This Kid is a Danger

Geto swung his crimson tri-staff through the air, unleashing an invisible shockwave that shattered the surrounding stone spires like brittle twigs. The vibrations of his attack echoed through the rocky arena, yet Ryosuke, still levitating, remained unfazed. With a subtle wave of his hand, the debris swirled together, forming a dense barrier that rose between them.

A predatory grin spread across Geto's face as he leveled his weapon at Ryosuke. From the shadows, dozens of fiendish creatures materialized, their snarls and hisses filling the air like the cries of ravenous beasts.

They surged toward the young sorcerer with terrifying speed, jaws agape, poised to rip him apart. But mid-charge, their bodies began to disintegrate, crumbling into a fine ash that rained to the ground.

Geto's expression darkened. With a fluid motion, he vaulted forward, slicing through the barrier in a blur. His tri-staff carved the air, aimed directly at Ryosuke's skull.

Caught off guard by the sheer speed, Ryosuke couldn't react in time. The weapon struck his head with a bone-crushing force, launching him like a cannonball through the shattered stone spires. His body hit the ground with a thunderous crash, sending up a cloud of dust and rubble.

Geto landed gracefully, his tri-staff resting on his shoulder.

From beneath the debris, Ryosuke slowly rose, his body unscathed.

"I'm still waiting for you to kill me," he said, a defiant smirk playing on his lips.

Geto wasted no time. With a snap of his fingers, an enormous beast emerged from the void above him—a cyclopean monstrosity, its hulking frame armored in obsidian scales and bristling with jagged spikes. With a single earth-shaking roar, the creature swiped the air with its claws, unleashing a destructive wave that obliterated everything in its path.

The ground buckled beneath Ryosuke's feet, sending a countershock rippling outward.

The two forces collided in a deafening explosion, but the sheer raw power of the beast pushed Ryosuke back. The creature lunged at him, its cavernous jaws ready to swallow him whole.

Ryosuke narrowed his eyes. The monstrosity suddenly slowed, as if restrained by an unseen force. Cracks splintered across its armored hide, its massive body trembling.

"Not this time," he muttered.

But before he could savor his victory, Geto appeared behind him, his tri-staff plunging toward his back. The blow struck Ryosuke's side with brutal precision, twisting his body unnaturally. He spat a mouthful of blood, his knees buckling from the impact, his eyes wide with shock.

Geto followed up with a vicious kick, slamming Ryosuke to the ground and pinning him there. "You're strong, Ryosuke. But you're just a child dabbling in powers far beyond your understanding."

Ryosuke, gasping for breath, let out a raspy laugh. "And you're just a man scared of a kid."

As if startled, Geto abruptly leapt back, putting distance between himself and Ryosuke.

From the rubble, Ryosuke rose slowly, brushing off his tattered coat. His hand pressed against his side, massaging it gently. That taunting smirk returned to his face.

Perched atop a shattered boulder, Geto folded his arms, his tri-staff resting casually on his shoulder.

"Impressive," he said coolly. "Few can wield Reverse Curse Techniques as you do. Healing that wound so quickly is no small feat."

Ryosuke shrugged, a faint chuckle escaping his lips. "Credit where it's due—you managed to break through my defenses."

Geto's lips curved into a cryptic smile. "No matter how monumental the amount of CE you have, there's a limit to how much your body can release at any given moment. Maintaining a steady flow requires exceptional control. And luckily for me, you haven't mastered that level yet."

Ryosuke's eyes burned with a fierce glint. He shook his head. "Interesting… But isn't that exactly what you've been doing this whole time? I've been watching you. You're constantly coating yourself in CE, like an invisible shield."

Geto's smile widened, but he said nothing.

Ryosuke drew a deep breath. "Then… teach me. Help me grow. I want to surpass my limits."

Geto tilted his head slightly. "I'll pass. I'd rather kill you."

The fight resumed.

Geto lunged forward, his tri-staff carving deadly arcs through the air. Ryosuke evaded with superhuman agility, countering with waves of CE, invisible projectiles that sliced through the battlefield.

In a brief moment, Ryosuke's hand grazed Geto's, a tiny spark of CE searing through his skin.

Without hesitation, Geto severed his own hand in one swift motion. The limb fell to the ground with a dull thud, but Geto remained stoic, his piercing gaze locked on Ryosuke.

"Well, that's inconvenient," he muttered.

Ryosuke readjusted his stance, his expression cold and calculating. Geto glanced briefly at his freshly regenerated hand, flexing the fingers.

"So, are you really planning to keep fighting with a handicap, or are you just that stubborn?" Ryosuke taunted, a smirk tugging at his lips.

Geto's eyes narrowed slightly, his brows furrowing.

A fresh shockwave erupted as Ryosuke charged, his body slicing through the air like an arrow. Before Geto could fully react, Ryosuke unleashed a flurry of precise strikes, his fists and feet enveloped in CE, each hit detonating with bursts of raw energy.

Geto, displaying remarkable agility for his imposing frame, countered with fluid sweeps of his tri-staff. The weapon traced deadly arcs, emitting glowing red blades of energy that cut through the air.

The clash of blows reverberated like rolling thunder, forcing Ryosuke to retreat under the relentless assault. Each strike felt like a sledgehammer, and despite his best efforts to dodge and parry, Geto's overwhelming power dominated the close-quarters fight.

A particularly brutal blow struck Ryosuke's side, knocking the wind out of him. He leapt backward, creating distance, his breathing heavy but his smirk still intact.

Geto stood tall, calm as a statue, brushing a speck of dust from his coat. "You're fighting with handicaps too, aren't you?"

Ryosuke let out a short laugh. "Maybe I am."

Geto surveyed the battlefield. The shattered stone spires, craters, and swirling dust painted a scene of chaos. He sighed, shaking his head slightly.

"We've gone too far," he remarked, his tri-staff vanishing as if by magic. He fixed Ryosuke with a penetrating stare. "Listen closely, kid. I have nothing against you Jujutsu sorcerers. But you… you're an obstacle. Not now, maybe, but soon. And I need to remove that obstacle before it becomes insurmountable."

Ryosuke crossed his arms, his smirk hardening. "Then why waste time talking instead of finishing the job? Getting sentimental?"

Geto let out a deep, resonant laugh. "Sentimental? Me? No, I'm just being realistic. If I want to kill you, I'll have to give it everything I've got. Absolutely everything. And you know it too, Ryosuke. You're talented—maybe even a prodigy. But you weren't ready to go all out either."

Geto took a step back, then, with a graceful leap, landed on the back of a winged beast that rose slowly into the sky.

"You really think I'll let you leave just like that?" Ryosuke called out.

Geto glanced over his shoulder. "Yes. Because you understand, just like I do. Neither of us wants to destroy more than necessary for a duel. And you know you're not ready. Not yet."

Ryosuke clenched his fists but didn't move, watching as Geto ascended higher.

"December, kid," Geto said with a sly grin. "I'll be waiting. Show me how far you can go by then. Don't disappoint me."

With those words, he vanished into the sky, leaving Ryosuke standing amidst the ruins. The tension drained from Ryosuke's body as he relaxed his stance, a wry smile spreading across his face.

"December, huh?" he murmured, his grin growing sharper. "Next time, I won't hold back."

TO BE CONTINUED!

Next Chapter: You...