“That reckless idiot…” “What the hell was Gojo thinking?” Yuki Tsukumo couldn’t believe what she had just heard.
Gojo Satoru hadn’t merely bent the rules.
He had secretly protected the single most dangerous cursed spirit imaginable.
From Yuki’s perspective…
He had placed a sword above the entire world’s head.
A sword that could fall at any moment.
If Ronova ever lost control…
The consequences would be unimaginable.
Gojo had possessed countless opportunities to exorcise her when she was still weak.
Instead…
He chose to protect her.
Fortunately…
Ronova had not yet reached her full potential.
There was still time to eliminate the threat before it became unstoppable.
Even so…
Yuki couldn’t help grinding her teeth.
That idiot…
When this is over, I’m beating him senseless.
Unfortunately…
Punching Gojo would have to wait.
The priority now…
Was eliminating the Curse Spirit of Death.
To prevent Gojo from interfering…
The higher-ups deliberately arranged a separate mission to keep him away from Tokyo.
Whether he realized he was being distracted or not…
The result was the same.
For the first time…
Ronova stood completely alone.
The higher-ups spared no expense.
This operation was too important to fail.
Yuki Tsukumo alone wasn’t considered sufficient insurance.
Members of the three great clans had also been dispatched.
Several experienced Grade 1 and Grade 2 sorcerers from both Tokyo and Kyoto Jujutsu High participated as well.
Barrier specialists had prepared the battlefield in advance.
Every possible escape route had been considered.
Their objective was simple.
Destroy the Curse Spirit of Death before it could fully mature.
Completely unaware of the ambush…
Ronova calmly walked home after leaving the Time Vessel Association.
She had almost reached Shoko Ieiri’s apartment.
Then…
She stopped.
Something felt wrong.
An unnatural stillness filled the neighborhood.
The next moment…
Yuki Tsukumo stepped out from the shadows.
“As expected…” “The Curse Spirit of Death has excellent instincts.” “I completely suppressed my cursed energy…” “And you still noticed me.” Yuki assumed Ronova had detected her cursed energy.
Ronova simply tilted her head.
“…Actually.” “It wasn’t you.” She pointed behind Yuki.
“It was him.” Standing several meters away…
Aoi Todo awkwardly scratched the back of his head.
Caught red-handed.
Yuki slowly turned toward him.
“…Explain.” Todo coughed.
“Well…” “She’s ridiculously beautiful.” “I accidentally looked at her a few too many times.” “…” Yuki stared at him.
“…You’re unbelievable.” Todo genuinely couldn’t help himself.
Before meeting Ronova…
He had always believed his ideal woman was someone like Yuki.
Tall.
Strong.
Confident.
Now…
He realized something important.
His actual preference…
Was simply beautiful women.
Ronova’s appearance was so extraordinary that it overwhelmed personal preference entirely.
For once…
Even Todo had forgotten why he was there.
While Yuki silently questioned her student’s priorities…
Ronova was thinking about something much more important.
How was my identity exposed?
Yuki had addressed her as the Curse Spirit of Death immediately.
There was no doubt.
The secret had leaked.
The question was…
From whom?
Very few people even knew the truth.
Gojo Satoru.
Shoko Ieiri.
Suguru Geto.
Shoko was the easiest to eliminate.
She had cared for Ronova far too sincerely.
If she intended betrayal…
She wouldn’t have acted the way she had.
Gojo was equally unlikely.
If he wanted Ronova dead…
He could have killed her the day they met.
There would have been no need for elaborate schemes.
Which left…
Geto.
At first glance…
He seemed like the obvious answer.
Revealing Ronova’s identity would isolate her from the jujutsu world.
Exactly what he wanted.
Yet…
Something still didn’t add up.
Her identity was also his greatest bargaining chip.
Exposing it weakened his leverage over her.
That wasn’t like Geto.
After thinking for several seconds…
Ronova reached another conclusion.
Tengen.
Only Tengen possessed both the knowledge…
And the ability.
His barrier techniques covered nearly all of Japan.
Combined with those barriers…
His perception of events throughout the country was unparalleled.
He might not literally know everything…
But if anyone could uncover Ronova’s true nature…
It was him.
The more she thought about it…
The more convinced she became.
Tengen…
I’ll remember this.
One day…
We’ll settle the score.
For now…
Survival came first.
Ronova quietly surveyed her surroundings.
Searching for an escape route.
Naturally…
Yuki noticed.
She calmly raised one hand.
Several barrier specialists activated their prepared technique.
A transparent dome instantly expanded around the entire area.
The barrier sealed off every direction.
Escape would no longer be simple.
Ronova examined it silently.
Ordinarily…
She could erase the distance between herself and another location using All Things Die, allowing her to escape almost instantly.
The barrier couldn’t completely prevent that.
But…
It dramatically increased the cursed energy required.
Whoever designed this operation had prepared specifically for abilities like hers.
They intended to force a direct confrontation.
Yuki spoke calmly.
“We’ve done our homework.” “You’re not leaving so easily.” Ronova didn’t panic.
Instead…
She smiled.
The higher-ups were making one enormous mistake.
They still viewed her as the newly born cursed spirit Gojo had discovered months ago.
That Ronova…
No longer existed.
Special Grade cursed spirits possessed astonishing growth rates.
Even newly born disasters like Mahito had evolved dramatically within only a few months.
Ronova’s growth was even more extreme.
Every death she witnessed…
Every battle.
Every execution.
Every exorcism.
All of it had continuously strengthened her.
The current Ronova…
Was vastly stronger than the one Gojo had rescued.
She slowly looked across the assembled sorcerers.
Yuki Tsukumo.
Several Grade 1 sorcerers.
Numerous Grade 2s.
An impressive force by any standard.
Enough to exorcise almost any known cursed spirit.
Almost.
Ronova quietly flexed her fingers.
Scarlet cursed energy slowly spread across her hand.
She smiled.
“They’ve certainly shown me a lot of respect.” Her golden eyes swept across the battlefield.
“But…” “I’m afraid…” “This still isn’t enough.” For the first time since the operation began…
Several experienced sorcerers instinctively took a step backward.
Without realizing it…
They had all felt the same thing.
Death…
Had begun looking back at them.