Besides physical training and the like, Yuuichi Sugawara also practices his own cursed technique every day. Over the years, he has become quite skilled at using his technique normally, and under the guidance of Satoru Gojo, he has also begun to understand the concept of "Cursed Technique Reversal."
If "Wheel of Time: Forward" accelerates the flow of time for something, then the reversal technique, "Wheel of Time: Reverse," is naturally the opposite: time reversal!
A sorcerer's cursed energy is drawn from negative emotions. If we consider this cursed energy as negative energy, it is generally only useful for combat. However, when a sorcerer multiplies their cursed energy with itself—like a negative times a negative equals a positive—they can generate positive energy.
This stable positive energy can be used to heal the human body, but it varies from person to person and is extremely rare. Currently, the strongest user of reversal techniques is probably Dr. Shoko Ieiri, a physician at Tokyo Jujutsu High.
If this "positive energy" is injected into a sorcerer's innate technique, the technique can be reversed—that is, the cursed technique reversal.
Naturally, Satoru Gojo can do this as well, though his reversal technique can only heal himself. Yuuichi is also very focused on this, since as an experienced gamer, he understands how crucial healing abilities are.
He has indeed successfully extracted positive cursed energy, but perhaps due to inexperience, he cannot maintain it for long. He is not yet able to casually heal severed limbs or organs.
However, this is still useful because it allows Yuuichi to achieve a preliminary form of cursed technique reversal. Even if it only lasts briefly, it is enough for him to inject it into his technique.
Yuuichi is still practicing and has not mastered it fully at will. The cursed energy consumed by his reversal technique varies depending on usage—from low to very high—and at maximum use, it consumes much more than the forward technique. With his current limited control, he can partially neutralize the effects between the forward and reversed forms of his technique.
In practice, this means that when Yuuichi uses his technique to accelerate himself and recreate the "Flash" effect, he does not have to worry as much about possible damage to his own body due to the "reverse" effect.
This state is called the "Time Null" state, meaning that time moves so fast that time itself becomes meaningless. Of course, Yuuichi must fully exert himself to barely achieve this.
By the way, the name was given by Satoru Gojo. Yuuichi originally came up with a very long name but was shouted down by Gojo.
In this state, Yuuichi once tried with Gojo's help to strike a countless number of attacks as fast as a storm in an instant, or even finish with a single blow—an attack so fast it surpasses any reaction speed!
As to why he didn't use this in the previous mission, it was simply because the cursed spirit was too weak! It couldn't even withstand his serious two punches, so why waste the big move?
For now, Yuuichi's usual offensive approach is still to use "Extermination" and then fire accelerated cursed energy arrows when the opportunity arises. Under Maki's training, he's also considering taking up a sword or bladed cursed tool for close combat.
Just imagine: if the enemy breaks through his ranged attacks and approaches, he can switch to lightning-fast sword strikes. Even if the enemy is strong and the blades are gone, Yuuichi can transform and use his fists to deliver a crushing "Black Flash" and completely annihilate the opponent!
"What are you laughing at?"
Yuuichi, chuckling oddly, is suddenly bumped by Maki who walked up behind him. Panda, coming over, whispers mysteriously: "I heard there's going to be a new first-year student joining!"
Yuuichi's eyes brighten at this news. With Panda having the backing of Principal Masamichi Yaga—his "biological father"—this news seems reliable. It means they'll soon have one more new classmate, making five first-year students in total. After Gojo's arrival, this was further confirmed by him.
"It's the day after tomorrow. Everyone get ready to welcome the new student!"
Maki, pointing at Gojo with a deadpan expression, asks: "Why is he even more excited than us?"
Yuuichi leans back in his chair, rocking slightly to keep balance, his slightly curled hair shaking as well. He recently got a new hairstyle, dyed a grayish color. When he returned, Maki mocked him with a "What kind of hairstyle is that?" remark, and when Yuuichi shot back a couple of comments, Maki chased him around in a fit of mock anger.
At Maki's words, Yuuichi waves his hand dismissively: "Huh? You still haven't gotten used to it? Teacher Gojo has always been like that~"
The next day, the four of them walk together to the classroom, ready to meet the new student. Along the way, Panda shares some gossip: "I heard the new transfer student shoved four classmates into a locker before coming here."
Maki asks, "Did they die?" Toge Inumaki, curious, adds, "Tuna mayo?"
Panda shakes his head: "No, apparently they were just seriously injured."
"Well, if they're too wild, just give them a beating and that's it," Maki says, walking ahead without turning back.
"Scary, Maki," Panda says, imitating Yuuichi's voice, "Yeah, yeah, so scary~"
Maki's face turns dark with frustration as they jokingly head toward the classroom. Soon after they sit down, Gojo bursts into the classroom almost spinning in, striking exaggerated poses and expressions as he says, "Alright, time to introduce the transfer student—everyone get hyped!"
The classroom responds with silence. Gojo freezes, then weakly says, "Come on, lighten up a bit."
Maki, sitting sideways with her legs crossed, resting her cursed tool on the desk, comments coldly, "I heard he's not easy to get along with. Who wants to hype up a guy like that?"
"Salmon," Toge and Panda agree with Maki's assessment. Meanwhile, Yuuichi is feeling sleepy, drained from staying up late watching anime and gaming the night before.
He also wonders if there were other students this year. He recalls only Maki and the others, but wait—he vaguely remembers a name mentioned. Could that be this transfer student?
"Whatever."
Gojo, seeing the mood hasn't improved, is not discouraged. He calls out loudly at the door: "Come on in!"
Outside the door, a black-haired boy in white stands nervously. The atmosphere inside feels so quiet it's unsettling.
Hearing Gojo's call, the boy grips the door handle, hesitates, then takes a deep breath and pushes it open, walking in with his head slightly bowed.
The moment the new student appears, the drowsy Yuuichi instantly awakens. Such a powerful cursed energy!
Maki's previously indifferent expression changes color. Panda and Toge both shudder. Each step the white-clad boy takes feels like it's pressing on their hearts.
The dense cursed energy almost takes physical form. In the dark depths behind him lurks a terrifying presence, its oppressive aura suffocating.
Maki reaches for her naginata, Panda puts on his gloves, and Toge pulls down his collar, ready to cast cursed speech.
The poor white-clad boy has just raised his head at the teacher's desk when a sharp blade swipes past his cheek and sinks deep into the blackboard behind him.
"My name is Okkotsu…"
Startled, the student stammers, unable to finish his sentence as the "Four Villains" glare at him. Maki grips her weapon with a scrutinizing look: "You're cursed, huh? How can someone like you be a student here? What's the deal?"
Panda puts on a fierce face beside her, but Yuuichi, standing a bit further back, feels something wrong. The cursed energy on this boy is enormous, and the stronger your senses, the more you detect the deadly threat.
"Something's off…"
Taking a few steps back, Gojo leisurely remarks, "Every year in this country, over ten thousand people disappear or die mysteriously. Many of these are caused by curses born from human negative emotions."
"Some are caused by curse users, but only curses can fight curses. This is why we study curses here at Tokyo Metropolitan Curse Technical College—to exorcise curses."
The white-clad boy looks troubled: "Why didn't anyone tell me this beforehand…"
Everyone turns to Gojo, utterly speechless, once again realizing just how unreliable he is.
Gojo apologizes insincerely, then suddenly says, "You all better keep your distance from him…"
At that moment, it feels as if a beast is breathing behind them. Their hairs stand on end, a cold sweat breaks out on their backs.
They turn around to see the blackboard behind the new student turning as black as ink and flowing like water.
Two pale, grotesque, obviously non-human arms emerge one after another. One hand easily grabs Maki's naginata, startling her into dropping the weapon and retreating with the others.
Then a strange but childlike voice sounds: "No…"
The new student looks panicked, but not out of fear for himself—he's worried it might hurt others.
He raises his hand, trying to stop the owner of the arms: "Rika… don't!"
Before he finishes, the little girl's voice suddenly shouts, "…hurt Yuta."
The other empty hand immediately slams down toward the group. Maki feels a crushing pressure that nearly immobilizes her.
She grits her teeth and says to Yuuichi, "Yuuichi, you—" But glancing over, she suddenly realizes Yuuichi has disappeared from her side. The words die in her throat.
Looking up, Yuuichi is already at the door, wearing a clearly amused smile.
At that moment, Yuuichi had been on high alert. When those two arms appeared, he decisively chose to "let them pass." There was no way he was fighting that thing—it felt so overwhelming that the last hospital's level 2 cursed spirit seemed like a baby.
So Yuuichi made a swift exit. Though Gojo is often unreliable, he shouldn't ignore something like this. Even if that cursed spirit starts a deadly attack, Gojo would intervene. Besides, the grab was weak—was it because the entity was restrained?
As it turned out, Maki, Panda, and Toge were just roughed up, and the terrifying entity vanished behind the boy again.
Then Gojo finally jumped out and explained the new student in detail. In short, the boy's childhood friend and fiancé, Rika, died in a car accident before his eyes, then became a powerful cursed spirit who cursed him.
"That's right! This is Yuta Okkotsu, cursed by the one who loved him most, Rika!"
After his grand introduction, Gojo added, "If you attack Yuta, Rika's curse might trigger—or might not. Either way, everyone, be careful!"
The three who had been roughed up grumbled, "Couldn't you have told us earlier?"
Yuta experienced Gojo's antics firsthand and then heard him introduce each of the others: "This is Maki Zen'in, a cursed tool user skilled in exorcising curses."
"This is Toge Inumaki, descendant of cursed speech users. He usually only speaks in single words from rice ball fillings, so communicate carefully with him." Toge greeted with a nod: "Kombu."
"Looks like a weird guy," Yuta thought when Gojo pointed to the gray-haired boy who had escaped Rika's grasp earlier, smiling warmly as he said, "This is Yuuichi Sugawara."
Gojo paused, seemingly unsure what else to say, then moved on.
"Hey Gojo, why skip me? Say something more!" Yuuichi's smile faded; he lost his chance at a cool introduction.
Gojo ignored him and pointed to the most conspicuous Panda, who said, "I'm Panda, nice to meet you."
Gojo rubbed his chin, "That's about it."
Poor Yuta silently complained, That's a panda! A talking panda who walks upright! Why didn't he explain what I really wanted to know?
Gojo clapped his hands: "Great! Now there are five first-years—how lively! I'll assign you groups for this afternoon's cursed technique practice."
"Toge and Panda together. Maki and Yuta together."
Yuuichi raised his hand, "Gojo-sensei, what about me?"
Gojo smiled brightly, "You've got a solo mission~"
(End of chapter)
If you'd like to read advance chapters support me at my https://www.patreon.com/YugiroTL