The dust from their previous clash had barely settled when Diablo spoke again, standing with that relaxed, confident posture Haru was starting to associate with imminent danger.
"It's clear," Diablo said, his voice smooth and almost amused, "that you have gotten too used to a sword. And that makes it difficult to adjust your entire fighting style."
Haru exhaled tiredly, nodding. "Yes that's true… but don't worry, I'll get used to it over time."
Diablo smiled. A quiet, knowing smile that made Haru's stomach drop.
"Well, you don't have a lot of time now do you," he replied. "So I have a better solution, one that lets you use both close-quarters and slashing without relying on a weapon."
Haru blinked. "Oh? And what's that—"
"Observe," Diablo said.
In the same instant, a faint shhk sound whispered through the air.
A line of super-thin energy flashed toward Haru, so thin it was nearly invisible. So fast he couldn't even flinch.
Haru felt no pain.
Just a strange weightlessness.
He looked down.
His right arm lay on the ground.
"…Eh?" was his first though.
It took his mind a second to catch up. He stared at the severed limb, still twitching lightly, then at Diablo who was smiling pleasantly, as if demonstrating a cooking technique rather than slicing off a someone`s arm.
Diablo tilted his head slightly.
"Well? How is that, very good right?"
Haru regenerated the arm instantly, still staring in disbelief. "What… did you just do?"
"Well," Diablo said, raising his hand, "I took sword cutting as a reference and recreated the concept using magicules. By compressing them into extremely thin slashes, their cutting power increases significantly." He traced his fingers through the air, another barely visible line shimmering briefly. "This way, you can ditch the sword and move with more freedom, yes?"
Haru could only gape.
This man, no, this demon was truly a genius.
He had effectively recreated Dismantle. Sukuna's cursed technique from Jujutsu Kaisen.
The very concept.
Effortlessly and Casually.
How… how did he even think of this before I did? Haru thought, stunned. He was an embarrassment to all reincarnaters.
But he quickly threw that thought out of his and mind and his eyes lit up. "Noir… you are a genius."
Diablo smiled warmly. "Is that so? I mean I have been told that quite often. Well, keep in mind that the technique isn't particularly practical. It only inflicts physical damage. Anyone with advanced regeneration can simply regrow what they lose, and those with multi-layered barriers could block it entirely. You should only use the cuts to distract the opponent by cutting at the surroundings."
Haru shook his head. "No, I can make it work."
Diablo said "Oh,"
Haru could make it work because he had the unique skill.
Soul Scholar.
If he directly touched someone's soul, he could read it, understand it and analyze it.
And once he understood a soul's structure, he could modify Diablo's magicule slash… into a true soul-cutting technique. Effectively recreating Yuji Itadrori`s version of cleave that he used on Sukuna during the raid.
A cut that severes the core, making regeneration meaningless.
As for barriers…
Once he mastered dispelling techniques like Diablo, even multi-layered defenses wouldn't matter.
Long-range slashes.
Close-quarters dominance.
Barrier nullification.
Soul-level execution.
Thank you, Diablo-sensei, Haru thought, eyes burning with excitement.
With this, he was one step closer to becoming a true monster.
Diablo then asked "Care to share. The technique is not something I plan to use, but learning new things is a hobby of mine."
Haru fell into thought. Telling Diablo how he would improve his slashes would require him to reveal his unique skill. Could he trust Diablo like that. What if they became enemies in the future and Diablo used this to attack him. He had said it himself that information is a number one importance in battle.
Diablo seeing Haru`s silence and hesitance smiled and said ''Does this way involve a unique skill maybe?''
Haru was not dumb enough to think Diablo had not figured out that he had a unique skill. The man had been watching him and following him since he was reincarnated into this world. So he just replied ''Yes, it involves a unique skill.''
Diablo smiles and says ''Mhh, I see why it would be a problem sharing this then, But I really am curious. How about this, I share what my unique skill is first. Would that make it better?''
Haru though well he already knew what Diablo`s unique skill was. Temptation. It allowed him to influence or dominate weaker wills and make enemies hesitate, fall into illusions, or lose focus. But Haru saw no reason to refuse this request from Diablo. The man was training him and expecting nothing in return. Plus this could make learning from Diablo much easier.
So Haru responded ''Sure.''
Diablo smiled and responded ''Wonderful. My Unique Skill is called Temptation. A fitting name, is it not? It allows me to touch the hearts and souls of others… and gently guide them toward the choice I desire.
When I focus upon someone, I can feel their emotions, their doubts, their weaknesses. Their fear… their pride… their hatred, every little thread that holds their will together. I can pull those threads apart, or tighten them until they strangle the mind.
If I will it, the weak simply fall into despair. Their courage dissolves. Their thoughts scatter. Their bodies freeze."
Haru thinks Diablo really went into detail didn't he. But feigning ignorance he asks ''So is it like mind control?''
Diablo smiles and says '' Mind control? No, that would be crude. Instead, I offer them a simple truth: resisting me is meaningless.''
Haru says ''I see.''
Diablo then says ''Well then, it is your turn.''
Haru sighs and starts explaining 'My unique skill is called Soul Scholar. It allows me to touch, study and interact with the soul.''
Diablo says ''Oh, that's a pretty powerful skill indeed, and how does it help with the cutting technique?''
Haru responds ''Well, after touching one`s soul I can adjust my slashes according to the strength of their soul and cut straight into it.''
Diablo nods thoughtfully and says ''I see, that is indeed smart. Plus that skill of yours has many other utilities that can make this training a lot easier.''
Haru smiles and internally says yes Diablo. Make this training easier and let me study your soul. I am sure there are so many abilities there, that you have been honing since Veldanava walked the world. Let me have them.
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