Just as Kazuma was thinking, Maki supported Mai and slowly walked out the door.
The two sisters looked at each other and said at the same time, "Thank you, Kazuma."
"I really don't know how to repay you."
Panda winked and joked, "I think it would be better if you two sisters just gave your bodies to Kazuma..."
He was only halfway through his words when he was violently slapped in the back by Yaga.
Yaga said, "Now is the time when Kazuma is needed. Let's wait until everything is over before we talk about this, idiot!"
"Ahem…"
Kazuma gave a knowing look to Panda and then said to the Maki sisters seriously, "Did you kill her too?"
Maki knew that Kazuma was referring to their mother, and she shook her head and explained, "No, that shot was just a final farewell between my sister and me and the past."
Didn't kill?
This surprised him a little. According to the original plot, Maki would cut her mother's throat.
At the last moment of her life, her mother gave the dying Naoya a final blow, ending his tragic and unbearable life.
It seemed that Maki had not completely lost herself.
Their mother was different from Ogi. In the end, she was just another tragic woman bound by the constraints of family values.
Now, this was actually the best outcome.
"Okay, now that I can participate in the Culling Game, I will go first."
After saying that, Kazuma instantly disappeared into the vortex.
Panda looked at Maki with some fear and said weakly, "Um... Maki, how about you take care of your wounds first, and then we can enter the other barriers together?"
At the same time
On the rooftop of the tallest skyscraper inside the barrier
The fighting below continued endlessly, but Kenjaku didn't care about the situation at all.
For once, his usually calm and composed expression wavered.
He widened his eyes slightly, staring at the rule panel projected by the little golden bug in shock.
"Jogo?"
The one who had added the rule allowing Kazuma to enter the Culling Game… was actually Jogo?
How was that possible? Wasn't that idiot burned to ashes by Kazuma's black flames?
Beside him, a white-haired figure in monk's robes, Uraume, frowned.
"What's going on? Wasn't that grumpy Volcano Head dead?"
She had seen with her own eyes that Jogo was reduced to nothing.
And yet, here he was, influencing the Culling Game?
What's even more baffling was that… he seemed to be helping Jujutsu High?
Kenjaku's fingers continued scrolling down the list of participants inside the barrier.
The more he read, the more his expression darkened.
Jogo, Mahito, Hanami, Dagon…
Wait! Even Fushiguro Toji?
The deeper he looked, the more unsettled he became. Something was seriously wrong.
The sorcerers from a thousand years ago had been revived because they had signed contracts with him, paying the necessary price.
But what about Jogo and the others?
Even a sorcerer like Toji, dead for over a decade, had returned?
Had some kind of malfunction occurred when activating the Culling Game?
Kenjaku quickly searched his memory for answers, but found nothing.
"Haha, this is getting more and more interesting."
Uraume shot him a cold look and asked, "Hey! Are those four friends or enemies now?"
Kenjaku didn't answer right away. Instead, he let out a sigh and smirked.
He said, "So this… is what betrayal feels like? It's quite unpleasant."
It was clear to him now. The old allies who had suddenly resurrected were most likely enemies now.
He even suspected that Jogo and the others had been revived under the control of the higher-ups at Jujutsu High.
But who in Jujutsu High had the power to pull the dead back from hell?
"Could it be… Tengen?"
Yes. Only an old relic like him could have mastered such a technique.
"Uraume, locate Megumi. I have something important to take care of."
Uraume raised an eyebrow and said, "What?"
Kenjaku's smirk widened and he said, "Assimilating Tengen."
Most of Jujutsu High's forces were now tied up with the Culling Game, and Kazuma would be heading there soon.
With Jogo and the others aiding Jujutsu High, the chances of manipulating the rules to eliminate Kazuma were slim.
After all, he was well aware of the strength of the Four Disaster Curses.
Not to mention Toji, who had once almost succeeded in assassinating Gojo.
But with those forces and now Kazuma entering the fray, this Culling Game would soon become Kazuma's playground.
"So, you're leaving the mess to me?" Uraume frowned.
At this rate, Gojo would be unsealed soon. What role could she even play here?
Kenjaku cursed inwardly. This fool only cares about Sukuna.
But outwardly, he gave a pleasant smile and said, "It's simple. Force Megumi into a corner. Then, he'll inevitably summon Mahoraga. Your Sukuna-sama will sense it and take action."
"The initiative has always been in our hands."
At the mention of Sukuna, Uraume's expression shifted.
She knew exactly what Kenjaku meant. The key was Megumi's sister—Tsumiki.
"Tombs of Star Corridor… Tengen, are you ready to welcome me?"
A vortex appeared behind Kenjaku.
After flashing a parting smirk at Uraume, he disappeared.
At the same time
At the Sendai Colony
"Oh hoo!"
A strange cry echoed in the sky.
Jogo descended, flames swirling in his palms.
Boom!
Several sorcerers below were instantly reduced to ashes.
"Jogo! Watch out, don't burn your own people!"
Mahito, whose robes had caught on flames, hopped away, trying to pat out the flames.
Hanami, standing with arms crossed, used his wooden limbs to ensnare a fleeing sorcerer.
He glanced at Jogo, who was laughing maniacally above them, and scoffed.
Hanami said, "Idiot. Don't forget we're working for our former enemies now."
Jogo said, "Hehehe… Sorry, I just haven't had this much fun in a long time!"
Jogo took a deep puff of his pipe, looking smug. He had finally figured it out.
He would never again challenge someone like Gojo or Kazuma.
As long as he avoided those monsters, he was still top-tier.
After dying once, he had learned one thing—don't be stubborn.
Never play in a match against those monsters at the top again!
Suddenly—
Shing!
A flash of light appeared.
Slice!
Everything in the blade's path—buildings, cursed spirits, and all—was severed in two.
Toji moved at lightning speed, pinning a massive curse to the ground.
His voice was cold and emotionless.
"Where is Megumi?"
"N-no… I don't kno—"
Slash!
Before he could finish, he was cut to pieces. Purple blood splattered the ground.
Jogo clicked his tongue and said, "Tsk, what a rude guy. If we're talking about workaholics, this guy definitely tops the list."
***
60 Advanced Chapters on patreon.com/alex_1000