Tsukasa looked at the sky and felt speechless. He had never been this lost for words before.
"I thought having Sukuna's abilities at max level made me invincible," he muttered.
[Infinite Transcendence System — Status]
User: Tsukasa
Gender: Male
Age: 23
Race: Human
Stats
Constitution: 350 (average adult male: 1)
Strength: 334
Agility: 380
Spirit: 420
Abilities
Infinite Transcendence: (No limits. You can keep surpassing your own boundaries.)
Shrine
Slashing Technique "Dismantle"
Slashing Technique "Cleave"
Divine Flame ("Open")
Reverse Cursed Technique
Domain Expansion "Malevolent Shrine"
Domain Amplification
World-Cutting Slash
Ryomen Sukuna's True Form
(Conditional) Ten Shadows Technique
(Conditional) Piercing Water (Max Elephant imitation)
Weapons
Cursed Tool "Kamutoke"
Cursed Tool "Hiten"
Inventory
None
Tsukasa's status screen had skyrocketed after integrating Sukuna's abilities. Even so, this level of strength still wasn't enough for the world of A Certain Magical Index. It was probably enough to handle early monsters like the Number One Level 5—Accelerator.
But late-game enemies like Fiamma of the Right or Acqua of the Back? Not even close.
"Well, whatever. Thinking about this doesn't help right now."
Tsukasa's stomach growled. He stopped overthinking and decided to move first and worry later.
He started walking out of the alley.
Suddenly, voices spilled in from the entrance.
"The loud noise came from this way, right?" one of them said.
"Hey… do we really need to check it out?" another muttered.
"If you're scared, get lost!" a third voice shouted.
"Who said I'm scared!? I—I just…"
A group of thugs dressed like delinquents stepped into view.
The moment they saw Tsukasa, a red-haired thug walked up first. He sized Tsukasa up and spoke in a mocking tone.
"Hey, It's dangerous to be out here late at night. You should stay home."
Tsukasa's mouth twitched.
The red-haired thug had a messy beard and looked like he was in his thirties or forties.
Just to be safe, Tsukasa asked him straight.
"How old are you?"
"Huh? I'm fifteen!" the red-haired thug sneered.
He even shrugged like it was obvious, which somehow made Tsukasa feel even more speechless.
"You're fifteen!?" Tsukasa shouted.
"What's wrong with being fifteen!?" the delinquent shouted, stepping forward with a nasty look.
He was about to press his forehead against Tsukasa's—
Tsukasa raised a hand and pressed his palm against the delinquent's face.
With a little more force, his skull would crack. Blood would splash across the alley.
The red-haired thug froze. His whole body trembled as cold sweat poured down his back. It felt like he was staring at death itself.
"H-Hey…"
Before the others could even open their mouths, Tsukasa let his aura slip.
It hit them like a wave—like a mountain of corpses, like a sea of blood.
The thugs went pale. A few gagged immediately. Some bent over and started vomiting,
Tsukasa spoke calmly, like he was ordering food.
"You showed up at the perfect time. Leave your money here."
His eyes glinted red.
"Unless you want to leave your lives here instead."
No one argued.
Hands shook as they dumped coins and crumpled bills onto the ground—about 10,000 yen in total.
Tsukasa stared at the pathetic pile and sighed.
"My first robbery and I only got this much?"
"You guys should work at a construction site. You're broke."
"Y-Yes! You're right, boss!" the thugs agreed in a rush, nodding like machines.
They were terrified that one wrong word would get them killed.
"Forget it. Get lost."
Tsukasa wasn't interested in killing ants. Even with Sukuna's abilities, his personality hadn't been warped.
He didn't suddenly become some mindless butcher.
"T-Thank you, boss…"
The delinquents scrambled out of the alley, half-carrying each other as they ran.
Tsukasa pocketed the money, then glanced up at a rooftop.
He took a single step—his body flickered—and he landed on top of the building.
Cool wind brushed his face. He breathed in, steady.
From above, the city at night spread out like a circuit board.
Academy City had the highest level of technology in the world. It was built by Aleister Crowley over many decades.
It was a circular city in western Tokyo—surrounded by Japan, yet separate. Its own territory, its own people, its own government.
A country inside a country.
The population was 2.3 million. Eighty percent were students.
A city of science and education, built around one main purpose: developing supernatural powers.
Scientific powers, ranked from Level 0 to Level 6.
Tsukasa narrowed his eyes.
"I need to figure out the exact date."
"The story should start in June or July. It's hot right now."
"If it's already summer, it's probably somewhere between April and June."
"Looks like it's before—or right at—the start."
"But before any of that… I need food."
Tsukasa moved across the rooftops under the night sky, enjoying the absurd power in his body.
He even flipped through the air—clean, effortless.
A man was always a boy at heart. He didn't want to jump straight into war.
First, he wanted to enjoy what power felt like.
"Ahahaha! Sorry, sorry! My friend caused you guys trouble!"
A boy's voice rose from below.
Tsukasa looked down.
Touma Kamijou was walking toward Mikoto Misaka, who was surrounded by delinquents.
"Who are you?" Mikoto asked.
That question stopped Touma. He rubbed the back of his head and yelled.
"Ah! My plan to act like a friend and pull you away failed right away!?"
"Hey, kid," the delinquent leader said, grabbing Touma by the collar. "You looking down on us?"
"Yeah!" Touma said, like he'd already given up. "I'm looking down on you!"
"You're hitting on a middle schooler. Are you that desperate!?"
"A middle schooler… what did you just say!?" Mikoto said.
Her face tightened.
Small sparks of electricity popped in the air around her.
She looked angry.
Tsukasa watched and understood where he was.
Then he thought: "Are there really this many delinquents in this city?"
"Maybe 80% are students… and the other 20% are just delinquents?"