I Died in a Knife Fight and Reincarnated into Jujutsu Kaisen

The current update schedule is 1 chapter per day, and at 100 power stones, you'll get 1 extra chapter as a thank you for your support!"

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The sun filtered softly through the window as Alex stirred awake, the warmth of Nobara nestled beside him. Her hair spilt across the pillow, one leg draped lazily over his. He brushed a strand of hair from her cheek, and her eyes fluttered open.

"Morning," she mumbled.

He leaned down, kissed her forehead, then her lips, slow, lingering.

"Morning."

She stretched and pulled herself into him, arms wrapping around his torso in a sleepy hug. They stayed like that for a few minutes, basking in the rare peace.

Eventually, Alex untangled himself and stood, slipping into his clothes.

"Already leaving?" Nobara asked, rubbing her eyes.

"Just for a bit. Need to clear my head. Train."

She groaned and buried her face in the pillow. "Try not to blow anything up."

Alex gave a faint smirk, grabbed his cigarette pack, and left.

The forest near the edge of Tokyo's mountainous region lay in serene silence, a world untouched by modern chaos. Towering trees stretched towards the sky, their leaves rustling gently in the crisp air. Among them stood Alex, solitary and resolute, beneath the ancient boughs, his brow furrowed in concentration.

With a deep inhale, he closed his eyes and felt the surge of his cursed energy coursing through him. It pulsed like a living thing beneath his skin, dense with raw power, primal and formidable. Over time, his control over it had deepened, transforming into a force that felt both terrifying and intoxicating.

"Let's see what I'm really made of," he thought, determination hardening his resolve.

He began to channel his cursed energy, visualising the vectors he needed to manipulate. Thin, shimmering lines of energy flickered along his arms, intertwining like strands of light as he honed his focus. Each strand was a manifestation of his will, sharpening and redirecting, culminating in a concentrated point of tremendous force.

His breath steadied, falling into a rhythmic cadence that matched the pulse of his energy. His hands glowed with an ominous, black-red hue, an ethereal light that illuminated the surrounding forest with eerie clarity. The air around him vibrated softly, an early warning of the power ready to be unleashed.

With a swift motion, he thrust his fist into the open air. Cursed energy erupted forward like a violent storm, vector-boosted and furious, trailing luminescent streaks of deep crimson-blue light. 

The impact was explosive.

A thunderous roar shattered the tranquillity, a shockwave exploding outward with unrivalled ferocity. Trees were uprooted in an instant, splintering and crashing to the ground. In contrast, the ground itself quaked, creating a gaping crater that smouldered ominously. Rock and earth cracked apart, a section of the nearby cliff crumbling under the pressure, sending debris cascading down the mountainside. Birds fled in panic from miles around, their wings beating against the chaos.

Alex lowered his fist slowly, his chest heaving from the exertion yet fueled by a sense of satisfaction. "Better," he muttered softly to himself, a slight smirk breaking through the intensity of his earlier focus.

But the moment's peace was shattered with a chilling voice.

"Tch... impressive, for a commoner." The words slithered through the clearing, dripping with condescension. 

Alex turned to find a man advancing toward him, his short hair framing a sneering face. He wore the traditional garb of the Zenin clan, a stark contrast to the raw wilderness surrounding them. His posture oozed arrogance as he flicked his gaze over Alex, evaluating him as if he were merely a curiosity. 

"Naoya Zenin," the man introduced himself, a confident smirk twisting his lips. Each step he took was slow and deliberate, exuding a sense of superiority. "I've been watching you. That display of raw power is impressive, but you're wasted among the weak. Join me. You'll gain influence, power, and a name that commands respect. Refuse... and I assure you, you'll discover the cruel nature of this world."

Alex's expression remained flat, unyielding. "Not interested."

A flicker of disbelief crossed Naoya's face. "Excuse me?"

"I said no, are you stupid or something?" Alex reiterated, his voice steady and low.

Naoya stepped closer, his tone sharpening, impatience brewing behind his eyes. "You don't understand what you're throwing away. Refuse me, and you'll regret it."

Alex's gaze pierced Naoya's unwaveringly, a silent promise hidden within. "Try me," he replied, his voice edged with provocation.

Naoya's eyes gleamed with malice, an ugly twist of anger sparking within them. "Fine. But don't cry when everything you care about is reduced to ashes."

Something in Alex shifted. An almost primal instinct ignited within him.

In an instant, his fist was in motion, faster than thought itself, brutal and unyielding. It collided with Naoya's jaw, the impact sending a shockwave through his skull that resonated through the clearing. The force lifted Naoya from the ground, hurling him into a nearby tree with a sickening thud. He crumpled at its base, coughing blood, bewildered and dazed. 

But Alex wasn't finished. He ran with cold fury rolling off him in waves, each step exuding a chilling intensity. Grabbing Naoya by the collar, he slammed him back into the trunk, the bark splintering under the force. His knee drove into Naoya's ribs, once, then twice, the impacts sharp and punishing, tearing gasps from the Zenin heir, blood dripping from his lips.

"You threaten the people I care about?" Alex growled, his eyes glinting with unfiltered rage. He pulled back, only to unleash a savage punch to Naoya's gut, forcing a desperate wheeze from him, the air gutted from his lungs.

Naoya slumped, barely conscious, as Alex caught his leg before he collapsed entirely. "Repeat it," he whispered into the crumbling remnants of Naoya's pride, twisting brutally. There was a sickening crack as the leg snapped like a dry twig, the sound echoing with grotesque clarity against the backdrop of destruction. 

Alex stepped forward, the adrenaline surging through him. "Say that again. I dare you."

Naoya's response was a high-pitched, incredulous scream, filled with desperation. "My leg! My fucking leg! What are you insects doing?! HELP ME!" His pride shattered, he was reduced to a quivering mass of pain. "Kill him! I want him dead! NOW!"

Alex tightened his grip on Naoya's leg, raising it threateningly. "Let me make this clear. Threaten me again, and I'll ensure you crawl for the rest of your life."

"That's enough."

The commanding voice of Gojo reverberated through the clearing, cutting sharply through the tension. A delegation of Zenin branch members emerged from the shadows, weapons drawn, tense and ready.

One of them shouted, "You don't know who you're dealing with! We're the Zenin Clan!"

Alex didn't falter, his eyes cold. "You think I care?"

Gojo approached with a calm demeanour, his expression unreadable. "Alex. You've made your point."

Alex turned slightly, his gaze locking onto Gojo's. "Are you telling me to stop?" he asked, the question heavy with defiance.

Gojo met his unwavering stare with quiet authority. "I'm suggesting it. For now."

Reluctantly, Alex released Naoya's leg, allowing it to drop heavily to the forest floor. He turned to the other Zenin members, each one still reeling from the chaos that had unfolded. "You show up like roaches and expect respect?" he challenged.

One of the clan members snarled, "You'll regret this."

Cracking his knuckles, Alex felt the energy flare violently around him, like chain lightning tethered to his bones. "I don't remember asking for your opinion," he shot back, defiance crackling as fiercely as the energy itself.

They moved as one.

Fists flew. Vectors twisted. Bodies were flung backwards through the air like ragdolls. Trees succumbed to the force of their confrontation, splintering under the weight of unleashed power. Screams echoed through the forest, a chorus of raw fear and confusion as none could land a blow on him.

When the dust finally settled, Alex stood at the eye of the tempest, the epicentre of destruction, untouched and resolute. He turned to Gojo, a hardened glint in his eyes. "Don't tell me what to do."

Then, quieter, more reflective, he added, "Take them and leave."

Gojo exhaled slowly, helping the dazed and battered Naoya to his feet. The remaining Zenin members, stunned into silence, pulled back, the remnants of their arrogance shattered. 

As Alex vanished into the depths of the forest, Gojo murmured to himself, a lingering question hanging in the air: "Just how strong are you?"