"I thought we would at least meet and have a brief conversation before the battle began," Mahito said regretfully. "I didn't expect you to attack right away, and with such intensity and violence, like ten thousand suns."
Yuki Tsukumo understood the underlying meaning. She lightly brushed her long hair and smiled. "I didn't expect the King of Curses to be in the mood to read the ancient Indian epic, the Mahabharata."
The Mahabharata describes wars of ancient times, and there is a passage written as follows:
[A single projectile charged with all the power of the universe.]
[An incandescent column of smoke and flame, as bright as ten thousand suns, rose in all its splendor.]
[It was an unknown weapon, an iron thunderbolt, a gigantic messenger of death, which reduced to ashes the entire race of the Vrishnis and the Andhakas.]
[Their bodies were so burnt as to be unrecognizable. Their hair and nails fell out; pottery broke without apparent cause, and the birds turned white. After a few After a few hours, all foodstuffs were infected. ]
This book was written around 1500 BC, about 3,500 years ago. The wars described within bear a striking resemblance to human nuclear warfare, but that is not the point. The point is:
Yuki Tsukumo said slowly, "You have been educated very well, Mahito. You have a patient teacher who has put in every effort to teach you everything—techniques, swordsmanship, literature, and etiquette."
"This shows he doesn't simply see you as a pawn to overthrow the Jujutsu World, but sincerely regards you as his disciple, his legacy."
Mahito smiled. "I am a child who is loved. I appreciate all the beauty in this world."
Mahito was not lying. He truly felt loved. Although Jogo and Hanami were powerful, they were willing to let him lead and dedicated everything to him. Although Dagon understood nothing, he would always obey as long as Mahito spoke.
Kinji Hakari cursed him constantly, but in the end, he cared for him in his own awkward way. The newly joined Ashiya Magon viewed him as his successor, holding nothing back.
The recently awakened Tsumiki Fushiguro also had very pleasant interactions with him; even when facing his selfishness, she was willing to be patient and stay with him. Finally, the five newborn Intelligent Cursed Spirits he had created himself viewed him as their master and father.
In other words, the people gathered around Mahito, except for Kenjaku, all sincerely felt that Mahito was someone they could entrust themselves to. Many among them believed that if Mahito ruled the world, he could indeed change the old world and create a brand-new one.
Mahito was even certain that there was almost no Ideological Imprint involved here. The reason he said "almost" was because the Ideological Imprint could only ensure no betrayal, but it couldn't guarantee a pleasant relationship. Otherwise, one's thoughts would turn into a tragic result of not betraying Mahito for the sake of self-sacrifice for a greater cause. Kenjaku was that "almost." Although he was under the Ideological Imprint, his thought was to drain Mahito of everything, but before that, he'd just play along with him.
So, regarding Kenjaku, even now, Mahito's thoughts toward him had never changed—he would kill him sooner or later!
It was just as Kinji Hakari had said to Gojo Satoru: this world is already so rotten, and now that a transformation is coming, why not take a gamble?
He was not a loner; he was deeply connected to this world. The traces of a transmigrator had almost vanished over these few months. He could no longer treat this place as a mere manga; he truly loved all of it.
"I see, then I can rest easy," Yuki Tsukumo said with relief.
"Rest easy about what?"
"Rest easy that even if I die, even if Gojo Satoru fails, you still won't treat this world cruelly."
Yuki Tsukumo breathed slowly. She straightened her arm and beckoned slightly; something was approaching at high speed from afar.
Accompanied by continuous explosions, the snake-like Cursed Tool Shikigami returned to her hand. Yuki Tsukumo grasped the head of Garuda, her palm fitting into its skull. Then, she swung Garuda violently; the snake-like Garuda became a divine whip capable of rending the earth.
"Then I can fight you to the death without any worries!"
—Cursed Technique Release: Star Rage!
Mahito suddenly began to sprint. Within a breath, he let the Cursed Energy flow through his limbs and bones. This was the most basic Cursed Energy reinforcement. Even without specialized study, any Jujutsu Sorcerer with Cursed Energy could use it instinctively, but the technique of its application became the watershed between the weak and the strong.
Before this, Kenjaku had not specifically taught Mahito techniques regarding Cursed Energy reinforcement because there was no need. For Mahito, who possessed Idle Transfiguration, the improvement from Cursed Energy reinforcement was not significant. The plan Kenjaku made for Mahito did not include deep coursework in Cursed Energy reinforcement.
But with the arrival of Ashiya Magon, Mahito's combat system finally had a true integration.
Unlike Kenjaku, who radiated malice at all times, Ashiya Magon truly treated Mahito as his own successor. Facing the integration issues Mahito raised, he said without hesitation that he should first improve his Cursed Energy reinforcement before worrying about anything else.
Because all Cursed Techniques are inseparable from it; it is the "Horse Stance" of general jujutsu.
How could one think of practicing other things without even mastering the "Horse Stance"? And now, he had practiced it very well!
He didn't even enter a state like that of the Zenin Family, yet in his eyes, the world seemed to slow down several times as Garuda swung toward him. He was calm and unhurried; although Garuda carried world-destroying power, he could dodge it with ease.
Mahito could truly understand Gojo Satoru's world now. Gojo Satoru's Six Eyes could see through all the Cursed Energy flows in the world. Mahito couldn't do that, but as long as he wanted, every change in the air currents of this world could be seen by him.
In other words, as long as he was within the atmosphere, no frontal attack directed at him could possibly hit him.
Cursed Energy reinforcement was not just an improvement in the mobility of his limbs; it also enhanced his eyesight, reflexes, and even the tactile sensation of air currents against his skin.
The improvement was so comprehensive, just as Ashiya Magon had said—
—Cursed Energy reinforcement is the "Horse Stance" of the Jujutsu World. All training is inseparable from it. It only gets better with practice; there has never been a so-called...
Limit!
Garuda hit the ground. The massive pressure created a huge sonic boom before impact. For a moment, even sound seemed to vanish. The immense force sent the sand of the entire desert flying, almost forming a wave of grit.
Yuki Tsukumo stood before the wave. In front of her was a crack, like Moses parting the sea. Suddenly, something flew toward Yuki Tsukumo. She looked closely; it was a bamboo hat.
Clap.
A crisp sound of a palm strike rang out.
—Soul Creation, Todo Aoi.
—Uncanny Valley!
Mahito and the bamboo hat swapped places, suddenly lunging through the waves of the sand sea to appear before Yuki Tsukumo's eyes. The bamboo hat on his head vanished. Under the blazing sun, his long white hair seemed to emit a golden-red glow. His heterochromatic eyes were wide open, looking like those of a sacred, great being overlooking the world.
—Cursed Technique Release: Divine Might!
Yuki Tsukumo was about to strike back, but her body suddenly froze!
Mahito swung his blade in mid-air. His long white hair seemed to blot out the sun in the sky. In the next instant, kirigiri carved a graceful arc, slashing toward Yuki Tsukumo.
Teleportation raid, Divine Might immobilization, refined killing blow.
A certain kill!
An arm flew high into the air, the cut surface as smooth as a mirror. Yuki Tsukumo gritted her teeth and retreated. As she backed away, Garuda followed her will and caught the severed arm in the sky. This snake-like Cursed Tool Shikigami grabbed the arm and retreated with Yuki Tsukumo.
Mahito did not pursue. He landed on the ground. A trace of blood flowed from his left eye. His left eye was completely shattered, looking like a mass of mush sunken into the socket.
Yuki Tsukumo gritted her teeth and said:
"Zenin Teruaki's Ama no Habakiri, Zenin Ranta's Divine Might, and even my stupid disciple's Uncanny Valley... I should have realized long ago. Since you have the ability to make people 'evolve,' it's also possible for you to install other people's Cursed Techniques onto yourself!"
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