Dust and smoke filled the air.
The scent of char and burning permeated the atmosphere.
A massive trench cut through the center of the forest.
Mechamaru's puppet was completely scrapped.
Caught in the aftershock of Hollow Purple, it had been blasted into a pile of scattered parts, leaving only a mangled head rolling off to the side.
Beside a fallen tree.
Hayashi En lay amidst the rubble.
His expensive, custom-made suit was now in tatters, hanging off his frame like a discarded rag.
His hair was a mess, caked in dust, with a thin trail of crimson blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
He looked utterly pathetic.
"Cough, cough..."
Hayashi En clutched his chest, letting out a series of weak coughs.
While he was genuinely injured and in pain, it wasn't nearly as life-threatening as he made it appear.
After all, the target of Hollow Purple hadn't been him.
"Are you all right?!"
A familiar voice rang out.
A second later, the space around him warped.
The white-haired figure appeared before Hayashi En in an instant.
Gojo Satoru.
He wasn't wearing his blindfold.
Those azure Six Eyes shimmered like translucent gemstones.
He scanned the devastation surrounding them.
He saw the breached gates of the storehouse, the lingering cursed energy residue on the ground, and finally, his gaze settled on the gasping Hayashi En.
"Mr. Gojo..."
Hayashi En struggled to prop up his upper body before collapsing back down, coughing violently.
"I'm sorry... cough... I couldn't stop them."
With a trembling hand, he pointed toward the empty storehouse behind him, his face a mask of self-reproach and frustration.
"There were two... Special Grades."
"One guy with stitches all over his face, and another... a one-eyed volcano-head with steam coming out of his top."
"Their teamwork... was too perfect."
"They took all the fingers, as well as the three sealed Cursed Wombs."
Gojo Satoru's gaze lingered on Hayashi En for several seconds.
The information provided by the Six Eyes showed that Hayashi En's cursed energy was nearly depleted and his internal organs were rattled; he had indeed undergone a life-and-death struggle.
There were no signs of deception.
Gojo's expression darkened, but the shadow on his face wasn't directed at Hayashi En.
"Mahito and Jogo, huh..."
He glanced at Hayashi En's injuries, and the coldness in his eyes softened slightly.
In his view, Hayashi En was merely an ordinary businessman with the strength of a Grade 1 Sorcerer.
Surviving an onslaught by two Special Grade spirits capable of Domain Expansion and perfect coordination until backup arrived...
This was more than just doing his best.
It was a miracle.
"You did well."
Gojo Satoru crouched down and patted Hayashi En's shoulder.
"By surviving that situation, you've already proven your worth."
"Get some rest."
Gojo Satoru stood up, his gaze piercing into the depths of the forest as killing intent surged within him.
"I'll handle... the rest."
With that, his figure vanished instantly, racing after the faint traces of remaining cursed energy.
Watching the direction where Gojo disappeared, the pained curve of Hayashi En's lips shifted almost imperceptibly.
'I'm in the clear.'
...
Minutes earlier.
On the other side of the forest battlefield.
Hanami was currently locked in a bitter struggle.
Maki, Fushiguro Megumi, Todo Aoi, and Kamo Noritoshi.
This group of students, who hadn't even graduated yet, were currently unleashing staggering combat prowess.
Especially Maki.
The Special Grade cursed tool Playful Cloud in Maki's hands was a blur of motion; every strike carried the weight of a mountain, slamming hard against Hanami's toughened skin.
Crack!
The left arm Hanami took such pride in was brutally shattered by Maki, sending purple blood splattering everywhere.
"Vile humans..."
Hanami clutched its severed arm and retreated, alarm bells ringing in its mind.
No matter what, it had to leave!
"Domain Exp—"
Just as Hanami was about to risk everything on a Domain Expansion, it felt a terrifying surge of killing intent that froze its very soul, locking onto it from afar.
It was a divine pressure... transcending all living things.
"Hollow Purple!"
Boom—!!!
It wasn't given a single second to react.
A destructive beam of purple light swept across the entire Jujutsu High campus like divine judgment, instantly annihilating everything in its path.
Trees, boulders, the very air.
All of it was erased.
ROAR—!!!
Hanami let out a desperate scream.
It only had enough time to cancel its domain and focus all its cursed energy on defense.
But before that purple light, its defenses were as flimsy as paper.
Half of its body was instantly vaporized.
Relying on the tenacious life force of a plant-based cursed spirit, it exerted every ounce of effort to burrow deep into the earth a split second before being disintegrated, fleeing madly through the root systems.
Gojo Satoru stood high in the sky, looking down at the massive crater on the ground.
"Fast one."
He didn't linger to hunt down a heavily injured spirit.
The situation at the storehouse was more critical.
...
The battle was over.
The rays of the setting sun spilled over the devastated campus, gilding the ruins in a bloody golden hue.
The alarm was lifted, and rescue teams began to arrive.
Jujutsu High Infirmary.
The room was thick with the scent of disinfectant.
Ieiri Shoko wore her white lab coat, heavy dark circles under her eyes, an unlit cigarette dangling from her mouth.
She expertly examined Hayashi En's injuries.
"It's nothing serious."
Shoko scribbled quickly on a medical chart, her tone sluggish.
"Some internal organ agitation, two cracked ribs, and mainly severe cursed energy depletion."
"A normal person might be bedridden for half a month, but for a sorcerer..."
Shoko glanced at Hayashi En.
"A few days of rest should do it."
"Thank you, Miss Shoko."
Hayashi En thanked her politely and prepared to sit up.
Thud.
The infirmary door was pushed open.
Gojo Satoru walked in.
He had put his blindfold back on and was carrying a bag of Kikufuku, seemingly back to his usual nonchalant self.
"How is it, Mr. Gojo?"
Hayashi En asked, leaning against the headboard.
"They got away."
Gojo Satoru shrugged with a light tone, yet the atmospheric pressure around him was terrifyingly low.
"Those two spirits likely had backup, and Hanami vanished into the ground."
He walked to the window, sighing as he looked at the sunset.
"As for the storehouse..."
"Six fingers are gone, along with Cursed Womb: Death Paintings one through three."
"Those rotten higher-ups will probably be raising hell again."
"I'm sorry."
Hayashi En lowered his head, apologizing once more.
"It's not your fault."
Gojo Satoru turned around and waved him off.
"Surviving against two Special Grades and even protecting Mechamaru... you've done more than enough."
"The rest is a job for the adults."
Gojo didn't stay long.
As the strongest, he had to deal with the questioning from the stubborn higher-ups and go comfort the students.
"Rest up, Hayashi."
"Jujutsu High owes you one for this."
With that, Gojo Satoru pushed the door open and left.
Hayashi En was left alone in the infirmary.
Ieiri Shoko had also gone next door to attend to other patients.
The ward fell silent.
In that instant, the weakness and remorse on Hayashi En's face vanished without a trace.
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