THE IMMENSE MEANING OF THE WORD INFINITY
The snow-capped mountains witnessed the breakup of the group. The soldiers, incredulous, scrutinized their companion closely. The realization that the courageous young man turned out to be a girl was a profound shock to their entire being.
"I did it to save my father." The girl fought back, seeking forgiveness not from those who discriminated against her, but from the one man who had given her something valuable.
"High treason."
"I didn't mean for it to go this far." The girl retorted, unable to fully accept the situation in which she was involved.
Covered in snow and dust, the helpless girl wished that actions spoke louder than traditions. However, her mind betrayed her host's intentions, and questions filled her mind as she lay there, awaiting judgment.
But she was not the only one with questions.
Why did the society of this world resemble the savagery of the Water Tribe rather than the Fire Nation? With the abundance of technology, she could not believe that a movie portrayed princesses as mere dolls, existing solely to be visually appealing and sing for no apparent reason. Azula had to cover her face with her free hand, not necessarily because of her earlier impression.
Azula could not believe she had reached the point of paying attention to one of the movies Gojo had given her. The notion of time started to diminish, with the only measure being the number of films that were shown. One after another, the table emptied of unfinished films. Some works were good, while others were mediocre. Still, Azula never imagined that he would waste so much time just watching a box of electricity producing animated children's plays.
With resignation, Azula leaned over to grab a piece of popcorn that Gojo had left for her to enjoy. It was not that she enjoyed the movies or liked the sweet taste of the snack. It was simply that her mind had reached a level of boredom she never thought she would experience. She felt irritated, hoping to do more and make further progress. However, for over two hours now, the doll had stopped acting and she cannot do anything but keep unconsciously producing cursed energy.
"Ultimate dishonor!" The advisor exclaimed, making a dominant statement to conclude the discussion, but the girl refused to let her voice be silenced.
"It was the only way!" She retorted. "Please believe me."
"Captain?" The advisor asked, awaiting the man's sentence. The man, unperturbed, contemplated the scene without any intervention, his gaze attentive to the conflict to which he was subjected.
Azula could not help but let out a small snort at how it all played out.
Honor. What an absurd word. Honor was so malleable. What was honor in the first place? Kindness? Bravery? They were nothing more than superfluous traits defined by cowards and ignoramuses, an idealization of the sacrifices one must make in war. Pathetic, absurd.
War and conflicts were nothing but power games. The most valuable piece was always the one with the most power. Was there honor in wiping out the Air Nomads? No. Was it honorable to blow up bombs in defenseless cities? No. The moment doubt crept into the hearts of leaders and soldiers; defeat became inevitable. Azula, more than anyone else, was a vivid proof of the feeling.
The doll was ridiculous, the film was nothing but ridiculous, and the entire time she sat in front of the television was utterly ludicrous. Yet she had not a shred of doubt about the progress behind it. The flames inside her were increasingly at her mercy and control. Once again, the one feeling that had always been loyal to her was slowly regaining its dominance.
She would never doubt again. On her shoulders fell the responsibility of restoring true glory and triumph to a nation tainted with weakness and love. She was not the shadow of her father, nor the coward of her mother, nor the ineptitude of her brother. It was she, only she, who had to destroy and rebuild an entire nation. Only in that way did the binding vote have any meaning, sitting for countless hours had meaning, and seeing the faces of those who tried to oppose her destiny would be the jewel in a crown traced on her head.
It almost seemed like a mantra that her mind repeated over and over again.
Azula set the doll aside. It was more than clear to her that after the days she had spent in seclusion, she had attained the mastery required to progress to the next stage of her training.
With the sound of the film playing in the background, Azula felt a warmth inside her and allowed the cursed energy to flow through her palm. With her eyes closed, she raised her palm to her chest to check the result. Her teeth clenched as she observed the result: red.
The flames, now completely calm, remained the same color. No matter how much she concentrated on her intensity or control, the flames remained the same. Even worse, the mastery was still not perfect. Basic kata were enough to confirm that fact. To say that Azula was dissatisfied would be an understatement. Her eyes remained fixated on the fire in her palm, and the only way she could describe her feelings was with pure hatred.
"You shouldn't enlarge your nose; it makes your appearance lose all its appeal." Gojo opined, leaning back in the chair Azula had occupied a moment ago. "Hey, that's a good choice. It's one of Disney's best."
Gojo's sudden appearances were no longer a surprise. At least he had the decency to bring food (which usually did not seem of excellent quality. However, they made up for it with its particularly good taste. This saved her from having to forage for it, but beyond that he did not teach her anything else, except to keep playing with the doll.
When she made the binding vow, she hoped that something would change about her master's attitude, but it turned out to be more of a way to keep her hands tied. She did not regret it per se. Three years were enough to perfect all the techniques that the world could offer. However, it did not eliminate the enormous discomfort of being tied to a man like him and his unorthodox teachings.
"I see you have reached your limit."
"What limit?" questioned Azula mockingly. "All I've done is waste my time with that worthless piece of rag."
"If Yaga would listen to you, he'd give you an immediate suspension." Gojo wailed, showing more empathy towards the stuffed animal than towards anything that had been commented on thus far. "Still, can't you feel the difference now?"
"If by difference, you mean lack of perfect control."
"Don't think so," Satoru said, briefly removing his blindfold to reveal his cerulean eyes. He observed Azula's body with mild interest. "I can see for myself that you don't expend as much energy as before, it was essential that you can produce cursed energy from mild emotions."
Azula had no choice but to accept his words. Although she still did not fully understand the workings of the six eyes, she could deduce that it provided the user with a means to manage and visualize the cursed energy of him and their adversaries. It also helped that the difference was significant compared to days ago. Did that make her satisfied or happy? Not at all.
"Anyway, shall we give it a try?"
"Try?" Azula asked, caught off guard. "You want to challenge me."
"Of course, how else would I assess progress?" Gojo commented as he put away the discs that were strewn across the table next to the plushie that she held in her hand. "Besides, wouldn't you like to stretch your legs a bit. You've been cooped up for three days. Don't you think that's long enough?"
Although part of Azula believed that Gojo was just teasing her, she could not deny his claims either. If that was not enough, Gojo's technique generated a great curiosity in her because she understood the meaning of the techniques and the cursed energy. With a better understanding of the concepts, they no longer felt instructive, and she desired to reach a more experimental and exploratory stage.
Azula once again produced a small flame in her hand, getting used to the sensations and regaining her mastery. With its setbacks and advantages, she superficially understood her current capabilities. She did not know Gojo's level compared to most sorcerers, nor the extent of the difference between an ordinary sorcerer and one of special grade. However, she could not ignore the fact that Gojo would be stronger than Maki, at least twice as strong.
"I'll take your word for it."
"Fine." With a slight frown, Gojo finished putting away the films and headed towards the door of the room. "And don't underestimate me, utilize everything you have in our fight." Gojo paused for a second to observe Azula through her bandages. "Meaning, if you use your fire to kill, I won't be particularly gentle either."
Azula watched Gojo for seconds too long. Going in for the kill was not a foreign concept to her. War was about subduing opponents with the intent to end it all. Contrary to what many people believe, she was never fond of taking someone's life. If she could achieve an objective without killing someone, she would choose that option unless there was an undeniable opportunity to deliver a fatal blow.
Still, what disturbed Azula the most was the reason behind that intention. Not only did her skin bristle immediately, but his words also had the same effect when Gojo uttered them. Even in his jovial tone, the seriousness behind it was evident. That is why, despite her prejudice against her master, she did not underestimate his words in the slightest.
Otherwise, she was sure that she would find the friendly confrontation worse than any battle to the death she had ever fought.
XXX
Feeling the cool night air was more pleasant than Azula had anticipated. Although she suppressed her inner thoughts, it did not diminish the surprise she felt when her master opened the shed doors and a gust of wind hit her. Speaking of the king of Rome, Gojo did not seem to position himself anywhere. As soon as the shed door was opened, Azula blinked and her master's figure disappeared, leaving her wondering where he had gone.
That made her stay alert. With cautious steps, Azula advanced through the forest. Part of the area was familiar to her; she had enough memory to recognize some paths she had taken during the binding vow incident a few days ago. Any hint of danger caught the critical eye of the vigilant princess. Every leaf, trunk, and branch was inspected thoroughly as part of a proper gathering.
The night wind seemed to intensify with every passing second, she stayed outside, her instincts on high alert due to subtle indications. The forest clearing felt unsafe, and worst of all, she knew that hiding or escaping would be in vain. The effect generated in the area was all-encompassing, with her eyes scanning everything around her, and nothing escaped their surveillance. Beads of sweat ran down Azula's neck, making it impossible for her to hide her discomfort.
She could not recall the last time she had felt such an overwhelming sense of oppression, almost indescribable. Not even the Avatar in the catacombs of Ba Sing Se could compete with the growing idea of staying in that place. Was all that generated by Gojo, or did her own mind lead her down a path of mindless madness? Although her emotions continued to be sealed inside her, that did not stop small traces of her confidence from unfolding every second to reveal her judgments.
With a deep breath, Azula regained her composure. Her posture relaxed, and she stood ready for whatever the strongest sorcerer in the world had to offer. Failure was not an option; fear would not be an impediment. And just as she left, in the blink of an eye, the smiling Gojo appeared right in front of her.
"Shall we begin?"
Without waiting for a second call, Azula propelled herself with a jet of fire at great speed. The fresh grass was immediately consumed, leaving behind a charred line in a matter of seconds. Gojo, who anticipated the move, quickly adjusted his position. This was foreseen by Azula, who, with the same momentum, made a leap to execute a downward kick to connect with Gojo as he found himself in a difficult position to counterattack.
The kick ended in trees engulfed by fire. Gojo's speed was enough to effortlessly dodge the incoming attack. Although it was faster than Azula anticipated, it was not beyond her expectations. It would be disappointing if someone like him could not manage something like that.
Still, he felt that something was wrong about it all.
With reservations, he pressed on with successive strikes, aiming to create fiery projectiles. The swift blast was dodged with nimble footwork. Satoru performed the moves at such a speed that he seemed to disappear in fragments from Azula's vision. This did not go unnoticed by her. Her initial theory about Gojo's technique was that it involved teleportation or some kind of movement between current and previous positions.
Scanning her surroundings, Azula devised a plan of action that would be connecting a blow to Gojo. Efficiently, Azula leapt between the trees, ascending them gradually until she reached sturdy branches that could bear her weight. Her master did not seem extremely interested in her actions, merely keeping up with her pace through her blindfold. Gojo's interest only grew as he watched Azula's body temperature reach a new limit.
With intense concentration, Azula surveyed the clearing where Gojo stood amidst a sea of flames. The power of the attack continued to surprise her with its results. The cursed energy was such a volatile conductor that unleashing it only resulted in what her eyes witnessed: an inferno descending upon the earth. Grass was being consumed and trees began to fall as smoke and ash started to become more prominent.
What mattered most, however, was not the damage caused but the outcome of the attack. It was impossible to predict Gojo's next move if his power were teleportation, so Azula chose to use an area attack that would cover a large area. This was for two purposes: to observe the extent of teleportation and the time required for its usage, or rather, the conditions under which it could be used.
Although it was her focus, she got nothing. Gojo not only walked away from the attack before it could inflict any injuries on him, but he also leaned against one of the trees nearby, completely unscathed. He wore a condescending smile on his face, as if the entire battle was merely a child's play to him.
"Are you finished?" Gojo asked, his gleaming white teeth providing a smile that was begging to be punched with a fist.
Did he take her as a joke? Azula's jaw clenched at the mere idea.
Azula leapt up from the branch to engage in direct combat with her master. Although her technique did not seem far off from the man's, the difference in reaction time and speed was like night and day. Gojo's natural speed rose to an unprecedented level, surpassing even Maki in that regard. Still, she persisted in her assault until she achieved her desired outcome.
Without realizing it, Gojo collided with one of the trees. The slight surprise was all Azula needed for a precise flame, launched from her fingertips, to connect with Satoru's chest. At least, that was the intention in her mind, but Gojo effortlessly blocked it with his hand. Azula's eyes widened slightly at that reaction. Her hands did not even seem affected by the heat of the fire. Did she misjudge the man's skill?
Attempting to step back and gather more information, Azula halted when she realized that, in the blink of an eye, Gojo had vanished from her sight. Immediately, her head swiveled in search of a clue in the area that would reveal the man's new position. His back, the sky, and the sides, Gojo seemed to disappear. This time, there was no sign on his back to indicate the new course he took.
Without delay, Azula collided with one of the trees herself. No, it was not a tree. It was Satoru himself who suddenly tapped Azula's forehead with his fingers, as if she were a bully teasing a little girl.
Although it was puzzling that Satoru's presence would disappear and reappear from one second to the next, what was truly remarkable was the notion that everything she had done so far was nothing more than a joke to him. If she had already felt fury towards the man, Azula now exuded an almost murderous rage towards him for the simple act of belittling her like that.
Did that man want a sudden death? Good. It did not matter to her whether he considered himself a powerful sorcerer or held a special rank; no one was invulnerable in this world. The flow of cursed energy circulated throughout her body, with fluctuations that made it impossible to predict where her flare would strike next. Azula discovered during her training that the emphasis of the test was on channeling the energy through her body, rather than solely directing it towards the dummy. This approach aimed to enhance efficiency in energy expenditure.
The abrupt results seemed to take Gojo by surprise. It was unexpected that the princess would grasp the advanced concept of cursed energy management in such a short amount of time. It was only because of that slight surprise that the fire, born from Azula's feet, was able to connect in an arcing kick against Satoru's face.
The surge of cursed energy and its slight imbalance caused the fire to become more uncontrollable. Unlike Maki, this out of control found a common ground with Satoru's head, which released one of the most powerful streams of fire she had ever executed in his life. Azula herself was shocked by the magnitude of the impact. She had not expected such a powerful attack that decimated multiple trees and turned Gojo's face into an active volcano. The charge seemed surprisingly low, which was debatable.
She walked away, absorbed in the image of the chaos she had caused. That was the power she unleashed with only a few days of training? It felt fantastic. However, that celebration felt empty as she watched Satoru become a torrent of fire. Despite her words, she did not actually wish to kill him.
"Not bad." Azula's eyes widened in shock.
Slowly, Azula looked at Gojo once more. Not only had the fire disappeared, but Satoru's body remained completely unharmed by the intense blaze. All that destruction, and the man did not even flinch from the damage.
"W-what?" The rebuke turned into disbelief. No one, not even the Avatar, not his father, nor anyone else, could come through an attack like that unscathed. "It's impossible."
"I must admit, you're more talented than I thought, although that may have been a mistake. After all, with those damn energy reserves, you should be quite at the end of this one."
"How?" Azula asked.
How could he stand? How could he talk to her with the greatest of casualness? How could none of his blows seem to have any lasting effect on that man? Satoru responded to all those doubts with an even bigger smile, finding joy in the firebender's peculiar expression of denial.
"I suppose you still don't know about my cursed technique." Satoru moved closer, his body remaining inches away from a hesitant Azula who still watched him with a processing gaze. "If you want to know the answer, simply place your hand near my chest."
Azula was on the verge of mocking. It was an obvious trap, even if there was no malice behind her words. She was not naive enough to believe that she would not try something. Still, the man's chest had a hypnotic effect. No, not the chest; her own curiosity. What made the man the strongest of all? What kept her flames from failing to take effect?
Instead of using her hand, Azula kicked a stone from the rubble. Her plan was simple: gather information from external sources to gain a clearer understanding of the technique. That plan barely lasted a second before Azula observed the resulting effect of the first stone. The object remained motionless in the air, just a few centimeters away from touching Satoru's chest.
"How suspicious." Gojo commented casually, barely paying attention to the stone. "But I see that it has generated interest in you, and I suppose it's the good kind that I won't be able to persuade you against."
Azula narrowed her gaze as Gojo approached, taking a few steps back, unwilling to fall into his trap. Her senses remained alert, anticipating the next move her master would make. Only a moment later, Satoru disappeared from Azula's sight again. Despite not being able to detect him, her master's instinct and fighting style were enough to anticipate his next move. With a three-second delay, Azula executed a spinning kick to Gojo's face, appearing at her side. The intuition was correct. What she did not expect was the interaction of his leg.
Her leg, quick and forceful, was imbued with a small flame that curved to lunge at Gojo, but it lost its strength and speed immediately. No, it is not correct to say that he lost it. Rather, the timing took longer than it should have. Azula's leg advanced further and further, getting closer to Gojo. However, the unbearable sensation of realizing that no matter how much the kick was extended or prolonged, it never reached its intended target. Quite the contrary, the kick shortened its trajectory to such an extent that it appeared stationary, much like a stone.
Azula did not know how to describe the feeling. A wall that, at first, did not seem impenetrable, but the more she climbed it, the clearer it became that it occupied a vast space. No matter how much effort she struck, or how the flames were generated, she knew that nothing would overcome that wall. That was when she understood Satoru's entire ritual, and her mind could only deny the possibility that such power existed in that world.
"I see you're drawing your own conclusions, but I'll make it even clearer." Gojo spoke, capturing the absolute attention of Azula, who remained with her leg raised. "What you have encountered is nothing but the infinity that exists between you and me, which is my ritual. Try dividing a number in half. No matter how many times you do it, the result will only be reduced." Gojo brought his face closer, bending down to Azula's level so he could observe her joyless expression. "The number will never reach zero. No matter what attack you throw, what fire you set, or how you do it, you won't be able to break through infinity."
Unconsciously, Azula attempted to regain her kick, but the deceleration of her movement was too pronounced, creating an agonizing slow-motion effect that encircled her ankle.
"Still, I invite you to give it a try. It's always interesting to see people's ingenuity." Gojo's hands clasped together, and the eerie sound of crackling thunder was barely audible over the intense blaze that started to spread. "Of course, I believe I should take things with a bit more seriousness."
Before Azula could react, a powerful blow connected with her liver. The princess's body was thrown into the air, experiencing a violent recoil that propelled smoke and flames. However, the power of the wind swiftly consumed the smoke and flames, leaving only a few surviving flames that were then fanned, spreading destruction even further into the forest.
And while all that was happening, Azula could not describe in words the impact of the blow she had just received.
The most intense pain she had ever felt in her life clouded her thoughts. Slowly, Azula touched the side where she had been hit. She touched solid, her body still intact. It was impossible; she was sure the impact had opened the entire side of his body, as if it had been sucked away by the force of the blow, leaving nothing behind. Her graceful movements became mechanical as she observed her lumbar region with her own eyes to once again confirm that it was intact.
She could not believe the impact of the blow. Azula repeatedly touched her side, hoping to find no change within her. However, the horrifying reality remained unchanged. That was not a blow meant to disable someone; it was a blow meant to finish off her opponent at all costs, a blow meant to kill.
Gojo approached slowly, without needing to rush towards his target. Azula felt all this time that her master was something more than he let on. Amidst the teasing and taunting, a man of immense power concealed his dangerous nature behind a facade of overconfidence. She finally understood the moment the sweat ceased to be motivational and became icy. She noticed the small shivers running through her forearms and felt her breathing become turbulent, making its way out through her lips.
She faced neither a bender, nor a soldier, nor a master, nor a human. She stood before the power of a god.
"No." Azula shook her head, her trembling hand clenched into a fist.
A new flare shot out against Gojo. Now it became clear the effect of infinity as he watched the flames become suspended in midair until they were completely consumed. Satoru appeared unresponsive, waiting for Azula's next move or her futile attempt to breach the impenetrable space barrier.
Instead of engaging in head-on combat, Azula decided to retreat through the trees. The princess's mind worked overtime trying to come up with a plan to break through her master's infinity. Terrified was the least of her emotions; adrenaline propelled her forward through the branches as she tried to gain distance. However, she knew it would not be highly effective. The piercing gaze of those blue eyes, even though the blindfold, was too deep, impossible to overlook and sent a shiver down her spine. She was the prey of a predator who only toyed with its food.
Azula concentrated her flames, channeling them through various kicks. The fiery strikes not only targeted Gojo's presumed location but also engulfed the surrounding trees. This tactic bought her some time while she contemplated her next move with the limited information she had gathered. Obviously, that did not slow the pace of Gojo, who distanced himself enough to not lose the trail and stayed close enough to maintain his presence in the area.
As if that were not enough, the flames began to dim her path. Her unconscious control of the newfound energy in her body, combined with the minimal yet significant disruption caused by Gojo, was enough for a controlled fire to begin spiraling out of control. They were enemies on all fronts.
With a slight cough, Azula rushed towards the flames. Her firebender-like endurance endowed her with the ability to stay in that kind of environment longer than the average human. If that was not enough, she was also able to weaken it further. Everything could not be ignored by the infinite; otherwise, Gojo would not be able to breathe. In case he was still human, he would still require a smoke-free space to clear.
Her guess was correct. Gojo seemed to be slightly annoyed by the fire, as indicated by the slight scowl of annoyance. However, it was not enough to hinder him from keeping up with their pursuit. In fact, this was motivation enough to close the distance with Azula and face her in direct combat.
The princess's eyes snapped open as she had to react within milliseconds to the series of blows unleashed by Gojo. The frantic pace of the dry punches, aimed straight at her neck, posed a challenge by any standard. Despite not admitting it, Gojo's technique could be compared to her own firebending martial skill.
Still, she could feel that the barrier was deactivated in that confrontation. To deliver blows, she had to deactivate her barrier. It made sense; an untouchable man should not have the ability to touch others either.
Despite feeling pressured, Azula managed to release a small burst of fire at Gojo's feet, believing that the entire barrier had been cut off. As it turned out, Gojo not only had full command of the space around him, but also of small fractions. The flame was once again extinguished without causing any harm.
Although Azula tried to curse mentally, the burden of evading and blocking Gojo's blows became too overwhelming. Each blow felt like stones hurled by earthbenders, and even though she struggled to keep up for those seemingly endless seconds, she started to feel the strain in her muscles and bones. They were working overtime just to keep up, let alone mount a counterattack or devise a plan.
Azula, to her misfortune, failed to properly block a direct hit to her face with the back of her hand. The blow sent her flying and rolling several times on the ground, causing her nose to bleed, and fracturing her septum.
If that was not enough, the low oxygen in the area began to affect her. Her cough became more prominent. She knew that Gojo was not immune to the toxins generated by the smoke. He was also not in the most comfortable position. However, she was aware that he had the resources to escape the fire at any time.
Frustration, helplessness, and contempt.
Azula clenched her fists in frustration. She finally understood the magnitude of what she was up against, grasping a glimpse of the immense power possessed by that man. She now comprehended what it truly meant to be a special grade sorcerer and, most importantly, the unparalleled power wielded by the greatest sorcerer in that world. Still, even with the knowledge of all that, being unable to do anything that could turn the reins of the situation made her stomach churn harder than any blow Gojo had dealt her.
She knew that whining would do her no good. Complaining was merely an excuse used by the weakling who lacked the determination to pursue her ambitions. However, it was hard not to feel discouraged when everything in her life seemed to go against her wishes. Nothing seemed to align with her ideas, and even when she regained some control in her life, something always intervened and forced her to face reality repeatedly. Always a thorn in her side, disloyal and reckless individuals, people who did not understand their boundaries, individuals whose only aim was to witness her descent into despair, erasing the person she used to be.
It all seemed to swirl in Azula's mind. The fight was nothing more than a dance of slow descent into the darkness of a dark prison that was called death. Yes, she knew. If she could not match the expectations, her life would end right there. The new perception of cursed energy was strangely enlightening at that moment. She did not want that. She tried to scheme something that could overcome the strange barrier and at least find a way forward. Nothing, anything appeared in her mind that still tried to process the impact of the blow delivered.
At least, until she realized something.
As she descended back to the ground, she noticed something intriguing. While it was common for her to generate fire from the soles of her feet, the trail of ashes was not. Even if her control was not the best, which was something no firebender would suffer unless he was too incompetent. Reluctant to believe that her firebending remained in such a sorry state, she moved on to the next hypothesis: it was a new phenomenon caused by herself.
With a breath of fresh air, she emerged from the cumulus fog, and her thoughts became clearer once more. Soon, an epiphany entered her mind. For the first time, she felt that there was something she could do. With unbridled abandon, ideas flooded back into her head and a small, satisfied smile began to spread.
Only to be erased at once, she was blinded by a faint glow. The darkness of the night soon became enveloped in a crimson hue. Azula turned to observe the source. Satoru, with a confident smile, began to wrap one of his fingers around a compacting red sphere.
"Curse technique reversal," Satoru recited, as the light from the beacon bound for Azula grew brighter. "Red."
The light broke free, leaving behind a trail of destruction, and revealing something the princess never anticipated: the disappearance of the light that had brought joy to her life.
Out of sheer panic, Azula's cursed energy reacted. Unconsciously, or perhaps with the last flicker of consciousness, Azula skillfully evaded most of the forceful power that swept through everything in its path. The damage caused was minimal, fortunately for Agni. However, even though it was minimal, it was enough to shatter several bones in her shoulder that was grazed by the technique.
The technique advanced through the forest. The shockwave caused by the sphere's passage deformed the environment, causing the flames that had accumulated during the encounter to vanish, leaving only remnants of logs and ashes. If that technique had made a full impact, Azula wondered with complete honesty whether she would survive the impact.
And even though the technique did not fully connect, the damage accumulated during the fight started to have an impact on her. Azula's body felt numb, not receiving proper responses from even the simplest of movements. Still, she pushed her body to its limit. Her mind chanted about how easy it was to follow. Her father was not merciful in his workouts either. If she reached a limit, she simply had to surpass it and persevere, regardless of whether her muscles tore, or her bones shattered into pieces. The shame of defeat was a worse punishment than any fracture or injury.
Besides, she still wanted to implement her idea to the confrontation.
Azula conjured a gentle flame in the palm of her hand, carefully gliding it over the bruised shoulder. It's not as if it healed; this just relieved some of the pain. It was one of the few useful tricks she learned from the tutors she had throughout her childhood.
The time it took for her to tend to her wounds was just enough to see Gojo teleport in front of her. From a crouched position, Azula watched her master intently, determined not to falter despite what had happened just a few seconds ago.
"You're still standing. I must admit, you've lasted longer than I expected." Gojo praised.
"If you think a few strikes are enough to finish me off, then you have no idea what I'm capable of. Although I must say, for a practice bout, this is getting out of hand."
"What can I say? I'm just pandering to your desires."
Azula scoffed, rolling her eyes in disbelief at his words.
"In that case." Azula held up her fingers, her mischievous smile deepening her features. "Indulge me with this wish."
Gojo's figure was engulfed in flames. It was an instantaneous act. Gojo did not even have time to react before he was engulfed in a tornado of flames that reached up to the heavens.
She tried from every angle to encircle infinity, but every attempt Azula made was only stopped by an invisible barrier. Still, she did not give up on the idea that there was a small chance if the attack came from Gojo's feet. The ground did not seem to be affected by his footsteps, and there was no incline whatsoever. She also estimated that infinity was not infallible in every aspect. Otherwise, her senses would have been blocked, and external factors like the wind running through her hair would not have caused any movement. In conclusion, it was not an isolated space; it was just a wall, and every wall had a weakness.
Azula did not like to try new tricks on the fly, but she had a strange certainty that this particular resource would work. Her cursed energy overflowed, causing a strange sensation to emanate from the residual burns she left behind. There, he connected the idea: the marks were products of his own cursed energy, and everything connected to it, he could control, like firebending. It was a risky move. She wasn't sure if it would work, and it required a significant amount of cursed energy to create the makeshift remote bomb. However, the payoff was worth it.
At least it was worth it until it began to fade away, and Gojo walked out of this one.
Uninjured.
Part of Azula's smile faded. The result didn't frustrate her; it just left her feeling empty. She suspected that infinity was also evident in a space as limited as the soles of her shoes and the floor, a size so minuscule that it was imperceptible to her sight.
It was the final blow; the barrier could not be breached. She knew that her attempt was only a desperate attempt to deny reality. She did not even feel that bad about the defeat; it was almost taken as a joke in the worst taste.
No, she refused to think that way. The combat existed only in terms of failure and success, nothing more. If she failed to achieve victory, it was solely due to her own incompetence, adding yet another failure to her increasingly tarnished record. Despite still maintaining her unflappable smile, she felt a burning mix of denial and anger inside. A new flame erupted from Azula and shot towards Gojo's forehead. Despite the intense and painful protests of her body, she tried to create distance and launch an attack.
Until once again, the night witnessed the red light for the second time.
Azula stopped dead in her tracks. The sphere caught her off guard, and the release of stored energy was twice as rapid as before. In the blink of an eye, the attack was charged and ready to be launched against her. With a growing glare, Azula's eyes widened as she realized that the attack had not ceased. Her body froze, and her expression turned to terror as she realized that this time there was absolutely nothing she could do to stop it.
Gritting her teeth and closing her eyes, Azula had no choice but to wait for the aftermath of the attack. However, it never came.
"Bang." Instead, Gojo placed his fingers on the princess's forehead.
Azula opened her eyes, feeling doubtful about what she might see. Gojo's figure loomed over her, his satisfied smile was all she needed to confirm that it was all over. As soon as that thought entered her mind, fear was replaced by the deepest indignation.
"Are you serious?" Azula simply stared at Gojo, unable to believe that he would even consider doing something like that. "After all that, do you really have the nerve to do something like that?"
"Of course!"
"So, you won't have enough dignity to explain yourself. Do we have a deal, or do you want to get rid of me and break your false promises?"
"Haven't you been told about tough love?" Gojo replied without a hint of guilt in his voice. "It was just a brief training session."
"I know what it's like to endure grueling workouts. I know what it means to push yourself to the limit. This... this was simply a demonstration of inordinate power and a clear lack of control. Do you, as a 'master', not have the ability to control your own divine power to assess the appropriate approach needed by a student, even to a small extent? If so, I see that your incompetence is greater than I anticipated."
"Of course, I have it." Gojo defended himself, raising his arms in a vain sign of defeat. "If I hadn't, I would have killed you."
"The glare was a clear sign that you had everything under control."
"Red is powerful, yet manageable. With your current cursed energy management, you would have survived... 9 out of 10 cases." Gojo contemplated, earning Azula's sneer.
"Excellent! This can be celebrated as a potential regicide, that's to be proud of your capabilities."
"Not that I have much choice. You're the one who wishes to move on as soon as possible."
Azula recalled hearing something similar during combat. At first, she considered it just a taunt from the enemy, but now it carried more significance than she had initially thought.
"Tell me, Azula, are you afraid of death?"
"What kind of question is that?"
"Just answer it."
Azula tried to decipher the angle, the game behind her master's mind. He wasn't an idiot, at least not intellectually. Gojo presented his easygoing side as a display of affability to establish connections with both allies and enemies, creating a more approachable facade. Moreover, in his self-awareness of his own power, he delineates the very limits he cannot surpass, with a power as magnificent as infinity itself. If that wasn't enough, no lie or deception seemed to work. It was as if he could read her mind or see through any trickery she attempted, causing her train of thought to lunge.
But for some reason, a part of her told him that she genuinely meant that question. She knew that her next steps would be influenced by the answer she provided.
Right off the bat, there would be no doubt that her resolution was a yes. However, Azula knew that did not completely align with her beliefs. She would never be a coward who would not risk her integrity for her own goals. This goes beyond being weak; it is simply being someone without courage. Despite this, there was always a little shudder that ran through her body every time she sensed danger. To some degree, his vigilance stemmed from both a defensive caution and an unfamiliar unease that he could not identify in his chest, or simply did not want to acknowledge.
"I don't know." She confessed, not clear if that was the right answer.
"I think you either fear her or have enough respect for her to fight for your life." Gojo suggested, as if he wanted Azula to confront herself, regardless of the answer she might have given.
To say that Azula was displeased with the answer would be an understatement. The temptation to throw another fireball at the subject's face was quite powerful once again, even though she knew the eventual outcome of that case.
"Hey, that's a good thing. It will help you improve more than you think." Gojo assured, although it was difficult to gauge the sincerity of his statement due to his perpetually cheerful and enigmatic smile. "Tell me, have you ever experienced your own death before?"
Azula raised an eyebrow at the question, which helped to alleviate some of her earlier anger. Did she not see it in her presence? What person could witness such power and not bow down before her, eager to beg for mercy while licking her fingers? She considered that she had engaged in conversation with thousands of people in her life that they would. If she had not gone through that, it would have been impossible for her to even confront Satoru with such unleashed determination.
"I don't know what you mean." Azula said, lifting her shoulders as her confidence rose again. "This isn't the first time I've risked my life. I fought in a war, hunted down the greatest bender in the world, brought honor to my nation with unprecedented feats, and you think I never faced death?"
"I didn't ask you what you did." Gojo spoke, his voice carrying a hint of steel to set the record straight. "I repeat once again, is this the first time you've considered the possibility of actually dying?"
Azula pondered it for a moment. Actually, it wasn't: the time she almost fell to her death in the air temple, or the time her servants rebelled against her and she should have fought back before they finished her off, or the Agni kai that, no matter what Zuzu says, those flames were thrown to kill her.
Although, she also acknowledged that this case was exceptional, and to say that she had ever experienced anything like it was false. On no occasion could she hear her heart pumping with such force that it drowned out the noises outside.
That was not something Azula wanted to share. Any weapon used against her must have been obtained through means other than her own mouth. Naturally, she kept her expression neutral, not revealing her emotions at all.
"What do you hope to achieve with all of this? A psychological analysis? To expose my vulnerabilities? Trust me, my enemies have tried that in the past, and it hasn't ended well."
"Azula, I'll be clear." Gojo sighed as he removed the blindfold from his eyes. They no longer emitted the menacing spark they had during combat. "I don't doubt your potential. I genuinely believe that before long you can join me as a special grade Sorcerer. Don't doubt that. That's why I want to accelerate progress."
At this point, Azula grew tired of how repetitive her teacher became on the subject. Despite this, she somehow did not let go of his insistence. Besides, she didn't forget the binding vow for even a second. Was Gojo searching for something beyond just replacing the commanding heads of sorcery, a way for her to become even stronger?
"Imagine this scenario: a mother accidentally leaves a stove on, and her wooden house catches fire. She tries to escape, but then realizes that her son is trapped amidst the debris. "What do you think happens?"
"She abandoned him." She replied forcefully, without a second's thought, and focused her entire mind on the answer, like an automatic mechanism. "Her chances of rescuing her son outweigh her skills. Her strength is not enough to carry a wooden beam. Her son is doomed."
"How cold." Gojo shuddered, although his voice remained just as annoyed. "But unfortunately, that's not always the case. The strongest-willed people accomplish feats that no one expects from them. I can assure you that in at least half of the cases, the mother either saves the child...or dies trying."
Although Azula tried to retort, she found herself speechless and unable to respond. The small, nagging sting in her chest overwhelmed her. That insignificant burn continued to burn relentlessly, piercing through her and leaving her completely immobilized, unable to react to the impact.
Satoru interpreted the silence differently, perceiving it as a signal to proceed.
"I've already said it, Azula. Being a sorcerer is hell fun! But it's still hell" Though he didn't touch her, Gojo's intention was for her to focus on his eyes. Despite his playful demeanor, he wanted her to take his words seriously and not dismiss them as mere nonsense. "If you want to make progress, you'll have to put your life on the line again and again, so many times that you might lose hope, so many times that you might lose your sanity."
Azula did not need him to be so blunt to know that. She assumed from the beginning that controlling such a dark and evil energy was not something the weak could submit to. She remained quiet, slowly regaining her composure and replacing her sulking thoughts with more assertive ones.
"At least more than you have left."
The princess narrowed her eyes at that. Though she had her suspicions before, now she could confirm them. She would not confront him; that would be a bad move on her part in her current state. However, it was a given that Gojo knew something more about her than she allowed. How did he obtain external information? That was a valuable question that should have been answered. Still, she kept it in the back of her mind. There were other items of higher priority than that.
"Get used to it. The moment you decide to go through with this, do not expect the curses to be any kinder than I am."
Azula breathed a little harder than she had anticipated as she stood up. She despised the sensation of weakness that her exhausted body succumbed to, but she compelled herself to keep going, refusing to endure any more nonsensical advice from mindless suicides.
"Don't think of me as a naive child. I'm aware of the cruelty one must endure to survive."
Azula attempted to walk, only to discover that she was unable to do so correctly. If she did, all that would be left would be a dishonorable shuffling, like that of a starving beggar. It was already horrifying to see her in such an injured state, but the fact that she was so weak that she could not walk did not even cross her mind for a second.
"Heh, I can rely on that. Just remember this: the man who considers himself crazy will continue to believe so until he encounters someone even crazier than himself. It is at that moment that he realizes he has always been a sane man. Everyone claims to have what he needs until they personally experience the abyss." For some reason, Gojo's bright smile became somewhat saddened by the thoughts in his head. "It can drive even the best of men to madness."
Azula softened her frown into a more intriguing expression.
She did not ignore the first hint of pain in her master's voice, which revealed a vulnerability. An experience? Highly, especially when it comes to someone close. Azula was almost certain that was the case, but she did not show any great affection for it either, so calling it a hole was still premature.
"Very well."
With a few stretches of his arms, Gojo began to approach Azula. She hesitated, unsure of her master's intentions in approaching her in such a manner.
What she never expected was that Satoru's arms quickly wrapped around her back and legs, carrying her in a grip reminiscent of the ones shown in fantasy movies and the classic tale of a prince carrying a princess.
"What are you doing?!" Azula cried out, attempting to free herself from the grip without success. A minimal amount of force from Infinity effortlessly restrained her, preventing any escape.
"I don't think you're in any condition to get to where Shoko is, and it's faster that way." Gojo argued, but she could not ignore the mischievous intent behind his actions. He wanted to show how proud he was to do such a ridiculous thing. "Relax, just close your eyes and act like the perfect princess you are."
"Don't think that I'm like those pathetic spoiled brats!"
"Ah, so you've been paying attention to them. I knew it. I always get other people's tastes right."
Azula did not have time to retort before disappearing from the forest, which was half destroyed by the ravages of intense training.
XXX
Tell me I am not the only one who knows what he's going to do, how he's going to do it, and what he's going to present, but doesn't know how to pull it off precisely. Well, that was this chapter.
It was insufferable for quite a while to come up with what a specific part would be like.
Still, sorry for the delay. Beyond the above, it was also to look for beta in this version of the fic to correct spelling (Spoiler, I didn't get it), and weeks were piling up. I assure you that the next one won't have such a long waiting time.
Anyway, I hope you liked it. If you have any criticism, feedback, things you liked or didn't like, the actions, etc. don't forget to leave a comment, it motivates me to continue with this project.
Also don't forget to give follow and fav if you liked the story.
And without further ado, until the next chapter, BYE!