After that humiliating first use of the system, I took some time to learn more about it in detail.
For one, it didn't seem limited to things only of this world; it could truly grant anything, provided I could fight for the right to utilize what I asked for. However, it would strengthen or weaken the opponent I had to fight for my reward depending on what changes I made to the ability.
Take me asking for a Heavenly Restriction without drawbacks like losing Cursed Energy, for example. Asking for Toji's Heavenly Restriction was already a large enough ask, granting massive enhancements to all physical aspects of oneself—on a level so great that someone with such a body can overpower a soul that's trying to take it over.
However, this world dictates that in exchange for this kind of Heavenly Restriction, you must sever all ties to Cursed Energy as a whole, becoming independent of it entirely. Otherwise, you'll end up like pre-awakened Maki, who had Cursed Energy by proxy to her twin, therefore sealing her Heavenly Restriction and making her just a slightly stronger regular person relative to her full potential.
"If it's any consolation, however, this ability is overpowered as hell, and I've already thought of some creative ways to utilize it..." I thought, standing with a stretch inside the innate domain within Yuji.
Currently, he was going through Jujutsu High's entrance exam, and I'll admit it was funny to see him getting his ass kicked by that cursed doll every time he tried to speak. Anyway, I see why Sukuna spaced out during his time in between control. This wasn't nearly as exciting as actual, blood-shedding combat.
Opening the system, I decided to make a smarter request. Basically, I didn't want an unfair ass-kicking again, so I'd tone it down.
Cursed Energy is the cornerstone of the Jujutsu world and what usually decides one's overall strength. Without it, your strength as a sorcerer won't improve, and your skills will matter less and less against sorcerers with greater Cursed Energy. You could close the gap with refinement, but nine times out of ten, they'll have good refinement themselves, leaving you back at square one.
With all this in mind, I set my reward as one finger's worth of Sukuna's power. It should be easy enough, considering the fact I don't plan on playing fair when the opponent isn't even real.
I soon found myself back in that same space, a copy of one-finger Sukuna forming as I immediately rushed him in a burst of speed. As I got close, he dodged, trying to grab me and utilize Cleave on the side of my ribs.
However, I planned for this; after all, I know how Sukuna would fight since I am now Sukuna. I took the Cursed Energy I was going to put into Cleave and released it all as a violent wave of Dismantles in every direction.
The copy Sukuna in front of me found his arm cut to shreds as he leaped backwards, but I quickly gave chase.
"Hmm, never fought anyone with my technique before..." the copy said as he fired his own Dismantles, which I met with more of my own.
Thanks to the level of refinement we both had, it took nothing for us to fire hundreds of these casually—not to mention the amount of Cursed Energy in one finger was enough to make a curse Special Grade on its own.
With a bang, we clashed in the air. He twisted, kicking at my head as I blocked, leaving us locked. We both grinned as we activated Cleave simultaneously; I cut his leg off as he cut off my hand. We both used RCT, our missing limbs reforming. I didn't wait until I healed fully and launched more Dismantles, forcing him to jump back as I touched the ground to throw a large chunk of earth at him.
"Haha, who'd have thought fighting myself would be so fun!" he said as he caught it, turning it to dust with Cleave, only for my boots to slam into his face through the debris.
What am I doing? I'm treating this like the burnout means anything. I'll be fine after this anyways, I thought. I made a hand sign as I felt my energy rapidly vanishing from my body.
"Domain Expansion: Malevolent Shrine."
"Huh? What bad timing for a domain," the other Sukuna thought, although he started forming his own hand signs as well.
The domains both clashed, equal in power as expected. However, I had one advantage that this Sukuna didn't.
"Time to become a binding vow merchant. In exchange for never being able to use a domain on this specific Sukuna ever again in my life, my domain's output is quadrupled."
The instant I said those words, my domain started releasing slashes faster, pushing back one-finger Sukuna's domain until the slashes reached his shrine, cutting it to pieces. He looked shocked in the last seconds before he was shredded to dust.
"What a reckless bastard..." he said as he faded, and a dark surge of energy coursed through my soul. I felt way stronger—not just twice as strong, but beyond that.
Exponential Growth
"This might be addicting," I said, sighing as I decided to check something.
I used the system to create another one-finger Sukuna. Using my now-superior stats, I unleashed dozens of Dismantles that tore him apart instantly. Once again, I felt another surge of strength, but it was less than I expected it to be.
Well, technically the amount was the same, but due to the nature of the fingers and the practically exponential growth they provided, it seemed this time I only gained 1/4th the power required to reach the level of a fully realized three-finger Sukuna. It felt like trying to put together my soul by copying the same fragment over and over, hoping it would grow.
"I see. The reasoning behind such vast growth upon consuming his fingers is because he's piecing himself back together, becoming whole again. And that brings him to his original strength. Hehe."
I smiled and made the domain hand signs again, then had the system summon a two-finger Sukuna. The second he formed, I had already unleashed my domain, killing him before he could retaliate. I felt that same surge inside me again.
"Oh, that's good..." I said, my power rising to a bit beyond three fingers due to the excess of those duplicate one-fingers I'd killed.
And to think that I can still get a boost from eating the twenty original fingers out in the real world. By the time I get to Shibuya, I may even already be at the level of twenty-finger Sukuna—and have other techniques of my own to boot.