Zhuang Zhou's Butterfly Dream

With Suguru Geto's tacit confirmation, Satoru Gojo was too stunned to speak. Tsukasa's domain was absurdly overpowered, combining control and offense.

It forced people into pleasant dreams, then brought down a dark butcher's blade. Worse still, it was an open domain, capable of indiscriminate slaughter over a vast area.

How was anyone supposed to compete with that!!!

Satoru Gojo felt as though he'd swallowed a lemon, so sour with envy that he had nothing to say. Still, he firmly believed his own domain was no worse than Tsukasa's!

After all, his domain was developing toward a guaranteed-hit, guaranteed-kill effect. With one more effect than Tsukasa's Asura, it would surely have the upper hand.

That thought lifted Satoru Gojo's spirits a little. But remembering that Tsukasa was developing a second domain deflated him again.

Tsukasa's Dark Manipulation is so damn cool. I want to dig out my Six Eyes and trade with him. Who could turn down a Cursed Technique with two traits, two Maximum Techniques, and two domains?

No wonder that thousand-year-old Curse User out there, Kenjaku, is so obsessed with Tsukasa. He must have discovered what made Tsukasa special ages ago.

Come to think of it, the Six Eyes aren't bad either. Why isn't that Kenjaku obsessed with me? He clearly has no eye for quality. Serves him right that all he can do is spy on Tsukasa.

Glancing at the three dejected faces, Tsukasa Hatayama happily unscrewed his bottle cap and drank his Jasmine Bitter Tea.

That's what you get for ganging up on me just now. Let's see how you like having your confidence crushed!

The three fell silent for a while, slowly accepting that the monster had become even more monstrous. What was done was done. They could only work hard to catch up.

"Hatayama, you've developed your first domain. What about the second?" Shoko Ieiri's curious, languid voice broke the silence.

Tsukasa Hatayama's expression shifted slightly, his smug delight giving way to dejection. He smiled bitterly. "To be honest, I still have no idea where to start with the second domain."

At that answer, all three burst out laughing without hesitation, taking turns making snide remarks at Tsukasa Hatayama.

"Geto, Shoko, did you see that? Even our renowned Jujutsu Professor has found something he can't figure out. Now that's a rare sight~"

"Hehehe... Satoru's right. We really ought to have Mr. Yaga record this in the school rules so our future juniors can see it~"

"You two are so mean. Personally, I think we should have Mr. Yaga announce it over the school broadcast-a special feature on the Jujutsu Professor's embarrassing moments~"

"Shoko and Geto have excellent suggestions. Better have him use both the broadcast and the school rules, then finish with the fact that our Jujutsu Professor likes wearing SpongeBob SquarePants underwear~"

Unsurprisingly, Tsukasa Hatayama's entire face darkened at their thinly veiled mockery.

Losing his cool, he shouted at them, "That's enough, you three! Just because the tiger hasn't bared its fangs, you think I, Tsukasa Hatayama, am some sickly kitten?"

The three startled and turned to flee. But they were no match for an enraged Tsukasa Hatayama, who pounced on them like a tiger charging down a mountain...

A few minutes later, Tsukasa Hatayama leisurely sipped his Jasmine Bitter Tea. Behind him, Suguru Geto and Satoru Gojo glared resentfully at his back through blackened eyes.

Every so often, the two shot furious looks at the completely unscathed Shoko Ieiri beside them. We all mocked him together. Why did you get off without a scratch?!

Shoko Ieiri turned her head to hide her laughter, her shoulders trembling as she sat beside Tsukasa Hatayama. Suppressing a laugh, she said, "Your gender-based treatment seems to have made them hate me. Why not treat us equally and reward me with a pair of black eyes too?"

Tsukasa Hatayama looked conflicted. "Better not. Mom said women are delicate creatures. I should show them consideration where I can."

"With Geto and Satoru, it's just friends roughhousing. If I actually hit you, that would make me look petty."

Shoko Ieiri said nothing, but Satoru Gojo scoffed. "Satoru-chan can be a girl too, you know! You're such a meanie!"

Used to this by now, Tsukasa Hatayama let those words go in one ear and out the other, continuing to drink his Jasmine Bitter Tea as though he hadn't heard anything.

Shoko Ieiri pursed her lips lightly and tilted her head, changing the subject with curiosity. "Since you have no ideas for your second domain, why not tell the three of us about it? Maybe we can help you work it out."

"Shoko's right. As they say, three ordinary minds can rival a master strategist. Even if we're not that great, the three of us should at least count as half a master strategist, right?"

Suguru Geto sat down on Tsukasa Hatayama's other side with a smile, his black eyes healing through his own Reverse Cursed Technique.

Satoru Gojo hopped in front of Tsukasa Hatayama and grinned. "Yes, yes, Geto's absolutely right. Stinky tofu can rival a master strategist."

Tsukasa Hatayama smiled knowingly. "I've entered my own Innate Domain. There are two expanses of darkness inside. From one, I developed Blissful Asura's Slumber."

"No matter how I try to drive and shape the other one, it acts as though it's dead. It's like I haven't found the right direction for constructing it."

The three frowned. Satoru Gojo, who had some experience with Simple Domain, was the first to ask, "What's that expanse of darkness like?"

Tsukasa Hatayama thought carefully. "Quiet and eerie. It gives you this vague illusion that you can see it, but never touch it."

"Quiet and eerie?" Satoru Gojo rubbed his chin, sinking into thought.

Suguru Geto asked, "Tsukasa, what direction have you been developing that darkness in? Have you been following the offensive approach you used for Blissful Asura's Slumber?"

Tsukasa Hatayama nodded. "I've been constructing it for offense. After all, it looks so eerie, a little like possession or something."

"Could it be that you've been building it in the wrong direction?" Shoko Ieiri suddenly interjected, immediately drawing all three men's attention.

Shoko Ieiri rubbed her chin, meeting their gazes with a thoughtful look as she spoke confidently. "That darkness looks eerie and quiet. Isn't that exactly the darkness we can see with our naked eyes at night?"

"And the fact that you can't touch it-isn't that just like how we try to grab darkness in everyday life but can't?"

"Hatayama, you already have an unbeatable Blissful Slashing Domain. If you had another one, wouldn't the two conflict with each other?"

"Maybe that darkness is meant for support rather than offense. And doesn't its untouchable nature remind you of Limitless's Inviolability?"

Tsukasa Hatayama froze. The Hōgyoku fused within him released a warm current that surged wildly through his body before finally flooding his brain in a rush of enlightenment.

In a flash of inspiration, he sprang to his feet in excitement. Shoko Ieiri was right. He had been constructing it in the wrong direction all along.

"Hahahaha..." Beside himself with excitement, Tsukasa Hatayama threw back his head and laughed without restraint.

He had been wrong. Completely wrong.

Because of Blissful Asura's Slumber, he had kept pursuing powerful attacks, forgetting that darkness could also provide support!

His sudden, wild laughter initially left the three bewildered. Then their expressions turned solemn.

Because this meant Tsukasa was about to complete his second domain!

Sure enough.

Tsukasa Hatayama raised his right hand, curling his index finger down around his middle finger, bending his ring and little fingers slightly, and resting his thumb lightly against his ring finger.

"Domain Expansion: Zhuang Zhou's Butterfly Dream."