Four years had passed. Four years of surviving, experimenting, and refining my puppets. I was no longer the eleven-year-old who hid in the shadows of middle school. My body was fifteen now—tall enough to not be overlooked, strong enough to move freely, but still physically a teenager. Mentally, I was twenty-one, and every second of those four years had been spent training my puppets and myself.
Arthur, Lancelot, and the newer puppets followed me closely. No longer ugly, blocky toys, they were well-crafted, visually imposing, and Grail-character inspired. Their cursed energy pulsed faintly, ready to react to my thoughts or sense of danger. Vow One and Vow Two had become the backbone of my survival and training. Ten puppets maximum, but potent and adaptable. And every curse fragment they consumed only made them more dangerous.
Middle School Life: Meeting Itadori
Itadori Yuji. The kid was energetic, loud, and annoyingly persistent—but not stupid. He had a weird kind of courage, the kind that made him stand out, the kind I could respect.
I first noticed him on my first day back at school after the time skip. He had tripped over a chair, almost landing on my backpack.
"Whoa—hey! Are you Von?" he said, panting, clearly embarrassed.
I raised an eyebrow. "Yeah. Don't fuck this up, and we're cool."
That was the start. Friendship with Itadori was weird, awkward, and reluctant—but functional. He didn't scare me off, and he didn't try to challenge my authority. Over time, I realized he had a strong instinct for survival, something useful in this cursed world.
The Alley Playground
The alley behind the abandoned school building had become my testing ground. Shadows shifted with cursed energy—low-level curses drawn to the chaos of humans nearby. I could see every flicker, every stain, every heartbeat of energy.
"Arthur, Lancelot, others, line up," I whispered. "Show me what four years of training looks like."
The puppets responded instantly. Tall, sharp, imposing, pulsing with faint cursed energy. No ugliness. Every detail precise, Grail-inspired. They were still puppets, but they radiated menace.
A small cursed spirit slithered from the corner, weak but curious. Perfect for testing Vow Two.
"Consume it. Mimic it. Learn," I ordered softly.
The smallest puppet lunged, absorbing fragments of cursed energy. Its arms glowed faintly as it imitated the curse's minor technique, a simple but effective attack. Another puppet, now taller, swung its sharp blocky limbs in coordination with Arthur and Lancelot.
Itadori Watches
Itadori had wandered into the alley during the fight. His eyes widened as he took in the scene.
"Holy shit… what are those things?" he whispered.
I smirked. "Soldiers. They do what I tell them. Stay back if you value your life."
He didn't run. He just watched, curious and calm. Not bad for a human. Maybe he had potential.