Jujutsu Kaisen: Limitless

"What is the principle behind Cursed Spirit Manipulation?" Minamoto Sōjun found Suguru Geto and asked the question that had been bothering him.

Before Geto could answer, Sōjun laughed to himself.

What principle could there be? It's like perfect control—it's just perfect control. This is the innate domain of those born with the technique, an instinct that sorcerers possess inherently.

On the other hand, he had some additional insights into assimilated techniques.

Realizing he had asked the wrong question, Sōjun rephrased:

"How do you control those cursed spirits using Cursed Spirit Manipulation?"

He was already preparing for his second-stage Golden Core experiment, with two goals in mind:

To simplify the conditions for forming a Golden Core, such as eliminating the need for metallic materials.

To address the issue of quantity. Progress in multitasking was slow, but theoretically, the number of cursed spirits that could be controlled with Cursed Spirit Manipulation was limitless—something he intended to leverage.

In an empty classroom, Suguru Geto sat in his seat. To his left was Satoru Gojo, and to his right was Shoko Ieiri. The two were passing notes back and forth, engrossed in their conversation.

"Pay attention; it's class time," Geto thought, glancing at the teacher, then nudging the two.

Thud! Several pieces of broken chalk hit him square on the forehead. Instinctively, he stood up. "Teacher…"

But the teacher, who always accidentally hit him, was nowhere in sight. All that remained were two empty seats beside him. Geto shook his head with a light chuckle, sat back down, propped his chin on his right hand, and gazed out the window. With a sigh, his eyes quickly lost focus, wandering into a blank stare.

"Alright, alright, analyze the character's psychology and the societal background of the time…"

"What is the principle behind Cursed Spirit Manipulation?" A voice echoed from afar.

"How do you control those cursed spirits using it?" The voice grew clearer.

Hearing the question, Geto's eyes snapped into focus. "First, you subdue them, transform them into cursed spirit orbs, then consume and absorb them. That's how you gain control."

As he spoke, his explanation became more lucid. But how does one articulate instinct? Geto glanced at Sōjun.

"Can I try tasting it?"

"?"

"The taste of a cursed spirit orb."

"I've never tried it," Geto hesitated. Performing half of the Cursed Spirit Manipulation and leaving the rest to someone who couldn't use the technique was no different from directly eating a cursed spirit. "It'll probably cause problems!"

But Sōjun was confident—not in subduing the curse, but in his ability to use his "Source" technique to assimilate it even if he consumed the cursed spirit directly.

"That's all the more reason to try!" Sōjun clapped his hands together and pulled Geto up. "Let's go, let's exorcise a cursed spirit."

Reluctantly, Geto stood and followed behind him. "Just so you know, cursed spirits don't taste great."

"That's fine." Sōjun waved it off casually.

"Why are you alone?" he asked curiously. The three-person team rarely operated separately.

"We're short on manpower. Gojo's power has grown significantly, so he can handle tasks alone. As for Ieiri, she's a medic and doesn't usually go on dangerous missions," Geto explained, spreading his hands.

"Now I'm completing tasks alone as well," he concluded.

Since the Star Plasma Vessel incident, Gojo had mastered the Reverse Cursed Technique, greatly enhancing his strength and allowing him to take on missions solo. Ieiri had been busy treating injured sorcerers.

Their three-person team had since split up, only reuniting for classes.

Sōjun patted Geto on the shoulder. "Stop brooding over it alone."

He habitually sent a message to Mitsushima Shiko: "Meet at the front gate of Jujutsu High."

After sending it, he suddenly realized she was no longer his assistant supervisor.

Ding!

His phone chimed.

"Received!" Mitsushima quickly replied.

Shrugging, he decided not to overthink it and called out to Geto before heading off. Together, they made their way to the school's main gate.

From a distance, Sōjun saw Mitsushima standing by the roadside. She noticed him at the same time. They exchanged warm smiles—a habit neither had adjusted yet.

"New car?" Sōjun asked casually.

Mitsushima nodded with a smile. Having been promoted to Grade 2 Sorcerer, she'd been provided with a designated vehicle, though no personal assistant supervisor had been assigned.

She didn't dwell on the reasons and was content with her situation.

Mitsushima got into the driver's seat, Sōjun in the passenger seat, and Geto in the back.

The car started smoothly, shifted gears, and accelerated—everything felt familiar. Sōjun sat calmly, but the sudden acceleration caught Geto off guard, nearly causing him to plant his face into the back of the front seat.

Sōjun shared the mission details with Mitsushima. It was a Grade 1 mission he had taken on a whim. With two Grade 1 sorcerers and one near-Grade 1, even Special Grade missions posed little danger to them.

Upon arriving at the location, Sōjun formed a sword seal with his hands and activated his cursed energy, skipping the incantation entirely. A black barrier swiftly enveloped the area, completing the domain setup.

Geto's face showed a hint of surprise but quickly returned to calm. After all, this was someone capable of assisting Master Tengen with barrier techniques—having a higher level of expertise in barriers was only natural.

The group entered the barrier, quickly locating their target. Geto stepped forward, exorcised the cursed spirit, and transformed it into a cursed spirit orb before handing it to Sōjun.

Geto's expression grew serious. "One last reminder—the taste of cursed spirits is awful. Are you sure you want to try?"

The flavor, which Geto had never disclosed to anyone, was akin to swallowing a rag soaked in vomit. Though he wasn't worried about Sōjun's safety, he felt it was necessary to emphasize just how unpleasant the experience would be.

Sōjun took the cursed spirit orb, examined it closely—a swirling black sphere about the size of a thumb, perfect for swallowing—and tossed it into his mouth, gulping it down with a loud gulp.

Both Geto and Mitsushima watched him intently.

Geto's lips twitched. "Well? Isn't it like a dirty, rancid rag dripping with juice?"

"Have you tasted such a rag?"

"That's none of your business!"

Sōjun closed his eyes. The taste was indeed revolting, primarily nauseating. For someone with his aversion to filth, it was a uniquely unpleasant experience, made worse by Geto's vivid descriptions.

According to Geto, the steps of exorcising, consuming, and absorbing a cursed spirit allowed for control.

Sōjun pondered if this process imposed a form of binding. Observing further, he speculated that the act of absorption might be the key, rather than the cursed spirit orb itself.

In his mental construct, stars served as ideal vessels for replication—a parallel to reality represented by… eyeballs.

He envisioned his Clone Technique as a primary star, radiating its function outward, with orbiting satellites that could act as Golden Cores for instant use. This way, he could bypass the limitations of multitasking and focus only on cursed energy constraints.

With clarity, Sōjun realized he had a plan.

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