"Black Flash" Tutorial

"Classmate Akesato, how much do you know about 'Black Flash'?"

Facing a group clad in White Military Uniforms, White Capes, and Black Cloths covering their mouths—a crowd that clearly did not look normal—Kento Nanami asked.

"I only know the most basic concept. There is a discrepancy between the flow of cursed energy and the body's movements, but when that discrepancy is less than 0.000001 seconds, their extreme synchronization produces something akin to spatial distortion, increasing the power to 2.5 times its usual level. However—"

Akesato answered without the slightest hesitation. Having inherited no cursed technique, "Black Flash" was his only path toward advancement.

"—because the time difference is far too minute, exceeding the limits of human conscious control, no one can trigger Black Flash at will."

This was also why Akesato had never managed to find his way in.

As they spoke, the group that resembled a cosplay gathering more than anything else attacked the two intruders.

They were the targets of this operation—the Curse User organization Q.

It was half an hour after they had met at the café. Having tracked down one of the other side's hideouts, Kento Nanami had brought Akesato here without further discussion, taking the opportunity to give him a live lesson.

The members of Q were naturally enraged, drawing guns and daggers one after another.

Yes, guns and daggers—the kinds everyone knew.

True Jujutsu Sorcerers were a minority, after all. The Jujutsu Alliance had always been short-handed throughout history, so how could Curse Users be any better off? An organization having even a few Curse Users was already impressive. Most of them were ordinary people with combat training. After all, cursed energy was not necessary to hurt humans.

Under the threat of the two weapons that symbolized freedom, Kento Nanami's expression did not change. He calmly unbuttoned his suit jacket and loosened his tie in passing.

Then, with a flash, he evaded two bullets and snatched away the two daggers that came at him, saying all the while:

"Correct answer. Unlike that person, you've actually done your homework."

"Because I don't have the same capital he does."

Seeing that the reliable adult was difficult to deal with, the Q members turned toward the Boy, who looked easier to handle.

Unfortunately for them, in close-quarters combat, Akesato was no weaker than Kento Nanami. He could not even be bothered to take their daggers, knocking the charging enemies flat with two punches.

Then he casually used one of them as a human shield and hurled him toward the more threatening gunmen. The sight made Kento Nanami glance at him twice.

The method was certainly correct; Kento Nanami himself did the same. But for Akesato, only sixteen years old, to act with such decisiveness and efficiency—Kento Nanami felt he could not compare.

Thinking of how mature the Boy had seemed during their earlier interactions, he somewhat understood why Satoru Gojo had confidently sent Akesato out alone without even assigning an Assistant Supervisor. There simply had been no need!

"A very clear understanding. Still, while it cannot be used at will, there are some tricks to it. I'll slowly teach them to you from here on."

Kento Nanami clapped his hands and did not continue attacking.

Akesato was the same. There were only around ten people in the hideout, and the two had already taken down five—one unlucky fellow had failed to dodge the "flying person" and been pinned beneath him. They had fought so quickly that there were barely any targets left.

"Don't underestimate us!!!" a man who appeared to be a minor leader roared.

Naturally, he had a gun, and it was the best kind of rifle. With no companions in the way, it was perfect for unleashing a torrent of bullets.

Unfortunately, Kento Nanami had been prepared. With a backhanded throw of one of the daggers he had seized, he destroyed the gun barrel—an operation only someone with exceptionally refined cursed energy control could perform.

As expected of a Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerer, he was formidable in every respect.

The Q Organization members finally realized something was wrong and tried to flee. But when someone attempted to open the back door, they discovered it had already been sealed shut. The windows and every other possible escape route were the same.

They could not win, could not run, and even their guns were useless. The Q Organization members were nearly driven to despair.

Kento Nanami's hand paused slightly as he prepared to throw the second flying dagger. He gave Akesato a thoughtful look, and the latter nodded with a smile.

The sealed doors were not because Kento Nanami had prepared so thoroughly, but the work of Akesato's closest partner, Gardevoir.

Due to her own unusual nature, she had not appeared before others. Instead, she had followed quietly. After Akesato broke in, she had stood guard outside, using Psychic to seal every exit. No one was getting away.

What an outstanding junior. How long had it been since the Jujutsu world had seen someone whose personality, conduct, and strength were all so dependable?

Those with good personalities lacked strength, while those with enough strength were all problem children.

"This must be Satoru Gojo's fault."

After making that complaint unconsciously, Kento Nanami had no more concerns. He took a deep breath and assumed a fighting stance.

"Listen carefully, Classmate Akesato. Earlier, you spoke of cursed energy flowing. That is actually mistaken. Cursed energy is born from negative emotions; it is the manifestation of mental power, not blood or any other bodily fluid. When one first begins training, 'flow' is used to make it easier to understand and sense. But after reaching a certain level, that will become an obstacle preventing further progress."

"A limitation of perception?" Akesato seemed to grasp something.

"Correct. Just as one always digs the waterway before diverting the water. As long as you cling to the idea of flow, your cursed energy will never perfectly keep up with your body's movements. The final result will only be—"

Kento Nanami threw a punch, and one member who had already lost the will to fight was blasted backward, smashing through the liquor cabinet inside the room.

Akesato could clearly see cursed energy resembling pale blue flames rising and burning around Kento Nanami's hand.

"If that had been Black Flash, there would not be cursed energy residue like this on my hand. This is the result of it failing to keep up."

"Then how can it keep up?" Akesato asked the most crucial question.

"Imagine it. Cursed energy is mental power; it can also be called imagination. Imagining a stronger version of yourself in the future is the fastest way for a Jujutsu Sorcerer to grow stronger. 'Black Flash,' 'Inherent Technique,' and 'Domain Expansion' are all the same. A Jujutsu Sorcerer's growth has never been linear. That may sound a little abstract, so let me use myself as an example—"

The cursed energy Kento Nanami had poured into both hands spilled outward, drifting like mist.

"—to me, cursed energy is not a liquid. It is more like air, present everywhere. So it is not about making cursed energy keep up with the body's movements, but making the body keep up with cursed energy's movements—like throwing a punch and generating a shockwave!"

Kento Nanami's right hand clenched sharply, locking onto his next unlucky target.

Unable to bear the pressure of waiting to die, the man he had targeted fired his pistol wildly and shouted, "Don't come any closer!"

But such frantic behavior was meaningless in the current situation. Worse, his unstable emotions made every bullet miss completely. Kento Nanami did not even bother dodging. He simply walked up to the man and drove a punch into his gun of goodness.

His wrist snapped, and the pistol flew from his hand, embedding itself in the sofa beside him. Yet Kento Nanami was not satisfied:

"Failed... It happens often. If I could trigger Black Flash anytime, anywhere, I'd probably be promoted to special grade too."

"S-Special grade!!!"

Someone finally reacted, but realizing it now was not only useless—it made him Kento Nanami's next target.

The adult man dressed like an office worker still walked over at an unhurried pace. Reflected in his dark sunglasses were the terrified faces of the Q Organization members—and eyes suddenly flooded with black and red.

Cursed energy?

A Jujutsu Sorcerer!

Akesato's hand instantly gripped the hilt of the sword on his back.

Kento Nanami moved even faster.

One punch—still just one punch—but the cursed energy wrapped around his fist underwent a qualitative change. No longer liquid or gaseous, it condensed into a flash of light with the movement of his fist.

A black flash.

In that fleeting instant, Akesato truly saw the distortion.

The surrounding air, the point where the flash landed, the Q Organization member's arm, and the barrier-like cursed technique that had only just formed.

The man who took the punch stared blankly as his arm twisted and deformed under the impact of cursed energy, before finally collapsing completely. Only after a long moment did he cry out in a broken voice:

"B-Black Flash!!!"

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