Chapter 40: Despair and Hope

Tokyo.

The road from Shinjuku back to the academy passed through a remote, circular mountain path.

It was an isolated and desolate trail that Ijichi had taken earlier.

According to the academy's intelligence, there shouldn't have been any cursed spirits of this level in the area.

Staring at the humanoid curse standing atop a wave of flames, the four people inside the car were paralyzed by the overwhelming cursed energy.

The curse wore a beige cloak speckled with black dots. Its head resembled a miniature volcano, with a single eye in the center of its forehead and pitch-black teeth.

"Can't even withstand the aura of stray cursed energy, huh?"

"As expected, humans these days are nothing but weaklings."

Looking at the black car forced to a stop in front of him, the cursed spirit, Jogo, walked forward with a look of disdain.

As the special-grade curse inched closer, the sense of despair inside the car grew heavier.

Forcing down the terror rising in her chest, Nobara bit her lip until she tasted blood.

Using the pain to keep her body responsive, she slowly inched her hand toward her waist pouch.

"This… this is a curse from the big city?"

Nobara barely managed to squeeze out the words, but it was enough to reignite everyone's survival instincts.

"Weren't we all planning to die surrounded by adoring fans?"

Itadori clenched his teeth, his body trembling as raw power began to surge within him.

Bang! Bang!

The front and rear car doors were kicked open in an instant.

Thanks to Nobara's reminder, Ijichi and Fushiguro quickly reacted.

"Quick! Get out of the car now."

Ijichi shouted, his eyes locked onto the slowly approaching special-grade curse.

The difference in power was overwhelming; if they stayed trapped in the car, death was certain!

As they scrambled out of the car, Jogo sneered, unimpressed. "Pointless struggling."

His leisurely pace was like a casual stroll after dinner.

The stark contrast between his nonchalance and the sheer terror on Itadori and the others' faces was painfully apparent.

Regaining some strength, Itadori rasped, "Fushiguro, if I let him out, do you think you guys can escape?"

Fushiguro answered grimly, "If Sukuna comes out, the first thing he might do is kill us."

"Besides..."

His gaze swept over the path behind them, now engulfed in flames, his expression growing darker.

"Our escape route is cut off. The only chance we have is to hold out until Gojo-sensei notices something's wrong and comes to help."

Nobara, blood trickling from her lip, tightened her grip on her hammer and nails. "Before we die..."

"At the very least, let's see if we can peel off a layer of that volcano head!"

Boom!!

In that split second, a pink lotus-shaped beam shot through the car's windshield, slamming straight into Jogo's head.

Smoke billowed into the air as a familiar voice rang out from the car.

"Don't worry, little brothers! Trash like this? I'll take care of it in no time."

"It's White Zetsu!!"

Tears of relief welled up in Itadori's eyes. For a moment, he almost wanted to truly acknowledge this "big brother," but then suddenly froze.

"A cursed spirit that sides with humans… how pathetic."

The voice that came from within the smoke was dripping with mockery, and Itadori's brief moment of relief turned back into dread.

Fushiguro and Ijichi remained as tense as ever. They had never believed that one shot from White Zetsu could take down a special-grade curse.

As the dust settled, Jogo stood there, his cloak completely untouched.

"The difference in power is like heaven and earth..."

"You humans can no longer even comprehend what true strength and reality are."

Jogo's mocking gaze lingered over Itadori and White Zetsu for a few extra seconds.

One was the vessel of Sukuna, the King of Curses.

The other was a strange, intelligent cursed spirit, and also Jogo's target.

"That fool Suguru seriously underestimated me..."

Jogo sneered, lazily raising a hand. Three firefly-sized insects, glowing ominously, appeared.

"For something as worthless as this, sending me was overkill. I thought I'd get a real challenge."

The fireflies, though small, held terrifying amounts of energy.

With a casual flick of his fingers, Jogo sent the three insects hurtling toward Ijichi, Fushiguro, and Nobara.

To him, they were nothing more than useless garbage.

Each beat of the insects' wings brought the three of them closer to death.

Watching the attack close in, Nobara, Ijichi, and Fushiguro had no time to react.

Memories of Shoko's rare smiles flashed through Ijichi's mind as his fear slowly subsided into calm acceptance.

Nobara felt a deep regret, lamenting that she hadn't been able to see her sister Saori one last time in Tokyo.

As for Fushiguro...

He didn't regret much, except for one thing—his hesitation.

When they had escaped the car, he should've immediately used the forbidden Ten Shadows Technique, one that could've killed the special-grade curse along with him.

Had he done so, Itadori and Nobara might've had a chance to escape.

Now, there wasn't even time to chant a curse or form a hand sign.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Deafening explosions shook the night as three columns of fire shot into the sky!

The flashing moments of their lives stopped abruptly as Fushiguro, Nobara, and Ijichi stared in confusion at the oval-shaped shield that had appeared in front of them.

"I told you, this kind of trash can be crushed by me with a flick of the wrist."

"You didn't even need me to lift a finger—my top lackey could've handled this volcano head by himself."

White Zetsu's smug voice echoed around them.

"You agree, don't you, Mirai?"

At some point, Mirai had appeared on the battlefield. She gave White Zetsu a cold glance but didn't bother to contradict him.

After all, his phone call had been well-timed.

Had Fushiguro died here, it would've thrown her final plans into complete disarray.

"Mirai-sensei!"

Ijichi, still reeling from the brush with death, shouted with relief.

"Zen'in Mirai!"

"The backup for the mama's boy."

"White Zetsu's little brother?"

The three names echoed in the minds of Fushiguro, Nobara, and Itadori.

A special-grade curse like Jogo, huh...

Mirai's expression tightened as he gazed at the curse in front of him.

Something was off—the world's trajectory had shifted, and some hidden force was at play.

Whoever had managed to predict their route and lure Jogo out had to be Kenjaku.

"Oh? Finally, someone worth warming up for."

Jogo twisted the stone plugs in his ears, his single eye gleaming with excitement.

"Pink-haired brat, little miss delinquent, hurry up and hide behind me," White Zetsu called out, squatting behind Mirai and waving at them.

"If you don't, I'm afraid you won't survive even the aftershocks."

Nobara suppressed her urge to punch White Zetsu as she and Fushiguro reluctantly took cover behind Mirai.

"Is that the backup for the mama's boy?" Nobara asked Fushiguro in a hushed tone. "Can he win?"

Gripping her hammer and nails tightly, she prepared to assist at any moment.

Fushiguro, his face heavy, shook his head. "I don't know."

"He's another teacher from the academy, but I've never seen him fight."

As the group braced for the battle ahead, Mirai turned and flashed them a gentle smile.

"Since all the first-years are here, how about I give you an early lesson?"

White Zetsu, ever the opportunist, nodded in agreement. "Watch closely and learn well!"

"This is a special night class on the pinnacle of jujutsu sorcery."

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