Suzuki rushed forward as Choso clasped his hands together and chanted, "Piercing Blood!"
Choso fired blood from his hands as Suzuki dodged it, making Choso think, 'He's that fast? His Cursed Energy Reinforcement is good, but not that good. Then it must be...'
Choso pulled up his arms as he blocked an attack from Suzuki, and he was pushed back, making Choso think, 'What physical power?!'
Suzuki took a stance and took a breath, thinking, 'I didn't even make a dent. He didn't even flinch at that punch.'
Choso took a stance, thinking, 'He's actually quite strong. He must be one of them.'
Choso poured blood out over his hands, saying, "Red Scale: Stack. Flowing Crimson Fists!"
Suzuki rushed forward as they went into an exchange of punches and deflections as Choso slammed his fist into Suzuki's arms, who thought, 'I'll just use more Cursed... huh?!'
He felt the blood solidify, thinking, 'This is...!' as he was sent flying off the building and slamming through another.
This was a replication of Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's Flowing Mass Fists Technique. The binding vows used to make that Technique were explained to Choso by Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.
Choso stood there thinking, 'That won't be enough to make him unconscious. But he won't be able to punch me as hard.'
Suzuki looked up, and Choso thought, 'His Cursed Energy is flaring up. He's not done yet.'
Suzuki jumped up back onto the roof as the two went into an exchange, as Suzuki avoided Choso's other hand, still coated in blood, as he threw up a rock, and Choso's fist impacted onto it, shattering into dust as Choso thought, 'He forced the activation of the technique?!'
Suzuki slammed his fist into Choso as Black Sparks flew, making him think, 'Is this... Black Flash? This feels... amazing!'
Choso created a blade out of blood and slashed at Suzuki, who dodged and slammed his fist into Choso again as Black Sparks flew again.
Choso spat out his saliva in pain, and Suzuki slammed another fist into Choso as more Black Sparks flew, and Choso was sent flying back and fell off the building.
Suzuki's eyes widened, thinking, 'Crap! I got carried away and overdid it.'
Suzuki then heard a boom as Dabura Karaba's light attack cut through several buildings, and Suzuki thought, 'That guy is a monster on another level. He's a calamity.'
Suddenly, he heard something akin to moving water and a vast amount of Cursed Energy as he heard the flow of a liquid. He turned to see Choso floating in the air with a giant tsunami of blood rising up behind him, making Suzuki's eyes widen, thinking, 'What the hell...? He's... got to be a Special-Grade.'
After the events of Shinjuku Choso had trained to increase his efficiency in the creation of his blood and its thickness with the help of Ayanokoji Kiyotaka. Due to the increase in its thickness, he was able to increase the concentration of the poisonous nature of his blood. It got to a point that if he wanted to, he could easily poison every water reservoir in a country and bring that country to its knees. Due to this, he was designated as a Special Grade Sorcerer.
Choso looked to him and chanted, "Maximum Output: Surging Blood!"
Choso clasped his hands together as the blood formed into a cylinder and fired at Suzuki, whose eyes widened, thinking, 'It's even faster than Piercing blood?!! And the power! There... isn't a Grade 1 that would be able to survive a direct hit from that, even with some of the best reinforcement!'
Suzuki barely dodged the attack as he sweated, but then thought, 'There. You've used up a lot of Cursed Energy with that move, so I'll capitalise on it and...'
"Supernova."
Choso chanted this as Suzuki's eyes widened and explosions of sharp blood burst out from the Surging Blood attack, hitting Suzuki like shrapnel as he yelled in pain and collapsed, thinking, 'Shit! Shit! Shit!'
He began coughing up blood, thinking, 'I can't feel my arms or legs. Nothing's responding.'
Choso stood over him and said, "Make a binding vow with me so that you'll stop searching for Kiyotaka without permission. If you do, I'll heal you. If not, I'll let you die from the poison."
Suzuki coughed up blood, thinking, 'He was holding back on me?'
Choso looked down at Suzuki and said, "You have 5 minutes. After that, you won't even be able to remain conscious long enough to make the vow."
That's when a door opened, and Miyaguni stepped out.
Choso looked to her and asked, 'Is Kiyo actually needed?"
Miyaguni shook her head, saying, "Please heal Suzuki. I'll make him apologise for this all, and I'll make him enter a binding vow with you to not look for Ayanokoji-Sensei."
Suzuki, using all the willpower he had, slowly got up and looked to them, saying, "Please. Calll Ayanokoji. I don't want Yuka to die."
Miyaguni sighed and said, "It's okay, Choso. Show him. That way he'll understand."
Choso took out a scroll, and Suzuki looked at it, thinking, 'Is it a map?'
Choso held one end of it as it rolled open, revealing that it was a scroll used for storage. 9 Fingers were secured with straps inside as Choso said, "Ayanokoji Kiyotaka. My younger brother is right here in these."
Suzuki's eyes went wide as he asked, "What are you..."
Miyaguni then said, "18 years ago, after the death of his wife, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka turned himself into 9 Cursed Objects so that if humanity needed him at any time that was far past his lifespan, they could call upon him with these fingers."
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Kiyotaka stood at the grave as a younger Miyaguni asked, "Ayanokoji-Sensei? Are you... I..."
Kiyotaka placed down Camellia flowers at the grave and said, "It's alright, Chiharu. I understand what you're trying to say."
He patted her head and said, "It's very thoughtful of you."
Snow started to fall as he held a snowflake in his hand, saying, "How... fitting."
His face showed a pained expression. The most emotion he could subconsiously muster, considering his upbringing.
Then he smiled, saying, "Thank you for those years, Yuki. I'm glad it was with you. These past few years... were quite fun too. The way people would misunderstand our relationship. It'll be lonely without you."
Miyaguni then asked, "Ayanokoji-Sensei... why didn't you and your wife ever have children?"
Kiyotaka sighed and said, "There was a time when I almost died. My wife saved my life, but she used a technique that was extremely dangerous. It almost killed her. It would have if she hadn't diverted all her healing towards essential parts of her body. But that meant that other parts were undefended. Because of that, it became impossible for us to conceive."
Miyaguni seemed to understand, saying, "Your wife was always so kind to me."
Miyaguni looked to the grave with a sombre expression.
Kiyotaka looked to Miyaguni and asked, "I'd like you to do some things for me."
"Some things?"
"I'm going to turn myself into Cursed Objects."
Kiyotaka said this as Miyaguni's eyes widened and she shouted, 'What? Why would you..."
Kiyotaka looked up and said, "I still look young. It's clear to me that I'm not aging normally. I'll probably live for another 300 years. A part of me is glad that I've formed connections, but being reminded of the ones I've lost. That's not something I want. I've always wanted to feel the way other people feel, but now... I just want it to stop."
Miyaguni looked to Kiyotaka and asked, "But why...?"
"It's an excuse. I'll turn myself into 9 Cursed Objects. My fingers. I'll say they're safeguards in case I'm needed in the future. But really? I just want to rest."
"Sensei."
Miyaguni looked to Kiyotaka with a worried expression.
Kyotaka looked to her and said, "If I am needed, then don't hesitate to have someone who's compatible eat a finger to summon me. I'll deal with the situation, but... at the very least I'd like for my first return to be in an era where anything can remind me of the people I'll outlive from this era."
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Suzuki stared at the scroll and said, "He turned himself into Cursed Objects?"
Miyaguni nodded, saying, "Yes. Each one has the potential to hold 100% of his consciousness and power. Once one is consumed, the vessel will share a body with Ayanokoji Kiyotaka until death. Once the vessel dies, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's soul will spread back out into the remaining fingers, ready to trigger his return at full strength and consciousness again."
Suzuki's eyes widened, thinking, 'So he can return at full strength 9 different times? Ryomen Sukuna's fingers aren't even on the same level as his. It's like they exist on a completely different tier.'
Miyaguni, as if confirming his thoughts, continued saying, "The fingers are officially registered as Calamity-Grade Cursed Objects. A tier above Special-Grade was made specifically for them. They're registered that way because that's the only kind of situation in which we'll allow one to be ingested for Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's return."
More than 2000 years of Jujutsu and a Grade above Special-Grade was never even considered, let alone entertained. Yet... one man. Ayanokoji Kiyotaka changed things entirely. Becoming a Sorcerer on a level far surpasses all those before him, calling him merely a Special Grade was an insult to his overwhelming might.
Suzuki looked to her, blood seeping from his mouth as he said, "Nine fingers. Nine chances to save humanity if needed. That's why you guys are so hesitant."
Miyaguni nodded, saying, "Wasting a finger now when Yuka might be able to deal with this is..."
Suzuki looked to her and said, "Screw the future. I don't care about that. What I care about is that Yuka is out there fighting a battle that she can't win. If our society becomes so weak that we need to depend on an old geezer like him 9 separate times, then I say let us go extinct for all I care."
Miyaguni's eyes widened as Choso walked over to Suzuki and began draining out the poison and using Reverse Cursed Technique Output on him as Suzuki's injuries healed.
Choso looked to Miyaguni and said, "It's alright, Chiharu. If you need him, then call on him."
Miyaguni looked tense and conflicted as she said, "We don't even have a suitable vessel right now. It would take time to find one too..."
"I'll do it."
Suzuki said this as Miyaguni looked to him and said, "You could die. Don't be an idiot."
"It's alright. We can't waste any time. Yuka could die at any moment."
Suzuki said this as Choso asked, "Are you sure? You'd be sharing your body with him."
Suzuki nodded, saying, "I'm sure."
Choso handed him a finger as Suzuki looked towards Dabura's fight with Mahoraga and swallowed it. His body convulsed for a second as a white line appeared across his nose bridge, and he closed his eyes in pain.
His eyes then opened as his face showed a look of disappointment, saying, "Chiharu. You're here so... I've been called to the same era."
Miyaguni looked to him and said, "I'm sorry. I..."
Kiyotaka turned to face them and said, "It's fine. One finger has been used up. 8 more to go before I can find eternal rest."
Kiyotaka looked back at Dabura and Mahoraga fighting and said, "I'm assuming that that is why I've been called here?'
Miyaguni nodded, saying, "It was a desperate request from your vessel. The one fighting the threat is a friend of your vessel."
Kiyotaka noticed something, saying, "Speaking of this boy. His soul... It's familiar."
"Familiar?"
Miyaguni asked this, and Kiyotaka then said, "This boy's soul is similar to Sukuna's. Almost identical. As if... his soul was that of a twin with Sukuna."
Upon the death of Wasuke Itadori, who was the reincarnated twin of Ryomen Sukuna at the time, which occurred shortly before Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's move to Tokyo Jujutsu Tech, his soul bounced around until it was reborn in this boy.
Both Choso and Miyaguni looked shocked as Kiyotaka inspected the vessel's memories, thinking, 'So you're Shiro's grandson. I see.'
Kiyotaka fixed his hair to the way he liked it and said, "I'll clean up over there, and then I'll spend the boy's remaining lifespan in his subconscious. If you need me again after that call on me."
With that, he vanished from sight through sheer speed.
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Kiyotaka watched as Dabura raced towards Mahoraga, and the glass of the buildings shattered from his speed.
Kiyotaka looked impressed, saying, "He's fast. Faster than anyone else. Well, not counting when I'm in my domain, but even then, his speed is a bit more reliable. He might actually be dangerous even to someone like Sukuna now."
Dabura landed his kick as a whole city block was levelled by the unleashed kinetic energy.
Nothing was left but the dharma wheel, but then it spun, and Mahoraga's essence crackled back into existence, growing from a spot just below the wheel. From nothing into something.
Kiyotaka's eyes flashed in acknowledgement, thinking, 'So it's already adapted to his Cursed Technique. No. Light can't be used offensively like back then. When he fires projectiles, he's using a second Cursed Technique that likely turns his killing intent into mass. How fascinating.'
Kiyotaka watched as Dabura's leg, which was destroyed, grew back, and he thought, 'The Reverse Cursed Technique as well? It's a tier below Gojo-Sensei and Sukuna's, but... It's no lower than a single tier. His face shows an expression of realisation. Was this his first time using it? No. His first time even understanding of it's existence. I see.'
Kiyotaka looked to Mahoraga and thought, 'The sword of extermination is a good reference point for the possibility of Positive Cursed Energy, and he likely determined that it could be used for healing from the treatment they were offering Cross. Making deductions like that. He's quite intelligent.'
He then felt Cursed Energy at another location, making him think, 'They're stirring up a commotion now?'
He vanished.
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Kiyotaka walked into a building as Sorcerers and Simurians faced off against each other, but they froze in place, thinking, 'That Cursed Energy! What the hell is he?'
Oski looked to him and thought, 'His aura is like that of a Kaliyan... a physical body too... he's stronger than any Kaliyan I've ever seen. Is he... the King of Kaliyans?'
Kiyotaka looked to them and said, "Everyone, go back the way you came. Any conflict will lead to consequences."
They sweated thinking, 'This guy is no joke. If we disobey... we could die.'
Oski looked to Kiyotaka, thinking, 'This guy... is probably stronger than Dabura.'
They left the building as Kiyotaka vanished and arrived where Maru and Tsurugi were.
Tsurugi lay there injured as Maru cried, saying, "Tsurugi. I didn't get anything either. Cross... Yuka... someone..."
Rika's soul faded away as Maru was sitting there crying.
Kiyotaka crouched down, placing his hand on Tsurugi as Maru finally saw him and stumbled back, thinking, 'Suzuki? Wait, this isn't Suzuki. Who... is this?'
Positive Energy poured out of Kiyotaka's hand as Tsurugi's cuts closed up, his wounds healed, and his breathing stabilised.
Kiyotaka looked to Maru and said, "He'll be fine. He needs rest."
Maru saw him and thought, 'This guy is suitable for...'
Kiyotaka sighed, thinking, 'Time to go and deal with that now', as his attention turned towards where Dabura would be fighting Mahoraga.
"I'll be off."
Kiyotaka said this as he vanished, and Maru shouted, "Wait!"
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Kiyotaka arrived to see a barrier and thought, 'A Domain Expansion? Jogo's refinement was a bit better. Not bad. Was this his first try? He really is quite the talent.'
"Please save Yuka."
Kiyotaka heard this request inside his head as he thought, 'Got it.'
Kiyotaka walked down from the building, creating stairs via footholds, and then saw the spot. He targeted it and reached in, grabbing Yuka and pulling her out, thinking, 'A death-binding vow to make Mahoraga stronger? Summoning Mahoraga itself is something that leads to death. It probably barely increased the strength of Mahoraga.'
Kiyotaka began funnelling Reverse Cursed Technique Output into her as life returned to her.
Kiyotaka looked to see the barrier fall as Dabura stepped out and said, "Oh? You managed it, huh? While you struggled a bit due to Mahoraga's adaptation, you dealt with it somehow. Probably a Reversal. You didn't actually lose a lot of Cursed Energy, huh?"
Dabura then said, "Yes. That's right. I'm glad that Yuka is alive. Thank you for healing her. I never wished for her death, but now the duel is over. The city of Lumel will be established here in Tokyo."
Kiyotaka then said, "Diplomacy falls on deaf ears in the presence of overwhelming might. I will teach you that."
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To Be Continued
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