Note Author: First of all, there will be a little summary, but from Sukuna's point of view, and then the full battle. It was painful... no, seriously. I did my best to make sure the servants weren't unbalanced. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the chapter. And secondly, I'm writing this from my phone, so if there are any spelling mistakes, just let me know, and I apologize in advance.
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Ryōmen Sukuna's Perspective.
I didn't waste time with banter. With a casual gesture, I summoned my technique.
"Orochi."
From my shadow, the massive white serpent erupted, its enormous body coiling through the air with frightening speed. Its jaws opened wide, lunging directly at Musashi with intent to swallow her whole.
Musashi's eyes widened, and she launched herself backward in a graceful leap, her body twisting mid-air. The serpent's fangs snapped shut on empty space, missing her by inches.
Too straightforward. She dodged it like it was nothing.
Rather than waste time pursuing her with Orochi, I immediately redirected the serpent. Its massive body flowed across the floor toward Ritsuka and his unconscious sister, coiling around them both to create a protective barrier of scales and muscle. Its head remained raised, vigilant.
"Stay inside," I said without looking at them, my attention fully on Musashi and the approaching second presence. "You're safer there than anywhere else in this building."
With my charges protected, I turned back to BB's scattered remains. I wouldn't be interrupted again.
I crouched beside her torso, placing my palm against the artificial flesh. She tried to speak, but I didn't care.
"Hachi."
My technique activated. Invisible slashing attacks adjusted themselves to the unique composition of her artificial body, each cut calculated to destroy every circuit, every component. Her form shredded from the inside out, reduced to unrecognizable pieces—sparking, twitching, then going dark.
"Brutal," Musashi commented from behind me. "Taking out an ally while ignoring the enemy? That takes confidence."
I straightened, turning to face her. But before I could respond, more footsteps approached.
Ibuki-douji stepped into the room, taking position beside Musashi.
Shit.
The divine demon stood with arms crossed, a knowing smile on her lips. Long purple hair, golden eyes gleaming, pale skin marked with shifting tattoos. Her outfit left little to imagination, radiating both sensuality and raw power.
"Ara ara," Ibuki purred, golden eyes fixed on me. "Sukuna-san causing trouble again, I see. Though I suppose I shouldn't be surprised—you did have that dangerous aura about you when we met before."
I met her gaze with my four eyes, keeping my expression neutral while my mind raced through tactical calculations. Two opponents, both servant-class, both affected by the Haze but maintaining combat capabilities.
Someone sent them. Someone coordinated this.
"Miyamoto Musashi, wandering swordswoman!" Musashi introduced herself cheerfully, flourishing her swords. "And honestly? After seeing what you did to Artoria-san and the others, I can't just let that slide. That was my friend you hurt!"
"Your friend who was trying to kill me," I replied flatly. "Along with all the others."
"Because you're interfering," Musashi said, her stance becoming serious. "Someone's disrupting the blessing everyone's been receiving. Someone's attacking our comrades. That someone is you, Sukuna-san."
"Blessing," I repeated with disgust. "What a disgusting name for corruption."
"We met briefly, didn't we, Sukuna-san?" Ibuki interjected smoothly. "In Chaldea's corridors. The mysterious Caster from the Heian era. Everyone whispered about you—the one who kept to himself, radiating that delicious aura of danger."
"Heian era?" Musashi's eyes lit up. "Oh! So you're one of those ancient magi? I've heard stories about that period—supposed to be when magecraft and curses were at their peak, right?"
They're fishing for information. Trying to gauge my capabilities.
"Well, the name Ryomen Sukuna rings a bell," Ibuki offered casually. "The legends paint you as both protector and demon—two faces of the same coin."
They don't know the reality. Don't know about Jujutsu Kaisen, about cursed energy, about my true techniques. That's an advantage I need to maintain.
"Two faces?" Musashi perked up. "That explains the extra eyes! That's actually really cool! Though..." her expression grew serious, grip tightening on her swords, "right now, you're only showing us the monster side, aren't you?"
"It's the only side creatures like you deserve to see," I replied coldly.
The temperature dropped. Both women's expressions hardened.
"Creatures?" Musashi's cheerfulness dimmed. "That's pretty harsh. We're just trying to protect what matters to us."
"Serving someone you don't know?" I challenged, watching their faces. "Following orders you can't explain?"
There—a flicker of confusion in both their eyes. Just an instant, before the Haze smoothed it over.
They don't even know who their real master is. The corruption runs deeper than conscious thought.
"We know what we're doing," Ibuki said firmly. "Our purpose is clear enough. You've interfered with our work, hurt people we're protecting, and disrupted something beautiful." Her smile turned predatory. "That makes you a threat that needs to be eliminated."
The tension became unbearable. I could feel it pressing down—two powerful Servants preparing for battle.
"Then we have a problem," Ibuki said, her playful tone evaporating. "We have our orders, Sukuna-san. You've become a threat—a significant one. That cannot be overlooked, no matter how interesting I find you."
"Finally," I said, letting my cruel smile widen. "Honest enmity. No pretense. Just the truth—you want me dead."
"Don't take it personally," Ibuki replied smoothly. "Under different circumstances, I might have enjoyed getting to know you better. But duty comes first."
Time to set up my pieces.
I looked at Mash, who stood nearby with shield raised and conflicted eyes. The binding vow gave me absolute authority over her actions.
"Protect them," I ordered aloud, gesturing toward the serpent's coils. "Block any stray attacks that get through."
Mash moved to position herself near the protective coils. The hatred and fear in her eyes were palpable, but she obeyed.
Good. Now for insurance.
I made another gesture, shadows rippling outward.
"Madoka."
A deer-like shikigami emerged, its body radiating soft, warm light. Unlike my other summons, this one possessed healing capabilities—a failsafe. It positioned itself near the serpent.
"In case of emergency," I said briefly.
Then I called forth another.
"Nue."
The bird-like creature manifested, orange-feathered form spreading wing-arms crackling with electrical energy. Lightning danced between its appendages, making the air scream.
"Your shikigamis aren't normal, are they?" Ibuki commented with displeasure. "First that white monster, then the snake, the deer, and now whatever this bird is."
"Obviously," I replied. "Now then—shall we begin?"
I didn't give them time to prepare.
I moved.
Not toward Musashi—she'd expect that. Instead, I charged directly at Ibuki, closing the distance instantly. My speed was enhanced by cursed energy reinforcement.
Target the unknown first. Eliminate or gauge capabilities before dealing with the known threat.
My right fist shot forward, aimed at her sternum, channeled with enough cursed energy to shatter reinforced concrete.
Ibuki barely managed to bring up her arms, coating them with golden divine energy that shimmered like liquid fire. My fist connected with thunderous impact.
But she didn't go down. Didn't even stagger back more than a few steps.
That durability... It's not just magical resistance. Her body itself is reinforced to an absurd degree.
She counterattacked immediately, her fist lashing out with surprising speed. I dodged, feeling the air pressure ruffle my hair. That punch would have caved in my skull.
Strength matches her durability. Mountain-breaking force. Noted.
Orochi moved to support me, its massive body flowing across the floor. It positioned itself to flank Ibuki, forcing her to divide attention.
At the same moment, I heard the clash of steel behind me. Mahoraga and Nue had engaged Musashi.
Good. Keep her occupied.
I pressed my assault on Ibuki, movements becoming a blur. Strike, dodge, counter—each exchange giving me more data.
She met me blow for blow, her divine energy-coated fists matching my cursed energy reinforcement. Every impact sent shockwaves through the room, cracking floor, walls, ceiling. We moved too fast for normal perception.
Her technique is interesting. That divine energy enhances both offense and defense simultaneously. And her reaction speed is exceptional—reading my movements almost as fast as I make them.
I attempted to create distance. Ibuki responded by manifesting flames—white-hot divine fire that forced me to dodge.
Fire manipulation. Elemental control befitting a deity. Add that to the list.
Orochi struck from her blind spot, jaws aimed at her side. But Ibuki twisted with impossible flexibility, one hand reaching out to grab the serpent's head as divine flames erupted from her palm.
The serpent hissed in pain, scales scorching. But it didn't retreat, coiling tighter to restrict her movements.
Now.
I appeared beside her, having used the serpent's sacrifice as distraction. My hand shot out toward her exposed torso.
If I can touch her with Hachi, I can end this immediately.
But Ibuki reacted with shocking speed. Her free hand came up, palm connecting with my forearm with a resounding crack, pushing it off-course. My fingers missed her body by centimeters.
Shit!
I tried again with my left hand. She twisted, deflecting that strike with another precise hit to my wrist. Every time I tried contact, she was there—swatting my arms away, denying me the touch needed to activate Hachi.
She's figured it out. Realized I need physical contact for my more dangerous techniques. And she's fast enough to prevent it.
I switched tactics, pointing at her with two fingers.
"Kai."
Multiple invisible slashes filled the space. Standard Dismantle—not adjusted to her durability, but still powerful.
The attacks struck her divine barriers, her reinforced skin. And... barely penetrated.
Shallow cuts appeared on her arms and torso, drawing golden divine blood, but nothing serious.
That bounded field and divine constitution. Regular Dismantle isn't enough.
I adjusted my technique, channeling more cursed energy.
"Kai!"
Enhanced slashes struck like invisible guillotines, calculated to overwhelm her defenses.
Better results. Deeper cuts, more blood. Ibuki hissed in pain, golden eyes flashing with anger.
"You're annoying," Ibuki growled, her composed facade cracking as genuine irritation seeped through.
"Good," I replied coldly, feeling a spark of satisfaction at her frustration.
On the other side of the room, Musashi was being pushed to her limits. Mahoraga's attacks were becoming more coordinated, more precise—the Divine General was learning her patterns with frightening speed. Every feint, every technique variation, the creature adapted to it faster and faster.
And Nue provided constant pressure from above, diving attacks that forced Musashi to split her attention. Electricity arced constantly, limiting her movement options, herding her toward Mahoraga's blade.
"This is getting dicey," Musashi admitted, though her grin never faded completely. She flickered—her body becoming translucent, almost nonexistent—as an invisible cut from nowhere passed through the space she'd occupied.
When she solidified again, she was breathing harder. "That trick is exhausting to use repeatedly," she muttered.
Mahoraga's fist shot forward. Musashi brought up both swords to block, but even with her considerable strength, the impact sent her sliding backward, her feet carving deep grooves in the already damaged floor.
Nue seized the opportunity, attacking with the legs discharging electricity simultaneously. The attack came from above and behind—impossible to dodge completely.
Musashi flickered again, becoming void for the briefest instant. The electricity passed through empty space, but when she solidified, I could see the strain on her face. That technique—From the void that allowed her to slip between existence and non-existence—it couldn't be maintained indefinitely.
"Musashi-san!" Ibuki called out, genuine concern breaking through her usual playful demeanor.
But Ibuki had her own problems. I pressed my assault relentlessly, my strikes never giving her a moment to breathe. And whenever she tried to create space, the serpent was there, cutting off escape routes, forcing her back toward my range.
She launched another wave of divine flames—white-hot and burning with godly authority. The serpent coiled protectively around me, taking the brunt of the assault. I heard it hiss in pain as the divine fire seared its scales, but it didn't retreat.
"Your familiar is remarkably loyal," Ibuki commented, breathing hard. "Taking divine flames for you like that."
I didn't respond verbally. I simply appeared beside her—having used the serpent's sacrifice as a distraction—and drove my elbow into her ribs with crushing force.
The impact sent Ibuki flying, her body crashing through a support pillar before hitting the wall hard enough to crack it. She slumped to the ground, coughing.
"Ibuki-san!" Musashi shouted, her concentration breaking for just an instant.
That instant was all Mahoraga needed.
The Divine General's blackened sword came down in a devastating overhead strike. Musashi brought up both her swords to block, but the force was overwhelming. She was driven to her knees, the floor cracking beneath her from the pressure.
Then Nue attacked from behind, and its body hit her in the back with such force that she flew through the air. Musashi screamed in pain as electricity coursed through her body. Mahoraga was about to tear her in two when, miraculously, she activated her void technique. She managed to avoid the attack by the skin of her teeth.
Musashi rolled across the floor to regain control of her feet, and once she did, she put a great distance between herself and her attackers. She landed gracefully next to Ibuki.
Mahoraga "looked" at Musashi, and she felt a chill run down her spine. She has a bad feeling that if she doesn't kill the Shikigami as quickly as possible, she will suffer the consequences.
Both women were on the defensive now, bleeding from multiple wounds, their breathing labored.
"This is bad," Musashi muttered, pushing herself back to her feet. "Really, really bad."
Ibuki forced herself up as well, golden blood dripping from her mouth. "We're being overwhelmed. Four against two, and each of his summons is servant-class."
"So we go all out?" Musashi asked.
"We may not have a choice," Ibuki replied grimly.
Then I felt it—a shift in magical energy signatures.
Both Musashi and Ibuki's auras intensified dramatically. Musashi's swords began to glow with that reality-cutting light I recognized. Ibuki's divine power made the air shimmer with heat, her tattoos blazing with golden radiance.
They're going all out.
Despite my cold smile, I couldn't help feeling frustrated. This fight was taking too long. And I could sense it—more Servants approaching from elsewhere in Chaldea. The corruption had spread further than I'd realized, and now they were converging.
I'm running out of time.
If I didn't end this now, I'd be overwhelmed. Unlike these corrupted Servants with unlimited backup, I was alone. Mahoraga, Nue, Orochi, Madoka—powerful, but they couldn't hold off an entire army indefinitely.
Need to change the game. Need to escalate beyond what they're expecting.
I made my decision.
I disengaged from Ibuki, putting several meters between us. Both women watched me warily, preparing their ultimate techniques.
"Sukuna-san," Ibuki called out, voice carrying warning. "You should surrender. You're outnumbered, surrounded, and we haven't even begun to show our true power. There's no escape."
I didn't respond with words.
Instead, I began my transformation.
Cursed energy exploded outward from my body—a massive surge that made reality itself ripple. My flesh began to change, to restructure, to return to what it had been in the Heian era.
Five seconds. That's all it took.
My body erupted witha light—purple-black aura that made the emergency lighting seem dim. My cursed energy swirled like a living thing, crackling with power that distorted the air.
And when it faded...
I stood before them in my true form.
Four arms instead of two, each ending in demonic purple claws. My body had grown more muscular, more imposing, standing over two meters tall. The black marks on my face had expanded, forming intricate patterns across my skin. My four eyes blazed with crimson light—two sets, one above the other. And a second mouth had manifested on my abdomen, lined with sharp teeth.
This was Ryōmen Sukuna in his prime. The King of Curses as he had been over a thousand years ago.
"What..." Musashi's cheerful expression faltered, genuine shock crossing her features. Her swords lowered slightly. "What is that form?"
Ibuki's golden eyes widened, playful demeanor evaporating. "A four-armed configuration... two mouths... that's not just combat enhancement. That's complete restructuring of his spiritual origin." Her voice took on genuine concern. "He was holding back this entire time. This is his true form."
"Four arms and two mouths..." whispered Musashi, whose warrior instincts recognized the threat. "That means he can perform hand seals while fighting and recite his spells much faster with two mouths, and he can do all that while attacking. His combat versatility has tripled," she said, smiling a little excitedly. "What a dangerous guy."
Behind them, I heard gasps from Ritsuka and Mash.
"Is that... is that really Sukuna?" Ritsuka's voice was barely a whisper.
"Senpai, his magical energy... it's increased exponentially," Mash said, voice trembling. "This is the true form of the King of Curses."
Good. Fear is a weapon too.
I flexed my four arms, feeling the familiar power coursing through this body. The limitations were gone. No more holding back.
With four arms, I could now perform hand signs and maintain combat simultaneously. Could chant with my lower mouth while attacking with my upper. Could manipulate cursed energy with precision and power that had been impossible in that limited two-armed form.
I made a gesture with my upper hands, dismissing my shikigami. Nue, Orochi, Madoka—they all dissolved back into shadow, their cursed energy returning to me.
Only Mahoraga remained, and I commanded it with a thought to move near Ritsuka and Mash, positioning itself as the final line of defense.
"What are you—" Musashi started, but I cut her off.
First, I have to create a binding vote. One that protects idiots and doesn't lose maximum offensive capability.
I quickly thought about the benefits of the binding vote and the disadvantages I will face in order to obtain the advantages.
"Binding Vow: Temporary Exclusion". My thoughts carried weight, resonating with fundamental forces. "Within my domain, the following individuals are exempt from all offensive effects: Ritsuka Fujimaru, Gudako Fujimaru, and Mash Kyrielight. This exclusion lasts until the domain collapses or I consciously revoke it. In exchange..." I paused, "...I accept a reduction in my domain's effective range by fifty meters for this activation only."
The binding vow locked into place, invisible chains wrapping around my soul.
Better safe than sorry. If the domain damages them, Ritsuka will never cooperate later. And I need his cooperation to survive.
With the vow established, I brought my four arms together in complex gestures. My upper hands formed the primary mudra while my lower hands supported with secondary seals. My lower mouth continued its deep, resonant chant in ancient tongue—words of power that predated modern Japanese, syllables resonating with fundamental forces of cursed energy.
My four eyes began to glow brighter, crimson light spilling out as I channeled enormous cursed energy. The air around me began to crack and distort.
I brought all four hands together, forming the specific hand seal—index and middle fingers of all four hands pointing forward while the others interlocked behind them, creating a shrine-like shape.
"Ryōiki Tenkai—"
The words carried weight, each syllable causing ripples in reality's fabric.
"—Fukuma Mizushi."
Domain Expansion—Malevolent Shrine.
Reality itself screamed.
The world around us shattered like glass, the sound of breaking reality echoing through space. For a moment, perfect silence.
Then—
Drip.
A single sound cut through the void. Like water falling into a still pond, the sound rippled outward, spreading through the domain.
And with that sound, everything changed.
The world transformed. A Buddhist temple materialized—but wrong, twisted, demonic. The structure rose from nothing, architecture warped and profane. Mouths formed at each entrance, teeth bared in silent roars, tongues lolling obscenely. Two pairs of massive horns jutted from the roof like the crown of some ancient demon king. And adorning every surface—walls, pillars, railings—were skulls. Human skulls, animal skulls, skulls of creatures that had never existed, all grinning with empty sockets.
The sky above had turned sickly purple-black, storm clouds swirling with unnatural rhythm. The ground beneath transformed into cracked, bone-white stone etched with crimson patterns that pulsed like living veins.
Unlike normal Reality Marbles with enclosed barriers, this one had no walls. No cage. It simply existed, overlaying reality in a 150-meter radius around my position.
Sorry Gojo, but I prefer my domains without walls. Why trap myself when I can just kill everything around me?
Within this space, my techniques were absolute. Every slash, every cut, every dismantling attack would automatically hit any target I designated. No dodging, no blocking—only endurance and magical resistance could save them now.
Musashi and Ibuki stood within the domain's range, expressions shifting from shock to grim determination.
"A defined field that seems to have a strange effect... guaranteed impact?" whispered Ibuki, her eyes wide as she tried to analyze the strange sphere of reality, or what appeared to be similar to it. This sensation was new, but with her lifetime experience, she could get an idea. "Although this is nothing like the others I've seen. I don't feel like there's a barrier, nor is there a space that closes it off. It's as if it simply... overlaps reality itself."
"I guess that's bad," Musashi said, his cheerful attitude completely gone. His knuckles were white from gripping the swords, and sweat was running down his cheek. "So this is a Reality Marble, huh? No... It's something completely different." Her eyes scanned the scene in front of her, trying to understand the feeling throughout her body. "Why do I feel like I'm in danger just standing nearby? Will the blows be automatic?" she wondered to herself, rather than to those around her.
I smiled, not caring about the assumptions they were making; knowing or not knowing wasn't going to change anything. So my four eyes sparkled with mischievous satisfaction.
"This will be your death sentence," I said simply, looking at them smugly. I narrowed my four eyes with hostility. "Welcome to my domain. Now let's see if you can survive what comes next," I said mockingly.
I don't know if I can kill them, I acknowledged internally. Musashi's void technique and that Heavenly Eye might let her slip through even sure-hit attacks. Her Noble Phantasm could be used defensively too. And Ibuki... I don't know all her capabilities. That divine protection, that bounded field around her body, her regeneration—she might tank what I throw at her.
But even if I can't finish them, I can level everything within 150 meters. Destroy enough of Chaldea's infrastructure to create an escape route. Force them to focus on defense instead of offense. And maybe, just maybe, injure them enough that they can't immediately pursue when I run.
I raised all four of my arms, two pointing at Musashi, two at Ibuki. Cursed energy crackled around each hand, visible as purple-black flames distorting the air.
"Let's begin," I said simply.
And within my domain, hell itself was unleashed.
"Hachi."
The adjusted slashing technique activated instantly. Unlike Dismantle, Cleave adjusted itself to each target's specific durability and cursed energy level. Within my domain, it would adapt perfectly, cutting through defenses with surgical precision.
Invisible blades manifested from every angle, thousands of them, all targeting vital points. Each slash was guaranteed to hit, guided by the domain's sure-hit effect.
Musashi's reaction was instantaneous.
Her Heavenly Eye blazed to life—those mystical eyes that could perceive infinite possibilities and reduce them to a single outcome. In that fraction of a second, she saw her death approaching from countless angles, saw the inevitable future where those invisible blades tore her apart.
And she rejected it.
"Namu Tenman Daijizai Tenjin!"
The invocation rang out with desperate urgency. Musashi's existence became void—not invisible, not intangible, but void. A state beyond normal existence, slipping between the cracks of reality itself. It was a technique that nullified any attack by temporarily removing the target from the world entirely.
The Cleave attacks struck... and passed through empty space where she'd been. Most of them, anyway.
But maintaining true void while remaining conscious required incredible concentration. And in the milliseconds where her focus wavered, where she had to solidify enough to maintain awareness—
A single adjusted slash connected. It carved a deep gash across her shoulder, drawing blood. She gasped in pain but managed to slip back into void before the follow-up attacks could hit.
She's good, I acknowledged with grudging respect. That technique... it's even more impressive than I thought. But she can't maintain it forever.
Ibuki, meanwhile, took a different approach.
Her divine instincts screamed danger. Unlike Musashi who could phase out of existence, Ibuki's defense relied on her inherent durability and divine protection.
Her body erupted with golden divine energy as eight distinct layers of protection manifested around her—the Hakkei Hanshō, eight protective barriers representing the elements she commanded as daughter of Yamata-no-Orochi: water, earth, steel, heaven, storm, fire, war, and calamity itself.
The adjusted slashes struck those barriers like invisible hammers. The outermost layer—representing calamity—shattered almost immediately under the assault. The second layer—war—lasted only a moment longer before cracking.
But one slash slipped through before she could fully manifest her defenses. It carved deep into her left side, nearly bisecting her torso. Golden blood sprayed as Ibuki screamed in agony and anger.
"AAAGH!"
The remaining barriers held. Barely.
Ibuki gritted her teeth, golden blood seeping from her nose and ears—internal damage from maintaining such powerful barriers under constant pressure. But even as she bled, her divine regeneration kicked in. The grievous wound on her side began to close, flesh knitting back together at visible speed, golden light sealing the cut.
That divine protection is ridiculous, I thought with frustration. Hachi should have killed her instantly, but those barriers tanked attacks that would obliterate most Servants. And she's already regenerating.
"Musashi-san!" Ibuki called out through gritted teeth, genuine concern breaking through her pain.
"I'm okay!" Musashi shouted back, her form flickering between void and solidity. Blood stained her shoulder, but she was alive. "But this is bad! His domain makes his attacks unavoidable!"
They survived the opening move. Troublesome.
Frustration and grudging respect warred within me. Both of them had countered my instant-kill technique through sheer skill and innate abilities. But I could see the strain on their faces. Musashi's breathing was labored from maintaining void. Ibuki's barriers were weakening.
They can't hold out forever. But I need to press harder.
I shifted tactics.
"Kai!"
I abandoned Cleave for Dismantle—sacrificing the guaranteed lethality of adjusted cuts for sheer volume and coverage. Thousands upon thousands of invisible slashes manifested throughout my domain, raining down like an endless storm of invisible guillotines.
The attacks didn't just target Musashi and Ibuki. They struck everything within 150 meters. Walls shattered. Support pillars crumbled. The floor tore apart in massive gouges. Chaldea's infrastructure began to collapse under the relentless assault, creating a zone of absolute destruction.
Musashi reacted immediately, desperation fueling her decision.
She couldn't maintain void indefinitely against this onslaught. The sheer volume of attacks would find her in those microseconds of solidification. She needed a counter-offensive that could also serve as defense.
Her twin swords blazed with blinding light as she activated her Noble Phantasm.
"Six Realms Five Rings—"
Her Heavenly Eye flared, perceiving the single path to survival through infinite destruction. Her body moved with fluid grace, swords weaving an intricate pattern.
"—The Divine Figure of Kurikara!"
But this wasn't the ultimate technique—not the Sword of Zero that could cut fate itself. No, she was using a different application of her Noble Phantasm. The manifestation of Nioh—the muscular guardian deity that embodied her blade's protective aspect.
A massive figure materialized behind Musashi—fifteen feet tall, with bulging muscles and a fierce expression. The Nioh had six arms, each wielding a phantom sword. Around it swirled five elemental rings: Earth, Fire, Water, Wind, and Void.
The Earth ring manifested first—a barrier of solid stone that wrapped around Musashi's position. The Dismantle attacks struck it, and the entire construct shuddered. Cracks appeared immediately.
One of Nioh's six arms was severed completely, dissolving into light. The Earth barrier shattered.
"Damn it!" Musashi gasped, her face pale with exertion. "It's not enough!"
The Water ring activated next, flowing liquid forming a secondary barrier. But even as it manifested, I could see it wouldn't last. My Dismantle attacks were too numerous, too relentless.
She knows it too. That Noble Phantasm is buying her seconds at most.
Meanwhile, Ibuki made her own desperate choice.
The barrier she'd manifested for protection—that eight-layered divine defense—lasted less than four seconds under the storm of Dismantle. Each layer shattered in rapid succession: calamity, war, fire, storm, heaven, steel, earth, water. All gone.
"Strength of Mountains and Rivers!"
Ibuki invoked her skill, forcing her divine body to its absolute limits. Her skin hardened, taking on a metallic sheen as she channeled all her power into pure physical durability. Her Dragon Species trait activated fully, transforming her into something closer to her father's nature—scales briefly visible beneath her skin, her eyes taking on a reptilian quality.
The Dismantle attacks struck her reinforced body. And this time, they cut deep.
Thousands of invisible blades carved into her flesh. Her arms, her legs, her torso—every inch of her body was assaulted. Golden blood sprayed in all directions, painting the bone-white floor of my domain.
"AAAAARGH!" Ibuki's scream echoed through the malevolent shrine.
But she didn't fall. Didn't die.
Because even as the cuts tore her apart, her divine regeneration worked overtime. Wounds closed almost as fast as they appeared. Flesh knitted together. Blood flow slowed, stopped, reversed.
She's tanking thousands of attacks through pure regeneration, I realized with a mix of awe and frustration. Her cursed energy reserves must be enormous to sustain that.
But I could see the toll it was taking. Ibuki's face was contorted in agony, tears streaming down her cheeks. Every breath was a struggle. Every second of regeneration consumed more of her power.
Yet she moved forward. Step by agonizing step, she charged toward me, her body a mess of closing wounds and fresh cuts.
"I'll... reach you... Sukuna!" she snarled through gritted teeth.
At the same moment, Musashi made her move.
The Water barrier had held longer than Earth, but now it too was failing. The second of Nioh's six arms was destroyed. The Fire ring manifested desperately as tertiary defense.
But Musashi wasn't trying to outlast my assault anymore.
She was attacking.
Her body flickered into void, phasing through my Dismantle attacks for brief instants. The pain was unbearable—each time she solidified, new cuts appeared. Blood now stained her entire left side, her kimono shredded, her breathing ragged.
But her Heavenly Eye blazed with determination, perceiving the single thread of possibility that led to victory.
"Ishana—"
She raised both swords, channeling the last of her strength into her ultimate technique. This was it—the true Sword of Zero. The blade that cut through causality itself, reducing infinite possibilities to a single, inevitable outcome.
"—DAITENSHOU!"
The air around her swords seemed to fold, reality itself bending toward those blades. This wasn't a physical attack that could be dodged or blocked. This was an attack on the concept of my existence, a cut that would erase me from possibility itself.
Shit!
I couldn't let that connect. I didn't know all the mechanics of her Noble Phantasm, but I'd seen enough in the anime to know that once she decided to "cut" something, it was cut. No defense, no resistance—just inevitable severance.
"Mahoraga!" I roared. "Stop her! Block it! Don't let that attack through!"
The Divine General moved instantly, its massive form interposing itself between Musashi and me. Its blackened sword—already adapted to counter various techniques through our earlier battles—raised to intercept her strike.
CLANG!
The sound of their clash was like a bell tolling. Musashi's reality-cutting blade met Mahoraga's anti-phenomenon sword. Light exploded between them, reality warping at the point of contact.
For a moment, they were locked in stalemate. Musashi's technique trying to reduce Mahoraga to non-existence. Mahoraga's adapted blade resisting that erasure.
CLINK.
The wheel above Mahoraga's head turned. Once. Twice. Three times in rapid succession.
It's adapting. Even to her Sword of Zero, it's finding the answer.
But Musashi pushed harder, desperation giving her strength. Blood poured from her wounds. The Fire ring shattered. The Wind ring manifested and cracked immediately. She was running out of time, out of power, out of options.
Mahoraga shifted its stance, its blade taking on a different quality. The black sword began to glow with that same reality-cutting light—a mirror of Musashi's technique, learned and adapted through direct exposure.
"No..." Musashi breathed, horror dawning in her eyes as she realized what was happening. "It can't... it copied...?"
The Divine General swung with devastating force. Musashi barely brought up her swords to block, but the impact was overwhelming. She was driven back, feet tearing through the ground.
And then Mahoraga attacked again, this time with intent to kill. Its adapted blade came down in a strike that would split her in two—
Musashi flickered into void at the last possible instant. But she couldn't maintain it. Too much damage, too much exhaustion. When she solidified, she staggered, nearly fell.
"Musashi-san!" Ibuki screamed, genuine terror in her voice.
But Ibuki had her own problems.
While Mahoraga handled Musashi, I'd turned my full attention to the approaching divine demon.
"Kamutoke."
I manifested the vajra-blade hybrid in my upper right hand. Cursed energy crackled along its length, purple-black lightning arcing from the weapon. I pointed it at Ibuki and fired.
Lightning erupted from Kamutoke—not natural electricity, but cursed energy in its most destructive form. The bolt struck Ibuki square in the chest, and she screamed as the energy coursed through her body.
Her charge faltered. Her regeneration slowed, disrupted by the cursed energy now flooding her system.
Good. Keep her distracted.
But this wasn't the killing blow.
That came next.
I raised my lower right hand, pointing at Ibuki while my lower left hand supported my forearm. My lower mouth began to chant—words of power that resonated with fundamental forces.
"Fuga."
The technique activated. Around my pointing finger, flames began to manifest. But these weren't ordinary flames. This was divine flame—cursed energy compressed and ignited into something that could burn anything. The temperature around me spiked so dramatically that the air itself began to scream.
The flames gathered, compressed, shaped into an arrow of pure destruction. The heat was so intense that the bone-white floor of my domain began to melt beneath my feet.
"Mahoraga, return!"
I dismissed the Divine General instantly. It dissolved back into shadow—I couldn't risk friendly fire with what came next.
Musashi, seeing Mahoraga vanish, tried to capitalize on the opening. But she was too slow, too injured. She took a single step toward me before her legs gave out, dropping to one knee.
I released the arrow.
"DIE!".
The arrow of divine flame shot forward, expanding as it traveled. What had been a focused point of destruction became a massive cone of fire that filled my domain. Everything in its path simply ceased to exist—not burned, not destroyed, but erased by temperatures that exceeded the surface of the sun.
Ibuki saw it coming. Saw her death approaching.
She tried everything. Manifested every defense she had. Her divine barriers flickered back to life—calamity, war, fire. Her skin hardened to maximum. Her Dragon Species trait pushed to its absolute limit, scales fully visible now, trying to replicate her father's legendary durability.
It wasn't enough.
The divine flame struck her.
For a single instant, Ibuki's body glowed white-hot. Her mouth opened in a scream that never came, her vocal cords vaporized before sound could form. Her divine barriers shattered like tissue paper. Her scales melted. Her flesh combusted.
And then there was simply... nothing.
Where Ibuki-douji had stood, there was only scorched ground and dissipating golden light as her Spirit Origin collapsed.
The flames continued past where she'd been, expanding outward, consuming everything. A full quarter of my domain was engulfed in that inferno. Chaldea's walls, floors, equipment—everything in that direction was reduced to slag and ash.
When the flames finally died, I was breathing hard. That technique had consumed a massive amount of cursed energy. My reserves, while enormous, weren't infinite.
But I didn't have time to recover.
Musashi was still alive.
I turned toward her, all four eyes focusing on the wounded swordswoman. She'd managed to stand again, though she swayed on her feet. Her kimono was mostly destroyed, revealing countless wounds. Blood dripped steadily from her body, forming a small pool beneath her.
But her eyes... her eyes still burned with determination.
"You... bastard..." she gasped, raising her swords with trembling arms. "Ibuki-san... you killed..."
"She was trying to kill me," I replied coldly. "Same as you."
Musashi's grip tightened on her blades. Despite everything—the exhaustion, the wounds, the loss of her ally—she wasn't giving up.
Troublesome. She's going to make me work for it.
But then I felt it. A shift in Mahoraga's essence, transmitted through our connection. The Divine General, dismissed just moments ago, had achieved something significant in those final four seconds before I unsummoned it.
It had adapted to Musashi's void technique.
The wheel had turned enough times, processed enough data. Mahoraga had found the answer to her ability to phase out of existence.
Perfect timing.
"Yatsuka-no-Tsurugi Ikaishinshō Makora."
Mahoraga manifested beside me, its blackened sword now possessing a new quality. The blade seemed to exist in multiple states simultaneously—solid yet ethereal, present yet absent. It had learned to cut void itself.
Musashi's eyes widened in horror as she recognized what that meant.
"No... if it can cut void... then I can't..."
She was right. Her ultimate defense, the technique that had kept her alive this long, was now useless. Mahoraga could strike her even in that non-existent state.
She was trapped.
I moved first, charging directly at her. My four arms worked in coordination—upper hands forming seals while lower hands manifested Kamutoke again. I was the distraction, the obvious threat that demanded her attention.
Musashi brought up her swords to block my strike. Our weapons clashed, and despite her injuries, her technique was still formidable. She redirected my momentum, used my own strength against me in textbook fashion.
But that's what I wanted.
Mahoraga attacked from behind.
Musashi sensed it—her warrior instincts screaming danger. She tried to flicker into void, to escape.
But the blackened sword followed her into that non-existence.
The blade struck true.
It pierced through Musashi's back, emerging from her chest. The corrupted edge—adapted specifically to nullify her abilities, infused with that reality-cutting property it had copied from her own technique—carved through her Spirit Origin with surgical precision.
Musashi's eyes went wide. Her swords slipped from nerveless fingers, clattering to the ground.
"Ah..." A small sound escaped her lips. Not a scream. Just... surprise.
Golden light began to emanate from the wound. Her Spirit Origin was collapsing.
Mahoraga withdrew its blade, and Musashi collapsed forward. I stepped aside, letting her fall.
She hit the ground hard, blood pooling rapidly beneath her. Her breathing was shallow, ragged. The light from her collapsing Spirit Origin grew brighter.
"Sorry... Ritsuka-kun..." she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I couldn't... protect..."
Her body began to dissolve into golden particles, returning to the Throne of Heroes.
Within seconds, she was gone. Only her blood remained, staining the bone-white floor of my domain.
I stood there for a moment, breathing hard, four arms lowering. Sweat dripped down my face. Honestly, the battle was pretty intense. It was only because of Sukuna that I was able to act rationally. If it weren't for Mahoraga, I'd probably still be fighting. I'd play it safe.
Fortunately, Papa Mahoraga is there to save me.
Two Servants down. Both of them powerful enough to have killed me if I'd made a single mistake. But I survived.
But I didn't have time to celebrate or recover.
I could sense more Servants approaching. The destruction I'd caused, the massive release of cursed energy from my domain and Kamino—it had alerted everyone in Chaldea. And they were coming fast.
Need to move. Now.
I dismissed Mahoraga, its form dissolving back into shadow. My domain began to collapse around me, the malevolent shrine fading as reality reasserted itself. The emergency lighting of Chaldea's corridors returned, illuminating the devastation I'd caused.
A full 150-meter radius around my position was destroyed. Walls gone. Floors collapsed. Support structures reduced to slag. It looked like a bomb had gone off—which, in a sense, it had.
I turned toward where Orochi still protected my charges. The serpent's coils parted as I approached, revealing Ritsuka, Gudako, and Mash. All three stared at me with wide eyes—shock, fear, awe, and something else I couldn't quite identify.
"We're leaving," I said curtly. "Now."
I didn't wait for agreement. With my four arms, I grabbed all three of them—Ritsuka in my upper right arm, Gudako in my upper left, Mash in both lower arms. They weighed nothing to my enhanced strength.
"Nue."
The bird-like shikigami manifested, larger than before, its wingspan expanded to accommodate passengers. I leaped onto its back, my charges held securely.
"Get us out of Chaldea," I ordered. "Maximum speed. Don't stop for anything."
Nue screeched acknowledgment. Its wings spread wide, electricity crackling between the feathers. And then we were moving—accelerating with impossible speed, flying through the massive hole my Kamino had burned through Chaldea's structure.
We burst into open air, the cold wind of the singularity rushing past us. Behind us, I could see Chaldea's damaged form, smoke rising from the destruction I'd caused.
How long before they sever my connection to Chaldea's mana supply? I wondered, feeling the flow of cursed energy that sustained me. Minutes? Hours? Once they do that, I'll start running on reserves alone. No regeneration, no sustained techniques.
I was betting on "minutes" given how thoroughly I'd pissed them off.
Need to find a way to sustain myself independently. Need to figure out who's behind the Haze. Need to find a safe location.
So many problems. So many unknowns.
But for now, we were alive. We were free of that corrupted hellhole.
And I had three hostages who might prove useful—though I suspected Ritsuka, at least, might become something more like an ally once he understood the full situation.
One crisis at a time, I told myself as Nue carried us further from Chaldea. One crisis at a time.
Behind us, I sensed multiple Servants taking to the air in pursuit. But Nue was fast, and we had a head start.
The game had changed. The battle was far from over.
But I was still standing.
And the King of Curses doesn't fall so easily.
.
.
.
I hope you are satisfied, or I'm going to cry. Anyway, I think some of you know where to direct certain decisions, but do what you don't know and be surprised later.
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