Index—or rather, the entity now controlling her—floated above the battlefield, radiating a power that chilled everyone to their core. Her eyes, glowing white and devoid of any emotion, gazed down at them with an unsettling calmness. Her robotic voice echoed through the chamber, impersonal and cold, as if it were simply calculating the next step in a preordained process.
"Target identified, mind penetration attack; neutralized," she stated, her tone monotonous and chilling. "Two more enemies detected, one in possession of the Rikugan, identified as Six-eyes. One utilizing residual corrupted mana, obtained through the Book of the Nine Demons."
Her words hung in the air, their meaning clear but somehow distant, like the calm before a storm. She never looked at any of them directly, yet her presence dominated the room. Every breath Kakine took felt heavy, like the weight of the universe was pressing down on him. And Satoru—Satoru Gojo, the strongest sorcerer of the modern era—stood frozen, his focus locked on her, his sharp instincts warning him of the unprecedented threat standing before them.
"Elimination of highest threat to the Librorium… commence."
Index raised her hand, palm open and facing Kurosaki, the one who had started this madness. His mutated form trembled with fear, his eyes wide, utterly incapable of reacting to the force now targeting him. The circle of light that appeared in front of Index glowed with an intensity that was impossible to look at directly. Strange, ancient symbols formed around the glowing disc, each one pulsating with energy that felt older than time itself.
"Caelum Light."
The words were spoken softly, almost delicately, but the power behind them was anything but gentle. A deafening hum vibrated through the air, and the entire world seemed to hold its breath for a fraction of a second. Then, with the force of a meteor striking the Earth, a beam of light exploded from the circle, searing through the air with unholy speed and power.
The ray of light shot toward Kurosaki and Satoru, moving faster than thought, its destructive force beyond anything anyone had witnessed before.
Kurosaki's screams were drowned out by the sheer velocity of the light. They were snuffed out in an instant, as if his very existence had been erased before he had a chance to even comprehend his demise. The force was so immense that it shook the entire mountain, the cavernous structure quaking under the weight of the attack.
When the dust finally began to settle, Kakine's eyes widened in disbelief at the sheer scale of the destruction. Half of the mountain—an entire side of it—had been obliterated. Beyond the jagged edges of the remaining rock, the forest below had been reduced to ashes, and the nearby village that once stood nestled in the foothills was simply gone, as if it had never existed. Even the clouds above had been parted by the sheer force of the blast, leaving a Great canyon in the sky that revealed the deep blue beyond.
For a long moment, there was silence—an eerie, suffocating stillness that followed in the wake of the devastation.
Kakine, feeling the pounding of his heart in his chest, snapped back to reality. "Satoru!" he called out, panic evident in his voice as he desperately scanned the ruined landscape, searching for any sign of his comrade.
"Here," a voice answered from behind him, raspy but unmistakable.
Kakine spun around to find Satoru Gojo, the strongest sorcerer, standing—though barely. He had teleported behind Kakine at the last possible moment, escaping the full brunt of the attack. But Satoru was far from unscathed. He was on one knee, his usually confident stance weakened, a trail of blood running down the side of his face from a nasty head wound. His hair, normally immaculate, was disheveled and damp with sweat, his breathing labored from the toll of the battle.
But what caught Kakine's attention, what made his stomach turn, was Satoru's arm. Or rather, what remained of it.
The skin of his left arm had been completely incinerated, burned away by the Caelum Light. The raw, exposed muscle underneath twitched painfully, blood dripping from the ragged edges of his wound. It was a gruesome sight, the flesh red and raw, the very essence of his arm stripped bare. It would have been far worse if he hadn't managed to teleport at the last moment—Satoru's speed and instinct were the only things that saved him from complete obliteration.
Still kneeling, Satoru stared at his arm, his face a mixture of shock and awe. He had felt the attack—not just physically, but at a deeper level. His Infinity, the barrier that made him untouchable, had been bypassed. It had been removed, not shattered, but somehow negated by the strange power Index now wielded.
'That attack…' Satoru thought, his usually vibrant blue eyes narrowed, fixed on the floating form of Index. The immense force that had just ravaged half the mountain was still hanging in the air, palpable, even in its aftermath. 'It didn't burn… it removed. It bypassed my Infinity like it wasn't even there. And when it did, it… stripped away the skin off my arm. If I hadn't teleported when I did I-' His gaze flickered toward the vast emptiness where the forest and village once stood. 'That blast… It was stronger than anything I've seen—even my Hollow Purple.'
Index… or the entity, turned to face them. Its glowing eyes cold and devoid of emotion.
"Remaining targets; Rikugan possessor, 3rd stage of 6, and…"
She stared Kakine down with an unreadable expression.
"Unidentifiable organism… Detecting abnormal frequency encompassing target".
Her arms spread wide as she stared Kakine down.
"Threat level reassessed; Potential to become a new Magic God"
The room began to vibrate.
"Elimination; begin"
The figure possessing Index was relentless, an unstoppable force as she shot toward Kakine with speed that defied understanding. Her movements were too fast, too fluid for a human body—especially Index's frail form—to withstand, yet her body remained intact, unbothered by the physics that should have shredded her apart.
Kakine's mind raced as he dodged another searing blast of condensed green energy that tore through the earth around him. Every strike left trails of melted glass in its wake, scorching anything it touched. He felt the heat press against his face, the ground beneath him rippling with the sheer force of her attack.
Desperation clawed at him. I need to do something quick! he thought, heart pounding as the relentless barrage forced him backward. He couldn't even gain enough ground to mount a counterattack—she was adapting to his every move.
Suddenly, Satoru leaped in, an orb of red energy spiraling in his hands. With a fierce roar, he unleashed the red energy, a repulsive force that exploded out in a shockwave, catching the possessed Index and hurtling her backward. She rocketed through the mountain, a crater erupting where her body had broken through the rock. Yet, before she could hit the ground, her body halted mid-air, frozen as though suspended in time. Slowly, she floated back upright, her face an empty mask, indifferent and terrifying.
The air thickened with an unnatural energy as the metaphysical form around Index glowed brighter, casting an eerie light that seemed to seep into the sky itself. Suddenly, a wave of delicate, translucent feathers began to descend from above, each feather shimmering as if woven from raw energy.
Kakine's eyes narrowed, his muscles tensing as he felt the ominous weight behind each feather. They floated down with an almost angelic grace, yet their presence radiated something dark, a lethal force hidden behind their beauty.
"MOVE!" Satoru's voice boomed, raw urgency lacing his tone. "Don't let the feathers touch you!" His six eyes followed the feathers with feverish focus, his gaze sharp and calculating, yet even his enhanced perception couldn't break down the full nature of the feathers. They pulsed with an unquantifiable power, something that even Infinity might not hold up against.
Kakine reacted instantly, his six wings spreading wide. With a powerful flap, he sent a gale of dark matter toward the descending feathers, sweeping them away, scattering them like a dark whirlwind. But more feathers continued to fall, endless and patient, each one inching closer, forcing Kakine and Satoru to dodge and weave through the deadly descent.
"One touch, and you'll wish you were dead!" Satoru warned, his eyes never leaving the feathers, tracking every flicker and glide. A bead of sweat rolled down his temple as he realized he couldn't fully predict their paths. They were slipping past his senses, dancing around his every move. This wasn't just power—it was something that transcended ordinary logic, leaving him at a loss for the first time in his life.
What the hell is this? Satoru thought, a flicker of disbelief breaking through his resolve. He had never seen a power like this, and the dread settled in as he took stock of the situation. They were surviving, barely, but survival wasn't enough. They had barely managed to dent the entity possessing Index, and he knew, deep down, that they wouldn't be able to keep this up forever.
If it weren't for the absolute terror humming in his veins, he might have admired her power. The energy radiating from Index was similar to what Kurosaki had done to make the barrier hiding and protecting the village impenetrable, only Index was utilizing it in a more refined, focused, and weaponized manner. The translucent feathers encircling her seemed to pulse with a life of their own, creating a perfect defensive barrier as well as a deadly offense.
"Oi!" Kakine called out, breaking Satoru's intense concentration. Dodging another feather with barely a fraction of space to spare, he glanced over at Satoru, his gaze steady, eyes full of a fierce determination that matched the gravity of their situation. "I got a plan, and I'm gonna need a little help."
Satoru shifted his stance, nodding in acknowledgment even as his eyes remained alert to the feathers falling around them. "What are you thinking?"
Kakine's wings flexed, dark matter flickering at their edges as he kept his gaze trained on Index. "That thing came from the kids subconscious… so she's channeling the energy and knowledge for those 'spells' directly through Index's subconscious—if we can sever that connection, even for a split second, it should weaken her long enough for us to land a real blow."
Satoru's eyes narrowed, understanding dawning. "So, I need to make an opening and keep those feathers off your back while you go in?"
Kakine gave a small, grim smile. "Exactly. I'll get close enough to disrupt her connection, but I'm going to need you to keep those feathers out of my way."
Satoru grinned, his blue eyes blazing. "Alright, time for some old-school exorcism".
The entity's ethereal form wavered, feathers swirling around her in an ominous cocoon as she finally noticed Kakine sprinting towards her, a fierce determination etched across his face.
Kakine moved like lightning, every step measured and precise, eyes fixed on his target with unwavering focus. In an instant, Satoru flanked him, simultaneously deploying both his blue and red techniques. The air bent to Satoru's will, an unseen force redirecting the falling feathers, pushing them off Kakine's path in a controlled cyclone of energy. The entity, not expecting such a rapid offensive move, faltered. Her form flickered, giving Kakine the precious moment he needed.
With a powerful beat of his six dark matter wings, Kakine lunged, his wings slicing through the energy surrounding the entity as they pierced her shimmering form. To an outsider, it would appear as though his attack passed harmlessly through her, doing no physical damage. But within, it struck deep—a reverberation rippled through her entire being. She convulsed, her form flickering and phasing erratically, like a glitch in reality. For the first time, the true figure of Index, unconscious and limp, appeared within, vulnerable and untouched.
Kakine seized the moment. He reached in, his arm steady as he wrapped it around Index's frail form. With a surge of strength and a concentrated push of his power, he yanked her free from the entity's hold. Index's body collapsed into his arms, her face peaceful and oblivious to the battle that raged around her.
Breathing heavily, Kakine looked down at her, relief flooding his features. He hadn't expected it to work, but he'd taken a gamble—and it had paid off. He'd channeled a newly generated element, something that mimicked cursed energy in structure yet defied its rules. It had merged with the entity's form, delivering a shock that disrupted her control and tore her connection to Index apart.
Kakine placed a gentle hand on Index's forehead, feeling the remnants of the entity retreating, sinking deep into her subconscious as it was forced into a shutdown by the sudden influx of data and energy it hadn't been designed to process. Her face remained calm, and her breathing steady, as if she were merely asleep. The entity's form flickered one last time, disintegrating into wisps that faded into nothingness, leaving only silence and the eerie stillness of the battlefield.
Kakine exhaled slowly, holding the unconscious girl securely, his wings retracting as he looked up, meeting Satoru's eyes.
Index's body felt strangely light, almost weightless, as if a burden she hadn't known she carried had suddenly been lifted. Blinking against the brightness filtering into her vision, she squinted and slowly opened her eyes, taking in her unfamiliar surroundings. Her gaze fell on a simple wooden ceiling, and she watched the swaying shadow of a hanging light above her, its warmth oddly comforting as her eyes adjusted.
Sitting up slowly, she felt an ache in her limbs but pushed past it, her senses gradually sharpening. The room was quiet, sterile, yet cozy. She took in every detail with cautious curiosity: two narrow beds lined the wall, each made with freshly laundered sheets, and a small wooden desk and chair sat in a corner beside a cabinet stocked with jars, canisters, and bandages. Beside her bed was a metal tray with an assortment of medical tools laid out neatly, the faint smell of antiseptic hanging in the air.
She shifted beneath the soft blanket, but then paused as she felt the fabric brush against her bare arms and legs—something she hadn't felt in what seemed like an eternity. Her bandages had been removed, though a few patches remained, mostly new and cleanly applied. She raised a hand to her face and felt only a thin layer of fabric over part of her forehead. Slowly, her fingers traced over her right eye, which was now exposed. The sensation was strange, but she couldn't help running her fingers over it again, marveling at the feel of her skin, free of the usual heavy layers of bandages.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps. Startled, she quickly bundled herself under the covers, her heart pounding as she shut her eyes tightly, retreating into the only safe space she could find.
"Good morning," a gentle voice spoke softly, breaking through the tense silence. Index peeked out from under the blankets, just enough to see a woman standing beside her, smiling down with a warm, reassuring gaze. The woman looked tired, with faint circles under her eyes, but there was kindness in her expression. Her long brown hair fell loosely over her shoulders, and a small mole beneath one of her eyes gave her face a gentle, almost motherly softness. "We've been waiting for you to wake up."
Index blinked, her fear momentarily forgotten as she studied the woman's face, searching for any hint of malice. But there was none. Only calm, genuine warmth, as if she'd been waiting patiently for this very moment. Index felt the tension in her shoulders loosen, her heart rate slowing as the woman's gentle presence enveloped her. Still wary, she inched forward slightly, the blankets clutched tightly in her hands as she whispered, "Where am I?"
Kakine's gaze narrowed, his eyes sharp and unwavering as he glared at the insufferably cheerful man smirking back at him.
"What?" Satoru asked with a mock look of innocence, shrugging with a grin that radiated both mischief and unwavering confidence. "I was just making a suggestion—no need to get all angsty about it." He folded his arms lazily, a hint of amusement flashing in his bright blue eyes. "I'm just offering to take the kid off your hands. It's not like I'm gonna rip her away from you. Just thought I'd lend a hand, y'know?"
"I already told you—no," Kakine replied firmly, his tone edged with frustration. "Learn to take a hint… old man."
"Old?" Satoru's indignant cry echoed in the forest as he threw his hands up in exaggerated horror, feigning hurt. "I'm not old! The hair's genetic!" he protested, looking almost comically betrayed.
Kakine rolled his eyes. Every second spent with this guy was already testing his patience, and the offer—if he could even call it that—only made it worse. Satoru, in his typical fashion, seemed unfazed, though a hint of something serious flickered behind his smile.
"Listen, kid," Satoru said, finally dropping some of the playfulness, though his tone remained light. He pushed his dark sunglasses down just enough for Kakine to catch a glimpse of his piercing, unreadable eyes. "I can tell you're… not from around here. The Jujutsu community isn't exactly enormous, but it's big enough that rumors tend to spread… fast," he said, his tone dipping slightly as he emphasized the last word. "And when they do, both you and the kid are going to be in for one hell of a run. It's only a matter of time."
Kakine's jaw tightened, but he kept silent, his gaze fixed on Satoru as he mulled over the implications. Satoru watched him closely, reading every flicker of emotion on his face before continuing.
"Unless…" Satoru's grin returned, bright and easygoing, "you come under my protection."
Kakine scoffed, folding his arms defiantly. "I don't need anyone's protection, trust me on that," he replied, though there was a flicker of unease behind his words.
"Oh, believe me—I know," Satoru replied with a devilish glint in his eye, his voice turning smoother, almost coaxing. "But I already have the reputation that would take you a good, long while to earn, and I think you'd rather avoid the hassle that comes with it, especially with the kid's safety to think about." His words were punctuated by the unspoken truth—they both knew Kakine's abilities made him formidable, but there were dangers in this world that went beyond raw power.
Kakine held his ground, scowling as he mulled over Satoru's words. As much as he hated to admit it, he could see the logic in what Satoru was offering. And the longer he stared into those unwavering blue eyes, the more he realized just how much he'd have to sacrifice to keep both himself and the girl safe on his own.
After a long, grudging silence, he sighed, the tension in his shoulders easing just slightly. "Kakine," he muttered finally, his voice low.
Satoru's expression shifted into a slight frown. "Hm?" He cocked his head with a quizzical look.
"Kakine Teitoku," he repeated, his tone even, unflinching as he offered his name, almost like an unspoken truce.
Satoru's face broke into a mischievous grin, his eyes lighting up with playful intent. "Kakin-chin~".
Kakine's eyebrow twitched, his voice dripping with warning as he glared daggers at him. "You really want to die?"
Satoru just laughed, undeterred.