"GETOOOOO!" Yuji's scream echoed through the city as he raced across the rooftops, dodging curses that swarmed him from all sides. Above him, Geto floated on a massive, bird-like cursed spirit, a smug grin plastered across his face. With a lazy wave of his hand, he summoned another wave of curses, their grotesque forms charging at Yuji in unrelenting pursuit.
Geto clicked his tongue in mock frustration, summoning a small, bird-like cursed spirit with a quick gesture. "Go find Miguel," he ordered. "Tell him I might need his help if Gojo decides to show up. Things are heating up faster than I expected." The cursed spirit shot off into the distance, disappearing into the sky.
Yuji's focus remained on Geto, his eyes burning with rage. With each curse that lunged at him, he ducked, weaved, and struck with precision, reinforcing his body with cursed energy to maintain his relentless pace. 'He's trying to wear me down,' Yuji thought, his frustration growing. 'But I'll get to him, no matter what.'
Suddenly, Geto leaped from his mount, landing gracefully in front of Yuji. In his hand, he wielded Playful Cloud, the cursed tool resting lightly in his grasp. Yuji didn't hesitate. He charged, his fists crashing against Geto's staff in a flurry of blows.
"You're surprisingly persistent," Geto said, blocking Yuji's strikes with ease. "But persistence without power is meaningless."
"Shut up and fight me!" Yuji roared, pouring more energy into his attacks, hoping to find an opening.
Geto smirked. "If you insist." With a sharp counter, he deflected Yuji's punch and slammed Playful Cloud into Yuji's gut, sending him flying across the rooftop.
Yuji gritted his teeth, flipping back to his feet. He activated Reverse Cursed Technique, quickly healing the shallow cuts and bruises. His eyes scanned the area, but Geto had vanished.
'Is he running?' Yuji wondered. He shook his head. 'No, that's not his style. He's setting something up.'
As if on cue, a massive cursed spirit appeared, its energy overwhelming. Yuji's instincts screamed danger as it barreled toward him. He reinforced his body to its absolute limit.
From his perch, Geto smirked. "Mei Mei's tricks work wonders. Let's see how you handle this." He placed a Binding Vow on the spirit, sealing its fate: it would sacrifice itself in a catastrophic explosion.
The curse reached Yuji and detonated in a deafening blast. The explosion shook the ground, a fiery shockwave tearing through the area.
When the dust cleared, Yuji lay on the ground, broken and burned. His right arm and leg were completely gone, and the left side of his body was scorched with fourth-degree burns. Blood pooled around him, but he remained conscious, his breathing ragged.
Geto landed beside him, resting Playful Cloud on his shoulder. He tilted his head, mockingly amused. "That's what happens when you bite off more than you can chew. Heal yourself, or I'll finish you off here."
But something was off. Geto frowned, noticing the lack of blood where there should have been a gruesome mess. He turned slowly, his senses tingling with warning.
Surrounding him were dozens of small blood spheres, each pulsing with cursed energy.
"My blood wasn't used to heal me," Yuji rasped, forcing himself upright, a defiant grin cutting across his battered face. "It was used to kill you."
Geto's eyes widened as Yuji activated the technique. "Blood Manipulation: Piercing Supernova!"
The blood spheres compressed and exploded in a blinding crimson blast, the shockwave consuming the entire area.
Yuko and the rest of the first-years sprinted toward the source of the massive surge of cursed energy. The oppressive aura was unmistakable. 'That's definitely Yuji and Geto,' Yuko thought, her stomach twisting with anxiety. She couldn't shake the dread that had been building since they received Ijichi's message.
The group turned sharply down a street, their pace unrelenting. But just as they rounded the corner, their path was blocked. A hulking Grade 1 cursed spirit and a towering, malevolent Special Grade loomed in their way.
Maki froze for a split second, assessing the situation. Panda came to an abrupt stop, his fur bristling with tension. Inumaki, recognizing the immediate danger, pulled down the cloth covering his mouth, ready to use his cursed speech. Yuko, however, didn't hesitate. Her sharp gaze locked onto the Special Grade, its immense cursed energy radiating like a toxic fog.
"You guys take on the Grade 1," Yuko said firmly, stepping forward. "I'll handle the Special Grade."
"What? Are you out of your mind? We need to run!" Panda said, panic evident in his tone. Even Inumaki gave a firm "Salmon," signaling his agreement.
Yuko clenched her fists, her cursed energy flaring slightly. "If we run now, we'll never surpass our limits. Together, the three of you can take down that Grade 1. After you're done, come back me up!" she commanded, her voice steady despite the looming threat.
Maki hesitated but finally nodded, gripping her cursed tool tightly. "Fine. Don't die, Yuko. We'll be quick."
With that, the three first-years turned their attention to the Grade 1 cursed spirit. Panda lunged first, using his raw strength to engage it directly, while Maki circled to find an opening. Inumaki's voice rang out: "Fall!" The Grade 1 stumbled, its movements briefly faltering under the cursed command.
Yuko turned back to the Special Grade, her body tense. 'This thing isn't on the same level as the one Yuji fought, but it's still a monster. I have to hold out until they can back me up,' she thought. Her heart pounded, but she steadied her breathing.
The Special Grade let out an ear-piercing screech before rushing at her with terrifying speed. Yuko dodged, barely evading its clawed hand, and retaliated by activating her cursed technique. A bright surge of energy coated her fists as she struck back, forcing the spirit to stagger momentarily.
'Don't worry, Yuji,' she thought as she stood her ground. 'I'll catch up to you. You're not doing this alone.'
Gojo watched from a distance as Yuji's blood manipulation technique detonated in a blinding explosion, engulfing Geto in a violent burst of cursed energy. Yet, he didn't move. Why wasn't he stepping in? Was he... hesitating?
'I can't act the way I need to right now,' he thought, his usual confidence clouded by conflicting emotions. Geto wasn't just another enemy; he was the one person who truly understood him back then. When the words that spilled from Gojo's mouth were "because we're the strongest" and not "because I'm the strongest," Geto was always there, shoulder to shoulder, keeping him grounded.
Even when Gojo struggled with his disdain for the weak, Geto had stood by him, guiding him in ways no one else could. But the person standing before Yuji now wasn't the friend he once knew. It was a distorted reflection of the past, twisted beyond recognition.
"I need to accept it," Gojo muttered to himself, his jaw tightening. "He's far too gone."
Just as he prepared to step in, his Six Eyes shifted to another scene: the first-years—Maki, Panda, Inumaki, and Yuko—engaged in a heated battle with cursed spirits nearby. His heart sank. "Why are they here? Damn it!"
He clenched his fists, his focus torn. He couldn't ignore them. As much as he wanted to stay and keep an eye on Yuji, their safety was paramount.
"I have to help them," he whispered, turning to teleport. His gaze flickered back to Yuji one last time, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. 'Stay alive, Yuji. Just hold on.'
And with that, Gojo disappeared, leaving the battlefield for now.
Yuji stood hunched over, his chest heaving as Reverse Cursed Technique worked to heal his mangled body. Every muscle ached, every nerve screamed in protest, but he had no time to rest. 'Damn, this is draining,' he thought, wiping sweat and blood from his brow. His shirt had been destroyed in the earlier exchange, leaving his upper body exposed, and his pants were shredded almost beyond recognition. Despite his exhaustion, a smirk tugged at the corners of his lips. "Heh, not bad, huh?" he muttered as his face finished healing.
"Yeah, not bad at all," Geto replied casually, stepping out of the dissipating smoke. His body, miraculously, was completely healed, and his expression was unnervingly composed. Yuji's eyes narrowed as he processed the sight. 'Reverse Cursed Technique? Geto never had that in canon. What the hell?!' The revelation sent a chill down his spine. Geto's lips curved into a sadistic grin. "Unfortunately for you, we're just getting started."
"Shut up," Yuji shot back, his voice laced with defiance. He crouched, bouncing lightly on his feet to loosen his muscles as he prepared for the next round.
Geto chuckled, clearly amused. "Not as talkative as I expected. Any reason why, Yuji?" His tone was laced with mockery, his grin widening as if he knew exactly how to push Yuji's buttons.
Yuji didn't dignify him with a response. Instead, he lunged forward, fists raised, ready to continue their hand-to-hand battle. He opened with a punch aimed at Geto's side. Geto, reading the move with ease, blocked it. Yuji capitalized on the momentum of the block, flipping himself mid-air to deliver a powerful kick toward Geto's chest.
And then he felt it—that familiar, electric sensation that surged through his body like lightning.
"BLACK FLASH!" Yuji roared as the kick connected, sending a shocked Geto skidding backward from the force of the blow.
Geto's eyes widened, though his amusement didn't fade entirely. He quickly recovered, raising his arms to guard just as Yuji was already closing the distance. Yuji pressed his advantage, fainting a kick to the side before sliding beneath Geto's legs and twisting his torso to deliver a devastating uppercut to Geto's back.
"BLACK FLASH!" The force rippled through Geto's body as he stumbled forward, coughing from the impact.
With a growl of frustration, Geto retaliated, spinning around and landing a solid hit to Yuji's chest with Playful Cloud, sending the younger sorcerer flying backward. Yuji landed hard but managed to scramble to his feet, coughing as blood trickled from his mouth.
Geto smirked, extending his hand to form a finger gun. "Let's see you handle this," he muttered as a curse materialized and fired a laser-like beam of cursed energy straight at Yuji.
Yuji's sharp eyes tracked the attack, immediately calculating its trajectory. 'It's aiming for my chest. Move to the side and push through!' he thought. He shifted at the last moment, narrowly dodging a fatal blow as the beam tore through his right shoulder. Gritting his teeth against the pain, Yuji cocked his left fist back, cursed energy swirling violently around it.
"BLACK FLASH!" Yuji roared again, his fist connecting with Geto's jaw. The sheer force of the attack launched Geto into the sky, his body spiraling uncontrollably.
Geto summoned his large bird-like cursed spirit mid-air to catch him, steadying himself on its back as he gritted his teeth. "This is getting annoying!" he barked, his patience wearing thin.
Yuji looked up, his sharp gaze locking onto the cursed spirit. "You need to be taken out of the equation," he muttered as his cursed energy flared. Activating Flowing Red Scale Stacked, Yuji's body radiated heat and raw power. Forming Blood Edge, he created sharp daggers from his own blood, each one glowing ominously. With a leap, he soared toward Geto and his mount.
Geto narrowed his eyes, raising Playful Cloud to strike Yuji mid-air. "You young sorcerers are certainly impressive," he admitted begrudgingly, swinging the cursed tool with deadly precision. But before he could land the blow, a blood dagger pierced his shoulder, forcing him to falter. Another dagger slashed across his eye, drawing a pained grunt as Yuji's kick slammed into his stomach, sending him hurtling off the bird spirit.
Yuji landed on the cursed spirit's back, wasting no time as he formed more blood daggers and began stabbing the creature's head repeatedly. Each strike was precise and merciless. The bird let out a horrifying screech before collapsing mid-air, plummeting toward the ground. Yuji leaped off at the last second, landing deftly on his feet as the cursed spirit slammed into the earth with a sickening crash.
From below, Geto growled, brushing dirt off his robes as he stood. His usual smirk was gone, replaced by a hardened glare. 'This kid is more troublesome than I anticipated,' he thought, clenching his fists. "Fine. Time to stop playing around," he muttered, forming intricate hand signs to summon his Domain Expansion.
But just as he prepared to unleash it, his body froze. His hands wouldn't move, his fingers refusing to cooperate. "What?!" he hissed, his voice laced with confusion and anger. He looked down at his arms, then back at Yuji, who was now glaring at him with a look of pure hatred.
"My blood," Yuji said coldly, his voice low and menacing. "It's entered your bloodstream. You're effectively at my mercy now." He stepped forward, his face a mask of barely restrained rage. "And trust me, I'm all out of mercy."
Geto's eyes narrowed as he tried to force his body to move, but his limbs wouldn't respond. This wasn't just troublesome—this was dangerous. For the first time in the fight, Geto felt the creeping edge of nervousness.
Yuji's muscles tensed as a rope brimming with cursed energy lashed toward him, forcing him to leap out of the way. He barely landed on his feet before his eyes darted upward, locking onto a rooftop where a figure stood. Yuji's heart sank. 'No. This is the worst-case scenario.'
"The name's Miguel," the man said, stepping into the light. He was tall, his heavily muscled frame almost intimidating, with a confident stance that said he wasn't to be trifled with. Miguel's accessories were as distinct as his presence: hoop earrings dangled from his large ears, his armless sunglasses hid his eyes, and a puffy beret-style hat crowned his head. His zipped short-sleeve jacket, dark pants, and simple shoes made him look casual, but Yuji knew better. This man was anything but ordinary.
Miguel smirked, twirling his cursed rope in one hand. "And I'm now your opponent."
Yuji clenched his fists, a bead of sweat dripping down his temple. "Well, hello, Miguel," he said through gritted teeth, trying to mask the dread building in his chest. "But I'm kind of busy right now, so I'll deal with you quickly."
Even as he said it, Yuji's thoughts betrayed him. He knew the truth. 'This guy held off Gojo for ten minutes in canon. Ten minutes! And if Geto manages to free himself while I'm stuck here... I'm dead.' His eyes flickered to Geto, still immobilized below, then back to Miguel, who cracked his knuckles, clearly ready for a fight. Yuji cursed his luck as he dropped into a fighting stance. 'Of course, it's him. My luck is absolute trash.'
Meanwhile, across the city, Maki huffed as she tried to catch her breath. She glanced over her shoulder at Inumaki, who was unconscious, and Panda, barely holding his ground. The grade 1 curse they were fighting had been worn down but was far from defeated. Maki gripped her weapon tighter, her knuckles turning white. 'C'mon, Maki, it's do or die! You've got this!' she thought, hyping herself up as the curse lunged toward her.
She planted her feet, ready to counter, but just as the curse reached her, it was yanked backward. Maki's eyes widened in shock. A moment later, the curse exploded into nothingness, obliterated by a single, devastating punch.
Maki looked up to see Gojo standing before her, his hand still raised from the strike. "W-what...?" she stammered, unable to process what just happened.
But this time, there was no playful smirk or cheeky remark from Gojo. His expression was dead serious, his tone sharp. "Gather the first years. When I bring Yuko back, you're taking everyone and getting out of here. No arguments."
Maki swallowed hard and nodded, the weight of his command sinking in.
Elsewhere, Yuko stood bloodied and battered, her chest heaving as she stared down the cursed spirit in front of her. The thing was practically unscathed, its body showing no signs of injury despite her best efforts. She tightened her fists, cursing under her breath. "Damn reverse cursed technique..." she spat bitterly. But no matter how hopeless it seemed, she wasn't about to back down. Yuko readied herself to charge back into the fight, forcing her trembling legs to move.
Before she could take a step, she felt a presence behind her—massive and unmistakable. She whipped around, her wide eyes meeting the towering figure of Satoru Gojo.
"G-Gojo-sensei?!" she stammered, her voice trembling with both relief and confusion.
Gojo looked down at her, his expression unusually somber. "I'm sorry, Yuko," he said quietly. "You all came rushing out here because I couldn't stop Yuji in time. That's on me. I got too caught up in my own selfishness."
Yuko opened her mouth to speak, but Gojo cut her off, his voice firm. "Let me make it up to you. I'll save you now."
Before Yuko could respond, Gojo grabbed her and pulled her close, holding her securely in his arms. The cursed spirit in front of them roared, rushing toward them with deadly intent. But Gojo didn't flinch. Instead, he calmly raised his hand and crossed his fingers.
"Domain Expansion: Infinite Void"
Yuji hurled Blood Meteorite after Blood Meteorite, each attack cutting through the air with deadly precision. Yet Miguel dodged each one with effortless grace, his movements fluid and calculated. The frustration boiled over in Yuji's voice. "Fine! If long-range doesn't work, let's throw hands!"
With that, Yuji rushed toward Miguel, fists clenched, ready to close the gap. Miguel smirked at the challenge and charged at him, meeting the boy head-on.
Yuji immediately realized he was out of his depth. Even with Flowing Red Scale amping his physical abilities, he barely matched Miguel in raw strength. And Miguel wasn't just strong—he was skilled. Every punch Yuji threw was either dodged or countered, and Miguel adapted to Yuji's techniques with frightening speed. The man fought like a seasoned warrior who had been through countless battles, and Yuji's frustration grew with every failed strike.
Down below, Geto struggled to free himself. The blood Yuji had infused into his body still locked him in place, but he could feel his control slowly returning. However, another sensation sent a chill through him—Satoru Gojo was close, uncomfortably close. He gritted his teeth. 'We can't fight Satoru right now. Not with Yuji here as well. When I'm free, we run,' Geto decided firmly.
Miguel ducked under one of Yuji's wild strikes, stepping into his guard. With a powerful punch to Yuji's gut, Miguel forced the air out of the boy's lungs. Before Yuji could recover, Miguel grabbed hold of him, dragging him across the ground with brutal strength before tossing him through the wall of a nearby building. Yuji crashed through the rubble, dazed and bleeding, but Miguel didn't relent. He followed through the hole, ready to finish the fight.
But Miguel's eyes widened as he felt something tighten around him. Crimson tendrils of blood wrapped around his body. "Blood Manipulation: Crimson Binding," Yuji growled as he forced himself to his feet. Using the binding as leverage, Yuji propelled himself toward Miguel, cocking his fist back. His cursed energy surged, his body and mind aligning perfectly in the moment.
"BLACK FLASH!"
The devastating blow connected with Miguel's stomach, and the force of it was enough to send him flying backward, crashing into the ground near Geto. Miguel's eyes went wide as he gasped for air, the impact momentarily stunning him.
Geto felt his control return completely, his body finally free. Without hesitation, he summoned a portal-creating cursed spirit. "We're leaving. Now," he said firmly, his eyes scanning the battlefield. Miguel, still recovering from the Black Flash, nodded and staggered to his feet. Together, they moved toward the portal.
"OH NO, YOU DON'T!" Yuji shouted, his voice raw with desperation. He raised his hand, his cursed energy coiling into a concentrated beam. "Piercing Blood!" The attack shot forward, screaming through the air toward Geto.
But Geto turned to glance back, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Too late." And with that, he and Miguel disappeared through the portal, leaving only the empty night behind.
Yuji stared at the now-vacant space, his chest heaving as the realization hit him and his breath began to quicken. He'd failed. His arms hung limply at his sides as he sunk to his knees, the weight of his failure crushing him. "I couldn't even avenge you, Grandpa," he whispered, his voice trembling.
The cold night sky stretched endlessly above him, the stars distant and uncaring. Alone, Yuji sat in the rubble, despair consuming him.