While Ronova continued growing stronger in relative peace…
The jujutsu world was in turmoil because of what she had done.
The casualties from the failed operation to exorcise her had spread throughout Jujutsu Headquarters and the various jujutsu clans.
More than a hundred Grade 1 and Grade 2 sorcerers had been deployed.
Many of them had died.
Even Yuki Tsukumo, one of Japan’s four officially recognized Special Grade sorcerers, had suffered severe injuries.
The scale of the disaster was unprecedented.
More importantly…
The target of the operation had not been exorcised.
Ronova had escaped almost completely unharmed.
The result was devastating.
And then came the most frightening piece of information.
Ronova was not merely an unusually powerful Special Grade Cursed Spirit.
She was a cursed spirit born from humanity’s fear of death.
The jujutsu world understood the basic principle behind cursed spirits.
They were born from cursed energy generated by the negative emotions of humanity.
The concept, fear, or emotion from which a cursed spirit emerged could influence both its appearance and its abilities.
The Disaster Curses were the clearest examples.
Jogo embodied humanity’s fear of volcanoes and the earth.
Hanami represented humanity’s fear of forests and the destruction of nature.
Dagon originated from humanity’s fear of the sea.
And Mahito was born from humanity’s hatred and fear of other human beings.
These curses were powerful precisely because the emotions and fears they represented were widespread.
But Ronova…
Was something else entirely.
She represented the fear of death.
That fact alone was enough to make every experienced sorcerer uneasy.
Because death was not merely one fear among many.
It was universal.
People feared volcanic eruptions because they could die.
They feared earthquakes because they could die.
They feared tsunamis because they could die.
They feared disease because they could die.
Even the unknown could inspire fear because no one knew what might be waiting there…
Or whether it might bring death.
Humanity’s relationship with death had existed for as long as humanity itself.
Every generation was born knowing that one day it would end.
The fear was ancient.
The fear was widespread.
And unlike many other fears…
It could never truly disappear.
That was what made Ronova’s existence so terrifying.
If a cursed spirit born from humanity’s fear of volcanoes could become as powerful as Jogo…
What kind of potential could belong to a cursed spirit born from humanity’s fear of death itself?
The answer frightened even the most experienced sorcerers.
No one could guarantee that Ronova wouldn’t eventually become an existence capable of threatening every sorcerer in the world.
And that possibility cast a shadow over Jujutsu Headquarters.
A shadow called…
Death.
From that moment onward…
Many sorcerers reached the same conclusion.
Ronova had to be exorcised.
Not because she had already committed some unforgivable crime.
Not because they had personally witnessed her slaughter innocent people.
But because of what she might become.
To them, allowing a newly born Death Curse Spirit to continue growing was simply too dangerous.
The distinction mattered little.
A threat was a threat.
Under these circumstances…
Gojo Satoru’s reputation deteriorated rapidly.
He had discovered Ronova when she was still a newborn.
He had possessed the ability to exorcise her.
Instead…
He had protected her.
Sheltered her.
Even allowed her to continue growing.
To many sorcerers, that decision bordered on betrayal.
It didn’t matter that Gojo was still widely feared and respected as the strongest sorcerer of the modern era.
His decision had placed the entire jujutsu world at risk.
Now…
The only way he could convince the conservative factions that he was still acting in their interests was the agreement he had made with Ronova.
In two months…
He would fight her.
If Gojo killed Ronova…
The matter would end.
If he failed…
Then the situation would become considerably more complicated.
For many people, the choice was simple.
Gojo had created this problem.
So…
Gojo would have to solve it.
The problem was that almost nobody cared about Ronova’s actual personality.
They saw the words Special Grade Cursed Spirit and Death.
That was enough.
To the average sorcerer…
A cursed spirit was an enemy.
A supernatural being born from humanity’s negative emotions.
Something that existed only because people suffered.
Why risk humanity’s future by trusting one?
From their perspective…
Their fear was understandable.
And strangely enough…
Ronova wasn’t entirely wrong either.
She hadn’t asked to be born.
She hadn’t chosen to become a cursed spirit.
She simply wanted to survive.
Gojo wasn’t entirely wrong, either.
He had seen a newborn being that had committed no crime and had chosen not to execute it purely because of its classification.
The sorcerers weren’t necessarily wrong for trying to exorcise her.
Gojo wasn’t necessarily wrong for protecting her.
Ronova wasn’t wrong for defending herself.
The real problem…
Was the system itself.
Humans produced cursed energy.
Cursed energy produced cursed spirits.
Cursed spirits harmed humans.
Those deaths and tragedies produced further fear and negative emotion.
And that, in turn, produced more cursed energy and more cursed spirits.
A vicious cycle.
For centuries, jujutsu society had simply learned to live with it.
But what would happen if something appeared that could fundamentally break that balance?
No one knew.
Perhaps…
Ronova’s birth was itself a sign that the existing order was beginning to change.
At this moment…
The entire jujutsu world was waiting for one date.
Two months from now.
The battle between Gojo Satoru and Ronova.
A battle that had already attracted the attention of clans, curse users, and sorcerers throughout Japan.
Meanwhile…
One of the two people involved quietly returned to Tokyo Jujutsu High.
Gojo Satoru headed toward the medical clinic.
Inside…
Yuki Tsukumo was recovering from her injuries.
She was lying on a hospital bed, heavily bandaged.
Mei Mei sat nearby, casually talking with her.
The moment Yuki saw Gojo…
Her expression darkened.
“You bastard!” “You actually have the nerve to come here?” “I’m lying in this bed because of you!” “If I weren’t injured, I’d punch you right now!” Gojo awkwardly scratched the back of his head.
“…Sorry?” Yuki’s expression became even more irritated.
Gojo understood why.
She had nearly died during the battle with Ronova.
And there was another uncomfortable detail.
Ronova had performed Black Flash during that battle.
Gojo had taught her the fundamentals of cursed energy manipulation and Black Flash.
He had never expected her to become proficient with it so quickly.
Yet she had managed to use it through her Death Feather Swords with frightening precision.
If Yuki knew how quickly Ronova had progressed under Gojo’s instruction…
She would probably try to punch him despite her injuries.
Gojo decided not to mention that part.
Mei Mei, meanwhile, remained much more interested in the cursed spirit herself.
She glanced at Gojo.
“Tell me about that child.” Yuki immediately looked at her strangely.
Child?
You’re calling a Special Grade Cursed Spirit born from the fear of death a child?
Still…
Yuki was curious.
Because Ronova’s behavior was remarkably different from the stereotypical image of a cursed spirit.
She had watched Ronova fight.
She had felt the killing pressure.
She had witnessed the terrifying nature of All Things Die.
Yet Ronova had also demonstrated restraint.
She didn’t seek pointless slaughter.
She could communicate rationally.
She possessed clear moral principles.
She even appeared capable of forming genuine relationships with humans.
If it weren’t for her cursed energy and overwhelming strength…
No one would find it strange to mistake Ronova for a human woman.
And perhaps…
That was what made her even more difficult to understand.