The neon buzz of Tokyo's streets usually felt like white noise to Satoru Gojo. Crowded alleys, endless chatter, and flashing billboards filled the air with life, yet none of it mattered to him. Tonight, however, something felt different. Beneath the chaos, a shadow loomed, faint but growing.
Gojo adjusted his blindfold as he strolled through Shibuya's bustling crowd, his usual smirk fading into a contemplative line. His senses flared, alerting him to a sudden spike in cursed energy.
"Not here," he muttered, turning his head slightly toward the direction of the disturbance. He tapped his phone, expecting confirmation from the higher-ups.
Moments later, a message from Principal Yaga appeared on his screen:
"High-priority mission. Meet Megumi, Yuta, and Maki at the coordinates attached. Details enclosed."
Gojo raised a brow, his curiosity piqued. "Looks like I'm babysitting the kids again."
The details were vague but ominous: a remote village east of Tokyo had been completely silenced. Families vanished without a trace, leaving behind warped landscapes drenched in cursed energy. Even novice sorcerers wouldn't mistake the telltale signs of something far worse than a standard-grade curse.
Gojo arrived at the village outskirts hours later, greeted by a suffocating fog of residual cursed energy. It clung to the air, sharp and invasive, almost as if daring anyone to step further. He found Megumi Fushiguro and Yuta Okkotsu waiting near the village entrance.
"Sensei," Megumi greeted curtly, his expression as grim as ever. His hands rested at his sides, but the subtle tension in his posture betrayed his unease.
"Glad to see you're still in one piece, Fushiguro," Gojo teased, ruffling Megumi's hair.
The younger sorcerer swatted his hand away, his frown deepening. "This place feels wrong. The cursed energy here isn't just strong, it's erratic."
Yuta nodded, his katana resting lightly in his grip. "It's not just the energy. There's no sound here. No animals, no wind... nothing."
Gojo tilted his head. "Creepy. I like it."
Megumi shot him a look. "Are you taking this seriously?"
"I always take things seriously," Gojo replied, his grin returning. "But let's save the lectures for later. We've got work to do."
The trio advanced into the village, their steps cautious yet deliberate. The scene before them was like a battlefield: houses reduced to rubble, the ground scarred with deep gashes, and an eerie stillness hanging over everything.
"Where are the bodies?" Megumi asked, his voice low. "If people were killed, there should be remains. Blood, something…"
"They didn't leave bodies behind," Yuta said, scanning the area. His grip on his katana tightened. "Whatever did this wanted it that way."
Gojo's gaze swept over the destruction. He could feel the cursed energy thickening the deeper they ventured. It wasn't just strong; it was ancient, raw, and alive.
"You're both right," Gojo said finally. "This wasn't an accident or a random attack. Something or someone was very deliberate about what they did here."
A sudden screech pierced the silence, sharp and unnatural. Nue materialized above Megumi, its wings spreading wide in a protective stance.
"Sensei, to the right!" Yuta called, pointing toward the source of the noise.
From the shadows, a grotesque curse emerged, its twisted body dripping with malevolent energy. It lunged toward Gojo with claws outstretched, moving faster than the eye could follow.
Gojo raised a single hand, activating his Limitless technique. The curse's claws froze mid-air, unable to close the gap between them.
"Impatient, aren't we?" Gojo remarked before flicking his wrist. The curse was thrown backward, crashing into a pile of rubble.
Megumi summoned his Divine Dogs, and they darted toward the downed creature, tearing into its malformed limbs. Yuta joined the fray, slashing at the curse's torso with precise strikes.
Despite their efforts, the curse regenerated almost instantly, its wounds knitting together as it released a guttural growl.
"This thing's tougher than it looks," Yuta muttered, stepping back.
"It's not just tough," Megumi said, summoning more of his shikigami. "It's smart. It's stalling."
Gojo stepped forward, his demeanor shifting. The playful edge in his voice was gone, replaced by cold authority. "Then let's stop playing around."
The curse lunged at him again, but this time, Gojo didn't bother raising a hand. A pulse of cursed energy erupted from him, disintegrating the creature on the spot. The oppressive energy in the air seemed to lift, but only slightly.
"Done," Gojo said, brushing invisible dust off his coat. "Let's keep moving."
They pressed further into the village, their senses on high alert. The destruction became worse the deeper they went: entire structures flattened, and the earth cracked open as though something massive had clawed its way through.
"Sensei, over here!" Yuta called, his voice tight with urgency.
Gojo and Megumi followed his voice to find a young girl kneeling in the rubble. She was no older than ten, her face streaked with dirt and tears. In her hands, she clutched a small stuffed toy, its fabric torn and frayed.
"A survivor?" Megumi asked, his brow furrowing.
The girl looked up at them, her wide eyes filled with fear. She recoiled as Gojo crouched down, his voice softening.
"Hey there," he said gently. "What's your name?"
The girl hesitated, her grip tightening on the toy. "Ame," she whispered.
Gojo's smile returned, though it was softer than usual. "Ame, huh? Don't worry, Ame. We're here to help."
As he reached out to her, the ground trembled violently. A wave of cursed energy erupted around them, nearly knocking them off their feet. From the shadows emerged another curse, larger and far more grotesque than the last. Its body twisted unnaturally, its glowing red eyes locked onto Gojo.
"The strongest must fall," it growled, its voice deep and guttural.
Gojo rose to his feet, placing himself between the curse and the others. "Megumi, Yuta, protect her. I'll handle this."
Yuta hesitated, glancing at the curse's monstrous form. "Sensei, are you sure?"
"Go," Gojo said firmly.
As the others retreated with Ame, the curse roared and lunged at Gojo. He didn't flinch. Instead, he removed his blindfold, revealing his radiant blue eyes that glowed like twin stars in the moonlight.
"You're not the first to say that," Gojo said, his grin sharp. "But I'll let you in on a little secret."
The air around him crackled with raw energy as his Domain Expansion began to form.
"I don't plan on falling anytime soon."