Under the attack of Hollow Technique: Purple, not only was Jogo's Maximum Technique: Meteor destroyed, but even his Domain, "Coffin of the Iron Mountain," was completely shattered by the blow.
However, Gojo Satoru didn't deliver a killing blow directly to Jogo. He controlled Hollow Technique: Purple to strike only the parts of Jogo below the neck. After all, as Gojo Satoru, who possessed the Six Eyes, even a massive meteor from Maximum Technique: Meteor could not hide Jogo's exact location from him.
In some ways, although the battle between Jogo and Gojo Satoru had proceeded differently from the original timeline, the outcome was essentially the same. Gojo still had many questions for Jogo, such as how the other party knew his travel route and used it as a trigger to intercept him.
Moreover, Gojo was certain he had never encountered Jogo before. So who had given Jogo this information about him?
Jogo's attacks had been highly precise. Gojo knew that Jogo possessed considerable intelligence, but he refused to believe it was mere combat instinct—deploying a Domain Expansion layered with a Maximum Technique immediately after a single failed attack was sheer nonsense. Even if Gojo were in Jogo's position, he would have tested the waters a few times to confirm information before using such a decisive one-shot combination.
Not to mention, Jogo did not have Gojo's Six Eyes. Gojo could not believe, for even a second, that Jogo could analyze the Limitless / Limitless Void technique after just one attack.
Gojo approached Jogo, stepped on his head, and said,"There's a reason I'm sparing you. I'll ask you one by one. Tell me, who sent you here?"
At that moment, only Jogo's head remained. Most of his Cursed Energy had been spent releasing his Domain, and with his body severely damaged, he lacked enough energy to recover quickly. Moreover, with his Domain destroyed, Jogo had entered a state of cursed technique disruption.
Yet, recalling Mahito's previous words, Jogo wasn't entirely frustrated or terrified.
Back then, Mahito had said:"Even if you fight as I instructed, there's a high probability you'll still lose to Gojo Satoru. He just won't exorcise you so quickly."
Mahito paused deliberately, glancing at Hanami."After Jogo loses to Gojo, don't expect that guy Geto to intervene. He's just an enemy whose interests temporarily align. So I must ask you, Hanami, to save Jogo. Your Cursed Technique, which affects emotions, won't be directly blocked by the Limitless / Limitless Void. It can momentarily control Gojo Satoru—that will be your chance. You won't refuse, will you?"
Hanami's voice echoed in everyone's mind simultaneously:"Leave it to me."
"I won't lose!" Jogo protested stubbornly.
Though he said this, he could feel that Mahito's arrangements and the information about Gojo—gathered from that unreliable manga—were, to some extent, for his benefit. Considering he had been beaten nearly to death by Gojo, Hanami's willingness to risk herself to save him also demonstrated her intentions.
Among Cursed Spirits, emotional expression was direct and pure, without sentimentality. Accepting this was Jogo's natural reaction. If Mahito, Hanami, or Dagon were in danger, he would have done the same.
Time returned to the present. Hanami and Kenjaku, observing the battle from a high cliff, both noticed Jogo's Domain destroyed and his critically injured state.
Kenjaku sighed, "Pulling Gojo into a Domain right from the start was clever, but that's as far as it went. What should we do? Are we going to save him?"
He glanced at Hanami."I can't show myself to Jujutsu High for certain reasons, so I'll head to the meeting point first. If you want to save him, go ahead—but I'm not sure Cursed Spirits even feel such emotions."
Hanami recalled Mahito's words: don't expect Kenjaku's help. Before leaving, he whispered in Kenjaku's ear:"Of course we do. Compared to you, we are the true humans."
Though Hanami's words were meant to mock Kenjaku emotionally, they sounded sharper than intended. Kenjaku felt Hanami was insulting him, implying that Kenjaku—who sought to merge all humans in Area 11 into a Great Cursed Spirit to satisfy his curiosity—was less human than they were.
Kenjaku knew himself. Even if he didn't care about others' opinions, his pride could not allow this point to be stated outright. He smiled disdainfully, muttering:"Bold words, for a mere Cursed Spirit..."
Meanwhile, Gojo treated Jogo's head like a stress-relief toy, stepping and rolling it on the ground while speaking rapidly.
"But you don't seem like the type to follow orders, do you?""Is there some benefit if that person kills you?""Anyway, hurry up and tell me who gave you the information.""Hurry! If you don't talk, I'll lose patience and exorcise you!""Though I'll exorcise you after you talk anyway.""Confess honestly, or I'll finish you off now!""Here I come!"
At that moment, flowers suddenly sprouted beneath Gojo's feet. Hanami's Cursed Technique took effect, leaving Gojo in a brief peaceful state. Before he could react, Hanami grabbed Jogo's head and fled.
But it wasn't just Hanami. Since Yuji Itadori wasn't by Gojo's side as leverage, Mahito had also intervened to buy time for Hanami's escape. However, only Mahito's clones appeared. Thumb-sized clones leaped off Hanami as he emerged from the ground.
Gojo realized his will was being influenced by a Cursed Technique. Instead of focusing on the weak Mahito clones at his feet, his gaze fixed entirely on the fleeing Hanami.
The clones didn't attack—mere copies could not stall Gojo. Mahito was using a different method to delay him.
"He's still alive~""Geto Suguru~""It's him~"