Chereads / The 5th Special Grade | Jujutsu Kaisen / Chapter 14 - 14) Caustic Sea

Chapter 14 - 14) Caustic Sea

For the next 72 hours, I trained relentlessly day and night for nearly every hour of the day refining my control and accuracy of my cursed energy. In the case of being able to choose what I can corrode while not corroding another object in contact with me, it took incredibly precise timing and precision. I like to think of it like a switch with instantaneous or a laggy current. Bigger objects would take longer to fully soak and circulate my CE, but it can be worked on steadily and smaller objects were easily assimilated.

If the initial touch was able sort of "inject" or soak an object in cursed energy, like applying electricity to a light bulb, then "flipping the switch" or activating will start the decay process immediately.

I tested on multiple objects of different volumes, mass, and density to see how much different it would be and it seems that the biggest factor in the speed of corrosion is mostly density of an object.

An empty can would corrode into nothing in nearly an instant, but a boulder the size of my head would take around 3-4 seconds. I believe a human would take a little less than 6 seconds, but I'm also not too keen on finding out. Maybe Shoko has a cadaver that I can experiment on…

Along with finally being able to corrode inanimate objects without cursed energy, I started developing a way to have a field of corrosive CE surrounding me at all times, and not just when I was fighting. Yesterday, I had Yuta throw baseballs at me while I meditated and focused my energy extremely hard. Being able to discern levels of danger through the velocity objects travel towards me will definitely bail me out in a few situations. However, I still need to work on CE consumption because it sure as hell burns me out fast..

'If only I had Gojo's Six Eyes.' I thought to myself.

But on the other hand, my kit was nearly complete. I felt like there was a lack in offensive techniques in my arsenal but it's hard to come up with anything due to my lack of creativity.

"Those Valkyries won't stand a chance.." I cackled menacingly to myself, as if I was about to commit heinous acts against those spirits.

"Don't underestimate them, Furō. There's a reason they've been sealed up for so long instead of being exorcised." Gojo appeared behind me and tapped my back, startling the hell out of me.

But I swear my CE was active…hold on..what?

"Sorry, didn't mean to scare you," Gojo paused and looked at my face of bewilderedment. "I also I don't know why I let you think that your cursed technique could completely bypass my Infinity. You might be able to corrode a thin layer, but I regret to inform you right now, you'll never reach my body unless I allow you to."

"So you're telling me that WHOLE time we were sparring, you LET yourself be hit by my CE?

How…disrespectful!"

"I knew it wouldn't do any damage that I couldn't heal so of course I'd let you. I don't know if you noticed but, your CE potency has increased dramatically since our sparring."

Now that I think about it, compared to the first sparring match and what I'm doing now, it's SO much more powerful. I thought I was lacking behind Yuta's growth, but I've been growing just as fast!

Gojo rubbed his chin and crossed his arms for a few seconds and turned to me.

"I have a couple things I need you to test for me, c'mere."

Although I was a bit interested, I didn't want to give off the impression that I was excited so Gojo would give me a little room to breathe. Nevertheless, I got closer to him, he grabbed my shoulder, and we teleported instantly to a large and empty parking lot, obviously nowhere near campus. I honestly couldn't even tell if we were still in Japan, based off the time of day…

"I'm going to cast a veil and I want you to try to break in using your CE ONLY. No brute force allowed. 'Kay? 'Kay!"

I watched as he did a seal with his fingers and spoke, "Emerge from the darkness, blacker than darkness. Purify that which is impure."

Soon enough, the curtain slowly dropped down in front of us and a black globe stood tall in my path.

"Try it! We have other things to test as well!" Gojo cheered me on.

"Here goes nothing.."

I placed my hands on the curtain started to circulate my CE around my body to start it up. I began noticing that it felt like I was pressing into wet sand, so I pushed a little harder.

"Hey, this isn't too— WOAAOOAAHH"

I fell straight through the veil, making a gaping hole that seemed to start closing itself immediately after hit the ground.

"Shit…" I groaned as I rubbed my head slowly.

The hole began sealing shut and before I knew it, the entire thing close and now I was stuck in the curtain.

"Why the hell didn't he stop it..is he crazy or something?!"

But why would I be mad after I literally just made a hole to get inside. I should be able to do it easily to get outside too!

So I pushed my hands against the inner walls of the curtain and exerted my energy. It was a bit tougher this time, but I was able to make another hole to the outside of the veil.

"Amazing! I was wondering if you good corrode your way into barriers and it seems like you can! At least for natural barriers that don't have an agreement binding vow upon entry."

"An agreement vo—?"

"Nevermind all that. Let's get on the next test!"

So for the next few hours, I spent my time learning about barrier techniques, reversed curse technique, and other miscellaneous techniques, like black flash and cursed technique reversal. And positively suck at every single one of them. I couldn't even manage to make a black flash or domain amplification, nor could I activate reverse curse technique. Gojo says it requires months and months of training to even learn how to loosely control it, and that isn't the time I have right now.

"Honestly, you should be fine with just your CE property. It already has qualities of outright destroying cursed energy based moves, so as long as you keep yourself out of a domain expansion, you should be just fine. Being able to force your way through barriers is extremely impressive and will definitely be useful later. Get stronger Furō, or you're gonna end up falling behind Yuta, who's already approaching grade 1."

"What grade am I?" I asked the man

"I'd say around semi-grade 2 if I'm being charitable."

Well, that's fair in a sense. Yuta's much more talented than me in this whole jujutsu thing and much more experienced, so I can't be mad. On another note, I need to grow so I don't get left behind..

"Have you thought of any names having to do with your technique?"

"Mm… not necessarily? I don't really see why I need one."

Gojo gasped and placed his hand on his chest.

"Naming a technique that isn't inherited is one of the MOST important things to a sorcerer. All the power comes from the name of the technique…sort of…not really… BUT YOU UNDERSTAND RIGHT??"

"Sure..I guess. But I have no ideas for my cursed technique. I'm lacking the creativity I fear."

"Well your CE is basically like acid…and you have massive reserves of CE like a large body of water…so something like Caustic Sea!"

Honestly, that doesn't sound too horrible.

"CAUSTIC SEAA!!" I yelled out.

I assumed Gojo was looking at me like I was crazy under his mask.

"Sorry, just seeing how yellable the technique was. I don't want to sound lame while fighting."

Gojo smiled softly.

"So..?"

"Yeah, I like it. I'm gonna sound so badass exorcising curses with this technique."

So now that I've actually tested my technique, named it, and gotten a bit more proficient at using my own energy, I feel a lot more confident and comfortable about going over to Europe now and killing those Valkyries.

"You'll move in 2 days Furō. I know you're gonna be prepared."