[1st POV]
(The Kurogane clan training ground)
The Kurogane Clan, just like any other Jujutsu clan, had a large training ground at the centre of the compound. It occupied the largest area as if to signify the importance of strength and training in this world.
Since the clan compound was located in a mountain range, the training ground was split into multiple levels. There was a wide open space arena at the very top, often used to hold mock battles and sometimes for ritual battles.
This was where my father trained me most days.
"There is something different about you today," my father said while watching me from the side.
We were already done with morning training but I still insisted on training by myself even after the hellish session was over. I rarely did this before. I mean, what kind of a child would I be if I did more than what was asked?
Children lacked vision, goals and oftentimes, ambitions. That was why they need discipline at the early stages of their life, especially when they need to grow exceptional.
But I was no longer just a child.
"Different?" I asked while huffing out a tired breath. I was in the middle of a push-up set; had he not been my father, I might not have replied at all while in the middle of a set.
"Yes," my father answered with a nod. His eyes narrowed at me briefly before they relaxed with a smile.
"I guess you are excited to work hard since you just awakened your cursed technique," he said, coming to that conclusion by himself.
You would be surprised how effortless lying is if you just let people come up with their own answers. It was when you talk too much and try to change a person's mind that you mess up a lie.
"Definitely," I said. I was at a point in the exercises where you had to do weird wiggles just to push yourself up. But the David Goggins in me said I still have at least ten.
After three more trembling push-ups, my arms became jelly under me, and I collapsed. I tasted the dirt, but I did not move. I rolled over while spitting the sand out of my mouth.
My body betrayed me. Sorry David.
"It's not healthy to push yourself so hard. At a certain threshold, you do more harm to yourself than good," my father said.
Maybe it was for humans, but I was more than that now. I was a dragon more than a man. I'm sure those rules didn't apply to me, and I need to find my own limits.
"Yes, sir," I said, tone as tired as my body.
My father sighed, "You know, it would do both of us a lot of good if you just tell me what your cursed technique is instead of keeping it to yourself. I am your father and your clan leader. You can trust me."
I did not give a reply, not because I wanted to, but because I had no reply. I was not sure what to tell him yet. I could make up a lie now that would explain my current abilities, but what about when I gain more? Do I just hide those away if my initial lie didn't cover for them?
No. I thought it would be better if I never gave an explicit detail about my cursed technique. At least until I came up with a better alternative or I became strong enough that I could survive with limited abilities.
"Does it involve sacrificing anyone by any chance? Virgin blood? Baby heads?" he asked and my eyes widened. He was completely serious.
I sat up and gave him a look.
"What? Cursed techniques come with their own territories. Besides, the horns are misleading," my father shrugged.
I never realized how loose my father was around me until I gained my memories. I knew I was hailed as some type of prodigy but he was not treating me as you would a child that just turned seven.
"What's a virgin?" I asked what I should.
"Oops," he whispered, "Innocent? Yeah, it means innocent people. Like you."
"Uh-huh," I nodded.
I lay back down in silence. I looked at the endless expanse of the sky, and with the fatigue slowly melting from my body, it made me become thoughtful. What was I going to do next? I had all this opportunity in front of me that it made me freeze up, not knowing what to do.
I had a second chance in life. I had this system with me that opened up endless opportunities for the future. I could do virtually anything I want, as long as I still worked for it.
At the same time, I mourned briefly for what I lost back in my other life. My father died when I was young and my mother remarried. So I was living with my step-father and my half-siblings.
They were all loving and caring towards me. Maybe I was not as loved as their own family but they never treated me wrong. I had also reached a point in my gaming career when I could be considered successful. I didn't want to sound arrogant but I had a very bright future ahead.
But all of that was gone in an instant and made to start over again, albeit with no limit placed on me this time. The only reason why I was not grieving was because this second life honestly felt more real to me.
Yet the question remained. What now?
...
I got up. My body felt much better now. My body recovered from the ruthless fatigue like it was a light jog. The strain remained but so was my strength.
"Dad," I called out.
"Hm?" my father responded while putting the teaching stick on his shoulder.
"Fight me," I said.
"???" he was confused, as he should be.
"I can't tell you exactly what my cursed technique is, but I can show you," I said.
He blinked and then gave a toothy grin. "Sure, works for me."
Battle points. That was the main currency of the system and everything revolved around that. There were quite a few rules and limitations but the way to earn this was quite straightforward. Fight, battle, fight, battle, fight, battle.
I was still not sure what I wanted to do but let's start with giving myself a responsibility. I had this system which I was sure not a lot of people had. It was partly my responsibility to appreciate it and put it into full use to the best of my abilities.
My step-father always said opportunity wasted is an insult to those who want the same opportunity but never got one. If you got lucky, you need to do it right and always be grateful.
Besides, what gamer needs a reason to be the best? Although it might sound silly, I always wanted to murder Sukuna for everything that he did in the anime. So let's get strong enough to be able to do that.
The road to strength was clearly paved and prepared for me with the existence of Battle Points and how to earn them. So let's walk down that road until I find my own purpose in this world.
"Okay, here I come!!" I said and sprinted towards my waiting father.
....
[DEFEAT!!]
[77 Battle Points earned]
..
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