Worse still, the Zenin Clan was the most extreme among the Three Great Clans in worshiping Jujutsu. It was easy to imagine what kind of Benefits Maki Zenin received in such an environment. Compared to the two figures from the Zenin Clan that Akira used as benchmarks, Maki Zenin was one of them.

  By the traditions of the Zenin Clan, Maki Zenin should have been crushed under this pressure until death. Yet she refused to submit. Who said that without Cursed Energy, without Jujutsu, and without seeing Cursed Spirit, one could not become a Jujutsu Sorcerer?

  She insisted on becoming one anyway, and if she lacked Cursed Energy, she would make up for it with Cursed Tools. If the Zenin Clan would not accept her, she would leave and prove herself on a larger stage. Her ultimate goal was to become the head of the Zenin Clan and change its rotten ways, forcing everyone to look at her again and vent the resentment she had carried.

  That kind of resolve made even Akira feel inferior. It was inefficient, looked foolish, and had nothing to do with being the best or most optimal. Yet throughout history, anyone who achieved great things always carried a bit of this kind of foolish stubbornness.

  "You chose the hardest road," Akira said with emotion.

  "No. At least it is better than giving up without trying."

  Maki Zenin casually tossed aside the long shaft that Akira had interrupted, snapping off the front and throwing it straight at him as a projectile. Akira caught it smoothly and dispersed the force with a practiced motion. He then spoke while gripping the remaining half.

  "Then you should understand that you need more effort than others and far less room for error. First of all, do not use toys like this anymore." He twisted his hands and snapped the remaining wooden shaft cleanly in two.

  A long-handled blade itself was not the problem, since longer reach meant greater advantage. A wooden shaft was also not wrong, as it controlled weight well and balanced hardness with flexibility, living up to the title of Thief of a Hundred Weapons. However, that logic only applied to ordinary people and not to a Jujutsu Sorcerer.

  Skilled Jujutsu Sorcerer could produce physical output measured in tons. Ordinary materials simply could not endure the load brought by high-intensity Cursed Energy. The weapon would fail before its user did.

  "I understand. The master who taught me martial skills was not a Jujutsu Sorcerer, so I did not consider this," Maki Zenin said as she nodded. Being easily defeated by Akira was not because her level was low, but because her weapon was too fragile.

  "Is there anything else?"

  "Yes, and quite a lot."

  The students of Tokyo Jujutsu High were all straightforward people, so Akira had no reason to hold back. He spoke calmly as he listed the points.

  "Because you lack Cursed Energy, you must put in extra work on equipment and tools. You need options so that no matter the situation, you are not left helpless, whether against large Cursed Spirit, small ones, fast ones, or many at once."

  "And also against Jujutsu Sorcerer. Unlike Cursed Spirit, people can be seen and touched even without Cursed Energy, so you have more methods to choose from. Take the advice I gave to Inumaki earlier and think about it three times over."

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  "That..." Maki Zenin hesitated.

  Akira hinted pointedly, "What, are you still thinking about so-called fairness? Do not forget your position and your natural limits."

  "No," Maki Zenin said unexpectedly as she shook her head. "I was just thinking about how to strike back at people like that. Something like, even the technology you look down on can stop you, so your precious Jujutsu is nothing special. What do you think?"

  Akira clicked his tongue in approval. "Nice. Just remember to say it after you knock them flat. If possible, break their arms and legs too."

  "Hahahaha!" Satoru Gojo had already turned into a laughing machine and could not stop. "Awesome indeed. You two should just pair up and flip the Three Great Clans upside down."

  "Your Gojo family is also part of the Three Great Clans," Akira shot back.

  "Does not matter. If you can surpass me, I would be very happy."

  Satoru Gojo flicked his hair, looking one step away from carrying a speaker and blasting music about invincibility. His carefree attitude filled the training ground.

  "Pair up?" Panda lit up immediately, eyes sparkling.

  Maki Zenin did not think much of it. "You said it yourself, assistant teacher. Do you think I really have that possibility?"

  "The chance is extremely low, but not zero if you prepare thoroughly," Akira said with a cold smile. "First push your physical ability to the limit, then prepare the right tactics. That includes neutralizing Jujutsu, countering domains, dealing with ultimate techniques, and preventing escape."

  "Not zero is enough," Maki Zenin said as she rubbed her hands together, eager to try.

  "I will help too," Panda said, raising a paw.

  "Salmon, mentaiko," Inumaki said, meaning he was in and that they should be careful.

  "Then I will give you a bit more motivation," Satoru Gojo added, casually joining the discussion on how to defeat Satoru Gojo himself. "The examples Ari mentioned all have corresponding Cursed Tools. I was once beaten to the brink of death, and if that person had struck a bit harder and not given me time to use reversed techniques, you would not be seeing me today."

  "There is someone like that?" Maki Zenin was shocked. "What kind of monster was that?"

  "Someone like you, without Cursed Energy," Satoru Gojo said, his expression complicated and hard to read. "Maki Zenin, when you applied for admission, you said you did not need pity. I told you it was not pity, that I truly believed in you. This is why."

  "Who was he, and where is he now?" Maki Zenin asked.

  "He has been dead for almost ten years. It is all in the past," Satoru Gojo replied lightly. "I will tell you another time if there is a chance. I have something to do, so I will leave today’s class to the assistant."

  He waved his hand as if to brush the topic away and turned to leave. Maki Zenin was curious, but since Satoru Gojo would not say more, she could not press him.

  As for Akira, he naturally knew exactly who Satoru Gojo meant. That person was the second figure from the Zenin Clan he used as a benchmark, and the only one who had ever forced Satoru Gojo into a fight for his life. Many of the suggestions he gave to Maki Zenin were built on that very example.

  The relationship between that person and Satoru Gojo was complicated. Since Satoru Gojo chose not to speak, Akira would not meddle. He knew clearly what should be said, what should not, and which jokes were acceptable.

  "Let us ignore the unqualified teacher," he said calmly. "Maki Zenin, my second piece of advice is to learn how to sense Cursed Spirit. Not seeing does not mean you cannot sense them. Vision is only one of the five senses, and beyond them there is also intuition."

  "If you can reach a point where you can perceive Cursed Spirit without relying on special glasses, your understanding of them, your control over yourself, and every related condition will rise to another level." His tone was steady and certain.

  This was something Maki Zenin had never considered before. "Is that really possible?" she asked seriously.

  "Of course. I have seen more than one example," Akira replied without hesitation.

  One was the person who had nearly killed Satoru Gojo. The other was an utterly ordinary waiter with no Jujutsu Sorcerer talent at all, not even worthy of having his name remembered.

  The only thing known about him was that he had four sworn younger sisters.

  Akira’s campus life began.