-Chief Orikita-
It has been a while since she had set foot outside her village.
It was but a mere moment in the middle of the night. The storm was heavy the moment she set foot out of the settlement, and with it came guilt, memories.
''Please don't die… die… die.'' The woods almost whispered to her. Either that, or she was finally going crazy.
The woods were, as always, cold, freezing even. Her daughter may be able to withstand the cold better, but Orikita? No, not really, because the cold did much more than just stiffen her limbs…
It didn't help that a night as cold as this brought back unwanted memories.
Her legs carried her over a small clearing; each step felt heavier than the last. On top of a small hill, covered with flowers made out of ice that she personally created with Youki the last time she visited, rested a tomb with a symbol engraved onto it.
The first letter of her name.
''…I'm sorry, Shikiko.'' Orikita exhaled, kneeling in front of the tomb. Her usual confident attitude dropped, as did her face.
Oni didn't cry, and most didn't mourn; it wasn't out of malice or because their species was inherently emotionless. It was more of an oddity simply because of how their society worked.
A child who died may be mourned over a day, maybe two at most. After all, if it died in the first place, it was because such a child was weak.
The manner of death mattered, of course. If the Oni had died fighting, no matter what took its life, be it low-class or the highest of the peak, then it was honored as a warrior. Its body was respected and then burnt in honor of being a true, proper Oni.
However… those who died of sickness, or due to the environment, weren't as lucky.
''Mother… mother… I'm cold… It's so cold…''
Orikita bit her lip, ignoring the whispers by shaking her head and bowing in front of the tomb. ''I'm sorry, daughter… I know it is my fault… I know.''
Never before had Orikita cursed at her natural Youki like that night in which the cold, small, and frail body of her white-haired child was whisked away by the winds and unforgiving nature.
On a peaceful night, it happened. The little Oni had sneaked out, as that mischievous runt always did.
Orikita didn't bother much. After all, her daughter was strong and could take care of herself.
But that was when the storm came.
Harsh, merciless, unforgiving. Any adjective you could put on it wouldn't have been enough to describe the billowing winds and frozen landscape. It was like a frost dragon had engulfed the entire region with one mighty breath.
Orikita remembered the night vividly, how could she not?
She had to make sure every villager was accounted for and safe in their homes, as not even the hunters and warriors managed to withstand the cold. Only she, with her natural abilities born out of mastery and birthright, was able to pierce through the storm.
The moment she noticed her missing spawn, it was too late.
She searched every nook and cranny, and almost got herself killed by moving entire hills of snow with Youki. She had bordered on spiritual exhaustion at least twice, but when she found her little Shikiko…
Her dark skin was completely pale, and her body was as cold as the snow that had buried her. In the girl's hands, there were Bellflowers, ones the little girl knew Orikita liked so much.
And due to her natural prowess with ice, she couldn't even muster up a spark of flame to warm her daughter up.
That was the last time Orikita had picked, or seen a Bellflower at all.
''Shikiko… I'm sorry.'' Crystaline liquid fell onto the tombstone and immediately froze over. ''I failed, not only to save you, but to send you off properly.''
It was no coincidence that ever since her daughter's death, the region had been encased in deadly, unforgiving frost. Always the same temperature, always at the same hour. Exactly like the night that her little Shikiko had died in her arms.
And the same day that, due to her sorrow, the curse that now prowled these lands was born.
''Pathetic…'' Orikita huffed, getting up from her stop with tightening angry fists and a scowl on her face. ''To ask a recovering Dehorned… and my own spawn to kill the shadow of my daughter. The shadow of her sister.''
There was a heavy bitterness that filled her mouth when she remembered the relief that flooded her mind once she discovered that Kuroki had been born with a fire-attuned Youki, and that relief disgusted her to no end, too, but there was nothing she could do now.
''A selfish mother to the very end, an underserving one at that.'' Orikita huffed, turning around from her defunct daughter's place of rest to get back into the village. ''And for decades, the only thing I could ever do was protect the villagers that remained. I stopped being a mother to be a chief.''
The walk back was much heavier and harsher than she expected.
In Orikita's mind, only lingered the half promise from the shorter male Oni. Even he, with that absurd amount of Cursed Energy that flowed through his body like a clinging disease, may not be able to take down the curse.
Orikita only hoped—No, begged, as pathetic as it was, that she would not have to bury another daughter.
-Malleus-
Not even the warm Tanzen could hold up against the raging, freezing wind. The moment we stepped out of our little burrow, it was clear that this was going to be hard.
Kuroki didn't say anything, but she had a determined frown on her face. One of her hands was covered in bright orange flames as she walked ahead, lighting up the path, even if the fire was blown and parted from time to time because of the weather.
Thankfully, with the Eyes of Mystery, I didn't particularly need the guidance of the fire, as I could see much further ahead.
''Let's find an open space,'' I said, gripping my greatsword tightly. ''Whatever this thing is, it controls the landscape. Those ice and snow curses we fought earlier are probably its doing, too.''
Kuroki nodded grimly.
Another step forward, and we heard a piercing howl that made the woods shake.
'It's not attacking upfront.' I frowned. 'But it's closer. The thing may as well be a walking fountain of cursed energy…'
As we tried getting out of the woods, I noticed the trees had claw marks, as if a bear had been marking its territory, yet no matter how you looked at it, they were way too big to belong to an animal. Not to mention, the residual curse they left imprinted on nature.
'I don't think you have any tips for this, do you, Sukuna?' I asked sarcastically, not expecting any help from the sadistic curse.
I heard an annoyed click of the tongue, making me smirk. 'Don't die a pathetic death.'
'Truly insightful.'
The casual way we jabbed at each other brought some sense of security in the middle of this mess.
…
''Malleus… the woods don't end,'' Kuroki muttered, stopping for a moment to look around. ''Climate is getting colder. Should probably head back.''
We have been walking for a few minutes now, and indeed, the cold was starting to bite deep into my arms even through my winter clothes, but we couldn't just turn back. I wasn't lying or talking out of my ass when I said that this thing was coming to get us.
Leaving marks on the trees, making the snowy storm worse, and forcing us out of our hideout by a clear howl meant as a threat or a scare tactic.
''It's no use, Kuroki. That curse is smart.'' I sighed, wondering just how that was possible. However, the realization in my voice was more than enough to make the Oni hesitate. ''It's hunting us down. In the middle of this storm, it is the predator, and we are a meal.''
Blue glowing eyes focused on a minute, almost imperceptible move from the woods. At first glance, it would have been reasonable to think it was simply the snow piling up or falling from the trees, but no amount of bad weather could cloak the dense, resentful pool of cursed energy that suddenly entered my range of vision.
''Kuroki,'' I whispered, touching her shoulder. The Oni turned to me, and I simply pointed a finger in the general direction of the curse. ''I need you to go full throttle and burn those trees to the ground.''
I blinked, as just with those words, a magic circle not unlike the one Kuroki used to make a hole into a hill, appeared right in front of her.
A singular look at sigils didn't really hold any meaning to me. However, there was some sort of spiritual significance to each one. The outer line was supposed to be a canvas, blank and ready to use. Then, the traced lines that made the second layer were the foundation of this 'Youki', making it twist and transform Kuroki's cursed energy into something more.
Lastly, the center was where the magic—literally, in this case—happened. The power transferred from the strange language was fed right to the core—The Matrix of the circle.
It was simple. Too simple even, to the point it felt rudimentary and inefficient.
But that didn't make the following explosion and rush of hot air any weaker, as all of a sudden, the trees right in front of us were engulfed in a torrent of bright red flames. The snow melted almost instantly, and the trees were converted into a deep black charcoal. Nothing remained of the leaves other than cinders.
And as the roaring inferno consumed the howling winter, a screech, much stronger than the one we heard at the cave, pierced through both flame and ice as the attack was suddenly dispelled.
'It… it pushed the attack off by merely using cursed energy?!' I paused, gripping my blade tighter.
No sudden attack, no sending a wave of frost, not even swiping the flames away. The Curse had simply exerted part of the deep well of energy that was the core of its being, and vanquished the attack I was sure could erase a small hill entirely.
With the trees and snow gone, the body of the curse was in full display.
Its upper body was like that of a naked woman, with the clear difference of scaly-like protrusions that covered her intimate bits, torso, shoulders, and much more, with mismatched patterns of white scales. At this distance, I noticed how they were not even singed, unlike the skin-like bits of its body, which had a slight red coloration, indicating a burn on the upper layer of 'skin'.
Its eyes were obscured by long strands of flowing white hair, and the face was parted into jagged lines imitating a mouth. It screeched in fury, revealing black, saliva-like liquid that dripped down into the white snow, tainting it a deep grey.
On its head, two thin horns extended far above its already prominent size; they were purple in color, the same coloration held by the claw-like digits the curse had in both hands.
That's where her humanoid features ceased, for below her torso, there were no legs, but a long serpentine tail that went for meters on end and coiled around itself like a protective layer of muscle and warmth, even if the creature was not even bothered under the harsh tundra climate.
'…Is that a finger?' I questioned, revolted at the deceiving creature's appearance. Right in the middle of where a humanoid creature would have a belly-button, there was a hole the size of a baseball, and deep inside it, attached by disgusting tendrils of black sludge, rested a dark-red finger with a long black nail. 'Just like the one from…!'
''Mother… Mother… Die…'' The mouth of the curse parted, and its words were like nails on a chalkboard with an added hiss and child-like sobs.
I saw movement, barely the twitch of the curse's tail and claw.
My eyes widened in shock. The curse, in less than one could blink, had cut the distance and had long, purple claws one inch off my throat. Its arm shook as its mouth turned into a deep, hateful scowl.
'If it weren't for my Infinity, I would be dead.' I felt cold sweat run down my back at the notion.
''Get off… mate!''
Suddenly, a meaty smack and the screech of metal filled my ears as Kuroki punched the lamia-like curse squarely on the chest. It was barely pushed back by the force, and the smack that could tear giant boulders into fragments did nothing more than anger the curse further.
''Like her, like her, like her, like HER!'' The curse clutched its face with its claws, tearing apart its skin and flesh as it broke down into raging sobs.
''Watch out!'' I warned.
This time, I could properly track its movement as it shot forward, long claws covered in frosty death threatened to cut into Kuroki's flesh. She had raised her arms in a guard that I knew would be easily sliced apart. So, instead of risking it and trusting Kuroki's reinforced body, a pale blue glow manifested in my hand as I pulled.
The curse's attack was deviated, allowing Kuroki to quickly place a boulder-breaking hook directly in the monster's liver, making the hole in its stomach to spew a black liquid into Kuroki's gauntlet.
I was shocked.
Because I had intended to pull it completely off-course with my technique. Yet, even with all the force I could muster, the pull only managed to make its attack miss.
'Like trying to move a mountain with rope and back alone…' I grimaced.
''Disgusting…'' Kuroki muttered while staring at her gunk-covered gauntlet. Yet, as the black goop dripped down the metal, a sizzling sound cut through the raging wind. ''Dangerous…''
'Incredibly fast, durable, and has acidic ''blood''. Did I miss something?' I thought sarcastically as I dashed forward. ''Ha!''
My overhead swing hit true as the curse looked up and blocked with its scaled limbs. For a single moment, the winds blew the locks on its face, and what greeted me was nothing short of disgusting.
Dead, grey, and cloudy eyes. Like staring into a long-dead corpse. Surprisingly, like Kuroki, the curse had a split pupil…
''Guessed that wouldn't work.'' I huffed. My arms trembled with the effort of trying to push through the scales and cut soft skin and sinew. However, they were just too tough. The heavy blade only managed to scrape against the curse's exterior with a sound akin to metal scraping metal. ''Tough bastard—!''
''Cold… cold… COLD. It's so COLD!'' Once more, the delirious curse screamed. Buffeting winds slammed against my clothes.
Something deep inside my gut told me to move, and so, I let the wind carry me upwards instead of resisting it. With a pull of my technique, I backflipped and landed next to Kuroki, who, meanwhile, had burned away the black goop that had covered her now completely useless metal gauntlet.
Right where I was standing a second before, a pike of ice punched through the earth and high into the sky as if it were another tree. If I had remained there, I would have been pierced through.
''It's not going all out…'' Kuroki suddenly hummed, making me turn, surprised. ''The curse… it made the storm, right? Then… it should be stronger than this…''
Clicking my tongue in displeasure, I couldn't help but agree. After all, if this thing was anything that we could easily handle, the chief would have already done it on her own, and I'm not kind to believe that she was exaggerating the facts.
''Then we'll just have to try harder,'' I answered and raised my sword high, just in time to intercept another charge from the creature. This time, I let it push me off, merely for the sake that it focused on me instead of Kuroki, who didn't have the fortune of a protective invisible shield. ''Get more fire ready, Kuroki! Stronger, much stronger!''
A grunt of pain escaped past my lips as my back slammed against a tree. Several cracks, either from wood or my bones, echoed only into my ears as I was pushed further.
''I'm not doing that again…'' I wheezed, feeling the taste of copper fill my mouth as I was face to face, barely inches apart, with a full maw of black, sludgy-like fangs. ''…Shinto above you're ugly.''
With a push of effort, I felt the ever-consuming fury that was the cursed energy pool from my stomach and into my body. The reinforcement wasn't that much better, but it was enough to push the curse off me for a second before I had to dodge to the side as black, acidic goo was thrown my way in goblets of massive spit.
The evaded attack melted right through a tree and the snow below it. Meanwhile, I couldn't help but feel angry at how this… filth—because there wasn't any better word to describe it—just dared to spit in my general direction as if I was some sort of bug below its boot.
''Motherrrrrrr…!'' It screeched, charging ahead. Faster this time, but more predictable.
''You're really starting to piss me off,'' I grunted and swung my sword forward. However, at the peak of the swing, I let go of the blade, watching as it coursed through the air.
The serpentine curse batted the weapon aside as if it were a stick and not a sword that weighed around a quarter-ton, but the momentary distraction was enough for me to sneak into its side and land a red-glowing fist directly into its deformed stomach.
''Tough as a fucking steel wall…'' I complained, feeling my knuckles pop. The curse had barely moved an inch.
That mummified finger was an inch from my hand. A pale blue glow covered it as I tried to pull the digit off, but of course, it wouldn't be that easy.
The tail of the monster had whipped back, and were it not for its extra limb slowing down and stopping entirely against my Infinity, it would have probably been a second round between my back and the surrounding nature.
Instead, I ducked below another swing of its claws and grabbed onto its arm. With a quick spin using the limb as leverage, I shot into the air and delivered a glowing red axe-kick into the monster's neck. This time, the blow left a lasting impression and a red mark on the back of the curse's head, as it was not as armored as the front.
However, the small bit of damage was a lousy prize as spikes of ice shot through the ground, and I had to jump off the lamia's back as dozens and dozens of little needle-like attacks tried to pass through my barrier.
I hissed in surprise as small yet long cuts appeared on my arms and tore through my clothes.
'I can't stop all of them at once…!' Indeed, while I had gotten much better at handling my Infinity and Eyes, I still struggled when keeping pace with multiple objects, and a hundred little needles one after another was certainly a way to test that limit. ''Haa…!''
Exactly like the creature had done previously in the fight, I focused the cursed energy, not in the barrier safeguarding my life, but in making it expand and push outwards.
A hundred needles of ice shattered as my wooden slips skidded against the ground with the fall. With barely a glance, I used the blue telekinetic glow on my sword, which had been discarded earlier in the confrontation, to make it fly right into my palm, just in time to grunt as the curse body-slammed me a second later.
''Malleus…!'' The voice brought me pause, and I looked upwards.
High in the air, Kuroki had jumped, and in the time I had been fighting and distracting the curse, she had managed to put enough energy in that Yokai magic to make the previously small purple circle into a massive one that must have been at least three times bigger than she was.
The curse, either because behind its nonsensical sobs and screams there was a modicum of intelligence, or probably because it just felt threatened at the huge amount of cursed energy concentrating in that circle, looked upwards and screeched.
I felt the snow move, and I knew at that moment that it would intercept the attack mid-shot.
And I wasn't about to allow that.
''Fire it!'' I shouted as I slammed the edge of my sword into the curse's torso.
With a quick hand, I tried to plunge my fingers into the curse's stomach, only for it to recoil and try to rend the offending limb apart. However, the distraction was all I needed to tackle its body with my own.
It was like bear-hugging a polar bear. Incredibly difficult, cold, and possibly deadly. However, I looked up and sent a nod while greeting my teeth, bracing for the attack.
The cold and dark night was suddenly enveloped in brightness as a pure, raging inferno fell from the sky, like it had suddenly turned daytime. The curse thrashed harder, but I didn't let up, no. Instead, I doubled down by grabbing the lamia's sides tightly and pushing it into the air so it served as a meat-shield for the relentless heat and fire.
Flames licked at my fingertips as I struggled to keep Infinity at such a distance that it would protect my own body without actively safeguarding the curse.
Yet, I couldn't really filter the temperature, as my throat and eyes dried up and got blinded by the magic-fueled fire.
''MOTHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEER!'' The monster screeched.
I saw its skin and scales turn a dark charcoal color. The fire was working, or at least, it worked much better than blunt force, as the curse was burnt to a crisp.
As quickly as it had started, it ended. With a pant of exhaustion, I felt my arms give up, and a charcoal-colored mess that was the Cursed Spirit was dropped into the ground.
It twitched once, but I couldn't pay it much attention as I collapsed into the cold snow. My entire body was sweating like I had spent at least half a day in a sauna, and my throat felt parched as if I hadn't taken a drink of water in days.
Without mentioning that, considering the strain I just put myself through, my head was starting to hurt.
'And here I thought I was past migraines…' I winced, holding my head with annoyance.
With a shaky breath, I looked upwards upon hearing a mostly flat yet somewhat worried tone. An armored gauntlet took my hand, and I clasped it tight, just a bit more effort, and I was back on my feet.
''Malleus… okay?'' Kuroki asked softly, making me raise an eyebrow. ''Bleeding.''
'Ah, that.' I huffed. I didn't even need to look down to notice that my garments were torn and bloody. The cuts made by the curse still stung against the soft material and the cold, but it wasn't anything that I couldn't walk off. ''It's fine, they'll heal. More importantly…''
''We should head back to—'' A sudden shiver went down my spine, which made me freeze completely. ''Where…?''
The snow still fell heavily and without stopping. The winds still roared as the tundral storm went on, but more importantly than any of those two…
The curse was not there anymore.
A glint of purple entered my field of vision. Sharp, deadly, angry.
I was too late.
''Kuroki, watch out—!'' The sound of flesh being ripped apart shut me up. Blood seeped into my already ruined clothing, leaving behind a mix of soft blues and crimson red. ''…''
But it wasn't me who bled.
Kuroki stared down at her stomach, where a five-fingered clawed hand had gone clean through like it was a hot knife through butter. The Oni's blood dripped down onto her pants, and also from the commissure of her mouth.
''Like her… Like her… Killed her…'' The curse wept. Its body was now much larger, towering over Kuroki. The disgusting, cursed energy surrounding it felt heavier, and the cold surrounding us got so bad that my limbs felt numb. ''Killed mother…''
Just like it had appeared, the claw retracted. My arms opened to catch the body of an Oni, much heavier and taller than I was. Red, split eyes stared into mine, and her expression remained ever as flat.
Only that it didn't.
A small smile, yet bigger than any other I have seen from her, appeared on Kuroki's face. My hand immediately went to the hole, now making up more than a quarter of the woman's stomach. Its warmth filled my hands as I pushed inwards, trying to keep the wound from bleeding.
'Torn guts. Internal bleeding. Broken Spine.' I could see that and much more thanks to these eyes, and none of it indicated that Kuroki would survive past half an hour, and that's being generous, knowing that Oni seemed to regenerate at a rapid pace. ''…Kuroki?''
The Oni's breath hitched; if the reason was her injury, or the pathetic tremble that filled my voice, I didn't know. However, a non-armored hand touched my face, which, for some reason, felt hot and wet even though one minute ago I was complaining about how dry my eyes felt.
''Kuroki… fine… It… heal…'' My fists clenched against her gear in fury at the obvious lie.
…
''Do not speak. Do not move.'' I spat, as a deep, fiery inferno of anger pumped through my stomach and into my body like the most vile poison I could have ever swallowed. ''And don't you dare die.''
My words got no answer. Only the sound of billowing winds, throaty sobs, and cloth being torn filled my ears, along with a pulsating anger.
A hum of surprise and interest filled my head. The owner of it clear as day.
'Are you trying to drown in rage, brat?' The voice of Sukuna cut through the air along with the pained grunt of an Oni. 'Oh? You have something at the edge of your thoughts. A request. Spit it out.'
''What for?'' I huffed, not in the mood for the curse's shenanigans. With one last grunt from Kuroki and a pull from my hands, my previously bloody robes now served as a makeshift cloth to cover the fatal wound, leaving me even more unprotected against the cold. ''Do not tell me that you somehow grew a heart during your silence period now?''
'HA! As if!' She laughed, boisterous, breathy, cruel, and yet amused. 'No. But I know what that little thought was. Yes, I could easily kill this curse—'
''You won't. Or at least, not with the outcome I want to.'' I scoffed, pale blue light enveloping my hand as sharp steel cut through the air.
What would be the price for Sukuna to actually help me? Her training, help, and counsel always came with a trick, a condition. Sometimes, it was simple, but most of the time, the price was something I didn't want to pay.
Echoing laughter filled my head. She knew what I wanted, and I knew what the price was in return. Truly, when I called her a curse, I was being generous.
I would not sacrifice Kuroki's life only to get away with my own.
A second later, the heavy black-iron blade shot into my hand with barely any recoil on my arm or shoulder. ''Unless you feel so generous as to heal Kuroki, then I don't need anything from you, Sukuna. Especially not to kill this curse.''
As I turned around, I shot the lamia-like curse the most vicious glare I could muster. So vile was it that the creature, which had been staring at its bloodied claw with a flat face, flinched, and the storm became all the harsher as it hissed.
'…Oh?'
''Because this bastard is mine.''
I stepped forward, feeling the biting cold in my arms and face. One more step, and I covered several meters with a hand behind me, preparing the heavy blade for an underhand blow filled with all the rage this disgusting filth managed to put me through.
I roared, hearing the clang of my sword slamming against the curse.
Only that this time, it wasn't like hitting a steel door with a stick. This time, the curse was pushed back; even in this enhanced state it had transformed into after being burnt half to death.
I gritted my teeth so much that I felt they would crack.
This time, I pushed all my hatred and anger into my sword. No matter how much my body, head, or eyes protested, I was completely uncaring of just how vast the difference between me and the curse was. Because right now, I have only one clear objective in my mind.
''I'm going to kill you.'' I hissed flatly.
Frost-covered claws that threatened to cut through my flesh were swiftly dodged with half a step to the side. The curse growled like a beast and tried again. Its serpentine tail flew across the air and was barely stopped by the iron of my blade.
I was pushed back, wooden slippers leaving a trail on the snow thanks to the combined weight on my body, but with a grunt of effort, I pushed my cursed energy outwards once more. This time, I felt the considerable drain on energy as the lamia was pushed back.
The creature rushed again, and I met it head-on. Sword met flesh, only that instead of one being pushed back, the monster cried out, making warning bells ring through my head like sirens.
One arm pushed back, and a foul black energy appeared on the curse's hand. Instantly, I let it win the stalemate and ducked at the last second, just to see a beam of concentrated cursed energy tear through the thicket, making the entire forest rumble and the trees that had taken the attack head-on to fall under the might of this thing's power and a swipe of its claws.
'Pure unfiltered cursed energy…' I grimaced, grabbing one of the curse's long, thin arms and—with surprising strength which made my muscles scream—throw the massive monster overhead, only to follow right after with a swing, making a deep, bloody cut on the soft flesh of its back. 'I cannot let it fire that thing again…!'
Another clash, one more time, I had to dodge hundreds of ice needles that I couldn't possibly stop with my Infinity.
One more time, the blade was ripped off my hands, but I quickly kept pace by dashing into the curse's direction and planting both feet into its stomach, sending it back.
Slowly but surely, I felt exhaustion seep into my body, sweat rolling down my face, and sharp, greedy breaths of air trying to keep up with what my body needed to keep functioning. To keep fighting.
In a battle of attrition, I was going to lose; there weren't two ways about it.
If the monster fired another one of those concentrated Cursed Energy beams, I was also done for. Not because I couldn't dodge it, but because I couldn't risk it hitting Kuroki.
And my technique's pull wasn't strong enough to actually impede the monster's movement; that's how vast the difference between it and me was.
Each clash, I used more cursed energy to reinforce my body to the point I felt my muscles taut and tear, like a worn bowstring. I felt my bones creak; some were probably broken already, and my skin parted and bled, as if it were paper.
Each clash, the climate got colder and colder, and no matter what type of injury I put on the monster's flesh, it would regenerate it easily enough. If it wasn't because the curse was more focused on its apparent sorrow than killing me off, I wasn't sure if I would have lasted this long.
But I was sure of one thing: I wouldn't last any longer than this.
And then, a chance presented itself as the creature coiled around itself. Its stomach convulsed as it dripped with that toxic substance, but in its charging, it was still.
Just then, the words Sukuna said days ago came back to the forefront of my mind, as if I was having an epiphany.
'An Oni that gets their horns cut off or broken… is sure to DIE!' And casually enough, the Oni-like curse had two of those.
''Kill her… kill you… kill, kill—killkillkillKILL!'' Black gooey acid flew through the air, just as I had the blue attraction force of my technique hold onto it and condense it into a small sphere.
''You can have this back!'' I shouted and pushed. The pale blue blow turned a dazzling, darker tone as the acid was shot back. ''Not done yet!''
Of course, the curse had hastily dodged to the side. For its incredible bulk, the thing was stupidly agile, making the acid fall into the snow and melt right through it along with the dirt itself.
Thankfully, it wasn't twice as smart, as once more, I threw my blade right on its face. It was parried away by one clawed arm, but this time, I used the glow to pull myself to the sword.
Nausea hit my head at the sudden movement, but I had the heavy metal on hand as I focused on all the strength and rage I could muster.
''…Yes. Kuroki is one. Never seen anything other than snow and ice.''
''Malleus… Malleus has been outside the snow, right?''
''Does Malleus think… He could show them to Kuroki, one day?''
The black, heavy, and sharp sword was filled to the brim with a purple glow I recognized as pure cursed energy. Just like I used it to reinforce my own body, it seemed that tools like this could also channel it to get even stronger.
A spiral of ice shot through the ground, intending to gut me and leave me nothing more than a frozen corpse, yet I swung downwards, making ice, snow, and storm part at the empowered piece of iron whistling through.
The strike landed true… but sadly, it wasn't enough.
I heard a crack, and smiled victoriously as one of the monster's horns broke into pieces. However, the swing stopped dead when it hit the second horn, even if another crack echoed through the suddenly silent tundra.
Only that, instead of coming from the creature's horn, the crack came from my own sword, as the edge cracked before shattering into pieces. The deep purple glow had been too much for the weapon, and it was destroyed as a result.
And just like the sword, my body had given out, too.
Like filling a cup way past its limit, I gasped in pain, blood dripping through my arms and mouth. I pushed myself too much, way past my limit.
''Damn… you…'' I spat, I shouted, I hissed, I cursed as I felt the serpentine tail from the monster envelop my entire torso in a death grip. ''I'll kill you… I swear I'll fucking kill you…!''
The curse didn't pay any attention to my hateful blue gaze or the way my fingers grabbed onto its scales, cracking them and my digits with all the vitriol I had left.
A scream of pain tore through my throat as the tail squeezed me like a particularly crunchy plush toy. Bones broke easily under the grasp, but I still gritted my teeth and tried.
Because I wasn't going to be killed by a worm, and much less so, I was going to let Kuroki die on me.
Dark spots covered my vision. My broken fingers and wrists couldn't hold on any longer as I felt the lack of oxygen.
Blood and vomit clogged my throat to capacity
…
Much to my future complaining, that night, I had fallen unconscious.
…
And also much to my surprise, I was saved from a curse by another, much fouler and crueler curse, one who wouldn't hesitate to eat another thinking being, or would simply torture and kill them for their own amusement.
…
''How can such a weak brat… be so intriguing? Hahaha!'' Two pairs of blue eyes stared deep into the curse's dead ones. Her face held a satisfied smile. ''To try to go against one of my fingers with nothing but rage and days of training…''
The pain coursing through the body she took control over, vanished with an unconscious use of Reverse Cursed Technique. And no matter how much the lamia-like tail tightened, the force wasn't enough to make her so much as struggle.
''You have one second.'' Amusement gone as quickly as the wind, Sukuna huffed, frowning as the curse quivered. ''Move.''
The tail started uncoiling. Yet, no matter how fast the curse was, it couldn't hope to fully disengage from the familiar yet completely different body in a mere second.
''Too late~'' She chuckled, amused.
For a moment, there was no sound, but then, the wet squelch of flesh, muscle, and sinew being torn echoed along with the curse's scream of pain.
With just a push, the heavily reinforced scales of the curse were torn apart by force alone, making black, gooey blood splash through the small clearing.
Then, the sound of something falling onto the ground.
The second horn of the weather-controlling curse swiftly followed the first that the brat had destroyed as it was sliced cleanly off the howling monster's head.
Rolling her eyes, Sukuna pushed her fingers through the curse's stomach. The acidic properties of its flesh did nothing to impede her touch. The goop was disgusting, but it didn't burn.
''I will be taking this.'' She hummed with a humorless, cruel smirk as the mummified finger was swiftly torn from the curse's body. ''Now die.''
The horns would have been more than enough, but just because the riffraff, while being barely worth her time, had forced her to come out, she gestured with her fingers in its general direction while turning around.
The lamia was cut into three perfect slices of itself, and with an explosion of black mist, it was exorcised.
''Now…'' Turning her back away, she lazily took the broken blade into her hand with the use of the pale blue gravitational pull, and then looked forward into the distance where the body of the raven-haired Oni lay. ''…I told him, didn't I? I'm no one's personal nurse.''
With a click of her tongue. The Queen of Curses approached the dying woman, broken blade in hand.
-Chief Orikita-
At first, she wondered why the hell one of her hunters was outside her door, with wide eyes and an even wider, toothier grin.
Orikita was about to beat the idiot up until next moon-change. Maybe it would teach her not to fuck with the Chief's time, especially at such an hour, and just when she had come back from that… place.
But when she stepped outside, she noticed.
And the Oni's words made it all the more obvious.
''Chief! Storm is calming! Snow is melting!'' The woman had laughed excitedly with a roar that could have easily awakened the entire village.
If it wasn't because they were already awake.
Oni and their spawn marveled at the sight of the frost melting off the village. The usually grey sky had parted, letting sunrays bless the structures and people with warmth. It was so bright that it was blinding.
Immediately, Orikita grasped at the Binding Vow that tied her to the village...
And found that the ever-hateful presence that threatened its border was no more.
Hastily, she barked orders. No one was to leave the village lest they wished for death from her own hand no less. Even in the panic, she told both guards and hunters alike to remain firm, to remain watchful.
And Orikita? She ran all the way to the edge of the village.
Unlike her domain, the outside was still caked in thick, freezing snow. The storm had always been weaker inside. It was when one stepped out of the village that the cold would mercilessly try to end one's life.
''Kuroki… Malleus…'' She muttered with a shaky sigh. A sense of worry clutched her heart like it was trying to strangle it to death. ''…''
For hours on end, she stood in the same spot, but then, she felt a foul, cursed energy that made her tremble. ''Is it… No. It cannot be. It was never that strong.''
The energy couldn't belong to the shadow of her Shikiko. Never would that child have held that much resentment deep inside her.
This was something else.
And then, she saw a figure walking closer. The receding storm still covered her eyesight, but it didn't take long to figure out who it was.
The male Oni walked forward, unbothered by the cold. His clothes were torn, leaving toned arms and shoulders exposed, which, surprisingly, held black tribal tattoos that she had never seen on his form before.
His face had an extra pair of eyes, and his expression was flat and bored.
Then, Orikita noticed just what the Dehorned one was dragging around; it was her daughter. Her Kuroki.
A sense of rage and crushing guilt clutched her stomach. Yet, all of that vanished when the Dehorned one spoke.
''She's alive.'' He said right to Orikita's face, looking up with a frown. Yet, his voice was different, and this foul stench and feeling were nothing like he had shown previously. It was almost like staring at a curse. ''Listen here, woman. I won't repeat myself.''
Frowning, Orikita nodded. Then, she had to open her arms as Kuroki's body was thrown her way carelessly. Just as the man had spoken, she was alive, the only thing marring her already scarred body was a tender patch of greyish skin right in the middle of her stomach.
Carefully, she took her warm, breathing daughter into a soft, protective embrace. She didn't understand why the Dehorned was acting this way, but all became clearer once he showed something to her.
A singular, dark red, mummified finger.
''That's…!'' Bile rose to her throat. Immediately, she let cursed energy hug her features tightly. It had been a long time since she last fought, but she would die protecting her settlement. ''That means you are… her.''
The ''man'' raised an eyebrow and chuckled darkly. ''It amuses me to no end that even riffraff from a backwater village knows me so well…'' The breathy admission and laugh lasted merely a second, replaced with a glare that made her freeze.
It was like Orikita was staring at death itself.
''I'm not answering the brat's questions. You will.'' The foul curse, taking possession of the Dehorned's body, ordered. He got even closer and patted her shoulder in a painfully strong manner that mocked the comfort of the otherwise warm gesture. ''Got that all in there? Or are you just as challenged as the other Oni?''
Biting back a retort, knowing that not only her life, but her daughter's and that of the village rested on her answer, she nodded, bowing her head while clutching her unconscious Kuroki tightly.
''Good.'' With a huff of annoyance, the foul presence vanished.
The man's tattoos disappeared, as did the extra pair of eyes. She never noticed just those thin, almost invisible marks that held the curse's extra pair of eyes just below the man's eyelids.
Probably because Orikita didn't even know that Malleus was cursed to such a degree in the first place.
As the Dehorned fell, Orikita caught him in her other arm. Now, she had much to explain to him, but deep inside her chest, she was deeply thankful.
It made her laugh, as tears openly fell down her face. The curse of her own failure as a mother was gone. Her people could thrive in the green forests once more, and her daughter was alive.
''That is all that matters. Please rest properly… Shikiko.'' She chuckled, hugging both younglings tight and carrying them effortlessly back into the village.
Hesitantly, as if afraid of punishment by mere mention, Orikita spoke, not even looking at the man. ''I do not understand your mercy, but I bow to it either way… Queen of Curses.''
The sound of soft breathing coming from the two unconscious bodies, and the snow being crunched against her bare feet, was her only answer.
.
.
.
Author's Note: Sukuna to the rescue? What sort of fucked up timeline is this?!
In all seriousness, I was kind of doubtful when to publish this chapter, mostly because there's bound to be some people complaining about Malleus getting his ass kicked after his only W (which was against some low-class dunce), but him somehow getting enough juice to beat the shit out of a Special Grade would be much worse as an asspull.
Instead, here's the middle point. Taking one of the Curse's horns, with Sukuna coming in to take the other, so, hope you enjoyed!
I have 5 more chapters of this fic on my Patreo n here if you wish to support me.
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Patreo n: patreo n .com (slash) HamsterX42