Time passed in the blink of an eye.
Exactly three days had passed since Yuta Okkotsu entered Jujutsu High.
For Yuta Okkotsu, these three days felt like living through the eighteen levels of hell.
Every morning before dawn, he would be ruthlessly kicked out of bed by Yoru to begin grueling weighted rucks and physical conditioning that drained him of all strength.
During the day, Maki, Toge, and Panda took turns putting him through unreserved practical combat training, where he was essentially treated like a human punching bag.
By evening, he had to face Yoru—a god-like, invincible opponent whose absolute suppression precisely crushed his defenses and confidence every single time.
In just three short days.
Not a single patch of healthy skin remained on Yuta Okkotsu's body; he was covered in purple bruises and red welts left by wooden swords.
But surprisingly.
This boy, who used to cry at the drop of a hat and was so cowardly he didn't dare speak loudly, actually gritted his teeth and endured it!
What was even more terrifying.
Through being knocked down and standing back up time and time again.
The fear and confusion of the weak were fading from Yuta Okkotsu's eyes at a pace visible to the naked eye.
It was replaced by a heart-chilling ferocity and a nearly greedy thirst for power!
On the mountain behind Jujutsu High, in front of a secluded waterfall.
"Whew... Whew..."
Yuta Okkotsu held his wooden sword with both hands, gasping for breath as sweat poured down his scarred cheeks.
Opposite him, Yoru remained as composed as ever, holding that familiar tree branch.
"Not bad."
Looking at the battered but increasingly determined boy, Yoru's eyes flickered with a faint, imperceptible sense of approval.
"Your eyes finally look like they belong to a warrior."
"Since you've survived the basic phase of physical tempering."
"Starting today, I will teach you a method that truly allows you to transcend common logic and unleash miraculous power."
Hearing Yoru's words, Yuta Okkotsu snapped his head up, his eyes erupting with intensity.
"Miraculous... power?"
Yoru nodded and casually stuck the branch into the ground.
"Watch closely, Yuta."
"Feel my breathing, feel the rhythm of my muscles, feel the flow of my blood."
As soon as he spoke, Yoru took a deep breath.
"Ssssss—"
A unique, long, and rhythmic sound of breathing echoed clearly before the waterfall.
With that breath.
Yuta Okkotsu watched in shock as Yoru's originally slender frame seemed to expand by an entire size in an instant!
A visible current of scorching air rose from Yoru's body, causing the surrounding air to distort violently due to the high temperature!
"Total Concentration Breathing."
Yoru's low, oppressive voice thundered in Yuta Okkotsu's ears.
"By using a specific breathing frequency to force a massive amount of oxygen into your blood, you can instantly and drastically boost your cardiopulmonary function and physical vitality."
"This is the secret that allows me to slay Special Grade Cursed Spirits with a body devoid of cursed energy."
Total Concentration Breathing?!
Yuta Okkotsu stared fixedly at Yoru, his mind racing at a frantic pace.
His vision, his perception, and all of his attention were concentrated on Yoru's breathing rhythm and muscle movement!
At that moment, a miracle occurred!
The massive and violent Special Grade cursed energy within Yuta seemed to sense its host's intense longing.
A profound and mysterious ripple quietly spread from the depths of his soul.
It was the core ability belonging to the Special Grade Vengeful Cursed Spirit Rika Orimoto, and the ultimate 'cheat' of the genius second only to Satoru Gojo—
[MIMICRY]!
Under Yoru's near-direct demonstration.
Yuta Okkotsu's subconscious had unknowingly and passively triggered this heaven-defying technique!
"Inhale... Exhale..."
Yuta Okkotsu closed his eyes and began trying to mimic Yoru's breathing frequency.
At first, his breathing was rough and disorganized; his lungs even felt a sharp pain from the excess oxygen.
But gradually.
As Mimicry constantly corrected and fine-tuned his attempts.
Yuta Okkotsu's breathing rhythm actually began to slowly align with Yoru's Total Concentration Breathing!
"Hmm?"
Standing opposite him, Yoru immediately noticed the change in Yuta Okkotsu.
He activated his Transparent World and was surprised to find that the blood flow and muscle contractions in Yuta's body already replicated seventy to eighty percent of his own basic breathing technique!
'Is this the mimicry brought by Rika?'
'What a terrifying talent...'
Yoru marveled inwardly.
Although Yuta Okkotsu couldn't use Total Concentration Breathing exactly like he did due to the power system conflict, and certainly couldn't awaken a Slayer Mark or the Transparent World.
He had actually managed to perfectly combine the principles of the breathing technique with his own cursed energy flow!
This was equivalent to adding a massive turbocharger to his already enormous cursed energy output!
"Shing!"
Yuta Okkotsu snapped his eyes open.
He gripped his wooden sword, feeling an unprecedented, volcanic surge of power within him.
"Instructor Yoru!"
"I think... I've caught the feeling of it!"
A satisfied smile curled on Yoru's lips as he stepped back half a pace, clearing the area.
"Since you've got the feel for it, let's test it in actual combat."
"Maki!"
Yoru called out to the nearby woods.
"He's all yours."
Maki Zenin, who had been waiting impatiently, leapt out from the trees carrying her long-handled naginata with an excited expression.
"Heh! Newbie, looks like you've learned something impressive!"
"Let me see if you've actually made any progress over these past few days!"
Before her voice even faded, Maki had already become a blur, swinging her naginata down toward Yuta's head!
Facing this heavy and incredibly fast strike.
Three days ago, Yuta Okkotsu would have definitely closed his eyes in fear and relied on Rika's instinctive protection to take the hit.
But now.
"Hah—"
Yuta Okkotsu took a deep breath, pushing his newly realized breathing technique to the limit!
With the boost from the breathing, his cursed energy flow speed instantly doubled!
"Clang!"
Yuta snapped his wooden sword up, not only steadily blocking Maki's naginata.
But using the instantaneous explosive power from the breathing, he even forced Maki back half a step!
"What?!"
Maki's pupils shrank in disbelief.
How could this guy's strength and speed have improved so much in just a few minutes?!
Before Maki could even steady herself.
Yuta Okkotsu had already launched a counterattack!
He poured his massive cursed energy into the wooden sword, combining it with the terrifying explosive power of his breathing.
"Haaaaaaaaa!!!"
With a roar, his wooden sword became a black flash of lightning, slashing toward Maki with unstoppable momentum!
"CRACK!!!"
A crisp snapping sound echoed through the air.
Maki's specially reinforced naginata was actually snapped clean in two by Yuta's full-force blow!
The broken blade spun through the air and embedded itself deep into the soil.
Total silence.
Yuta Okkotsu held his posture, gasping heavily as he looked at the wooden sword in his hands with a dazed expression.
He had actually... pushed back Maki?!
Looking at the broken handle in her hand, Maki wasn't angry; instead, she broke into a wide, fervent grin.
"Good job, kid!"
"Now you're finally showing some spirit!"
In the shadows, Yoru watched the miracle and nodded in satisfaction.
The fangs of the God of Pure Love were finally beginning to show.
However, this was still far from enough.
"His growth rate is indeed staggering."
"But he hasn't yet faced a truly despair-inducing life-or-death crisis."
Yoru looked up at the dark clouds gathering on the distant horizon.
"If I've timed it right, the Special Grade Cursed Spirit incident at that elementary school should be about to break out."
"Yuta..."
"Your first off-campus life-or-death trial is coming."
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