"Akira, how much do you know about 'Black Flash?'"
Facing a group of individuals dressed in white military uniforms, white capes, and black masks covering their mouths—clearly not a normal crowd—Nanami Kento posed the question.
"I only know the basic concept. Due to the discrepancy between the flow of cursed energy and the body's movement, when that discrepancy is less than 0.000001 seconds, the two synchronize to create a spatial distortion, amplifying the power by 2.5 times. However—"
Akira answered without hesitation. Not having inherited a traditional jujutsu technique, mastering Black Flash was his only path to advancement.
"—because the timing difference is so minuscule, beyond human subjective control, no one can activate Black Flash at will."
This had been the reason why Akira had struggled to break through.
During his explanation, the group—looking more like a cosplay club—launched their attack on the two intruders.
These were members of the curse-user organization known as Q, Akira and Nanami's targets.
It had been about half an hour since they met at the café, and having located one of Q's hideouts, Nanami Kento decisively led Akira to the scene, seizing the opportunity for some hands-on training.
Naturally, Q's members were enraged, pulling out guns and knives.
Yes, actual guns and knives.
Real jujutsu sorcerers are rare, and the Jujutsu Sorcerer Alliance has always been understaffed throughout history. So, how could curse-users fare any better? It's impressive enough for a group to have a handful of curse-users; most are just regular people trained in combat. After all, to harm humans, you don't necessarily need cursed energy.
Under the threat of the two great weapons of freedom, Nanami remained unshaken, calmly unbuttoning his suit jacket and loosening his tie.
Then, with a swift motion, he dodged two bullets, disarmed two attackers of their knives, and remarked, "Correct answer. Unlike that guy, you've done your homework."
"That's because I don't have his luxury."
Realizing that the reliable adult wasn't an easy target, the Q members turned to Akira, who seemed like the weaker opponent.
Too bad for them—when it comes to hand-to-hand combat, Akira was no less skilled than Nanami. He didn't even bother disarming his attackers, taking down two of them with just his fists.
He then used one of the fallen enemies as a human shield, throwing them at the gunman. The move earned a glance of approval from Nanami.
It was the right move, of course. Nanami would have done the same. But for a 16-year-old to execute it so decisively? Nanami couldn't help but feel outdone.
Recalling Akira's mature demeanor earlier, Nanami started to understand why Gojo had sent him alone, without even assigning a supervisor—there simply wasn't any need!
"A clear understanding. Although you can't activate Black Flash at will, there are techniques. I'll slowly teach you these."
Nanami clapped his hands, pausing the fight.
Akira followed suit. There were only about ten people in the hideout, and the two of them had already taken out five—including one unlucky guy crushed by a "flying man" thrown by Akira. They were dispatching enemies so quickly, they barely had targets left.
"Don't underestimate us!!!" a man who seemed to be the leader roared.
He was wielding the best rifle, and with no comrades left in his way, he unleashed a storm of bullets.
Unfortunately, Nanami had anticipated this. With a flick of his wrist, he threw a knife, expertly destroying the barrel of the gun—a feat possible only for those with masterful control over cursed energy.
No wonder Nanami was a Grade 1 sorcerer. He was formidable in every way.
The Q members finally realized the severity of the situation and tried to escape. But when they attempted to open the back door, they found it sealed. The windows and other exits were similarly blocked.
Outmatched, outgunned, and unable to escape, the members of Q were nearing despair.
Nanami hesitated before throwing his second knife, glancing at Akira with a knowing look. Akira smiled and nodded.
The sealed exits weren't part of Nanami's meticulous planning; they were the handiwork of Akira's loyal companion, Gardevoir.
Due to her unique nature, Gardevoir hadn't shown herself in front of others. She had quietly followed them in and sealed off all the escape routes with her psychic powers once Akira had breached the hideout.
What an exceptional partner, Nanami thought. The jujutsu world hadn't seen someone with Akira's combination of skill, attitude, and reliability in a long time.
Those with good character often lacked strength, and those with strength were usually problem children.
"This is definitely Gojo Satoru's fault."
Nanami muttered his habitual complaint, now free of any lingering concerns. He took a deep breath and assumed a combat stance.
"Listen closely, Akira. You mentioned cursed energy 'flowing'—that's actually incorrect. Cursed energy is born from negative emotions; it's a manifestation of mental strength, not a fluid like blood or other body fluids. When you first start training, it's easier to understand it as a flow, but once you reach a certain level, that concept becomes a barrier to further progress."
"A limitation of perception?" Akira was beginning to understand.
"Exactly. It's like building a canal first before letting the water flow. As long as you cling to the idea of cursed energy as a flow, it will never fully synchronize with your body's movements. The result will always be—"
Nanami punched, sending one of the remaining members flying into a liquor cabinet.
Akira clearly saw cursed energy resembling a blue flame flickering around Nanami's hand.
"If this were Black Flash, there wouldn't be any leftover cursed energy like this. This is what happens when the energy doesn't fully synchronize."
"So, how do you achieve that synchronization?" Akira asked the key question.
"You have to imagine it. Cursed energy is mental strength—it's also imagination. The fastest way for a sorcerer to grow stronger is to imagine a more powerful version of themselves. 'Black Flash,' 'Maximum Techniques,' and 'Domain Expansion' are all the same. Sorcerer progress is never linear. This might sound abstract, so let me give you a personal example—"
The cursed energy in Nanami's hands began to diffuse, swirling like mist.
"To me, cursed energy isn't a liquid; it's more like air, omnipresent. It's not about making cursed energy follow the body's movements—it's about making the body follow the movement of cursed energy. Think of it like punching out a shockwave!"
Nanami clenched his right fist, locking onto the next unlucky target.
The man, unable to bear the pressure, began shooting wildly, shouting, "Stay away from me!"
But his erratic behavior was pointless. His unstable emotions made his bullets miss wildly. Without even dodging, Nanami calmly approached and punched the man's "innocent gun" with precision.
The man's wrist snapped, and his gun flew across the room, embedding itself in a nearby couch. Yet Nanami wasn't satisfied.
"I failed… It happens. If I could activate Black Flash at will, I might already be Special Grade."
"Sp-Special Grade?!"
Someone finally realized the gravity of the situation, but this realization only made them the next target of Nanami's steady, methodical approach.
Dressed like a salaryman, the adult man calmly walked forward. His dark sunglasses reflected the terrified faces of the Q members, as well as his eyes, now filled with black and red energy.
Cursed energy?
A jujutsu sorcerer!
Akira's hand instinctively moved to the hilt of his sword.
But Nanami moved even faster.
With a single punch, his fist now enveloped in cursed energy, he unleashed a strike of a different caliber—not liquid, not gas, but condensed into a flash of light.
A black flash.
In that brief moment of brilliance, Akira saw the distortion.
The surrounding air, the point of impact, the Q member's arm, and the barrier-like cursed technique he had just activated all warped.
The man stood dumbfounded as his arm twisted, deformed, and finally disintegrated under the force of the cursed energy.
Finally, he screamed out in terror, "Bl-Black Flash!!!"