The quiet of the compound was broken by the rhythmic sounds of training.
From one corner of the large open courtyard, Geto's adopted daughters moved with precision, practicing sequences of strikes and defensive maneuvers.
The clatter of wooden swords echoed against the walls, a sharp contrast to the faint laughter and chatter coming from the younger recruits.
Each member had been instructed to train rigorously over the past weeks, preparing their bodies, minds, and cursed techniques for whatever the next months might throw at them.
Roy, however, had a slightly different rhythm to his day.
While the others honed their physical prowess and cursed energy manipulation, Roy had been tasked with maintaining the home and preparing meals alongside Geto.
Today, the two of them stood in the small, rustic kitchen that had been set up inside the compound, pots simmering and the scent of garlic and spices filling the air.
"Alright,"
Geto said, wiping his hands on a cloth and leaning casually against the counter.
"It's been a while since I asked, what do you have now, Roy?"
Roy leaned against the counter opposite him, a faint smirk on his face.
"Most of my core abilities, though a few I'm keeping close for… reasons."
He paused for effect, letting Geto's curiosity sharpen.
"Trickster, Threadstep, Soulbound, Decay, Release, Demonic Tempo, and RCT."
Geto's eyes sparkled, the faintest of smirks playing on his lips.
"You've grown even more than I imagined."
He crossed his arms and leaned back, clearly delighted.
"Alright, run me through them again, make sure I understand exactly what you can do now."
Roy nodded and began, his voice calm but precise.
"Trickster is my illusion ability. It's more than just seeing things that aren't there, it can manipulate all five senses for the target, even to the point of making them interact with their environment as if it's real."
"Threadstep allows me to move at extreme speeds, creating threads that stack to accelerate me even more, though the more I use it, the more cursed energy it consumes."
"Soulbound… that one's special. It ties my soul and body together in such a way that I can target other souls directly. Physical or cursed-energy attacks can hurt me, sure, but I literally can't die from them unless my soul itself is destroyed. I can even exist outside of this dimension temporarily, making me immune to space and time effects, though Domain Expansions can still drag me in."
Geto nodded slowly, his hands clasped behind his back.
"Clever… I like how thorough you are with your defenses."
Roy continued, eyes glinting with a hint of pride.
"Decay lets me deconstruct matter. With RCT, I can reconstruct it however I want, think of it like… controlling every element I touch down to the smallest particle."
"Impressive,"
Geto muttered, running a hand down his face.
"And Release?"
"That's the chains around me. When I activate Release, all my senses, intuition, stats, everything… they increase by a percentage over time. The longer I charge it, the stronger it becomes, it scales every three days."
"And finally, Demonic Tempo. This is basically my current 'form.' It restructures my body, stronger veins, arteries, a cursed energy core, and systematic cursed veins, letting me use far less cursed energy for far more output.
"My martial arts skill grows during battle, letting me adapt my style mid fight. I can even enter a zone where I have precognition, about 0.2 seconds ahead of my opponent, seeing their anatomy, blood flow, and cursed energy."
"While in this state, I can manipulate my cursed energy to fly, create platforms, even partially negate other techniques."
Geto's expression softened slightly, almost like a teacher watching a pupil exceed expectations.
"You've… truly mastered your craft, Roy. Not just your techniques, but your mind as well. That's a rare combination. I've seen a lot, but this…"
He shook his head in quiet admiration.
Roy let out a small chuckle.
"It's all thanks to you. The training, the guidance… I wouldn't be anywhere near this level without it."
Geto's smirk returned.
"And yet,"
He said, tone now a little darker,
"You've kept a few cards close to your chest. Smart. Very smart. Keep those, and you'll always have an edge, even against the strongest."
Roy merely nodded, his expression calm but unreadable.
Inside, he was thinking of the future, of Yuta, of Gojo, of the final confrontation he knew was coming.
But for now, all he did was stand beside the man who had shaped him, preparing meals, talking strategy, and quietly planning.
The sun dipped lower outside, casting long shadows across the courtyard and the kitchen.
In that fading light, Roy felt something settle deep within himself, a balance of power, purpose, and restraint.
He was ready.
Not just for whatever Geto had planned, but for everything that lay ahead.
He was not going to stop Geto from doing his plan, he was however going save his life.
As for the reason he is so willing to go along with Geto's plans, well..he just chalked it up to the fact that he simply wants to have a good fight against Gojo.