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A second, deeper wave spread out, splitting the ground and opening gaping fissures. Flames burst in places where gas pipes had ruptured. The sky, heavy with clouds, seemed to be drawn into the void created by the sphere.
The group scrambled back to their feet and started running again, zigzagging between the rubble.
Behind them, where the neighborhood once stood, there was nothing but a massive crater, smoking and radiating sinister energy. The edges of the destruction were lost in the dust, but even from a distance, the sight was terrifying: everything that had been there had simply ceased to exist.
Maki stopped for a moment to catch her breath, glancing back. What she saw froze her blood: nothingness, a yawning void where nothing remained. And at the edge of that emptiness, a slim silhouette stood, motionless.
Geto.
He was watching them, the black orb glowing in his hand.
Then, a mist covered him briefly, and he vanished.
"Damn it!" Maki swore.
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Yuta's eyes snapped open, a scream stuck in his throat.
"Rika!" he cried, sitting up, his breath ragged, his eyes desperately searching for something—or someone.
The room was white, immaculate, with a soft, artificial light. He was lying on an operating bed, machines humming gently around him.
"Well, you finally woke up," came a familiar, mocking voice.
Yuta turned his head and saw Gojo, leaning casually against the wall, his sunglasses catching the light.
"Sensei…" Yuta whispered, massaging his temples with a trembling hand. His head was pounding. "What happened?"
Gojo crossed his arms and raised a brow behind his glasses. "You really don't remember anything?"
Yuta's heart skipped a beat. A rush of images surged through his mind: the black sphere, the explosion, that man—Geto… and Rika.
His eyes widened. "Rika! He stole Rika!"
Gojo's carefree demeanor slipped. His features hardened slightly, though his composure remained.
"You did lose Rika," he confirmed softly.
Yuta lowered his head, his fist clenching the sheets. "I couldn't… I couldn't protect her."
He looked down at his left arm, expecting to see nothing but a stump. To his surprise, it was still there, whole. He lifted his head toward Gojo, bewildered.
Gojo stepped closer, a faintly reassuring smile on his face. He placed a light hand on Yuta's head, ruffling his hair gently.
"Shoso did an amazing job patching you up," he explained. "But now it's you we need to get back on your feet."
Yuta gritted his teeth.
Gojo, still smiling, gave his head one last pat. "You'll be fine, Yuta. Rest for now—your sensei will handle the rest, alright?"
Yuta closed his eyes, his fists tightening around the pristine sheets. But then he felt an unexpected warmth on his shoulder. Gojo was still there, smiling, but this time his gaze was far more serious, almost… empathetic.
"I know it hurts, Yuta," he said softly. "But dwelling on it won't bring Rika back. What you need now is strength. Not just here." He tapped two fingers against Yuta's forehead. "But here, too." His hand shifted to Yuta's chest.
Yuta stared at him.
"This Geto," he muttered. "Who is he?"
Gojo's smile froze for a fraction of a second before he returned to his usual expression.
"Geto Suguru…" he began, his voice slightly deeper than usual. "He was once my best friend. A brilliant, charismatic jujutsu sorcerer, and… an idealist. But his ideals led him down a dark path."
Yuta swallowed hard. The image of that man, calm and unshaken, wielding that black sphere, haunted him. "What does he want? Why did he take Rika?"
Gojo sighed, his fingers drumming thoughtfully against his arm. "Geto wants a world without non-sorcerers. He sees humans without cursed energy as a nuisance, a weakness to our world. Rika…" He paused, his gaze darkening. "Rika is an unmatched source of power. With her, he can shape his ambitions."
Yuta clenched his fists.
Gojo studied him in silence for a moment, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Don't worry. We'll set everything right."
"Sensei, I want to fight too!" Yuta said suddenly, his gaze burning with determination.
Gojo watched him for a moment. Then he sighed and ruffled the boy's hair with a casual gesture.
"Listen, Yuta, I'll be blunt. Right now, you're weak."
Yuta's head shot up, shocked at his teacher's words.
"But that's okay," Gojo continued, his smile returning. "Because this matter is mine to deal with now. You fought as best you could, but taking back Rika and stopping Geto is a level above you right now."
Yuta stayed silent, fists trembling.
Before he could respond, the door to the room burst open. Maki, Panda, and Toge stepped inside, each bearing the marks of their recent battle.
Maki was limping slightly, Panda had bandages wrapped around his side, and Toge looked more worn out than usual.
"You really have a knack for worrying us, you know," Maki said, arms crossed.
Panda, far more expressive, immediately stepped forward, his wide smile brightening the room. "Finally awake! I thought we'd have to carry you everywhere. And trust me, that would've been exhausting."
Toge simply said, "Okaka." But the slight nod he gave Yuta spoke volumes.
Yuta smiled faintly, touched by their presence.
"Are you all okay?" he asked, his voice hesitant.
Maki shrugged. "We've been through worse. You're the one who needs fixing now."
Gojo stepped back slightly, watching the scene with a satisfied smile. "Too much bonding for me. I'll leave you to it."
He headed for the door, but before leaving, he turned to them, his expression serious. "Rest well."
Gojo left the room with a calm stride.
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New chapter release ! We are on 120+ chapters on patreon, join us!
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Join discord, we are already 40+ members!
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