Julius's POV
Congratulations.
You've achieved a Black Flash—a rare phenomenon in Jujutsu that amplifies a sorcerer's physical strike to the power 2.5 when cursed energy is applied within one-millionth of a second.
For a brief moment, you operated at 120% of your potential, gaining a deeper, more profound understanding of cursed energy and Jujutsu sorcery.
You've unlocked a new system function.
Titles:
Touched by the Sparks of Black
You now permanently operate at 5% above your potential. Cursed techniques and applications are easier to grasp, formulate, and use. Cursed energy becomes 20% easier to use.
You've reached Level 7.
+1 to all stats and 2 free points.
Class: Sorcerer – Level 7 (3rd Grade)
Titles: Touched by the Sparks of Black
Techniques: Inverse Lv 2
Health: 440/440
Cursed Energy: 450/450
Stamina: 430/430
Stats
STR: 33 AGI: 41
PER: 49 VIT: 44
END: 43 CP: 45
Skills
Cursed Inventory Lv 4
Hand-to-Hand Combat Lv 3
Cursed Energy Reinforcement Lv 4
Cursed Energy Manipulation Lv 4
Stealth Lv 2
Curtain Lv 1
Acrobatics Lv 2
Meta Ability: Enhanced Regeneration
Free Points: 4
I leaned my head back as I digested the information, fresh ideas flooding my mind.
Touched by the Sparks of Black.
It certainly explained the state of euphoria I'd been riding since... the punch.
My Cursed energy had never flowed smoother. I saw excesses where I'd been certain there were none.
I'd fixed my cursed energy manipulation and reinforcement—and reaped the level-ups.
Cursed Energy Manipulation has reached Lv 4
Cursed Energy Reinforcement has reached Lv 4
Current active boost: 85%
Passive boost: 20%
Drain: 2 CE per second
New Subskill Unlocked – Overcharge:
Temporarily increase reinforcement to specific body parts by drawing cursed energy from others, leaving them vulnerable.
Current boost: +50%
Effect: -80% global reinforcement effectiveness
Cost: 20 CE per Overcharge.
Now, my attention shifted to something more fundamental—my innate technique.
Just like Reinforcement, its limits expanded with each level-up.
A few short weeks ago, a "weak" attack was a love tap that shattered my shin. Now, it was a half-cocked kick from a drug-enhanced bruiser.
At Level 3, it could very well be a hard strike from an elite boxer.
The new insights also revealed that the technique's backlash would continue to decrease with each new point in Vitality and Endurance.
Realistically, I was only a few levels away from being untouchable by ordinary fighters.
It was the bounty hunters, superheroes, and metas I really had to worry about.
I called on Inverse even as Avery wrapped my partially healed side.
The level-up had ensured my lungs hadn't collapsed from the stab wound.
I'd kept the knife as a souvenir.
Sitting there, I found myself cycling through the fight with Zsasz, as painful as it was—analyzing what I could've done better.
The sloppy forms. The obvious telegraphs.
All the little things I could've cleaned up to end that fight faster.
Even Zsasz's feints seemed obvious in hindsight. Especially the kick.
I'd felt the air shift, just barely, before he struck. But at the time, I wasn't sure if it was just a draft or something else.
I toggled the technique on and off a few times, testing it.
It felt smoother. Fractionally easier. Like curling dumbbells recently transitioned from.
Congratulations: Inverse has reached Lv 3.
Huh. Would you look at that?
"Negative?" Avery's soft voice broke through my thoughts. I didn't respond.
"Mr. Negative," she said again, placing a hand on my shoulder. "There's somebody here for you."
I blinked, dazed.
Sally stood by the infirmary entrance.
"You look like shit," she grinned. "Smell like it too."
I just stared. "Is this about that talk?"
"Not in the mood, huh?" she replied, trailing off. "Well, you'll be glad to know you made a killing—about fifty grand, counting your winnings and your bet. You're a very wealthy teenager."
Strangely, I didn't react to the money.
The achievement felt hollow.
Avery glanced at me with visible concern.
"To answer your question—yes. This is about our talk," Sally continued.
"The boss lady wants to see you."
The blonde woman I'd spoken to when I first got here?
"Why?"
"It's not every day some teenager sweeps an entire tournament," she said with a chuckle. "Come on, she'll tell you herself."
After a quick stop at my quarters for a shower and change of clothes, I followed her to the large, tower-esque building where I'd first found myself. We were escorted by two armed men. The path cleared for us without prompt. People looked on with a mix of emotions— awe, fear, gratitude, and respect. Some even hollered at me while keeping their distance.
I screwed my face up behind my bloodied mask. The whole thing felt a bit much—undeserved, even.
Sally, ever perceptive, picked up on it. "You'll get used to the attention. One of the perks of being champion." She winked as we passed a gaggle of young girls, none of them older than twenty. Their eyes lingered. "I don't think you'll be spending tonight alone—or any other night, for that matter."
I appreciated the offer, but casual sex as a masked fighter was likely more trouble than it was worth.
"Any other benefits?" I asked.
"You'll be drinking for free all week, basically, and you'll find ridiculous discounts—hell, even free weapons if you want them."
"Sounds more my speed."
"If you love that, then you'll love the boss's pitch," she chirped.
I took her words for it.
The doors to the building opened automatically, and we retraced our steps, arriving once again at the office of the second most powerful woman in the underground city.
She was draped in an elegant but understated black dress, lounging on her wooden throne. Her office was exactly as I remembered it—stylish, worldly, and curious enough to garner instant respect. Though, it didn't feel nearly as intense as before.
Funny what a few levels and a death do to you.
"Success looks good on you," she said in a silky voice. "You certainly surpassed my expectations. Though, I miss that eagerness that used to pour out of you."
I shrugged as I settled into a chair. "Occupational hazard."
Sally hung back, watching with naked excitement.
The Blonde Woman's lips quirked up. "I suppose you could say so. I particularly enjoyed your fight with Zsasz. Even the brutal finish."
"I didn't," I said honestly.
Her expression softened slightly. "It was a hard but necessary lesson I've had to learn a few times myself. It was kill or be killed. Your actions were justified."
One hand dipped beneath her table, and she produced a small leather bag and slid it across to me.
"Your winnings, personally delivered. Sally even chipped in ten grand extra. You made her a killing."
I unzipped the duffel. Stacks of green stared back. It was more money than I'd ever seen in my entire life. Sixty thousand. One week of hustle got me this much cheddar?
"Looks like the money high's finally hitting," Sally laughed.
"You didn't just call me in here to hand me something Sally could've done herself," I said, reluctantly tearing my eyes away from the money. "You run a massive network. I know how valuable your time is."
She dipped her head slightly in approval. "Astute observation." She leaned forward. "I'll be frank with you, Julius Spencer. I've looked into your case, and you will not survive if you leave Ivy's domain. Your bounty is now fifty grand, and you've officially been named a person of interest in the rooftop murders from a week ago. If you manage to dodge Black Mask and the police by some miracle… Batman will find you."
"You want me to stay down here and keep fighting," I stated.
"Not exactly," the blonde woman replied. "Zsasz might've been crazy, but he wasn't wrong about your potential. You went from struggling against an aging martial artist to popping heads in less than a week."
"That was more of a one-time thing," I replied offhandedly.
"My point still stands," she said. "You're an exceptional Meta, and your abilities are rapidly developing. We'd like to help you reach that potential—arm you with the tools you need for what you're most desperate for. Revenge."
I swallowed.
She let her words hang in the air for a moment before continuing. "All we ask is that you return the favor."
It sounded suspiciously close to a shadowy cabal… or a villain league. I honestly didn't know which was worse.
"I didn't think Ivy's kingdom was so… reciprocal."
"The League goes beyond that," Sally said with bubbly excitement, which was immediately snuffed out by a sharp look.
"The League?"
"Something we call ourselves," the blonde woman said, rising from her seat and settling on the edge of her desk, looking down. "An invisible family of rogues and mercenaries that span the globe. It's why this city still stands. Why we thrive in the shadows. And why you've never heard of us."
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