MTS: Marvel and Beyond

Chapter 168: Chapter 168: Spar

From outward appearance alone, Alex looked about twenty years old, making it entirely plausible for him to enroll as a new student.

Gojo Satoru suddenly became interested and said with a grin:

"Of course, Grandpa, you can absolutely enroll. But before enrolling, every student must go through a small test. Most of the time, I'm the one who conducts it.

All you have to do is spar with me for a while and avoid losing. If you manage that, you'll earn your spot!"

Alex immediately guessed what Gojo was planning—clearly, he wanted to test Alex's current strength.

After all, in Gojo's understanding, Alex, who possessed the Six Eyes and wielded the Limitless Cursed Technique, already had the combat power of a Special Grade Sorcerer. Not only that, Alex likely stood at the pinnacle of Special Grade power.

Beyond testing his strength, Alex suspected Gojo might also be looking for an exhilarating battle. After all, Gojo had been undefeated for so long that he must have felt lonely.

Principal Yaga didn't stop Gojo's impulsive decision, as he was just as curious about Alex's power.

A confrontation between an unprecedented variant Six Eyes and the traditional Six Eyes—who would emerge victorious?

The prospect was too intriguing for Yaga to resist.

Even so, Yaga already had a prediction in his mind. After all, even if they both had the Six Eyes, Gojo Satoru was the strongest.

The Six Eyes were merely a tool for him—not the reason behind his unmatched strength.

Thus, Gojo was the likely victor.

Another factor influencing Yaga's judgment was Alex's apparent youth.

Compared to Gojo's twenty-eight years, Alex lacked several years of growth.

For a genius, a few years could make an astronomical difference in power and experience.

The trio weren't ones to hesitate. After making their decision, they left the principal's office and headed to a wide-open area outside.

Along the way, they passed other members of the Tokyo Metropolitan Jujutsu Technical School: Nanami Kento, Ieiri Shoko, and the second-year students.

When these individuals saw Alex, who had a similar Six Eyes, about to spar with Gojo, they immediately dropped what they were doing. They couldn't wait to witness this unprecedented clash between two Six Eyes users.

The second-year Panda was especially excited. Clenching his fists, he anxiously watched the two figures in the distance and turned to Zenin Maki to ask: "Maki, who do you think will win?"

Maki didn't hesitate, answering directly: "It's obvious. Of course, it's Gojo-sensei. He's the strongest of our era. Even if he's unreliable."

Inumaki Toge nodded in agreement. "Bonito flakes."

---

In the arena, Gojo began stretching and warming up for the fight, while Alex remained standing with his hands in his pockets, exuding an air of indifference.

This annoyed Gojo.

"Six... Six Grandpa, come on now. Don't underestimate me. At the very least, I'm the strongest in our era."

Alex, wearing an earnest expression, replied: "Of course not! Don't be fooled by how I look right now—this is all just a façade. In reality, I'm already on high alert and fully prepared."

Gojo's forehead twitched with frustration. From his perspective, Alex's entire stance was full of openings. There was no way this was what "fully prepared" looked like.

But fine. Once he launched an attack and Alex took a heavy hit, the latter would surely stop slacking off.

Lowering his stance, Gojo said in a serious tone: "Six Grandpa, get ready."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Gojo vanished from his original position, reappearing instantly in front of Alex and aiming a powerful punch at his abdomen.

What Gojo Satoru hadn't anticipated was that his attacks, much like Sukuna's during a prior fight, always seemed like they were about to land on Alex but never managed to touch him.

This immediately reminded Gojo of what Alex had said earlier—his physical abilities were comparable to Heavenly Restriction.

At first, Gojo hadn't taken those words seriously, but now he fully grasped their significance.

This wasn't just on par with Heavenly Restriction; Alex's physical prowess was likely on the same level as Toji Fushiguro himself!

The onlookers also noticed this phenomenon and couldn't help but marvel at it.

Zenin Maki, in particular, had stars in her eyes as she stared intently at Alex's ethereal, smoke-like evasion movements.

Even against Gojo, Alex precisely minimized his dodging range while completely avoiding all of Gojo's attacks.

Wasn't this the state of mastery she had always dreamed of achieving?

The others were equally engrossed in the fight. None of them had expected Alex's mastery of hand-to-hand combat to be so formidable—entirely superior to Gojo's own.

Principal Yaga, pushing back his slightly slipping sunglasses, chuckled and commented: "Looks like another extraordinary one has arrived."

Suddenly, Panda, the artificial lifeform with the keenest hearing, hesitated before asking uncertainly:

"Did I mishear something? Why did I just hear Gojo-sensei call that guy his Six Grandpa?"

Inumaki Toge nodded firmly: "Tuna!"

Shoko chimed in, "No, I heard it too. I thought I was imagining things."

At this, Yaga adjusted his sunglasses and cleared things up for the group:

"You didn't mishear. Alex is, indeed, Gojo Satoru's Six Grandpa."

Everyone: "Huh?!"

Yaga then recounted the backstory Alex had fabricated, explaining his "past" to the stunned crowd.

---

Realizing his martial arts couldn't match Alex's, Gojo quickly shifted gears, deciding to attack using Cursed Techniques.

Extending his hand toward Alex, he shouted: "Cursed Technique Lapse: Blue!"

However, Alex responded immediately in kind: "Cursed Technique Lapse: Blue"

The two identical sapphire-colored singularities collided and canceled each other out.

Though they appeared evenly matched, Gojo's expression grew heavier.

He had struck first, yet their techniques completely neutralized each other. This meant Alex had precisely calculated the power of Gojo's Blue and, in an instant, adjusted his own Cursed Energy to unleash a technique of equal force.

As the battle continued, Gojo began to feel an immense pressure. No matter how he tested Alex, he couldn't find his limits.

Now, he finally understood why Sukuna had been so enraged after fighting Alex.

For a powerhouse like Sukuna, nothing was more infuriating than being toyed with like this.

After yet another clash, Gojo pulled back. The smile that had graced his face was gone, replaced by a serious expression.

"Six Grandpa, be careful. I'm not going to hold back anymore," Gojo warned as he began the preparatory movements for Cursed Technique Reversal: Red.

Then, he noticed Alex mimicking the exact same actions.

It was an outright provocation. By now, Gojo fully understood Alex's intentions: he wanted to defeat him using the very same techniques!

Rather than making him angry, this only made Gojo's grin return, wider than ever.

After being undefeated for so long, he was finally starting to feel the joy of a real battle!

Black red singularities bloomed simultaneously at the fingertips of Alex and Gojo Satoru. As their energy surged, the singularities expanded before finally colliding under Alex's precise control.

Boom!

The deafening roar of the collision sent shockwaves rippling outward from the impact point, forcing Yaga and the other spectators to retreat further to avoid being caught in the devastating aftermath.

When the smoke and debris cleared, everyone's eyes fell upon the battlefield. A massive crater, several dozen meters wide, now scarred the earth between the two combatants. Hovering above the destruction, Alex and Gojo continued their battle, the intensity undiminished.

However, unlike the initial exchanges, Gojo was now fully immersed in the fight, frequently deploying Cursed Technique Reversal: Red and Cursed Technique Lapse: Blue. It was evident that he was no longer holding back.

Yet, even with all his strength unleashed, Gojo still couldn't land a single hit on Alex.

Minutes passed, the fight still deadlocked. Gojo hovered in the air, his breaths coming in ragged gasps. The relentless use of cursed energy and his all-out attacks had drained him significantly, leaving him unable to maintain this pace for much longer.

During these few minutes, Gojo experienced something he hadn't in years—a sense of defeat.

Since childhood, he had been a prodigy, a divine figure who shattered the balance of the jujutsu world. Even as a student, he had already ascended to the title of the Strongest.

But now, he was faced with the stark realization that if he didn't use his ultimate techniques, he might not be Alex's equal.

What made this even more humbling was the absurdity of their circumstances—despite being his Six Grandpa, Alex's actual age was eight years younger than Gojo due to being sealed in ice for decades.

Gojo ceased his attacks, a trace of resignation in his tone as he said:

"Has the mutated Six Eyes truly become this powerful? Not only is your physical strength unrivaled, but even the original abilities of the Limitless are far superior to mine."

Alex landed gracefully, his appearance untouched by the long battle. His clothes remained spotless, unmarked by the dust or damage of combat.

Hearing Gojo's lament, Alex shook his head, his expression stern as he offered some "guidance":

"Youngster, you're still too inexperienced. In this world, the Six Eyes and jujutsu techniques are merely tools. True strength lies in something far greater—an indomitable will and unparalleled mastery over oneself. Only dominion over all can reign supreme."

"Dominion over all?" Gojo frowned, confusion evident in his expression. He had never heard of such a concept before.

Alex coughed awkwardly, realizing he had slipped into another narrative:

"Uh, my bad, wrong reference. What I meant to say is that jujutsu is merely supplementary. True power comes from the individual.

"Take Sukuna, the King of Curses, as an example. His jujutsu techniques were originally nothing more than basic slashing attacks. Yet, in that chaotic era of curses, he rose to become the most dominant force of his time."

Gojo didn't seem convinced. Shaking his head, he argued:

"No, while personal strength is crucial, jujutsu is equally important.

"Take us, for instance. With just the Six Eyes and Limitless Cursed Technique, we start where others end. These tools alone make it easy to ascend to the level of a Special Grade Sorcerer.

"Even if Sukuna's raw power were unmatched, there's no way he could develop his abilities enough to overcome the infinite defense of the Limitless."

As the battle raged on, the spectators grew silent.

Gojo's declaration about the dominance of jujutsu techniques and their integral role in the jujutsu world weighed heavily on everyone. His words were undeniable truths.

The importance of bloodlines and innate techniques had shaped the very foundation of the jujutsu world.

Among those watching, Maki Zen'in gripped her weapon tightly. More than anyone, she understood the bitter reality Gojo described.

Due to Heavenly Restriction, her body had been blessed with immense physical strength but cursed with almost no cursed energy. Her inability to wield jujutsu techniques had led to her rejection by the Zen'in clan, a pain she could never forget.

The silence was finally broken by Alex's calm voice: "No, Satoru, you're wrong.

"My strength isn't defined by the Six Eyes or the Limitless Technique alone. I've worked relentlessly, pushing the boundaries of what jujutsu can achieve. That's how I've reached my current power in such a short time."

His tone grew more confident.

"Let's do this. You can freely use any technique you want, while I won't use any of the Gojo clan's techniques—not the Limitless, nor Cursed Technique Reversal: Red, nor Cursed Technique Amplification: Blue, nor even Hollow Technique: Purple.

"I'll only use techniques I developed myself. If I win, then it proves my point—that personal strength and hard work surpass innate power."

Gojo was intrigued but didn't hesitate. He couldn't imagine losing to Alex under such constraints.

"Alright, I accept. Let's see what you've got!"

With that, he raised two fingers and declared: "Domain Expansion—Unlimited Void!"

A wave of immense cursed energy surged outward, instantly expanding to encompass a 100-meter radius. The infinite flow of information from the Unlimited Void sought to overwhelm Alex, dragging him into its trap.

But Alex simply stood there, motionless. Without lifting a finger, he rendered Gojo's domain powerless.

Gojo stared in disbelief. He had expected Alex to counter his domain with his own, but Alex did absolutely nothing. The Unlimited Void couldn't even affect him.

"How... is this possible?" Gojo muttered, trying to make sense of what just happened.

Based on his knowledge, the only explanation was that Alex had used a Simple Domain, a technique designed to nullify the automatic hit effect of a domain. Yet Alex's method didn't merely block the effects; it completely neutralized the Unlimited Void. Even the flow of information—its core feature—was suppressed.

"Is this... something beyond a Simple Domain?"

Shaking off his shock, Gojo sighed.

"It seems I have no choice but to use that."

Taking a deep breath, he prepared himself. "Six Grandpa, you know how terrifying this technique is. Be careful. Don't die!"

He raised his hand and unleashed his most devastating attack:

"Hollow Technique: Purple!"

By combining Cursed Technique Lapse: Blue and Cursed Technique Reversal: Red at full power, Gojo summoned a massive, swirling purple sphere. It radiated destruction, capable of obliterating space itself.

Gojo launched the sphere with a flick of his finger. It hurtled toward Alex at supersonic speed, a force that no one could withstand head-on.

"Grandpa, dodge it! That's Purple! It'll destroy everything!" Gojo shouted, genuine concern in his voice.

But Alex didn't move. He stood calmly, watching as the deadly sphere approached.

In the moments before impact, Alex raised his hand. A gleaming purple longsword materialized in his grip.

With a single swing of the blade, Alex sliced the unstoppable sphere cleanly in half.

The two halves veered off course, their residual energy carving through the landscape, leaving a path of destruction in their wake.

The remaining sword energy from Alex's slash shot past Gojo, tearing through the space behind him and obliterating everything in its path.

Gojo froze, stunned by what had just happened. The indestructible Hollow Technique: Purple had been neutralized so effortlessly.

Before he could react, he felt a sharp chill at the back of his neck. A thin line of blood trickled down his skin as Alex's voice, laced with mockery, echoed behind him: "See, Satoru? I told you. True strength doesn't come from cursed techniques or even the Six Eyes.

"It's all about personal mastery. Strength of self. That's what truly reigns supreme!"

Gojo clenched his fists, half in awe, half in frustration, as Alex's laughter filled the battlefield.

°°°

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