Chapter 6
The sun had just begun its ascent in the early morning sky, casting a soft glow through the curtains of Augus's room. He stirred in his bed, his blond hair slightly tousled as he blinked awake, slowly becoming aware of the new day. With a languid stretch, he swung his legs out of the bed, his feet meeting the cool wooden floor.
Augus, still in his human form, moved through a series of actions that had become his routine. He shuffled to the small kitchenette, pulling out a teapot and a box of tea leaves. As he set the water to boil, he couldn't help but let out a yawn, a mischievous grin forming on his face. This was the start of a brand new day, and he couldn't wait to see what kind of chaos it would bring.
While the water heated, Augus rummaged through his pantry, finding a pack of instant noodles. He tossed them into a pot, filling it with water and setting it on the stove. As the noodles simmered, he wandered to his bathroom, ready for his morning shower.
The bathroom was dimly lit, and Augus couldn't resist playing with the faucet. He let the water run, switching from too hot to too cold, relishing the sharp sensations that jolted him awake. Steam filled the room as he finally found the right temperature, stepping into the soothing flow of water. It was moments like these that he truly savored.
After his shower, Augus emerged from the bathroom, towel-drying his hair as he walked back to the kitchen. The noodles were ready, and he slurped them down with gusto. Breakfast was a quick affair, and soon he was back in his room, dressed in the Jujutsu High School uniform.
Just as he was about to settle in, there came a knock at the door. Augus raised an eyebrow, wondering who could be bothering him at this hour. He opened the door to reveal Gojo Satoru, his teacher, standing there with uncontainable excitement.
"Good morning, Augus! Ready to meet your new classmates?" Gojo practically bounced on his toes, his enthusiasm infectious.
Augus, however, didn't share the same level of excitement. He nodded, a bit more subdued in his response. Gojo didn't seem to notice as he grabbed Augus by the arm and practically dragged him out of his room and down the hall.
Meanwhile, inside the classroom, the four students were waiting. Maki Zenin, a green-haired athletic young woman with a short ponytail and glasses, leaned against a desk with a barely concealed scowl. Panda, quite literally a panda, sat in the corner, looking remarkably relaxed for someone in his predicament.
Toge Inumaki, a slim young man with brown eyes and mid-length straight hair, stood quietly, his unique clan's seal on his tongue and cheeks.
Finally, Okkutsu Yuta, a disheveled young man with dark circles under his eyes, was fidgeting nervously. His sleep-deprived appearance contrasted sharply with the others.
Maki couldn't help but growl impatiently, her irritation clear. "He's late."
Panda, always one to lighten the mood, chimed in, "Well, it wouldn't be Gojo-sensei if he arrived on time, would it?"
Toge, using his unique tongue-seal ability to communicate, mumbled, "Salmon..."
The atmosphere grew tense as they waited, the anticipation palpable. Just as it seemed like they couldn't wait any longer, the sliding door of the classroom opened with a flourish. Gojo Satoru entered with his characteristic flair, his blond hair practically glowing, and a wide grin on his face. "Good morning, everyone! Time to greet your new classmate!"
All eyes turned to the door, their curiosity piqued. However, the moment Augus entered, a wave of intense and unfamiliar energy washed over them. It was chaotic, hollow, and brimming with a unique intensity. Maki, Panda, and Toge felt a sense of déjà vu, akin to the first time they encountered Yuta, but this was vastly different. Instead of malice, it was chaotic and unpredictable.
Augus, however, seemed unfazed by the hostile glares and the palpable tension in the room. With a casual grin, he greeted them, "Hey there, folks!"
The room fell into an awkward silence as they exchanged uncertain glances. The dynamic had shifted dramatically, and none of them were quite sure how to navigate this new addition to their group.
Maki, Panda, and Toge remained on edge, their previous encounter with Yuta still fresh in their minds. They didn't want to repeat that unsettling experience. Augus, however, appeared to be a different sort of character. He greeted them with a bright smile and settled into a seat beside Yuta.
Yuta, genuinely happy to have a new classmate, extended a friendly hand. "Hi there, I'm Yuta. Nice to meet you!"
Augus shook Yuta's hand warmly. "Augus. Likewise."
Gojo, the ever-enthusiastic teacher, wasted no time in getting the class started. "Alright, folks, today's sparring day! Gear up and meet me outside for some action!"
The students began to make their way out of the classroom, the excitement in the air palpable. But before Augus could join the exodus, Maki acted on her instincts. She grabbed Augus by the arm, her grip firm but not unfriendly, and welcomed him with a mix of caution and curiosity.
"Hey there, newcomer," she began, her voice low. "We've had our share of trouble in the past, so you might want to tone down that curse energy you're putting out."
Augus cocked his head slightly, intrigued by her warning. He leaned in, his tone equally hushed. "Curse energy, you say? Well, I hate to break it to you, but I don't have much of it to begin with."
Maki's brows furrowed, suspicion etching across her features. She muttered to herself, "How can someone emit that much energy, claim to have so little, and think he's fooling us?"
Augus, however, wasn't done dropping surprises. With a playful grin, he summoned a cursed nail, a blade that looked like a menacing sword drill. The room fell into a hushed awe as they witnessed the weapon materialize out of thin air.
Augus explained, a hint of amusement in his voice, "See? That's where the energy you sensed is coming from."
Panda, the ever-curious one, chimed in with his characteristic cheerfulness, "That looks like some special-grade stuff!"
Toge could only nod his head in agreement, there was so much curse energy place into that sword that he couldn't help but wonder how it was still intact.
Augus chuckled, giving a nonchalant shrug. "Well, you've got a good eye. But let's not keep Gojo-sensei waiting. We've got some sparring to do, and I promise I won't unleash this bad boy on any of you."
With that, Augus turned and headed out of the room, leaving behind a group of students whose minds were buzzing with questions and intrigue. It was clear that their new classmate was far from ordinary.
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Outside, under the bright sun, the sparring ground was filled with an air of anticipation. Augus had decided to take a step back for the moment, content to observe. Even though he knew his new classmates' abilities and curse techniques, he couldn't help but admire the fluidity and precision with which they executed their moves.
His attention was keenly focused on his upcoming spar with Maki. Both of them stood ready, their bodies poised for action, awaiting Gojo's signal to begin. Nearby, Panda and Yuta engaged in a conversation about the upcoming match.
Panda scratched his furry head and glanced at Augus. "How long do you think the new guy's gonna last, Yuta?"
Yuta, with a thoughtful expression, replied, "Well, I have a feeling he might put up a good fight, unlike me in our first spar."
Toge, using his unique communication method, added cryptically, "Salmon."
As Gojo was about to signal the start of the match, Augus couldn't help but voice a last-minute question. "Hey, sensei, is there a ringout rule in this spar?"
Gojo turned his attention to Augus and shook his head. "No ringout rule here. The spar only ends when one side can no longer fight or is subdued."
Augus nodded, taking in the information. He had a plan in mind and was determined to win this spar through pure combat skill and strategy.
As Gojo signaled the start of the match, Maki wasted no time. With impressive speed, she charged toward Augus, her movements precise and powerful. But then, something strange began to unfold.
Maki's eyes widened in shock as she saw herself getting stabbed through the heart. Blood splattered, and she staggered back, clutching her chest in disbelief. But this was no reality; it was a horrifying hallucination.
Checking herself for the injury, she noticed she was fine. Confusion welled up within her as she attempted to take another step forward, only to hallucinate herself getting decapitated in a gruesome manner. She stumbled backward, her breath quickening as her mind raced to make sense of the surreal experience.
Once again, as she retreated, another hallucination gripped her—a vision of her body being split in half. Maki cursed under her breath, beads of sweat forming on her forehead as she struggled to maintain her composure. The stress was taking a toll on her, and she couldn't help but wonder if the newcomer, Augus, was somehow responsible for these disturbing illusions.
Yuta watched with growing concern as Maki's expression changed from determination to confusion and fear. He muttered to himself, "What's happening to her?"
Panda, too, couldn't help but react. He furrowed his panda brows and muttered, "This isn't looking good."
Toge, with his usual cryptic communication, simply added, "Salmon."
Gojo, observing the situation with keen interest, couldn't help but hum in thought. He had seen a wide range of cursed techniques, but this was something different. He considered the possibility that Maki might be experiencing some form of foresight. It was as though she was seeing her own death, and the closer she got to Augus, the more vivid and horrifying the visions became.
His eyes narrowed as he thought to himself, "But how is Augus causing it? This is going to be an interesting match."
Meanwhile, Maki continued to struggle with the surreal experience, her rapid, erratic movements keeping Augus on his toes. The hallucinations of her own demise were unnerving, and her mind raced to make sense of the bizarre events unfolding before her.
Augus, on the other hand, was equally baffled. He had no idea what was happening to Maki, but her erratic movements and reactions were throwing him off. He shifted his stance, trying to figure out how to approach the situation without getting grappled by his experienced opponent. Winning this spar without relying on his unique "skills" had just become an even greater challenge.
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What was currently happening was tied to Augus' game avatar, which had a passive ability. Back in the game world, this ability was relatively harmless; it merely lowered the defense of his opponent when he reached a certain state known as "awaken" while in the form of the fiend. However, in the real world, after Augus found himself trapped in his avatar, this passive ability had transformed into something far more sinister.
This ability, once harmless, had now become the embodiment of evil. Now, anyone within Augus' range or focus would suffer severe side effects. These effects ranged from disturbing hallucinations to mental breakdowns, and in some cases, even a complete loss of sanity.
Currently, Maki was experiencing the brunt of these effects. However, there were a couple of factors that were preventing her mind from succumbing entirely. Firstly, Maki had an inherent inability to produce curse energy, which seemed to provide some degree of resistance. Secondly, Augus had not yet mastered his other form, the Void Fiend, which meant that his passive ability was in a state of partial activation.
Unless he unleashed the full power of his awakening, the passive ability would continue to pose problems for everyone involved.
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