Perhaps because of their absolute confidence in Satoru Gojo, Suguru Geto and the others entered the interior of the Tombs of the Star without the slightest hesitation. This was the deepest level of Jujutsu High, where Tengen resided.
But the moment of separation was close at hand.
In order for Tengen to retain his humanity and continue safeguarding the jujutsu world, Riko Amanai, as the "Star Plasma Vessel," needed to assimilate with him.
Once that happened, Riko Amanai would never again be able to leave the Tombs of the Star. In fact, whether she would even continue to exist as a "person" was uncertain.
"Riko-sama, this is as far as I can go."
Misato Kuroi held back her tears. She didn't want Riko Amanai to feel sad before her assimilation with Tengen.
Riko suddenly ran forward and threw her arms around Misato Kuroi, breaking down in sobs.
"Kuroi, you'll always be my family. You always have been… and you always will be…"
Misato Kuroi could no longer control her emotions.
"Me too…"
Suguru Geto didn't urge them on. He simply watched the scene quietly, his expression gentle.
After their final farewell, Suguru Geto led Riko Amanai deeper inside. Just before reaching the main hall of the Tombs of the Star, he stopped and turned to look at her.
"Go down the stairs, pass through the gate, and reach the roots of that tree. You'll enter a special barrier, different from the one surrounding Jujutsu High. Only those who are invited can enter it. Tengen-sama will protect you until the assimilation is complete. Or… you can turn around right now and go home with Kuroi-san."
Hearing words she hadn't expected at all, Riko Amanai stared at Suguru Geto in disbelief.
"Huh?"
"Before we met you, Satoru and I already agreed on this. If you refuse assimilation, then it won't happen.
We're the strongest. No matter what choice you make, Riko, we'll make sure your future is protected."
Riko, who had already resigned herself to her fate, had never once imagined she had another option. She closed her eyes and thought for a moment.
"Ever since I was little, people kept telling me, 'You're special. You're different from everyone else.' I got used to being 'special.' As I grew up, I avoided danger as much as I could, living only for the sake of reaching this day.
So even if I assimilate and part ways with everyone… it should be fine."
Her voice gradually trembled, and tears slipped down her cheeks.
"But… but I really want to be with everyone again! I want to go to all kinds of places with everyone and see more of the world!"
Suguru Geto smiled, a sense of relief washing over him, and held out his hand to Riko Amanai.
"Then let's go back, Riko."
"Mm!"
Riko wiped away her tears and placed her hand in Suguru Geto's.
"CLANG!!!"
A deafening metallic crash suddenly rang out from the path they had come down. Suguru Geto and Riko Amanai both turned toward the sound.
...
"Yo, Second Uncle. Long time no see."
Akira Zenin, his body wrapped in the shadow of [Piercing Ox], blocked Toji Fushiguro's right hand as it swung toward Kuroi.
Toji Fushiguro immediately pulled his arm back and hopped away, creating distance in a single motion.
"Hm? Uh…
Who are you again?"
Akira Zenin: "..."
Seeing Toji Fushiguro pause in thought, Akira Zenin turned to look at Misato Kuroi, who was sitting on the ground.
"You're Kuroi-san, right? My name is Akira Zenin. Go inside and tell Suguru Geto not to worry about this area. Just proceed according to the original plan."
Misato Kuroi stood up and hurried toward the interior of the Tombs of the Star.
"Understood. Thank you very much. I'll leave it to you."
Toji Fushiguro's voice followed.
"Oh, right. I remember now. It's you, kid.
This maid doesn't matter. Just don't get in my way from here on out."
Akira Zenin flashed forward, cutting off Toji Fushiguro's path.
"Second Uncle, so you really did leave that place."
"That trash heap isn't somewhere a human can stay. The stench alone is unbearable. You're passable enough, kid, but just seeing your surname already puts me in a bad mood."
"Second Uncle, leave. This isn't a normal mission. If you keep going, you'll break the fragile balance of the jujutsu world."
"The balance of the jujutsu world? Hah. What does that have to do with someone like me who doesn't even have cursed energy?
You've stopped me again and again.
Fine, then. Let me see just how impressive the Zenin clan's prized [Ten Shadows Technique] really is."
Akira Zenin immediately formed hand seals, summoning two irregular [Divine Dogs].
One of the shadow Divine Dogs stayed by Akira Zenin's side, while the other rushed straight at Toji Fushiguro.
The five-meter-tall hound was cleaved in half with a single strike, dissolving into shadow and sinking back into the ground.
The moment Toji Fushiguro finished his swing, an irregular shadow [Piercing Ox] charged in from the front, ramming into him and sending him flying.
As the Piercing Ox vanished, a massive shadow serpent burst out in an instant, clamping its jaws around Toji Fushiguro in the crater and lifting him into the air.
However, Toji Fushiguro drew the Split Soul Katana in one smooth motion and cut the serpent cleanly in two.
Akira Zenin suddenly frowned. For just a brief moment, he had felt an extremely faint, deeply concealed pain.
Toji Fushiguro slowly stood up, rolling his neck a few times.
Aside from his upper clothing being slightly torn, there wasn't a single injury on his body.
"Ah, so this is the ancestral [Ten Shadows] those old fossils keep praising? It's decent enough, but that's about as far as I'd rate it."
Zenin Akira recalled all of his partially summoned shikigami.
"True. If we're talking about the traditional style of the [Ten Shadows Technique], this is more or less the limit."
Toji Fushiguro grinned.
"Hm? So you're saying you're rebellious?"
"Something like that. Just playing with shadows isn't very interesting. It's like playing in the mud as a kid. So I'm going to use something a little different."
Toji Fushiguro bared his teeth in a wide grin.
"Calling shadow techniques playing in the mud? Kid, you're pretty interesting."
Akira Zenin silently recited in his mind.
'Max Elephant.'
"[Cleansing]—Rain of a Thousand Needles."
Extremely pure, transparent water blades sliced down like raindrops toward Toji Fushiguro, but he spun the Inverted Spear of Heaven around his body, blocking every single one.
"So you can see it after all? Ink Abyss!"
The unchanted, incomplete Ink Abyss sacrificed wide-area coverage in exchange for flexibility, appearing directly beneath Toji Fushiguro's feet.
From the shadow at his feet, black water infused with cursed energy surged upward, shooting straight for his head. Lacking precision, it only grazed past his face.
"The target has no cursed energy. Aiming using vision alone really is difficult."
Toji Fushiguro touched the thin scratch on his face, a hint of confusion showing.
"Kid, what was that water just now? Don't tell me you have two different techniques."
Akira Zenin didn't answer. He shifted his stance slightly, resting his left hand naturally behind his back while forming the Vajra Fist seal with his right.
"Domain Expansion—"
A pure white spherical barrier instantly formed, enclosing the two of them.
"[Ten Directions Sacred Realm]"
Toji Fushiguro's expression didn't change. He merely cast Akira Zenin a faint glance.
"Hey, hey. You're what, sixteen or seventeen? I don't know whether to call you a genius or just an idiot."
Akira Zenin smiled calmly.
"I know you don't have cursed energy, Second Uncle. The Domain will classify you as a structure, so the guaranteed-hit effect won't apply. You can even freely enter and exit the barrier."
Toji Zenin narrowed his eyes.
"Oh?"
"Shikigami Load—[Divine Dog]!"
The milky-white inner walls of the Domain suddenly sprouted countless eyes. Inside each eye, a cross formed by endlessly rotating [Michikaeshi no Tama] and [Ashidama] spun without pause.
A massive shadow pool spread across the ground. Endless Divine Dogs poured out from within it, each one locking onto Toji Fushiguro by scent, while countless gazes from the Domain walls fixed tightly on him.
Toji Fushiguro realized that Akira Zenin had vanished from his sight. Yet in his senses, that kid should be inside the central shadow pool.
Akira Zenin's voice echoed from all directions.
"When the [Ten Directions Sacred Sanctuary] is loaded with [Divine Dogs], I can grasp all information within the Domain through my five senses, and command this endless pack of wolves as if it were my own body.
Uncle, even if cursed energy can't lock onto you, what about finely honed senses?"
The moment his words fell, the waiting wolf pack surged forward all at once. Toji Fushiguro tried to pass through the barrier using his lack of cursed energy, but the eyes above tracked his every movement. The symbols within those eyes formed barriers, blocking his path.
"Tch."
Toji Fushiguro could only slice apart the lunging Divine Dogs with the Split Soul Katana. Unfortunately, once reduced to shadows, the dogs immediately reemerged from the central shadow pool and rejoined the pack.
When Toji Fushiguro tried to cut open the Domain barrier with the Inverted Spear of Heaven, his intent was sensed instantly. An endless swarm of Divine Dogs rushed in, surrounding him and restraining his movements.
Toji Fushiguro showed a helpless expression.
"Damn, you're a pain. Looks like I'll have to pit what stamina I have left against your cursed energy."
…
Notes:
Michikaeshi no Tama: A Shinto apotropaic (evil-repelling) jewel
Ashidama: A ritual jewel tied to movement, grounding, and presence