š HEAR YE, HEAR YE, BRAVE SOULS! šāØ
š„ Let the drums of destiny roar as we welcome our newest LEGENDARY adventurersā¦ āļø Buddyschlym! āļø and āļø Moran! āļøšā”ļø Our journey just leveled UP with their arrival!
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A few months had passed since Liam finalized his deal with the Zenin Clan.
As promised, they delivered Maki and Mai Zenin to him, and in return, he transferred a staggering 300 million yen to their coffers.
While Gojo had been skeptical about the arrangement, Liam had assured him that it was a calculated investment, not just in the sisters but in their untapped potential.
"Maki and Mai, as twins, are seen as a single entity by cursed energy," he began, his tone casual yet deliberate.
Gojo raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "Yeah, I know that already. Tell me something new."
Liam smirked but didn't miss a beat. "Because they share the same origin, neither of them can fully access their individual strengths."
Gojo tilted his head, intrigued despite himself. "Go on."
"Maki has the potential to achieve a state similar to Toji Zenināa complete Heavenly Restriction," Liam continued. "She has the same innate talent, but she's held back by the connection to Mai. On the other hand, Mai's 'Construction' technique is rare and highly versatile. She can create cursed tools with unique properties, just like Toji's Inverted Spear of Heaven."
Gojo leaned back in his chair, his blindfold pushed up, revealing sharp blue eyes that studied Liam. "And you think you can do what? Split them? Make them separate entities in the eyes of cursed energy? That's practically impossible."
"Practically impossible isn't the same as impossible, Satoru," Liam countered, his confidence evident. He crossed his arms and leaned against the desk, the faintest hint of a grin tugging at his lips. "I've been working on theoriesāmethods to sever their shared life source and make them independent for cursed energy. If I succeed, both of them will achieve their full potential. They'd be unstoppable."
Gojo chuckled, though there was a cautious edge to it. "You're playing a dangerous game, Liam. Messing with life sources isn't like tweaking a cursed tool. One wrong move, andā"
"One wrong move, and I know the stakes," Liam cut in, his tone suddenly serious. The grin vanished as he locked eyes with Gojo. "But think of the rewards. Maki could surpass Toji, and Mai could become a master craftsman of cursed tools. Together, they'd be a force even the Zenin Clan would regret giving up."
Gojo's expression shifted. The skepticism was still there, but now it mingled with genuine curiosity. He tapped a finger on the desk, considering Liam's words.
"You're ambitious, I'll give you that," Gojo said finally. "But ambition alone won't save them if this backfires. You're talking about severing something fundamental. How exactly do you plan to do that?"
Liam straightened, his confidence returning in full force. "That's the beauty of it, Satoru. It's not about severingāit's about rebalancing. I'm not tearing them apart; I'm realigning their cursed energy flow, so they function as two distinct individuals instead of one shared entity."
"And if you fail?" Gojo pressed, his tone sharper now.
Liam hesitated for the first time, but only briefly. "If I fail, then the consequences are mine to bear. I won't risk anyone else."
Gojo studied him for a long moment before a sly grin spread across his face. "You've got guts, I'll give you that. But don't expect me to clean up the mess if this goes sideways."
"I wouldn't dream of it," Liam replied, his smirk matching Gojo's.
The tension lingered in the air, but so did the unspoken agreement: Liam's gamble was risky, but the potential rewards were enough to make even someone like Gojo curious.
In the months that followed, Maki and Mai had found themselves adjusting to their new lives. At first, they were angry and resentful. Being sold off by their father and clan had been a bitter pill to swallow. They had felt like commodities, discarded and unwanted.
But Liam had been different.
Unlike the rest of their family, he hadn't treated them as failures or burdens. He had seen their potential and made it his mission to bring it out.
Maki had been the first to warm up to him. She respected strength, and Liam had demonstrated time and again that he wasn't just talking. He trained with her personally, pushing her to her limits and beyond.
His methods were unconventionalāmixing brutal physical training with detailed lessons on strategy and tacticsābut they worked.
Under his guidance, Maki felt herself growing stronger every day. For the first time, she began to believe in her ability to stand on equal footing with the strongest sorcerers.
Mai, on the other hand, had been slower to trust him. She had always been more cynical, more guarded. But Liam's persistenceāand his belief in her abilitiesāeventually won her over. He didn't just see her as Maki's weaker twin. He recognized the value of her 'Construction' technique and encouraged her to experiment and push its boundaries.Ā
He knew it was not easy considering her amount of cursed energy so he told her to go slower.
The sisters weren't the only ones who had noticed Liam's impact.
The women and girls in his life seemed to gravitate toward him, drawn by his charisma and reliability. He had a reputation for being a bit of a womanizer and a relentless teaser, but it was clear that he cared deeply for those around him.
He had an uncanny ability to make people feel valued and supported, and that earned him their loyalty.
For Maki and Mai, Liam became more than just a benefactor or a mentor. He became family. He treated them with respect and never judged them for their shortcomings.
Instead, he focused on their strengths and worked tirelessly to help them grow. For the first time in their lives, the Zenin sisters felt like they belonged.
One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple, Liam called the sisters to the training grounds.
Maki arrived first, her wooden practice spear slung over her shoulder, her expression curious but alert. Mai followed a few steps behind, her hands in her pockets and her usual guarded look on her face.
Liam stood in the center of the clearing, his coat billowing slightly in the evening breeze. He was holding a small box, his expression uncharacteristically serious.
"I've been working on something for you two," He began, gesturing for them to come closer. "It's not a perfect solution yet, but it's a start."
Maki and Mai exchanged a glance before stepping forward.
Liam opened the box to reveal two small, intricately carved pendants. Each one was shaped like a yin-yang symbol, with delicate runes etched along the edges.
"These are experimental," Liam explained. "They're designed to temporarily mask your shared origin in the eyes of cursed energy. It's not a permanent fix, but it should give you a taste of what it feels like to fight without being held back by the other."
Maki reached for one of the pendants, her fingers brushing against the cool metal.
"How does it work?" She asked, her tone cautious but intrigued.
Liam smirked. "You'll have to find out in training. But don't get too excitedāit's still in the testing phase, so there might be some... glitches."
Mai snorted. "Glitches? Great. Just what we need."
"Relax," Liam said, grinning. "I wouldn't give you something dangerous. Probably."
Despite her sarcasm, Mai picked up the other pendant, turning it over in her hands. "And what if it doesn't work?"
Liam's grin softened into a reassuring smile. "Then we keep trying. I'm not giving up on you two. Not now, not ever."
Maki slipped the pendant over her head, her determination shining through her usual stoicism. "Let's do this."
Mai followed suit, her expression a mix of skepticism and reluctant hope. "Yeah, let's see what you've got, genius."
Liam stepped back, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "All right, then. Show me what you're made of."
--- ā¦ ā¦ ā¦ ---
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