Only his mobility could barely give him an advantage, but in the face of Dragon God Mahito, even that advantage in mobility was lost.
It could be said that for the first time since his birth, his Limitless was truly and thoroughly broken, suppressed in every aspect without leaving a single opening.
"I need a more convenient way to use it," Gojo Satoru said slowly as he pondered. "Overall, my combat system has already taken shape. Even if I try to change it now, it's too late. I can only look for solutions in the details.
"First, I thought of Cursed Tools. If I could have a Cursed Tool on par with mirokuji kirigiri, I at least wouldn't be at a disadvantage on the offensive end. I must at least break through his invincible defense and his ability to withstand the slashes of mirokuji kirigiri. Approaching Mahito empty-handed is still too difficult; I need to at least use a Cursed Tool to extend my attack range so I can use Black Flash.
"My physical performance needs to keep up as well. Mahito's Hollow Technique, Soul Creation Dragon Spirit Body, is something I should learn from. I've already seen through how he uses it, and I might be able to replicate it.
"After obtaining a Cursed Tool, I'll need to master its usage. I might have to relearn the use of weapons from scratch, with the mindset of an apprentice, just as you said.
"My Domain Expansion needs to be corrected as well.
"The information redundancy of Unlimited Void cannot defeat Mahito. It must have real offensive power. I'll have to figure this part out myself, and I already have some ideas.
"Finally, Tengen, I want to study you."
"Study me?"
"You are currently sliding toward becoming a 'God.' I need to study 'God.'" Gojo Satoru stared at Tengen, his Six Eyes swirling with a clarity that saw through everything.
"Before this, you didn't have the slightest interest in 'God.'"
"I still have no interest in God," Gojo Satoru said indifferently. "But that guy Mahito is already ahead of me. I can guarantee that his Soul Creation Dragon Spirit Body is already a true God, at least in terms of information processing. Otherwise, he couldn't have adapted to my Unlimited Void. To defeat him, I must at least clearly understand what a God can do and what their limitations are."
Tengen praised, "You've summarized it very well.
"Almost everything exposed by the King of Curses in this battle exists for your sake. His weapons, his Limitless Cursed Technique, and his Domain Expansion are all like this. If you don't change the combat style, you're familiar with, you will undoubtedly be defeated the next time he attacks you.
"You need new things to enrich yourself.
"Using weapons is a good way to change. Perhaps you can glimpse a better path from it."
"I thought you'd say I was 'losing my ambition by playing with toys' for using weapons," Gojo joked.
"In the past, I certainly would have," Tengen said frankly. "I am also a traditional Jujutsu Sorcerer, and I would look down on a Jujutsu Sorcerer who uses weapons from the bottom of my heart, believing they would lower the purity of their Cursed Technique. A Jujutsu Sorcerer who trusts in external objects rather than their own Cursed Technique is destined not to go far—this has been proven countless times in history."
"But now...?"
"The Lord of the Cursed Spirits changed my mind," Tengen sighed. "The way his Cursed Energy intertwined with mirokuji kirigiri without any hesitation, even using a Fusion Black Flash unprecedented in the Jujutsu World, has greatly changed my view. It made me realize how narrow-minded I was before.
"To some extent, Ashiya Magon's ideal has already been realized.
"From now on, no one will look down on swordsmen, and there will be no more Sorcerers who despise blades. If a Sorcerer neglects their Cursed Technique because of swordsmanship, it can only be lamented as the Sorcerer's own problem rather than a problem with swordsmanship. One can only blame that Sorcerer for not being talented enough and failing to balance both."
Gojo Satoru nodded in agreement with this thought.
"As for God," Tengen explained while thinking, "a so-called God is not omnipotent as you expect. A God's strongest aspect is omniscience, which is the information processing ability you mentioned. A God's information processing far exceeds human imagination. I currently need assistants to manage the great barrier, but if I were to become a God, I alone could manipulate the great Japanese barrier at will.
"God is a higher form of life than humans, with information processing capabilities far beyond ordinary imagination.
"Your Unlimited Void is not only ineffective against a God, it would even accelerate a God's evolution, because a God can endlessly absorb any information and process it with precision.
"If you truly perceive that Mahito's Soul Creation Dragon Spirit Body has thinking performance equivalent to a God, then you must never use Unlimited Void on Mahito again.
"A God will only grow stronger because of your Unlimited Void and will never be harmed by it."
This was the first time Gojo Satoru had heard Tengen mention the topic of God. God is too far from humanity, and Tengen has refused to become a God time and again, so the topic of God barely exists in the Jujutsu World.
Gojo Satoru frowned and said, "I heard that my family's Six Eyes were created by you? Because whenever you need a Star Plasma Vessel, the Six Eyes always appear in the Gojo Family without exception."
The relationship between Tengen and the Six Eyes has always been ambiguous. Gojo Satoru knew about this but never cared. However, hearing Tengen's explanation of God now, he became suspicious. Especially the fact that Unlimited Void is ineffective against God and would become nourishment gave Gojo Satoru bad associations.
It's almost as if the Limitless exists solely to accelerate the birth of a God. Combined with the secret relationship between Tengen and the Six Eyes... Wait, is this treating the Gojo Family as food?!
Tengen did not hide it and said frankly, "The Six Eyes are the aspect of God that I discarded. I used a Binding Vow to ensure the Six Eyes would not skip a generation. You are the current Six Eyes holder.
"Gojo Satoru, the Six Eyes are the Eye of God. You are the current Living God, the real deal."
The "Six" in Six Eyes carries the principles of God and Buddha. Its meaning lies in the "Six Thoughts," "Six Dusts," and "Six Consciousnesses." The phrase "Purification of the Six Senses" that is passed around today includes these.
It is not six kinds of abilities, but sacred Buddhist principles.
The so-called Six Eyes are the Eye of God and Buddha, which is to say, the Eye of God!
Gojo Satoru touched his own eyes and mocked himself, "No wonder the Six Eyes are so special, and no wonder they're called the 'Six Eyes.'"
Gojo Satoru had always thought the name Six Eyes was just a metaphor. He didn't expect it to be so literal! No wonder there's such a massive gap between those who possess the Six Eyes and those who don't, because a Six Eyes holder is a genuine demigod!
"You actually gave up the Six Eyes and chose to hand them over to a mortal?" Gojo Satoru's voice became strange.
"I cannot become a God," Tengen said indifferently. "The Six Eyes are poison to me, not power. Besides, aren't you protecting me very well right now? I am very much at ease."
"Has there never been a Gojo with ill intentions?"
"Precisely because of ill intentions, they must never let me become a God," Tengen said meaningfully.
As expected, the Limitless was specially designed! If any Six Eyes holder wanted to rebel, they absolutely could not let Tengen become a God, because the first thing Tengen would do upon becoming a God would be to consume the holder of the Six Eyes and Limitless! Therefore, whether it was out of righteousness or ill intent, a Six Eyes holder would sincerely protect Tengen and resolutely prevent her from becoming a God.
This is the true manipulation of fate by a master, something mere precognition can't even compare to.
No wonder Tengen knew of the Star Plasma Cult's existence yet never paid them any mind—because there was simply no need! If it weren't for the Heavenly Restriction, this ill-fated relationship might have lasted until the end of the world.
Gojo Satoru's face was full of disbelief. "You guy, are you so noble that your brain is waterlogged?"
Tengen glanced at Gojo Satoru with a look of disdain.
"Fine, as expected of the guardian of humanity for ages. I'm impressed." Gojo Satoru gave a sincere thumbs-up.
Suddenly, Utahime Iori, who was still sulking, spoke up to shift the topic back:
"If it's the Eye of God, can it use a Tsukumogami? I happen to have a student who is a Jujutsu Sorcerer with the Tsukumogami Manipulation Technique. I'll bring her to you. Perhaps she can give you some advice regarding Tsukumogami."
Gojo Satoru secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Good, it seems this hurdle has passed.
He naturally joined the conversation: "But I don't know the Tsukumogami Manipulation Technique, so I can't achieve mental unity with a Tsukumogami. I might never be able to use a Fusion Black Flash. That might remain the exclusive domain of Jujutsu Sorcerers with the Tsukumogami Manipulation Technique and the Limitless Cursed Technique."
"That's not necessarily true." Utahime Iori looked at Gojo Satoru seriously. "A Tsukumogami is actually a special kind of life. A long-nurtured Tsukumogami even has the potential to become a Cursed Spirit. The reason why Jujutsu Sorcerers haven't been able to use something like a Fusion Black Flash for a thousand years is likely because the Tsukumogami's spirit is insufficient. Theoretically, any creature with Cursed Energy can release a Black Flash, yet no one has ever seen a Cursed Spirit release a Black Flash.
"Sorry, except for Intelligent Cursed Spirits.
"But precisely because of the existence of Intelligent Cursed Spirits, I dare say it might really be the case. The reason Cursed Spirits can't use Black Flash isn't because they truly can't, but because their spirit is insufficient to let them do so. The key lies in the spirit.
"If a Tsukumogami has the spirit of an Intelligent Cursed Spirit, it could use it! This might be the secret behind how the King of Curses can use Fusion Black Flash."
Tengen was thoughtful. "Utahime Iori has a point. It really should be a matter of spirit. The King of Curses nurtured his Tsukumogami into a truly 'living' being. The Tsukumogami is both his Cursed Tool and his partner. Therefore, the Lord of Cursed Spirits can use Fusion Black Flash. Conversely, if others can nurture a similar Tsukumogami, they might be able to use it as well."
Utahime Iori nodded in agreement with Tengen's view and said respectfully, "As expected of Lord Tengen, that is exactly what I meant.
"If one can truly nurture a Tsukumogami capable of releasing a Black Flash independently, then with the precise Cursed Energy control of the Six Eyes, one would surely be able to sense the Tsukumogami's feelings.
"Although it's far less convenient than the Tsukumogami Manipulation Technique, it allows for interaction and understanding from a more subtle level. In the end, a Fusion Black Flash might not be impossible."
Gojo Satoru thought about it and couldn't find any logical flaws. The biggest problem was with the Tsukumogami itself, not whether the Jujutsu Sorcerer knew the Tsukumogami Manipulation Technique. In other words, as long as he truly nurtured a Tsukumogami capable of spiritual communication, Gojo Satoru might really be able to use Fusion Black Flash!
He said excitedly, "It's just like Bankai from Bleach! Great, I'm fired up!"
Utahime looked bewildered. "What is Bleach? What is Bankai?"
Gojo Satoru looked at her with disdain. "As expected of the Ghost Miko, you really are an old fossil. You're only one year older than me, but now you seem so listless and will never amount to anything."
"Show me some respect, I am your senior!" Utahime Iori was exasperated and, without thinking, threw the wine glass in her hand at Gojo Satoru's head.
With a thud, the red wine in the glass splashed everywhere, but not a single drop fell on Gojo Satoru's hair. He still had his Limitless active.
Gojo Satoru laughed loudly. That's the feeling, that's really the feeling. This is the Ghost Miko he knows. That delicate Utahime Iori from just now was definitely a fake!
This is the Utahime Iori that Gojo Satoru knows.
Looking at Gojo Satoru, who was brimming with fighting spirit and rising to the challenge, Tengen nodded with great satisfaction. This battle she had observed allowed her to clearly recognize her own limits. She had a premonition that even if she truly accelerated her ascension to godhood, she would be no match for Gojo Satoru or the King of Curses.
Becoming a god is merely a transition of life, a change in life form, but one's combat power still relies on what they possessed before godhood.
Humans are indeed an advanced race on Earth, an indisputably superior form of life compared to other animals, but what happens when you pit a city dweller against a wild boar in the jungle? Even if that city dweller is holding a shotgun?
Forget city dwellers; even real hunters in the past were known to die under the reckless charge of a wild boar, weren't they?
Humans need weapons and knowledge to conquer nature, and Jujutsu Sorcerers naturally need Cursed Techniques to defeat powerful enemies—gods are no exception. Unfortunately, as a candidate for godhood, she had devoted her heart entirely to managing the great Japanese barrier. Her knowledge was never meant for direct combat, nor did she need it, with so many people surrounding her.
As the solid wall standing before Tengen, Gojo Satoru was naturally better the stronger he became. However, Tengen spoke with a hint of regret:
"Unfortunately, the world's most powerful Construction Technique user is on the opposing side. We might not be able to use custom Cursed Tools to nurture Tsukumogami; we can only search for those Divine Artifacts within the annals of history."
Gojo Satoru asked casually, "Who?"
"Ancient Sorcerer Yorozu," Tengen said calmly. "That is, the reincarnation of the current Tsumiki Fushiguro's Soul."
"Who—!?" Gojo Satoru's voice turned sharp. He immediately asked, "Is Megumi okay?"
Fushiguro Megumi was Tsumiki Fushiguro's younger brother. Although they were step-siblings with no blood relation, both Tsumiki and Megumi acknowledged this bond. They had relied on each other until Tsumiki collapsed due to a deep Curse.
The reason Fushiguro Megumi was so active in the Jujutsu World was also because of Tsumiki. Although even Gojo Satoru couldn't figure out what was wrong with Tsumiki, it didn't stop him from finding a good hospital to settle her in. That required a lot of money, and the Tokyo Jujutsu High was never stingy when paying for missions.
Even if she remained in a vegetative state for the rest of her life, Fushiguro Megumi was willing to support her.
"He's fine. It's good to see you still care about your student and haven't completely hung your heart on the King of Curses," Tengen comforted him. "It's alright; the siblings' relationship is actually quite good. Tsumiki Fushiguro just gave Fushiguro Megumi a beating and didn't make another move after that. She even gave your disciples some guidance; she's much more responsible than Kinji Hakari."
Gojo Satoru's thoughts raced, and he suddenly realized:
"Mahito's subordinates attacked Tokyo Jujutsu High while I was fighting him? But I don't think their main target was the students. Their target was your Star Corridor!"
At this point, he began to gloat:
"It seems they were miserably tricked. Hahaha, no one expected you to actually leave the Star Corridor. My disciple Yuta must have given them a sound thrashing. Who was the leader?"
Tengen looked at him deeply and said calmly, "Geto Suguru."
Gojo Satoru's smiling face froze, and he let out his most shocked scream to date:
"That bastard Mahito actually resurrected Suguru?! Did he do it specifically to disgust me?!"
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