A terrible being remained hidden in plain sight as it suffered just to keep existing. Its four great arms were each bound by thick chains, strapped to what seemed to be a burning piece of volcanic rock. The mummified corpse possessed two faces and a body covered in tattoos. Despite its age-old appearance if you listened closely, very very closely its heart could still be heard beating.
**
Akumu slowly re-awakened from unconsciousness, and immediately recognised the pale white ceiling, as belonging to the hospital he ended up in a long time ago.
But this time, he was not alone.
He was now surrounded by the friends and teachers that he had made in the last 1 month. His new friend Hagone was sobbing on his bed sheets while being comforted by his grandma who could only continue to pat him on the back.
The beast teacher Yasei was busy scolding the kneeling Owari, who seemed to be on the verge of tears. Arthur was surprisingly there, carrying his sheathed greatsword as per usual. He was standing near the entrance door to the room, despite the little social interactions they had he was happy that he had come to visit him.
And Last but not least, Yukiko could only try to ignore the chaos that enveloped the room, as she also laid in hospital bed opposite of Akumu.
Hagone who was the first to notice Akumu wake up, shouted,
"YOUR ALIVE!!"
Grandma Zenin who finally grew tired from his whining, slapped him on the back of the head and slowly dragged him out of the room. Yasei now comfortable with Akumu's condition also left.
Owari then said,
"It's a miracle your alive ya know? Your skull was completely caved in. If I wasn't there to keep you alive for Jihi to come fix you, I would've been in some deep shit."
"Haha..."
Of course, he let go of all defence for absolute offense. Taking a black flash like that to the head would kill anyone.
"I think I can fight again already."
Owari smiled,
"That's great news. But, can you be honest with me? If you used that skill I taught you, right before Dojima used his Innate technique, then you would've won. Why didn't you?"
Akumu paused to think. But then he replied earnestly,
"I wanted to turn myself into a body pillow to absorb all of his anger. That skill, it wouldn't let me do that."
Owari was rightfully confused by that answer, but then he understood,
"Your crazy... but every strong Jujutsu Sorcerer I know is a little crazy too. You made the right choice."
Akumu was still a little sad he lost to Ken. Just like that everything, that he had accomplished in the last month was about to disappear. Since he was the loser of the match, the binding vow he had established would soon force him out of the school, once he was ready.
His life as a Jujutsu Sorcerer would be finished before it could even start.
Then with some shocking news the Owari said,
"You won the fight."
Akumu yelped, and even Yukiko who was pretending to be asleep was also stunned from the sudden revelation.
"Before the match concluded, Dojima just suddenly decided to forfeit. He said it would be a waste if a talent like you were to disappear."
Although that was his excuse, Akumu guessed it was something else. This fight wasn't all for nothing, he really did manage to get through too him. Even if it only was just a little.
Arthur struggled to find any room to butt in the conversation, so he just abruptly slammed his greatsword into the ground, as he then shouted.
"Akumu Saigo, I thought you were just a nobody, but it seems I was wrong since you managed to get Lady Yumeno's attention. I wasn't expecting to earn another Rival this soon, but mark my words, the one who will earn her love is me!"
Akumu looked at Owari rather confused, before turning his head back to Arthur. He still had no idea who this Yumeno girl was.
Before he left the room however, he then said,
"Out of respect for you on becoming the 6th ranked, feel free to come back to our dorm. But don't get comfortable."
He quickly left.
And not long after Akumu asked,
"So is anyone gonna tell me who this Yumeno girl is??"
Yukiko growing a little frustrated from all the attention he was getting, answered,
"She's the Gojo clan's 2nd daughter. She's also the 4th ranked student in the school, and has already reached the status as a grade 1 sorcerer. Technically, she's even stronger than Ken, so don't bother comparing yourself to her."
Immediately the dots in his head connected. That white haired girl in his class, was Yumeno.
He then had a strange thought. Wouldn't that make her and Owari siblings? Nah they were too different to be related. Yumeno was much more calm and collected than the loud and childish Owari.
He then turned his head to ask him a question, but Owari was already looking at him with murderous intent.
"Don't you even dare think about putting a single hand on her."
'So your going to warn me but not Arthur????'
Owari then took off, so Akumu decided to get some rest for tomorrow.
**
The next day, Akumu was filled with the energy of a thousand men. As he walked through the corridors of A-block, he was now greeted with respect from his peers unlike the awkward stares he received before.
This was the first time he had felt such reverence and superiority.
We'll.. he did become the 6th ranked in just 1 month.
'What do the rest of the ranks even look like? Is there a board? Ehhhh, I'll just ask Hagone next time.'
Finally, one of his dreams to live in peace without bullying was drawing near, but his hopes immediately froze as he saw Ken Dojima waiting for him outside the doors to his classroom.
Ken seeing his presence, hastily walked up to him. The busy corridor suddenly went quiet to observe the interaction between the two giants.
Ken then spoke.
"You can call me big bro Ken now."
He then quickly escaped.
'What?'
Quickly disregarding it, Akumu entered the classroom, feeling grateful that he could now return to some normalcy. In the whole month that he had been at school, this was only his second lesson. He quickly sat down in his usual place in-between Hagone and Arthur, but not too long after finally settling in, Gojo Owari barged in.
"Saigo, Zenin, I need to two of you to come with me."
Already, Akumu could tell this would be troublesome. Omo was about to argue with him, declaring that he had sent him to a random beach the other day.
"You looked so stressed, so I thought I'd send you on a relaxing holiday."
"YOUR OMITTING THE PART WHERE YOU LEFT ME THERE! I HAD TO COME BACK ON MY OWN!"
Yumeno seemed a little distracted by her brother being in the room, but with who he acts, who wouldn't be?
'I've never seen her talk actually..'
Owari then continued,
"It's not me that's asking for them anyway, it's the elders."
The whole class was thrown into a frenzy, so much so that the usually apathetic Yumeno became very perplexed. The only time anyone would ever get called into a meeting with them, is either for expulsion or.... a promotion mission to the special grade status.
This was shocking as in the entire school there were only 3 special-grade students followed by a combined number of 7 special grades in the country.
**
Rightfully frightened, Hagone asked,
"Are we going to be forced on a promotion mission?!"
The missions granted and taken by special-grade sorcerers were not easy. It was recorded that in the last 100 years, 96/121 sorcerers who tried to complete the advancement to special grade status, had died or ran away before completion.
However, Owari reassured them,
"Don't worry you two are far too weak for something like that!"
Akumu wasn't sure if he should've felt insulted, but what he was sure of was that whatever came next would be sure to change his life significantly.
Gojo had taken them to a remote place, with it's location being a mystery to even himself. Despite walking the entire way, Akumu strangely couldn't remember the path he took to get there.
Before he knew it, he was taken into a small white waiting room where Yukiko was too for some reason. She was rather flustered to see him.
"This is as far as I go with you guys. I will be waiting here for you so good luck meeting with them."
The three students were quickly forced into a pitch-black room that was surrounded by nothing but darkness. Hagone was still quivering from fear while Yukiko was struggling to even concentrate while Akumu was near.
4 masked individuals then appeared, each mask wearing a number from 1 to 4. And yet in front of them sat a 5th masked individual who sat higher up on what looked to be a throne. His mask had the number 0. These were the governors of Japan's Jujutsu society.
Then one of them finally spoke.
The masked elder 3 spoke first,
"Welcome semi-grade 2 Yukiko Takeshi, grade 3 Hagone Zenin, and grade 4 Akumu Saigo. We are glad to offer you all an opportunity for promotion."
Number 4 then continued,
"Upon completion of this assignment, all three of you shall be promoted to grade 2."
Yukiko then flinched harshly. The idea of Akumu skipping several grades straight to 2 seemed absurd, but he had more than enough strength to prove it. He just needed the experience to back it up now.
But still.. she felt a little jealous.
The elder masked 1 spoke,
"In the last 100 years, the appearance of Jujutsu has affected and created a great number of religions. One such being the demon king's cult. It's figure of worship, is the long dead Ryomen Sukuna."
The elder masked 4 continued,
"Currently, the last reaming finger of Sukuna which contains a piece of his soul, was confirmed to be targeted by that cult thanks to an insider we planted. You 3 shall assist it's protectors, in moving it to a much safer location."
They all nodded, accepting the mission.
"Good luck."
The world seemed to grow dim, and very quickly everything was dark again. Yet Akumu still found himself surrounded by the elders, while Hagone and Yukiko had already left.
The elder masked 0 finally spoke,
"Grade 4 sorcerer Akumu Saigo. You will be given another mission. You are to assassinate the deserter Jujutsu Sorcerer, who has taken refuge with the demon king's cult. The target's name is Kamo Shinji. Failure to complete this mission will result in the conclusion that you are working for the Curse user, Senjuro and will warrant your immediate execution."
Without saying another word, Akumu immediately bowed as his head, while his blood went still from the thought of committing murder. Yes, his hatred towards Senjuro gave him the desire to kill, but to use that on a stranger he had never met? He had wondered what kind of a person the Kamo clan deserter must be.
'The Kamo clan?? A deserter from a great family??'
"You are dismissed."