Standing amidst the swirling black ocean of cursed energy, Ryuu stretched his body, feeling an intoxicating surge of power course through him.
"Thanks for the gift, Geto Suguru."
His Mangekyō Sharingan had reached yet another level.
The changes were subtle yet profound. He could feel the transformation in both his ocular abilities and cursed energy output.
Meanwhile, Geto stood to the side, his face unreadable, though his thoughts could be summed up as:
"What kind of monster have I just created?"
After observing Ryuu for a while, Geto finally commented, "Aside from the fact that you feel even more ominous, your appearance hasn't changed much."
"There are some differences from what I expected," Ryuu admitted, tapping his temple. "But the results are exactly what I wanted."
While his eyes hadn't taken on the classic shape of the Eternal Mangekyō, their function had essentially surpassed it.
The greatest advantage of the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan was the removal of blindness and a drastic boost in power.
But now, Ryuu's vision remained unaffected, and his pupil techniques had evolved yet again.
"Not a bad deal," Ryuu smirked before glancing at Geto. "To be honest, I don't think you could beat me anymore."
The temperature around them dropped.
Geto's expression didn't change, but the shift in energy was palpable.
What the hell does that mean?!
Had Ryuu seriously thought he could defeat a Special Grade Sorcerer before?!
A flicker of irritation crossed Geto's face, but he quickly suppressed it, letting his cursed energy settle.
He had no intention of fighting Ryuu at this moment.
Instead, he simply clapped his hands together.
"That confidence suits you, Ryuu-kun."
---
"At this point," Geto continued, "there's no doubt—you've reached the level of a Special Grade Sorcerer."
He smirked. "You know, there are only four officially recognized Special Grade Sorcerers in the world."
"And yet, you managed to reach the pinnacle of Jujutsu in just one month. Truly, Ryuu-kun, you are nothing short of a miracle."
Though his words were flattering, his mind was elsewhere.
If Ryuu, a newly ascended Special Grade, can't defeat Gojo…
…then at the very least, he can keep him occupied for a long time.
And that was all Geto needed.
As long as Gojo Satoru was occupied, his plan to claim Yuta Okkotsu would succeed.
His victory would be guaranteed.
"This is all thanks to you," Ryuu admitted.
Just a month ago, he couldn't have dreamed of wielding this level of power.
At this moment, Geto's entire existence felt particularly pleasing to him.
"Although…" Geto sighed. "This little stunt cost me a fortune."
"Nearly sixty Grade 1 cursed spirits, almost one hundred semi-Grade 1s, and hundreds more of lower ranks…"
"Your appetite is truly unimaginable."
Hearing those numbers, even Ryuu was a little surprised.
He thought back to the battles ahead and asked, "How much do you have left?"
Geto did a quick count.
"Only about thirty Grade 1 cursed spirits remaining, more than 400 Grade 2s, and several thousand lower-grade spirits."
Ryuu was stunned.
And that wasn't even counting the Special Grade ones.
"Special Grade Sorcerers are said to be able to overthrow nations on their own."
Compared to other individual monsters, Geto commanding an entire army of cursed spirits made his power far more terrifying.
"Even with what you have left," Ryuu muttered, "this should still be enough to lure Jujutsu High away."
Then, he asked the most important question.
"So, when are you going to make your move?"
---
"I haven't officially declared war on Jujutsu High yet," Geto admitted.
"But as for the date?" He smirked.
"December 24th."
Ryuu narrowed his eyes.
"Christmas Eve, huh?"
It was exactly the same date as in the original timeline.
That meant—no matter how much Ryuu's presence had changed things, some events were still bound to happen.
"Understood." He nodded. "Then, I'll return to Star Religious Group that day."
"No need for that," Geto said.
He gave Ryuu a clear location.
"On December 24th, the battle will take place in Shinjuku, Tokyo."
"Got it," Ryuu said. "Just send me an email before it all begins."
Seeing that the time and place were set, Ryuu had no reason to stay.
As he turned to leave, Geto spoke up, sounding almost regretful.
"It's rare for you to visit, Ryuu-kun," he said. "Leaving so soon?"
"As a student, I'm quite busy."
"Hah… I remember those days," Geto chuckled. "Being a student was exhausting in every sense."
For a brief moment, he seemed lost in nostalgia.
Jujutsu High was a place filled with memories—both good and painful.
And this upcoming battle…
This was the first time since betraying Jujutsu High that he would face his former friends head-on.
Ryuu noticed Geto's distant expression but didn't comment.
Instead, he waved lazily and headed for the exit.
"Then, I'll leave you to your preparations."
"Wait."
Ryuu turned back.
Geto held out his hand.
A small, black mist swirled in his palm before forming into a tiny cursed spirit.
"What's this?" Ryuu asked, raising an eyebrow.
"A Cursed Energy Tracker," Geto explained.
"It can sense and record an individual's cursed energy signature."
"I imprinted my own energy into it—so you'll know exactly when the battle begins."
Ryuu nodded, taking the small spirit into his right hand.
But the moment he did—
A strange distortion rippled through the air.
Before Geto could react, a massive vortex formed in front of Ryuu.
The tiny cursed spirit was sucked inside in an instant.
Geto's eyes widened.
"A new ability?"
Ryuu smirked.
"Both of my eyes evolved again—of course, they'd gain something new."
"Interesting…" Geto muttered, rubbing his chin.
He watched as Ryuu activated his Mangekyō Sharingan again.
This time—
A larger vortex formed around his body.
And within seconds—
Ryuu vanished into the distortion.
---
Watching the last traces of Ryuu disappear, Geto tapped his chin thoughtfully.
"Space storage? Or maybe spatial teleportation?"
He exhaled.
"If his abilities are incorporating spatial manipulation, this is becoming even more fascinating."
"Honestly… his power is starting to feel just as broken as the Six Eyes."
Then, he remembered something.
"Ah— I forgot to tell him…"
"Domain Expansion disclosure boosts a sorcerer's abilities."
Shaking his head, Geto turned toward the gathering cursed users of Star Religious Group.
With a bright grin, he clapped his hands together.
"Alright, everyone!"
"Next stop—Jujutsu High!"
===
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