Even weeks after the fact, the flames of Shibuya never fully dimmed. They licked at the steel skeletons of ruined towers, swallowed glass and concrete, and painted the sky in hues of orange and black.
Within this inferno, at the very heart of the district, rose a grotesque monument that could only belong to one being.
A colossal golden statue, towering over the scorched streets, gleamed with mocking radiance. Its form was deliberately crude and exaggerated, its outstretched arms holding aloft a throne upon which the new ruler of Shibuya sat.
Mahito leaned back comfortably, legs crossed, his eyes half-lidded with amusement as he surveyed the domain he had carved out of chaos.
An army milled below him, thousands of grotesque figures born of his cursed technique. They moved with mechanical precision, yet each bore his touch, his imprint, his twisted creativity.
What had begun with hundreds had now swelled into a legion. Mahito had discovered that by splitting his soul and technique among clones, he could build and rebuild at exponential speed.
The result was a self-sustained factory of curses. The larger it grew, the faster it expanded.
Shibuya was his throne, and he, a king. The king of his era, in fact.
The ground shook faintly as two sorcerers approached the plaza. Mahito could feel their cursed energy before he even saw them.
One was familiar, a voice from the past, though he hadn't expected her to seek him out. The other was new, but powerful; he could taste it in the sharp resonance of their aura.
He grinned, resting his chin on one hand as he waited.
Yuki Tsukumo and Okkotsu Yuta stepped into the firelit square, the heat rolling off the pavement in waves.
Yuta's hand lingered near his sword, his eyes narrowed as he scanned the surroundings.
Yuki walked more casually, though there was tension in her shoulders. Neither of them bowed, but their steps faltered at the sight of the golden throne.
Mahito chuckled. "Well, well. Look what the cat dragged in~ Yuki-chan, long time no see. And who's the kid? Don't tell me you brought a chaperone."
Yuta's brow furrowed. "So this is Mahito..." His voice was low, edged with caution.
"Yep~" Mahito said brightly, spreading his arms as though to present himself. "The one and only. Though I guess introductions are pointless. You're Okkotsu, right? The brat who plays with the Queen of Curses like a pet. I've heard about you." His grin widened, sharklike. "Cute trick. Hope you don't think that'll save you if anything goes down here."
Yuki raised a hand, cutting through his theatrics. "We didn't come here to fight."
Mahito tilted his head, feigning surprise. "Oh~? You sure about that? The way you're standing, kid, it's like you're itching to swing that sword."
Yuta didn't move. His hand remained near the hilt, but he said nothing.
Yuki exhaled slowly. "We came because we need your help."
That earned a bark of laughter. Mahito slapped the arm of his throne, his voice echoing across the burning square. "Help? From me? You two must really be desperate."
Her expression hardened. "Itadori Yuji has been taken. And the last of Sukuna's fingers... It's gone too. We don't need to spell out what that means."
Mahito's smile faltered, just slightly. He leaned forward, interest flickering in his eyes.
"Kenjaku's plan is moving forward despite his failures here..." Yuki pressed. "And if Sukuna returns in full strength, then not even you will be safe. Whatever power you think you've gathered here, it won't matter. He'll burn through it like nothing."
Yuta finally spoke, his voice steady despite the tension in his frame. "We're asking you to lend us your army. With your reach, we could track Yuji down quickly, before Kenjaku uses him."
For a moment, the only sound was the crackle of the flames and the shifting movements of Mahito's legion below. Then Mahito's laughter returned, louder than before, cruel and mocking.
"You two... are priceless." He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Milk drinkers, both of you. You come crawling to me, the big bad curse, asking for protection from some old fart from the Heian Era. Pathetic."
Yuta bristled, his cursed energy flaring for a second. Yuki placed a hand on his shoulder, holding him back.
Mahito's grin twisted. "You think I'm afraid of Sukuna? You think I'm dumb enough to bend a knee and lend a hand because you're scared of what's coming? Please. You're sorcerers, aren't you? Start acting like it. Instead, you come whining to me about Kenjaku's boogeyman."
Yuki clenched her jaw tightly, veins appearing on her forehead as she listened to Mahito's words. And he didn't stop. "I don't care about your little mission. Even if I did, it's most likely way too late. Do you think Kenjaku needs 4 business days to work his magic?"
He waved a hand dismissively, turning his gaze to the flames around them as if they were more interesting than his guests.
"That is not entirely true. We know at least that he has yet to succeed. Sukuna is unlikely to lie low when he returns..." Yuta crossed his arms and looked at Mahito with a serious gaze, his tired eyes were filled with contained frustration.
"Oh, but he is~ He was put down like a dog instantly when we last met. He will want to study me first before diving headfirst into a battle~" Mahito just grinned, the wheels in his mind already turning to predict his rival's movements.
"Besides," he added lazily, "why would I waste my soldiers on something so boring? I've already got everything I need. Look around you." His voice grew sharper, more prideful.
"This army... The thousands crawling around this entire country are all mine. I can snuff out any sorcerer short of Gojo or Sukuna himself. And if either of them shows up? Well, it'll be fun, at the very least."
Yuta's jaw tightened. "So that's it? You'd risk Sukuna's revival just for your ego?"
Mahito laughed again, high and sharp. "Risk? Kid, I thrive on chaos. Sukuna, Kenjaku, Gojo, you, doesn't matter. I win by existing, by shaping this world into something ugly and true. If Sukuna comes back, then it's just another game."
Yuki's gaze softened, just slightly, as she studied him. "You've gone completely off the rails. I remember you being... more human than this. Once."
That drew silence. For a heartbeat, the grin on Mahito's face faltered. Then he stood, descending from the throne in a single fluid leap. The ground cracked beneath his landing, his army shifting in unison to make way for him.
He stepped close, towering over her. His smile returned, sharper than ever.
"You're stupid if you ever thought I was human. I've always been a curse. From the moment I was born into this world, nay, even before that, my soul was nothing but malice. My actions, my choices, they'll always be for my benefit. Never for yours, or anyone else's, for that matter." His voice dropped, venomous.
"Don't confuse imitation with humanity."
Yuki met his gaze without flinching, though her chest felt heavy. Yuta stayed silent, his grip on his sword tightening, his eyes flicking to Mahito's army, then back to the curse himself.
Mahito turned away with a dismissive chuckle, striding back toward his throne. "Audience over. Run back to your little school, and 'new old council', sorcerers. Tell them the King doesn't take requests."
He sat once more, sprawling casually, his legion shifting restlessly in the background. The flames roared higher, as though echoing his words.
Yuki and Yuta exchanged a brief look. There was nothing more to say. Slowly, reluctantly, they turned and began the long walk back through the firelit streets.
Behind them, Mahito's laughter followed like a curse.