𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓦𝓲𝓷𝓭 [jjk x reader]

35

"Why did you close of the tombs of the star corridor?" Yuki asked. 

"I was afraid you were in alignment with Kenjaku," Tengen-sama responded.

"Kenjaku?" I questioned. 

"He is now inhabiting the body of Suguru Geto," Tengen-sama explained. I stiffened in response. Just hearing it again made something twist in my chest.

"Tengen-sama, why do you look like that?" Yuji cut in, squinting at them.. I couldn't help but snicker a little. 

"11 years ago, after failing to merge with a star plasma vessel, my aging accelerated and my self-awareness diminished," Tegen said calmly.

So... there really wasn't another vessel, I thought.

"Excuse me," I said, taking a small step forward, "but we came to ask how to open the prison realm."

"And Kenjaku's objectives, could you tell us what you know?" Yuta added.

"I wish I could simply say yes, but...there is one condition," Tengen said, holding one finger out, "Yuta Okkotsu, Yuki Tsukumo, Y/n L/n, and the death painting womb — two of you must remain here to serve as my guards."

"Guards?" I blinked, "aren't you immortal?"

"Are you worried about the seal?" Maki added, arms crossed.

"Not fair! You haven't told us why or for how long yet!" Yuki huffed. 

"So then shall I speak of Kenjaku?" Tengen said, pausing for a moment, "His objective is to force the evolution of all human beings throughout Japan. He lacks the cursed energy to do that. Cursed energy that has been refined through Uzumaki cannot return to the sorcerer. Triggering an evolution in each individual with a cursed technique is very inefficient. The method of evolution that Kenjaku has chosen is the merging of humankind and me."

"Is that even possible?" I asked, "but you're one person right? How can you merge with multiple people?"

"I am not what you see before you. My soul exists all around us," Tengen responded. 

"So why don't you just refuse?" Maki asked.

"That is the problem, now that I have evolved I am more cursed spirit than human being. That makes me a target...for cursed spirit manipulation."

"So why is the culling game happening?" Megumi asked.

"The Culling Game uses the players' cursed energy and the boundaries binding barriers," Tengen explained, "in a ritual meant to convey the human beings of this country to the other side. This game does not work in your favor. Even if you kill him, the game will not end. It will continue until all players are dead—or all refuse participation and die. Nothing can interrupt the ritual."

I sweated, "So this means we have no choice but to participate in the culling game."

"And add a rule where Tsumiki and other unwilling participants can get out," Yuta said.

"We should also free Gojo-sensei," Megumi added, looking at me briefly. I nodded. "That guy could settle everything all on his own."

"First, decide who stays," Tengen said.

"I will stay," Yuki and Choso said at the same time.

I turned my head quickly, caught off guard.

"Yuji, you'll need Okkotsu or this woman's cooperation," Choso said, nodding toward Yuki, "especially if Kenjaku comes here for Tengen."

"And I'm not done talking to Tengen," Yuki added, glancing back at Yuta and me. "Is that alright, Okkotsu? L/n?"

"Yes. Fine with me," I replied.

"Yeah, I don't want to leave the others," Yuta said with a small nod.

"Thank you," Tengen said. He then reached out into a flame that had appeared, pulling out a cube that resembled the prison realm that Gojo was in. 

"This is necessary for freeing Gojo Satoru," he said, holding it up for us to see. "It is the back of the Prison Realm."

"Back?" Megumi asked. "I've never heard of that."

"You mean like a back gate?" I added, frowning a little.

"Yes, that's right. Satoru Gojo is also sealed inside this rear gate," Tengen continued.

For a second, I thought there was a way to free Gojo.

"Then if we can open it, we can-"

"No," Tengen cut in. "The authority to open the gate rests with Kenjaku. Breaking it open requires either the Inverted Spear of Heaven, which nullifies cursed techniques, or the Black Rope that disrupts and cancels cursed technique effects."

And just like that, the spark of hope died.

"But Gojo sealed the Inverted Spear of Heaven overseas 11 years ago... or destroyed it. And last year, Satoru Gojo got rid of all the Black Rope."

I slowly dragged my hand down my face and let out a groan. "Why did he do that?!"

Megumi and Yuji were both making the same expression as me, exhausted disbelief.

Seriously. Of all the things to clean up, he picked those?

"Actually, I looked for the remaining Black Rope with Miguel in Africa," Yuta said. 

I blinked. "You went all the way to Africa for rope?"

Yuta just nodded, "But it was a fruitless effort."

 I sighed through my nose. 

"But there's another way, right?" Yuki asked, looking at Tengen.

"Yes," Tengen replied calmly.

I leaned in a little to hear what Tengen was about to say. 

"Among the players participating in the culling game, is a sorcerer from a thousand years ago who calls herself an angel," Tengen explained, "her cursed technique can extinguish any cursed technique."

That caught my attention immediately.

"So... do you know where she is now?" I asked.

"The colony on the east side of Tokyo. The game barriers reject me, so I don't have any more information," Tengen replied. "I will begin my explanation here."

He began explaining about how the colonies were arranged throughout Japan, and the barriers. I tried to keep up, but some of it was hard to follow. I'd just ask Yuta or Megumi to explain again later. 

"How long will it take to complete the ritual?" Megumi asked.

"That depends on the game, but two months should suffice," Tengen said.

"Right now it's 9 am on November 9th," Maki said, then Yuta added, "The player sorcerers awakened at about midnight on October 31st."

"So Tsumiki has roughly 10 days and 15 hours to declare her participation," Megumi said.

"Tengen sama, you said that refusing to participate results in death," Megumi said. 

"That is correct."

"Shoko was right, but that means sorcerers like me who don't have a cursed technique aren't at risk," Maki said. 

Then I wouldn't be at risk as well, I thought, gripping onto my katana.