Someone once commented on the evolution of martial arts films.
In the 1980s and 1990s, due to the lack of special effects, filmmakers had to focus on real, hard-hitting fight scenes. Without genuine martial arts skills, it was difficult to bring these scenes to the screen.
After the turn of the millennium, with the advancement of technology, fight scenes became mere showcases of special effects.
First, there would be a round of visual pollution, followed by the so-called "energy beam clashes" with sounds like "BIUBIUBIU" and "XIUXIUXIU," and finally ending with a flashy, Patrick Star-style artistic finish.
While it was visually stunning, upon closer reflection, it wasn't much different from the awkward dance scene in the rain, "You guys, stop fighting!" If you added special effects to the two guys awkwardly dancing, it would be just as dazzling, and way more hype than Boruto. (Cue the meme: the awkward dance scene is from the TV drama The Peak of the Forbidden City. Don't ask about offerings.)
A similar comparison exists in the jujutsu world.
Most jujutsu sorcerers are essentially "special effects" warriors.
Even Special Grade sorcerers like Akira, Gojo Satoru, and Yuta Okkotsu rely on special effects to shine.
If you remove the "light effects" (cursed energy enhancement), "slow motion" (Limitless), and "special effect monsters" (cursed spirits and Pokémon), they would be stripped down to their basics.
They do have some "real skills," but they can't compare to true professional "martial arts stars."
The one exception to this trend is Maki Zenin.
Amidst the encirclement of special effects warriors, she is so simple and unadorned and unremarkable that she is easily drowned out by the endless "visual pollution" and "stunt shots."
But it is precisely this unremarkable, almost background-character-like "role" that, relying on solid "martial arts star" skills, step by step advances through the special effects, knocking down one flashy "special effects warrior" after another.
Special effects (cursed techniques) are indeed intimidating.
But if they don't hit, they're meaningless.
Even if they do hit, as long as they don't cause serious damage, it's not a big deal.
These are the two biggest weaknesses of the "superpowered" archetype. In contrast, realistic fighters like Maki—
Without AT Fields or various shields, they rely on high accuracy and evasion rates to deal real damage, time and time again. Like Zhao Zilong of Changshan in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, they charge through enemy lines seven times, striking fear into their opponents.
"N-no way… without cursed energy, how…"
The leader of the special task force, a semi-Grade 1 sorcerer specializing in binding and suppression, watched in horror as the young girl approached like a god of slaughter, breaking out in a cold sweat and nearly breaking down.
"It's precisely because I don't have cursed energy that I can do this, idiot. Enhancement is just that—enhancement. It doesn't equal basic attributes."
Maki skillfully raised her gun and fired three shots in quick succession.
"To borrow a phrase someone loves to use, 'Times have changed, sir.'"
"Block it! Block it!!"
The sorcerer screamed madly, fully activating his cursed technique to counter the bullets.
But just as he finished defending against the bullets, his vision blurred. A tassel eerily similar to Gojo Satoru's hairstyle loomed larger before his eyes, finally landing heavily on his forehead and knocking him unconscious.
The young girl, having knocked someone out with a single strike, skillfully slung her weapon over her shoulder and glared at the surrounding defeated soldiers: "Still want to fight?"
"Retreat! Retreat!!"
The defeat was as swift as a collapsing mountain.
Maki had no intention of chasing down the fleeing enemies, merely muttering to herself:
"Really, just as he predicted. So annoying."
For someone like Maki, who has a "reverse Heavenly Restriction," there is a mainstream argument in the jujutsu world—that it's the most failed and meaningless form of enhancement.
"Trading cursed energy for physical talent? So what?
Jujutsu sorcerers can achieve the same through physical training and cursed energy enhancement. Not only that, but experienced sorcerers can also use cursed energy as an extension of their bodies to deliver all sorts of unbelievable attacks."
Many sorcerers without cursed techniques follow this path. The members of the special task force Maki dealt with, as well as the mid-to-lower-tier armed forces of the Big Three Families, are mostly composed of such individuals.
Before leaving home, Maki was also part of the Zenin family's "Kukuru Unit," a group of technique-less fighters, and she endured no small amount of disdain.
Her father, Zenin Ogi, a semi-Grade 1 sorcerer and master of this path, was also a staunch supporter of this argument and had repeatedly criticized and disciplined his daughter.
To be honest, even after receiving Gojo Satoru's recommendation and entering Tokyo Jujutsu High, Maki still harbored doubts deep down—until Akira appeared.
He taught her to use her brain, to rely on tools, and to understand "the battles of the weak."
Most importantly, he helped her understand her greatest advantage—the difference between base stats and BUFFs.
Base stats are passive. Whether you use them or not, they're always there.
BUFFs, on the other hand, are active and require activation.
From focusing cursed energy to completing the enhancement is a process. No matter how experienced a sorcerer is, they can only shorten the time, not skip the process entirely.
Attacking before the opponent completes their enhancement gives you the advantage. That's the first point.
Second, cursed energy enhancement is difficult to apply comprehensively. Even if you ignore the drain of cursed energy and release it recklessly, there will still be gaps, because the flow of cursed energy varies depending on the direction of enhancement.
Using Pokémon as an analogy, cursed energy enhancement is more like the mythical Pokémon Deoxys, which has different forms. Its total base stats are 600, but if you choose the right form and use it correctly, it can perform like a 910.
Conversely, if you don't choose well and the enemy counters you, it might drop to 320.
Maki's base stats, on the other hand, are completely constant. They might not reach 600, but as long as the opponent is at 320, victory is assured.
This has been Maki's recent focus and the key to her victories.
Once the special task force disappeared from sight, Maki finally put down her weapon and waved to Serperior, who was not far away:
"Serperior, you okay?"
"Tssss~"
Serperior, unsurprisingly, responded with a big eye roll.
You're fine, so why wouldn't I be?
Although Akira had told her to fight if she could, run if she couldn't, and call for help if things got really bad, it hadn't even reached the point of running before Maki showed up, charging into battle without a second thought.
Serperior, who had already prepared for combat, could only toss out "Vine Whip," "Leaf Tornado," and "Leech Seed" from the backline, facing no real pressure.
Maki's quick victory was also partly thanks to Serperior.
After all, it wasn't a one-on-one fight but a few against many.
Moreover, the enforcement team wasn't just composed of technique-less sorcerers. Without Serperior's restraint, Maki would have paid a much higher price—her one-dimensional fighting style is always a weakness.
Serperior, on the other hand, has seven moves due to evolution and leveling up, as well as the terrifying ability, Contrary.
Ability: Contrary – When this Pokémon's stats are lowered, they are instead raised, and vice versa.
The more DEBUFFs they throw at me, the stronger my BUFFs become. And the special task force, in their efforts to capture Pokémon, kept applying DEBUFFs.
By the time they were done, Serperior was almost as strong as Gardevoir when she first emerged.
In other words, the special task force wasn't fighting one semi-Grade 1 opponent but two, and they had excellent synergy.
How could they possibly win?
Having spent a considerable amount of time together, Maki could somewhat understand Serperior's meaning. She clasped her hands together and sincerely apologized: "Sorry, I got a little carried away."
"Tssss~ (That's more like it. Don't do it again next time.)"
"Next time, for sure."