The Strongest Escort

Yaga's voice struck the floor like iron.

"According to Tengen's own statement, once he reaches that stage, he may no longer possess what we call consciousness."

"In the best case, all jujutsu activity centered on Tengen stops. In the worst case..."

His expression became grave.

"Tengen may become humanity's enemy."

For a being who had protected humanity for countless years to become its enemy because the Star Plasma Vessel was lost; such a thing was too terrifying to imagine.

Even the three judges of Jujutsu Hall were only children before Tengen.

"The Star Plasma Vessel's location has already been exposed. The forces openly trying to kill her are the curse user group Q, which wants Tengen to lose control and throw the jujutsu world into chaos, and the Time Vessel Association, a religious organization that worships Tengen."

Yaga's tone sharpened.

"There may be countless others hidden in the dark. More importantly, the Divine Kingdom Cult may also make a move."

The current jujutsu world was unstable. The Association had been shaken by Ren and could barely manage itself. The great families each had their own plans. Jujutsu Hall would not move lightly unless the matter approached world-ending scale.

The strongest force that could be openly used was the three of them.

To make Ren act, the school had paid a great price.

"Tengen will merge with the Star Plasma Vessel two nights from now, on the full moon. Before that, you must protect the girl and bring her safely to Tengen."

Yaga's warning grew heavy.

"If this fails, ordinary people may be dragged into the disaster. Do not take this lightly."

Even the clouds outside seemed to feel the weight in his heart and slowly darkened.

"Relax, Yaga," Gojo said with a brilliant smile. "How could we fail?"

In this world, even a god could not stop them.

They were the strongest.

A ray of light broke through the clouds and fell on the three of them. Ren's shadow stretched across the wall like a curtain of sky.

Let me see, Tengen. Let me see whether you really are that selfless.

On a Tokyo street, a vending machine dropped a can of cola with a crisp sound.

Gojo took a satisfied drink and looked at the other two.

"Forget the organizations and Q trying to assassinate the girl. But that Time Vessel Association worships Tengen, right? Why would they want to kill her?"

Ren's mouth curved with a faint meaning.

"Because they worship the pure Tengen. They cannot accept the Star Plasma Vessel mixing with him and staining their faith."

Geto nodded. Ren's answer matched what he had thought.

Religious organizations of that type were always boring in the same way.

"No need to care too much," Geto said. "The Time Vessel Association is only a non-sorcerer group. Our main target is Q."

"Not necessarily," Ren said lazily. "If you underestimate the Time Vessel Association, unexpected trouble may be waiting."

He did not explain further and walked a few steps ahead.

"Why are you two thinking so much?" Gojo asked while drinking cola.

"It should be fine. You two and I are the strongest. Otherwise, why would they assign us to this mission?"

The wind moved through his silver hair. His confidence was dazzling, and he had the strength to match it.

But Ren and Geto silently looked at one another, as if each saw something in the other's eyes.

Geto spoke first.

"Gojo, I have wanted to say this from the start. You should stop referring to yourself so rudely, especially in front of elders. We may still meet Tengen. You should say something more respectful, or at least use a normal tone."

"It will also scare children less," Ren added with a serious expression.

"And shouting that you are invincible for no reason. Do you not feel embarrassed?"

Ren's tone became even more direct.

"That is social death. A childish boy like you may not even get arranged marriage meetings in the future."

If Geto's criticism was subtle, Ren's was a full attack to the face.

"Hey! When did the two of you get so close? Are you teaming up just to mock me? Is friendship among three people really too crowded?"

Gojo clutched his chest as if in pain. Ren rolled his eyes.

Then an explosion roared in the distance.

A nearby building suddenly burst apart.

That was the Star Plasma Vessel's hiding place.

"If that girl dies, will it count as our fault?" Gojo asked, scratching his chin.

Geto had already moved. A black cursed spirit gathered in his hand.

Ren's body stepped through space.

When Mind-Wandering Spirit activated, the void became level ground beneath his feet.

In midair, a girl wearing headphones fell from the shattered building.

"Do not blame me," a masked man in military clothing said above her, cursed energy twisting around him. "Blame Tengen."

"So you are the unlucky kid."

Ren caught the unconscious girl and lightly tapped one finger. Then he returned to the ground and placed her on a bench behind him.

"I will leave that one to you," he said, looking at Gojo and Geto as if tossing them a small chore. "Fighting is troublesome."

He suddenly regretted not buying popcorn.

Gojo and Geto did not feel any dissatisfaction.

Against such small fry, one finger was enough. If Q's curse users were all at this level, sending Jujutsu High's strongest forces was like using artillery to kill mosquitoes.

Gojo and Geto were two of the only public Special Grade sorcerers. Ren was the only existence in the jujutsu world who no longer accepted restraint.

The three of them together could dig up the boss of Q without treating it as anything special.

The curse user in military clothing was not weak, but in their eyes, he was no different from an ant.

"Cloud Drift."

Geto saw that Gojo had no interest in acting and spread his hand. Black cursed energy surged. A huge bat-like cursed spirit appeared beneath his feet and carried him upward.

"Kid," the curse user said, staring at Geto with disdain. "From your clothes, you must be from Jujutsu High."

In his eyes, he was a powerful Grade 1 curse user. Fighting a child damaged his dignity.

He had no idea what sort of monster stood before him.

"Do not make your entrance too flashy," Geto said with a polite smile. "Someone here was scolded for that this morning."

"Hand over the girl," the curse user snapped, "or I will kill you. I am Kokun, a Grade 1 curse user."

His voice was arrogant, as if Geto's refusal would immediately lead to his death.

Geto's smile faded slightly.

His narrowed eyes opened, revealing a dangerous light.

"I did not hear you," he said softly. "Could you come closer and say that again?"

Cold murderous pressure erupted from him. The air around him seemed to freeze.

Kokun's face broke out in sweat. Every instinct screamed that what he faced was not a child.

It was a beast far beyond him.

In a distant high-rise, a man in black priest's clothing watched the scene with great interest. A black cigar rested between his fingers, and a strange smile curved his mouth.

"So this is Special Grade strength. How frightening."

He called it frightening, but the broker beside him heard only disdain.

The broker had once managed Toji Zenin, the strongest bounty hunter. After Toji left the business, the broker had not found any killer nearly as excellent.

This time, however, the commission from the Time Vessel Association was too large to ignore. Just when he had been worrying over candidates, this man had appeared before him and shattered a Grade 1 cursed spirit with one punch.

Although the broker had cursed energy but no technique, he had followed Toji for years. His eye for strength was sharp.

"Mr. God," the broker said carefully, "as long as you kill the Star Plasma Vessel, the Time Vessel Association will pay 1.9 billion yen. I only need three percent as commission."

"Money is a good thing," God said with feverish color on his face. "It represents human desire, human longing, and every dream humans have. Who would not love it?"

A crystal wine glass appeared in his hand. It held no wine, only black liquid that smelled rotten, bloody, and foul.

The broker had dealt with strange people for years, but even he almost vomited.

God drank the black liquid in one gulp. His expression looked as if he were tasting something supreme. He licked the black trace at the corner of his mouth and looked out the window.

In his abyss-like eyes, only Ren Zenin's figure remained.

"Money is the root that connects human society. Humanity is the root that forms the world. When one root wants to kill another, how interesting."

God looked at the broker.

"Mr. Broker, please help me accept this mission."

On the bench, Ren looked up toward the high-rise. In his pale eyes, the Sovereign Wind Array slowly turned.

In the original course of events, only Toji Fushiguro, the Heavenly Restriction called the Sorcerer Killer, could have harmed Gojo at this point. He had stabbed Gojo through the head, and Gojo had awakened Reverse Cursed Technique on the edge of death before killing Toji with one blow.

But because of Ren, that battle would not happen.

The current Toji thought mostly about bringing his child back and tricking more useful workers into the agency.

Without a new change, almost no one in the jujutsu world could stop Gojo and Geto together.

Yet Ren's existence had completely changed that course. Curse Island had been shattered early. Yadha had been controlled. Falsehood had been devoured. The Gate of Deception had broken.

The things hidden deepest in the world were appearing ahead of time.

"You are Satoru Gojo, right?"

A crazed voice suddenly sounded, interrupting Ren's thoughts.

For once, impatience flashed in his eyes.

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