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Before heading off to show off in front of my fellow Sorcerers, I made a quick stop at a nearby clothing store to cover up. That explosion not only took Jogo's life but also destroyed my clothes. I was much more upset about the latter, even if they were just ordinary clothes bought from the first store I found in Shibuya.
In addition to the new clothes, which fit me perfectly (as stolen clothes always do), I grabbed a pack of cigarettes and immediately opened it. It wasn't that I desperately wanted to smoke. Not at all. It was more about the following: when I was at the eighth sequence, I wasn't strong enough to fight special-grade curses directly and alone. At least not until my old man nudged me toward the idea of creating a "Binding Vow."
Back then, I had few opportunities to strengthen myself, and having a Binding Vow proved to be very, very useful. Over time, I relied less on this part of my power, but that didn't mean I discarded it. There just hadn't been a suitable moment to use it.
The memories of that time filled me with a bit of nostalgia. I remember learning to adapt, finding weaknesses, and using every little thing to my advantage. The old man always said that a Binding Vow is a double-edged sword that Sorcerers wield of their own accord. However, in the fight against curses, all means are good, and that's exactly why the old man taught me this and later even helped improve my Binding Vow.
"A pack of cigarettes" — that's what I called my Binding Vow, which bound me to myself. Here's how it works: I completely seal off my cursed energy for the duration it takes to smoke a full pack of cigarettes. For each cigarette, I restore one-twentieth of my cursed energy. I usually used this vow in two cases: first — like now, when my cursed energy is nearly depleted. If I smoke the entire pack, I can fully restore my cursed energy reserves. The second case is preparation for a tough battle. For each cigarette smoked, my cursed energy volume increases by five percent, which means that, eventually, with perfect execution of the vow, I can use two hundred percent of my maximum energy.
The power this vow provides is truly incredible. However, the limitations are equally harsh. First, the inability to use cursed energy for the entire duration of the vow. Second, the limit on the number of times I can activate the vow, set to once a day. These restrictions prevent me from using it in the heat of battle, unlike Nanami's vow. On the other hand, it serves as an incredible "cheat code" that can give me a second wind or enhance me before a boss fight.
So why didn't I use my Binding Vow before fighting a raid boss like Sukuna? Because after him, I'll have to face two more. And it's precisely for that occasion that I've saved the vow.
"Although, to be completely honest, fighting Sukuna was never part of my original plan. Sure, I prepared for the worst, but I had hoped to just steamroll through Shibuya, exorcising one special-grade curse after another..." I mentally sighed at all the headaches the King of Curses had brought.
By the time I finished my first cigarette, a broad plaza filled with familiar faces unfolded before my eyes. At the center of attention was a group of Sorcerers, with Yuta standing slightly ahead, shielding the others. It was like watching in slow motion as a massive wave of ice approached the guy. Knowing Yuta, he could have handled such a threat on his own. The only thing holding him back from fully unleashing his power was the presence of his friends and colleagues behind him.
Well, that's why I'm here!
Grabbing Yuji a bit tighter, I tensed the muscles in my legs to the max before springing off the ground, leaving a ten-meter-wide dent behind. When muscles are tensed to the maximum, adrenaline is released, enhancing the contractile ability of muscle fibers, increasing their strength and speed. Adrenaline also stimulates the release of glucose and fatty acids into the blood, providing quick access to the body's stored energy. As a result, simply "tensing" my calves and thighs boosted my momentum to such heights that I practically teleported rather than moved through space.
Based on this single movement, I can confidently say that right now, with pure physical strength alone, even without cursed energy, I had no equal in this world. Even Yuta, maximally fortified with his insane amount of cursed energy, was weaker than me. Perhaps the only one who could have put up some kind of fight against me was Toji Fushiguro, but even he probably wouldn't have been able to handle me now.
It's a pity that such power will soon backfire, and in a few minutes, I'll be writhing on the ground, tearing my throat out from the pain as my worn-out muscles cramp and break my bones and joints.
But that's a problem for future me; right now, there are more pressing matters.
The sheer kinetic energy from my landing was enough to completely obliterate all the ice that was headed toward Yuta. At the same time, I caught a glimpse of a golden shadow landing on the opposite side of Yuta. I wonder what this woman was up to while everyone else here was busting their asses?
"It's been a long time, Geto-kun. Can I finally hear the answer to my question?" Yuki was the first to speak, striking a cute pose. "What type of girls do you like?"
"Tsukumo Yuki!" Kenjaku snarled, glaring at the tall woman before shifting his gaze to me. "Sukehiro Yami, you've had your fun."
"Sukuna lost?" Uraume whispered in shock, staring at Yuji, who I still had tucked under my arm.
"That was easier than I expected," I ignored the man with the scar on his forehead and addressed the white-haired monk.
Such arrogant words, imbued with my spiritual energy and [Provocation], struck a nerve with this loyal scum. The only reason Uraume didn't attack me was the hand Kenjaku held up in front of him.
"Now is not the time," the pseudo-Geto said curtly.
"Do you have some kind of love triangle?" Yuki asked me, tilting her head and resting a finger on her cheek.
"Me, you, and pseudo-Geto?" I smiled, thinking about the situation.
"Hm… Indeed!" Yuki smacked her fist into her palm as if she had realized something. "Each of us is heading toward the same goal but in different ways. It's so romantic," she said, turning her gaze to Kenjaku. "You still remember our conversation, don't you? About how to create a world without curses?"
"Vaguely," Kenjaku clearly wasn't opposed to playing along a little longer.
"Humans are quite remarkable creatures…" Yuki began dreamily. "No matter how many obstacles they face, they always manage to overcome them. And now humanity stands on the brink of a new evolution. They are only held back by the uncertainty of a few methods to reach this new level. From that time until today, I haven't stopped searching for a way to rid people of cursed energy. What about you?"
"Plans have changed slightly," Kenjaku shrugged, then looked at me. "But it seems our junior here has everything figured out. Or am I wrong?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," I shrugged. I had no desire to reveal anything to this ancient relic.
"Optimization of cursed energy," Kenjaku said, ignoring my response.
"Hey," Yuji suddenly interrupted, nudging me in the side with his shoulder. "All your talking is giving me a headache… Oh no, my neck just fell asleep because you're holding me like a sack of potat…!"
Before he could finish, I released him from my grip. However, he managed to react and landed on his feet like a cat. He had become stronger...
"I thought you abandoned your idea twelve years ago after Toji Zenin's death," Kenjaku addressed Yuki, ignoring Sukuna's vessel.
"Well, actually, after our conversation, I decided to return to the basics," Yuki shrugged slightly. "Besides, your method is far from perfect. You can't do without Tengen's barrier, and using it means that only the residents of one country will become Sorcerers... Monopoly on such power won't lead to any good, quite the opposite; everything will only get worse. Living people will become mere energy resources and living tactical and strategic weapons. Such a world is far from the one I'm striving for."
Yuki Tsukumo gave Kenjaku and me a stern look.
"Your methods, despite all their ambition, lead to despotism and suffering," Yuki continued. "I don't want a world where people live in constant fear of those who control cursed energy. That would be a world of tyranny, not evolution. I want to see humanity free from curses, but not at the cost of losing their humanity."
What could I say to that? Nothing. I had no intention of justifying myself, as my plan involved the transformation of all humanity. To speak about it out loud would be madness. At the very least, no one would believe me; at worst, Kenjaku would believe me and take a greater interest in me than I needed. Therefore, silence was the only correct response, which would help me advance my plan further.
Unlike me, Kenjaku burst into a hearty laugh:
"So what? You and I have different goals. I don't care about a world without cursed spirits or world peace," Kenjaku paused briefly, looking at his hands. "Sorcerers, non-Sorcerers, cursed spirits. They all just give cursed energy a chance to manifest in people... And yet the full potential of humanity remains untapped. I tried to do everything myself, but it was all in vain. None of my creations have been able to surpass my own potential..."
A loud yawn echoed around us, causing Kenjaku to suddenly falter and the Sorcerers gathered nearby to look at the one person responsible…
"Stop whining like a damn cat and do what you came here to do," I said, giving this "poor soul" a bored look. "Potential, blah blah blah, can't do it, blah blah blah, I swear, it's like I'm talking to Junpei, not a thousand-year-old geezer. Who are you, an emo crybaby? And what happened to your evil doctor persona? I'm disappointed!"
Every word I spoke was laced with [Provocation]. This entire "trash talk" was intended for one purpose only — to finally make this guy with the scar on his forehead do what he was supposed to do! I could feel my stamina waning, and this bastard kept yapping. Staying here weakened was the last thing I wanted. The thought of fighting him hadn't crossed my mind; as I had said, he needed to play his part.
"Indeed," Kenjaku tried to hide it, but I clearly saw his jaw clench and unclench a couple of times. "After all, I have already extracted the cursed technique."
"Isn't there a cursed spirit named Mahito around here?" Yuki turned to the Sorcerers standing behind us. "The one that meddles with other people's souls. Where is he?"
"He ate him," Todo instantly replied, pointing a finger at Kenjaku.
"What?!"
"Idle Transfiguration!" Kenjaku yelled, then struck the ground with his hand.
In the next moment, a peculiar symbol resembling a mix of a kanji character and those trippy images from the Rorschach test lit up above our heads.
"Remote activation of a cursed technique?!" Yuki stared at the sky in shock.
"This… is the beginning of a new era!" Kenjaku exclaimed excitedly, spreading his arms wide as if trying to embrace the world.