My heart froze, and in the same instant, it began to pound wildly, sending adrenaline and heat rushing through my veins. As if responding to my emotions, my "Enhancement" flared up even more, making my body so hot that steam began to rise from it. Normally, this would happen after about ten to fifteen minutes, but now... Now I felt that just from Sukuna's mere presence, my energy was reaching new heights.
Standing before me was Sukuna, the King of Curses, radiating a malevolent aura that permeated the space around him. During our first encounter, his aura hadn't been this strong. Could the difference of four fingers be that significant? I quickly pushed this thought to the back of my mind and focused on how this bastard had taken control of Yuji's body.
I tried to concentrate and analyze the situation. The fireball I had launched was supposed to block Jogo's path to Sukuna, and it had done its job perfectly. But if that was the case, how was Sukuna here? There had to be something else I didn't know. Maybe during the moment when Jogo and I were fighting, there was some exchange, something I hadn't noticed. There were those two girls from Geto's group who were supposed to feed a couple of fingers to Sukuna. However, that wouldn't have been enough; Yuji's resistance level was quite high. Could it be related to Sukuna himself? Maybe this time he had made a pact with Itadori? If so, I was back to square one, with nothing changed...
But that didn't matter now, because I could no longer afford to be distracted by these thoughts. In the next moment, I felt a wave of cold run down my spine. Four eyes, glowing with malice and contempt, bore into me. Sukuna, standing before me, seemed both familiar and alien. His presence filled the air with an oppressive sense of impending doom far greater than during our first meeting.
Sukuna's voice, low and filled with sadistic pleasure, snapped me out of my thoughts:
"How delightful it is to breathe air filled with smoke and ash again," his face lit up with a wild grin, and that "simple" grin was as terrifying as the presence of any special grade curse.
Knowing Sukuna, this wasn't just a greeting — it was a threat or a challenge. My "Flame Armor" flared up again, scorching the air around me. All my skills related to information perception, such as [Sense of Danger], [Heightened Senses], and [Spirituality], screamed that I needed to be extremely cautious.
And I was nowhere near "Satoru Gojo" enough to think that Sukuna was an opponent to be underestimated.
"Sukuna," Jogo suddenly spoke up, his voice trembling with fear and reverence, which was unusual to see in this arrogant and powerful curse. "We have gathered the fingers for you."
I shifted my gaze to Jogo. In his hands appeared a bundle, which in the next moment unwrapped, revealing ten of Sukuna's fingers, covered in ancient talismans. The sight was both repulsive and mesmerizing. The fingers, representing the very essence of Sukuna, seemed to pulse with dark energy as if they were alive.
These guys were truly willing to do anything to bring this bastard back. Looking at the trembling Jogo… It was more of an offering — an act of devotion and submission rather than a negotiation.
Sukuna slowly approached Jogo, his gaze, full of disdain and hidden threat, stopping on me for just a moment before he turned back to Jogo.
"Amusing, a cursed spirit wanting to resurrect the King of Curses," he drawled, tapping his finger on his "fingers." "Such loyalty deserves my contempt. In what world do you live, where you allow your enemy to become stronger than you?!"
At Sukuna's angry "growl," Jogo lowered his head even more, showing fear and submission. His body was tense, as if he was ready for any punishment that might follow his audacity. I saw him clenching his fists, his eyes downcast, with embarrassment and uncertainty written on his face.
How would I describe Jogo's current state? Hmm… Ah yes, exactly! As one king said with a disdainful smirk: "A cur!" That's what Jogo was now. The curse clearly hadn't expected such a reaction from the "King of Curses
." I think he even hoped for an alliance, considering how eagerly he rushed towards Sukuna after realizing the difference between us… Wishful thinking!
"I…" Jogo began, but Sukuna cut him off with a sharp gesture.
"Shut up," he ordered, his voice cold as steel. "Your pathetic attempts to please me only disgust me. Do you think you deserve my gratitude? You're mistaken."
Sukuna turned to me, his eyes burning with interest. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt the tension rising in the air.
"And you," he said, addressing me. "How have you been without me?"
"Just fine," I had already pulled myself together, recovering from Sukuna's sudden appearance, and replied calmly. "I'm not used to thinking much about those I've already defeated."
"Well, I can't believe I'm saying this, but…" Sukuna began, his voice dripping with sarcasm and mockery. In the next second, he grabbed a handful of fingers and tossed them into his mouth. Swallowing them instantly, he grinned widely, his eyes gleaming with a devilish fire. "This time, it will be different."
His words were full of challenge and mockery. The bastard knew that our paths would cross again, and now he was determined to finish what had been started. I could see his lips curl into a devilish grin.
I took a deep breath, my fists clenched, and the cursed energy began to fill the air around me.
"This time will be different?" I replied, raising my gaze to Sukuna. "Only losers say that."
Immediately after, I swiftly formed two fireballs. One larger one, which I directed beneath me, causing it to explode thunderously and violently upon contact with the ground, and a smaller one, which I launched towards Sukuna and Jogo. I activated "Fire Teleportation" and merged with the fireball.
This sudden shift in dynamics caught them off guard. Their reactions were swift, and both leaped to the sides away from the flying fireball. This was exactly what I needed. As the fireball struck the spot where Sukuna and Jogo had just stood, I emerged from it and instantly charged towards the latter. Sukuna quickly realized the trick in the situation and what I was aiming for, so he immediately rushed after me. However, it wasn't enough, because physically, even after reinforcing himself with cursed energy, the "King of Curses
" still lagged behind me. Therefore, I was the first to reach the one-eyed curse.
Wasting no time, my hand darted for the bundle with the remaining "Sukuna's Fingers," ripping it from Jogo's grasp. He tried to resist, but my speed and the surprise of the attack did the trick. Without stopping, I dashed away, creating distance between myself and my enemies, preparing for the next move.
However, it didn't follow. Instead, I heard Sukuna's deep laughter. His laugh was like the sound of rusty nails scraping against metal. He stepped forward, his eyes gleaming with malice and anticipation.
"That's how you should behave, do you understand, cursed spirit?" Sukuna said, then added, "However, the respect and fear this Sorcerer feels is no different from yours."
Jogo, who had been silently observing us, took a step forward. His gaze flickered between me and Sukuna, but there was no longer fear in his eyes. Of course, he still felt terror towards the "King of Curses," but now something had changed in him.
"My task was to ensure that you made a 'binding vow' with your vessel, which would forever give you complete control over his body," Jogo finally spoke, his voice full of determination. "However, under the current circumstances, with Sukehiro Yami alive, the vessel will never agree to it. So, I still have work to do."
Sukuna merely smirked in response to Jogo's words.
"You cursed spirits must be desperate to resort to this," he said, glancing around the area before his eyes settled on Jogo. "However, I am flattered by your little game here, and I quite enjoyed what you've set up. So, as my thanks for the fingers, how about I kill Sukehiro Yami and everyone else at Shibuya Station? Except for one guy, of course."
"Deal," Jogo replied curtly, then continued with a voice full of tension, "But allow me to assist you. Even if you don't need my help, I still have a score to settle with that Sorcerer."
Sukuna sneered disdainfully.
"Your help is unnecessary," Sukuna said coldly. "But if you want to settle your score, you can try. However, in that case, you'll have to fight against me as well."
Jogo was momentarily stunned by surprise but quickly understood what the "King of Curses" meant. Without saying a word, he straightened his back. His resolve was clear. He wasn't going to back down, despite Sukuna's threats. His stance indicated he was ready to fight.
There was no displeasure visible on Sukuna's face regarding this. On the contrary, something like interest and satisfaction flickered in his eyes.
"Don't like it when someone else steals the spotlight?" I taunted Sukuna.
"That's not the case," Sukuna shook his head. "After all, it's I who decided to quench your hunger, not the other way around."
"And that's exactly why you won't let anyone interfere in this battle because that would mean you're not enough on your own," I finally understood what this madman was thinking.
"You're damn right, Sukehiro," it was strange to hear my name from Sukuna's lips. "Now, let's see what you're capable of."