Mahoraga... Forget It, Let's Beat Him Up First

Clap, clap, clap.

Watching his two lackeys get utterly trounced, Naoya Zenin did not get angry. Instead, he applauded from the side.

"Very good. You truly have the right to look down on him."

Naoya Zenin looked at Eiji with approval.

"Hm?"

Eiji scratched his head, somewhat puzzled.

You clearly don't think much of me either, so how did you automatically filter that out?

The next moment, Naoya Zenin extended a hand toward Eiji.

"Pledge your loyalty to me, Eiji. When I become the head of the Zenin Family, you will be the leader of Hei."

Looking at the matter-of-fact arrogance on Naoya Zenin's face, Eiji finally understood how his mind worked.

"So you see yourself as some crown prince, thinking everyone should revolve around you."

Faced with Eiji's mockery, Naoya Zenin's expression barely changed.

"The strong should possess everything. Besides, you and I both bear the name Zenin."

Naoya Zenin spread his arms wide, as though he were embracing the entire world.

"I see. Zenin, huh?"

"Yes, because you are also a 'Zenin.'"

Because he was a powerful Zenin, he believed his arrogance was only natural and that others should tolerate his mockery.

Those who were not Zenin were not Jujutsu Sorcerers, and those who were not Jujutsu Sorcerers were not human.

Once again, Eiji felt the Zenin Family's twisted feudal mindset.

"Although your proposal isn't bad."

"Oh? Do you have other conditions? Say—"

"But I refuse."

"What?"

The unexpected rejection cut Naoya Zenin off.

A stunned expression appeared on his face.

He found it difficult to understand.

Born into the Zenin Family, a genius from birth, and inheritor of the powerful Technique of the Zenin Family head—

The word "refusal" had never existed in Naoya Zenin's life.

No, it had appeared once before.

The figure of an ancient ferocious beast emerged in Naoya Zenin's mind.

Those who were not Jujutsu Sorcerers were not human.

That was something Naoya Zenin had known since childhood.

In that case, that Heavenly Restriction with no Cursed Energy at all, incapable of becoming a Jujutsu Sorcerer, ought to have been weak and pitiful.

But the instant Naoya Zenin saw Toji Fushiguro, his worldview suffered an enormous shock.

What Naoya Zenin saw was not a weak and pitiful Toji Fushiguro.

It was a slumbering beast.

The moment Naoya Zenin saw Toji Fushiguro, he understood one thing.

This was an existence he could not fight against.

That was the first time Naoya Zenin's worldview had been shaken.

And now, it was about to suffer its second shock.

"Looks like I'll have to make you understand your place first."

A cold smile curled across Naoya Zenin's lips.

In all martial arts under heaven, speed alone was invincible.

Though Naoya Zenin did not know that saying, his less-than-ten-year career as a Jujutsu Sorcerer could be summed up by it.

"By you?"

Eiji's provocation completely ignited Naoya Zenin's fury.

Eiji did not care.

Because he had already applied Mahoraga's enhancement to himself.

A surge of Cursed Energy flowed into Eiji's eyes. The itchy sensation made him narrow them involuntarily.

Naoya Zenin took that movement as an opening.

Projection Sorcery activated.

Naoya Zenin charged at Eiji with tremendous speed.

He intended to crush Eiji with the fastest speed and the most irresistible force.

He would make Eiji clearly recognize his place.

But what Naoya Zenin did not know was that Eiji's eyes had already completely captured his movements.

The first step covered less than a meter. From the second step onward, the distance increased. He was rushing straight at him.

Facing Naoya Zenin's attack, Eiji merely shifted a few meters to the side and easily evaded it.

Naoya Zenin's Technique was Projection Sorcery.

It could divide one second into twenty-four equal parts, and Naoya Zenin needed to predesign an action for each of those twenty-four parts.

Then, Naoya Zenin had to imitate those twenty-four actions.

During this process, if an enemy was struck by him, they had to make a movement within 1/24th of a second.

If they failed to move within 1/24th of a second, they would be frozen by Naoya Zenin's Technique and fall into a one-second stun.

Conversely, Naoya Zenin had to complete all twenty-four predesigned actions. If even one of those twenty-four actions was interrupted, he too would fall into a one-second stun.

Information about Naoya Zenin's Technique was no secret.

After all, when Naobito Zenin first appeared, Gege Akutami had given him an extremely high assessment, calling him the pinnacle of Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerers.

However, during the later battle against Sukuna, the title of strongest Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerer officially went to Kusokabe.

Who knew whether it was because Kusokabe had always been hiding his true abilities.

Eiji had long prepared for the Techniques of Naoya Zenin and Naobito Zenin.

He had once asked Toji Fushiguro about it.

The answer he received was that if you were fast enough, there was no need to fear it.

Eiji had asked Toji Fushiguro how fast was fast enough.

Unable to explain it properly, Toji Fushiguro had simply demonstrated it for Eiji.

During that demonstration, Mahoraga used Toji Fushiguro's attacks and speed to devise a solution suitable for Eiji.

First, enhance his dynamic vision so he could track the other party's high-speed movements.

Then, use lightning to stimulate his entire body and temporarily increase his speed.

Naoya Zenin's attack allowed Eiji to determine the level of Naoya Zenin's speed.

Next, he only needed to take one attack and let Mahoraga adapt.

"I say, do you only know how to dodge?"

Naoya Zenin's words brought Eiji's thoughts to an instant halt.

Your attack didn't work. Shouldn't you realize you don't have the advantage, analyze the situation, and think of a way to make it work?

Why do you think me dodging your attack means I don't dare face you head-on?

Do you really think your Projection Sorcery is that strong?

Forget it. I can adapt to Techniques anytime. For now, I should beat this guy up first.

Eiji grinned broadly, his finger joints cracking.

That smile made Ranta Zenin and Futo Zenin feel a chill in their hearts.

It looked delighted, yet slightly insane.

Naoya Zenin did not care in the slightest, because he believed he would win.

The victory of the Zenin Family's young master was inevitable.

Naoya Zenin unleashed Projection Sorcery.

Strands of lightning flashed over Eiji's body.

The two charged toward each other.

The next moment, Naoya Zenin stopped.

He stopped completely, in the literal sense.

Wrapped in lightning, Eiji displayed speed far beyond Naoya Zenin's expectations.

Projection Sorcery had only reached its halfway point when Eiji rushed before Naoya Zenin.

This prevented Naoya Zenin's preprogrammed movements from continuing.

Naoya Zenin fell into a one-second stun from the backlash of his Technique.

At that moment, Naoya Zenin seemed to have become a flat pane of glass painted with Naoya Zenin's portrait.

Like a producer, Naoya Zenin could only watch helplessly as Eiji's fist struck toward his face.