Chapter 18 : Jiang Lai - Finally Have It! My Technique!
Jujutsu World.
Seeing the manga has updated, Jiang Lai feels happy, but he doesn't rush to click it open, planning to read it slowly at home.
The ghost gentleman floating beside is also absent-minded at this time, his subsequent attention seeming to fall far away on the son he saw today.
Even after returning home, Fushiguro Toji simply says "resting for a while" then returns to the pendant, disappearing.
Jiang Lai is slightly stunned, not expecting Fushiguro Toji to rest so early today. Perhaps because he saw Fushiguro Megumi with his own eyes today... feels like Toji has many worries, but he never mentions them.
Forget it, respect others' secrets. Jiang Lai always maintains this principle when getting along with others.
He withdraws his thoughts, opens his phone, and begins reading the manga situation.
After quickly browsing through, Jiang Lai shows a faint smile on his face. He's very satisfied with the latest chapter's content because it finally guided out the feeling of Limitless-like ability!
Jiang Lai (moved to tears): Megumi! Thank you for your special appearance and imagination! You helped tremendously!!
Don't know if this is enough to add skills to himself, should be about right. Jiang Lai thinks, planning to log into the forum to check public opinion direction.
Before opening the forum, the group chat suddenly pops up new messages. This makes Jiang Lai pause, changing to open the chat app first.
[#Sunglasses Working Overtime Again#: Updated, Jiang Lai! Big harvest today, ability shaping is in place! → (link)]
[#Akira Doing Serious Research#: Brother Jiang Lai, are the tomatoes in your shopping bag okay? If they got squeezed, eat them quickly. You can make tomato egg drop soup tonight.]
Jiang Lai smiles and replies in the group:
[#Good Luck Lai Coming#: Saw the update! And the tomatoes are fine, I specifically took them out to check when I got back.]
[#Sunglasses Working Overtime Again#: (This is Hagiwara, I'm at your house, using Jinpei's phone now.) Long time no see, Jiang Lai~ Of course recently we can't meet in person, can only see you in the manga (laugh) When you return here, come try the little specialties I brought from Kanagawa Prefecture.]
[#Good Luck Lai Coming#: Hagiwara!! Long time no see!! Woo woo, sounds good, when I go back...]
Two seconds later.
[#Good Luck Lai Coming#: Speaking of which, Hagiwara, do you want to join the group chat too? This way you won't need to borrow Matsuda's account, we're all familiar anyway~]
[#Akira Doing Serious Research#: Agree.]
[#Sunglasses Working Overtime Again#: (This is Hagiwara.) Eh? But this is your little family group, right? Me joining seems inappropriate...]
[#Akira Doing Serious Research#: Don't mind one more person in the group chat. Also, you live downstairs, distance-wise you're on the same vertical level as us, also counts as family.]
[#Big Cat's Whiskers#: At work, drinking water during break and saw messages. Join the group, Hagiwara, chatting together is convenient (cat whiskers wiggle.gif)]
[#Good Luck Lai Coming#: Welcome to join our little family (applause.jpg)]
(#Sunglasses Working Overtime Again# [invites] #Long Live Elder Sister# to join group chat)
[#Sunglasses Working Overtime Again#: Alright, stop talking nonsense, Hagi, I directly pulled you in.]
[#Good Luck Lai Coming#: Um... Long Live Elder Sister?]
[#Long Live Elder Sister#: Ah! This is the username my sister jokingly made me use last time, I haven't logged into this chat app for a long time, wait let me change it...!!]
(#Long Live Elder Sister# [changed nickname to] #Akina Mountain Drift King#)
[#Akina Mountain Drift King#: Done, changed it. Randomly picked a username, how's this?]
[#Good Luck Lai Coming#: Very suitable (red apple thumbs up.jpg) The previous name was also quite nice haha]
Everyone jokes around a few more sentences, chatting casually in the group. During conversation, they also mention Furuya who's had no news recently.
They don't speculate or discuss much about it, since Furuya's special job position means much of his work is secret... even close friends can't be told.
Speaking of which, since there's been no contact recently, Furuya probably doesn't know about Jiang Lai's current transmigration situation.
When they chat to this point, they just joke about "when he returns he can read many volumes" and "then let him first guess who's in the manga" and such words.
Then, the group topic returns to today's updated manga.
[#Akina Mountain Drift King#: Right! Jinpei's forum post today had good effect, gathered many replies. Jiang Lai, do you want to see if there's content in the replies that can be referenced to help you? (attached link)]
[#Sunglasses Working Overtime Again#: Skipping some arguing content, there are still many good speculations inside. Importantly, it very smoothly guided toward Limitless-like techniques.]
Forum post? Didn't expect Matsuda to also post this on the Japan forum. Jiang Lai blinks, quite curiously clicking the link.
After reading the title.
Jiang Lai: "?"
Matsuda... Matsuda what happened to you! How did you come up with such clickbait title content? What strange new things have you learned these days!!
Jiang Lai is greatly shocked.
However, of course, must admit it's still very useful, many replies... clickbait titles never go out of style.
Jiang Lai operates split-screen, silently sending a thumbs up emoji back to the group.
Besides this, he also generally browsed other posts, searching for analytical content among rows of screaming shouts and woo woo woos.
What's delightful is that most speculations follow the figure that emerged in Fushiguro Megumi's mind at the time, connecting to Limitless.
The disputed parts mostly relate to the Six Eyes condition. Because Jiang Lai in the manga doesn't have Six Eyes, but logically, the key to precisely controlling Limitless lies in Six Eyes.
Regarding this, many rich speculations emerge in the forum, like brown-eyed Six Eyes theory, refined brain theory, mutant Limitless theory, and various other theories.
Jiang Lai browses through the thread's speculations, marveling at netizens' wild imagination while silently extracting useful parts to fill his script later.
In the group chat, Matsuda Jinpei asks with concern:
[#Sunglasses Working Overtime Again#: So, Jiang Lai, do you have any special feelings now?]
Jiang Lai pauses.
...Any feelings? Logically, the speculative tendency recognition from two worlds should be enough for him to sense some abilities.
Jiang Lai lowers his eyes, puts down his phone, and tries to calm his mind and feel.
I definitely can do it. He thinks.
Outside the window, evening wind brushes through street banners creating wave-like low moans. Inside, ceiling light illumination is stable with electrical current flowing steadily. Potted cold-resistant plants on the table rustle with faint sounds of growth.
In Jiang Lai's standing body, blood never stops flowing and surging, rushing from his heart to all directions, lingering at his fingertips...
Fingertips.
Something seems to leap at his fingertips. Beyond blood, some strange power surges darkly.
Following instinct, Jiang Lai slowly raises his hand.
After noticing the fingertip stirring, more and more sensations gradually clarify in his body, as if some unknown power flows together with blood through his body.
Jiang Lai opens his eyes, gazing at the world before him...
The room has lights on. Under gentle illumination, tiny fluff and dust dance in the air. Everything seems clearer than ever before.
He blinks, further focusing his gaze.
Concentrating attention, with eyes that crack mysteries and see through all things, stripping away initial appearances, everything in his sight gradually reveals seemingly flashing special, dense, differently formatted numbers, letters, and symbols... like code floating in mid-air.
Jiang Lai narrows his eyes, his raised fingertip slightly turning. Invalid fragmentary code floating in space rotates and intersects under his will, reorganizing and splicing together.
Information speeds through his brain at incredible velocity, everything simulating calculations at unbelievable speed.
He follows his inner feelings, his fingertip remotely controlling a string of tiny code to coil around the decorative porcelain vase by the wall. Jiang Lai's fingertip lightly flicks, swapping several data points in the floating code string before his eyes...
Next second, the entire code string seems to come alive, brightening sharply in his eyes. The code coiled around the vase suddenly contracts!
"Crack, smash!!"
The vase standing in place suddenly explodes, fragments flying in all directions!
Jiang Lai instinctively pushes his arms forward. Surrounding floating code symbols instantly splice into a flashing [firewall]. Sharp porcelain pieces hit the erected [wall] and get stuck, finally stopping in mid-air!
"..."
The brief shockwave from the explosion recedes and calms. The air slowly quiets down.
He quickly withdraws from his constructed scene. The floating code in his eyes instantly fades and disappears. The world returns to its original appearance.
Originally suspended porcelain pieces fall with clattering sounds after control disappears, breaking into even smaller fragments on the ground.
Jiang Lai's tense heart gradually relaxes. He slightly opens his mouth, exhaling turbid air. After the tension, excitement and joy from gaining new abilities surge up!
The awakened technique lingers in his mind, naturally knowing how to use it. This is his ability...
[Technique: Universal Control]
[Horizontal: Space Code. Cursed energy concentrates in eyes and fingertips. Invisible space becomes visible, controllable special code patterns in the technique user's eyes. By controlling special codes, spatial manipulation effects can be achieved.]
Jiang Lai comprehends this technique, internally complaining: Indeed the eternal fate of a programmer (though technique space code and network code writing usage rules are not the same).
But still like an upgraded jujutsu version of Detective Conan hacking skills, enhancement based on his existing foundation.
He calmly analyzes his technique.
Currently this technique can simulate certain protective barrier effects similar to Limitless (probably not as invincible as true Limitless).
Limitless-like spatial distance manipulation achieving teleportation effects, as well as levitation suspension, should also be possible... will practice and try later. Jiang Lai thinks.
This technique manipulates space relatively flexibly. Additionally, special technique code programming control has another benefit: it can be pre-edited, waiting to trigger effects anytime (however, if others perceive cursed energy traces, there's also a chance of being disrupted).
As for power level, that relates to cursed energy and technique proficiency.
Jiang Lai just started exploring basics, currently only able to temporarily control partial space code around him.
But this seems to have no upper limit.
He tilts his head thinking casually. One day in the future... could he single-handedly control an entire city district's space?
Forget it, don't think that far ahead. Long journey, just starting the expedition. Jiang Lai silently sets reasonable small goals in his heart. Start practicing from remotely fetching a water cup without spilling water!
Then he continues comprehending the technique's other layer.
This technique is called [Universal Control]. Controlling space belongs to horizontal. There's also a vertical skill.
[Vertical: Time ■■. Cursed energy ■■■■ time ■■, requires ■■■■, self cannot ■■. When activated ■■ heart ■■. ■■■■■■ cannot exist, ■■■■ only once.]
Jiang Lai: "..."
Why is my own technique usage method censored... that's ridiculous!!
But from the revealed fragments, he can glimpse this seems to be time-related skills (and apparently has many restrictions or significant costs).
[Universal Control: vertical time, horizontal space, both at fingertips.]
Only currently his state can only [Universal ■ Control]... the other usage is completely censored.
Don't know if Gojo Satoru's Six Eyes can see through his other skill. Or like himself, what the other witnesses and feels is also this blocked state?
Jiang Lai raises his hand to grasp the pendant at his neck.
Of course, perhaps initially under the bug-level feather necklace's fluctuation influence, the other party can't see through his techniques and cursed energy.
Anyway, the other ability isn't urgent. Jiang Lai thinks calmly. Practice space skills well first.
No matter what, at least now he's no longer an empty-handed ordinary person. If he unfortunately encounters some troublesome characters he temporarily doesn't want to meet, he can still smoothly perform another act.
Jiang Lai: Three parts real skill, seven parts acting, going home to get an Oscar (not)