Meanwhile, Mahito, Jogo, and Hanami exchanged glances; their reactions varied, but unmistakably their own.
"Ryan," Mahito spoke first, a playful smirk curling his lips. His tone was casual, almost dismissive. "Do you need to bother with this guy? Let me toy with him for a bit. You know I love breaking down people like him."
Jogo snorted, folding his arms across his chest. "This isn't the time for your games, Mahito. A sorcerer who can copy cursed techniques isn't someone to take lightly. If we're going to handle this, we should do it decisively."
Hanami, always the calmest of the group, let out a low rumble. "Jogo's right. But even so, there's no need for you to dirty your hands, Ryan. Let nature—us—handle him."
Ryan raised a hand, silencing them all with a single motion. His expression was calm but carried an unmistakable air of authority that demanded respect.
"Don't forget," Ryan said, his voice measured and deliberate, "the strength of the man in front of me. He's no ordinary sorcerer. He's a warlock capable of copying others' cursed techniques."
He glanced at the group, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Letting you guys fight him directly is wasting time. Leave this one to me."
Mahito pouted exaggeratedly, clearly disappointed. "Tch, you're no fun, Ryan. But fine, fine, have it your way."
Jogo, ever prideful but pragmatic, gave a curt nod and stepped back. "Don't underestimate him. If he's as dangerous as you say, don't hesitate to call on us."
Hanami offered a subtle bow, retreating without another word.
Yuta Okkotsu stood amidst the chaos, his eyes darting between the towering special-grade curse spirits that loomed around him. Their presence was overwhelming, each radiating an aura of malevolence strong enough to crush the average sorcerer. But it wasn't just the spirits that unnerved him—it was Satoru Gojo, standing at Ryan's side, unnaturally calm, as if his own will had been suppressed.
"This doesn't make sense…" Yuta muttered, his voice laced with disbelief. "You're controlling special-grade curse spirits and Gojo-sensei? How is that even possible? And you are not a Soceror but a cursed spirit?"
Ryan smirked faintly, his confidence unshaken. "Sorcerer? That's such a limiting term. This power doesn't require outdated titles or being a monster. You'll understand soon enough, Okkotsu."
Before Yuta could press further, Ryan vanished from sight.
"Fast!" Yuta thought, his heartbeat quickening. His sharp eyes, trained by countless battles, could barely track Ryan's movement. Where would the attack come from?
A wave of cursed energy exploded from above, suffocating in its intensity. Yuta instinctively poured his immense energy into creating a protective shield, layers upon layers reinforced by Rika's power.
Boom!
The shield shattered in an instant. Yuta was hurled through the air, his body twisting as he fought to stabilize himself. The sheer force of the attack was unlike anything he'd encountered.
"This defense was designed to hold against special-grade curse spirits," Yuta muttered through gritted teeth, his thoughts racing. "But it crumbled… just like that?"
Hovering mid-air, Yuta's mind churned with disbelief. His cursed energy surged as he prepared to counter, drawing on his unique ability to mimic techniques. But as he attempted to analyze Ryan's attack, his expression twisted in frustration.
"There's… nothing to copy?" he murmured, a chill running down his spine.
Ryan appeared above him, his figure framed by the chaotic energy of the battlefield. His movements were deliberate, almost leisurely, as if he knew Yuta was powerless to match him.
"You're trying to copy me, aren't you?" Ryan said, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. "Don't bother. My techniques exist outside the bounds of cursed energy."
Yuta's fists clenched as he glared up at Ryan. "What the hell are you? How are you controlling Gojo-sensei and those spirits without some kind of external technique?"
Ryan's smirk widened slightly. "That's for me to know. But if you're so desperate to find out, you'll have to survive long enough to learn."
I can only use that...
Yuta crashed into the ground with a resounding thud, the impact forming a small crater beneath him. Dust and debris rose around his fallen form as he struggled to his feet, his breaths coming in ragged gasps.
"How…?" Yuta muttered, his voice barely audible. He wiped blood from the corner of his mouth, his hand trembling. "Even Black Flash couldn't touch him…?"
Ryan remained unscathed, standing calmly amidst the destruction. He flexed his fingers absently, as though testing the strength of his punch. "Black Flash, huh? Impressive technique. Precise, explosive… but ultimately meaningless against me."
Yuta's eyes burned with frustration as he staggered upright, gripping his katana tightly. "I've faced overwhelming odds before. I've stood against death itself and won. You're not invincible!"
Ryan raised an eyebrow, his tone turning almost pitying. "Is that so? Then show me, Yuta Okkotsu, what makes you worthy of that resolve."
Before Yuta could respond, a shadow moved beside Ryan. Gojo Satoru stepped forward, his eyes cold and devoid of their usual mirth. Controlled by Ryan's enigmatic power, Gojo radiated an aura of restrained menace.
"Gojo-sensei…" Yuta whispered, his voice shaking. He could feel the weight of Gojo's cursed energy even from a distance, a suffocating reminder of how far removed his teacher's strength was from his own.
"Attack," Ryan commanded simply.
Without hesitation, Gojo vanished, reappearing in front of Yuta in the blink of an eye. A fist, charged with cursed energy, shot toward Yuta's face.
Clang!
Rika materialized just in time, her massive claws intercepting the blow. The force sent shockwaves rippling through the air, but she held her ground.
"Rika!" Yuta shouted, his determination reigniting. "We can't hold back anymore. Give me everything!"
The cursed spirit roared in response, her energy fusing with Yuta's body. His cursed energy flared, forming an intense aura around him as he prepared to fight both his mentor and the man controlling him.
"Interesting," Ryan said, watching the scene unfold. "You're quite a strong combination of Jujutsu sorcerers and Cursed Spirits, I'll give you that. But it won't be enough."
Yuta gritted his teeth. "It doesn't matter if I can't copy your cursed techniques. I'll find another way!"
He dashed toward Ryan, Rika following close behind, their combined energy forming a tempest of raw power. Yuta struck with calculated precision, each swing of his katana aiming for a vital point. Rika's attacks complemented his, her massive claws and energy blasts forcing Ryan to move.
But Ryan moved like water—fluid, effortless, and untouchable. He dodged every attack with minimal motion, his expression one of mild amusement.
"You're tenacious, I'll give you that," Ryan said, sidestepping another strike. "But you're still fighting a battle you can't win."
Yuta's frustration boiled over. He leaped back, raising his katana as cursed energy surged into its blade. "I'll show you why they call me a special grade!"
The air around him crackled as he unleashed an enormous wave of cursed energy, a desperate all-or-nothing attack.
Ryan sighed, shaking his head. "A special grade… is only as strong as their understanding of the world they fight in."
With a flick of his wrist, Ryan summoned the first level of Susanoo began to materialize behind him. It roared to life, its monstrous form dwarfing both Yuta and Rika.
Yuta's attack collided with the spirit, resulting in a deafening explosion. When the dust cleared, the cursed spirit stood unharmed, its malevolent gaze fixed on Yuta.
"Even your strongest moves are just sparks against a wildfire," Ryan said. "Now, let's end this charade."
Ryan extended his hand, his chakra swelling to unimaginable levels. Yuta's eyes widened as he felt the crushing weight of the power bearing down on him.
But despite the odds, Yuta tightened his grip on his sword, standing his ground. "I won't give up," he said through gritted teeth. "Not until I bring Gojo-sensei back!"
Ryan's smirk faded slightly, replaced by a glimmer of respect. "Hmph. Let's see if that resolve is worth anything."
"Is this all you have, Yuta?" Ryan's voice was calm, almost mocking. "You've learned so much, and yet you still don't understand. This isn't a battle you can win."
Yuta gritted his teeth, his eyes narrowing. He couldn't let himself falter—not now, not when his sensei was under Ryan's control. "I won't stop! I can't stop until I free him!"
He lunged forward, his cursed energy flaring around him in a final, desperate assault. Rika's form surged beside him, and they combined their power into a single, devastating blow aimed straight at Ryan.
But just as the attack reached its peak, Ryan moved. It wasn't even a blur; it was simply an effortless flick of his wrist. The power Yuta had unleashed detonated into a whirlwind of energy, but Ryan stood unscathed, his expression no longer amused but cold, calculating.
"Too slow," Ryan muttered, raising his hand to his side. "Goodbye, Yuta Okkotsu."
In a single motion, Ryan unleashed a simple punch so powerful it shattered the ground beneath him. Yuta's body was thrown backward, his limbs limp, unable to resist the pull of the overwhelming force. He was helpless as the energy crashed down on him, a blinding explosion of power that sent him flying through the air.
His vision blurred as he tumbled uncontrollably, his senses overwhelmed by the pain. He barely registered the sound of his own body colliding with the earth, the world spinning in and out of focus. Blood dripped from his mouth, his hands trembling as he tried to push himself up.
"Rika…" Yuta whispered, his voice broken. "I'm sorry…"
The cursed spirit's presence flickered once more before fading completely, the bond between them stretching thin from the strain. Yuta's body, drained of cursed energy, was no longer able to sustain her.
Ryan stepped forward, his figure casting a long shadow over Yuta's fallen form. "You were strong, Yuta Okkotsu," he said, almost as if acknowledging the effort. "But there are levels to this game. And you simply don't belong on the same playing field."
Yuta's vision swam, and his limbs felt like lead. The words echoed in his mind, but the meaning didn't reach him. All he could focus on was the fact that he had failed.
He had failed to save Gojo.
"I… I couldn't…" Yuta's breath faltered, his vision going dark as he collapsed back into the dirt, too exhausted to even lift his head.
Ryan looked down at him with a cold, calculating gaze. "Don't worry. Your sacrifice won't go unnoticed. You've merely played your part in a much bigger plan."
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