The night air vibrated with the energy of the crowd, voices and lights merging into a single, pulsating heartbeat. Ruby Hoshino adjusted her earpiece backstage, the hum of the sound system coursing through her body. Fans were screaming, their excitement so intense it almost pressed against her skin. Yet beneath it, Ruby felt something darker—jealousy, resentment, obsession—an energy that seemed alive. Why does it feel… alive?
Aqua appeared beside her, tuning his guitar, tension visible even in his usual calm demeanor. "Ruby," he murmured, "do you feel that too? Something's… off tonight."
Before Ruby could answer, the crowd shifted, and a ripple of dark energy rose like smoke from the front rows. A Fléau had formed—twisted, grotesque, and fed by the panic, envy, and obsession of the fans. Its hollow eyes locked on Ruby and Aqua, and she felt the pull of its malevolent intent in her chest.
Her hands trembled as a faint glow flared in her eyes. I can see it. I can see the emotions… and it's forming… something. She extended her hand instinctively, sending a ripple of energy that brushed the edge of the Fléau. It recoiled, hissing like a living nightmare caught in light.
Aqua reacted immediately, forging his anger into jagged constructs that cut through the air. The collision of their energies sent a shockwave across the stage. Screams mixed with awe as the creature staggered but did not fall, feeding on the panic.
Ruby's mind raced. This is what Gojo meant… if negative emotion concentrates, it can… awaken them. The Fléau split into smaller tendrils, each hunting fear, jealousy, and anger like a predator.
"Ruby! Keep it contained! Don't let it reach the crowd!" Aqua shouted.
Before they could act further, figures appeared at the edge of the stage. Satoru Gojo, blindfolded, exuded calm power; Yuji Itadori, ready for combat; Megumi Fushiguro, calculating and precise; and Toge Inumaki, his cursed speech poised. Ruby's heart sank but also raced with relief. Reinforcements had arrived.
Gojo's voice cut through the chaos. "Step aside, Hoshinos. Let us handle—"
"No!" Ruby yelled, defiance blazing. "We can do this!" Her energy pulsed, feeding off the rhythm of the crowd. Aqua mirrored her, channeling his anger into focused strikes.
Megumi's shadows erupted, coiling around the Fléau's tendrils and restraining them with lethal precision. Toge's voice followed, a sharp phrase that forced the Fléau into partial submission. Yuji charged, fists glowing with cursed energy, striking at weak points revealed by Ruby's clairvoyance. Together, the four Jujutsu sorcerers coordinated seamlessly with the Hoshinos.
The Fléau screamed in a soundless, distorted wail, fracturing into smaller, writhing forms. Ruby's energy flared, keeping the tendrils in check. She glimpsed a chilling vision: four colossal armored figures riding spectral horses, their void-like eyes staring across time and space. The Four Horsemen… if the negative emotion keeps rising… they will awaken…
Aqua grabbed her arm. "Ruby! Focus!"
With a shared surge of power, Ruby's emotional clairvoyance merged with Aqua's constructs, Megumi's shadows, and Toge's speech. The Fléau let out a final screech before dissipating into dark smoke. The crowd cheered, oblivious, but Ruby's heart pounded with the weight of the danger they had just survived.
Gojo stepped forward, a faint smile under his blindfold. "You two have potential. But potential isn't enough. If you can't control it… it will control you."
Ruby looked at Aqua and then at their new allies. We'll control it. We have to.
The stage lights no longer felt like safety. Every cheer, every scream, every pang of envy or fear was now a weapon, a potential catalyst for Fléaux, and somewhere in the shadows, the first stirrings of a Horseman had sensed the energy. The world had shifted forever.