Hearing the system's answer, An Xiu nodded.
In that case, could he collect all of Sukuna's fingers from the original story, have each finger spawn a Special Grade cursed spirit, then let Seele defeat them and claim all of Sukuna's rewards in advance through this method?
It should theoretically work, but after giving it some thought, An Xiu decided against it. It would clearly be less troublesome to wait until the villains gathered all of Sukuna's fingers, then go after Sukuna and collect all the rewards at once.
"All right, we've already gotten all the points we came out for this time. It's about time to head back."
After informing Fushiguro Megumi and Kugisaki Nobara, who were waiting outside, to carry off the unconscious Itadori Yuji, An Xiu eagerly returned to the apartment with Seele.
Besides the rain outside making An Xiu unwilling to stay outdoors, there was another reason he wanted to return: the system shop's discount section was about to refresh.
That was right. From first transmigrating into this world, to Materialize Clone Seele and eliminating the Cursed Spirits near his residence, defeating Gojo Satoru, joining the Jujutsu World and using its intelligence network to sweep through Cursed Spirits for nearly ten days, then waiting half a month for the Reform School incident, only a few hours remained before the monthly system shop refresh.
Around evening, An Xiu would be able to see the new discounted items.
Before that, he needed to tally the points he had.
"10,000 points from the starter gift pack. After materializing Seele, I had 1,100 left. Sweeping Cursed Spirits for a month earned an average of 300 points a day. Three Sukuna's fingers plus the Special Grade cursed spirit eliminated during the Special Grade assessment triggered four rewards, for a total of 10,000 points. Adding the miscellaneous points earned from my usual slacking off, I have a balance of 23,500 points."
"Even if the system shop doesn't refresh with any good discounted items this time, 23,500 points alone will be enough to create a pretty decent clone."
Thinking that, An Xiu, who was sitting on the bed in the apartment, reached out and pulled Seele beside him into his arms.
"Seele, you'll have a new companion tonight. Are you happy?"
"Mhm, Seele is very happy."
Held in An Xiu's arms, Seele smiled and nodded.
"Oh? Is it because you'll have a companion to share your burden, so you won't need to earn money alone every day?"
"No. It's because if there is another companion, An Xiu-ge can live more happily."
As she spoke, Seele revealed a trace of guilt, her tone becoming somewhat low.
"Seele promised that she would let An Xiu-ge buy whatever he liked every day, eat whatever he wanted, and live in a bigger house with a better life."
"But An Xiu-ge can still only live in this little apartment. Seele went to see the large houses in central Tokyo. If we want to buy one, we may need to wait a while longer..."
"I'm sorry, An Xiu-ge. Seele hasn't worked hard enough. A new companion is even coming, yet Seele can still only let An Xiu-ge live here. Is Seele useless?"
Sensing the girl's dejection, An Xiu stroked Seele's head.
"There's no need to rush about the house. This apartment is pretty comfortable too. But I can make a promise with Seele: once Seele saves enough money to buy a new home, I'll give Seele a reward. How about it?"
"A reward?"
Seele curiously raised her head at that, and An Xiu whispered something into her ear.
Seele's cheeks immediately flushed red, and she lowered her head in flustered embarrassment.
"I-Is that so? Seele will definitely work hard..."
A few hours passed just like that.
Inside the apartment, An Xiu sat in the living room with his eyes closed. At his request, Seele leaned against his chest, acting as his human body pillow.
The kind with an excellent feel.
"Three minutes left."
Opening the system's shop interface, An Xiu opened his eyes and stared unblinkingly at the discount section's countdown at the very top of the shop.
Time passed second by second. Finally, the countdown reached zero, and three brand-new items appeared in the discount section.
Dominion of the Devil Authority (50% off): 3,000 points Authority of the Herrscher of Restraint (30% off): 7,000 points Word Spirit Technique (70% off): 3,000 points
"The Dominion of the Devil Authority—is that an ability from the Chainsaw Man setting? The Authority of the Herrscher of Restraint is more familiar. It's from the Honkai series again, and it's one of those absurdly powerful Herrscher Authorities."
"As for this Word Spirit Technique... it's an ability from the Honkai series too? But from Honkai: Star Rail—Kafka's Word Spirit Technique. No wonder it costs the same as a Herrscher Authority."
Looking at the refreshed items in the discount section, An Xiu was extremely satisfied and immediately bought all three.
There was no need to say much about the Authority of the Herrscher of Restraint. It was an incredibly powerful ability. Judging solely from its performance in the original work, it could absolutely be considered one of the strongest Herrscher Authorities. Even at only thirty percent off, buying it was definitely not a loss.
There was even less need to say anything about the Word Spirit Technique. In the Honkai: Star Rail setting, where gods battled and planets or even entire star systems could be destroyed at any moment, the Word Spirit Technique could still hold its own. In the Jujutsu Kaisen world, An Xiu could not imagine anyone capable of resisting Kafka's signature Word Spirit Technique.
As for the Dominion of the Devil Authority, although its price tier was the lowest among the three abilities, An Xiu considered it the core ability instead.
After all, the character he was about to materialize was closely connected to that ability.
"System, if a clone materialized based on the impression in my memories is not human, will it become the corresponding race after being materialized?"
"Ding! If a materialized clone belongs to a special race, it will retain that character's racial traits after materialization. These traits will be treated as special abilities and will automatically adapt to and integrate with the systems of different worlds, just like abilities sold in the system shop. This will require additional points."
Having received the system's explanation, An Xiu slowly nodded.
"In that case, system, Materialize Clone."
A New Clone, Makima
A faint white light lit up the apartment, and a tall figure completely different from Seele slowly materialized before An Xiu.
She had medium-length wine-red hair and wore a sharp women's suit. Her lovely figure was displayed to perfection by the suit. Her pale golden eyes bore ring-shaped patterns, as if they could draw people in without them realizing it, while also faintly exuding the majesty of someone in a superior position. A perfectly measured smile rested on her lips, making people feel slightly close to her while also sensing an invisible distance.
Without a doubt, this was the clone An Xiu had materialized this time—the Dominator Devil, Makima.
"Nice to meet you, my master."
Her gaze swept over the room. Upon seeing An Xiu, Makima's smile deepened slightly. She took several slow steps forward, then actually knelt on one knee before him.
"I am deeply honored to have been the subject of your materialization."
Unlike Seele's way of addressing An Xiu, Makima's address was clearly much more direct.
After all, in the background arranged by the system, Seele had come from the same orphanage as An Xiu in this world. She had continued living with him after leaving the orphanage, and their relationship in that background was undoubtedly closer, which was why Seele called him big brother.
As for Makima, An Xiu had deliberately spent additional points while materializing her to arrange an identity entirely different from his and Seele's current one. Since her background had no connection to An Xiu himself, Makima directly addressed him as master.
The reason he had specifically spent system points to arrange a special identity for Makima was naturally related to An Xiu's earlier plans.
A month ago, when Gojo Satoru had just invited him to join the Jujutsu World, An Xiu had already begun preparing to materialize a clone specifically suited to dealing with the higher-ups. Having read Jujutsu Kaisen and known exactly what kind of people the higher-ups were, he wanted to prevent them from disgustingly getting in his way in the future.
And now, the Makima materialized by An Xiu was undoubtedly the ultimate weapon against the higher-ups, one that could permanently solve the issue of the Jujutsu World higher-ups for him.
Thus, while materializing Makima, An Xiu had spent additional points not only on her racial traits, but also on her identity in this world. He had arranged an identity for Makima that would make it convenient for her to approach and secretly control those Jujutsu World higher-ups.
An elite sorcerer from one of the Jujutsu World's high-ranking families, possessing the strength and certification of a Grade 1 sorcerer, and holding an important position within the Jujutsu World.
Thanks to this identity, even before An Xiu bestowed upon Makima the abilities he had purchased from the system shop, she already possessed the strength and cursed energy of a Grade 1 sorcerer.
At the same time, although her background depicted her as a sorcerer born into a high-ranking Jujutsu World family, An Xiu had retained Makima's racial traits as a devil from the Chainsaw Man setting. Thus, in this world, Makima's nature was closer to that of a Cursed Spirit, though not entirely the same.
After all, Makima possessed a physical body that truly existed. Though her essence leaned more toward a curse, as long as she carefully restrained her aura and did not expose her identity, An Xiu doubted anyone in this world would discover that Makima, who looked almost exactly like a human, was actually a curse.
And honestly, the methods by which devils were born in the Chainsaw Man setting, along with several other details, were genuinely very similar to the Cursed Spirits of the Jujutsu world. With Makima's identity as a devil, fitting into this world would not feel out of place at all.
"Makima, I'll now bestow upon you the abilities I bought from the system shop. Prepare yourself."
As he spoke, An Xiu bestowed the three abilities he had purchased from the system shop—the Dominion of the Devil Authority, the Authority of the Herrscher of Restraint, and the Word Spirit Technique—upon Makima.
Makima closed her eyes and carefully sensed the new abilities within her body.
Just like when Seele had received the Authority of the Herrscher of Life and Death, the instant the Authority of the Herrscher of Restraint, also a Herrscher Authority, was bestowed upon Makima, her cursed energy began soaring at a terrifying rate.
Combined with the vast cursed energy granted by the Dominion of the Devil Authority after adapting to the Jujutsu world, Makima now seemed to be faintly surpassing even Seele in cursed energy alone.
As for the Word Spirit Technique, that was not something one could discern merely by looking. Someone would have to experience it firsthand.
"You know about the plan concerning the Jujutsu World higher-ups, right?"
After bestowing the abilities purchased from the system shop, An Xiu asked Makima.
Makima nodded slightly.
As a clone, Makima naturally knew that An Xiu intended to secretly control the Jujutsu World higher-ups and turn the entire Jujutsu world into his private backyard.
"Controlling those Jujutsu World higher-ups will not be difficult for me. Once I return, I can begin taking action and slowly bring the entire upper echelon of the Jujutsu World under my control."
"By then, the entire Jujutsu World will serve my master's will. No one will dare overstep their bounds again."
Makima spoke in an indifferent tone.
Makima had no concerns about whether she could successfully control those higher-ups. Even without counting the Authority of the Herrscher of Restraint and the Word Spirit Technique, those two ultimate weapons, she was still confident she could complete the task through the Dominion of the Devil Authority alone.
Knowing the original story, would anyone truly hold any reverence for those pedantic fools who were not particularly capable and only knew how to engage in endless schemes within their own camp?
Once the details of such people had been uncovered, how could they possibly resist Makima's control? Not to mention... she had been given such a convenient identity.
"I look forward to your good news, Makima."
Receiving Makima's answer, An Xiu nodded in satisfaction.
Late at night, Tokyo. A retro Japanese courtyard.
A figure walked up to the courtyard gate. The guards standing on either side immediately greeted her.
"Lady Makima."
Makima, who had been in An Xiu's apartment not long ago, merely nodded faintly before walking into the courtyard.
Unlike Seele, who in her background setting lived directly with An Xiu, Makima had her own residence in her identity background.
This enormous courtyard, situated on some of the most expensive land in land-starved Tokyo, was the residence of the high-ranking Jujutsu World family Makima was born into in her background, and the place where she was set to live.
The Power of Restraint and Control, Makima's Plan
After entering the courtyard, Makima could still see many servants moving about despite the late hour.
Makima passed through the front courtyard and walked for several more minutes before reaching the central area. Along the way, quite a few people greeted her upon seeing her.
"Lady Makima, you're back."
"Mhm. Is the family head here?"
Makima casually nodded to one servant and asked her.
"The family head returned not long ago. He is currently in the meditation room."
The servant did not dare conceal anything and answered truthfully.
"The meditation room... I understand."
Makima nodded slightly and changed direction toward the location of the family head mentioned by the servant.
As a Grade 1 sorcerer, Makima's status and position were undoubtedly very high. Thus, she encountered no obstruction whatsoever along the way and smoothly met the head of this family, one of the Jujutsu World higher-ups.
"You came to see me this late. Do you have something important to report?"
Inside the meditation room, the family head had been meditating with his eyes closed. Seeing Makima arrive, he displayed no vigilance and merely asked casually.
After all, he greatly trusted and valued Makima, a family member who had become a Grade 1 sorcerer at such a young age. He regarded her as a pillar of the family and was grooming her accordingly, so he had no reason whatsoever to doubt her.
Thus, when Makima entered the meditation room, closed its door, and turned around, a Golden Chain extended from the void. The unprepared family head was instantly bound tightly by it.
"Makima! What are you... doing...?"
Facing such a sudden upheaval, the family head in the meditation room widened his eyes. He was just about to question her when he discovered that he could not muster even a trace of strength.
He tried circulating his cursed energy, but the cursed energy he had once wielded so skillfully could no longer be sensed in the slightest. He wanted to call for help, only to discover that he was nearly losing even the ability to speak.
"Wh... what... technique... is this?"
His eyes filled with confusion as he stared at the Golden Chains wrapped around him. The family head tried to force himself to remain conscious, but his awareness became increasingly blurred.
What kind of technique could weaken him to this extent in such a short time?
He was a Grade 1 sorcerer himself, and a highly experienced one at that. Under normal circumstances, he could even fight a Special Grade cursed spirit.
Yet now, he could not even break free from a single Golden Chain. Not only could he not break free, but he was about to lose consciousness.
When had Makima mastered such a powerful technique? As the family head, he had known absolutely nothing about it.
And what was her purpose in subduing him? Why had she attacked him, the family head?
At this moment, the family head was utterly baffled. He could not think of any reason Makima would attack him, and in the end, he could only fall unconscious with his doubts.
Before you continue