The battle was no longer in suspense. Even if Megumi summoned Mahoraga again now, it would be useless, because Mahoraga needed time to slowly adapt. If it was a one-hit kill technique, Mahoraga could never adapt to it.
Megumi would lose. Tsumiki Fushiguro made the final verdict. Tsumiki withdrew her gaze.
The calico cat in her arms suddenly jumped down, letting out a meow. Tsumiki formed a hand seal with both hands and whispered softly:
"—Technique Release:"
"—Probability Change."
Probability Change was Kinji Hakari's Innate Technique. He could rely on this technique's effect to hit the Jackpot with the highest probability within his Domain Expansion. The Jackpot would then grant Hakari infinite Cursed Energy. But that is the combination of Probability Change and Hakari's Domain. If used purely on its own, what would happen?
The Cursed Energy of this world holds infinite possibilities, and the generation of Innate Techniques lies within these possibilities. The clan techniques of the Zen'in and Gojo families in the original work are examples. The Zen'in family head's technique should be the Ten Shadows Technique, but even pure-blood Zen'ins rarely birth children with the Ten Shadows. The same goes for Satoru Gojo; sometimes the Six Eyes appear without the Limitless, sometimes the Limitless appears but the child's eyes aren't the Six Eyes.
This makes technique inheritance problematic for both the Zen'in and Gojo clans.
Can you imagine? The head of the Ten Shadows inheritance family possessing the unrelated Projection Sorcery.
Even in the original work, when Naoya Zen'in discussed the topic of brothers with Choso, he arrogantly stated he was special, while his brothers didn't even inherit the Projection Sorcery technique.
From this, it's clear that even direct bloodlines struggle to inherit their parents' Innate Techniques.
The world of Cursed Energy is just like that. No matter how much you study or deliberate, randomness ultimately outweighs stability. In fact, it's not just family inheritance—didn't Kenjaku say in the original work that the appearance of Cursed Spirit Manipulation in this generation was the key reason he decided to launch the general attack? And which sorcerer family did that Cursed Spirit Manipulation user come from?
The answer is none. Suguru Geto's parents were completely civilians.
This is the randomness of the Cursed Energy world. It's also why Satoru Gojo told Yuji Itadori right at the start that for a Jujutsu Sorcerer, talent accounts for eighty percent, leaving only twenty percent for effort.
But Probability Change... alters all of this.
Kinji Hakari once said that his technique could allow him to hit the Jackpot within 30 tries in any gamble.
In other words, as long as the possibility exists, Probability Change can realize it. It's only a matter of time. Why does Hakari's Domain grant infinite Cursed Energy? Ultimately, it's because it is *actually possible* for Hakari to obtain infinite Cursed Energy. The Domain Expansion maximizes the space for this possibility, and combined with Hakari's own Probability Change technique, infinite Cursed Energy takes form.
Hakari only has the Probability Change ability, and his thoughts are limited to Cursed Energy aspects. This is because Probability Change is ultimately a functional technique that only affects oneself. For Hakari, who only has this technique, infinite Cursed Energy is already the highest value Jackpot.
But that's only if it's a rare ability possessed alone. What if it's combined with other techniques?
Convert randomness into a fixed option. Converge all possibilities into a singularity.
After releasing Probability Change, Tsumiki formed another seal. Before the seal was complete, she had already established a strict Binding Vow:
The armor constructed next cannot appear outside the Dream Migration.
The armor constructed next cannot exist for more than 10 minutes.
The armor constructed next will undergo conceptual weakening, retaining only the core abilities.
The armor constructed next cannot use any weapons in any sense.
The armor constructed next will consume all of the caster's Cursed Energy.
The armor constructed next—
—Can only manifest when battling Ryomen Sukuna.
"—Technique Release:"
"—Construction Technique: [Imperial Sky Knight]!"
*Click.*
A giant green and white clock appeared behind Tsumiki. She spread her arms. The hour hand of the green clock moved. With every tick, the Cursed Energy pulsed. The Cursed Energy on Tsumiki's body evaporated in an instant. Her body was drained of all Cursed Energy, replaced by a 'Thing' distinctly different from Cursed Energy descending.
*Dong. Dong. Dong.*
The clock aligned to 12 o'clock, and suddenly a massive bell toll resounded.
A fluctuation came from the distant horizon. In the far sky, primitive programming code flickered in and out of existence. Responding to the mysterious code was Tsumiki's waist—a driver belt had buckled itself there unbeknownst to anyone.
In Tsumiki's open hands, a Gashat cartridge appeared.
"At this moment, it is time for judgment."
KAMEN RIDER CHRONICLE
Accompanied by the tolling bell, the cartridge flew from Tsumiki's hand and inserted into the driver's slot.
BUGGLE UP.
The giant clock opened, revealing an unknown dimension within. All the sacrificed Cursed Energy was swallowed by the space behind the gate. Then, the energy spewed from the gate sprayed onto Tsumiki's body. Finally—
Imperial Sky Knight, Chronicle Inscribed.
*This moment is the ultimate time!*
All energy erupted. Every sorcerer in the barrier felt a palpitation in their hearts simultaneously. A golden wave radiated from Tsumiki. A suit of armor now covered her. A helmet with a fixed, wind-swept hair design, a faceplate portraying cold eyes and an emotionless expression, armor covering all skin, and a long coat hem covering her calves.
The moment the energy erupted, a golden clock formed behind her, flashing out of existence.
2017. Kamen Rider Chronicle. Embedded from fantasy into reality.
This was Probability Change + Construction Technique. The strongest armor constructed by the strongest Construction user in a thousand years. The final answer of the Construction Technique: [Kamen Rider · Imperial Sky Knight]!
The Imperial Sky Knight made a slight crouching motion. Then.
*BANG!*
Half the high-rise was destroyed by the recoil. Glass and reinforced concrete exploded together. A massive shockwave spread in all directions, shaking the heavens and the earth. But faster than the shockwave was a green rider flying out. The Imperial Sky Knight leaped, accompanied by storm, by killing intent, by absolute power and majesty.
She crossed over a thousand meters and arrived at the scene.
*BOOM!*
Ryomen Sukuna subconsciously looked up at the sky. From his perspective, it looked like a meteor composed of unknown energy was approaching at high speed. Ring after ring of sonic boom clouds trailed behind this meteor. Because this wasn't Cursed Energy, Sukuna's sensing was completely ineffective. He could only determine that this energy was so magnificent that even his body trembled slightly.
This trembling was not fear, but excitement.
Knowledge unknown to Ryomen Sukuna had appeared in this world, right before his eyes! Even Satoru Gojo, even the Lord of Cursed Spirits, had not aroused his curiosity and sadism like this unknown energy.
In the original work, when Ryomen Sukuna faced the Heavenly Tyrant Maki Zen'in, the feeling arising in his heart was the same as now. The incomparably selfish Sukuna, who never felt a sense of mission, now felt a sensation of "I must do this." In the original work, it was to prove which was the superior conundrum: Cursed Energy or the flesh. Now, it was to prove whether this unknown energy born of Cursed Energy but distinct from it was superior, or if Cursed Energy itself was superior.
Ryomen Sukuna moved his foot off Yuji Itadori's body. Yuji had no strength left, yet he still shouted unyieldingly, "What's wrong, Sukuna? Running away?!"
Sukuna said indifferently, "I've lost interest in you. Although your potential did exceed my expectations, you don't know how to use it yourself... You have such excellent growth space in the [Dream Migration], yet you only unlocked one technique. Your stupidity makes me feel pity. A you like this is no longer worthy of being killed by me. Scram."
"Suku—na—!" Yuji screamed.
"...Dismantle." Sukuna waved his hand casually. Yuji Itadori waited quietly for death.
Death my ass! Yuji immediately rolled his body. A slash was carved into the spot where he had just rolled. If he had hesitated for even an instant, he would have definitely been cut in two by now.
He struggled to stand up, but failed after two or three attempts. Seeing him so pathetic, Sukuna was very impatient:
"You haven't even redeemed the Reverse Cursed Technique? No wonder you always dodged my attacks so carefully. I thought you were wary of my Cleave, but it turns out you just don't know Reverse Cursed Technique at all."
Easy for you to say! Yuji gasped for air. To keep up with Ryomen Sukuna's physical stats in just two short months, he had to completely abandon reinforcement in other areas. Yuji knew Reverse Cursed Technique would be a great supplement to his combat power, but he simply didn't have the points to redeem it!
In the original work, Yuji was able to use Reverse Cursed Technique in a short time because he ate the Cursed Womb: Death Paintings and was taught by someone who knew RCT. Even then, he only succeeded at the very last moment. Now, compared to RCT, a high-power slash that could defeat almost all enemies—or two or three slashes for those it couldn't—became a path dependency he formed unknowingly. This gave him no motivation to learn Reverse Cursed Technique.
Yuji was preparing to roar loudly. In the next instant, the meteor from the sky crashed in front of him and Ryomen Sukuna.
*BOOM!*
It felt like the whole world lurched. Yuji, who had just managed to stand firm, fell to the ground. Before his eyes, a massive amount of dust rose slowly. The space around where he and Sukuna fought, already destroyed, now formed a massive curtain of dust, as if the entire world were covered in ash.
Yuji raised his hand. The shockwave slammed into him, rolling him like a rubber ball through the dust curtain. Finally, he rolled out of the massive veil of dust, grey-faced and dirty. He raised his hand. A hand glowing with unknown energy flickered slightly within the dust. Then—
*Whoosh!*
A massive storm rose out of thin air. All the dust was erased as easily as an eraser wiping away pencil marks. Yuji's heart pounded wildly. He couldn't tell if it was fear or excitement. The person who fell as a meteor finally appeared before his eyes.
"You're kidding," Yuji muttered to himself.
The Imperial Sky Knight appeared before Ryomen Sukuna.
Sukuna curled his lips and spoke first, "Truly an interesting toy. Yorozu. I didn't expect that a thousand years later, you would have the ability to break through this much... That energy, it's not Cursed Energy, is it? How did you do it?"
Yorozu? Yuji screamed in disbelief, "Don't tell me, it's Fushiguro-nee?!"
The Imperial Sky Knight moved the eyes depicted on her faceplate slightly. It seemed to be a "glancing" motion.
Her voice was mixed with the heavy tolling of a bell, sounding like thunder: "Sukuna-sama, now finally, no one can disturb our battle."
"Have you finished crafting the Cursed Tool?" Sukuna asked.
"Long finished." Imperial Sky Knight said, "According to the agreement, as long as you defeat me, I will offer the Cursed Tool. Conversely, if I defeat you..."
Speaking to this point, the Imperial Sky Knight paused.
In the original work, the ancient sorcerer Yorozu's wager with Sukuna was that if she won, she would require Sukuna to marry her. But the current Yorozu was a color mixed from a modern soul and an ancient soul. Although Tsumiki Fushiguro still held special feelings for Ryomen Sukuna, she had lost interest in marrying him.
For her, this battle was 'Closure'.
But as to exactly what she was bringing 'Closure' to, Tsumiki Fushiguro was still lost.
Sukuna said casually, "Then I'll do whatever you want."
The Imperial Sky Knight snapped back to reality. Right, no matter what the request is, as long as she defeats Sukuna, she can get an answer. For example:
"No eating humans. No losing your temper. Before others endanger you, you are not allowed to strike. Obey modern laws and regulations. If injured, notify the police immediately," she muttered to herself.
Sukuna smiled mockingly. "Do you take me for a child born in peaceful times?! Yorozu!"
The Imperial Sky Knight also laughed. She laughed at her own stupidity.
Right, Ryomen Sukuna isn't Megumi Fushiguro. Although Megumi always causes trouble and fights with people, kindness exists in his heart. But Sukuna is different. He is self-centered to the point of being unrivaled. His nature is evil. Such a person cannot live properly in modern society, because he is a Jujutsu Sorcerer willful enough to perform an open-barrier Domain Expansion!
So, the only way for him to stay 'properly' in modern society is:
"Then my condition is... Please go to the Yellow Springs (Hell)," she said.
Ryomen Sukuna revealed a hideous grin. "Now that... is correct!"
In the next instant, without warning, Sukuna raised his hand.
"Dismantle—!"