Mai already knew about her and Maki's situation.
After awakening her Construction Technique, Mai could occasionally sense Maki's presence.
Combined with the constant ridicule from countless members of the Zen'in Family, the intelligent Mai gradually pieced together the truth about the two of them.
The Jujutsu World had always regarded twins as an ominous sign.
The reason behind this was only clarified after scientific development advanced.
Identical twins originate from a single ovum, and the Cursed Energy System categorizes them as a single entity.
For example, if a person is born with 10 talent points, the distribution of those 10 points determines their future aptitude.
However, identical twins are clearly two people, yet the Cursed Energy System still judges them as one.
Therefore, the 10 talent points meant for one person are divided between two.
That is why, from ancient times until now, twins in the Jujutsu World have often displayed degraded talent and weaker overall ability compared to ordinary individuals.
Mai and Maki's case was even more complicated.
Not only did they share talent, but Maki also possessed a reverse Heavenly Restriction, the same type as Toji.
She should have had zero Cursed Energy.
However, due to Mai's existence, her Cursed Energy could not be completely reduced to zero.
That was the true reason Maki had always remained stuck in an awkward state.
Just as Mai once said to Maki when bidding farewell:
"You are me, and I am you. If I don't want to become stronger, then no matter how hard you try, it's useless. As long as I'm still by your side, you'll only ever be a half-baked Jujutsu Sorcerer..."
Even at her young age, Mai had already realized this.
The truth was not what the adults claimed, that the useless older sister who could not even see Cursed Spirits was dragging down her twin.
Instead, it was her, the younger sister with a Technique, who was holding back her older sister, who should have been a genius.
Mai never wanted to become stronger.
She did not even want to become a Jujutsu Sorcerer.
She only wanted to stay beside her sister and live an ordinary, happy life.
But reality did not allow that.
She had to diligently study etiquette and Techniques, maintaining perfection as a woman of the Zen'in Family.
Her sister had to continue forward, covered in scars, walking a thorn-filled path with no visible hope.
"I do."
When she said it for the second time, only determination remained in Mai's eyes.
"Don't worry. Leave it to us."
Click.
"Hey, I brought them."
The sound of a door opening echoed as Toji entered with Maki.
"So slow. You're late."
Satoru looked at Toji with obvious disdain.
Even he had not been late this time.
"Huh? Was I late?"
Toji scratched his head in confusion, then gave up thinking about it.
"Mai, what's going on?"
Maki ignored the adults and walked straight to Mai.
"It's nothing."
Mai shook her head, signaling that she was fine.
"You can talk later. The main event is about to begin."
Eichi stepped forward, took both of their hands, and led them to the coffins Satoru had prepared.
"Will lying in this really make us stronger?"
Maki asked, pointing at the coffin.
"That's right. Lie down, and you'll become a complete version of yourself."
Without hesitation, Maki climbed inside.
"I'm ready. Let's start."
Seeing that, Mai also climbed into the other coffin.
"Shoko, can you see clearly? Will this design obstruct your view?"
Eichi worried that the coffin panels might interfere with observation.
"No problem. I'll monitor their condition the entire time."
Shoko nodded calmly.
"Then let's begin."
Eichi summoned Round Deer and handed control to Shoko, then turned to Medea.
"Mmm."
Medea nodded and began activating the Holy Grail.
Satoru removed his blindfold, revealing the Six Eyes, and carefully observed Mai's condition without missing a single detail.
Shoko stood beside Mai, ready to treat her at any moment.
In truth, Medea alone could have carried out this ritual.
But Eichi had called both Shoko and Satoru to ensure absolute safety.
Even a 0.1 percent failure rate was unacceptable.
At this moment, the Six Eyes served as the most precise timer, accurately determining the Cursed Energy state within both Mai and Maki.
"Close your eyes and sleep. When you wake up, you will experience rebirth."
Both sisters obediently closed their eyes.
Under Medea's magecraft, they fell into a deep sleep.
Medea's power began to invade Mai's body.
Her Cursed Energy gradually dwindled, and her vitality slowly faded.
If Mai had already reached the level shown in the original events, Eichi might have allowed her to overexert herself through Construction, just as before, and then treat her afterward.
But she was still too young.
Within seconds, Mai's vitality completely vanished.
The faint Cursed Energy within Maki also rapidly disappeared.
The Heavenly Restriction could no longer detect Mai's Cursed Energy and began to fulfill the binding's conditions.
Maki's Cursed Energy was completely stripped away.
What followed was comprehensive physical enhancement granted by the restriction.
The prototype of the second-generation Heavenly Restriction was born.
"The Heavenly Restriction is complete. Begin the next step."
The moment Maki's restriction fully activated, Satoru spoke.
Shoko immediately directed Round Deer to begin restoring Mai's physical body.
Medea moved to strengthen Mai's Soul.
How does the Cursed Energy System judge a person?
After systematic research, Eichi and Medea concluded that it primarily evaluates both body and Soul.
The physical body explains why identical twins are judged as one.
However, the Soul holds even greater weight.
Just like possessed bodies, once the Soul within a cursed object takes dominance, the body transforms according to the Soul's information.
Physical ability, Cursed Energy, and even Techniques can change.
To prevent Mai from being judged again after revival, Eichi and Medea decided to strengthen and slightly modify her Soul.
Just as the Immortal Master restored Kokichi Muta's healthy body by altering his Soul, they chose to intervene at the level of the Soul to prevent Mai and Maki from being recognized as the same individual.
Strengthening was straightforward.
Using the Third Magic of the Holy Grail, Soul Materialization, they reinforced her Soul.
The modification itself was mild.
Like placing a coat over someone.
Medea used the Holy Grail to place a coat over Mai's Soul.
A coat belonging to Emiya.
In other words, they materialized a copy of Emiya's information stored within the Holy Grail and overlaid it onto Mai's Soul.
This prevented the Cursed Energy System from re-evaluating her as the same individual as Maki after her suspended death and revival.
At the same time, it granted her greater potential power.
Time passed minute by minute.
The second-generation Heavenly Tyrant and the second-generation Nuclear Sword Immortal officially entered the stage.
(To be continued.)
Junkdog's Note: It's been a while since I dropped a new fanfiction. I'm thinking of dropping one soon, so if you have any you'd like me to check out, or maybe one that got abandoned, do tell me in the comments.