Four years had passed since the alley tests, and I had grown—not just in body, but in control. Fifteen now, a teenager physically, but my mind was still twenty-one, sharp and ruthless from a previous life. My puppets had evolved too. No longer ugly, blocky constructs—they were well-crafted, Grail-inspired, moderately tall, pulsing with faint cursed energy and ready to act at a thought.
Arthur and Lancelot led the line, the older, stronger puppets, while the newer ones flanked them. Every movement was precise, calculated, and efficient. Vow One and Vow Two were fully active, and the small scraps of cursed energy my puppets had absorbed over the years had made them capable of minor imitations.
Itadori Yuji had started to follow me after the initial test fights. Loud, naive, energetic, but useful in a way—I could sense his potential. Not humanly strong, not yet, but his instincts for survival were impressive. And unlike everyone else, he didn't run from me.
"Von… are you serious? You see all of these curses?" he whispered as we walked down a narrow alley.
I smirked. "Every single one. Every flicker, every stain of cursed energy. You don't. That's why you stay the fuck behind me."
He nodded, eyes wide. He was learning. Slowly.
The Finger Appears
News had reached Jujutsu Tech: a cursed object of immense potential—one of Ryomen Sukuna's fingers—had been located. Among those sent to investigate, Megumi Fushiguro was already on the scene.
I didn't need permission. I could sense the cursed energy radiating off the finger from this alley. Weak? Compared to Special Grade curses my puppets could mimic, yes. But the finger had raw potential, and every fragment was fuel for my army.
I motioned to my puppets. "Arthur, Lancelot, flank. New ones, absorb fragments, mimic minor attacks. Stay alert. Kill any weak curses that approach. Learn."
They moved instantly. Some puppets grew slightly taller, still blocky but imposing and dangerous, their cursed energy thrumming with anticipation.
Curses Drawn to the Finger
Even now, a cluster of low-grade curses skittered toward the finger, drawn like flies. Weak, twitching shadows, perfect for practice.
"Consume and imitate," I whispered. "Efficiency matters. Absorb, adapt, dominate."
The puppets lunged, absorbing fragments and mimicking minor attacks. Their movements were sharp, coordinated, and frighteningly precise. They were learning from live combat—real cursed energy in real time.
Itadori stepped closer, mouth agape. "Holy shit… those… those things are insane!"
I chuckled under my breath. "Soldiers. Growth matters. Stick close if you want to survive."
Megumi's Arrival
Megumi appeared just beyond the alley, his shadows coiling, eyes scanning. A capable sorcerer, disciplined, careful. Perfect for observation.
"You there! Don't touch the finger!" he demanded, aware of every cursed presence nearby.
I stayed in the shadows, letting my puppets handle the minor curses. They absorbed everything in their path, pulsing faintly as they imitated fragments of cursed energy. Vow Two in action.
Itadori, wide-eyed, whispered, "Should I… do something?"
I smirked. "No. Watch. Learn. Don't die. That's your role."
Itadori Eats the Finger
The finger glowed ominously, its cursed energy rippling like a heartbeat. Megumi kept low-grade curses at bay, but one impulsive movement by Itadori changed everything.
"Maybe… maybe if I eat it…" he muttered, panic and determination mixing.
Before anyone could stop him, his teeth clamped down on the cursed finger.
Chaos.
A massive surge of cursed energy erupted. The alley seemed to warp. The low-grade curses screeched, scattered, and vanished under the overwhelming pressure. My puppets stiffened, sensing the magnitude of power unlike anything they'd absorbed before.
Sukuna. Ryomen Sukuna. The King of Curses.