JJK : The Curse Devourer

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'The most dangerous lies are the ones we tell ourselves.'

'But sometimes, the truth is far more terrifying than any deception.'

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Makoto Sato sat on the edge of his infirmary bed, staring at his bandaged arm with hollow eyes. The cursed bandages glowed faintly in the dim light, his own technique, the only thing that had kept him alive long enough to escape that nightmare.

Three days. Three days since his world had been torn apart by that black eyed 'thing'. Three days since he'd learned that monsters were not just cursed spirits.

The door creaked open, and Elder Yamada Kenji stepped inside, his face etched with concern. The old shrine keeper moved quetly observing the young sorcerer lying on the bed.

"Still awake, young one?" Yamada asked softly, settling into the chair beside the bed.

"Can't sleep," Makoto muttered, flexing his fingers. The healing was progressing, but slowly. Cursed energy disruption from the attack had interfered with his recovery.

"Every time I close my eyes, I see..."

"I know."

"Do you?" Makoto's voice cracked slightly.

"Because the Council sure doesn't seem to care what I saw."

Yamada's expression darkened.

"They said it never happened." Makoto's hands clenched into fists.

"They sat there like judges, telling me I was confused. Traumatized. That my memories were unreliable."

He stood up slowly, pacing to the window despite the pain in his leg. The school grounds can be seen below, peaceful and normal.

"They said it was just a Grade 4 curse that overwhelmed me. That Ryu's 'technique' must have absorbed something that made him act strangely, but it wasn't his fault."

Makoto's voice rose. "Not his fault? He nearly killed me! He ate that thing like it was a happy meal!"

"Makoto--"

"How could they do this?" The words exploded out of him, fury finally finding voice.

"They know what he is! You showed them the evidence, But they'd rather cover it up than deal with the truth!"

Yamada went quiet for a while, his hands folding in his lap.

"Some truths are too dangerous for the world to handle."

"Dangerous for who? The world, or the council?"

"Both." The elder's voice was heavy.

"The Council is split, Makoto. But both sides agree on one thing, panic among the students would be catastrophic."

"So they sacrifice me instead." Makoto turned from the window, his eyes blazing with fury.

"Make me the liar, the weakling who couldn't handle a low Grade 4."

"I tried to argue for your case--"

"I know you did." Makoto's expression softened slightly.

"You're the only one who believes me.

The only one who cares about the truth."

Yamada studied the young man's face, noting subtle changes. The enthustiastic and naive Makoto was gone, replaced by something harsh and cold. Perhaps, trauma had a way of forging people into different shapes, sometimes stronger, sometimes weaker.

"What will you do now?" the elder asked quietly.

Makoto was silent for a long moment, staring at his bandaged hand.

When he spoke, his voice was steady.

"I'm going to get stronger. "

"Strong enough that I never need anyone else's help again.

Strong enough to handle whatever comes next."

"And then?"

"Then I'm going to do what the Council won't." Makoto met the elder's eyes.

"I'm going to stop him. Before he hurts anyone else."

"Makoto, you can't--"

"I can. And I will." He sat back down on the bed, his posture straight despite his injuries.

"But I'll need training. Real training, not the basic curriculum they teach in class."

Yamada considered this for a long moment. The boy was right, someone had to be prepared for the worst case scenario. And if that someone had to be a traumatized first year...

"Your technique," the elder said finally.

"Cursed Creation. How much do you understand about it?"

"Not much. It manifested during..." Makoto's jaw tightened.

"During the incident. "

"I can create simple objects infused with cursed energy, but they're simple and fragile."

"Show me."

Makoto held out his left hand, concentrating. Cursed energy flowed from his palm manifesting into solid matter. A small wooden plate materialized, no bigger than a saucer.

"Interesting," Yamada murmured, examining the construct.

"The wood feels different. Denser."

"Each material has unique properties," Makoto explained despite his dark mood.

"Wood absorbs cursed energies like a small sponge.

Steel enhances strength and defense.

Bronze increases sharpness and cutting power."

"And you discovered this how?"

"Trial and error. Had a lot of time to experiment while lying here bleeding." Bitterness crept back into his voice.

"Turns out nearly dying is great motivation for technique development."

Yamada set the wooden plate aside, where it continued to glow softly.

"Your potential is remarkable, Makoto. With proper training, you could become even better."

"Will you help me?"

The elder was quiet for a long moment, weighing the options.

"Yes," he said finally.

"But not for revenge. If you're going to walk this path, it must be for the protection of yourself and others."

"Can you do that?"

Makoto nodded slowly.

"I don't want to hurt innocent people.

But he's not innocent, is he?

Whatever he's becoming, it's dangerous. And if the Council won't stop him..."

"Then we'll prepare you to handle it, should the need arise." Yamada stood, his decision made.

"Rest now. Tomorrow we begin your real training. By the time you return to classes next week, you'll be ready to face Grade 3 curses alone."

"Thank you, Yamada sensei."

The elder paused at the door.

"Makoto? What happened to you is unfortunate, but you are strong, you will bounce back much stronger."

After the elder left, Makoto lay back on his bed, staring at the ceiling. His cursed creation, the wooden plate, continued to pulse with soft light, sustained by his energy.

'Soon,' he thought.

'Soon I'll be strong enough to do what needs to be done.'

---

Tokyo Jujutsu High felt different when Ryu arrived that morning. 'That day' had been a blur of pain and confusion, Ryu walked with a splitting headache, ignoring concerned texts from Haibara and even Nanami asking why he'd missed classes.

Yaga sensei had apparently given him compassionate leave after unfortunate 'mission'.

'If only they knew the real reason for his absence.'

The school seemed quieter somehow, like something or someone was missing from the students.

It took him a moment to realize that it was Makoto.

The cheerful first year who'd partnered with him on that mission was nowhere to be seen.

"Ryu!" Haibara's voice called out as he approached their usual meeting spot. His friend looked relieved but concerned.

"Feeling better today? You seemed pretty rough in your text yesterday."

"Yeah, just needed some rest," Ryu replied, though the headaches still lingered.

"Where's Makoto?"

"Still in the infirmary, I think. Pretty badly hurt on that mission you two went on." Haibara's usual energy was subdued.

"Haven't you been to see him?"

'Mission? What mission?'

Ryu frowned, trying to grasp at memories that felt hazy. There had been something, an abandoned building, a curse, but the details were frustratingly vague.

"I... it's kind of a blur," he admitted.

"What exactly happened?"

Before Haibara could answer, they were joined by other students heading to class. The conversations around them were subdued and there were whispers about Makoto's condition.

"Seriously? A Grade 4 took down Makoto?" someone was saying.

"Guy's supposed to be physically strong, right? How weak do you have to be..."

"Maybe he should stick to a normal high school."

Ryu felt a flash of irritation at the casual remarks but underneath it was something else, a nagging sense that something was wrong.

If he'd been partnered with Makoto, how had hie gotten so badly hurt? Shouldn't Ryu have been able to help?

'Why can't I remember?'

In their first class, Yaga sensei addressed everyone in the room.

"For those asking about Makoto," the teacher announced without,

"He's stil recovering from injuries sustained during his patrol mission. The Grade 4 curse proved more challenging than anticipated. These things happen, even on routine assignments."

The teacher's eyes briefly met Ryu's, and there was something there, concern, maybe even pity.

"The management has given both students involved time to recover from the incident. Trauma affects everyone, even sorcerers."

'Both students? But I'm here, aren't I?'

During break, Haibara and Nanami approached him in the hallway.

"So what really happened out there?" Haibara asked, concern evident in his voice. "You were absent, and Yaga sensei's report was pretty vague."

Ryu hesitated. The truth was, he honestly couldn't remember much after entering that building. Fragments of memories like darkness, the taste of something foul, a feeling of overwhelming hunger.

"It's... complicated," he said finally.

"The curse was tougher than expected. Things got chaotic."

"Chaotic how?" Nanami's eyes studied Ryu's face.

"I think I might have been affected by something. My technique, you know how unpredictable it can be. Maybe I absorbed something that messed with my head."

"That would explain the memory gaps," Haibara said, though he still looked worried.

"And why you needed yesterday to recover."

Nanami's expression suggested he wasn't entirely buying the explanation, but he didn't press.

"Cursed energy disruption can cause various neurological effects. Though selective memory loss is... convenient."

"Nanami," Haibara warned.

"I'm simply observing. Memory loss following traumatic events follows predictable patterns. Complete amnesia about specific incidents is... interesting."

Ryu felt heat rise in his cheeks. "Are you suggesting I'm lying?"

"I'm suggesting that human memory is unreliable, especially when it comes to events." Nanami adjusted his uniform with precision.

"Maybe we should become cyborgs to gain better recollection, enhanced perception."

*Sigh....

"And there he goes again going on and on about unrealistic ideas". Said Haibara with a sigh.

"I need to check on Makoto," Ryu said abruptly, walking away before the conversation could continue.

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Status:

Ryu's Condition:

Memory Status: Fully recovered, recollection of the feeding incident.

Mental state: Guilt and self loathing.

Hunger status: Satiated

Ability:

Slice and Dice (Enhanced):

Enhanced power with healing inhibition.

Energy Disruption: 15% chance to impair cursed energy output in struck areas

Range: Improved precision and cutting power

Physical Enhancement:Strength: +43%

Speed: +48% improvement in reflexes and movement

Cursed Energy Reserves: Moderate-High

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