time with greater intensity, spreading even more intensely. Within seconds, the transformation began to complete.
Her hair returned to its former shape, regaining its original cut, the lines on her face softened, and although her eyes lost their black sclera, the red remained. The figure now reflected in the glass was the same as before.
Kaito looked at his clothes, his gaze turning tired as he muttered in a low voice:
—Damn… I don't think I can change it. My body feels heavy, even though I've only changed my appearance a little. It tires me out all of a sudden.
He sighed, looking down at the Ea sword, which had been floating around him.
—It's time for you to come back.
The sword emitted a faint glow, its red radiance flickering briefly before it began to fade into golden dust.
Kaito stared up at the ceiling, but his body didn't move. His eyes slowly began to close as he muttered softly:
"I feel tired. This body is still half human, half curse , but it's more perfect this way. Though the habits of sleep… and hunger, I don't think they'll ever disappear… though they won't affect me… but I think I'll stop… aging."
His eyes closed completely, letting out an almost inaudible sigh.
The night passed normally until, at one point, Kaito began to open his eyes. A sudden sound invaded his mind, as if something was cooking or frying. He only just smacked his face when he opened his eyes and glanced sideways toward the kitchen, where his butler, Masayuki, stood.
"Masayuki... what are you doing here?" Kaito asked, still sleepy.
Masayuki calmly turned around, bowed, and replied politely:
—Shiro-sama, I hope you rested well.
Kaito nodded, saying nothing further. Masayuki continued:
—I'll serve you breakfast, give me a moment.
She took what she was cooking, served it on a plate—they were eggs—and placed them on the dining room table, next to a glass of orange juice.
—It's ready, Shiro-sama.
Kaito stood up, walked slowly to the seat, sat down, and began to eat in silence.
As he cut a piece of egg, he muttered without looking at anyone:
—Aren't you going to ask anything?
Masayuki, standing beside him, barely bowed his head.
—I'm waiting for you to tell me, Shiro-sama.
Kaito looked down at his plate, chewing calmly.
—If you want answers, just ask. I'll answer… And you, tell me too: why are you here?
Masayuki nodded, keeping his tone calm.
—During all the chaos last night… the explosions, the destruction… we were all evacuated. But I didn't see you among the others. I came back this morning to look for you. I couldn't stay in the dark.
"I see," Kaito said, expressionless. "So you came back out of loyalty. I understand. So? What do you want to know?"
Masayuki looked closely at his teacher's clothes.
—That outfit… is it armor?
"Yes," Kaito replied without hesitation. "Although it's quite damaged."
Masayuki looked away slightly, as if holding back.
—Sir… what happened? And why is your armor like that?
Kaito looked at him calmly out of the corner of his eye.
—Do you know what witchcraft is?
"I've heard of her... vaguely," Masayuki replied, his tone measured.
Kaito let a small silence fall before continuing.
—Last night, me… and another sorcerer. We were responsible for all of that. The explosions, the destruction… everything.
Masayuki opened his eyes slightly in surprise, but didn't say anything for a moment. Then he looked down.
—So it was you… So, you are a sorcerer.
"I thought no one opened up about sorcery," Kaito said with a certain neutrality, almost reflective.
Masayuki nodded gently.
—Before serving you, I served your parents. They sometimes mentioned sorcerers. We never got involved, but we knew they existed… at least in rumors.
"I see... so they knew too," Kaito muttered, putting his fork down on his plate.
It was then that Masayuki looked him straight in the eyes, more serious than ever.
—Shiro-sama… you're not Shiro-sama anymore, are you?
Kaito stopped. He wiped his mouth with his napkin and slowly looked up, meeting Masayuki's eyes.
—What do you mean? No… wait. You know something, right?
Masayuki didn't look away. His voice was soft but firm.
—Their gestures, their way of walking, their voice… everything is similar. But it's not the same. Something's missing.
Kaito looked at him silently.
—Shiro-sama had a cold gaze, yes… but there was something else. A hidden warmth. A hint of humanity and kindness. You… you don't have that.
Kaito stepped forward, showing no fear.
—Those red eyes I see now… they hold no compassion. They're empty. As if something—or someone—else were behind them. That's why I ask you, respectfully, but firmly…
Masayuki gently clenched his fists.
—Who are you really?
Kaito looked down for a moment, then stood up fully and looked at him directly.
—I took responsibility for his burden... and I will continue to do what he did, no matter the consequences. Because that's the right thing to do. I am Kaito Kagyo... but I am also Shiro Tanaka.
Masayuki sighed serenely.
—I see… so your name is Kaito. May I ask more about your story? Who are you… and why are you in Shiro-sama's body?
Kaito approached the sofa and sat down calmly.
—Sit down. It'll take some time to explain everything.
Masayuki nodded and sat down opposite him.
Kaito leaned back slightly on the sofa and began to speak, his voice calm, but heavy.
He told his story from the beginning. He talked about how he lived with his family during his early years, about the happy moments… and how everything fell apart. They were killed one by one. Only he and his mother survived. But even that didn't last.
His mother, marked by suffering and despair, slowly fell into an abyss from which she could never escape. In the end, she took her own life before his eyes.
He was left alone. A child lost in a world that had no place for someone like him. He survived as best he could, each day further from hope. But even in that darkness, his will did not disappear.
Over time, he was reborn. He rebuilt himself as someone new. And with that, he set out on his path of revenge. He achieved what he sought… but what he discovered at the end broke him even further: his sister, whom he believed dead or lost, had betrayed him from the beginning.
Consumed by grief and rage, he was the one who created the first barriers that covered Japan. A system that induced the constant formation of curses, transforming the entire country into an uncontrollable source of cursed energy.
When his body could no longer hold out, he sealed himself within a ring. Years later, that ring was placed on Shiro Tanaka's body by special-grade curses… and a sorcerer of the same level.
That's how he woke up in a strange body. At first, Shiro's memories invaded him, confusing him. But over time, he understood what that young man had been... and what he had lost.
"I didn't choose his body," Kaito said, his gaze never leaving Masayuki's. "But since I took it, the least I can do… is continue his will. Not out of guilt. Out of respect.
So tell me… what do you plan to do, Masayuki?"
The silence stretched for a few seconds. Masayuki had listened to everything without interrupting, his eyes wide open, filled with conflicting emotions. But upon hearing the question, he finally answered in a low, firm voice.
"I don't know… but I suppose I'll still be your butler. You were placed in Shiro-sama's body without your consent. That bothers me. I took care of him from the time he was a child until he became a man… and now… I don't know what to think." She paused, then looked him straight in the eye. "But if I can ask one thing of you… it's this: I want you to follow the path Shiro would have followed. To live as he would."
Kaito nodded solemnly.
—You don't have to worry about that. I'll pretend he never disappeared.
Masayuki nodded calmly, but his face had not lost its seriousness.
"Also... I want to ask one more thing of you," he said. "I don't want Shiro's soul to go unpunished. Find those who placed you in his body... and kill them."
Kaito looked at him silently for a moment. Then he nodded convincingly.
—Okay. If I find them... I'll kill them.
Masayuki sighed, then asked with some doubt in his voice:
—Sir… hmm , what should I call you now? Kaito or Shiro?
Kaito looked up, calm.
—Call me whatever you want. After all… I'm both.
Masayuki smiled slightly, almost nostalgic, and nodded.
—So, Kaito-sama… what do you plan to do?
Kaito answered without hesitation:
"First, I will reestablish my clan in this world. Second, I will spread the cursed energy across the entire planet. And third… I will eliminate anyone who stands in my way. I may have to kill those who control the Sorcerer's Association of this era. So we must prepare. Now that you know who I am… that means you're from the clan, right?"
Masayuki lowered his head in respect.
—I understand. So those are your plans... but I don't quite understand this "expanding the cursed energy" thing.
Kaito closed his eyes for a few seconds before answering.
—One reason is that the cursed energy belongs to humanity. And the other… is simple. The people who feared us for being sorcerers actually wanted that power for themselves. If everyone in the world had access to the cursed energy, no one would view it with greed. No one would justify a massacre like the one my clan suffered. If they had been sorcerers, they wouldn't have created an excuse to exterminate us.
Masayuki watched him closely, and spoke with concern.
—But if you do… not everyone will be able to control that power. The world will fall into chaos.
Kaito looked at him calmly.
—Don't worry about that. Even if the world becomes destabilized, humanity will encounter a common enemy: curses. If people don't understand this immediately, they will eventually. With each generation, as genes spread, everyone will end up a sorcerer. Humanity will evolve... or be destroyed. Either way, the wish I had in the past will be granted.
Masayuki spoke thoughtfully:
—So… I understand. But how do you plan to get more wizards or companions?
Kaito responded naturally:
—Actually, I don't need them. I can only represent the clan. But it's true that we need allies… Not necessarily purebloods, but allies like you.
Masayuki adopted a thoughtful expression. Kaito glanced at him, then stood up. With his fingertips, he touched Masayuki's forehead.
At that moment, Masayuki opened his eyes in surprise.
"Don't stop it," Kaito said. "Let it flow."
A small flame of black energy with gold edges emerged from Kaito's finger and entered Masayuki's body. But as it did, the flame changed, turning a light blue. Kaito closed his eyes and channeled his cursed energy, causing it to flow throughout Masayuki's body, then calmly returned to his seat.
"Do you feel anything different about yourself?" he asked.
Masayuki looked around and replied, confused:
—No… I don't feel anything… Wait. Yes, I do feel something. My body feels refreshed. Different…
He looked at Kaito with a mixture of wonder and fear.
Kaito frowned slightly.
—Can you see anything?
Masayuki nodded, still shocked.
—I can't see clearly, but… I sense the cursed energy. It's all over the room. I don't see it, I feel it… with my senses, as if it were oppressing me.
Kaito sighed calmly.
—Don't worry about it. Get used to the feeling. You probably won't awaken a cursed technique like the sorcerers, but at least you'll be able to see the curses. That will make you stronger… and keep you safer.
Masayuki nodded.
Kaito settled into his seat and said:
"I need a few more days to fully recover. A week should be enough. In the meantime, take care of the business. And have the injured rest at home until they're fully recovered."
Masayuki stood up and bowed respectfully.
—Understood, Kaito-sama. I'll do my best.
Kaito nodded.
Masayuki walked towards the elevator and as he did so, he commented:
—Sir, the other tenants of the building will arrive soon, since the building is completely repaired. I will let you know if they cause any inconvenience.
Kaito replied without raising his voice:
—Okay… Oh, one more thing. The wizard I fought… was the one with white hair. If you ever run into him, be careful.
Masayuki paused for a second, then nodded seriously.
—As I suspected, sir... it was them. But don't worry. They don't seem like bad people.
He got into the elevator and left.
Kaito stood up and looked at his attire. He walked slowly around the room as his armor crumbled into golden dust, disappearing completely. Then, he went to the bathroom, took a leisurely shower, and changed his clothes.
Afterward, he lay down peacefully on the bed for a few minutes. The silence of the room offered him a strange respite.
Finally, he sat up and muttered to himself:
—I should try that… I haven't used it since I came to this age.
He left the room and headed toward the patio. He walked calmly to the pool, took off his shirt, and without hesitation, stepped into the water. The contact was refreshing. He submerged himself completely and then began to swim silently, letting time pass as his thoughts floated with each stroke.
Time passed peacefully.
Several days later, Shoko could be seen on the building's terrace, leaning against the railing while smoking a cigarette. She exhaled slowly, looking up at the sky with a thoughtful expression.
"It's been eight days since that fight ended... and he still hasn't woken up," she murmured to herself. "His body is intact, even his cursed energy is stronger than before... but he's not awake.
Did he kill that Kaito guy? Hmm ... I don't know."
He finished his cigarette, put it out in the ashtray, and returned to the building. He went down the stairs to the area where Gojo was being treated.
As she opened the door, she froze for a moment. Her eyes widened in surprise.
Gojo was sitting on the stretcher, his expression relaxed. Seeing her, he glanced at her and smiled.
— Oooh , Shoko… it's been a while, how are you doing? —she said with a smile—. Hahaha…
It took Shoko a second to react. Then she narrowed her eyes, crossed her arms, and leaned against the doorframe.
"Do you have any idea how scared you were?" he said dryly. "Eight days in a coma. We were keeping you alive, but without a single sign. Do you know how many cigarettes I had to smoke during that time?"
Gojo smiled with his carefree air.
— Eh ... that's not my fault. You should quit smoking, he replied, laughing.
Shoko let out an exasperated sigh, but relief was evident in her eyes.
—Idiot. I'm glad you're okay. But I need you to tell me everything. Everything that happened out there.
Gojo was silent for a moment, lowering his gaze. His voice changed to a more serious tone.
—I fought something that shouldn't exist in this era. Kaito isn't like the others. His sword, his skills... there's no comparison.
Shoko frowned.
—Did you defeat him?
Gojo slowly shook his head.
—No. I thought he'd kill me. I guess… he let me live.
"He let you live?" Shoko repeated, surprised.
—Yes. I still wonder why. —Gojo slowly lay down on the stretcher.
Shoko was silent for a moment, staring at the ground. Then she spoke again.
—You need to make a full recovery. You know how the higher-ups are. After a fight like that, everyone's going to want answers.
Gojo closed his eyes calmly.
—I'm sure... but there's no rush for that.
Shoko looked at him seriously. Then she walked over and tapped him lightly on the forehead with two fingers.
—Whatever you say, idiot. I'm going to call the others and tell them you're awake.
Without saying anything else, he left the room.
Gojo slowly opened his eyes. He stared at the ceiling with a serene expression and muttered to himself:
—Kaito...