Chapter 209

Offering to the Unknown (への) is the two hundredth and ninth chapter of Gege Akutami's Jujutsu Kaisen.

Summary
Rewinding the clock just before Kenjaku's clash with Tsukumo and Choso, foreign armed forces make their move and crash the Culling Game. The military forces are under the impression they're in Japan to capture jujutsu sorcerers but Kenjaku has other plans for them altogether.

Plot Details
In the middle of the night of November 14th, the United States military invades the Culling Game colonies. Each and every soldier is approached by Kogane only to ignore the shikigami. The random teleportation into the colonies only happens to players who answer Kogane's invitation. The absence of teleportation allows the military to move in uninhibited. Kenjaku explains this to Uraume as they descend into the disciplinary chambers of the decimated Zenin clan. He claims it's a kind of hidden rule but Uraume argues that it's more of a glitch, a statement the former finds harsh. Kenjaku shows Uraume the space and the latter says it'll do nicely for a bath even Sukuna would appreciate.

Meanwhile, in Tokyo Colony No. 1, Remi and numerous other sorcerers are captured by the military. The military takes many weak players without much trouble and even makes a game out of who gets the most. It's so simple that some are even confused as to why Lieutenant General Garry K. Johnson was so concerned. However, a female soldier comes forward and tells them about a run-in with a player who had a helicopter propeller on his head. Her team was injured and they had no choice but to use lethal force in order to even survive. The other soldiers are skeptical of her story but she emphasizes that there are different types of sorcerers: the weaker ones that have been captured, and the monsters putting up incredible resistance. She even believes there are ones beyond even that level of strength. Iori Hazenoki is among those who effortlessly repel the invaders. He looks at a deceased soldier's uniform and recognizes that they're a foreign power. This makes him wonder if this is what Reggie meant by a major reveal that would change the Culling Game.

Uraume tries to guess the reason Kenjaku has pitted the military against the Culling Game players. Kenjaku's proposal to use sorcerers for research was simply a ploy to manipulate the United States government. Uraume believes his real goal is to stimulate the colony with enough cursed energy to begin the pre-merger with Tengen. Kenjaku admits their guess is close but not quite all the way correct. Only the Tokyo and Sendai colonies have enough cursed energy for the preparation and the military is insurance. However, Kenjaku doesn't expect there to be a showdown between the soldiers and the sorcerers. Awakened players will struggle and even the strong ones of this type are reluctant to kill. The soldiers will retreat once casualties mount and it won't be worth the points for players to pursue non-sorcerers.

With this added information revealed, Kenjaku asks Uraume if they've figured out his plan yet. Even non-sorcerers release a large amount of cursed energy when they die. Uraume asks if the same is true for foreigners and Kenjaku confirms that to be the case. Uraume realizes Kenjaku never intended to pit the sorcerers against the soldiers at all. They initially thought Kenjaku had the military moved in at night to give them an advantage, but it was actually because Kenjaku released a large amount of cursed spirits into the colonies.

The Angel has figured out that Kenjaku plans to sacrifice the people entering the colony. As Yuji, Megumi, Hana, and Fumihiko move through the hotel, they happen upon invading soldiers. The military group tries to stun them with a grenade but Yuji kicks it away before it goes off to protect everyone. Megumi notices the intruders are military and quickly recognizes they're not the JSDF. He wonders if they've been dispatched to protect citizens only for the soldiers to open fire. Megumi, Yuji, and Hana get out of the way of the bullets while Fumihiko comically shuffles his way through them. As evidenced by the shooting, the soldiers aren't there to protect anyone and Megumi says they'll just have to ask them directly to find out their true intent.

Character in Order of Appearances

 * Kenjaku
 * Uraume
 * Iori Hazenoki
 * Hiromi Higuruma
 * Rin Amai
 * Remi
 * Ogi Zenin
 * Hana Kurusu
 * Fumihiko Takaba
 * Megumi Fushiguro

Battles & Events

 * Culling Game

Locations

 * Tokyo No. 1 Colony