The End of Training

"Black Flash" was a type of attack that Jujutsu Sorcerers could unleash while in a special state. As everyone knew, a sorcerer's Cursed Energy was driven from roughly the abdomen, "flowing" through the chest, arms, fists, and other parts of the body. This process was delayed by the very act of thinking about it—a beat too slow.

Ordinarily, this might not seem like much, and some people might never even notice that delay. But first-rate sorcerers were different. The flow of their Cursed Energy was impossible to predict, and their physical strikes and Cursed Energy strikes were synchronized. This was a more advanced application of Cursed Energy.

Yet, when magnified, that "synchronization" was not truly absolute. Black Flash was a special phenomenon produced when a Jujutsu Sorcerer's Cursed Energy and physical strike came incredibly close to perfect synchronization. The margin of error was... 0.000001 seconds.

Whether through ability or sheer coincidence, after landing a Black Flash, a Jujutsu Sorcerer would enter a state akin to the Zone—a state of selflessness. The Cursed Energy that normally required conscious control flowed as naturally and smoothly as breathing, as if everything around them revolved around themselves.

In that state, a Jujutsu Sorcerer who had already landed a Black Flash and gained a deeper understanding of Cursed Energy would find it easier to land consecutive Black Flashes. Of course, "easier" was only relative.

The outward manifestation of Black Flash was that, amid the spatial distortion caused under those circumstances, the light emitted by Cursed Energy turned black. Most importantly... the power of that strike was raised to the power of 2.5!

In theory, no sorcerer could deliberately land a Black Flash. It was more like a state that could only be encountered by chance. But compared to those who had never experienced one, sorcerers who had landed Black Flash were worlds apart in their proximity to the core of Cursed Energy.

But... Shen Yuanyi was an exception. The conditions for triggering it were far easier for him than for anyone else. When the technique known as Wheel of Time affected himself and his Cursed Energy, that 0.000001-second margin of error no longer seemed so unattainable.

All he needed to control was the instant before his strike hit the cursed spirit. As he observed the nearly frozen surroundings with his thoughts, he activated his technique and accelerated his Cursed Energy to that precise point, triggering Black Flash!

It sounded simple, but it still required incredibly precise control. This was all thanks to Shen Yuanyi's unique technique, as well as his exceptionally keen sense of time—perhaps also due to his technique. At will, he could even heighten his sense of time far beyond that of ordinary people, making each day feel like a year.

Still, landing a Black Flash with his very first punch this time made Shen Yuanyi quite happy. He had once triggered one unconsciously, and after learning about it, he had deliberately practiced it as well.

Landing one with absolute certainty was still impossible, but he was guaranteed to trigger a Black Flash within ten punches! As Shen Yuanyi's control over his technique improved through practice, that probability would continue to rise.

After destroying the cursed spirit with two punches, Shen Yuanyi, who had only just gotten into the groove, felt as though he had strength with nowhere to vent it. He felt unbelievably good right now, and his instincts told him that his next punch could have landed another Black Flash! But that cursed spirit couldn't take it anymore! He should have held back a little earlier...

Watching Shen Yuanyi, who seemed far from satisfied, Maki couldn't help twitching at the corner of her mouth. That was the so-called Black Flash, wasn't it?

This cursed spirit was another type with high resistance to ordinary attacks but extreme vulnerability to powerful strikes that could affect its entire body. That was why he had killed it in just two punches.

Still, even a Grade 1 cursed spirit wouldn't have had an easy time taking those two hits. If his third punch could also land a Black Flash, he might even be able to exorcise a Grade 1 cursed spirit...

Maki picked up her naginata and glanced at the corridor, which had seemingly "expanded" by nearly a full circle. "Let's clear out the remaining low-grade cursed spirits first."

The two split up to exorcise the wandering low-grade cursed spirits. Mainly because some of them were very good at hiding, and being too weak made them difficult to sense. In the end, clearing out those low-grade cursed spirits took even longer than eliminating that Semi-Grade 1 Cursed Spirit...

Once they were finally done, Shen Yuanyi and Maki left the hospital. A car was parked by the roadside, beside which stood a middle-aged office worker dressed in a suit.

But as they drew closer, they realized he did not actually look middle-aged. It was simply his office-worker attire, old-fashioned center-parted hairstyle, and utterly unremarkable black-rimmed glasses that made him seem older than he really was.

"Mr. Ijichi!"

Shen Yuanyi greeted him from afar. Ijichi Kiyotaka was Gojo Satoru's junior by two years. Lacking sufficient talent and by his own choice, he had become an Assistant Supervisor at Tokyo Jujutsu High. In short, he was "reliable."

Shen Yuanyi was not particularly close to him, but they knew each other. When Ijichi saw the two emerge from the curtain, he knew the cursed spirit had been exorcised. He gave a slight bow. "Thank you for your hard work, both of you!"

Scratching his head, Shen Yuanyi chuckled. "You're too polite, Uncle Ijichi. Are we heading back now? Is there anything else?"

Ijichi adjusted his black-rimmed glasses. "No. There was only this one cursed spirit mission today. Mr. Gojo has no further arrangements either."

Stroking his chin, Shen Yuanyi broke into a smile. "In that case, let's eat before we head back! I want Sukiyaki!"

Maki had no objections. After all, this guy had said he was treating. The two put their weapons in the car, and Ijichi took them to a nearby restaurant with a good reputation.

The three had a hearty meal. When they returned, Panda and Inumaki Toge were already back at school. Seeing that the two had only just returned, Panda flexed his arms, attempting to show off his muscles. "Yuanyi! Too slow, too slow~ Panda and Toge already exorcised our cursed spirit!"

"Salmon."

Maki said flatly from the side, "Not really. This guy killed the cursed spirit in two hits. We went to eat Sukiyaki afterward..."

Panda's mouth fell open. "Yuanyi is that strong?" Then he realized what Maki had said in the second half of her sentence.

"What? Yuanyi, you went to eat Sukiyaki without inviting Panda? And Toge?" Panda practically pounced on Shen Yuanyi and pinned him down. The latter hurriedly begged for mercy. "I just didn't know whether you guys were done yet! Besides, Panda, how would you even go out to eat with us? You'd attract a crowd!"

Yet under Panda's forceful suppression, Shen Yuanyi quickly changed his tune. "Next time! I'll definitely treat you next time!"

Seeing the lively scene, Maki adjusted her glasses and left with a smile.

The days that followed were very peaceful: practicing hand-to-hand combat, studying jujutsu knowledge, and occasionally going out on missions.

Incidentally, their ranks had also been provisionally confirmed. Shen Yuanyi and Inumaki Toge were currently Grade 2, Panda was Semi-Grade 2, while Maki was Grade 4.

Naturally, none of them were happy when they learned this. Maki herself, on the other hand, did not seem to react too strongly, as though she had expected it. Though she was equally displeased.

They later learned from Gojo Satoru that the Zenin Family had meddled behind the scenes. As a result, everyone's impression of the family Maki had always refused to mention plummeted.

After they had all cursed those despicable people together, Maki was the one who became a little embarrassed in the end. She stopped Panda, who was getting increasingly fired up, as well as Shen Yuanyi, who had not uttered a single curse word yet somehow mocked them viciously. Maki merely said flatly, "It's fine. Everything I've lost, I'll take back with my own hands someday."

"Maki, you're the best!"

"Tuna mayo!"

Panda wore a serious expression as he and Shen Yuanyi stood on either side of Maki with their thumbs raised. Inumaki Toge chimed in as well.

"These guys..."

Maki was practically about to cover her face. Then, as if she had thought of something, she revealed a "kind" smile. "This afternoon, we'll be doing cursed tool practice and hand-to-hand combat training."

The three froze on the spot. Since those were the two forms of training, techniques and Cursed Energy naturally could not be used. But without them, Maki would beat all three of them one-sidedly in both areas. Especially with cursed tools in hand, it could only be called a merciless "slaughter."

"Mustard leaf!"

Inumaki Toge patted Panda in consolation, signaling that Panda was not the only one being tortured. Panda wrapped his arms around him emotionally. "Toge is so nice~" Seeing this, Shen Yuanyi grinned wickedly and poured cold water over him. "What are you thinking, Panda? Maki hits Toge the least every time. In the end, it's still the two of us getting beaten up."

The "rice ball language" Inumaki Toge used each time only carried simple meanings. Though he would join Shen Yuanyi and Panda in fooling around, he was usually not the instigator. Therefore, Maki gave him less "special attention" during training. In other words... when it came down to it, the first ones to suffer would still be the two of them.

"What are you laughing at? Aren't you the same, Yuanyi?"

The group headed to the Training Ground, shoving one another amid laughter and horseplay.

"The path to becoming stronger starts with taking it one step at a time—!"

Panda had barely finished his grand declaration when a Wooden Staff suddenly jabbed him in the face, sending him sprawling onto his back. Shen Yuanyi silently cursed Panda in his heart. That bastard was really sly.

He tightened his grip on the Wooden Sword and stared intently at Maki across from him. The battle was about to begin. Maki made full use of the advantage of her long weapon; every one of Shen Yuanyi's attacks was easily blocked and countered. In contrast, Maki's attacks were far from easy to handle.

"A weapon is an extension of your limbs!"

As Maki's staff cast a chaotic blur of shadows, forcing Shen Yuanyi into a clumsy defense, she instructed him at the same time. This kid... his Cursed Energy and technique were both powerful, but his fighting skills were so-so. He relied entirely on overwhelming strength. If he faced an evenly matched opponent, that would put him at a disadvantage.

"Whether it's a spear, saber, sword, or any other weapon, using it is, in a sense, a variation of fists, palms, footwork, and so on. The weapon in your hand isn't just a weapon—it is also the embodiment of your martial will!"

While listening, Shen Yuanyi let Maki catch an opening. The Wooden Sword in his hand was knocked high into the air, and the end of her staff jabbed into his shoulder, numbing half of it with pain.

Maki spun her staff before planting it on the ground, a smile curling at the corner of her lips. "You're already dead! If I'd aimed just a little to the side, I would've hit your heart."

"Maki, could you go a little easier on me?" Shen Yuanyi rolled his shoulder, still mulling over what he had learned from the fight.

"I refuse! There have to be consequences for losing if you want to improve faster." Maki rejected him mercilessly. Still, Yuanyi learned pretty quickly. It probably wouldn't take long for him to finish building his foundation; after that, he would have to grasp more through life-and-death struggles in real combat.

"I need to get stronger too! I can't fall behind!"

Watching Shen Yuanyi pull himself together and charge at her once more, Maki swung her long staff into a blur of afterimages, beginning the next round of battle.