*One Week Later*
Down the streets of NYC you could find tons of different stores and buildings offering plenty of services. One more run down location was a boxing gym, Golden Knuckles, which looked like it had seen some better days.
The sign was worn out, discolored to a ratty yellow from the original gold design that caught the early morning sun quite well. Faded posters of past attendees that had fought in actual fights made it clear it was on rougher times.
Inside though, none of that mattered. Especially to the one person inside doing bag work. Each hit landed with strength, a satisfying POP sounding with each strike.
If you could see past his blindfold you would see blue eyes glowing in utter focus, hair clinging to his forehead, sweat dripping onto the floor.
Host you have reached 1000 repetitions.
With an exhale of relief Vance sent one extra hard hook towards the bag, rocketing it out with a BANG.
Turning, he rested his hands behind his head, leaning back and looking to the ceiling to catch his breath.
'System show me my stats and how the improvements are coming.' The system he'd been partnered with might not give him easy strength, but it was very helpful with planning his path forward and tracking his progress. Soon came the expected mechanical reply.
Certainly host.
Name - Vance Gojo
Age - 16
Race - Cursed Human
Cursed Energy Usage - Grade 1 sorcerer
Cursed Techniques -
Adaptation and ??? - The ability to adapt to any and all phenomena and to ???? - Basic
Adaptations - Space, ???, Pain (2 turns),
Limitless - Bring the concept of infinity into reality and control space at will - Basic
Other techniques/abilities - Rikugan
Infinity - Basic
Cursed technique lapse, Blue - Below basic
Strength and speed have seen noticeable increases. Host's body has also become more resilient, though no damage has been taken as of yet making this hard to truly judge.
'Ok that's not as bad as I thought' Vance thought to himself, considering his progress up to this point.
Other than the Saitama training program, which was still hell a week in, his main focus had been figuring out Blue so he had a ranged attack option.
'Though I'll need to look at using it for teleportation as well. Gojo could use that, just gotta start small.' With that thought he absently walked over to Damien, the gym owner, who was benching in the back corner.
Damien was a monster of a man, six foot four, solid muscle, and a military buzzcut framed his permanently frowning face quite well. Waiting for him to rack the weight, Vance spoke up.
"I'm headed out. Gotta catch a shower before school. Can't be smelling like your truck's undercarriage when I get there."
Snorting, Damien stood before clapping Vance's shoulder, shaking him a bit, "No worries kid. We'll be sparring tomorrow if you're here. I'm sure the guys would love to see you again." A brief grin crossed his face when saying that, and Vance just groaned knowing why.
'Fucking assholes wanting to beat up a kid.' With his speed and strength he was a great spar last week as he didn't know how to punch, but he could dodge. A lot of guys got a great workout in chasing him around the ring.
"Yeah yeah laugh it up. When I knock one of them down we'll see who's laughing" he responded with a wave as he walked out. The gym had been the system's idea, a way to work on form and power before jumping in the deep end, but practice could only get you so far.
'Plus, I can't use my technique when I'm in there. People would probably question the giant wheel above my head.'
That had been a big surprise. In his planning for boxing he had thought he could sneakily get some adaptation progress while getting punched, but the system made him aware that things weren't the same as in Jujutsu Kaisen. In the manga and show, normal humans couldn't see cursed spirits or cursed energy. However, in Marvel, for some reason they were visible. Apparently Sticky Fingers had seen his technique activate when he was first dropped in the city.
'Never thought I'd be glad for that guy seeing me' he mused to himself, sliding into a bodega and grabbing an everything bagel as he walked back to his apartment. If others could see his techniques activating, that meant no public adaptations for now.
'I have to start making progress for real though, so that means I'll have to start patrolling. Maybe New York City isn't as crime riddled as people think?'
That was wishful thinking though and he knew it. Even now just walking down the street he could pick out at least one assault happening but since cops were close he didn't pay it any mind, happily munching as he continued thinking.
'I'll have to find something cool to wear. First impressions are everything after all. I wouldn't want the media to name me something villainous just because of my outfit.'
So he continued, deciding to make tonight the night of his proper debut to the city, 'I mean it's my first night and it's early in the timeline, I don't think anything big was happening at this time.'
9 PM - New York City
'I don't down if this counts as a superhero costume. I feel like I'm just ripping off Gojo.'
With a lack of real funds and not wanting to be too flashy, Vance had opted for the traditional Gojo outfit. Dark purple athletic pants with a dark purple hoodie that was almost black. He'd switched out his old blindfold for a custom one he had ordered, white with the dharmachakra featured right in the middle.
'If images of me do get out I hope they focus on that and not the dark clothes. Just gotta hope they don't go with wheel man or some shit.'
Continuing his stroll, he tilted his head back and forth regularly to ensure he couldn't catch sight of something happening through cursed energy fluctuations. 'Maybe the next step should be forming platforms of infinity so I can 'fly' in a sense of the word.'
He hadn't looked into that much when he was watching Jujutsu Kaisen, but the system brutally reminded him Gojo couldn't really fly. Disappointing, but he could still use platforms to look cool, 'they're invisible anyways.'
Breaking up these thoughts was a shrill scream a distance two his left, causing Vance to immediately shoot off with a burst of cursed energy. Weaving past a few of the resident homeless and vaulting a fence, he skidded around a corner to find a dead end alleyway with three men standing at the end.
On the ground at their feet was a girl, probably not older than thirteen, trembling with what looked like a busted lip.
"Scream again and I'll really give you something to yell about bi-" one man started before another, one with ears it seemed, turned at the sound of Vance sliding into view. Smacking his buddy to get his attention, the three turned around as the girl scrambled back to lean sitting against the brick wall at the end of the alley.
Vance whistled as he took a few steps closer, "Wow that's impressive, she's so strong it took all three of you to bring that little girl down eh?"
The biggest of the three, the one who had been speaking, stepped up to respond.
"You need to get lost kid. I don't mind smacking around a wannabe hero tonight either." Rolling his neck around, he took what he thought to be an aggressive pose. Unfortunately, the man was close to 300 pounds, and certainly not of muscle, so he appeared more awkward than anything else.
Vance tilted his head, "do you have twenty more people behind you big guy? Otherwise I don't think it's going to go as you plan after all…"
Vance grinned as the two others stepped up while he was speaking and he spoke in a mocking tone, "you're weak."
Dropping low as quick as possible he lashed out his leg in an arc, hoping to knock the three down quickly. The two that had been stepping up weren't lucky enough to dodge, getting caught and swiped down fairly hard. The big man stepped back, avoiding the blow before raining down a meaty fist in a hammer motion.
The move was painfully obvious to his Six Eyes, a hand spring back freeing him up as the two downed goons shook themselves back up holding a shoulder each.
'Tight alley, gotta use that to my advantage.' Vance thought before blocking a fist from his right and redirecting it towards the person on his left, the big man stalking behind the other two. The thug managed to avoid punching his buddy, but a hook to the face from Vance who was now left alone briefly left him slumping down.
Shooting forwards quickly he grabbed the second by the throat, a choked gasp leaving his mouth as he was slammed into the wall, small cracks present in the bricks while dust fell.
"So just me and you polar bear, can I call you polar bear? I'm gonna call you polar bear. Big, hairy, and whiter than anything I thought possible!" Vance's words seemed to have the effect he desired, the man roaring as he stepped in to deliver what would truly be a debilitating uppercut.
Reading the trajectory, Vance spun inside the man's guard, an elbow to the stomach knocking the wind out of him and forcing him to bend over gasping for air.
Crunch
With a sickening sound Vance's knee drove up and through the man's nose, breaking it and sending him to dreamland for the immediate future. Looking around, Vance could see the scuffle didn't cause much damage, 'well aside from to these guys I guess'.
Turning his attention to the girl, he kneeled a bit away so as to not crowd her before speaking as gently as he could.
"Hey there are you alright?"
The girl looked shellshocked which made sense, she'd just seen a teenager take three grown men down easily. She didn't see the flow of Vance's cursed energy though, reinforcing his body a necessary action he took to quickly get rid of the threat.
The girl spoke up through some sniffles, rubbing her lip to clear off the blood, "I- I'm alright. Thank you for… helping."
'Even a thanks, this girl is too nice' he got a closer look and was relieved to see the only injury was her cut lip. He didn't recognize her from school which was also a relief.
"Good!" He said in a cheery tone, reaching into the man now dubbed 'big and dumb' in his head's pockets he pulled out a flip phone. Handing it to the girl he advised, "I suggest you call the police and have them take these guys and bring you home. You're a little young to be out this late alone."
The girl looked at the phone, then him, then slowly reached out and took it from his hand. With a goofy smile and salute he walked back down the alley, waving as he went, "stay safe out there!"
Ten minutes later a few blocks away, Vance was resuming his patrol as he heard sirens in the distance heading to the scene. Deciding to quickly check how he did, he thought to himself, 'Not bad for a first real fight, right system?'
Correct host. First non cursed spirit battle successful. No usage of infinity detected. Efficient use of cursed energy for strikes. Overall combat rating of 87%. Only improvements are minor, or you receiving damage for adaptations.
'Always with the adaptations.' Vance thought with a frown. His primary cursed technique was a bit of a struggle to get off the ground. It's not like he couldn't do anything about it, after all he could always take damage, but…
'Why take damage when I can win without doing it?' He had taken the system's advice and fought without infinity tonight and in a few random battles with low grade cursed spirits he had found, but none had even connected with him. He'd taken zero damage whatsoever.
'Gotta table that for now, just continue patrolling tonight and worry about that during the day time. Maybe I should 'borrow' a police radio? Also note: don't quote Gojo as much. Sounds too chuuni.'
A half an hour later Vance could be seen on a rooftop, legs dangling, snacking on some candy with a radio on his side. 'Cops shouldn't leave their windows open,' he thought shaking his head, 'what if I was a bad guy that was looking for information?'
He continued his snacking for a few minutes, enjoying the cool night air until several popping sounds drew his attention. 'I don't think those were fireworks…'
A minute or two later he was proven correct as his commandeered radio started going crazy,
"10-13U we have shots fired at police at the intersection of 7th Avenue and 133rd Street. At least three assailants. One officer down and another under fire."
1st POV - Vance
In a burst of blue I vaulted over the side of the roof, landing in a crouch as I sprinted in the direction of Harlem.
'God why does this city have to be so damn big?' Not to say it was going to take me long, with cursed energy my speeds were faster than most cars were willing to go in the city. Only most since it was New York City after all. A couple minutes later I heard a pop ahead, seeing flashing lights and a couple people behind the car.
Rushing up I crouched behind a parked car next to them, choosing humor to bleed some tension out, "hello officers! Can I give you a hand?"
That attempt fell flat as the injured officer who was laying on the ground with a bullet hole in his leg looked up and responded through clenched teeth,
"Get out of here kid! Our help is on the way and I don't want to watch you die."
I laughed, pulling a spare blindfold from my pocket and wrapping it around his leg as a tourniquet, his partner watching my every move as we kept taking fire.
"How many shooters?" I asked, turning to the other and more senior officer who looked at me for a few more seconds before shaking his head.
"Looks like four. Traffic stop gone nuts all four had guns and he walked up without me."
I nodded in response to that, 'well it looks like infinity is going to get a workout tonight after all. I refuse to get shot for an adaptation damnit. Well for now I guess.' Looking through a car window, I briefly pulled up my blindfold and got a quick look at everything.
'Four for sure. Two reloading now, one just aiming, and one firing like he's at a shooting range.' Resetting it, I turned to the upright cop,
"Well. Just give me a few seconds alright? Also, before you ask me later, I'm not a mutant." Before I could hear his answer I activated infinity and rolled out around the car before standing up, the guns rounding to point at me but not firing.
"Yo who are you asshole?! We've got no problem with you, just these two. You can just walk away. No need to try and be a hero!"
'Hmmm I think that was the driver. Hard to know with them all out of the car.' I chuckled at the irony of what he said,
"You've got one thing kinda wrong though," I said while stepping forwards, "kinda have to be a hero ya know?"
I kept walking as another of the merry group of gun toting Americans fired several times very quickly, unloading several shots right at me. 'Wow good training too. Six shots all center mass.'
Floating inches from my chest were six bullets, I pinched one and inspected it briefly before swiping them away and onto the ground. Looking back up I could see the four staring at me in shock, the streetlights catching the view of the bullets stopping.
"Ah fuck it's one of the damn freaks isn't it?" Another of the group yelled before glancing nervously at the one that had called out before. I could see him sweating, my smile widening as I took another step forwards.
"Gentlemen I think we've all had enough fun for the night, so why don't you all put the guns down, and I can let the police take you without any concussions!" My sickly sweet tone made one flinch as they all sent looks to one another.
Slowly they all put their guns on the ground, raising their arms up as they stood in place. "Wonderful!" I shouted with a clap, "healthy officer if you would be so kind as to handcuff these gentleman." My head being tuned I didn't see, but rather heard the gunshot behind me as another bullet stopped at the back of my head.
Slowly, I turned around to see the same guy who had yelled out to start holding a smaller pistol he must've had on him, shaking as he realized it didn't work. I just stared at him for a minute before, in a blur of motion, I was in front of him with my arm reared back.
"Bad move" I said as my arm shout out, a hook connecting with his jaw.
CRACK
"Shit I think I broke his jaw. My bad!" I scratched the back of my head sheepishly while looking at the others who had their arms up still and fear on their faces.
"Everyone is done right?" They vigorously nodded while I glanced at the guns. With a slight use of blue I pulled them towards the cop, "you can find their weapons piled up right here."
Sirens sounding out from nearby broke my attention, "Ah I better get going. Have a great night guys!"
The cop tried to stop me, but all I caught was,
"Hey wait what am I gonna tell-" before I was halfway to the next block.
3rd POV - Post Shooting Incident
George Stacy was not pleased. He'd been having a movie night with his wife after putting his daughter to bed when he'd gotten a call to head to a scene his investigators were calling something they'd never dealt with before. He'd been upset at that, but things only got worse when he got to the scene.
Four guns of the street and four attempted cop killers arrested should've been a good night, but it wasn't his guys that had made the collar.
"So run this by me again," he said while rubbing his temple, feeling a migraine beginning to come on.
The most talkative of the four arrestees, a short white man with greasy long blond hair and wild eyes spoke quickly, "I'm telling you the truth man! The guy stopped my bullets before they touched him! He looked right at me after even with a blindfold on. You can even look the bullets are right there! He was taller than me by a little so like 5'10" probably and he had a hood too."
The police captain couldn't help but sigh, knowing he was in for a long night. If it'd just been the one guy talking about this he would've said it was a drug addled hallucination, but all four plus his officer with the same story? That's a whole different animal.
He turned to one of his detectives and motioned him over, once he reached his side he asked,
"There's a camera somewhere around here right?"
The detective looked own at his notes briefly before nodding, "there's an outdoor camera across the street outside a pawn shop and a street camera down", he pointed past the car the four had been in, "that way that may have caught something too. I'll get someone to collect the footage. Hopefully we can get a decent look at the guy."
George nodded, closing his eyes and exhaling before the sound of tires made him turn around. Three black SUV's pulled up, blue lights flashing. He raised an eyebrow as a middle aged man came over while several… agents began looking around.
"Captain Stacy" the man began with a smile, "it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Special Agent Phil Coulson with the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division." Reaching out a hand which the captain accepted curiously.
"That's a bit of a mouthful you think? What're you doing here Special Agent Coulson?"
The first question man Coulson wince, "We get that a lot actually. We are working on that. I'm here as we have been told to take over the… extra part of your investigation. Both because we have a vested interest, and it will take the weirder bit off of your plate."
Captain Stacy thought about it briefly, but eventually shrugged it off, "Hey if you wanna deal with a bullet stopping teenager that's fine by me, gets me home earlier." Turning, he signaled to his detective, "this detective can assist you with the camera footage. If you need anything else feel free to give me a ring."
He passed over a card with his information Coulson inspected briefly before nodding. He waved towards his agents, and they began swarming the scene taking pictures, inspecting, and collecting.
Free of the conversation, Coulson watched the process with a critical eye, 'Blindfolded kid with powers. Gotcha. At this rate, I'll have found him in a month.' The thought made Coulson smile as his mood rose. 'Maybe I'll get a bonus for this.'