As the light of the setting sun rays hit upon a solitary silhouette, the figure sat cross-legged, eyes closed, a calm yet heavy presence radiating outward. A gentle breeze passed through the clearing, lifting and flowing through the long strands of raven-black hair. The air itself seemed to slow, as if acknowledging the moment.
A faint smirk formed on Kai's lips as he finally spoke, his voice calm yet sharp, carrying conviction.
Kai:
Binding Vow: Velocity Oath.
"The power of all my cursed techniques shall synchronize with the speed at which I cast them.
The faster I activate a technique, the greater its output and destructive potential become."
"In exchange, this acceleration can only be invoked ten times within my absolute, preserved 24-hour biological cycle.
After ten activations, the Velocity Oath becomes sealed until the next natural reset of my body's internal clock."
The words echoed softly, not outward—but inward—into the core of his cursed energy circulation.
Effect:
1. Casting Speed = Power Multiplier
Every cursed technique I use—Cleave, Dismantle, future techniques, Maximum Techniques, everything—becomes stronger based on how fast I cast it.
Faster activation → Exponentially stronger effect
Slow activation → Normal strength
This doesn't create sustained power.
It creates explosive, burst-based combat, the kind meant for decisive moments.
A wide grin spreads across Kai's face as the implications fully settle in.
Kai:
"I basically use more cursed energy at once… since it's like a flexible maximum output. But instead of locking me into one rigid technique, it adapts to me."
His cursed energy surged once more, rolling through his veins like a rushing current.
Kai:
"And the backlash? I no longer need to push true maximum output. Instead, I suffer partial, temporary burnout… but the cursed energy used is half of maximum output, while achieving nearly the same effect."
His chuckle slowly grew, turning into full, unrestrained laughter as the realization struck him.
Kai:
"And this is perfect for my future plans. My next binding vow will build on this. I'm creating a unique fighting style, and this finally gives me control over the fixed output of Dismantle—at least until I fully unlock it."
As the binding vow finalized, a sharp surge of cursed energy rippled through his body. Kai felt something fundamental shift—his cursed energy circulation pattern subtly re-aligning, pathways tightening and refining as if his body itself accepted the new rule.
Scene Shift – Next Day, Forest
Multiple footsteps crunched against hardened soil as three figures moved through the forest path. The atmosphere was heavy, filled with lingering negative energy that clung to the trees and soil alike.
Emi:
"We finally get to fight a cursed spirit for once."
Her voice carried excitement, her grip tightening slightly around her sabers.
Toji remained silent, his gaze sharp and calculating as he scanned the surroundings. His senses were tuned to everything—the wind, the shadows, the silence between sounds.
Toji:
"Yes. You both will be tested. I will not step in until it is a fatal blow."
He paused briefly.
Toji:
"I want you to feel the pressure of life and death."
Kai glanced toward Toji, then forward again. His senses flared as something oppressive stirred ahead. His gaze locked onto an old abandoned structure, half-collapsed and swallowed by shadows.
Kai:
"Must be a haunted house or something… but the negative energy coming from there is like a flame in the dark."
Their footsteps halted.
Both Kai and Emi turned as Toji stopped behind them.
Toji:
"I'll stay here. I don't want to draw the cursed spirit's attention."
Before Emi could protest, Kai smirked and rushed forward, excitement flashing across his face. His body moved instinctively—fast, light, eager.
Emi:
"Hey—why the rush?! You better not be trying to steal all the fun!"
Her voice trailed off as her eyes followed Kai's line of sight.
Something moved within the shadows.
Red eyes glowed faintly.
Smaller cursed spirits crept along the walls—twisted creatures resembling a mix of spiders and angelfish, their bodies warped and unnatural, each carrying a faintly glowing purple orb embedded within them.
Kai:
"You take on the Grade 3 cursed spirits. I'll distract the Grade 2."
His tone shifted—focused, sharp.
Kai:
"Then we finish it together."
Emi nodded, her expression turning serious. She rushed forward, drawing their attention, her sabers flashing as she cut through the smaller curses with precision.
Kai sprinted into the structure.
He cut through several cursed spirits effortlessly, slicing their bodies apart as they burst into shadow. Without slowing, he continued forward—unaware as the shadows behind him slowly began to reform.
Kai:
"That looks like the one in charge. Let's show off my new power."
He reinforced his body with cursed energy, muscles tightening as his speed increased. A long spider-like limb slashed toward him—he sidestepped narrowly, then drove a punch into the same limb.
Cleave.
The sound of dozens of slashes rang out.
Ching…
Shing…
The limb was severed completely, crashing to the floor.
Kai surged forward again, but another limb thrust toward his chest. He crossed his arms and activated—
Cleave: Reentry.
The space distorted as the slashes cut through the air itself, reducing the piercing force of the attack. Kai redirected the remaining impact, altering his trajectory and launching himself toward the cursed spirit.
Kai:
"Even if it's only ten percent… I can't push it higher yet. Shrine restrictions are limiting me."
He gritted his teeth.
Kai:
"But for now—it's enough to keep me from getting impaled."
Another punch connected.
Amplification Charge Extinguish: Cleave.
The curse spirit was shredded again, collapsing into shadow.
But Kai's instincts screamed.
The shadows stirred.
Reforming.
Bigger.
Kai:
"…You've got to be kidding me."
Two leg strikes came down. Kai used Cleave: Reentry, but the force overwhelmed him, slamming his body into the wall.
Dust exploded outward.
Kai coughed.
Kai:
"I didn't plan to experience partial burnout this early… CTE is no joke at my age."
He drew the sabers at his waist and lunged forward, channeling the feeling of Cleave into the blade tips. Just inches before impact, cursed energy released—
The limb fell.
Kai's grin widened.
Kai:
"Yes… almost there… that feeling… I can see my cursed technique!"
He dodged again, spun, and stabbed both sabers into the creature's eyes.
Amplification Charge Extinguish: Cleave.
The curse collapsed again—but the shadows shook violently, ascending once more.
Kai:
"It's becoming a semi-Grade 2 now, isn't it?"
He slapped his own face lightly with a palm, steadying his focus, then pulled down his blindfold. His eyes locked onto the glowing purple orb.
Kai:
"That's it… that's where its life blood is. Its soul."
The shadows attacked relentlessly. Kai blocked, rolled, and redirected, but eventually a massive strike hit his back, sending him crashing to the ground.
Another limb descended.
He rolled, blocked three legs, but two aimed for his ribs.
He moved into the attack.
Amplification Charge Extinguish: Cleave Reentry.
The piercing force vanished—but the impact launched him into the wall. His sabers flew away.
The cursed spirit loomed closer.
Kai's breathing became shallow.
Blood trickled from his nose.
Still, he smiled.
Kai:
"…Dismantle."
A single, clean slash cut through the glowing orb.
The curse dispersed completely.
A small pendant-like object dropped to the floor.
Kai grabbed it weakly and collapsed onto his back.
Minutes later, Emi burst into the room, exhausted and covered in purple cursed blood.
Emi:
"Kai! What happened?! I thought it was a Grade 3!"
Kai coughed softly.
Kai:
"It was… but it grew stronger every time I killed it. The orb—that's its core. Its soul the weakness but I only figured it out at the end it almost became very bad."
His eyes slowly closed.
She helps Kai stand up, her arm wrapped tightly around his waist to support his weight as they both slowly make their way out of the haunted house. The structure groans behind them as if alive, the lingering negative energy slowly dispersing now that its core has been destroyed. Kai's steps are uneven, his legs still trembling from partial burnout, his breathing shallow but steady as he forces himself to stay upright.
The sunlight outside feels almost unreal after the darkness inside.
They emerge from the tree line to find Toji sitting casually on a beach chair he somehow dragged into the forest clearing. He's wearing sunglasses, one leg crossed over the other, sipping calmly from a glass of ice lemonade through a straw, looking like a man on vacation rather than someone overseeing a near-death mission.
Kai blinks once.
Twice.
Toji:
"You both did well… but brat, why are you so weak? You can't even take on a Grade 3 cursed spirit."
The words land like a slap.
Before Kai can even process them, Emi releases her grip on him. Her eyes widen, then burn with anger, and in the next moment she launches herself toward Toji like a furious tigress protecting her cub. Her arms are outstretched, fingers curled like claws, her teeth clenched as she barrels straight into him.
Emi:
"What do you mean Grade 3 curse?!"
She crashes into him, knocking the chair backward as she yells.
Emi:
"Kai almost died to a Semi Grade 2 curse! Papa, how rusty are you?! You can't even tell the difference between the grades anymore?!"
The chair bends awkwardly under the impact and tips over completely. Toji falls back with a surprised grunt as the glass of lemonade launches into the air, spinning once before smashing against the ground. Ice scatters everywhere, lemonade splashing across the dirt and leaves.
Emi's screaming voice echoes through the clearing as Toji instinctively wraps his arms around her, trying to restrain her flailing limbs.
Toji:
"Hey—wait—Mi-mi, calm down—!"
She doesn't.
She twists sharply in his grip, leaning forward and biting his nose with surprising force.
Toji:
"—OW—!"
Ten minutes later.
Toji is sitting upright again, his hair completely messed up, sunglasses crooked, a faint bite mark clearly visible on his nose as it slowly heals. His expression looks exhausted, like he's aged five years in the span of a few minutes. Emi stands a short distance away, arms crossed, cheeks puffed out in a pout, her gaze turned sharply away from him.
Kai watches the scene in silence, his thoughts racing.
Kai (inner thoughts):
The wish I made… to gain Sukuna's template… it's almost complete.
He lowers his gaze slightly, fingers curling unconsciously.
Kai (inner thoughts):
The only things left are my Domain Expansion… and Fuga.
His jaw tightens.
Kai (inner thoughts):
But I don't know how my eyes will play a role in that. Demon Cry Eyes weren't something Sukuna had… so how will they interfere? Amplify? Override?
A slow breath leaves his lungs.
Kai (inner thoughts):
I guess I'll find out when the time comes.
On the trip back, the atmosphere is strangely quiet.
Emi sits near the window, holding her sabers across her lap, her grip firm but relaxed, eyes fixed on the passing scenery. Toji sits beside her, holding an empty glass where the lemonade once was, staring into it with a faintly depressed expression as if mourning its loss.
Kai sits across from them, fiddling with the pendant-sized object he took from the curse spirit. It's warm to the touch, faintly pulsing, red light swirling within like slow-moving blood.
The car eventually slows to a stop near a mountain road.
Kai reaches for the door handle.
Before he can open it, Emi speaks up.
Emi:
"Could you… take me around Jujutsu High one day?"
Kai pauses, then looks back at her. For a moment, the tension of battle fades, replaced by something softer. He smiles and nods.
Kai:
"Yeah. Of course."
The door closes with a solid thud, and the car drives off into the distance, disappearing around the bend.
Kai stands alone for a moment.
Kai (inner thoughts):
Only one year and seven months before Toji dies.
His fingers tighten around the pendant.
Kai (inner thoughts):
And I'll still be too weak to stop Gojo.
He exhales slowly.
Kai (inner thoughts):
Once Toji dies… Emi won't want to go to Tokyo Jujutsu High. She might go to Kyoto instead. That's fine.
A pause.
Kai (inner thoughts):
But I'll still try.
His gaze hardens.
Kai (inner thoughts):
I'll talk to Gojo. I'll try to stop him from killing Toji. Even if it's hopeless… maybe it'll work.
He looks down at the item in his hand again.
The orb swirls slowly, crimson light rotating within. The cursed energy it emits feels wrong—not like normal cursed energy, but not fully positive either. It feels inverted, unstable, like something that shouldn't exist naturally.
Kai:
"Maybe this is what allowed that curse to get stronger…"
His eyes narrow slightly.
Kai:
"It gained a cursed technique too… shadow manipulation… only after it became a Semi Grade 2."
The implications settle heavily in his mind.
After climbing many stairs, Kai finally reaches a small house. He opens the door and steps inside—only to freeze.
Geto is there.
Shoko is there.
His mother is seated calmly, but the moment her gaze lands on him, the atmosphere changes instantly.
Ayaka:
"We need to talk, Kai."
Kai stops moving.
Geto steps forward, his expression serious, unreadable.
Geto:
"I've been tracking your movements."
Kai remains silent.
Geto:
"For the past five months, you haven't been training with us on school grounds. That's… strange."
His eyes sharpen.
Geto:
"So I used one of my cursed spirits to follow you."
Kai doesn't deny it.
Geto:
"I found you… with a girl your age."
His tone softens slightly—then hardens again.
Geto:
"That alone wouldn't be a problem. But the man you were with—"
His expression darkens.
Geto:
"He gives off a dangerous aura. And yet… he has zero cursed energy."
Ayaka leans forward, her voice calm but sharp.
Ayaka:
"Who is that man?"
Kai answers without hesitation.
Kai:
"That's Emi Garcia's father. He's training us in martial arts and weapon combat."
A pause.
Kai:
"And no offense… but this place doesn't really have good weapons or proper martial arts teachers."
Shoko sighs and shrugs.
Shoko:
"He's not wrong. But what would I know? I'm just a doctor."
Geto studies Kai closely.
Geto:
"If that's the case… then spar me."
Kai's lips curl into a smirk.
Kai:
"Yeah. That works perfectly."
He pauses deliberately.
Kai:
"But let's do it in seven months."
Silence.
Every eye in the room turns toward him.
Shoko:
"Seven months? I get a few weeks, but—"
Ayaka looks at him with quiet concern.
Kai meets their gazes calmly.
Inside, his thoughts are clear.
Kai (inner thoughts):
Seven months is when everything changes.
Kai (inner thoughts):
By then… my techniques will stabilize. My body will adapt and get stronger . My binding vows will mature as well.
His smirk deepens.
Kai (inner thoughts):
And that's when I'll show you what training under the Sorcerer Killer really means... and hopeful i have fuga by then .