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The road to my destination felt like a scene straight out of a bleak, almost apocalyptic film. Though there wasn't much destruction in the outskirts, the oppressive emptiness of the streets and the sense of unease hanging over the city made it feel like I had stepped into "I Am Legend". Dust swirled through the air, carried by a faint wind, the only thing that seemed alive in this desolate place. Trash, scattered haphazardly across the roads, reminded me of people who had fled their homes in a hurry. Occasionally, I spotted cars heading out of the city — lonely escapees fleeing from an invisible threat.
The sense of isolation was everywhere. A city once brimming with life now seemed abandoned.
The surge of cursed spirits had hit Tokyo like a tsunami, almost entirely consuming the central districts, turning them into epicenters of chaos. There, in the heart of the city, was utter devastation, despite the efforts of sorcerers who risked their lives daily and nightly to cleanse the areas, like never before. But I was driving through the outskirts, which compared to the city's core, were far more tranquil. Passing through Suginami, Nakano, and Itabashi, I saw nearly untouched buildings, frozen in time. Yet one detail broke the illusion — there were no people. The streets were silent, as if the world had forgotten them.
I rode past apartment complexes with intact facades and shuttered shops. It all looked as if someone had pressed the "pause" button and stopped the life of the city, leaving behind only empty shells. No voices, no laughter, no hum of cars — just emptiness.
Unlike the central districts — places like Shibuya, Shinjuku, Minato, Chuo, Chiyoda, Bunkyo, Taito, Sumida, and Koto, which were almost entirely destroyed and had turned into "red zones" — the outer areas remained relatively untouched, drowning in silence and the illusion of fragile peace.
As for the "red zones," where the concentration of cursed spirits was off the charts and buildings were ripped apart like open wounds on the city's body, the latest reports showed that many high-grade curses were feasting there. Tomorrow, I'd have to pay them a visit.
Why am I paying so much attention to this? After that phone call, my lighthearted mood evaporated like morning mist. I couldn't shake the thought that, in the not-too-distant future, almost every major city in the world would look like this. But the cause would be different. Not cursed spirits, and not some old bastard plotting all this destruction, but the emergence of more than seven and a half billion sorcerers — and one young bastard. Me.
I was sure that in the first few months after that event, the world would descend into chaos, riots, and lawlessness. The old order would collapse, and a new, supernatural world filled with magic would take its place. These thoughts didn't fill me with dread — on the contrary, they thrilled me. I knew it would be dangerous and destructive, that many would hate me for it, that there would be pain and loss. But the mere anticipation of what humanity could achieve with such a resource sent chills down my spine.
What had once started as a dream to turn our lives, filled with an endless cycle of battles, losses, pain, and unnecessary heroics, into something better—something human—had now become something far greater. It was no longer just an expression of my grief over losing someone close. It had become a desire to ignite a true global revolution.
And really, who wouldn't want to spark a revolution of that scale? Especially when you know that, in the long run, it will lead to something truly remarkable.
Sure, many would say it's not up to me to decide how humanity should live and what its fate should be. But who's going to ask them? History is full of examples of supposedly fundamental things being swept away by the tide of change. And many lives have been sacrificed in the process. That's the essence of civilization — people, like sediments in a river, get carried along by the current. Maintaining the status quo is just an illusion, and revolution always comes with pain and suffering.
Cruel? Definitely. Was it necessary? Perhaps not. But no one knew that computers would become an integral part of our lives when Turing cracked the Enigma. Will I go all the way? Yes, of course. At least until I have to sacrifice the ones I care about.
With these thoughts piling up in my mind like a heavy wall, I finally reached my destination — a dilapidated office building that had once belonged to some mobile company. It looked like it had been left to decay: dirty windows, cracked walls, and faded, meaningless billboards.
Before I even turned off the motorcycle engine, I sensed two sorcerers on the rooftop. They were waiting. And only now, feeling their cursed energy, did I finally remember who they were.
I dismounted the bike slowly, cut the engine, and stood still for a moment, listening to the world around me. There were no extraneous sounds — just the wind sweeping trash across the street. No animals, no people.
Satisfied that there was no one nearby but me and the two on the roof, I made my way toward the entrance. The silence of the night amplified the sound of my footsteps on the asphalt. My movements were confident but light, as if I were simply out for a stroll. And in a way, I was — knowing who was waiting for me gave me confidence. I passed by the half-open doors leading into the dark interior of the abandoned building. Inside, the air was thick, heavy with moisture and dust, adding to the feeling of desolation.
Climbing the staircase, which seemed ready to collapse at any moment, I ran my hand along the railing, feeling the cold roughness of the rusted metal. Every step echoed dully through the narrow corridors. Every rustle in the silence seemed louder than it actually was. I counted the floors, moving faster than I probably should have in a place like this, but it didn't concern me. Someone was already waiting for me, and I wasn't about to waste time.
At last, reaching the desired floor, I pushed open the heavy door leading to the roof. It creaked in resistance, but eventually gave way. The fresh night air hit my face, and before me lay the sprawling darkness of Tokyo, stretching endlessly into the distance.
"You're late," a sharp voice greeted me. It was the blonde, dressed in a kogal style, her face twisted in a frown.
"Nanako, that's rude," added her sister calmly. The girl with short chestnut hair, styled in a classic bob, held a doll with a noose around its neck.
"You feel the same way, so why are you acting like a schoolgirl, Mimiko?" Nanako crossed her arms under her chest, clearly irritated.
Nanako and Mimiko Hasaba — the two sisters the original Suguru Geto had once saved, and for whom he became a criminal. Incredible… I thought they had died during the Shibuya incident. But here they were, alive and as determined as ever.
"I've got some bold company today," I smiled at them, ignoring Nanako's harshness. She had always been that way, but her sharpness didn't bother me in this moment.
Looking at them, I already began to guess why they'd called me. But what I still didn't understand was why they came to me and not another special-grade sorcerer. Sure, I was strong — strong enough to have subdued Sukuna — but strength was one thing, and reputation was another. My title as the "King of Destruction of Asakusa" spoke for itself. And while it sounded cool, it carried the infamy of a ruthless figure, a label the sorcerer authorities had made sure to reinforce.
"Alright, I won't keep you here long despite your criminal records," I took the lead, letting a hint of mockery slip into my voice. "So, to spare you all the bureaucracy, let's cut to the chase… You want it with a bang, or without?"
My words made the sisters tense up. Their bodies stiffened as they felt my aura, which had been growing heavier and more intense with each passing day. It was likely because I was nearing the next stage in my power. My presence carried a threatening force that couldn't be ignored.
"We have a deal to offer!" Nanako was the first to speak, despite the fear evident in her voice.
"Didn't work out with Sukuna, so now you're turning to me?" I sneered, throwing them a daring look, trying to bait them.
"How do you know?" Nanako asked, her eyes widening in surprise.
"I guessed… Now I'm sure." I shook my head, satisfied with how easily they'd revealed themselves.
So that's how Sukuna was awakened… But they couldn't have had more than two or three of his fingers, which wouldn't have been enough to fully free him. What really happened?
"You have one chance to explain yourselves," my voice turned serious as I looked them over. "Because soon, two more sorcerers will be arriving here, and I doubt they'll be as patient with you."