After recovering from the initial shock of her newfound strength, Mai took a mont to test her abilities. Focusing intently, she extended her hand and allowed her cursed energy to flow naturally, visualizing a familiar shape. A second later, a small cursed object materialized in her palm—a perfectly crafted cursed bullet.
Her eyes widened in disbelief as she turned the bullet over, inspecting its precise shape. There wasn't even a hint of strain on her body, a stark contrast to her previous attempts at using her Construction technique. In the past, every bullet she created had cost her dearly, draining her life force and leaving her breathless. But now, the process felt almost effortless. In fact, she had a strange sense that she could produce a thousand more bullets without breaking a sweat.
Testing her theory, she created another, then another. Each bullet was as perfect as the first, and yet she felt no fatigue. The realization hit her all at once—this was freedom. True freedom from the curse that had shackled her for so long.
Mai looked up at Ryuji, her expression softening as gratitude welled up inside her. "Thank you, Ryuji," she said earnestly, her voice carrying an unfamiliar gentleness. "I can't express how much this ans to ."
Ryuji leaned back casually, his posture as relaxed as ever. He shrugged, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "It's a small matter," he replied nonchalantly. Then, with a glance toward Maki, he added, "As long as Maki is happy, that's all that matters to ."
Mai froze for a mont, her gratitude dimming slightly as a flicker of jealousy sparked within her. Her lips tightened into a thin line, but she quickly suppressed the feeling.
"You'll need to work on practicing your cursed technique," Ryuji said, his tone turning more instructive. "This power you've unlocked will only reach its full potential with practice and creativity."
Before Mai could respond, Ryuji raised his hand, channeling his overwhelming cursed energy. Mai and Maki watched closely as an intricate construct began to take shape. It started with the outline of a long barrel, followed by the body of the weapon, each detail coming together with precision. Within monts, a fully crafted sniper rifle materialized in his hands.
But Ryuji wasn't done. With a subtle infusion of cursed energy, the rifle began to radiate a faint glow. He had imbued the weapon with a cursed technique of sure-hit, ensuring that every shot fired would strike its target with unerring accuracy.
Mai stared, dumbfounded. "Wait… you have the sa ability as ?" she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.
Ryuji handed her the rifle, his expression calm. "Cursed Construct," he explained simply. "I used an ability that works the sa as your cursed technique."
Maki didn't seem particularly surprised by this revelation. She had long since grown accustod to seeing Ryuji use abilities he had supposedly copied from others. But for Mai, it was a shocking and humbling mont.
"Take it," Ryuji said, extending the rifle toward her. "I know you'll make good use of it."
Mai hesitated, her hand hovering near the weapon. She had never been one to accept charity, especially from soone she barely knew. But the craftsmanship of the rifle was undeniable, and she couldn't deny the temptation to wield such an exceptional cursed tool.
As if sensing her reluctance, Ryuji added, "But don't rely on it too much. You'll need to train in close combat with Maki, and more importantly, learn to create objects under high-pressure conditions. That's the only way to master your technique."
Mai bit her lip, torn between her pride and her gratitude. Before she could make a decision, Maki stepped forward, her voice firm yet reassuring. "Don't worry about it, Mai," she said. "Compared to what Ryuji's already done for us, this is nothing."
Hearing her sister's words eased Mai's internal struggle. With a quiet nod, she finally accepted the rifle, her fingers brushing against its cold, smooth surface.
"Thank you," Mai said softly, her voice barely audible. A single tear slipped down her cheek as she spoke, though she wiped it away quickly, unwilling to show any more vulnerability than she already had.
Ryuji's response was simple, yet sohow reassuring. "It's alright," he said, his tone calm and steady.
The mont was undeniably touching, though it was clear that Mai's thoughts had already begun drifting elsewhere. As she cradled the rifle in her hands, her mind raced with possibilities. For the first ti in years, she felt truly empowered—free from the limitations that had always defined her. But amidst her gratitude, a more personal ambition began to take shape.
A sly smile tugged at the corner of her lips as she glanced at Ryuji. He's strong. Really strong.
Mai had always been drawn to power. It was why she had once hung around soone like Aoi Todo, a fellow powerhouse who commanded attention and respect. She had always been the type to bully the weak and worship the strong—a classic example of soone who valued dominance above all else.
And now, standing before her was Ryuji, a man who had effortlessly broken her curse, handed her a cursed tool of unparalleled quality, and demonstrated a mastery of the sa technique she had only just begun to explore. How could she not be intrigued?
"Hey, Ryuji," Mai said, her tone suddenly lighter, almost cheerful. "Can I have your number?"
Maki raised an eyebrow at the question, her expression a mix of curiosity and mild annoyance. However, she chose not to comnt, rely watching the exchange in silence.
Ryuji, for his part, seed entirely unfazed. "Why not," he replied with a casual shrug.
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