Ch'en had many moments where she had fought tooth and nail against a myriad of opponents. They ranged from the scummiest of criminals to the most vicious of people. Time and time again, she had made it through and grabbed upon victory at the precipice of defeat.
There had always been a vision, an opportunity which she could see with her own eyes that ensured victory. Even in the darkest of moments, the dragon lady knew that impossibility wasn't an excuse to fall back on.
If there was a will, then there was a way.
...Then why the hell did she feel so defeated?
Staring down the monster in front of her, Ch'en couldn't even begin to describe the terror it gave off. An inhuman yet human figure all the same, a towering beast which looked like it came from the most twisted side of Heaven.
Like an angel twisted and deformed, the wings placed upon its eyeless face spread outward. Its teeth continued to perpetually smile in scorn and sadistry, the halo perched and floating atop its head radiating divinity of pure might.
Was this the final Shikigami that Megumi had spoken about? Was this why he couldn't tame it? The ability to copy her own techniques, a crushing strength that blew back all the attacks that she sent towards it.
The monster had quite literally replicated one of Chi Xiao's techniques, and Ch'en was afraid it would do it to all the other ones.
If that were the case, then it would become invincible in all senses of the word, with nothing she could access that could stop it.
"Captain!"
A voice called out to her, one of the most recognizable things Ch'en could hear.
"Hoshi," Ch'en kept her gaze trained upon the Eight-Handled Sword Divergent Sila Divine General Mahoraga... it was strange, how the information had flooded her brain the moment she met sight with the creature.
If she hadn't been on the thin thread of life and death, then the dragon lady would have found that title to be painstakingly long... and cool as hell.
"Captain, what the hell is that?!" Hoshiguma noticed the blankness in Ch'en's tone when she arrived by her side. She also took note of Chi Xiao literally blaring with power, and the being that looked to be a damned deity standing in front of them. 'Ugh... what is this information flooding my head...?!'
"No fucking clue," Ch'en shivered when the pale beast shifted, pressing its feet forward, "it copied Chi Xiao's technique of all things! I-I've never seen anything like it!" She entered a combat stance, placing her blade in front of her and pointed down.
Sweat began building on the back of the dragon lady's neck, pupils shrinking as it stomped closer.
"What...?" Hoshiguma took the opportunity to stand in front of her, despite feeling like she would be crushed under the pressure of the primal giant. "No... forget it, captain, do you think we can beat it or not?!" Because at that very moment, the LGD Special Operator didn't think they could—despite all the confidence held in her captain.
"I don't—" just as Ch'en spoke, the being had already deformed the ground before it while leaping forward, blade brandishing down towards Hoshiguma "—Hoshi!"
Lifting her shield upwards, the impact nearly forced the Oni on her knees, in fact, her knees were practically bending under the force of the gigantic beast. "Ch'en, now!" She called out with a pained grunt.
The twitching of the wheel could be heard, like a wooden object scraping against something.
Taking the opportunity, Ch'en dashed to the side, rounding around the collapsing Hoshiguma to deal a blow to Mahoraga.
Once again, the crimson gash formed within the air in an attempt to sever off the Divine General from its mortal coil.
Yet no sort of mortal coil existed against such an attack, for it had already adapted.
Ch'en widened her eyes, a fear overtaking her when the blade had left a scratch on it. No, could it even be called a scratch? Did she just itch its damn skin?!
Mahoraga continued pressing down on Hoshiguma, the latter grunting out in pain, before its head twisted towards Ch'en. Reeling its right leg back, it kicked in an arc that tore apart the ground below it, slamming into Hoshiguma and sending her flying into Ch'en.
The shockwave sent dust blowing out in a circle, corroding the landscape in its dampening gray.
"Agh!" Hoshiguma could barely turn her shield because of the blade previously stressing her body to its limit, before barreling towards the open landscape to her right.
"Ghk!" Ch'en fared no better, feeling her friend crash into her and the air flowing onto her back.
Mahoraga stamped his foot on the ground after delivering the earth-shattering kick, before charging forth to chase after them.
Ch'en and Hoshiguma—despite their aching bones and muscles—separated from each other and landed on the ground. Despite their shoes protecting against the air friction, the heat could be felt on their feet.
Mahoraga reached them within a blink of an eye, reaching its blade outwards to the right to strike in a wide arc towards Hoshiguma first. It had already adapted to the dragon lady, there was no need to focus on her.
Hoshiguma rounded her shield up for another block, while Ch'en decided to make distance and circle to Mahoraga's back instead of the side this time. This all occurred while she resheathed her blade.
KLNK
The wheel turned, and its blade fell.
Crashing against Hoshiguma's shield, the Oni lady widened her eyes once more, feeling the impenetrable bastion being marred by the blade. What she believed to be one of the finest crafted shields in all of Terra had been marked with a deep slash.
"CHI XIAO - UNSHEATHE!"
The same billowing light emitted forth, striking Mahoraga by the side, leaving a pulverizing light echoing all across the scenery.
KLNK
Another turn, and the technique had truly been rendered utterly useless.
Ch'en watched Hoshiguma fall to her knees, the ground shattering into spider web-like cracks. The muscles and skin around the latter's arms started to form small tears, blood leaking out of them while she gritted her teeth.
Mahoraga pulled back his blade, a prismatic golden aura burning and encompassing it.
SWORD OF EXTERMINATION - UNSHEATHE
Ch'en knew at that very moment that there was no way in hell she could use Shadowless or Cloudsplitter against the monster, lest she doomed all of Lungmen against its might.
Just as the attack was about to be released, a white blur flew past Ch'en's and Hoshiguma's stunned form, a white flame trailing along with it.
The streak of light collided against the blade, the white eminence hampering the growth of the blade in an instant. However, the force of the blow still sent a fissure to form across Lungmen's street, sending buildings falling beneath the action.
Ch'en ran back, along with an injured and shaking Hoshiguma. The dragon lady felt her eyes gaze upon the figure that had arrived, a white haired Lupo smiling—albeit nervously—against the Divine General.
Mahoraga glanced at the flaming blade that had made contact with the Sword of Extermination, before it twisted its head to the side and grinned.
KLNK
A crank of the wheel, the perfect rotation that encompassed all of existence.
Lappland dodged to the side, letting the momentum of Mahoraga's blow slam into the ground, making its body bend downwards. She spun in a circle, her smile widening even further as the flame touched blade of hers made contact with Mahoraga's skin—
—Only to find that it did nothing, the only thing being scraped was her sword. Sparks was sent out when it crashed against the Divine General's body, before Lappland felt realization strike her.
It was useless, her Arts had somehow not worked against the monster. She remembered how the summons of Fushiguro Megumi had only dispersed when they had a physical nature of energy around them, and this terrifying beast didn't hold such a thing...
...But now? It was as if it had changed the nature of its whole existence itself!
"Damn!" Lappland felt fear, her body and spirit themselves admonishing her for even deciding to attack the beast, 'what have you done, Megumi?!' Even the white haired Lupo knew that this sort of thing would be unbeatable if it could seemingly counter every single ability!
The blade jabbed forward, making Lappland widen her eyes and move her head to the side, feeling it graze past her cheek. Yet that singular graze was able to leave blood spurting from it, making the woman growl out.
Another blur, one adorning pink hair and a black dress came around Mahoraga's back, along with black shadows jumping down from the sky.
The Shadow Guards and Lin Yuhsia have come for reinforcements, to stop the beast that had been rampaging across the grounds of Lungmen.
The mouse lady felt an intrinsic fear against the monster, all thoughts nearly leaving her body the moment she had first laid eyes upon it. Yet gathering her wits together, she was able to find mysterious black cloaked men who looked like they had been roughed up.
Lin instantly knew who they were, having received a lecture from her father that one time she inquired barely seeing a shadow that had gazed upon her.
Yet that didn't matter now, nor did the white haired Lupo that had been on her and the LGD's radar, they all had a common enemy they needed to defeat.
Reeling her hands back in a flowing motion, Lin called forth all the shattered glass that laid on the ground, left there from the vast amounts of destroyed buildings around her.
The Shadow Guards were shifted and wasted no energy, black blades shining from under their cloaks as two of them struck at Mahoraga's head, while one went for its chest.
Mahoraga let Lappland back away from it, shielding its head with the Sword of Extermination and its left hand around its body.
Slashes were left on its body, yet while it had adapted to Chi Xiao's technique, it had only slightly adapted to sword slashes in general. But that singular side-adaptation was enough for it to counterstrike—despite the shards of glass barely tearing at its body.
There was a good way to counter being jumped, and the wheel had answered.
KLNK
Heaving a copious amount of air into its chest, its chest stretched upwards in an unnatural way, before it let out a roar. The air built up in its body contributed to the force of its strike, sending the ground of Shadow Guards back, along with Lin being forced to form a glass barrier that almost immediately shattered
The Shadow Guards were able to regain their footing with slight difficulty, while the pink haired woman was still flying through the air with her Arts working to repair the large cracks on her barrier.
The three groups circled around Mahoraga with blinding speeds, blades ready to strike at any moment. Despite being as silent as ever, they all held a synergy together—one that didn't need words to convey.
Mahoraga crossed the Sword of Extermination across its shoulders again, watching the blue haired lady from before rush in and move along with the Shadow Guards, a slightly confused expression plastered upon her face.
The Divine General felt its blade emit with a horrendous glow once more, twisting its mouth upwards in a grin. Good, now it could wipe them all away with its next blow...
SWORD OF EXTERMINATION - UNSHEATHE
***
The Shadow Guards burst out of the rubble, feeling slightly disoriented from having been dealt a blow from the Eight-Handled monster, and having a skyscraper fall on their bodies. However, they immediately recovered and looked around, feeling intense reverberations happening all across the street, a red light shining across.
The three of them then felt their sights land on a singular black haired man laying in the rubble, realizing the implications of what he had summoned. The force the beast exerted was absolutely nothing to scoff at, and the pulverized building in its wake was a testament to it.
If it was summoned by this man, then if they slew him, it should be unsummoned—
"I wouldn't do that if I were you."
They turned their heads, recognizing the voice to be of somebody they had researched... somebody very important.
"...Arturia Giallo," one of the Shadow Guards stepped forward, obstructing the Sankta's path with Fushiguro Megumi. "You should not be here."
"Oh? And what of it?" The woman smiled towards the Shadow Guard, "you do know the implications of striking me, do you not?"
"A political disaster. Yet for the sake of Lungmen, a political disaster is what we will take if it means protecting this city from ruin," the Shadow Guard declared, pointing its blade towards the unconscious Megumi.
"Please," Arturia sarcastically called out towards them, unapologetic with her tone. "Would you listen to me if I said I know a way to deal with this mess, and not cause a political disaster? After all, I gave that boy a letter ordained by Werner von Hochberg himself."
The Shadow Guards kept their blade pointed towards Megumi, before lowering her neck, as if gazing more perceptibly towards Arturia. "You possess Arts that tamper with emotions, and a theorized capability of reading emotions. Tell me," their tone was far more stern, "can you make this boy recall that summon."
"Of course," Arturia wasn't lying in the slightest, she truly believed she could make him recall the beast... or even defeat it. She just needed him at his absolute best. "No political disaster for Lungmen, and no destruction of Lungmen, my words hold the utmost confidence in this."
Silent deliberation, the three Shadow Guards kept their hands steady upon the hilt of their blade. Since the black haired man possessed a letter from Werner von Hochberg, killing him would invoke the ire of Arturia Giallo, the giver of the letter, and the man who made the letter. Overall, that was the political disaster that would occur.
If the woman spoke as surely as she was with making Fushiguro Megumi recall the divine monster, then there was a good chance Lungmen would merely suffer a 'slight' destruction of property.
"If the beast is not dealt within 5 minutes, the man dies," the Shadow Guard turned back to Arturia from the other group. "Are my words clear?"
"Hm," Arturia nodded with the ever-present smile on her face. "Of course, now don't you have a little LGD star to save?" The woman poked at them with equal smugness towards their seriousness.
No words were given back to her, before they turned into black blurs that exited the scene.
"A wise decision," Arturia followed their path for a second, before turning back to Megumi. "Now, let's see... hopefully my mind isn't consumed by yours." Taking steps forward, she made it to the unconscious and bleeding man.
"The forefront of the mind... your current spirit resides there." Closing her eyes and kneeling beside him, Arturia's focus reached a new height.
***
If there was one thing Megumi had realized when it came to just existing, it was that suffering was present in all walks of life. Small parts, large parts, there was always a sense of dissatisfaction building up in his chest in regards to everything that occurred.
Maybe he had become more aware of this when he felt lacking in comparison to Yuji's growth, maybe it was when he discovered just how below the totem pole he was during the Shibuya incident. It wasn't because the King of Curses surpassed him by leaps and bounds, no, it was the fact that there existed unknown people who still surpassed him.
Like that mysterious black haired man, with his sunken and dead eyes. Ones that held no life amongst them—like those of a corpse. In fact, Megumi was sure the man was actually a corpse, it was just that there was something keeping his mortality tethered to the world.
It was only not long after did he discover some sort of vessel was being used to project a long since passed away soul.
Practically a state of post mortality.
Growth of a Sorcerer, a curve which wasn't easy upon anybody. Unless—of course—you were Gojo Satoru. An exception among exceptions, there practically existed no curve for him to reach his highest peak, and that was what Megumi believed.
Compared to that man, Megumi was sure of himself, that he was simply ordinary.
Who was the one that needed to pull off desperate Binding Vows to save their lives? Who was the one that needed BInding Vows to keep their Cursed Technique even a smidgen close to the Six Eyes and Limitless?
Over and over again, training and training, Fushiguro Megumi begged his body to become stronger. Physical training, refinement training, capacity training; all done within the span of one week, parsed between sessions of 12 hours, and yet he was still lacking.
Suffering, over and over again. That was the only constant he felt ever since arriving into this world — ever since he breathed back on Earth. Unfortunately for others around him, Megumi was also certain they felt the same pressure as he did.
Yuji... that was the first person that came into his mind. Nothing needed to be said about him, the King of Curses and Shibuya Incident were the only two words needed to understand.
Megumi could recognize it wasn't just himself, but many other people who lived a life of constant suffering. It didn't matter how large or small, that was simply the law of the universe. Almost as if it were some Cosmic Law dictated by a higher power.
But it didn't matter much to Megumi whether they really existed or not, all that mattered was that suffering was a constant, just as much as change was.
Changing his mentality, changing his level of strength... All that he did was reverberate some sort of change throughout his life. In fact, every single inch of his life held some sort of change, from being taken into the care of Gojo Satoru to being overtaken by Ryomen Sukuna.
Just as much as change was afflicting him, so did the entourage of suffering.
So where was he now? Why was he upon the endless abyss that was his soul once more?
Curled into a fetal position, Megumi couldn't see where the path of his soul started nor where it ended. Like an infinite and boundless chasm, there was nothing within that was notable. In fact, he wasn't sure himself why his body remained stationary in the air, as if there was even an object to hold him up.
Familiar, too familiar... this place made him wretch his stomach and want to claw out his throat.
Just as he hid from Ryomen Sukuna, he was hiding from Mahoraga. The two that worked in tandem to slaughter his sister, to slaughter his mentor.
Truly, when it came to them, he was nothing but a coward.
The sound of footsteps came about, making Megumi fall out of his thoughts.
"This is quite a strange sight," a humming voice cut off all silence within, "I would have never expected myself to be paved a path. With how endless this domain ought to be."
Megumi turned upwards, his soulless eyes reflecting no light, especially not within this abyss. No words were exchanged back, the black haired man wasn't in the mood to do anything.
"I'm sure you recognize me, despite the state of your mind," the woman bore the same black wings and black crown-like halo above her head, "but shall I make my introductions once more?" Sankta, that was the race of the woman, "my name is Arturia Giallo, I'm pleased to meet you." Two hands moved to the hems of her black skirt, slightly lifting them up while she bowed.
Arturia Giallo—of course, Megumi remembered that name very vividly. Why was she even telling him this?
"It was a journey to find my way here, I must say." Arturia moved away from her formal position to assume her usual stance. "To find myself lost upon those blackades of your mind, a terrifying notion. It reminds me so much of... death."
Megumi kept silent.
"But as I said before, a path had paved its way for me. For how it came to be, I do not know for myself, perhaps you could recognize this occurrence? Or was it of your own cause? Ah—you look quite perplexed too," Arturia continued on, adorning a thoughtful look. "Never have I roamed a landscape so vast and bare like this... like an infinite journey across the boundless dark."
How much more was she going to yap on for?
"Pardon me, but I cannot seem to tell whether or not my voice echoes throughout this confined space, or if it's merely my own ears which hears my notes." The Sankta turned her gaze once more unto Fushiguro Megumi. "I must say, if that is the case, it's quite embarrassing to be speaking only to myself, no?"
"...I can hear you," Megumi spoke out to her. He didn't know how the woman invaded his mind, but it was most likely related to her abilities. Even if the specifics were lost to him, somebody who can invoke implicit desires and intrusive thoughts possessing capabilities such as this; was not a surprise in the slightest.
"How lovely," Arturia clapped her hands together with a smile, "and here I thought you'd be sick of hearing my words."
"I am," Megumi sat upwards into a sloppy sitting position. His knee bent with his right arm placed over it, "what do you want now...?"
"It should be clear to you. In fact, I'm sure it has already crossed your thoughts many times already," Arturia moved her hands and pointed it towards him. "A great beast ravaging the land of Lungmen, destroying its buildings and crushing even its most refined protectors. Does that ring a bell?"
"Yes, it does," Megumi dryly replied. "Who else's fault was it other than mine?"
"Curious," Arturia pointed out, "is this what you wish to do?"
"Shouldn't you know that yourself?" Megumi shot back, "you're the memory reader."
"Although my abilities do pertain to such things," Arturia glanced around the endless abyss once more, "your mind is quite the hazard to roam amongst. So much so I cannot get a clear view of your life—only of the vaguest of figures." In fact, if she stood amongst his mind for too long, the Sankta was sure she'd be swallowed whole.
"...Thanks for the compliment," Megumi didn't know what to do, nor what to say. This was most likely his biggest screw up ever since he failed to suicide against Ryomen Sukuna.
"So? What shall be your next course of action?" The woman tilted her head, "will you fight gallantly against the divine beast? Purge it as you did those parasitic wolves from before?" Curiosity laced her words, as if she were an expectant child.
"Can I do anything?" Megumi blankly asked, "I'm not Ryomen Sukuna, or a Gojo Satoru," those two monsters among monsters could obliterate Mahoraga in a singular attack. Whether it be the towering pillar of flames that was like a nuclear bomb, or a purple of hollow light—which could vaporize a city despite being so compressed—Fushiguro Megumi couldn't compare.
In fact, all he had been was a faux copy of the two in the past few days. There was nothing Megumi could truly imagine that could surpass them, especially not within his decrepit state.
No Black Flash.
No Cursed Energy.
Two stab wounds also went through his entire body.
There were no options for him.
The mask was off.
"That—" Arturia raised an index finger to her lips "—is not for me to decide." She was curious about who this Gojo Satoru or Ryomen Sukuna was, but she'd keep it to herself for another time.
...Perhaps he should de-summon it with the Inverted Spear of Heaven.
That's if he isn't decapitated in the process.
"You could have ran away, what are you doing here?" Megumi turned towards her one more time, remarking on her current stay in Lungmen. "There's nothing here other than danger," he said.
"My, I didn't know you'd care for such things," Arturia placed a hand over her mouth.
"Answer me." Megumi frowned, although he didn't like being in the presence of a woman who had her screws loose, it was the only person he could talk to right now.
"Then let me inquire you a question of my own." Arturia snapped her finger, "why did you linger in Lungmen to rid it of its problems, despite having ample opportunity to leave the city behind?"
"...It was a mistake," Megumi deflected, "all it did was cause me more problems down the long run." Especially with whoever those damned black cloaked people were.
"There's more to it than that," Arturia smiled, "I can see it in your eyes."
Megumi paused while staring into her eyes. They continued to radiate a smugness to them, something he found irritable. "...If you're so curious about the reason, it's because Ch'en and the rest of them deserve something."
Lin, despite being part of the underworld, ruled more benevolently than he could consider most people. A crime ridden section of a city was an inevitability to happen, and Megumi recognized that.
Ch'en, although not being the brightest of people in the emotional sense, at least held a strong sense for justice.
"So you decided to give them a helping hand?" Arturia tilted her head. "In turn for their generosity...? You take it upon yourself to rid the plague latching onto Lungmen."
The black haired man elaborated his train of thought, "despicable people with no brains and emotional capacity, acting like they're worth something" —those Blood Hound bastards— "they disgust me."
"Hm~, indeed," Arturia nodded to herself, "your emotions betray nothing. Yet at the same time, your current actions..." she drew out her voice.
"Will lead to them dying," Megumi completed it for her. "Spur of the moment, there was nothing else I could have done against those raincoats."
"Is there truly nothing else you can do against that beast?" Arturia pondered, "I wouldn't have expected that from you."
Megumi broke his gaze off, staring at the ground.
"The story of a great hero slaying the dragon and saving the day... but of course, such a tale is merely one of fiction." Arturia shook her head, "you don't believe in such things either, now do you?"
He didn't.
If such a story existed, then Tsumiki would have been alive, if such a story existed, then Ryomen Sukuna would have been defeated by Gojo Satoru. All incidents wouldn't have happened, all problems would have been solved...
...But only in a perfect world.
"Yet failure and suffering is not all existence pertains to," Arturia mused to herself, "let me ask of you again, do you truly believe there is nothing you can do?"
Despite his insanity and confidence against Tiger Funeral, and cleverness against Lappland, those two didn't compare to Mahoraga in the first place. If anything, it was like comparing an ant hill to a mountain piercing through the clouds.
"The lives of many, be it of the virtuous or sinful, will fall like dominoes against its uncontrolled blade," Arturia traced the air with her finger. "No chorus amongst the cries of the dead and no melody amongst souls being snuffed."
They were going to die, hundreds, perhaps thousands of people. If he didn't do anything, then what would all of this be other than his fault? He felt as if he owed something to the LGD girls and Lin, their understanding being the reason he was even able to stay in Lungmen.
But a city like this was never fit for somebody like him, and Megumi was able to recognize this in the meeting with Wei Yenwu.
His fault, once again, all of this destruction was his fault.
"Will you bring the fictitious into reality, just as you have before, Fushiguro Megumi?" Arturia halted her finger in the air, "the melody of your soul, it rings—resounds—to my words."
Megumi's fingers clenched, reviewing his options once more.
Lack of Cursed Energy, burnt-out Cursed Techni—wait—no, his Cursed Technique has already gone past its burn-out stage. If that's the case, then there was still an option ready for him.
The path of a Sorcerer, as he had deliberated before and during his fight with Lappland was one fraught with not only a single path, but many.
Cheating, stealing, and all sorts of acts that would be looked down upon; were all readily available. It was upon himself to find out what they were, and if he couldn't find any—to carve a way through.
That notion pervaded his thoughts once more.
"...Those brilliant lights, they're gleaming from your eyes once more," Arturia leaned forward to take a look at Megumi, "beautiful."
Binding Vows... what Binding Vows could he do? What risks could he take? What advancements could he look forward to?
Restoration, enhancement, output... they were all becoming clear to him, like the stars in the skies shining once more. Unimpeded by any clouds or fog, Megumi found his brain clearing up to make way for inspiration.
The core of Sorcery, mentality and inspiration. A creativity that bleeds through the very fabric of its conceptual being, it was at the very tips of his fingers.
Megumi felt his muscles twitching, his legs following the signals his brain was sending once more. There was no need to delve any further in the black waters of his soul, there was no need to cower in this mental landscape anymore.
The spark of fire had been ignited, and so had his soul.
"Arturia." Megumi stood up, his clothes fluttering along with the movement, "I have one request for you."
The Sankta in question stared into his eyes once more, seeing that the radiance born from deep within hasn't faded in the slightest. In fact, they were burning brighter than ever before, "yes? What shall you wish from me?" Arturia smiled.
"Your music." Megumi opened his mouth, "play it."
An affirmed declaration to bring out his utmost desire.
Arturia's eyes gleamed in tandem with the requestor, "then upon my name, Arturia Giallo." She placed a hand over her chest, while reaching her left hand backwards and bowing with eyes closed, "I shall dedicate this performance to you, Fushiguro Megumi."
That very moment, two souls shone the brightest in the gorge of darkness.
***
His eyes shot open, dried blood from his forehead leaving a red line streaking across his right eye. It remained closed, but Megumi didn't care for such things, and sat upwards. Rubble fell off from his body, the two holes in his body having been sealed off by Cursed Energy on instinct, something Gojo Satoru had drilled into him.
"Are you awake, sleeping beauty?" Arturia chirped out from the side, an amused voice calling out. "Though, wounded beauty would be more appropriate for your state."
Was that some sort of reference he didn't understand? "Forget... it," his breaths were labored, but he was able to cycle Reverse Cursed Technique throughout his body. During the time the black haired man had been unconscious, his burnt-out Cursed Technique had recovered, and some wells of his Cursed Energy had too.
Being in a state where your body was 'asleep' helped with recovering Cursed Energy the most—as learnt from Gojo Satoru, once again.
Coughing into his fist to get rid of the excess blood clogging up his throat, Megumi steeled his eyes, "I wasn't dreaming when you were in my mind, right?"
"Of course not," Arturia stood up from her kneeling position, picking up her case with her. "I have a performance dedicated to you, and I shall heed it to the end."
"Good," Megumi turned his sights to the echoes of battle occurring in the distance.
"I must say, that final summon of yours is a beautiful monstrosity—yet it still lacks something... should I say direction?" Arturia took the moment to give her comment about the beast. "It's divine in its nature, possessing some sort of teaching which pertains to existence itself... but without any guidance—"
"Enough with your philosophical views," Megumi groaned out, closing his eyes to form a Binding Vow.
***
Under this Binding Vow
Condition: Fushiguro Megumi's Cursed Energy reserves will fill to the brim and be doubled in amount for the next 10 hours.
Result: Fushiguro Megumi's Cursed Energy reserves will be reduced by half for the next upcoming 20 days.
***
Doubling one's Cursed Energy reserves for an hour would add a day as collateral for it being reduced—by also refilling his body with Cursed Energy—the length had been doubled. Doing the math, Megumi already knew he would have to spend 20 days with his reserves cut in half.
However, his output remained the same. The black haired man didn't increase his output because that would simply make his reserves drain faster. Besides, his output wasn't needed with the next course of action Megumi was willing to undertake.
His Cursed Energy flared once the Binding Vow had fully set in, Reverse Cursed Technique instantly working in high gear to seal his wounds with precise fillings. Megumi felt his body spike with power never before seen, before gripping his hands and steeling his nerves.
"Strange," Arturia called out, "what have you done this time?" The woman felt all of his strength returning, despite no visible outside support coming to him. The man was already an instrument emanating a mysterious tune, yet it seemed like it was ever-shifting with how many surprises he pulled off.
"Let's go," Megumi wiped his wrist across his mouth, dragging off the dry blood, "there is only one chance for this to work."
"As you will," Arturia shook her head—she should have expected him to not grant her an answer. "Let us bring light and passion amongst this crowd then, shall we?"
Life and determination brimmed within Megumi's two dark-blue orbs, before making his advance towards the scene of destruction.
There was one chance, one move, one Binding Vow, and one Domain Expansion ready.
***
Ch'en felt her body aching, losing its vitality that had been at its peak when she first arrived here. One fueled with rage against Megumi's stupid actions and abrupt departure. Now? She could only stare at the monstrous beast that stood over the mysterious black cloaked soldiers(?) that had come to assist her.
She didn't know who they were, and she could only hazard a guess. But right now, even those people who possessed unparalleled skill were littered with injuries, and holding a bent posture that signaled their tiredness.
Turning her gaze, she watched as Lin stood in front of Lappland and Hoshiguma, the mouse lady holding up her glass barrier to protect the latter two. Speaking of the latter two, Hoshiguma had attempted to distract Mahoraga once more, but found herself being blasted away and with her left arm dislocated.
Lappland? She had to bear the burden of a copied Chi Xiao - Unsheathe, her blade only working to hamper the attack instead of outright canceling it. The look upon her face would've been gold to look at, but Ch'en couldn't laugh in a situation such as this.
The Divine General, it seemed as if his ability was related to his wheel. Which was why the Shadow Guards have been targeting it for a lengthy while, but their blades did nothing against it. Seeing how it twitches every time an attack was making contact to its body or its blade—and how it turned once exposed long enough—there was a theory formed in everybody that it was the key to defeating it.
Guess fucking not! Considering how it seemed to be the most indestructible part of its damn body!
Over and over again, it seemed to distort in aura and presence, and whoosh! A new method to counter everything being thrown at it. From tactics of attempting to overwhelm it, from Lappland's Arts canceling technique, to Lin's barrier, to Hoshiguma's shield, and to her own damned technique!
She gripped her blade tighter, wondering if she should try her hand at Chi Xiao's ultimate technique. Despite the beast having already adapted to Chi Xiao entirely, the nature of Cloudsplitter was combining all the nature of Chi Xiao into one, which could hold some merit in defeating it...
...But even if it failed, there was still hope of defeating it somehow...
"...Wha—!" Ch'en widened her eyes, feeling an enormous spike of malicious energy, one that seemed to curse the world itself.
It was recognizable, a dastardly and violent whirlpool firing off into the sky, showing off the depravity and joy of standing amongst horizons of dead bodies.
"Megumi...!' The dragon lady turned her head back, before turning in front once more, he wasn't behind her. No, the aura was so dense that it felt like he was everywhere, and her senses and instincts did not help with finding where he was.
Strangely, the sound of music also permeated the air, before Ch'en found out where he really was. Standing atop the rubble behind Mahoraga, Megumi's corrupted black haori billowed in the wind, his eyes deadset towards the beast. There was a different feeling coming from it, a burning sensation that seemed to envelop the world.
It wasn't that of a corpse, nor did it compare to the viciousness of his bloodied presence. Instead, it was one filled with unbridled will and confidence.
The Divine General shifted, the Shadow Guards also turning to make sense of what was practically a volcano spewing energy all across. Mahoraga instantly recognized who it was, being Megumi's direct Shikigami.
However, its soul and being did not recognize the man as its master. There was no need for it to follow the commands and will of a being far weaker than itself—one of which it could stomp on like an ant.
Its teeth bore against the black haired man in disappointment, before brandishing its blade, the artifact gleaming under the pale moonlight of Terra. It would carve their corpse, until someday, that technique would be passed upon somebody far more worthy to wield it.
"All of you, back off," Megumi called out, feeling an ashen and golden aura permeating around his body in a splendorous display of notes.
Arturia had stood not far behind him, entranced in performing her music, a mass of sounds forming together in an orderly manner. All came from her actions, dancing the bow across her cello's string, her head swaying along with the music.
The thunderous voice of Megumi combined together with her music to produce an echoing permanence that burned a deep impression in everybody, as they watched his energy morph into something—unnatural, something celestial in its formation.
As if a Supreme Technique was about to be unleashed upon Terra's crust.
Megumi watched Mahoraga bear its teeth against him, the mass of people attempting to subjugate it fleeing at his coalescing Cursed Energy. His hands had come together to clasp their fingers together in front of his body, forming Yakushi Nyorai's hand symbol.
"The Ten Shadows Cursed Technique controls ten total Shikigamis, all possessing their own abilities, along with the dominion over shadows..."
The great Healing Buddha, a revered Tathagata that was the originator of this technique, passed down amongst bloodlines—now dwindling to the modern age. However, despite its dilution, the Ten Shadows shall once more reach its newest peak in possession of the technique's next greatest successor!
"DOMAIN EXPANSION..."
There was one thing upon Megumi's mind, and that was to eviscerate the Eight-Handled Sword Divergent Sila Divine General Mahoraga. The beast that led to the defeat of Gojo Satoru, the beast that severed the life of his sister.
A burning rage came from his eyes, the music of Arturia enhancing his being, the Binding Vow set on course to pay back its due, and his explanation of the technique bolstering its effectiveness!
"...CHIMERA SHADOW GARDEN!"
Envision it!
Form it!
Complete it!
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The abyssal world formed around him was his to morph, one heeding only in credence to himself! The shadows were the very monomers of his soul, and so will he be formed as the polymer.
The music of Arturia Giallo continued to reverberate into his ears, bringing his mind to its absolute peak, and its absolute desires!
There was soon nothing to stop him from executing his next actions.
Mahorga stood in the center of splashing puddles of black shadows, its wheel slightly twitching in response to its feet being pulled down from the hounding animals grasping at the Divine General's legs.
From behind Fushiguro Megumi, a gigantic ivory spine formed with veins sprouting across, before the ribcage murkily came together in an accumulation of black water. Right after, it extended upwards, arm bones sprouting out from it each side of the body, the spine stretching out to form a spinal cord.
The skull formed along with its arms, and soon the hands. There were three arms on each side of its body, totalling six. At the sides of the colossal skeleton's skull sprouted two extra skulls merging to the location.
The undisputed eleventh Shikigami of the Ten Shadows technique had been formed!
Gashadokuro, the Rattling Skeleton!
True to its name, the massive creature's arms stretched outwards, its hands forming multiple hand signs in tandem with its mouth clacking together, constantly forming chants with the sounds it made.
Hand signs, and chants, the apparition formed within this Domain Expansion did the work for Fushiguro Megumi in enhancing his Cursed Technique, along with the innate increase in power he already gained from being in his Domain!
Gashadokuro was first formed by Takiyasha Hime, the daughter of Taira no Masakado.
Taira no Masakado was the beginning of the blood lineage of the Ten Shadows, his daughter one of the few ever recorded to ever be born with the Cursed Technique.
Yes, Taira no Masakado, one of the Three Great Vengeful Spirits of Japan.
His daughter possessed a Domain Expansion which summoned an enormous skeleton which could strike at her enemies, proving as another means of combat utility.
However, Fushiguro Megumi had to scoff at her usage of it! His Gashadokuro was far superior in every way possible, possessing more limbs and heads than the woman could have possibly manifested.
Instead of using it for mindless striking power, he decided to get creative, instead letting the skeleton bolster his Shikigamis.
"Slaughter him!" Megumi called out to his Shikigamis, watching as Mahoraga's wheel spun, attempting to adapt to the creatures of his Domain pulling at its leg. If the black haired man was right in his assumption, the beast would adapt to his Domain and eventually shatter it.
With his words, a swarm of Shikigami erupted forward, the sure-hit effect taking into effect as their abilities started to form on Mahoraga himself.
First came a barrage of the physical sort, ranging from Divine Dogs, to Piercing Ox, to Toads restricting Mahoraga's limbs, and then an obstruction of Rabbit Escapes.
Taking a glance behind him, Arturia continued to play her instrument, a greater fervor overtaking her form while being at the epicenter of his Domain Expansion. Megumi made sure to turn his sure-hit effect off for her, before turning to Mahoraga with intense eyes.
Mahoraga roared, feeling the enhanced mass of Shikigami slamming against him. Out of the clearings, clones of Megumi continued to batter upon its body, but it did nothing but simply annoy the God of Shikigami.
KLNK
SWORD OF EXTERMINATION - UNSHEATHE
A blast rang out, rupturing the black waters beneath, and its body stopped being pulled by the incessant beats clawing at its leg. Despite the slight damages it had sustained, the golden light flashing forward from the Sword of Extermination eviscerated the Shikigamis that had swarmed it.
Right after, it was splashed with some sort of divine water, encompassing its entire body and making it flow from the force exerted on its body. The wheel began turning again, catching sight of three Mizuchis firing off high torrential waters that ripped at its body.
"That's it! Yes!" Megumi grinned even wider, a grand laugh escaping his lips, "I've done it! I've formed it! The barrier needed to complete it!" His eyes showed a bout of maniacy, as he intimately understood the mechanics of his Domain.
It didn't matter how much force was dispersed from his Shikigami, the sure-hit effect made sure that all force was transferred to the bodies of his targets. Gashadokuro also had another feature separate from its chants and hand signs, its spinal cord and rib cage being able to form Totalities for the caster!
The master of the domain could summon multiple Shikigamis of his own, but Gashadokuro worked as the main circuit which could form multiple Totalities from the Shikigamis that Megumi sent out.
"And guess what?! And the damned skeleton isn't affected by my Binding Vow HAHAH~!" Megumi spread his arms out, feeling the euphoric sensation of the shadows bursting out from behind him.
His face distorted and stretched in glee while bathing in the fruits of his creation.
More Shikigamis came about, along with two more Nue: Totalities. The Totalities didn't take Cursed Energy to form as compared to the mass of Shikigamis, leaving the black haired man to go out as wildly as he wished to!
Mahoraga felt its body being ripped apart by a coursing strike of purple and blue lightning, formed from the combined efforts of two Nue: Totalities and three Mizuchis, all being enhanced by the latter's unnatural water.
KLNK
The wheel spun in high gear, attempting to find which one it should adapt to next after—
"DIVINE DOGS!"
"TIGER FUNERAL!"
"PIERCING OX!"
"ROUND DEER!"
Gashadokuro had already formed all the Totalities it could, and so it was up to Fushiguro Megumi to form one more, as his hands flashed through shadow puppets of all the Shikigami needed.
Divine Dog: Totality - Sun Goddess Amaterasu (Divine Dogs + Tiger Funeral + Piercing Ox + Round Deer)
A white werewolf with embers forming around its body shot out of the shadows, Megumi feeling his Cursed Energy reserves dwindling by the second. However, it was enough to complete his next course of action!
The mythology of Amaterasu did not depict the Goddess as a white wolf, however, inspiration could also come from modern day sources!
Megumi recalled seeing a depiction of the Goddess as a white wolf from some sort of video game advertisement, nodding and alluding to the fact that wolves were one of the most common animals associated with the goddess.
Divine in all senses of the word, as divine as Mizuchi in radiance as it stood in the abyss of his Domain Expansion.
Although it lacked the amount of Shikigamis creating Sea Dragon Mizuchi, the fact that it had Tiger Funeral, the second strongest Shikigami in the Ten Shadows arsenal in it, then it hardly paled in comparison to the Sea Dragon!
Shadow Extension: Sun Goddess Amaterasu
As supercharged dust began piling up in his Domain Expansion along with vaporized water from the coursing electricity, a Japanese styled traditional flame began to form around Megumi's body, as he spread his arms out.
Now began his next step, watching as the wheel of Mahoraga began to adapt to the water, after it had already adapted to the lightning.
KLNK
The lightning no longer damaged its body after undergoing multiple rotations, and now it was time for the water to no longer impede its movements. The beast growled out, blade emitting a vicious glow once more, battling against Megumi's divine flames.
SWORD OF EXTERMINATION - UNSHEATHE
The slash coursed through his domain once more, parting the massive amounts of water that was being evaporated in the air and barrelling towards Megumi.
The black haired man, body bathed in flames—did not heed the attack whatsoever. Instead, Two Nue: Totalities flew downwards, bearing the brunt of the attack and being split right in half, sending blood and orange feathers flying across.
The attack completely dissipated, leaving them to form into black viscous liquid which fell into the depths of the Domain Expansion once more.
Megumi grinned, watching as the efforts of Mizuchi continued to not affect Mahoraga, but it had built up an exponential amount of chemicals needed for his next course of action.
His arms still spread outwards, as he chanted.
"BREATH OF THE DRAGON..."
A violet flame surrounded Megumi, encompassing his body and calmly spreading outwards. Right after, it burst out at uncontrolled vectors—flaring around like a beast untamed.
"...SOLITARY STAR..."
The coalescing flames gathered together into a singular point around his hands, star-shaped flashes occurring. Black and white, the world alternated forth between those two monotone colors as Cursed Energy reached its malignant peak.
"...INCINERATOR..."
Violently, Megumi's hands clapped together in front of him. A grand reverberation echoed across, the crackling of flames accompanying the crescendoing sound.
"...OPEN!"
The hands graced by the divine flames opened, revealing the height of Jujutsu itself! In the form of a combination of science and Sorcery, two concepts going together to create an indestructible alloy.
An indestructible alloy of pure destruction, wrought and forged from the depths of Naraka itself.
Malleable and strong, the Sorcerer wielding such malevolent power stretched his right arm back, keeping his left pointing straight. The purple flames extended, forming a flowing bullet like projectile that held no true form.
A circular crosshair present within rifle sights formed in front of the projectile, with four lines extending perpendicularly from the circle's ends.
The depths of Chimera Shadow Garden were sent alit by the fire's revealing light, purging all darkness that dared come its way. It was no longer the soul of Megumi which spoke the loudest, but Ryomen Sukuna's!
"Let's do this one more time... Mahoraga!" Megumi roared out to the Heavens, defying all denial towards his will to purge the Divine General.
Mahoraga slammed its hand on the grounds of the Domain Expansion, its wheel twitching, attempting to adapt to the Domain Expansion and completely dispel it.
***
Under this Binding Vow:
Condition: Arturia Giallo will not be affected by any force or heat produced by Fushiguro Megumi's 'Incinerator'.
Result: The rest of the force or heat from Fushiguro Megumi's 'Incinerator' afflicting Arturia Giallo will be sent towards other targets caught within its blast radius.
***
The enlarged arrow shot forward, shining against Mahoraga's face as it impacted dead-on.
A thermobaric and Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion (BLEVE) explosion formed in the enclosed barrier of Fushiguro Megumi's domain. The flames combined, compressed, before firing off in all directions, completely enveloping the confined space.
Mahoraga's skin burned, its flesh sizzling under the heat of the sun being dropped upon it. Everything ranging from Shikigamis to attacks produced by them were enveloped along with the lustrous purple.
Incandescent and divine in all its right, the wheel of Mahoraga was forced to adapt to the Domain Expansion, which took more considerable time compared to all other attacks it had experienced so far.
Its arms thrashed about, before forming a shield around its body—a body which was collapsing in on itself.
However, despite the attack tearing apart the fabric of its very being, Mahoraga walked forward. The Divine General pressed through the flames of hell itself, slowly making its advance towards the sender of the attack.
However—there was no reason for it to wait, as a black outline was present within the intense flashing lights.
Fushiguro Megumi's coat continued to be blown and burnt from the effects of Incinerator, his body completely imperceptible. However, Mahoraga saw it, the eyes that shone even brighter than the explosion that had been caused—
—One foretelling of another—!
Megumi opened his mouth once more.
A proverb formed from the epoch of Sorcery, the truest spirit of what Cursed Energy could achieve.
His fingers extended forth, pointing to the face of Mahoraga, uncaring of the distance he was in front of it.
The muscle memory and visual memories invoked by Arturia proved not only to bring his intent to its greatest peak, but also all other desires boiling in his body.
The words leaked out, divine and graceful amongst the hellfire.
"SCALE OF THE DRAGON."
"RECOIL."
"TWIN METEORS."
A distortion in the world itself, a bending apparition which heeds all forces in the universe to its will.
The absolute peak of Jujutsu was held at the tip of Megumi's finger, one that he could only hold temporarily in this Nirvanic state of being.
It defied the world itself, an attack that should not exist in the world in the first place. Yet, as if to spit on the governance of existence, it came out.
...Time Slowed...
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WORLD CUTTING SLASH
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Mahoraga paused, taking in the sight of the eyes of its summoner—no—not merely its summoner. A brief silence hung in the world as space and reality distorted in a straight line, right in front of its ash-turned body.
Despite its lack of eyes, Megumi saw something within the Divine General's form, its unmoving posture that stood before him.
Recognition.
Recognition for its one, true, Sovereign—
—The Successor to the Buddha of Healing.
Amongst the Cycle of Rebirth, Mahoraga had been healed into a new being—throughout scattering motes of burning embers.
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Megumi's eyes softened, observing the attack pass by in a pervading and primordial silence.
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The monster who slew his sister, spilling her gore and body in front of his very eyes...
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...He forgave it.
***
The skies of Lungmen looked as beautiful as ever, the dark night sky being illuminated by the dispersion of Chimera Shadow Garden.
A cracking sound of glass was heard.
From within the black orb that had formed in the world, a shining purple light shot into the sky, altering all viewers of its divine magnificence.
All walks of life were emitted in sight of it, the explosion being the largest it could ever be, and forged by the hands of passion itself.
Vibrant and luminescent, a beautiful sight that consumed all in its path, spreading outwards like an ever-growing root that reached upwards to the Heavens itself.
Medics were already tending to the wounded after a brief sense of respite was formed, when Mahoraga had been enveloped by the black spherical barrier.
Nobody knew what had happened, only that this was the only chance for them to recuperate and form new strategies to deal with it.
Ch'en widened her eyes, wondering what had happened in the gigantic orb that had enveloped the streets, and took up a large volume.
Stomping her feet on the ground, she ran forward, Chi Xiao still in hand.
"Ch'en, wait!" Lin called out to the dragon lady, dashing towards her in response. "Don't be foolish, there's still dangers present—!"
Hoshiguma stared in silence along with Swire, the latter having just made it to the scene when the Domain Expansion had already formed.
Lappland felt her ears twitch, her eyes widening at the sight before her. Since Megumi was the one who formed... whatever the hell that was, then that meant he either died fighting that beast or was the one who finally destroyed it!
The white haired Lupo sprung upwards, ignoring the protest of her body and charged forward.
The Shadow Guards lingering around the far perimeters of the Domain Expansion were forced back when the boundless and mighty explosion had expanded, bearing the brunt of its aftermath. Suffice to say, they weren't in the greatest of conditions.
"Megumi!" Ch'en ran to the edge of the enlarged sphere shape that had dug deep into the ground, the asphalt and concrete cracked and burnt from the incessant flames from before. Her steps halted when she looked down, scanning the smoke filled area.
Lin appeared behind her, body tense in case the pale beast had jumped out of the crater and laid waste to the both of them. Staring downwards along with her, the mouse lady was about to open her mouth to admonish the reckless LGD Superintendent—but paused.
There was nothing but a singular woman, lightly coughing in her closed fist. Beneath her laid a wheel, painted black and sludging into pudgy liquid. Right after, it had vanished.
"Ah," Arturia turned up towards the two with euphoric eyes, after having witnessed what she could call the most entrancing and alluring experience in her life. "As the curtains close, so beckons the end of this performance."
With a smile, the Sankta woman bowed towards the shocked and flabbergasted viewers.
The events of today shall echo across the history of Lungmen, burning a deep scar in the inhabitants that reside within.
***
"Arturia..." Megumi called out to the woman, his parched throat and burnt skin flaking off in the air. "...I'll visit Leithanien at some point, as repayment for today."
"Truly...?" The woman placed a hand over her mouth, her Arts barrier serving to block the steam and heat from affecting her body. She would have expected to be more damaged by the all-encompassing attack, but Arturia guessed wrongly. "Oh please... this singular sight was enough repayment. Though, I wouldn't mind your presence..."
A sly smile left her lips, regarding Fushiguro Megumi.
The black haired man looked unamused, already having to deal with the searing pain all across his body. "I need to leave."
"Then I pray we meet again," Arturia reached her hand out to touch the man's cheek, her left hand keeping hold of her cello.
Megumi pulled his head back, covering his cheek with his charred hands, "Yes, until we meet again." The man held no regrets in his eyes, only flickering bouts that told of Enlightenment.
Right after, Megumi's body fell into the shadows, completely disappearing in view.
Arturia's hand was still left extended to the empty air, a strangely dissatisfied look on her face making itself present.
***
A/N: There were many factors that came to creating World Cutting Slash. Megumi still won't be able to call it on will.
If you wonder what Sun Goddess Amaterasu looks like, search up Okami and envision Divine Dog: Totality as it, along with Round Deer's and Piercing Ox's horns.
The Lungmen arc is finally over.
***
Megumi didn't know how to feel after the feeling of taming Mahoraga. There was no excitement, no euphoria, and no accomplishment that he felt. There was no suffering, there was no sorrow, and there was no pain.
All he felt was... being. He existed, and that was it.
The black haired man's half-lidded eyes stared off the wasteland, bare of any walks of life. All that stretched before his path was an endless and desolate sand, not a singular sight catching his eye.
Turning around, he could barely see the City of Lungmen from where he was at, the lights of the city barely perceptible.
It was then Megumi realized that he had been wholly unprepared for his exit from Lungmen, not knowing where to go—nor possessing any survival tools necessary for a long trip like this. He could use Reverse Cursed Technique to keep his body up to standards, but the Ten Shadows user didn't know how long that would hold up.
That wasn't including the fact that his Cursed Energy reserves would be cut in half for 20 days, after an allotted amount of time had passed.
'...Find a city, settlement, or any place...' Megumi decided in his mind, before resuming upon his path.
His steps were slow and steady, a tiredness finding itself present within his eyes.
Was he even going North...? Well, it didn't matter much to Megumi anymore. Any place that wasn't a hell-hole, he would confide in.
But, he was sure...
...The journey had just begun, and thus shall Megumi walk upon a desolate and uncertain path.
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The morning sun soon bore down its luminescent orange lights upon the world of Terra, signaling only one thing.
Tomorrow has arrived.