Chapter 40: The Limitless Cursed Technique
Why did the blade stop right in front of Gojo Satoru? To analyze his ability and figure out a way to break through, Emiya had to thoroughly understand this question.
Is it a Cursed Technique similar to the previous "Inversion"? No. Even if the outward manifestation is similar, the essence of the two is fundamentally different.
Emiya could feel that he had definitely exerted his power correctly this time, but the blade, which appeared to have reached its target, ran out of force before it could even touch Gojo's body. In other words, it was as if its energy was drained in an instant.
The blade suddenly stopped without any transition, suspended just before Gojo's chest. This sight seemed to completely violate the laws of physics.
BOOM!!!
The Bakuya sword in Emiya's hand was suddenly flung away by an abrupt, massive force. After spinning rapidly, it embedded itself violently into a distant tree trunk.
As a precaution in combat, Emiya immediately distanced himself from the opponent, but he still couldn't determine the nature of this Cursed Technique. It's completely unlike a repulsion force; what exactly is this?
"Do you remember, Emiya-kun? My Cursed Technique is called Limitless ('Mugen').
Simply put, it's the Achilles Paradox.
No matter how fast Achilles runs, how much time he spends, or how close he gets to the turtle running in front of him, he will never be able to truly catch up or surpass it.
By bringing that paradox's converging infinite series into reality, I make things infinitely close to me but genuinely incapable of reaching me... 'Infinity', that is my technique."
Gojo revealed the Cursed Technique and its principle to Emiya without reservation.
In layman's terms, this is like the arithmetic problem of 7 divided by 3, which can extend infinitely but can never be fully divided. Even without having studied this specific paradox, Emiya could roughly grasp the concept.
However, the ability to prevent everything in the outside world from approaching him just by willing it—that's going too far, isn't it?
Compared to a technique like "Inversion" which cheats concepts, the Limitless Cursed Technique is more like a genuine conceptual ability. It completely transcends the scope of a typical Cursed Technique, resembling an absolute superpower that ignores rules and logic.
As he pondered the method to counter it, a new question popped into Emiya's mind.
"Is it alright to tell me the secret of your Cursed Technique like this?" Heroic Spirits hide their True Names during the Holy Grail War precisely because clear intelligence can completely dictate the outcome of a battle.
"It's fine. Because in the Jujutsu world, there's a concept that—
By placing a certain Restriction upon oneself or one's Cursed Technique, you can gain a specific enhancement or effect.
Cursed Technique Disclosure is one such method. By revealing information—a method that is extremely disadvantageous to oneself—you restrictively increase the effectiveness of your own Cursed Technique. Many Sorcerers use this tactic in combat.
However, if the Cursed Technique is special, like the one possessed by the Curse User you met last time, the disadvantage caused by disclosure may be greater than the advantage gained from information transparency, so that's a different story." It was clear that Gojo was earnestly helping Emiya to elaborate and understand this knowledge.
On this point, Magecraft and Jujutsu once again diverge to different extremes.
Magecraft emphasizes Mystery; the fewer people who know about it, the stronger the spell's power becomes. In Jujutsu, however, information can be a bargaining chip whose utility can be exchanged for through disclosure. It's debatable which of the two approaches is stronger.
But—
Revealing the details of his ability to Emiya, who can reproduce all manner of Noble Phantasms, is definitely a fundamentally wrong choice.
"Gojo-san, if we're speaking strictly on a physical level, I can only break through your 'Infinity' by relying on continuous consumption or by an absolutely immense energy output. Is that correct?" Since they weren't true mortal enemies, Emiya asked directly.
Faced with this question, Gojo nodded naturally. "That's right. After all, my Cursed Technique also requires Cursed Energy to maintain.
However, I achieved the ability to keep the technique permanently active over ten years ago, completely isolating myself from all external threats.
As for breaking through 'Infinity' with an immense output...?" Gojo didn't seem to have anticipated Emiya asking such a question.
He pondered for a moment before giving a rather imprecise answer. "If you wanted to break through 'Infinity,' you'd have to unleash power close to its own level... how about a planetary explosion?"
Gojo has genuinely never encountered a situation where the stopping force of 'Infinity' was overcome purely by power. Even his Cursed Energy has its limits, but Infinity is Infinity. At least, it is while the Cursed Technique is activated.
Emiya finally realized that against this level of defense, even the Nine Lives Blade Works would likely not be very effective.
Simply put, it's a matter of compatibility.
Even a true Heroic Spirit, fighting Gojo, would likely be unable to penetrate this nearly perfect defense without a corresponding special Noble Phantasm. Trying to extinguish a fire with kindling is inherently a flawed idea, so how could it succeed?
Fortunately, what Emiya lacks least is 'technique' when facing a problem.
"Gojo-san, if 'Infinity' can defend against physical attacks, what about those of a spatial nature, or even causal nature?" Emiya knows of quite a few Noble Phantasms related to these two factors.
"Spatial? I've met that kind of enemy before, but breaking through 'Infinity' would only be the first step to possibly injuring me.
A child can't injure an adult, even if they're holding a knife, you know." As the ancestral technique of the Gojo clan, the Limitless Cursed Technique is certainly powerful, but it doesn't account for everything.
The Strongest is the Strongest not just because of one Cursed Technique, but because he is Gojo Satoru. With superior speed and overwhelming power, wouldn't Gojo be able to easily neutralize such enemies?
"But, causal nature... what kind are you referring to? The legendary divine artifacts that can even reverse cause and effect in mythology—can you make those a reality too?" Gojo's tone was filled with excitement and anticipation, but absolutely no trace of fear.
"Yes, it's possible, but the power of such Noble Phantasms is usually quite fatal." Emiya attempted to caution him.
"It's fine! I also possess the Reverse Cursed Technique... ah, that's the skill where I multiply negative Cursed Energy into positive energy to regenerate my body.
So let's start Round Two now. Don't be stingy with your Projection Magecraft!
Or... do I need to apply a little more pressure first?"
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