Edward moved cautiously through the thick jungle, every step deliberate. His bare boots pressed into damp soil, avoiding snapping sticks or rustling leaves. Sunlight filtered through the canopy, scattering in uneven shafts across the forest floor. The air smelled of wet earth and growing plants, heavy with moss and decomposing foliage. He paused often, crouching behind roots or leaning against broad trunks, listening to the subtle rustle of leaves, the distant croak of frogs, and the occasional chirp of birds startled by his presence.
He summoned Ash and Fang briefly, letting their senses stretch into the surrounding jungle. They twitched in anticipation, their forms blending into the shadows. Soon, faint traces of a human presence were detected. Someone was moving carefully through the undergrowth, quiet but deliberate. Edward noted the direction and intensity, heart rate picking up, and then he unsummoned the dogs to conserve his cursed energy.
Edward inched forward, crouching under low-hanging vines and stepping over roots and decayed branches. Birds fluttered overhead, startled by his movement, and a small monkey leapt across the canopy. Insects buzzed in tight spirals around him. Every sound, every subtle shift in the jungle demanded attention.
'The jungle is alive,' he thought. 'Every rustle, every shadow could mean danger. I need to move deliberately and conserve my cursed energy. Gama is my backup, but I must remain unseen.'
He paused behind a dense fern, noticing how the shifting light created patches of shadow that could conceal him or betray him depending on his positioning. He imagined potential scenarios if the human became aggressive. Gama could strike first if needed.
Time stretched as he moved through the undergrowth. He crawled under branches, stepped over mossy trunks, and carefully pushed aside vines. Every step was calculated. His mind raced through strategies.
'A human,' he thought again, 'moving carefully. No cursed energy signature. I can't sense them in the same way. I'll have to rely on visual cues my shadows perception. Stay calm, Edward. Don't make sudden moves.'
The jungle closed in around him. Dense ferns blocked his view, vines hung like curtains, and shafts of sunlight illuminated the shifting floor. His heart beat steadily but alertly. He imagined potential scenarios: the human might be armed, they could be aggressive, or they might simply pass by. He could not risk assuming anything.
He summoned Gama in a nearby tree, shifting the massive toad into shadows so he remained mostly unseen. Edward's mind raced with possibilities. If the human got too close, Gama could strike with a surprise attack from above, using his size and tongue to ensnare or impede. He did not fully trust the jungle or the unknown figure moving nearby.
'Better to have him ready,' Edward thought. 'Ash and Fang only alerted me. I can't leave them out too long. Gama can hold position and attack if necessary.'
Every small noise made him tense: a bird calling, leaves brushing together, a branch snapping slightly under unseen weight. He adjusted Gama's position with subtle hand gestures, the massive toad shifting into better concealment, its shadow blending with the darker patches of trees above.
'If he comes this close, I will need to react,' Edward thought. 'Gama is not a fighter for me yet, he's used to control the battlefield, a safeguard. I need to ensure he isn't seen too early. If I summon the dogs now, I risk revealing too much.'
He crawled forward, ducking under a low-hanging branch, careful to keep his movements silent. The air was thick, heavy with moisture and the scent of wet earth. His mind ran through contingencies: routes for retreat, alternative positions for summoning shikigami, fallback points where he could conserve energy. Each step was deliberate, a balance between speed and stealth.
Edward crouched behind a large root, letting the toad's presence act as an unseen guardian. He could feel Gama responding to his focus, shifting slightly, watching. No sudden movements, no attention drawn. He inched forward again, keeping his senses wide, eyes alert for the slightest hint of the human's location.
Time stretched as he navigated through dense foliage, every step measured. The jungle seemed to stretch endlessly, every sound amplified, every shadow suspicious. Edward's mind ran through his cursed energy reserves, the toad's feedback, and possible human behaviours. He calculated distances, noting potential vantage points and areas of concealment.
'If I am too aggressive, I will reveal my presence,' he thought. 'Too passive, and he might stumble across me unexpectedly. I need balance.'
Finally, as he rounded a moss-covered boulder, he caught a glimpse of movement, subtle but deliberate, among the ferns in the clearing ahead. Edward froze. He knew that he would see the human properly soon.
A faint glimmer of movement caught his eye. Edward froze, observing a subtle sway in the ferns. He realized that this was likely the human the dogs had sensed, moving carefully, unseen by Gama's passive observation. 'He is cautious,' Edward thought. 'Not reckless. I need to match that caution and maintain the upper hand. I can't misread this.'
'There he is,' Edward thought, heart beating faster but controlled. 'I need to remain calm. Observe, assess, and prepare. Gama will watch silently until I need him, and I need to be ready for any outcome.'
Edward shifted into a low crouch, maintaining the toad's presence above him, and inched forward. His eyes stayed on the movement, his mind running through contingencies and possible interactions.
'This is it,' he thought. 'The first human I've encountered in this environment. I can't rely on instinct alone. Planning, observation, and calm execution are everything.'
'He doesn't have cursed energy ,' Edward thought. 'He's cautious. I need to match that caution and remain unseen until I understand his abilities.'
Edward stepped slightly forward, keeping his voice low. "Hey," he called. "I don't want a fight. Stay calm."
The man turned, regarding Edward steadily. He showed curiosity and caution, but no shock. Edward noticed the slight tension in his shoulders, the way his eyes scanned the surrounding shadows.
"You're not hiding much," the man said, voice steady. "But I see you're careful."
Edward stayed still, nodding. 'I need to test his temperament before revealing anything more,' he thought. 'Stay calm, observe, and be precise with what I show.'
Edward stepped a bit closer. "I'm Edward. This jungle is dangerous, and I want to avoid unnecessary fights. We should stay aware of each other."
The man tilted his head slightly. "Mark," he said. "I've been observing this area. I can move quietly, but I know something's out there. That thing in the tree… I see it."
Edward's stomach dropped. 'He noticed Gama,' he thought, shocked and instantly more guarded. 'He knows it's there. I need to keep composure. I can't show panic or overreact. Keep calm, Edward. Observe and adapt.'
Mark's gaze shifted subtly, scanning the shadows around Edward as if he were measuring his potential. "That toad," he said. "It moves differently than the normal wildlife. I can tell."
Edward remained silent, considering his next words. 'He sees patterns, picks up movements. I can't reveal anything more yet. I need to gauge his intent.'
He kept his posture relaxed, eyes flicking to the tree where Gama remained still. 'Better to stay calm,' he thought. 'I can't show panic.'
Mark continued, calm but skeptical. "What is that energy?" he asked.
Edward was surprised he could sense even that. "It's cursed energy, my abilities come from the Jujutsu Kaisen verse."
Mark's gaze sharpened slightly. "Interesting," he said. "I don't have cursed energy. I rolled One Piece on the system wheel."
Edward processed this, still tense. 'One Piece huh? That explains the lack of cursed energy. Different rules, different abilities. I need to avoid assumptions and stay measured.'
Mark smiled faintly. "I started with a thousand points," he said.
Edward agreed. 'I did too,' he thought. Then, he considered his own status. 'I have ten extra points. Cursed energy manipulation could benefit from even a small boost. I'll invest them now and see if it makes a difference.'
He shifted subtly, allocating the points in his mind. The improvement was immediate. 'Control feels smoother,' he thought. 'I can direct commands more accurately, anticipate instinctive feedback better. Every bit counts.'
"Normally, you shouldn't be able to see my shadows without cursed energy, but verse equalization seems to be in effect." remarked Edward.
"Seems so" Mark replied.
The conversation gradually grew more cautious but practical. They discussed the dangers of the jungle, possible threats from other humans, and how the environment could be used to their advantage. Mark asked pointed questions, testing Edward's honesty and reasoning. Edward remained measured, careful not to reveal too much but allowing glimpses of his capability.
'Temporary alliances are fragile,' he thought. 'But they are necessary. Survival depends on coordination. Planning, observation, and cursed energy management are everything right now.'
They moved together through the undergrowth, sharing observations, noting paths that offered concealment, and discussing potential fallback points. Edward kept Gama in his mind, ready for a surprise strike if circumstances required it, but leaving the toad undisturbed for stealth.
After some time, they came to an understanding about cooperation. Edward signalled silently to Gama, unsummoning him. 'Better to maintain calm in the jungle,' he thought. 'The alliance is now in effect, and Gama's presence is no longer needed for this stage.'
They paused near a small clearing, catching their breath and surveying their surroundings. Edward's mind raced through possibilities: cursed energy reserves, shikigami deployment, environmental hazards, and potential threats from other humans.
'Observation Haki,' Edward thought, considering Mark's behaviour after the discussion of the wheel. 'That explains how he noticed Gama and tracked my movements. His abilities are different, but effective. I need to plan around them carefully.'
As night fell, they mapped preliminary paths and fallback points, staying alert to the sounds of insects, animals, and shifting foliage. Edward remained vigilant, calculating, and aware that any misstep could bring danger.
'We can survive this stage together,' Edward thought. 'But only if we remain careful, coordinated, and aware. The jungle has its own challenges, but human threats are just as dangerous.'
The canopy above let in stars, faintly illuminating their small clearing. Edward felt the tension in every nerve, the jungle alive around them, and the weight of the ongoing battle royale pressing on both of them.