Rain crashes against the ruined city as cursed energy poisons the air. At the center of the shattered street, Satoru Gojo stands facing Ryoga Endo. Neither moves, yet the pressure between them bends the falling rain.
Behind Gojo, Ren struggles to steady his breathing. Every instinct in his body screams danger the moment he looks at Ryoga.
Izana felt violent.
Ryoga feels inevitable.
Like defeat was decided before the battle even started.
Ryoga slowly looks around the destroyed battlefield. "…You've all made quite a mess."
Gojo smirks slightly. "You sound disappointed."
"No," Ryoga replies calmly. "Just curious."
The atmosphere tightens instantly.
Gojo notices first. "Ren."
"…What."
"Stay behind me."
Ren's jaw tightens. "I'm not weak enough to hide."
Gojo doesn't look back. "This isn't about weakness."
Ryoga's eyes shift toward Ren. The pressure spikes instantly. Ren's body freezes instinctively—not fear, something deeper. Like his body understands death before his mind does.
Ryoga studies him quietly. "…You resemble Hikaru more than I expected."
Ren's fists clench violently. "Don't say my father's name."
"He had the same eyes," Ryoga continues calmly. "Especially when cornered."
Gojo's gaze sharpens. "…You knew Hikaru personally?"
"Yes."
Rainwater drips from Ryoga's hair as silence fills the battlefield.
Behind him, Izana slowly lifts his head. "…Ryoga… let me kill him."
"No."
The answer comes instantly.
Izana's eyes widen. "…What?"
"You already failed."
Veins rise across Izana's face. "That brat survived because of Hikaru's trick—"
"And yet," Ryoga interrupts calmly, "he survived."
Gojo smiles faintly. "…You're pretty harsh on your allies.
"
Ryoga looks toward him. "Emotion clouds judgment."
"Funny thing to say while keeping Izana around."
For the first time, Ryoga smiles slightly.
"…He's useful."
The instant he says that—
Gojo vanishes.
Blue light erupts across the battlefield as he appears directly in front of Ryoga, Infinity compressing space around his fist.
Impact.
The city behind Ryoga explodes apart. Shockwaves rip through buildings while the street caves inward beneath them.
But Ryoga doesn't move.
Gojo's fist stops short.
Not by Infinity.
Not by a barrier.
Something else.
Gojo's eyes narrow slightly. "…Interesting."
Then Ryoga steps forward.
Just once.
BOOM.
The battlefield detonates.
Gojo blocks instantly as the collision shatters the street beneath them. Black cracks spread through nearby buildings while Ren is forced backward from the shockwave alone.
Gojo slides several meters before stopping.
For the first time—
His smile fades.
Ryoga lowers his arm calmly. "…You really are strong."
Gojo rolls his shoulder before grinning again. "You say that like you expected less."
"I expected exaggeration."
Blue cursed energy flickers violently around Gojo. "…And?"
Ryoga's gaze sharpens slightly.
"…I was wrong."
The pressure between them spikes again.
Ren watches silently, heart pounding violently. No wasted movement.
No unnecessary attacks. Every second feels fatal.
Then—
Ryoga suddenly turns around.
Gojo's eyes narrow slightly. "…Leaving already?"
Izana looks toward him immediately. "Ryoga?"
"We accomplished what we came for."
The rain falls harder across the ruined battlefield.
Gojo keeps his guard raised. "And what exactly was that?"
Ryoga stops walking for a brief moment.
"To see."
Silence.
Then he glances slightly toward Ren.
"…And now I understand."
Ren grits his teeth instantly. "Don't turn your back on me."
The cursed energy around him flares violently.
But Gojo's arm blocks him immediately.
"Don't."
Ren looks at him angrily. "He's leaving—"
"And if you chase him," Gojo says quietly, "you die."
Those words stop him cold.
Izana stares at Ren one final time, rage still burning inside his eyes. "…Next time… your father's trick won't save you."
Ren's fists tighten violently.
Ryoga continues walking calmly through the rain. "We'll meet again soon."
The pressure around him slowly fades as darkness swallows both him and Izana into the storm-covered city.
Silence.
Only rain remains.
Gojo slowly lowers his hand.
For the first time since Ryoga appeared—
He exhales
.
Ren notices immediately.
"…Even you're tense."
Gojo stays silent for a moment.
Then he smiles faintly.
"…That guy's dangerous."
Lightning flashes across the sky.
Ren stares toward the direction Ryoga disappeared, fists trembling slightly.
Not from fear.
From frustration.
From helplessness.
Because deep down—
He understood something terrifying.
Right now…
He isn't strong enough.