Jujutsu Kaisen: I have everything I need now!

On the first day of December, I felt like I was diving into the deep sea.

This is a pure black ocean, devoid of light and sound, with only countless liquids flowing slowly within it.

All around were malicious whispers, the resentment of those killed by the shadows, and the roar of the shadow kingdom.

"Get out...get out..."

Countless black hands reached out from the darkness, vying to grab his ankles and drag him into an even deeper abyss.

"Get out of here!"

Instantly, an extremely dazzling black and white light erupted from December's body.

This is the harmonizing power of the Tiger talisman.

In this pitch-black world, he was like a walking sun. The moment those dark hands touched his body, they were instantly burned to ashes.

"Fushiguro Megumi! Where are you?!"

No one answered; only endless black liquid churned.

On the first day of the twelfth month, he closed his eyes, and within the realm of his soul, the power of the [Sheep] talisman was unleashed to its fullest potential.

He was searching for that tiny, discordant fluctuation. Within this pure malice, there must still be a faint, human-like fluctuation of the soul.

found it.

This is at the deepest point of the "seabed".

The first day of December suddenly accelerated and plunged downwards.

He finally saw it after passing through layers of black mist.

A tiny figure huddled inside a giant cage made of countless black chains.

That's Fukuro Megumi.

But he wasn't like this before. He was wearing a junior high school uniform, hugging his knees, and looking down, like an abandoned child.

Beneath his feet lay black mud, which was slowly swallowing his ankles.

"Kuro!"

On the first day of December, he rushed to the cage and reached out to grab the chains.

"Sizzle—!"

The moment my hand touched the chains, a piercing pain shot through me. It wasn't just pain, but a chilling cold that struck my very soul.

But the situation did not ease up on the first day of December.

"Dragon Blast!"

boom!

Crimson flames erupted from his palm, forcefully shattering the chain.

Fushiguro Megumi slowly raised her head inside the cage.

His eyes were vacant and unfocused.

"Who are you?"

"I'm here to beat you up," December said irritably, reaching for the second chain. "The people outside risked their lives to save you, and you're hiding here like a coward?"

"Help me," Fushiguro Megumi murmured, a hint of confusion flashing in her eyes. "It's no use... I'm... broken..."

"Sister... Tsumiki... Everyone..."

"I only bring misfortune..."

The black mud suddenly rose, reaching above his knees.

"Stop wallowing in self-pity!"

With a roar, the new moon of December gripped the cage bars with both hands, unleashing its full power.

"Ox Talisman - Immense Strength!"

crunch - crunch -

That seemingly indestructible soul cage began to twist and deform under the conceptual power of the Ox Talisman.

"If you truly believe it will bring misfortune, then get up and smash that misfortune to pieces!"

On the first day of December, he ripped open the railing, rushed in, and grabbed Fu Heihui by the collar.

"Itadari is being used as a punching bag outside! Mai almost died in Yokohama trying to save you! Gojo Satoru is fighting that idiot for you!"

"Are you just going to stand here and watch?!"

Fushiguro Megumi's pupils suddenly contracted.

Itadori...Mai...Gojo-sensei...

Those familiar names were like hammers, shattering the ice in his heart.

The black swamp stopped rising.

A glimmer of light slowly returned to Fushiguro Megumi's eyes.

"I......"

He reached out and grasped the wrist of the new December.

"I don't want to...die here."

"Then come with me!"

On the first day of the twelfth month, she grabbed his hand from behind and pulled it upwards forcefully.

"rise!"

Their souls were intertwined, transforming into a beam of light that pierced through the dark depths of the sea.

......

The real world.

"puff!"

Fuhei Hui suddenly spat out a mouthful of black blood.

The mask on his face cracked with a crisp sound.

"Click."

A crack ran from between his eyebrows all the way to his chin.

"What?!"

Rōsaku, who was locked in combat with Gojō Sō, suddenly changed his expression.

"It broke from the inside?!"

"A great opportunity!"

How could Gojo Satoru possibly let this flaw slip by?

"Domain Expansion - Boundless Void!"

Although it was only a momentary on and off, the massive flow of information was enough to cause Lu Suo's brain to crash for 0.2 seconds.

But that 0.2 seconds is enough.

"water chestnut!"

The purple orb of light exploded at close range, blasting away half of Lu Suo's body.

"Ahhhhh!"

Lu Suo screamed and flew backward, crashing into the rock wall.

Meanwhile, on the altar.

Fushiguro Megumi let out a painful roar, grabbing the mask on his face with both hands and tearing it off desperately.

"Get out of here!!!"

Blood was everywhere.

The mask, along with the skin and flesh, was peeled away little by little.

"help!"

Itachi rushed forward and, together with Mayu, pressed down on Fushiguro's shoulder.

"Three, two, one!"

With a final roar from Fushiguro Megumi, the already cracked mask was finally ripped off.

Clang.

The mask fell to the ground, its red light flickered a few times, and then went out completely.

Fukuro Megumi collapsed, utterly exhausted, into Itadori's arms.

"Fuhei! Fuhei!" Huzhang called out anxiously.

"Cough cough..." Fukuro Megumi opened her eyes with difficulty, her face covered in blood and flesh, but her eyes were clear.

"Shut up... you idiot..."

"That's great..." Zhenyi breathed a sigh of relief, almost dropping the gun in her hand.

The figure of December 1st also reappeared, appearing somewhat transparent, clearly indicating a huge expenditure of energy.

"Mission... complete."

However, things did not end that simply.

The Lu Suo who had been blasted away was now struggling to crawl out of the pile of rocks. Half of his body was being rapidly repaired using a reversal spell, but a strange smile was on his face.

"Amazing...truly amazing..."

Lu Suo, panting heavily, looked at everyone.

"Although the ceremony was interrupted, the goal... can be considered half achieved."

He glanced at Fushiguro Megumi lying on the ground.

"The seed has been planted."

"Gojo Satoru, you won this time. But next time..."

The space behind Lu Suo suddenly distorted, and a giant pelican spirit appeared out of thin air and swallowed him whole.

"Trying to run away?!"

Just as Gojo Satoru was about to give chase, the entire underground hall suddenly began to collapse violently.

The energy of the dragon's lair went berserk because the ritual was interrupted.

"Oh no! This place is going to collapse!" December 1st shouted. "Run!"

"Tsk." Gojo Satoru had no choice but to give up the pursuit and turn around to stand beside the others.

"Hurry up!"

Instant teleportation activated.

……

When everyone opened their eyes again, they were back on the lawn of the outer garden of the Imperial Palace.

The eastern sky began to lighten with the first hint of dawn.

Dawn has arrived.

"Phew...it's finally over." Itachi collapsed onto the grass, looking at the sky.

Megumi Fushiguro has been taken over by Shoko for treatment. Although her injuries are severe, her life is not in danger.

Everything seemed to have settled down.

But in a corner where no one is paying attention.

Although Fushiguro Megumi was unconscious, the shadow beneath him distorted slightly in the morning light.

The corners of the shadow's mouth seemed to curve into a faint smile.

It's like... laughing.

As the new moon floated in mid-air, watching that shadow, the unease in my heart did not dissipate with the arrival of dawn.

The mask was taken off.

But has that dark ocean truly receded completely?

Perhaps this is just a brief respite in the long night.