Echelon: A Multiverse Story

[Two Weeks Later]

"You shouldn't find it too hard to grasp," Kusakabe said. "Loosely, it's what you likely already know it for: negating the sure-hit effect of a sorcerer's domain expansion." 

"Okkotsu mentioned it being relatively weak when put up against powerful domains, though?" 

Quinn didn't dislike the idea of learning such a technique. On paper, having a potential get-out-of-jail free card against a domain expansion was nice…but how applicable was it to him in particular? 

Would it work against other abilities outside of just cursed energy?

Refining his control and skill had proven effective when in regards to his overall strength. Cursed energy was unsurprisingly versatile when it came to providing the necessary buffs, if you will. While it could be used in order to reinforce the body or amplify physical abilities, it could also be used in a raw, pure form in order to create an explosive power, separate to the body. 

Clearing his head, Quinn dusted himself off and got up, sword in hand. He was still uncertain, but entertaining whatever it was Kusakabe had in mind seemed like the best course of action. 

"It's possible," he seemed to say in agreement, though his tone betrayed his words, "but it's not something you should concern yourself with. There's value in being able to perform the technique, even if you do so with binding vows." 

Another uncertainty. The concept was fine, but he didn't like limiting something like the New Shadow Style like that. He'd created the binding vow with his innate technique for a good reason: in order to make space for fundamental strength. It didn't matter if Axis was a versatile technique if he himself was incapable of keeping up with the demand. 

Giving someone Gojo's infinity wouldn't create results, he told himself, it'd just give someone a lot to think about. 

By becoming strong on his own, he could allocate all the necessary resources to Axis without being a drawback to himself. It was the safest, most efficient route that covered the most ground in the amount of time he had. 

"Do you have any suggestions?" 

Kusakabe cocked his head. "Depends what conditions you want to impose upon yourself. Things like that are better left at the behest of the sorcerer…though with this, it'd probably be better to keep an eye on you." 

Rolling his eyes, Quinn activated Axis. If he was intent on surviving the tournament, making decisions based upon potentials and possibilities was fine, but he couldn't let them hinder any progress. If he was to appropriately prepare, he couldn't pull his punches. 

Axis wasn't overly complicated in its current state. While the conditions for what was and wasn't allowed through were a little ambiguous, its general application seemed to remove the correlation something had with Quinn, removing that possibility from occurring. It meant blows that would normally strike him would suddenly deflect before ever hitting him, operating as a sort of automatic counter. But, at its core, this current version of Axis was a barrier. 

"How large is your simple domain, then?" 

Kusakabe shrugged. "That's redundant, since I can extend its range—and not to mention that mine is generally larger than most other sorcerers." 

Generally, Quinn understood how barriers worked. Curtains, at their core, were relatively simple given the circumstances required to create one: an incantation. A strict condition that produced a predetermined outcome. Like in mathematics, the answer was dependent on the building blocks, or equation. Where barriers differed from curtains was in their design. 

"It's like oobleck," Quinn said under his breath. "A curtain and a barrier are essentially the same, only their properties are dependent on the predetermined conditions set by the sorcerer." Smiling, Quinn focused on Axis and dispelled the barrier, instead choosing to focus on the ground beneath him. "If gently pushing your hand into the oobleck is raising a curtain, then striking it with force is creating a barrier." 

As he focused, as he praised himself inwardly, he felt a sudden surge erupt from five points on his body. Each localised deposit of cursed energy reached out in conjunction as the technique began siphoning energy from them. 

[Simple Domain]

Sprouting from the soles of his feet, a thick, hazy barrier spread out, surrounding him with a red, mirage-like effect. Much like when Axis was activated, he could feel his cursed energy pulsating around the three-metre radius, writhing and convulsing as if it were alive. He couldn't feel the space he was inhabiting, no less than he could perceive gravity or experience a higher plain of existence. 

It's like back in the forest when I found Yuki hiding, he noted. Rather than trying to enforce his cursed energy onto reality, it was more efficient to paint it instead. 

Kusakabe nodded. "Didn't think you'd pull it off immediately." 

"Success is quite refreshing," he chuckled. Unlike the simple domain, he'd struggled grasping the fundamentals of cursed energy reinforcement and actually applying it efficiently in battle, however grasping something he already had some knowledge on was, naturally, fundamentally different. 

"It's surprisingly intuitive," Quinn chuckled, jumping up and down within the space. The red haze remained, blurring his movements slightly, leaving behind a subtle afterimage. "I feel like I could keep it up forever!" 

"Why is it red?" 

Quinn shrugged. "My simple domain will remain active under condition that my cursed energy cuts anyone that enters; me included." As he finished speaking, a shallow slash formed just beneath his lip. "The only downside is the longer I keep it up, the more severe the cuts become." 

Kusakabe nodded slowly. "That's…a little strange, but whatever works, I suppose." 

If not for the serrated edge…I don't know what other rule I could've imposed on it. 

Luck was, after all, part of becoming strong. He hadn't stumbled across Yuki Tsukumo or happened to have this unique trait without it, which meant there was nothing wrong with doubting its effectiveness. Luck was as palpable a strength as anything else was, which left Quinn feeling as though he'd truly achieved something. 

Not to mention Axis…I'd be lost without my innate technique, as well.

It was, while a comforting thought, also an incredibly troubling prospect. 

What if he weren't the only contestant to get lucky? What if everyone was just as, if not more fortunate than him?

Simple domain should negate anything deadly, at least in regards to cursed energy. I'll…have to wait and see how it works in the tournament. 

"If Okkotsu showed you how to properly imbue your weapons with cursed energy," Kusakabe started, unsheathing his own blade, "let's see what you've got!" 

Quinn smiled, grasping his own blade. "With or without axis?" 

Kusakabe shrugged. As he did, something overpowered the breezy, comforting sensation Quinn could feel. "Go ahead and try!" 

Dashing backwards, Quinn watched the red haze of his simple domain be swallowed whole by Kusakabe's own simple domain as he slid forward. Since his was more refined and optimized with more efficient cursed energy, his own simple domain was simply outmatched. Accepting that fact, Quinn deactivated the technique and imbued his sword with cursed energy, pouring that violent red aura into the tool. 

Lit up with his volatile red, Quinn slammed the blade into Kusakabe's strike, matching the blow. Upon contact, it was clear that they weren't meeting as equals—Quinn was outmatched by the grade 1 sorcerer, both in strength and cursed energy output. It wasn't about inherent strength or technique; it was all about efficiency. 

"You've definitely improved," Kusakabe said through gritted teeth. With minimal effort, the man slid his blade beneath Quinn's, gaining enough leverage to push it up with a sudden jerk. "But you're still thinking in terms of general actions!" 

Exposed, Quinn fell into a crouch and whipped one of his legs out, slicing across at Kuskabe's own. Forced to avoid the attack, the interval bought him enough time as Kusakabe leapt backwards, away from the strike. 

"Cursed energy means our intentions are semi-predictable," Kusakabe explained. "Not so much that someone can perceive intent, but enough that action can be made in preparation based upon fluctuations." 

Quinn frowned, ducking beneath a slash. "What're you getting at?" 

"Control it!" he shouted, slashing down with his sword. 

On paper, that made sense. Limiting how much cursed energy he utilized would, by proxy, reduce how much was lost due to unoptimized manipulation. But…on that same page, it also meant any cursed energy being used in some other way would immediately be identified. 

Quinn shook his head. "You're trying to distract me!" 

Smiling, Kusakabe parried an attack and dashed back. "Tsukumo should have taught you, but limiting your cursed energy in such a way reveals your intentions. Under most circumstances, it should envelope your body." 

Yuki's localisation only works so long as each deposit works in conjunction, otherwise they'll begin to lag behind one another, therefore delaying the actual flow. 

On paper, his cursed energy flow had a higher potential efficiency than anyone doing so with regular methods. Generally, maximising cursed energy flowing throughout your body wouldn't be something necessary for high-grade sorcerers since it was often already efficient enough, however…for Quinn and Tsukumo Yuki, it meant something else entirely. 

[Black Flash]

Despite matching his strike, Kusakabe was unable to match the force as black sparks lashed out from the impact zone. The man wasn't a Grade-1 sorcerer for nothing, for he managed to use the sudden force as leverage, redirecting a majority of the blow down into the ground. The sudden momentum quickly diminished as he slid across the dirt, a grin plastered across his face. 

"Landing a black flash intentionally is impossible," he chuckled, sheathing his sword. 

Quinn shrugged. "It is—but you can maximise the chance of one occurring by minimising the time your cursed energy takes flowing through your body." 

He nodded. "Tsukumo taught you that, eh? Damned woman; she always did have her own way of things."

Content, the man seemed to have had his fill in testing him, though he didn't appear to be entirely finished. With a gesture, he signalled for Quinn to follow him out away from the fields and towards the central complex, where another student was apparently awaiting them. 

He was worn out, but then it wasn't as though he couldn't keep going. Quinn didn't despise the idea of slacking off; in fact he wholeheartedly welcomed the idea of a lazy day. That said, on such a short timer, making the most of anything and everything was necessary. 

"What was the purpose of teaching my simple domain?" 

Glancing over his shoulder, Kusakabe simply shrugged. "I had no intention of teaching it to you—I only wanted to show it to you. Better you get an idea on how barrier techniques work before you encounter something dangerous." 

"You should know I already have some knowledge on how barriers work, though." 

"Gotta dig deep into everything, don't you?" 

Quinn chuckled. "I prefer it when I can make sense out of things." 

"You're in the wrong business then." Spinning around, Kusakabe gestured ahead to a set of stairs interlaid into the complex, leading directly to the central building. "Speaking of which. Since you haven't appropriately had a grade assigned to you yet, we need to properly assess you." 

To his side, another student stepped out of the building, flipping through his phone casually as he made his way down the stairs. He was immediately familiar, and whether for his unassuming presence or equally unsuspecting appearance, Quinn felt sad for him. 

Walking up, Fushiguro Megumi pocketed his phone, nodding curtly. "I'll be accompanying you today."