It happened in an instant; Allen appeared in an enormous blank space, one that was familiar to him.
"This place... Gojo sensei?"
Allen couldn't think of any other possibility than the system bringing him to this place.
"Unfortunately, I'm not Satoru Gojo, brat." A chilling voice of a man came from behind Allen, leaving him paralyzed and with a cold sweat on his back.
Allen could maintain his composure in the face of Hulk's absurd power because it was neutral. But the vicious, bloody, and evil aura to the core was different; Allen felt as if he were stepping on decaying corpses just by being close.
"Sukuna..." Allen turned around as the endless space turned black and red, Allen saw a man, if you could call him that; he had four arms, two pairs of eyes, black-lined tattoos, and pink hair combed backward.
"No, that appearance is Ryomen Sukuna's..."
"Does it matter? Hehe, so it's you?" Sukuna smiled cruelly, showing his teeth. "You're the kid who wants to use my power."
'System?'
[Host, you were in danger, so I took the liberty of calling him because the crimson chest had his set of skills...]
For the current Allen, when he opens a crimson chest, two possibilities can occur. First, he gets something he can't use, and second, that "something" is uncontrollable and ends up hurting him.
This is mainly because Allen isn't at the level to assimilate a crimson chest on his own at this moment. As mentioned earlier, he shouldn't be able to get them. However, as in life, there's more than one path to the goal, even if that path is cheating in the gacha.
Allen Walker acquired Sukuna's powers and techniques. However, they are useless without extensive and patient training. Unfortunately, Allen is in danger.
Who better to teach him how to use Sukuna's abilities than the original owner?
But life isn't that simple; the abilities belong to Allen, that's true, and Sukuna can't do anything about it. But at the same time, he has no obligation to teach Allen.
In Gojo's case, he did it voluntarily.
"What? Don't look at me like I'm an enemy to defeat. I can't even affect this place, you, or your world."
Instead of relaxing, Allen increased his caution. Sukuna had been too calm and reasonable for a while now, even cordial. This made Allen's skin crawl.
"You want to learn to use my power, right? I don't care to teach you, but unlike Satoru Gojo, I won't do it for free." Sukuna smiled as he saw Allen sharpening his gaze. "Don't get nervous... it's not a big deal..."
===
*Allen's POV*
When was it? When did I start having the same dream? It must have been since I can remember, maybe at two or three years old.
In my dream, there was a white, mountainous landscape, with dry trees, a gray sky full of clouds, and the sound of a cold blizzard blowing snow everywhere.
There was always a young man covered by a white cloak walking somewhere. There was a strong snowstorm, so seeing someone in that situation must have been absurd, but there he was, walking while enduring the wind. He often stumbled but would get up again and keep walking.
Why did he do that? Where was he going? I could never find the answer.
Sometimes I wanted to ask him, but my voice never reached him. Sometimes I wanted to get closer, but what seemed to be a few meters were unreachable for me, no matter how much I walked towards him.
I could only watch him walk under the storm; it was as if something whispered to him to keep moving forward with every step, perhaps a promise or a curse.
His breath occasionally escaped his mouth, and I could hear his faint complaint of fatigue and pain, but he kept walking.
Then, I woke up as a young child, sat on my bed, and looked at the horizon through the window, and the sky was gray. It was always gray for me, no matter if it was clear.
===
Allen's blood froze upon hearing Sukuna's sickening request. Allen understood it, no matter how friendly he seemed, Sukuna was still the same sadistic fiend as always.
[Host, I'll return you immediately!]
"No..."
[You're not thinking of accepting? If I had known this outcome, I wouldn't have called him]
"Don't worry..." Allen looked at Sukuna with disdain. "But will you be useful? Not to offend, but I don't think you're more powerful than all my other abilities combined."
"HAHAHAHA, does my request bother you?! You're stupid, kid! In the end, you only have pieces of separate powers; no matter how well you use them, they're still just pieces of something." Sukuna narrowed his eyes. "Besides, what you need right now isn't power; it's pure knowledge and skill..."
Sukuna was right; trying to compete with power against a monster that increases in power every second is ridiculous.
Allen needed more than power to stop Hulk...
"Fine..."
"HAHAHAHAHA HAHAHA HA..." Sukuna laughed with joy while looking at Allen.
At that moment, Allen's eyes locked onto Sukuna, and in an instant, Crown Clown surrounded him with stakes. "But if you break your promise, I'll kill you myself!"
Sukuna stopped laughing and looked at Allen indifferently. "It's unnecessary, kid... let's make a binding vow..."
It was unnatural how Sukuna could go from laughing insanely to being as expressionless as a sociopath.
===
*Allen's POV*
Since I can remember, everything was gray... not in a metaphorical sense; I was unable to see colors. My parents noticed it and took me to the hospital.
After several tests and examinations, they discovered my condition.
"Mrs. Walker, your son has achromatopsia, a very rare genetic condition that makes him see only in gray tones or in black and white..."
The doctor sighed while handing me a lollipop, I suppose it was a habit or something; I didn't refuse it because I always liked sweets.
"Is there a cure?" my mom asked while holding my hand tighter.
I remember that moment; my mom was a woman with hair as white as snow, silver eyes, and beautiful features. She looked worriedly at the doctor.
"There's no cure, but there are some advancements in..." The doctor started discussing complicated matters, and I remember losing interest and diving into my world.
That day they bought me a lot of ice cream; that I remember.
Arriving home, my mother started crying, and my father comforted her. I also held her hand, and she hugged me. At that moment, I wasn't sure why she was crying; I would have liked to tell her that not seeing colors didn't bother me.
From my perspective, my condition didn't mean much because having never experienced colors, I didn't feel their loss.
===
Allen opened his eyes and found himself in the middle of a rural town in Japan. He began walking while observing the cheerful people all around.
Allen felt an immense amount of regret but decided to kill his emotions.
He moved through the crowd and reached a blacksmith's shop. Inside, he was greeted by a kind old man who welcomed him while showcasing all his products.
With a dark look, Allen took one of the katanas, a beautiful katana with a red sheath.
Allen unsheathed the sword.
"You have a good eye; that's... Agh?" The old man stopped speaking as he looked in horror at Allen's outstretched hand holding the katana. The old man followed the blade's edge, terrified as it cut through his neck. "W-why?" he asked in disbelief.
Allen's gaze wasn't any better than the old man's. There was despair as he felt his hand severing the old man's neck, disgust and revulsion as the metal blade became lodged in the cervical.
"..." Allen responded, no, he couldn't respond because it wasn't his body.
The deal, the cruel deal, the unpleasant, inhumane, and repulsive deal that Allen made with Sukuna was that he must experience, firsthand, all the deaths Sukuna had caused.
Allen couldn't even close his eyes as he finished cutting the old man's neck, and his head rolled away in disbelief and agony. Sukuna could have decapitated him instantly, but he wanted to take his time.
Drops of blood fell down Allen's face...
"How does it feel?" Sukuna's voice echoed in his mind. "How does it feel to kill without reason? How does the sensation of cutting through blood feel? HAHAHAHA, tell me, Allen... can you feel the lingering heat?! IT'S INTOXICATING!!"
"Shut up!!" Allen gave Sukuna a firm look.
"..." Sukuna fell silent. "Don't worry... this is just the beginning."
...
Allen (Sukuna) ran out of the shop, grabbed a woman by the head, and twisted her neck as people began to scream.
"No!"
Allen seized a terrified man and with inhuman strength, ripped him in half; blood and guts flew everywhere. Allen felt like vomiting, but he was incapable; he was merely a spectator, but he could feel, smell, and hear everything.
A group of samurais arrived and surrounded him. Allen vanished and buried his fist in one man, then ripped out his heart and crushed it in front of him.
The warriors screamed while Allen (Sukuna) sadistically laughed, grabbed one of the samurais, and struck the ground so hard that the man exploded, bits of flesh and pulverized bones scattered everywhere.
A man attempted to strike him, but Allen grabbed the katana, broke it, and sliced his stomach; the samurai looked in despair as his organs fell to the ground.
The massacre had just begun, and Allen could only see the blood and flesh, and hear the agonizing screams of people being slaughtered in many ways. Sukuna showed no mercy; men, women, children, elders, animals, everything in his path turned into victims of brutal and bloody murder.
It almost seemed like some sort of personal challenge to kill cruelly, and meanwhile, Sukuna looked with delight at Allen's face of powerlessness.
===
*Allen's POV*
Since I can remember, there has always been a melody in my head... a slow, beautiful yet sad piano melody. At first, I was too young to know what that music was, even though it was bothersome to hear, I never despaired, thinking it was normal for everyone to hear music.
My mother didn't think so, and she took me to the doctor. I could see how tired her face looked, I'm sorry, I wished I were an easier child to raise...
"My son often sits playing alone for hours... hardly speaks even though he's three..."
"I'm afraid young Allen is autistic..." the doctor said sorrowfully, looking at my mother. I didn't know what that was at that time.
"No... why do only these things happen to him?!" My mother cried again, and I didn't like seeing her like that, so I hugged her without saying anything.
She returned the hug with love. "I'm sorry, Allen... Mom doesn't want you to see her like this; I promise everything will be okay..."
At that time, I didn't understand, but I've always been a sickly child and often went to the hospital for something, to which my special conditions were added.
I always felt the urge to apologize to my parents for causing them so much trouble... But I didn't get a chance before they died...
===
Days passed, perhaps months, as blood flowed like rivers beneath Allen, he didn't know how many people he had killed.
Allen seemed like a lifeless specter wandering in a tattered, blood-soaked yukata through ancient Japan.
Allen (Sukuna) killed civilians and sorcerers, killed curses, and killed everything alike. Allen experienced a series of brutal and profane murders.
But why was all this happening?
Finally, Allen approached a girl on the shore of a lake. She wore humble clothes and seemed to be picking up some branches.
Allen, who had been silent for some time, seemed to react upon seeing her because she resembled his late mother greatly. The girl had white hair, kind eyes, and a pleasant smile.
"Wait!
Sukuna only watched with a wide smile as Allen acted.
"Sukuna! Stop! This ends now!!"
"Oh? After so many people, after coming so close, you give up on a little girl; do you have a weakness for people with that hair color?"
"Ryomen Sukuna, I'll kill you!!!"
"HAHAHAHA! THAT'S THE DAMN ATTITUDE... fine, I'll cancel the memory synchronization after you finish with her.
"Damned, I'll kill you!!!"
"HAHAHAHA!"
Allen approached and received a confused look from the girl.
"Wait... please... stop..." Allen's words seemed to rip his throat.
===
*Allen's POV*
A year passed... after being diagnosed with autism, my mom prepared an activity for us every day, although, at that time, I loved being alone and wanted to refuse, I hated seeing her cry, so I complied with her requests.
"Allen, let's go play in the yard."
I didn't like going to the yard... but I went with her.
"Allen, look, it's a balloon."
I didn't like balloons... but I took care of it for a week until it popped.
"Allen, let's go for a walk."
I didn't like walking outside... but I held her hand and walked with her for hours. I liked spending time with her... more than I believed... the wall between the world and me slowly started to disappear.
...
One day I woke up to the sound of a piano. It wasn't the sad melody that repeated in my head; it was a beautiful, cheerful melody.
I rushed downstairs.
And then I saw her...
The sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the room. My mother swayed back and forth with a dazzling smile while her fingers played the cheerful melody.
The morning breeze came in through the window, moving her hair. She wore a yellow dress that matched the sunlight.
At that moment, I was mesmerized. I hadn't known beauty until that moment, and without realizing it, I could see the first color...
Tears streamed from my eyes; my mother looked at me with a smile and gestured for me to come closer. I always thought my mom's eyes were completely silver, but it wasn't true; at that moment, I noticed they had a faint mix of violet.
As I approached her, instead of my usual tepid response, I jumped into her arms.
My mother was surprised...
"I think I can see color..." I said in a low voice.
My mother froze and immediately cried while hugging me. "Allen, Mom loves you, no matter how you are, but I'm so happy..."
===
Allen's hands were about to reach the girl's neck, but they stopped.
"What?" Sukuna's laughter halted.
Allen caressed the little girl's head and smiled at her. "Go home; it's dangerous to wander in the forest alone."
"... okay." The embarrassed girl nodded and ran away.
"You're disgusting... probably the most repulsive thing I've ever encountered... Allen Walker." Sukuna's face was ugly as if he had eaten garbage.
Allen smiled mockingly at Sukuna. "It's an flattery to be disgusting for you..."
Sukuna felt apprehensive towards Allen... something he had never felt before...