The Spiral Throne’s Still Empty

"He who refuses the crown must still bear its weight." 

— torn scrap from the Last Spiral Chronicle

Jujutsu High — Northern Training Complex 

The Thunder's having a field day up above, the clouds twisting in tight, creepy spirals. A barrier dome's locked down the whole training ground. Just two inside, and the air's thick enough to cut.

Akashi Ryuunosuke: gold eyes, slitted pupils, dragon-blooded cursed energy spiraling off him like he's a living typhoon.

Across from him? Toji Fushiguro—yeah, that Toji. Dead as a doornail but still kicking, thanks to some enforced pact nonsense.

Gojo's outside, looking way too casual, blindfold riding high enough to peek in. Utahime and Mei Mei keep their distance, looking like they'd rather be anywhere else.

"He's ready," Gojo tosses out, almost bored.

"Ready to die?" Mei Mei's voice could freeze boiling water.

Gojo's mouth quirks. "Ready to figure out who the hell he wants to be."

Inside the Arena 

Toji moves before you can blink—zero cursed energy, just that freaky, raw speed and killer instinct. Cleaver swings, aiming to cut more than just meat.

Akashi dodges by a hair, flames licking his arms, wind from the slash actually slicing the air. That's not normal. Not even here.

"You're hesitating," Toji says, like he's pointing out spinach in Akashi's teeth.

Akashi fires back—Dragon Tongue: Spiral Lance. Looks cool, but Toji's gone, reappearing at Akashi's flank, fist already in motion. Akashi goes flying, ribs probably cracked.

"You've got power, but no instinct," Toji grunts.

Akashi spits blood, wipes his mouth. He's right… but screw giving up now.

Hand slaps the ground—runes kick off, glowing hot.

"Ryoiki tenkai."

Abyssal Severance: Palace of Endless Sin.

World flips sideways. 

Broken ivory columns twisted into a black sky. Shattered throne dead center. Fire trickles upward—gravity's just a suggestion here. Cursed souls wailing like a haunted subway station.

Toji pauses, almost impressed. "You built this?"

Akashi's voice is everywhere at once. "Didn't build it. Inherited it."

Outside the Domain 

Gojo's smile drops off a cliff.

"That domain's not just strong… it's alive."

Yaga squints. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It's feeding off him. Tied to something way older."

Inside – One Minute Later 

Toji's bleeding, cuts everywhere. The domain hates him, tries to spit him out, but he won't drop.

Akashi's down on one knee, arm hanging weird, looking wrecked but stubborn as hell. Fire's more like embers now.

Toji looms.

"Finish it," Akashi mutters, voice shredded.

Toji actually laughs, low and mean. "Still trying to die like you're some tragic hero? Grow up kid."

He lets his cleaver clatter. "Kings don't beg to die. They fight until they have to kill."

Hand lands on Akashi's shoulder, solid and real.

Then Toji's gone—pact's over. Just ash left in his shape.

Elsewhere – Kyoto Mountains 

The Spiral Cult's huddled around a crater in the snow. Yoru-no-Kami, the Forgotten Dragon, starts to move.

"The Spiral Throne's unclaimed," a priest drones. "The fire-bearer's blood is the key."

The beast rumbles, voices leaking out like radio static.

"Burn… him…"

Later That Night — Akashi's Room 

Akashi's a mess—bandaged, silent, sitting on his bed like the fight's still echoing inside him. He stares at his palm. The fire's blue now.

"Inherited?" he mutters. "Or chosen?"

Door creaks—Nobara tiptoes in, towel and bowl in hand.

"You're an idiot," she grumbles, kneeling to clean his face.

He tries to protest. "You don't have to—"

She cuts him off. "Shut up."

Silence. Then she leans in and kissed him. Not desperate, not gentle—just real.

"You're not alone. Don't try to be."

Akashi just sits there, finally letting himself breathe.

Jujutsu High — Restricted Archives 

Megumi cracks open a sealed scroll, Gojo hovering close. Inside: dragons, the real kind, and scribbles in some ancient Spiral language.

"The Crownless Throne…" Megumi reads, "It wasn't meant to be taken. It was meant to be broken."

Gojo nods, a rare glint in his eye. "And Akashi's breaking it just by existing."

Shibuya Underground (The Prologue Begins) 

Way below Tokyo, abandoned subway wrapped in cursed flesh, Kenjaku's staring at himself in a fiery mirror. Mahito's there, grinning like a little gremlin.

"So… the dragon kid's finally got some bite."

Kenjaku smirks. "Let him. Teeth can be yanked."

He fades into the darkness.

"Start setting up. Shibuya's about to get interesting."

[End of Volume III]