One night.
In just the span of a single night, under the triple effect of the unreasonable feedback from the "Vermilion Eyes," the continuously repairing "Reverse Cursed Technique" operating instinctively, and Ieiri Shoko's special nutrient agent, Mukyoku Nagi's body recovered at a jaw-dropping speed.
Morning sunlight spilled into the infirmary through the window. The air still held a faint smell of disinfectant and a hint of the fruity candy sweetness belonging to Shoko.
Nagi opened his eyes. The first thing he felt was the majestic Cursed Energy circulating within his body, far surpassing before, and the vitality filling every limb and bone, almost overflowing.
The weakness and muscle soreness upon waking last night felt like a distant illusion.
He sat up, movements smooth and powerful. Upon introspection, the Cursed Energy core that was once covered in fine cracks and nearly depleted was not only as good as new but had even become tougher and broader. The Cursed Energy flowing within the core was also purer and more vigorous.
The "Curse of Love" left by his mother seemed to have been truly triggered to a deeper potential after an extreme overdraft, and the feedback effect was astonishingly good.
He got out of bed and walked to the window, looking at the gradually waking campus outside. The morning light was faint, but his vermilion pupils could clearly capture the texture of leaves and the trajectory of rolling dewdrops in the extreme distance, and could even vaguely perceive the flow of weak Cursed Energy particles in the air. His body's coordination, perception, and reaction speed were in an unprecedented perfect state.
This feeling of being filled with power was good, so good that it produced an irrepressible, urgent impulse in his heart to verify it.
—The impulse to execute "Maximum Technique: Nagi" again.
Last time at the exchange event, he was forced into a desperate situation and barely touched that realm by relying on a strong will to survive and the outbreak of the "Vermilion Eyes."
The process was painful and uncontrollable, like riding a prehistoric beast that could backlash at any moment.
But now it was different.
He could feel that his connection with his Innate Technique had never been so close and clear.
His understanding of "Slow" and his grasp of the essence of "resistance" seemed to have leaped to a brand new level. He had a strong premonition that the current him might be able to truly and relatively calmly harness that power which returns the movement of all things to "nothingness."
His thoughts involuntarily went further.
"Maximum Technique: Nagi" was the ultimate manifestation of "Technique Lapse: Slow," the apex of real-time kinetic energy cancellation.
Then... what about "Technique Reversal: Fast" (Shun)?
Its essence was "reducing resistance," not directly providing acceleration. Acceleration was just the natural result of reduced resistance.
Then, what would happen if the point of "reducing resistance" was pushed to the extreme, making resistance infinitely approach zero or even a negative value?
Could it reach a Maximum Technique belonging to "no resistance" that kept pace with "Nagi"?
A vague concept about "absolute smoothness," "zero friction," and "ideal motion" flashed and hovered in his mind.
Just as he was immersed in thinking about the essence of power, and the Cursed Energy around him fluctuated slightly due to his thoughts—
*Thud.*
A hand chop, not too heavy but clear enough, landed on the top of his head, interrupting his contemplation.
Nagi came back to his senses, turned his head slightly, and saw that Ieiri Shoko had woken up at some point and was standing beside him, just withdrawing her hand.
Her face wore her usual laziness, but hidden in those brown eyes was a trace of imperceptible worry and annoyance, and there were faint shadows under her eyes left by keeping vigil.
"Standing here early in the morning emitting dangerous thoughts?"
Her voice carried the raspiness of just waking up and a hint of reproach. "Just got a bit better, and your Cursed Energy fluctuations become so restless again? Forgot how you were carried in yesterday? Want to mess around again?"
Her worry was obvious.
After all, the guy in front of her had a brilliant record of "messing around."
Looking at the faint dark circles under Shoko's eyes and that genuine concern, Nagi felt a slight movement in his heart.
Almost without thinking, he naturally raised his hand. Instead of using a hand chop like her, he placed his palm downwards gently on top of her head, rubbing it with a slightly clumsy yet unusually gentle motion.
"Don't worry,"
His voice was much lower and softer than usual, her reflection in his vermilion pupils. "I'm completely fine now. Feeling... never been better."
This sudden, overly intimate response made the air between the two instantly quiet for a moment.
Shoko clearly hadn't anticipated this reaction at all. her body stiffened almost imperceptibly, a trace of extremely fast astonishment and panic flashed across her face, and the tips of her ears turned red at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Like being scalded, she abruptly took a small half-step back, dodging his hand, and forced herself to calmly push up non-existent glasses frames, trying to cover her slip with her usual coldness.
"...Texture is passable, looks like the skull wasn't broken by the Cursed Spirit."
She turned her head away, complaining in a stiff tone, but the slightly trembling tail end of her voice betrayed something. "So? Feeling very good and then what? Planning how to challenge your survival limit again?"
"I want to try 'Maximum Technique: Nagi' again."
Nagi withdrew his hand, fingertips seemingly still retaining the soft, cool touch of her hair.
His expression returned to calm as he stated his thoughts directly. "I need to know where its current limit is, and... whether I can truly control it stably instead of being restricted by it."
Shoko looked at the quiet confidence and unshakable determination in his eyes, knowing she couldn't stop him, nor did she have a reason to stop a guy whose condition was unprecedented.
She sighed helplessly, waved her hand, and turned to pretend to organize medical equipment, hiding her cheeks which were still somewhat hot.
"Suit yourself. If you want to test, go find Satoru and Suguru, those two guys, to be your sparring sandbags. Just don't demolish my infirmary."
With her back to him, her voice returned to its usual tone. "Also, remember to send me a copy of the important test data."
This counted as tacit consent, even carrying a bit of professional support.
"Mm. Got it."
Nagi nodded and turned to leave the infirmary.
That faint sweet scent seemed to still linger at the tip of his nose, while the soft touch on his palm and her rare panicked appearance just now were quietly imprinted in the bottom of his heart.
He soon found Gojo Satoru and Geto Suguru in the training ground, doing morning warm-ups (actually destroying public property).
"Yo! Isn't this our cockroach classmate who resurrects with full health and an upgrade after just one sleep?"
Gojo Satoru spotted him first. Sunglasses slid down his nose bridge, azure Six Eyes flickering with light of wonder and inquiry, scanning Nagi up and down. "Wow, this amount of Cursed Energy and stability... simply like a different person! What did Shoko feed you?"
Geto Suguru also stopped the Cursed Energy gathering in his hands, looking over with a gentle smile, eyes equally full of surprise: "The aura is indeed much more vigorous, and more introverted and profound. Congratulations on a full recovery, Nagi. Seems like a blessing in disguise this time."
"Mm."
Nagi walked up to them, without any pleasantries, directly stating his purpose. "I want to try 'Maximum Technique: Nagi' one more time. Need your help to test."
Gojo Satoru immediately became enthusiastic, a smile fearing the world not chaotic enough appearing on his face: "Oh? Finally going to formally develop this ultimate move? How do you want to test? My 'Blue' or Suguru's Cursed Spirit darlings? Just say it!"
Geto Suguru also revealed thick interest, nodding: "Happy to oblige. We are also very curious to what degree the you in complete state can bring that power of 'stillness' into play."
The three quickly moved to a wide training ground specifically used for high-intensity technique testing, covered with multiple reinforced barriers.
"So, start with what?"
Gojo Satoru put his hands in his pockets, tone relaxed as if discussing what to eat for breakfast. "Appetizers first?"
He casually snapped his fingers.
Instantly, a small "Blue" containing twisted gravity and massive kinetic energy was generated, carrying a shriek tearing through the air, shooting straight at Nagi!
Facing this strike capable of easily piercing reinforced concrete walls, Nagi's eyes were calm, seemingly having light flowing deep in his vermilion pupils.
He made no extra movements, just similarly raised his hand and calmly snapped a crisp finger snap.
"Maximum Technique: Nagi."
No earth-shattering energy explosion, no dazzling light and shadow effects.
Only an extremely precise, invisible "resistance field" instantly expanded with him as the center, calculating, matching, and outputting resistance equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the incoming kinetic energy in real-time!
The moment that rapidly shooting "Blue" intruded into a certain range around him, its forward kinetic energy was instantly zeroed out by this perfectly canceling resistance!
Having lost all kinetic energy, the Cursed Energy structure maintaining the form of "Blue" collapsed along with it. Like building blocks with the foundation pulled out, it silently and thoroughly dissipated into the air without leaving any trace, as if it had never existed.
It didn't stagnate, didn't explode, but like a popped soap bubble or a snowflake thrown into water, it silently and thoroughly dissipated into the air without leaving any trace, as if it had never existed.
"Wow!"
Gojo Satoru raised his eyebrows exaggeratedly high, Six Eyes full of excitement like discovering a new toy.
Geto Suguru's face also became grave; he could feel the subtlety and efficiency of that power.
"What about duration and range of effect?"
Geto Suguru said, simultaneously waving his hand to summon two Cursed Spirits with widely different characteristics!
One massive Cursed Spirit "Heavy Armor," covered in thick rock carapace, let out a dull roar and initiated a berserk charge toward Nagi with earth-shaking steps like an out-of-control chariot! The kinetic energy contained in its impact was terrifying!
The other was a ranged Cursed Spirit "Screech" with an elusive figure, capable of continuously instant-casting sharp Cursed Energy shockwaves. Locking onto Nagi from a distance, high-frequency Cursed Energy fluctuations shot continuously like invisible cannonballs!
Facing this composite attack weaving physics and energy, Nagi's gaze swept over calmly, "Vermilion Eyes" processing information at high speed. Snapped his fingers again.
"Maximum Technique: Nagi."
The absolute kinetic energy cancellation field expanded again!
That berserk charging "Heavy Armor," all forward kinetic energy carried by its massive body was completely canceled out the moment it touched the field!
However, just as Nagi expected, inertia still existed! This behemoth seemed to be suddenly "pressed" to a stop by an invisible but extremely elastic wall. The huge inertia caused its heavy body to rock violently back and forth due to the emergency stop, even emitting a tooth-aching sound of structural friction, before barely stabilizing its figure and stopping in place. It didn't dissipate, but the charge was thoroughly disintegrated. The ground beneath its feet was crushed into cracks by the force of its stop.
And those densely attacking Cursed Energy shockwaves, the moment they entered the field range, the kinetic energy relied upon for their energy transmission was similarly precisely canceled to zero. The fluctuations couldn't be maintained, like extinguished flames, silently dissipating and disintegrating.
"Range approximately fifteen meters radius."
Nagi felt the Cursed Energy consumption rate and evaluated calmly. "Duration can be maintained, but against high-speed, high-kinetic energy targets, Cursed Energy consumption will increase sharply. Stopping solid bodies and dissipating energy attacks consume differently."
"Fifteen meters effective range is already very lethal in actual combat."
Geto Suguru evaluated, tone carrying admiration. "Almost capable of nullifying the vast majority of surprise attacks and ranged attacks."
The smile on Gojo Satoru's face became wilder: "Then try this!"
His hands flicked repeatedly, speed fast enough to leave afterimages!
In a split second, dozens of "Blues" of varying sizes and extremely tricky trajectories bombarded Nagi from all directions simultaneously like a violent storm!
These "Blues" didn't attack in straight lines but used gravity to pull each other, forming a constantly contracting, unpredictable deadly net, almost sealing off all dodge space!
Facing this terrifying offensive enough to destroy a city block in an instant, light flourished in Nagi's vermilion pupils!
He could clearly "see" countless red trajectory predictions representing danger!
The majestic Cursed Energy in his body ran and operated with unprecedented efficiency!
He raised his hand again, snapped his fingers, voice clear and steady:
"Maximum Technique: Nagi — Full Open!"
A stronger kinetic energy cancellation field erupted boldly, expanding outward with him as the center!
All "Blues" intruding into this domain, no matter how weirdly their sizes and trajectories changed, no matter how massive the kinetic energy they contained, were applied with perfectly corresponding reverse resistance the moment they entered the domain, kinetic energy instantly zeroing!
They didn't even have time to collide and affect each other before, like flames with their sources pinched out simultaneously, they dissipated and annihilated continuously and silently!
That deadly net had turned into nothingness before it could close!
The scene became extremely shocking and eerie for a moment. The destructive attack frenzy all returned to void upon approaching the youth.
Nagi's breathing was slightly rapid, fine beads of sweat seeping from his forehead.
Calculating and canceling a large number of high-speed high-kinetic energy targets simultaneously was a considerable burden on his mind and Cursed Energy, but with the help of "Vermilion Eyes," it was already far easier and freer than last time.
"Amazing! Too amazing!"
Gojo Satoru clapped excitedly, the residual gravitational turbulence calming completely. "Simply the ultimate nemesis of kinetic energy attacks! Now many techniques would become decorations in front of you, right?"
Geto Suguru also commanded more Cursed Spirits of different types and attack modes—spitting corrosive liquid (liquid kinetic energy canceled), releasing mental interference ripples (wave transmission kinetic energy canceled), even attempting to sneak close and self-destruct (explosion shockwave kinetic energy canceled)—launching all-round saturation strikes from far, medium, and near distances.
But the results were without exception. As long as they entered that absolute kinetic energy cancellation domain, any form of "movement" (physical impact, energy ejection) had its kinetic energy forcibly zeroed out, ultimately leading to attack dissipation or movement suspension!
"A near-impeccable absolute defense domain."
Geto Suguru finally withdrew all Cursed Spirits and concluded, tone filled with marvel. "Congratulations, Nagi. Looks like you can already fully control this power."
Nagi slowly exhaled a long breath, calming the consumption.
The test results gave him a clear understanding of his control over "Maximum Technique: Nagi."
However, at the same time, that thought about the extreme of "Fast" (Shun) became incomparably clear and strong again.
Only this time, he corrected his line of thought—not acceleration, but the extreme of drag reduction.
"Still not enough."
He spoke suddenly, voice calm but carrying an unquestionable firmness.
"Hmm?"
Gojo Satoru and Geto Suguru looked at him simultaneously, faces showing confusion.
"'Nagi' is the extreme of 'increasing resistance,' the end point of kinetic energy cancellation."
Nagi raised his own hand, staring at his palm, as if trying to see through another diametrically opposite power contained within—reducing resistance. Burning light of inquiry flickered in his vermilion eyes.
"Then what about 'Fast' (Shun)? Its essence is 'reducing resistance.' Pushing this point to the extreme, making resistance infinitely approach zero... or even a negative value? What kind of scene would that be? Absolute 'smoothness'? The extreme of 'no resistance'? Or something else even more unexpected?"
He raised his head, casting his gaze toward the two strongest classmates, eyes filled with purely extreme desire and thirst for knowledge about the peak of the other side of power.
"I want to try and see. I want to find the Maximum Technique of 'Fast' (Shun)."
Gojo Satoru and Geto Suguru looked at each other, both seeing the undisguisable shock and the subsequently surging, thicker interest and expectation in each other's eyes.
This line of thought was obviously more consistent with the essence of the technique than simple "acceleration," and also more profound and unpredictable.
"Wow! This idea is even more interesting!"
Gojo Satoru grinned, smile brilliant and full of challenge. "Maximum Technique of 'Fast' (Shun)? Sounds interesting already! Zero resistance? Negative resistance? What will happen? I'm already starting to get curious! Come on! How do you want to try?"
Geto Suguru also took a deep breath, a serious and expectant smile appearing on his face: "Exploring the extreme of 'Fast' (Shun)? I look forward to it."
On the training ground, the air seemed to become heavy and full of possibilities due to this brand new, more essential topic.
A new experiment, pointing to the exploration of unknown territories, was about to begin.
And Nagi did not know that his near-paranoid deep exploration of the origin of his own power was touching bit by bit upon the deeper secrets of that "twisted blessing," and also pulling him closer and closer to the gaze hidden behind the scenes coveting this power.
The storm might be brewing quietly in these constant breakthroughs.
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