Ryosuke scratched his head, hesitating, the words sticking in his throat. Part of him burned to share what he knew, but another part wondered if it was wise to reveal so much. Just as he was about to speak, though, Yuki calmly raised her hand, stopping him mid-thought.
"Ryosuke," she murmured, her voice soft, almost solemn. "Remember this: nothing you do could ever surprise me again."
He looked at her, feeling both comforted and challenged by her words.
"Alright then… Ever since I awakened my jujutsu last month, I've been feeling something… something strange, but deeply connected to me. It's like an ability, an instinct, a power that's imprinted in my soul. After hearing you, I think I understand—it must be… my innate Cursed Technique." (A/N: Here you have refused the word "spell", too bad...)
Yuki watched him intently, her gaze sharp and focused.
"My technique…" Ryosuke continued. "I call it Overhaul. It's an ability that lets me alter, transform, and infuse my cursed energy into an entity… into its body, its soul, even its mind."
Silence fell over the clearing, heavy and almost tangible. Yuki stood there, stunned, her eyes wide with disbelief as she took it all in.
A sly grin crept onto Ryosuke's face. "Auntie, you promised you'd never be surprised again, didn't you?"
Yuki crossed her arms, adopting a mock-serious expression to hide her astonishment. She looked at him for a long moment. "Honestly, Ryosuke, how do you expect me not to be surprised?!" She shrugged, then pointed an accusing finger at him, a mix of annoyance and amusement in her eyes. "You're… you're a total glitch! Like… like that guy!"
Ryosuke hid a smug smile, feigning innocence. "That guy?" he asked, though he knew exactly who she meant.
Yuki sighed, glancing around at the trees, her gaze suddenly distant.
"In the world of Jujutsu," she began, her voice low and almost reverent, "sorcerers are ranked by their power. But there's one man, a sorcerer who, for decades now, stands alone at the top. Someone everyone fears, someone few dare challenge."
She paused.
"That man… he's insufferably narcissistic, and everyone knows it," she added with a touch of irritation. "But even I have to admit, he is indeed the strongest. It's a truth no one can deny."
Ryosuke felt his blood boiling as she spoke. The thrill of competition, the urge to measure himself against this man, surged within him.
"How would my Overhaul fare against his Infinity? Against his Domain of the Infinite?"
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm, his gaze fixed on Yuki, focused and unblinking.
His aunt caught the fire in his eyes and smiled slightly. Leaning forward, she spoke slowly, "You know, Ryosuke, maybe… yes, maybe you could be a contender for that insufferable narcissist."
Ryosuke's eyes widened, taken aback. Him? A challenger for the strongest sorcerer?
Little did his aunt know, he was well aware of the man she spoke of.
Satoru Gojo. The mightiest sorcerer. (A/N: Far behind Sukuna, of course.)
It was both exhilarating and utterly insane. His aunt's words carried weight, even if she loved to tease him.
"But… Auntie…" he stammered, struggling to find the right words. "You… you really think that?"
Yuki shrugged casually, though her eyes twinkled with mischief. "Oh, don't get too excited. It's just my opinion, nothing more." Then she looked at him directly, her gaze almost piercing. "But tell me… you've already experimented with your 'Overhaul,' haven't you?"
Silence. Ryosuke, a bit embarrassed, ran a hand through his hair, hesitating. "Uh… well… yeah, I've tested it on a few things. Plants, inanimate stuff, curses… and…"
"And?" Yuki tilted her head, clearly intrigued.
Ryosuke blushed slightly, looking down. "…A cat."
He said it almost shamefully.
A mocking smile immediately appeared on Yuki's face. She narrowed her eyes, then, without warning, she began wrapping Garuda around her hand, molding it into a compact shape. She muttered something, but Ryosuke caught enough of it to make him pale.
"A billion tons."
Ryosuke instinctively stepped back, hands raised defensively, his eyes wide with fear. "Auntie, are you serious?! A billion tons? Are you trying to kill me? And… can you really infuse that much weight?!"
Yuki shot him a taunting smile. "Why not? You'll just have to dodge… or maybe this is the perfect chance to test your 'Overhaul.'" She shrugged, feigning indifference, then added teasingly, "And if that's not enough motivation… think about the poor cat."
TO BE CONTINUED!
A/N:
I graduated from engineering school yesterday, so I was celebrating. You'll have three chapters. Oh join my discord, 8 are already there!
The link is here
https://discord.gg/HrY5epthyw
Next Chapter: Kyoto or Tokyo