Chapter Text
Gonna be honest, my death was more my own stupidity then anything else. It’s really all a blur, but, 20/20 hindsight and all that. All I can really tell ya’ right now is that it doesn’t really matter. So, here I am. Fondling an old ring on a chain like my life depended on it, battling the pain of my ears not adjusting to the air pressure within a plane, and going over the fact I seemed to have air sickness, judging by the anxiety bubbling in my stomach.. So, today was… a lot. And it’s only gonna get worse. After all, the first thing that had greeted me when I woke up was a familiar pair of tired eyes and a resting bitch face. Yuta Okkotsu. My favorite character.
30th Of October, 2018. 11:47 A.M.
Yeah, you heard that right. Not only had I been sent to a hellhole, like JJK, I’d been made someone with plot relevance. While I love my GOAT, I don’t have anything at the moment. No tricks, no techniques, just a looming fear of responsibility. I had Reverse Cursed Technique, but it was inefficient as hell, and his domain had nothing to actually imbue within. If I could even do it. While Yuta had one, my memories so far say I’m so bad at barriers, I was compensating with Rika’s Cursed Energy, if I used more than 20%. And summoning Rika for her five minutes had one glaring fear, with what Yuta’s memories had revealed to him. The five minutes? A binding vow. Not the kind worth breaking, either, and Rika had every possibility to try and rip his head off, like Gojo sensing ‘Fake’ Geto.
“I’m a fraud now. A real life fraud.” I mumbled, my incoming doom meant absolutely horrific things. I leaned my head back, staring out at the tarmac, the cheapest possible seats being good enough. Or, they would have been. Instead, I felt incredibly out of place in First Class, not even having to share a seat. Thanks, Miguel. Mr. Katana appreciates you. Yuta wasn’t exactly tall, after all. Neither was I, but it was just Miguel who had made the feeling even worse, but thank god I was out of that soon. I felt small.
No panic attacks right now. Take a breath.
Flipping the A.C. on, letting the cool breeze wash over my feverish face, I wondered why not someone else. Like Ino. Or Nobara. Being a woman would suck, but I’d be alive. Just have to sleep it out, y’know? Nope. Instead half this manga and its sequel used my actions. Or, His actions, I should say. I wish I had read more of Modulo instead of just looking at the cool parts on Reddit, but again. 20/20.
My own basics were solid, but I needed more. I had barebones combat experience outside some dead 16-year olds body, and his memories. Right now, I can barely rely on RCT, and I doubt I come anywhere close to the real thing. Miguel was awesome though. Gave me plenty for an arsenal I can’t reach. But, running through memories showed me he cared. Enough to help me manage a few tricks, at least.
I did have some benefits. No murdering a 15-year old binding vow. Future knowledge of techniques. In-lore explanations. I can’t copy curses, gotta be a human in some form. How much I need to get this technique working. Reverse Cursed-Technique. And Yuta’s muscle memory is so good it bordered on inhuman.
‘As for downsides?’
Horrible efficiency. Turns out, Yuta couldn’t utilize a domain in Sendai without Rika. My limit is 1. At full tank. And Ishigori wasn’t kidding. RCT burnt through energy like a good mobile game on a shitty phone. And my phone had the graphics on max. I assume training with Gojo fixed that, at least enough to let him cast one in Shinjuku without Rika. Mine is even worse. Using Cursed Energy is easy, my reserves are huge. Nope, the issue is turning it back the fuck off, or using it with any degree of real precision. Yuta’s memories are anxiety-ridden, and so am I. I am genuinely surprised not to have created a singularity of social issues and nerves. No domain at all until I get that storage unlocked. And unfortunately for me, I don’t exactly have high hopes for it.
“All passengers, the plane is now departing. Please be prepared for your exit at Haneda Airport, and thank you for flying with us.” I let out a sigh, grabbing the ring and letting the oddly comforting memories of someone else do the rest. I’m twenty, just barely, and all I got is this. Plus, I can’t just let everyone die. That manga was freakin’ dark. I love Nanami, and I can help. Though, my fear of Gojo is also through the roof. Again, could see through me. I doubt I can make it in time to prevent his sealing, but Sukuna’s Rampage? Nanami dying against Mahito? Nobara?
In the end, I’ve got three goals.
1). Exorcise Mahito, preventing most players of the Culling Game from emerging in full force.
2). Exorcise Jogo before he can forcibly incarnate Sukuna.
3). Prevent Megumi from summoning Mahoraga. Not something he can handle right now, especially given his own limited arsenal.
With that in mind, ‘Okkotsu’ stood, ready to make his way out of here, and get to work. He had a bit of a plan in mind, already. I just had to be the man to make it happen. No pressure.
Two Hours Earlier.
“Haaaaaah!? You running out on me, Okkotsu?” My mentor’s Cursed Energy lashed out like a wardrum, washing over my body like a wave. Thank God for my own resistance, cuz of my reserves. Otherwise, I might have pissed myself. But I’m not backing down. If I have to go back anyways, I may as well get a time of my choosing. And the earlier, the better.
“Yeah, I have a bad feeling… And it’s not like the search for the black rope will change if I leave a few months ahead of time. It’s gone, and that’s that.” My voice came out firm, and to my surprise, Miguel nodded. He clapped me on the shoulder, a dazzling smile gracing his normally teasing expression.
‘Oh thank God, he woulda’ whooped my ass. He fought Sukuna. Like, no training. Dude’s feats are insane.’
“Alright then, you better get moving. You already have your whole arsenal on you, and I doubt you need anything else I can teach. I hope you’re wrong, for the right reasons.” He nods at the open sands outside. “Let’s get some training in, and I’ll call in a couple favors and have you on the next flight out. No pupil of mine is flying economy, even if that damn Gojo did blackmail me into it.” He gives me a shove toward the yard, and I can only take a breath. Well, no time like the present to get a feel for something that’s only 80% innate talent and 20% hard work. Then again, Gojo said that. He felt… Unreliable.
“Thank you, Miguel. I’ll never be able to say it enough.” This time, he hits the back of my head hard enough to make me wince.
“Just don’t die. I’d hate to see another ‘King’ dethroned.”
‘King? The fuck is he–Nevermind. At least it wasn’t Megumi. Or God Forbid, Yuji. I can’t eat those fucking things. I’d actually rather die again. Immediate restart, on god.’
31st Of October, 2018. 10:49 P.M
Maki Zenin
Maki didn’t even realize she had relaxed ever so slightly until that stranger killed Dagon and destroyed his domain. She takes a moment, looks at Nanami, then Megumi. She bit back a grunt as she took in the full extent of their injuries. Nanami was bleeding heavily, and whatever Fushiguro had done with his domain had tired him out to a ridiculous extent. ‘I don’t know if we can win.’
CRASH
Megumi is gone. She barely saw their opponent tense up, and it leaves her shocked again. “Megumi–!” She doesn’t have time to react to the sudden thing that stands in front of her. It’s short, ugly, and it shouldn’t change the pressure of the room like a natural disaster. She doesn’t even have a cursed tool at the moment. But it doesn’t need anything like that, and they all know it. The only thing she knows is that it is touching Nanami one moment, and then-
FWOOSH
Maki has always had a strong sense of smell. Comes with the heavenly restriction. But she’s never felt horror like when she smelt him burn before she saw it. She barely registers the scream that tears from her throat, watching one of the few Sorcerer’s she could ever say she really respected fall to the ground like a doll with cut strings. And the curse moves again. ‘He’s so fast–!’
He’s in front of her.
‘I’m gonna die.’
A familiar hand stops his own, and Maki could scream. They were gonna kill this fucking thing. Both her and the Curse turned in unison as the massive, stark-white fist clenched harder. Maki took in whatever ‘this’ Rika was for a second. Cloaked in shadow, the massive head and teeth. But she couldn’t deny she would be owing Yuta one for this.
He approached, black hair swept to the side as his features remained eerily cold, assessing the scene. He wore his jacket openly now, revealing his black undershirt and thick black cargo pants, and his Cursed Energy was now visible to Maki, even if she couldn’t feel it. A massive plume of pink was surging around him, reaching upwards and flooding the halls with a potency so thick it bordered on a fog. His katana was out of its bag, and hung loosely around his waist. Her mouth opened in time with the curses, his growing look of horror contrasting her growing smirk.
“Okk–”
The white halls of the train station were thick with the smell of blood. My chest feels on the verge of collapsing, but something keeps my face calm as I assess the scene. Woah. Everyone takes a second to snap into awareness, apart from Jogo. But everyone else, despite my brain telling me I recognize Maki’s prince-esque features, or Nanami’s strong Jawline and stern features. His entire upper half is horribly burned, blood oozing slowly even as he twitches every few moments. Then I take in the blood, then the burns. The scent hits my nose and I’m forced to choke down bile. Oh fuck. I need to do something.
‘God, I really hope I’m not showing this on my face.’
Jogo looks at me, singular eye arching in an approximation of confusion. Too late to stop Toji from emerging, but as my eyes lock onto a familiar pair of golden eyes, I feel sick. But for the first time, something bubbles up beside me, shadows coalescing into something else, a presence that soothes my nerves despite everything. It’s hand stops Jogo’s from touching Maki, and Jogo finally speaks, eyes wide.
“Okkotsu!?”/“Who in the hell are you, punk?” Before I can retort, Rika moves, Jogo’s single eye widening as Maki’s face lights up with a feral grin, her canine’s glinting in the artificial light, and the old man’s posture shifts.
“Don’t touch… Yuta’s Friend…!” Her fist enlarges, slamming into the curse’s side and sending it slamming through the side of the wall, and I take my chance. I ignored Maki’s shout as I dropped to the only one injured before I arrived. The bloodied, blonde man that only made this worse. The energy around my hands goes from ice to warming up, pink turning white as the energy becomes almost bubbly, surrounding Nanami. Thank God for this body, pouring massive amounts of Cursed Energy into one feels like mixing vinegar and baking soda, catching the gas it emits, and forcing it out. But to Yuta? Sheer instinct. And that's enough for now. Burns turn to scars, A missing eye seals over. It’s not cheap, but it’ll be worth it.
“I've got you, Nanami.” My breathing quickens as the distant rumblings only make the clear clash worse. Rika was losing. Okay, she probably came out solely for Maki. Not good. Getting up, I take a deep breath, clenching my hand as my reinforcement surges, a rather wiry frame turning to steel in an instant. My reserves are at 50%. Shit. Outputting RCE is inefficient, and I'm worse than Yuta at efficiency. I’m being hard-carried by muscle memory, leaping off the ground to go flying across the walls, catching up with Rika and Jogo in mere moments, coming up from behind as she literally fades to nothing, now that I have distance from Maki.
‘No telepathic connection, no voice in my mind, no presence I can feel.. She literally just won’t obey me, work with me, nothin’. Guess I’m going off of pure hopes and dreams, and getting ghosted by a ghost. Come on, muscle memory for the win!‘
“I’m the Student of the Man you’ve sealed. My name is Yuta Okkotsu.” With that, my fist slams into his jaw, resulting in a shockwave, cracks erupting throughout the concrete tunnels as he hits the ground. His reserves are good enough that my RCE Output is my best chance here. Despite sending him flying, Jogo quickly rises, rubbing his reformed jaw with a small grin.
“You’re no Satoru Gojo however, boy.” He claps his hands together, and I’m barely able to leap above the geysers of flame that erupt from around me, and I’m left staring at his clasped hands as he grins up at me. “And against you? I think I’ll last far longer than a mere few minutes.”
The punk is sent slamming into the ceiling, and Jogo feels a grin twitch at his lips. He can’t take this punk as anything other than a threat. Healing that other Sorcerer means he can kill me with a well placed touch, and he's yet to see that creature again. It didn’t feel like a shikigami or a curse, it was something else! A mere 3 blows were exchanged, and yet Jogo’s body had been shaking.
‘But Okkotsu’s already exhausted! His Cursed Energy has depleted a massive amount! That technique must burn through his reserves insanely quickly! If I’m to win, I must keep him at a range!’
Leaping upwards, Jogo’s leg slammed into his stomach, sending a spiderweb of cracks throughout the ceiling as the force buried him deeper. His hands blocked the palm strike that followed, and Jogo had to stop his assault when Okkotsu’s hands bubbled with a thick white energy. It felt sweet, sickeningly sweet to his senses, screaming danger even as the very concept of his flesh began to fall apart. It was then that Jogo kicked downwards, a grin tearing at his lips.
“Getting desperate already, Sorcerer!?” Jogo’s hands were already beginning to reform, and fire poured atop the young man above him, using his head to keep the heat pouring as flames battled against a tide of Cursed Energy. His reinforcement wasn’t better than Gojo’s, but it enveloped his whole body every moment. It meant he had to simply increase his output.
BOOM
Okkotsu kicked off the wall, leg slamming into where Jogo’s skull had been a mere moment ago, as he began quickly gaining distance from the young sorcerer as he rushed down the subway tunnel, lights flickering overhead. Ember Insects formed in an instant, 5 of them zooming out to meet the chasing sorcerer overhead. Okkotsu’s blade swung outwards, slashing through four of them in an instant. But the remaining one didn’t attack, instead it went for something he would have to react towards.
His allies.
He’s not Satoru Gojo, and I’m certain of that. I can’t match his physical prowess, but I don’t need to. After all, I forged that one with the intent of going after his allies. They should still be just down the hall. And if I can regroup with Mahito, we’ll win. That shikigami hasn’t appeared again. It must be at some sort of ‘limit.’
Okkotsu turned around.
I barely have time to breathe before everything hurts, flames engulfing everything above my knees, and my once pristine jacket is charred almost black. But something in me stays calm. I know that I’m too scared to move, but my body is. Already healing the damage, already forcing itself into motion. 40%. Fuckin’ inefficiency…
Don’t think. Just don’t slow down, or you’ll die.
I dive, Cursed Energy pouring through me. I can always rely on Plan B if I need to. He knows about RCT, but he can’t take a real hit without it. So I pour everything I got into closing the gap, watching his eye widen in horror before my knee slams into his stomach.
BOOM
“Don’t need to be Sensei when you’re just another curse.” I can feel a smile force itself onto my face as I reply to his earlier comment. His head literally begins to steam, but I don’t give him time to react before my hands latch onto his head, and I pull his into mine to initiate a headbutt with enough reinforcement to shatter concrete.
FSSH
Jogo’s skull splits, but the flow of magma that comes out isn’t something I was ready for, and I’m forced to pull back as the sizzling where it touches my forehead becomes unbearable. Watching as his grotesque head knits back together. In turn, I let RCT heal my own wounds, drawing on more of my reserves. I draw my blade as he brings up his hands.
‘If he uses his domain, all I can do is use mine. And whatever I have won’t win that clash, as I don’t have the reserves to cobble together a barrier. Simple Domain isn’t something I can reliably do at the moment. So instead, I’ll burn through everything I got to end this here if I need to. Sukuna must not incarnate.’
“You can’t prevent the Age of Curses from emerging, boy!” I began to close distance once more as our surroundings shifted, magma constructs emerging from the subway, chasing after me as he focused on raining fire upon me. “A punk like you would never understand the weight of our goals! That’s why I can’t lose!”
‘Is Jogoat the fucking protagonist here? It feels like it, my god.’
I’m forced out of my head as the smell of charcoal fills the air, my only warning to the hands closing distance as each swing of my katana splits another construct in half. Another few constructs had my blade finally shatter, forcing me to wrench it out, even the slight splatter of magma that it resulted in ruining my white jacket for good this time, the sting of the heat against my skin forcing me to grit my teeth just to stop a whimper. I launch the shattered blade at him, and he easily bats it to the side. Alright, let’s hope this works. 35%.
“I can output Reverse-Cursed Technique. This is the result of using Cursed Energy multiplied against itself, and it’s especially lethal against curses like you. However, it’s extremely cost intensive, and I must strike your head or your core.”
Whish
His eyes widen as I kick off a construct, taking his head into my hands, reinforcement pumping as I keep applying pressure. Even when he erupts, and my face feels like it’s melting. I ignore his fists pounding into my torso, each blow burning with a heat that only feels like it’s getting worse by the second.
30%.
I start healing my face as well, and it comes easier than ever. My impromptu binding-vow made it easier to heal and output, but it’s still costly. But still, my grip never goes slack. Not until his body begins to bubble, and he bursts into ash with a garbled scream. At last I stopped, panting as I looked up. “I won.”
20%. I have 20% of my reserves remaining, and I got lucky. Jogo has-had no idea that my domain wouldn’t have beat his. But that was only because of Gojo and how similar we feel. It was a guess. A lucky one. I take that feeling of self-doubt, and let it bloom into the storm that reinforces my body, pink energy surging around me. In an instant, I’m rushing down the corridor, footsteps echoing like thunder as I head towards an energy that’s about half of my remainder.
Which is bad. I have enough. Gotta stop Nanako and Mimiko, hope for the best. If I run into Mahito, I burned through too much Cursed Energy to use a domain. Without Rika, I’m dying here. If that bum had expanded his domain, I’d have been done for. I wanted to find Mahito first, to minimize risk, but this works. Just gotta stop Sukuna from emerging, and with everyone back there operating on… Fuck.
“Hey, Rika! If you’re listening, go guard Fushiguro! I don’t care what you think, but if anything happens to him, Maki Zenin will die!” I feel a part of me leave, not quite a limb but not quite a command. It’s really weird. Like an empty backpack filled with energy, and a general distaste for my existence. But, not like I’m lying. If Haruta gets Megumi, then Big Raga goes nuts. Without Sukuna, that means that everyone here is dead.
Endless hallways seem to twist and turn around me, and I’m barely following signs. I can feel my own inefficiency turn what should’ve been easy into a slog. I’m not Yuta Okkotsu. Fuck.
I’m screwed.
And finally, I arrived at the source of that nauseous feeling in the back of my throat.
“Please come out, Sukuna…” Mimiko mumbled, squeezing Nanako’s hand before both froze as the weight of my Cursed Energy hit them. It was more than one finger, but not enough. Not even two fingers, most likely.
“Drop the fingers, and back away, Followers of Geto.” Playing the role of Yuta stings, knowing and remembering halfway-killing their father-figure like a year ago. “I don’t want to kill you, but I will if I must. Mechamaru informed me of Geto’s plans. And believe me, Sukuna will kill you.”
I watch their eyes go wide. Calculating. They know ‘Geto’ isn’t Suguru. They don’t know I know that, only that I know of their relationship.
“...What if we said Suguru has gone too far? He wasn’t right in the head after surviving Gojo.” Nanako… Or was it Mimiko? God, I’m bad with side character names. The blonde one.
“Nanako’s telling the truth!” The other says, almost desperately. “We-I-Just, kill him! We need you to kill him!” Huh, guess I was right. But isn’t this way too easy? They should hate me, just like they hate Gojo. But instead, they look almost… relieved? A realization struck as I watched them, two kids who looked absolutely terrified of me. Way to make a fella feel like shit.
Oh shit. Did they think Kenjaku would fail in sealing Gojo?
It made sense, the more I thought about it. They probably had no idea just how many pies Kenny had his fingers in. And now that they were getting desperate.
Easy Peasy, The-
I rushed forwards, both girls reacting as Nanako raises her phone, both girls turning to dead weight as ice spears through their chests. I can barely tolerate the pain, needles flooding through the arm I sacrificed to grab the scroll full of fingers. If I remember right, they’ll come back when that technique is done, and the pissed off Energy Signature easily trumps mine, even as the warmth of RCT pools into my hand, turning over to the ‘new’ arrival. My breathing is shaky, because that’s the worst pain I’ve ever experienced. Like liquid nitrogen, but so much worse.
10% Reserves. I’ve got basically nothing in the tank, and Rika is keeping Megumi from nuking us all, or risking his own life too early. If Sukuna pops enchain for these finger’s, I’m bound to lose them. Everything that I want to do. It all rests on right now.
“You know, I hate to say this, but I’ve been hear-”
Several dozen ice lances fired out at me, and my reserves lagged behind, several of them cutting far too deep before my reinforcement took hold. Before I can respond, a hand wraps around my wrist, and I find my head getting slammed into their knee.
“I don’t care to speak to worms. Now unhand Lord Sukuna’s fingers.” That was the last warning I got before their extended hand was followed by a glacier, cutting off my movement even as I finally unsheathed my katana, head pounding as I tried outputting as much Cursed Energy as I could. Pink energy coalesced into a point, before expanding outwards and catching Uraume offguard, a thin slit appearing on their side. It doesn’t even have time to bleed.
%8. Not enough to break reinforcement.
“A pathetic trick from a so-called ‘Special-Grade’.” Their hands clasped my own, and I responded with a series of jabs, swinging them around, and letting them crash into a wall. Their hands point outwards, and I can feel their Cursed Energy surge, and I swing my sword again, keeping my grip tight on both the fingers in my blade as another wave of pure force slams Uraume deeper into the wall. 7%. So, imagine my surprise when the dust clears, only for them to be quietly kneeling on the ground. Not a scratch on them.
“Icefall.”
My vision darkens at the edges, and I pour everything I have into a gambit from the anime. I slam my sword into the ground, trying not to cry from the pain of an icy-hot style of acupuncture. I count three before the disappointment, the fear, and that spark of anger let out in an eruption, not even phasing the enemy before me. They simply conjured a wall of ice, taking the brunt of the blast without a care in the world. 4%.
Gotta get me and Yuji out of here.
I slam my fist into the ground, sending cracks outward, and prepare to follow it up, before their seeming calmness shatters. 2%. Not enough. They bring up their hand, and I don’t have the Cursed Energy to react anymore. “You’re persistent for trash, but you happen to be a big fish in a tiny pond. You are nothing. Frost Calm.” A wave of ice consumes me again, and the cold makes my lungs prickle as a wheeze escapes my throat. They go from being across the room to a mere inch away, their fist slamming into my jaw once. 1%.I can’t even maintain reinforcement, and as my free hand slips towards the necklace, a risk I don’t want, but death for a second time is not an option.
“Collapse.”
A tanned fist interrupted their next strike. One arm down, missing an eye, but he was breathing, and the ice around him shattered. So did the floor, and I barely snagged the unconscious Yuji, slamming a hand into the wall to keep from falling. Uraume was quick, ice encapsulating the debris before it could detonate, and their fist met Nanami’s jaw, sending him sprawling near me as I dropped the blade and the vessel. “Okkotsu. You’re running on fumes.”
I winced, nodding shakily as I stared down our opponent. “Yeah. Not much left in me, and I have Rika protecting Fushiguro at the moment. I can call her, but-” I’m interrupted by his worried gaze, even as he balls his fist. “What-Why are you looking at me like that?” Nanami shifts, and his ‘good’ arm slams into my cheek, firmly grasping the cleaver as I’m sent sprawling, the horror of what Nanami had done beginning to sync in. The other bundle was less horrific, but no less daunting. My breathing is shaking worse than before, and It’s really hard not to tremble. I’ve never felt like this much of a scared little child as I had in a long time. It hurts. This all hurts.
Is this what being a real Sorcerer means? This is horrifying. I’m scared. I don’t wanna die again.
“Gojo informed me of your technique’s limits. Not all of them, but enough. Everyone here is giving their life, and yet you’re barely even giving it the effort to think ahead." Nanami’s single eye is cold, staring me down as I struggle to stand, my limbs felt like blocks, but they still went for the ring. I don’t know why it still brings me so much comfort. “I think you’re panicking, and that right now, we can’t afford that. So for now, just keep fighting.” His voice is firm, but not cruel, and that only makes the weight of his words hit even worse.
Rika won’t answer me. She knows I’m not Yuta. Basically a parasite. I don’t have his skill. His talent. I’m just trying not to die, and not let these kids die. Nowhere is safe. No country, not for a long time. Hell, I didn’t even get time to adjust! This isn’t fair. The self-depreciation doesn’t refill my pool of energy, it only makes me furious at this stranger. Why do I care about this man’s opinion? What? Nothing in the manga ever said–
Asking you felt so awkward, but Gojo-sensei insisted I had to be the one to do it. My heart hammers in my chest, and Rika stirs before I calm her with a thought.
“You want to learn how to use a short blade? I can’t believe Gojo. He’s a layabout, and now he’s making me teach you how to use my weapon?”
I tell you about how yes, I really am sorry about him, but Gojo-sensei said you’re the best with this kind of weapon! I explain to you that Kusakabe-san has already done his best, as has Maki-san with the rest of what I’m hoping to learn. I apologize for the timeframe, and I feel guilty.
“Leaving for Africa just means I have to train you harder. We begin now, Okkotsu.”
I feel happy.
“Stop it with that pathetic look. I can practically read your mind. Do it, or don’t. Maki and Naobito are converging on Fushiguro. Worry about yourself, but don’t waste your life still being the same boy Gojo saved a year ago, or blaming others for your weakness. Now, either leave, or help.” He doesn’t continue, rushing forwards and dragging his bare knuckles against the ground, alreadung finding another 7-3 spot to strike.. Uraume easily meets his attempt, elbow slamming into his sternum as their forearm, locked down his arm. His expectations make sense. Yuta is a prodigy. Despite not being the most efficient, he makes it work, and the Shinjuku Showdown fixed that. I take a second, trying to assess the situation. “If you don’t get yourself together, everyone here will be at a far greater risk of death. I can’t protect you, Okkotsu.”
Nanako and Mimiko are gone. I can’t try and figure out where they went if I wanted to. Not while holding a beacon that smothered what could only be described as a sort of echolocation.
Fucking Sukuna. I didn’t change a thing. I might have made it worse. Nanami is at 20%. Uraume is at 80% from where they started. Way more efficient than me. Nanami is gonna die, and you can’t stop it.
I didn’t think. If I did, I never would have done it. Sukuna did this kinda thing too, right?
If Megumi had ever been a faithful man, today would have been a day that proved everything.
“That’s a nice name.”
Pushing that experience aside, I need to find Itadori.
Darkness tore at the edges of his vision, breathing labored as he kept moving, one step at a time. He could faintly make out footsteps through the buzzing in his ear, unable to react before a force sent him skidding forwards across the empty streets of Shibuya, silence echoing as he quickly flipped around. A blonde man, definitely not a sorcerer, was pinned under a giant white hand, and Megumi was never one to miss out on an opportunity. Before he could, a familiar Cursed Energy signature approached, and when it got closer, he could make out the 2nd. Naobito and Maki were closing the gap.
Both of them. Good. Nanami broke off for some reason, why? I felt Okkotsu’s Cursed Energy signature earlier, but he’s helping Okkotsu? Who the hell are they fighting?
Megumi would have felt Sukuna’s presence, and he turned to greet his fellow sorcerers. “Maki. Zenin. This guy-”
Rika disappeared, and the Curse User launched forwards, blade aimed at Megumi’s spine. He didn’t even see it coming. He swore, trying to turn around before the blow came close. He didn’t get a chance. “WHY WON’T YOU JUST LET ME-”
“Why dont’cha die, ya little weasel?” Naobito went from standing still to planting his feet into the ground a mere meter in front of Megumi. In 4 smooth motions, he disarmed the enemy, crushed his windpipe, shattered his jaw, and right as Megumi took a breath, preparing to watch Naobito’s fist crush this man’s heart-
It was like watching someone crush a bug, but it was different from Gojo-Sensei. This man was old, tired, and missing an arm. No, he wasn't even close.
Naobito was consumed, a massive deformed thing tearing his upper half clean off his body, Maki’s hand wrapping around his collar and ripping Megumi back. He’d have to remember to thank her later. “Fushiguro! MOVE!” But what he managed to catch a glimpse of had him moving. The ground shook behind him as Rika crushed the Curse User with a sickening squelch.
Stitches across the face. The Cursed Spirit known as Mahito.
“Don’t let it touch you!” He shouted, grasping her sleeve for a moment. “Itadori. He fought it before. It can hit your soul, twist your body.” Megumi took in his and Maki’s state. But Nobara was close, he could feel her Cursed Energy at the edge of his senses. Hands clasping together, he decided to steal a move from Itadori’s playbook. When in need of assistance, go loud.
“Max Elephant.” The massive, pink elephant emerged as Megumi’s vision darkened at the edges from the strain, and he had to let Maki half-carry him when it launched water upwards into the air.
FWOOSH
He ignored the strain, cursing under his breath as he heard the mocking laughter. His hand dipped into his shadow, drawing Nanami’s parting gift to them. Or more specifically, Maki.
“Heeeeeeyyyy! Do you guys know where Yuji Itadori is! I’m supposed to be looking for him!” The Cursed Spirit’s playful gaze quickly narrowed as he casually approached the due, hands beginning to pulse with Cursed Energy. “If that was some kinda signal, I just might have to kill you both.”
Megumi feels another pulse as Maki takes the cleaver from his hands, her eyes narrowed as a clean slash severs the curse’s arm at the elbow, while Rika’s massive fist swung into his other side, sending the curse slamming into a building. He had barely seen the technique she had used, but he couldn’t stop his own grin when Maki gave the curse her middle finger. He could feel Nobara’s energy approaching as well…!
‘We can win this!’
“Let’s see you try, you stitch-faced bitch. Megumi, let’s exorcise this freak before Yuta gets here.”
[Panda P.O.V]
Panda cracked his neck, sitting on the strange woman-a Curse User, apparently. Once Kusakabe and him had felt Okkotsu’s Cursed Energy show up, his guide had really developed a fire to him! “You took them down, Kusakabe! Now, let’s go find the others!”
The whole balance of the situation has shifted with Yuta back in the mix!
Kusakabe only nodded, chewing on a lollipop as he finished chatting with Nitta. “Now that their forces are thinning out, regrouping is our best choice. If Gojo can be unsealed… Well, now is gonna be our only real chance to help him get out.” Panda watched the middle-aged man run a hand through his dark hair, sighing heavily.
“So that means…?”
“We need to collect all the powerhouses remaining in Shibuya. Protect and support ours, hurt the enemies. Whatever sealed Gojo won’t be able to be fought like anything else. If it could seal him, it’ll kill you or me without even blinking. No, we need to regroup.” He was already walking as he spoke, and Panda found himself shocked. He wasn't taking his time to read the signs anymore!
“But… We have Okkotsu again? Yuta isn’t like he was when-.”
“His Cursed Energy has diminished by half, Panda. If he’s struggling like this, we need more firepower, and to be more collected. We have no idea what’s going on beyond our environment. We need to find the rest of the students and get out of here. This isn’t a discussion.” And then, Kusakabe stopped, turning into another dark alley and leaping upwards, rapidly scaling a small shop. As Panda lumbered after, he wondered why his eyes widened, before a grin lit up his features. When he followed his line of sight, he understood a little more.
More of Geto’s Subordinates.
The darker-skinned one was stumbling, barely holding her comrade up as she continued to try and get further from Yuta’s Cursed Energy. When she finally collapsed, Kusakabe let out a sharp bark of laughter.
“Well, time to drag out whatever we can from them.”
And for once, Panda felt pity for an enemy. Just a smidge.