He didn't spare a glance behind him. Subaru, Otto—their departure was swallowed by the mist. Pointless to watch. There was only one direction now.
Forward.
Midair, hurtling straight toward the gaping jaws of the White Whale, Gojo moved.
SWISH—
His palm thrust downward.
A pulse of Blue exploded beneath him—an invisible force flinging his body upward, past the jagged teeth snapping shut just below.
"Let's see how tanky you are first..."
He twisted in the air, body coiling, fist pulled back—tension building like a drawn bow.
"SHALL WE?!"
The punch struck true.
An earth-shattering impact.
Raw, untamed power erupted outward, crashing into the side of the creature's massive head.
The ground fractured beneath them.
The force of the blow carved deep into the plains—fog torn away, dust blasted into the air in a wide ring of devastation.
The White Whale's enormous form was thrown sideways, the sheer pressure grinding its lower half against the earth—tearing up soil, splintering stone, plowing a path of destruction in its wake.
Gojo landed in the center of the chaos, calmly flexing his hand—opening and closing his palm as if checking the condition of a newly worn glove.
A small grin tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Not bad."
His gaze narrowed, eyes glowing faintly.
"For a whale, that is."
Dust still hung in the air, curling around his figure like smoke off a smoldering wreck.
The whale groaned- roared.
That low, guttural sound—more like a fork against a chalkboard than a living creature—rumbled through the battlefield.
Gojo cracked his neck, then his knuckles. His white hair shifted slightly in the breeze kicked up by the whale's thrashing.
He didn't move immediately. He didn't need to. His eyes, a sharp gleam of crystalline blue, studied the beast's reaction.
Still breathing huh, good.
The thing was as tough as it looked atleast.
The ground trembled as the White Whale adjusted itself, its eye twitching, mouth opening again with a guttural screech—higher-pitched this time, furious. A storm of wind blasted outward from its lungs, followed by another erupting fogburst so thick it swallowed the world in an instant.
Gojo's smile faltered, just for a second.
"...Ah. Right. Can't see again."
His eyes narrowed, a faint smirk still on his lips.
"Just means I gotta react quicker, then."
Then — chaos.
The ground behind the White Whale erupted, a violent tremor shaking the earth as a storm of rock and debris was hurled skyward. Thousands of shards, jagged like shrapnel, tore through the air. Most were the size of pebbles, some large enough to crush carriages. One was easily twice his height, blotting out the moonlight as it hurtled down.
It was like the world itself had declared war on him.
Gojo didn't flinch.
His foot twisted against the ground, shoulders relaxed, lips pursing faintly. Then—
CRACK—!
His fist met the descending boulder, and the rock exploded, reduced to fine debris in a thunderous burst. The shockwave flattened nearby gravel, scattering the smaller stones away from him.
Another rock came. Then another.
But Gojo moved.
Stepping. Twisting. Leaning. Leading.
Every movement precise, every counterstrike timed to perfection.
Each massive chunk of stone that dared near him was obliterated mid-air by the raw force of his strikes, arms moving in sharp, flowing, repetitive jabs and swings.
And all the while—he grinned.
Why?
He could've activated Infinity since the start. Let the debris stop harmlessly short, like water to a wall.
But this?
This was fun.
He'd never been challenged like this before—not by a monster, not by nature itself. So he welcomed the chaos with open arms, fists raised.
The White Whale howled—an enraged, thunderous wail amidst the fog.
Then, without warning, it dived.
Its massive jaw carved a trench in the plain as it came down—mouth agape, trying to catch him between its upper and lower jaws like a bear trap dropped from the sky.
But Gojo was already gone.
A blur of white and blue, his legs bent—then repelled—blasting him sideways just before the jaws slammed shut. The quake that followed shook the earth, flinging broken terrain in all directions.
Again, it turned—massive, blind with rage.
Its jaws snapped again, and again, always a step behind. Wherever Gojo landed, the beast was already lunging—biting at air, rock and dirt.
And then—silence.
The fog, thick and rolling across the plain, seemed to pause. Gojo skidded to a halt, boots dragging furrows in the dirt. His breath came easy. Controlled.
Eyes glowing beneath tousled white hair, he tilted his head to the side, neck cracking faintly.
His Six Eyes pulsed—picking out even the most minute of motion.
"There."
His hand raised, fingers curling as his palm twisted toward the empty space ahead.-
The cursed technique rippled through the air. The pressure warped, drawing in the fog like a whirlpool collapsing on itself—vacuuming dust and haze toward a singular point.
Gojo's brow arched.
"…What?"
The pull connected—but with nothing. Empty space.
No resistance.
No impact.
Just the soft drag of mist and wind into the spiral.
His smirk faded slightly.
He'd hit nothing.
A chill ran up his spine—not fear, but realization, amusement.
The whale... it wasn't where he thought it was.
Gojo's fist hung suspended mid-air, centimeters from nothing. No recoil. No resistance. Just... emptiness.
His eyes narrowed, Six Eyes flickering with faint pulses of surprise as they adjusted again.
"Nothing?" he muttered. "Tch. Then that's a fakeout."
He turned on his heel, body low, just as the ground beneath him erupted.
BOOM—!
A geyser of force tore upward—not from the whale's jaws, but from its tail, sweeping underground like a missile and exploding outward. Gojo was blasted skyward, arms thrown up instinctively in a loosely formed guard, the wind howling past him as he twisted through the air.
Below, the whale followed, massive body gliding like a ghost through the lingering fog, its momentum unnatural for its size—almost elegant in its horror.
And it was fairly fast, especially for a colossal flying whale.
Mid-air, Gojo realigned himself, the sky spinning behind his eyes. He tensed.
That same tail—a jagged blur in the sky—came screaming across. It cleaved through the air like a falling blade and slammed into Gojo with devastating force.
BOOM—!
A shockwave rippled outward, warping the sky and tearing a trench through the earth. The sound cracked like thunder—so loud it felt physical. Gojo's body was launched, streaking like a comet across the sky, flung straight toward the distant silhouette of Flugel's Tree.
"...Smarter than you look, huh?" he muttered, more amused than annoyed.
His body tumbled through the air, but it was mostly formality—his cursed energy flared, coating his frame like a second skin. The blow had impact, sure, but not bite just yet.
SWOOSH—
Gojo twisted mid-flight, flipping through the air. Then—
THUD.
Both feet hit the ground, hard, kicking up stone and dust, twin grooves scorched into the terrain from his landing.
The fog rushed back in, swallowing the field once more like a creeping tide.
He exhaled softly, his eyes narrowing.
I told the old man—Wilhelm, I think?—that I'd let him have his shot at the whale... but it's clear this thing's got other plans. Doesn't seem too interested in letting me go.
A flicker of cursed energy pulsed across his arms, his fingers twitching once.
I mean, I could just teleport. But…
His lips tugged into a grin.
"Guess I'll keep slapping this oversized fish until I get bored."
Then—
SKREEEEEEEE—!!!
The air warped. Below him, the ground hissed and split as a violent geyser of mist erupted from beneath his feet, lancing upward like a cannon.
Gojo blurred sideways just in time, coat whipping in the wind as the blast tore skyward—hot, and dense with force. The blast lingered, swirling like a vortex of fog and power.
His boots hit ground again, skidding back lightly. His smile faded—not out of fear, but focus.
It's adapting... That hit wasn't just lucky—it was reading me. It knows I'm stronger. So now it's fighting smart. Tactically.
His eyes scanned the haze—still, unreadable.
This mist... it's clever. It screws with my sight, dulls sound, even makes Six Eyes work harder.
For the first time, his fingers flexed with restrained tension.
His gaze darkened, eyes narrowing with sharp intent.
"I'm not a fan of being the hunted unfortunately."
CRASH—!
From the mist, the White Whale screamed again, but this time it was different—wilder, deeper, almost… mental. A low vibration pulsed through the air, rattling Gojo's senses.
A faint pain prickled at his temple.
What the hell was that...? Some kind of mental attack?
It wasn't strong—more like a nagging headache than anything debilitating.
Gojo scowled, brushing it off.
He exhaled and raised a hand overhead, palm glowing with cerulean light. The orb began to form—this time, bigger, brighter, crackling with untamed power.
"Maximum output: Blue!"
The sphere pulsed violently, sucking in everything nearby like a black hole—fog, dirt, even chunks of earth torn loose by the whale's rampage.
Until… nothing remained.
Then, a surge of mana unlike anything Gojo had felt in this world exploded around him.
His eyes snapped to the source.
Right in front of the whale's massive, gaping maw, the fog congealed into a thick swirling mass, wrapping around the orb as it grew, pulsating with raw energy.
"Well, that's not—"
FWOOOOM!
The orb was unleashed in a devastating beam, carving a colossal crater through the plain as it tore toward Gojo's position.
Dark smoke billowed up in chaos, engulfing the area where he stood moments ago.
Then—silence.
The whale floated, proud and undisturbed, the pupil of its massive black eye shrinking in rage as it fixed on the shadow blocking the sun.
Gojo grinned, hair tousled by the wind, arms relaxed as he hovered about a hundred meters above the ground.
"Not bad, dude. That one might've actually done some damage if it landed."
Suddenly, he vanished.
SWISH—
Now, Gojo stood atop the whale's slick back.
Infinity flickered back on—space shifting around his body in an instant.
Yeah, I'm not about to get covered in blood today.
He sprinted along the beast's spine, hand extended like a blade.
With a brutal thrust, his palm drove deep into the whale's back—blood erupted in wild sprays, the force of his strike leaving a deep crimson gash etched along the creature's flesh.
Before the beast could react, Gojo leapt off.
Falling through the air, he folded his arms, a sly smile curling on his lips.
"I'd say that should be enough. Gonna be one hell of a scar though."
Clapping his palms together, fingers intertwining—
SWOOSH—
Satoru Gojo was gone.
The whale roared—angrier than ever before, its fury shaking the very ground beneath the endless plain.
—————————————————
Hours later...
Satoru lay flat on his back in the grass, eyes drifting upward toward the endless, cloudless sky.
That whale... wasn't too shabby. Stronger than any Special Grade I've faced on Earth atleast.
He let the thought settle.
How many beings like that even roam this world?
He sat up, a sly grin tugging at his lips.
"An exciting thought. But anyway, time to check on Subaru. Guy might be thinking I'm dead or something."
He clasped his hands together thoughtfully.
"Plus... the Witch Cult's going to strike soon. He should be back at Roswaal's mansion."
The world twisted and shifted—
—————————————————
Roswaal Estate...
Satoru appeared in a dim hallway and exhaled softly. His brows furrowed.
Subaru's not here. Well then...
He scratched the back of his neck, gaze sliding toward the nearest door.
Ah.
With a small, mischievous smirk, he grasped the handle and pushed the door open.
"Oh, little librarian... come out, come out... where... ever-"
His expression shifted as he sensed the thick presence of cursed energy, Subaru's specifically, lingering in the air. There, perched on her stool, was Beatrice—eyes gleaming with that trademark mixture of mischief and sharp intellect.
"Tch, it is you.." she said, voice dripping with mock surprise. "I was wondering what unfamiliar soul had crawled into the mansion this time.."
Satoru chuckled, relaxed.
"Yep, 'tis I—your favorite white-haired man."
He folded his arms, tone cooling slightly.
"But more importantly... where's Subaru?"
Beatrice's expression darkened; her delicate brow knitted together.
"That man... I sent him away. He begged me to end his life, you see. Perhaps the weight of having taken his dearest Emilia's life fractured what little sanity remained."
The air thickened.
Satoru's eyes narrowed, his scowl deepening.
"He... what? He killed..."
His mind raced, searching for answers—finding none. Instead, a fierce, raw bloodlust began to simmer beneath his calm.
Beatrice's eyes flickered—just a hint of surprise.
"Take me to wherever you sent him. Now."
His voice was sharp, commanding, leaving no room for argument.
Beatrice's lips curved into a wry smile, her brows arching.
"Very well, then... But mark my words—this little journey won't save you all. Beatrice's Bubby will soon bring about the world's end, I suppose."
With a delicate flick of her wrist, a shimmering portal tore open—an otherworldly rift in space hovering before him.
Satoru relaxed, the faintest smirk returning. Without hesitation, he stepped through.
—————————————————
Somewhere unknown...
Subaru watched, paralyzed by all-encompassing fear as snow fell relentlessly. The entire area—no, the world—turned white, blanketed in ice and frost.
Petelgeuse lay crushed beneath a colossal paw, reduced to a red, shattered smear on the snowy surface.
Emilia's body, sprawled out dead, covered in blankets of snow and ice.
But why.. exactly?
The Beast of the End.
A low, rumbling hum emanated from the giant creature. Once the adorable, tiny cat-like spirit, had transformed into a monstrous titan—an entire world unto itself, promising only annihilation.
It leaned down, razor-sharp teeth barely a meter from Subaru's slowly freezing form, exhaling a breath colder than death.
"Now, Subaru... shall we have a little talk?"
"You have committed three sins."
"Firstly. You broke your promise to Lia. It seems you don't understand just how serious a promise is... to a spirit arts user."
"Secondly. You ignored Lia's wishes and came back here—to the mansion..."
"And third..." The voice darkened, thick with finality.
"You let Lia die. Therefore... in accordance with my contract, I will destroy this world."
Before Subaru could form a reply, a streak of white tore across the sky at impossible speed, crashing into the side of the Beast's jaw with a thunderous BOOM-!!
The colossal beast staggered, ice-shattered terrain cracking and erupting violently around them—rock and frost sent flying in a wild haze of destruction.
Subaru was flung back as well—but Gojo, thinking ahead, grabbed Subaru's forearm. His Infinity activated, nullifying the cold's bite as they landed safely to the side.
"S-Satoru Sens—"
"..Gojo." Puck's voice was strained, the beast himself barely fazed.
Satoru narrowed his eyes. "He's hardly affected, huh? Didn't exactly hold back either..."
So this was Puck's true form. A monster of unimaginable scale.. definitely powerful.
Then, footsteps—sharp and deliberate—cut through the tense silence.
"Tch... Oi, cat. Don't you think this cold is completely and utterly foolish? Doing all this just over some half-elf with a pretty face?"
Regulus Corneas appeared once more, voice dripping with biting sarcasm as he strode forward, clearly unimpressed by the apocalyptic scene.
Gojo's eyes widened in shock, narrowing sharply. ".. Who..?"
He tried to read the newcomer, but found nothing—no aura, no.. nothing.. just... empty space.
Impossible.
Subaru's fear twisted into something darker. Here stood a being potentially even more terrifying than the colossal beast before him..
The man who killed Gojo-sensei in the last loop...
Regulus smirked, voice dripping with disdain.
"Unfortunately, if this ice keeps spreading, then—despite my utter hatred for fighting—I'll have to sully my hands to save the lives of my wives.."
Subaru's eyes narrowed, a flicker of resolve sparking amidst the fear.
Regulus stepped forward, his gaze cold and calculating, voice dripping with scorn.
"Honestly, I never thought I'd stoop to dealing with a spirit beast's tantrum. But when it comes to them... I have no choice."
Was it truly love...? Or something else entirely? Subaru didn't know — nor did he have time to ponder such things.
His eyes burned wide with desperation as they locked onto Satoru.
"Gojo-sensei... just let me go. There's no way you can fight with me in your grasp..."
Gojo's scowl deepened, voice cold and resolute.
"If I let you go, you'll die..."
Regulus's pale brow arched, a cruel smile playing at his lips.
"The boy who clings to the half-elf—the recipient of the Witch's love—how utterly quaint. Yet such affection is not yours to claim. It rightfully belongs to me, the one who commands it with rightful authority and impeccable logic and intellect."
Tap.
Then, the tip of Regulus's immaculate white boot tapped the fractured ground like a metronome, echoing ominously across the frozen wasteland.
Gojo's instincts screamed, but his body betrayed him—frozen in hesitation. With a fluid, ruthless motion, Regulus's strike sliced through the air—
SWOOSH-
Gojo's right arm—the one holding Subaru—was violently torn free, the impact gouging the earth and shredding flesh in a spray of crimson.
Subaru was hurled violently, spinning through the freezing air.
A guttural growl ripped through the tumultuous winds.
"So be it then…"
The Beast of the End—Puck in his monstrous, titanic form—roared with immense fury, the very source of the frozen chaos that sullied the world. Massive paws crushed the ground, ice cracking and splintering beneath each thunderous step, shards of frozen terrain launching into the stormy sky.
Regulus's smirk curled darkly, the calm on his face was incredibly unsettling considering the situation.
Gojo growled, pain lancing through his torn shoulder as he gripped the wound. His eyes flicked toward Subaru — a storm of fierce protectiveness, anguish, and cold determination.
The frost spread quickly, Subaru's body beginning to harden in defiance with no means of protection from the Infinity.
"Damn you!!"
A furious roar tore from his throat as he thrust his left hand skyward—Blue flared, surging with raw, furious, cursed energy. The sphere pulsated violently, a blue tempest screaming as it expanded, threatening to tear the very fabric of the frozen battlefield.
Regulus let out a cold, contemptuous scoff, lifting his hand with calmed slowness.
"Your feeble displays of force are meaningless to one such as I. Foolish creatures, the both of you—one blinded by a pretty face, the other by pathetic loyalty. Why strain yourselves, why bother? This futility amuses me not in the slightest... And you even dare to make me put in effort to stop this meaningless chaos? You should be ashamed, spirit.. and the one doomed to die by the words of the Gospel."
Above the chaos, Puck summoned a colossal shard of ice, a jagged monolith shimmering with promise of destruction, suspended in the air like an unholy blade.
Subaru watched from the shattered remnants of the battlefield, powerless.. utterly powerless, his previous promise forgotten.
The clash.
The cataclysm.
Then—
CRACK.
The ice shattered, cruel and merciless.
His body split apart.
And Natsuki Subaru died once more.