Gojo arrived at the designated coordinates, but Kiyotaka was nowhere to be seen. The aura clinging to the alleyways felt heavy, viscous, and entirely wrong.
A split second later, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed behind him as his fellow students dropped into the zone.
"Sensei," his students called out. "The density is all wrong."
Before anyone could move, a pitch-black dome of compressed cursed energy slammed down over the entire district, sealing them in. Suguru Geto’s barrier had just locked into place.
A voice echoed through the barrier with sickening familiarity.
“Welcome, Satoru and fellow students. The match will begin any moment.”
Geto popped his head out from around the corner, waving victoriously with Kiyotaka's phone. "I guess Ijichi didn't realize the importance of setting a password."
Back at the safehouse, the atmosphere turned ice-cold in a fraction of a second.
Nanami was already moving, placing himself directly between Akari and the window. The reinforced glass shattered inward as a heavy, shadowy mass materialized out of the dark.
"Stay back," Nanami ordered, adjusting his grip on his weapon. "Looks like Satoru's distraction has arrived."
With a swift movement, Akari formed a hand seal and slammed her hands against the floorboards. A defensive circle of a purification barrier expanded around them. The creeping shadows turned to dust the exact moment they touched the boundary.
Nanami didn't look back, a rare, grim smirk touching the corner of his mouth. "Just focus on holding the perimeter. I'll handle the physical removals."
ns216.73.217.153da2
and then Add to home screen.