Knowing that Satoru Mikami possessed the ability to Boost from Koneko, Kiba didn't dare to underestimate him. He launched the first strike.
Whoosh!
The sound of tearing air echoed as Yuuto's wooden sword sliced downward, a black blur of speed and precision.
But at the same moment, Satoru raised his own wooden blade, intercepting it cleanly.
Bang!
The two swords locked in midair, vibrations rippling through the clubroom.
"…Blocked?"
Yuuto's eyes narrowed. This wasn't what Koneko had told him.
Satoru wasn't Boosting, yet his strength and speed matched Yuuto's almost perfectly.
No—not matched.
Feeling the oppressive weight pushing against his sword, Yuuto realized he was being forced back. His expression hardened, and with a twist of his wrist, he retreated several steps to regain distance.
"Nice expression."
Satoru grinned, his tone carrying genuine delight. "Don't hold back. Show me your full swordsmanship."
"As you wish."
Yuuto's figure blurred. In a flash, he was gone.
Using the high-speed trait of a Knight, he darted around Satoru, striking from every angle. Yet no matter where the blade came from, Satoru's wooden sword always met it in time—blocking, parrying, redirecting.
From the sidelines, Koneko's eyes widened. "So strong…"
Compared to last night, his strength had leapt several levels higher.
Rias, watching with keen interest, nodded slightly. "He's already assimilated the power of the eight Pawn pieces."
Normally, when a human was reincarnated as a Devil, their body needed time to adjust before they could even stabilize their new strength. Yet Satoru had not only adapted within minutes—he was wielding that power flawlessly.
Akeno's smile thinned as she observed closely.
"His swordsmanship is evolving too. At first, he relied only on overwhelming physical ability to receive attacks. But as time passes… his swordsmanship itself is visibly improving at an astonishing rate."
She was right. In just minutes, his movements had become sharper, cleaner, more precise. What had begun as an evenly matched duel slowly shifted—Satoru began pressing the advantage.
Yuuto, once dictating the flow with speed, now found himself forced into retreat. Step by step, he yielded ground, his defenses buckling beneath Satoru's relentless assault.
"…It's almost time to end this."
Catching the smallest gap in Yuuto's guard, Satoru struck. His blade smacked Yuuto's sword aside, sending it flying across the room. In the same fluid motion, he stepped forward and pressed his wooden sword gently against Yuuto's throat.
"…I lost."
Yuuto's lips twisted in frustration, but there was no denying it. In just ten minutes, he had watched Satoru evolve before his eyes. The same overwhelming sensation Koneko had felt now struck him as well.
"Acknowledged."
Satoru lowered his sword with a satisfied nod. A soft chime rang in his mind.
[Magic Sword Creation (Blue): Consume stamina or magic to forge swords imbued with different attributes.]
"Not bad." He smiled inwardly. Before his physique reached the next threshold, a weapon would be invaluable. Still, with his current slot limit, he stored it for later.
"That was a wonderful battle."
Rias approached gracefully, her eyes shining. "Satoru, your strength exceeds even my expectations."
"How strong, exactly?" he asked, half curious, half testing.
"Judging from your performance… upper-middle among Intermediate Devils."
"Only Intermediate, huh."
Satoru frowned slightly. It wasn't enough. In a world crawling with High-Class Devils and monsters beyond, even a Devil King could casually end a life. He needed more. Much more.
Rias, seeing his expression, gave a small smile. "Don't be discouraged. To reach this level after only a little over a week—it's astonishingly fast."
"Speaking of which," Akeno interjected, her curiosity piqued. "What is your Sacred Gear, Satoru-kun?"
"This."
Satoru lifted his wrist, showing the bracelet, and explained its healing function.
"Healing…?" Akeno blinked, puzzled. "Then what about your Boost? Isn't that a Sacred Gear ability?"
"Call it an innate talent."
He lied smoothly, expression unchanged. After all, a reincarnated Devil who consumed eight Pawns was already considered a genius. Having an innate ability wouldn't be questioned.
Rias nodded in acceptance. "Innate abilities do exist. Some bloodlines carry unique powers…"
Innate abilities were not uncommon. Among humans, certain bloodlines of Curse Jujutsu Sorcerers who specialized in exorcising Curses often manifested them.
The most famous example was the current strongest Jujutsu Sorcerer—Gojo Satoru. His ultra-rare Six Eyes, paired with the Limitless technique, granted him power equal to that of a High-Class Devil.
"Exactly." Satoru gave a small shrug.
Just then, Yuuto—having regained his composure—spoke up. "President, I almost forgot. We received a message from Tokyo Jujutsu High. They're sending someone next week to reinforce the seal on Sukuna's finger."
"…Sukuna's finger?"
Satoru's brows furrowed.
"Sukuna," Yuuto explained, "was the King of Curses a thousand years ago. A human who thrived on battle. He constantly sought out strong opponents, and one day, his recklessness led him to provoke a being whose temper was… less than forgiving."
Rias' tone darkened. "He was killed… but cursed as punishment. His soul was split into twenty fragments, sealed into his fingers—each one indestructible."
Rias took the chance to add a warning. "Satoru, you should keep this in mind. I don't object to you seeking strength, but this world is very dangerous. Challenging the wrong enemy can bring disaster—just like Sukuna."
Satoru fell silent. This was… different from what he remembered of Sukuna. A divergence caused by the merged worlds.
"And the one who cursed him?"
Yuuto and Rias exchanged glances. Rias answered softly.
"The son of the First Lucifer… Rizevim Livan Lucifer."
Satoru's eyes narrowed, his stomach tightening at the name. Sukuna had challenged that monster? No wonder he had been reduced to cursed fragments.
Rias shook her head. "Even High-Class Devils cannot destroy those fingers. The Curse Sorcerers eventually struck a deal with the Bael family—Devils would guard some of the fragments. One of them… lies here, in Kouh Town. As its overseer, I bear that responsibility."
Her tone softened, regret flickering in her sapphire eyes. "And I must apologize, Satoru. The Curse Spirit that attacked you half a month ago was drawn by that finger. I should have eliminated them sooner. That failure nearly cost you your life."
"What happened to that Curse Spirit?"
"It was dealt with by Teacher Minamiya," she replied softly. "She's also the one who brought you to the hospital afterward."
"…I see."
Satoru's expression remained calm, but thoughts churned beneath the surface. If the spirit that killed his parents was tied to Sukuna's finger, then both the cursed object and Rizevim himself were threads leading to his revenge.
"Satoru, I am truly sorry."
Seeing his silence, Rias misunderstood and lowered her head once more, her voice tinged with guilt.