The next scene left everyone frozen in disbelief.
Maintained by the power of the stars.
Above the ravaged training ground, a column of mysterious starlight fell from the sky.
A moment later, the shattered earth began to rewind in time—cracks sealing, debris dissolving, and the landscape restoring itself until it looked as if it had never been destroyed in the first place.
A miracle.
This was the infinite mystery contained within star-power.
Even if the entire island collapsed… as long as starlight existed, everything could be reborn again.
There would never be a need to worry about destruction at this training field.
This was the world they—and countless people across the globe—craved.
A world beyond imagination.
A world where fantasy became reality.
A world where the impossible could happen at any moment.
Yami turned around slowly, his expression calm and unreadable.
"It seems you've all made your decision?"
"Yes."
Shinomiya Kaguya nodded lightly.
Her beautiful and dignified face showed both confidence and unwavering resolve.
Kirisu Mafuyu's expression turned complicated as she lowered her voice.
"…I'm not a superhuman. Am I really qualified to be a Sensei here?"
Yami smiled with gentle certainty.
"This isn't just about teaching superpowers. It's about developing your potential—and your character."
He raised a hand and lightly traced the air, releasing faint ripples of star-light that brushed past each of their bodies.
"And to be honest… every one of you has the potential to awaken superpowers."
"Most people today carry a hidden mechanism inside their genes—a kind of 'genetic lock.'"
"When this lock is opened, your abilities will naturally emerge."
Yukinoshita Yukino and the others exchanged subtle, startled looks.
So their world… had always been this magical?
At that moment, they finally noticed a strange glow nearby—shimmering pastel light wrapped around a girl none of them recognized.
A figure they were sure they had never seen before.
Yami tapped the girl's shoulder with his fingertip.
Starlight quietly faded away.
"This is Kato Megumi. She is the first person besides me whose genetic lock I've seen successfully unlocked."
He introduced her with a nod.
But—
"..."
There was no response.
Because Yukino and the others couldn't see her.
Not her figure.
Not even the memory of her name.
Everything about Kato Megumi was silently erased from their perception, like she had never existed in the first place.
Yami caught the shift in their eyes instantly.
He sighed.
This ridiculous disappearance of presence really was something else…
He tapped the air again, restoring her visibility with a wave of star-power.
Then he stepped down from the platform.
"Follow me."
He paused, glancing sideways.
"Sensei Hiratsuka, you come too."
Everyone quickly gathered around the center of the training field.
"I know all of you are eager to learn how to unlock the genetic lock."
His voice was calm—yet carried an undeniable authority.
Silence fell instantly.
Everyone listened, tense and focused.
They had all chosen to stay.
They had all witnessed true superpower today.
So naturally, their expectations were sky-high.
But the next words hit them like a bucket of freezing water.
"…Unfortunately, all I know is that the genetic lock requires stimulation to open."
"Stimulation?"
Yukino frowned.
"Emotional? Pain? Mental? Which kind?"
"Not sure."
Yami replied with irritating honesty.
Silence.
A heavy, stunned silence.
The gap between their expectations and reality was so big they could physically feel it.
"But the way you advertised earlier…"
Yukino muttered before instinctively stopping herself.
She suddenly remembered Haruno's warning.
Yami smirked.
"You mean I exaggerated on purpose, right? Made some flashy propaganda?"
Yukino pressed her lips together. She said nothing.
She was full of justice, yes.
But she wasn't stupid enough to provoke something she couldn't win against—especially something that just murdered someone casually minutes ago.
At this moment, the entire group collectively decided that the safest option was:
Say nothing. Question nothing. Breathe minimally.
Yami looked at them, speechless.
"You don't need to be so tense."
"The woman I killed earlier was just a self-important clown. I only did it to scare off the idiots who lack basic survival instincts."
"I'm not targeting my future students."
He clapped his hands once.
"Besides, I can give you stimulation that is both absolutely safe—and truly effective."
A swirl of shimmering particles appeared around him.
The lights merged, shaping themselves into a humanoid silhouette.
Moments later, the silhouette dispersed—
—and a beautiful, fierce woman clad in golden-crimson armor stepped forth.
Long blond hair flowed behind her like a burning banner.
Her eyes sharpened, pupils narrowing into vertical slits.
The blade in her hand gleamed with feral brilliance.
"Master," Kaen declared, voice ringing like steel against steel,
"just give the command—I will tear apart any enemy before you!"
An explosive murderous aura burst out like a shockwave.
Everyone felt it.
Their hearts froze.
Their breathing hitched.
Even Eri's face turned white as she stared at Kaen's swaying ears and tail.
Yami raised a hand calmly.
"Kaen, suppress it. There are no enemies here."
Kaen immediately retracted her killing intent, though her expression remained strict and dignified.
Her sister had once taught her:
At home, she could be cute, clingy, and even nuzzle her ears into her master's hand.
But outside—
the master's authority must always be upheld.
Kaen executed that rule flawlessly.
The air still trembled from the earlier pressure.
Yami nodded in satisfaction.
"Now then. Who wants to experience real stimulation?"
"I do!"
Nishiki Chisato shot her hand up without hesitation, eyes blazing with courage.
Her new heart—the one that had replaced her old artificial one—beat strong and pure within her chest.
A miracle of her own unlocked ability.
Yami pointed at her.
"Your genetic lock has already awakened. Try testing your power on someone who hasn't unlocked theirs yet."
His gaze swept the group like a blade.
Hayasaka Ai hesitated.
But Yukinoshita Yukino stepped forward before she could.
"I will go."
Seeing Yukino step forward without hesitation, Haruno instinctively reached out to stop her—
but she was too late.
From an ordinary person's perspective, the sensible thing would be to wait for someone else to test the danger first.
Make a decision afterward.
But Yukinoshita Yukino was still too young… too direct.
Haruno sighed deeply in her heart.
Looks like this girl still needs a lot more training… and guidance.
"Well," Yami said calmly, "since you've decided, the choice is yours. Yukinoshita Yukino, pick any weapon you want."
As his voice fell, a dark shadow spread across the air.
One by one, various cold weapons slowly manifested—katanas, spears, naginatas, batons, shields, and even some firearms Mizuki had procured through her… special channels.
Yukino stared at the arsenal for a long moment.
But no matter how carefully she scanned them, she found nothing she could actually wield.
In the end, she could only shake her head.
"Sorry… I don't know how to use these weapons.
But I do know a little Aikido."
"Aikido, huh?"
Yami pinched his chin thoughtfully.
Aikido wasn't exactly the peak of combat practicality.
For Yukino, it was more for self-defense than actual battle.
If this were a real physical confrontation… brute strength and size would be more useful than elegant joint-locks.
But Yami already knew what he wanted.
"Alright, step back everyone."
He raised a hand.
"Yukinoshita Yukino—your task is simple.
Use your full strength… and defeat Kaen."
Kaen blinked once, ears twitching, then frowned.
"Master… she's so weak. Can she really fight?"
Her beast-like intuition couldn't detect a single threat from anyone present except Yami.
"Fight…?" Yukino muttered, brows knitting.
She had studied Aikido, yes—
but she had never actually fought a person in her life.
Yami didn't address her concerns at all.
Instead, he ordered:
"Kaen. Condense your power."
"Yes, Master."
Kaen sheathed the Sword of Victory and stepped forward, adopting an aggressive stance.
Her tail swayed once—
her pupils thinned.
Then she pointed sharply at Yukino.
"Come on!"
"W-Wait—what exactly are you trying to—?!"
A deep uneasiness surged through Haruno's heart.
But Yami remained silent.
Yukino on the other hand completely froze.
She stood still, unable to figure out how to even begin this fight.
Her mind blanked in panic.
Kaen grew irritated by her hesitation.
"Tch… if you won't move—
then I'll come to you!"
She lunged.
"BOOM!!!"
A violent impact roared like thunder.
The entire ground trembled.
The air itself vibrated, swirling into buzzing shockwaves.
"!!!"
Yukino's pupils widened to their absolute limit.
Her breath stopped.
Because in her vision...the approaching Kaen had completely vanished.
There was only a lion.
A massive, furious, flesh-tearing lion barreling toward her.
Fangs wide.
Claws extended.
Eyes filled with predatory bloodlust.
She watched in horror as its jaws opened—
and clamped down on her right arm.
Chomp.
Blood sprayed.
Her vision blurred red.
Piercing pain tore through every nerve in her body.
It was too real—too vivid—too overwhelming.
Her mind couldn't process it.
Her lungs forgot how to breathe.
She collapsed.
Face pale as death, body limp on the ground.
Blood soaked the earth beneath her shoulder—
Because Kaen stood there, holding Yukino's severed arm in her claws.
"Wha—!? M-My God!!"
It all happened in less than a second.
By the time everyone understood what they were seeing—
It was already too late.
All except Chisato and the four genetically awakened girls turned ghost-white, horrified to their cores.
Especially Haruno.
She sprinted forward like a madwoman, screaming:
"YUKINO!!!"
Her heart shattered in an instant.
Regret flooded her chest.
If she could turn back time…
She would've dragged Yukino away from this place without a second thought.
Author Note:
Here we go again… starting a new project: Jujutsu Kaisen: Gilgamesh The King of Heroes.
If you like global curses not limited to Japan, strong MCs, and heavy 'Quality' moments, give it a try.
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