Chapter 73: Black Flash!
Ten minutes later.
Under Suguru Geto's explanation and guidance, Tatsuro successfully comprehended Reverse Cursed Technique!
Sometimes, if you can't learn something, perhaps it's not that the person is incapable; one should consider if the teacher isn't teaching well.
When Gojo-sensei explained it, it was simple and easy to understand, but putting it into practice was like navigating through clouds and mist. Who knows how he managed to learn it back then.
The scabbed wound on his forehead completely recovered under the treatment of Reverse Cursed Technique. If it weren't for the dent and bloodstains on the headboard, he would have thought he hadn't hit his head at all.
"Thank you so much, Mr. Geto." Tatsuro picked up the phone he had placed on the bed and said gratefully, "If you're free, I'd like to treat you to a meal. I'll cook it myself. I personally think my cooking is decent."
"It's no problem. I'm always happy to guide juniors who are also jujutsu sorcerers. As for treating me to a meal... how about next month? I'll send you an address then. Don't tell anyone else, okay!"
"Okay, please rest assured, Mr. Geto. Autumn has already set in; please keep warm and prevent catching a cold."
"Mm, goodbye."
Suguru Geto hung up the phone, looked up at the sun in the sky, and said, "This junior is really likable. It feels like such a waste for him to be cultivated by that slacker Gojo."
"Who were you chatting with? You've been standing here grinning for over ten minutes."
A female voice came from behind. Suguru Geto turned and said, "A cute junior."
"A junior, huh... I wonder if he will obstruct Lord Geto's mission?" The woman's originally kind expression instantly turned grim, as if she were about to eliminate this junior Geto spoke of.
"It's fine, it's fine. This junior's character is quite good, at least he's smart enough. He won't have a major impact on the plan. Continue searching for cursed spirits; the numbers are far from enough if we want to deal with Gojo Satoru."
As Suguru Geto spoke, he directly swallowed the black sphere formed by the cursed spirit in his right hand. After eating it, he didn't forget to complain, "Truly disgusting."
"Is that so? Then I was rude, Lord Geto."
...
At this moment, Tatsuro, having learned Reverse Cursed Technique, felt light and refreshed. He chugged the soda he had placed on the table and lay back on the bed with a leisurely expression.
Clank, clank—
The iron bars outside the window rattled. Tatsuro looked over with some curiosity. After all, this was the third floor. What could be climbing the security bars...
"Holy crap! Aoi Todo!"
Aoi Todo currently had tears in his eyes, his hands gripping the security bars, looking at Tatsuro through the window. He said, "Best friend! Let's skip class together and go appreciate the beauty of this world under the cherry blossom trees!"
"What the hell is wrong with you! This is the third floor! Get down from those security bars quickly!" Tatsuro got up and complained.
"No... If you don't accompany me to see the beautiful scenery under the cherry blossoms, best friend, I won't leave."
"Stop being crazy! Cherry blossoms bloom in March! Winter isn't even over yet! Get down from there right now!"
Just as Tatsuro finished speaking, the security bars, unable to bear Aoi Todo's weight, began to creak loudly, and then... they broke...
"..."
Tatsuro looked at the vanished security bars and Aoi Todo, completely speechless. He silently walked over and locked the window. He picked up the phone from the bed, put it in his pocket, slipped on his shoes by the door, and walked out.
Honestly, he was truly glad that it wasn't someone from the Kyoto school who had picked him up back then. Otherwise, he might have been pestered to death.
Just as he got downstairs, he saw Aoi Todo waiting by the corridor. He was currently leaning against the wall with one hand, his black school uniform still neat, as if he wasn't the one who had just fallen from the third floor. He said, "I knew you wouldn't leave me, best friend."
"Yeah, yeah. Is there something you need? Anyway, I'm free this afternoon," Tatsuro said resignedly. He felt that if he didn't accompany him today, Todo would pester him until evening.
"Of course, there is!" Aoi Todo's demeanor changed, and he said with a serious expression, "During our spar this afternoon, best friend, I noticed your taijutsu is excellent, and the flow of cursed energy in your body is remarkably precise. Whether it's defensive blocking or power augmentation, it's all just right. So, I want to teach you a technique."
"What?" Tatsuro asked with some interest. After all, he was very interested in anything Aoi Todo could teach. He could never have too many trump cards.
"Black Flash!"
Aoi Todo held up one finger and said, "I can feel that you've almost reached that realm. The reason you haven't progressed is that you rely too much on cursed tools."
"Rely on cursed tools..."
Tatsuro recalled what Gojo-sensei had said when he first gave him cursed tools. His own shortcoming was having little cursed energy, making him unsuitable for prolonged battles, which was why he trained his body and close combat. But later, he just felt that blades were more convenient.
"Correct. In terms of pure fighting, your combat skills are already close to perfect, best friend. But you should be able to reach an even higher level, and that is by learning Black Flash!"
As Aoi Todo spoke, he assumed a defensive stance. "When the impact of a physical strike and cursed energy occurs within 0.000001 seconds of each other, a spatial distortion is generated. Its power is, on average, to the 2.5th power."
"Although few sorcerers have learned it, and no sorcerer can intentionally unleash Black Flash, there is a world of difference in the proximity to the core of cursed energy between those who have experienced Black Flash and those who haven't. So, attack me! Let me witness your growth! Best friend!"
...
Tatsuro fell silent, looking down at his right hand. Crimson cursed energy enveloped his fist.
The cursed energy used by jujutsu sorcerers is extracted from negative emotions. It flows throughout the body, starting from the navel, passing through the shoulders and arms, and finally ending at the fists.
But in battle, when facing sudden situations, cursed energy cannot flow to the fists that quickly; this is the so-called 'cursed energy delay.' Therefore, Tatsuro usually stored cursed energy in various parts of his body whenever he went out, to prevent unexpected situations.
"0.000001 seconds, huh? That's truly strict."
Tatsuro looked at Aoi Todo, who was already in a defensive stance before him. He assumed an attack posture, took a deep breath, and reminded him, "If it's to the 2.5th power, then you'd better defend well, best friend! After all, I'm in super good condition today!"
"Of course! Best friend!" Aoi Todo grinned, and blue cursed energy instantly enveloped his entire body, like a burning flame.
Seeing this, Tatsuro had nothing more to say. After all, he had just learned Reverse Cursed Technique under Suguru Geto's guidance; he could only describe himself as feeling refreshed and invigorated at this moment.
Although 0.000001 seconds sounded quite demanding, he had never aimed for any peak of close combat. After all, as system missions accumulated, his cursed energy would one day surpass Yuta's.
But there was no harm in learning; it wasn't like he'd lose a piece of flesh.
Tatsuro slowly closed his eyes, exhaling the turbid air from his chest. He calmed his mind, emptied his thoughts, and focused his attention on his fist.
His state of mind was clear and penetrating, his ears heard the wind pass, his energy circulated throughout his body, then a concentrated burst!
When his eyes opened again, his crimson pupils were revealed, two tomoe spinning rapidly. As if in a moment of enlightenment, he sensed that now was the time to strike.
He threw a fierce punch. The originally crimson cursed energy, at the very moment it touched Todo's arm... flashed black!
Black Flash!