The True Realm. A concept that exists which describes a phenomenon where the bearer of an enchanted blade such as Cloud Gouger synchronizes their thoughts, instincts, and desires with the blade, prompting it to adapt and enhance its powers according to the bearer's needs.
This allows them to create extension techniques that alter the original abilities of the blade in various ways.
Han had tapped into the realm while training a few years ago and achieved the ability to cloak himself with Mei instead of just shooting it out as a lightning bolt.
Since then, he could never tap into that power again due to a lack of real stimulus.
But now…
As the poison invaded Han's body, he gripped his blade with all his remaining might and then some. Staring at the snake regenerating in front of him, Han stood up, his teeth clenched and the grip around his blade tightening to the point where the skin on his palms tore from the pressure.
There was only one thought circulating in Han's mind right now.
'I have to win! No matter the cost, I have to win!'
This desire was rooted within his body, his heart, his soul, his entire being. Even if he died right now, he would be content if he destroyed the enemy in front of him. Just for the sake of his pride.
A completely selfish mindset that didn't even consider the damage this creature would cause to other sorcerers or innocents if it managed to escape.
If Han could hear someone describing the selfishness of his thoughts right now, his only answer would be 'So what?'.
This was his battle, his life and his enemy to kill. In his mind, this was his hurdle to overcome. His and his alone.
Feeling this intense desire pulsing through its owner, Cloud Gouger responded in kind with equal pressure.
The blade synchronized even more with Han, making their connection deeper to the point where it would respond to even his thoughts.
Knowing that he had a certain preference for Yui, its ice ability, Cloud Gorger vibrated and released several black cloud dragons around the blade and Han's body.
Out of the mouths of these spiritual creatures came a terrifyingly cold mist, that even drew the heat out of the surrounding air itself.
Although it lacked cursed energy to keep generating more power, Cloud Gouger instead started to draw from Han's life force, causing its power to turn dark.
Han could feel the blade's transformation and it's incredible intent to fight. The blade itself became ice under these conditions, taking Yui to new heights.
WHOOSH!!
The snake didn't waste anymore time as it attacked with a beam of poison out of its mouth. hoping to take Han down before any more unexpected transformations happened.
With a swift vertical slash, Han sent forward a large icy sword wave that froze the poison and bisected the head of the snake with ease.
Screaming in pain, the snake tried to regenerate, only to find that its body was being eroded from the ice holding onto its body. Regeneration was much harder in this state.
Cloud Gouger had evolved to the point where it didn't give Han a new ability, but changed the functionality of Yui as a whole. It had pushed this ability into a different level of power entirely.
Ripping the fangs of the serpent out of his leg and torso, Han's feet buckled as poisoned blood poured out his wounds. But, he kept his eyes on the enemy in front of him.
WHOOSH!
With another slash, Han sent out several cloud dragons formed out of cursed energy to restrain the snake, their ice cold teeth rupturing its scales with ease.
'It's like I'm in another world. Cloud Gouger, how much farther can you take me, friend…no, brother?'
Sheathing the blade, Han looked at the snake struggling in front of him, a small smile upon his face.
Unable to speak from the poison coursing through his veins, he simply thought, 'My greatest enemy up until this point, rest. I will not forget the lessons you taught me for the rest of my days.'
By slightly unsheathing his blade, Han caused several house sized black ice spears to crystallize out of nothing around the snake, piercing it with immense power, freezing and eroding the life out of the cursed beast immediately.
Seeing the death of the spirit, all signs of life left Han's body as he fell backwards completely unconscious, his body using the rest of its power to retain Cloud Gouger in his grip.
Whoooshhh…..
A soft white dragon cloud formed behind Han's body as he fell, breaking his fall and preventing further injuries from occurring.
As he took care of his weapon, his weapon took care of him.
Today, a beautiful relationship was formed between Man and Blade.
Unbeknownst to the boy in peril though, a certain person was watching him from the sky above, taking great interest in his battle.
It was none other than the strongest sorcerer, Satoru Gojo.
Staring at Han and Cloud Gouger intensely, Gojo thought to himself, 'I've never seen a cursed technique manifest itself like this. Even the blade is like several cursed techniques within a cursed technique. And to evolve like that mid-battle, the new generation is incredible.'
With a flash, Gojo appeared on the destroyed street below and picked Han up in both arms, seemingly unafraid of the snake's poison.
"I have to get you to Shoko quickly though. All this talent might be wasted if I let you die here."
With several steps through the sky, Gojo arrived at a makeshift facility within a building that housed a woman with tired eyes and a white doctors coat.
"Hm? Who's that, Satoru?"
Laying him on a bed before her, Gojo replied with a smile, "A Ze'nin boy. Well, let's just call him a new talent that I've scouted. With kids like him and Yuta here…well, let's say I don't have to worry much about our future. That's why you have to hurry up and treat him before he dies, Shoko-San.~"
Jumping out of her stupor, Shoko immediately laid hands on Han and employed her healing power, known as Reverse Cursed Technique. It was just cursed energy which was negative at base, reversed into positive energy. While it sounded simple in theory, it was borderline impossible for 99.9% of sorcerers in practice.
In this area, this woman known as Shoko was a genius.
WHOOSH!
In a flash, Gojo disappeared once again, leaving the two there.
'Hurrying off so quickly…he must be heading to Geto-kun. Sigh…'
Focusing on the task before her, Shoko employed her full abilities to heal Han, completely engrossed in saving his life. Unbeknownst to her though, as she poured her RCT into his body, Cloud Gouger absorbed some of it, the blade trying its best to retain this new energy coursing through it…
[One week later]
A shirtless figure could be seen swinging his sword in a dilapidated courtyard, the bandages on his hands bloody from the strength of his grip.
Of course, this figure was Han. He had just woken up from a short period of unconsciousness as he was being healed by Ms.Shoko.
His body was incredibly lean, making it look like he was forged and chiseled by the greatest Greek sculptors of ancient times.
Under his left eye, there was something that wasn't prevalent among normal humans…a 'Y' shaped crack of sorts.
An actual crack that was formed by the overwhelming poison of the serpent. The poison was so powerful that it deformed the natural make-up of his body, leaving a permanent scar.
Even though it was dead, the vile creature made sure to leave it's mark.
Spinning the blade around and sticking it in the ground, Han ran his hands through his hair, looking up into the sky as he did so.
"Man, these elders sure are a handful huh? Even after all I did, they're still debating on whether or not I should be truly accepted in the clan. Does one's birth really mean that much in the face of power?"
Just as Han mentioned, at this moment in the main conference hall of the Ze'nin Clan, several high ranking figures could be seen sitting comfortably, all of them looking at the man sitting at the head of the room; Naobito Ze'nin, the head of the clan.
"Sigh…"
Playing with cup of sake in his hands, Naobito glanced to his right and said, "Jinichi, why don't ya' just accept the kid as your own. Recognize him. Properly welcome him into the clan. Induct him into the Kukuru Unit to see how he does."
Jinichi Ze'nin, the father of Han and a man that looked like a wild beast, folded his arms in deliberation as he glanced at Naobito.
"You want me to accept an illegitimate son into the higher echelons of the clan? Put him into the same unit that tried to kill him in Shinjuku? Naobito! Are you-"
CRASH!
Smashing the bowl of sake against the wall behind Jinichi, Naobito calmly replied, "Nephew, don't forget your station. Look. Let me put this plainly. Above everything else, the Ze'nin clan values power. The kid landed four black flashes consecutively. He killed over two hundred grade four, grade three and grade two cursed spirits. Killed a grade one, and a damned special grade. All while never being taught any jujutsu from the clan. Also, let's not forget, he even foiled your ridiculous ambush."
Hearing Han's accolades, Jinichi's brow furrowed. Of course, he had heard these things before, but still, he refused to believe them. It made no sense for an untrained brat to be that powerful.
But, even Satoru Gojo and Mei Mei confirmed these things. There was no reason for the monster and that greedy witch to lie.
Taking a deep breath, Jinichi responded, "I apologize for my outburst, Clan head. I understand where you're coming from. And you're right, I need to remember that everything in the Ze'nin is decided by strength. So, please grant me this one request."
Raising an eyebrow and drinking another gulp of sake from another bowl a servant had brought in to him, Naobito muttered, "Go ahead."
Jinichi turned his eyes away from Naobito and turned them to Ogi Ze'nin, another elder of the clan.
"Elder Ogi is a powerful swordsman. Probably the most powerful swordsman in the clan. From the reports, I've heard that the kid is an accomplished swordsman himself. Let the kid fight against Elder Ogi. If he wins, forget the Kukuru Unit, he would be strong enough to join us among the ranks of the Hei. If he loses, then, expel him. Or if Elder Ogi kills him, so be it. This is how my illegitimate son will gain his legitimacy."
Elder Ogi scoffed at this. Why must he entertain Jinichi's whims when he had no reason to? After all, he had his own problem children to deal with.
"Jinichi, I refu-"
BANG!
Slamming his sake bowl down, Naobito laughed loudly, covering his eyes with his hands as he did so.
"I'll allow it! This is how things in the Ze'nin should be decided! Servants! Go get Han Ze'nin from his courtyard! Tell him, it's time for him prove his strength! Tell him…it's time for him to show us what he can really do!"