The outskirts were a hell that many would avoid. The air was practically poison and dangers were present in every corner of every dark alley. This was the hell Ryomen Sukuna was born into. Shortly after his talk with Mahito, he felt his soul traverse into this one, a world not ruled by sorcery or curses, but ruled by this thing called the Nightmare spell where people travel to the dream realm and face nightmare abominations that could annihilate the sorcerers back in his world.
Currently he was sitting by a bench and far across from him was a police station next to him was a young boy named sunless, he was a scrawny brat that he decided to ally himself with in order to survive the outskirts, they weren`t friends by any means however they trusted each other enough to not backstab each other in their sleep.
"Ah! So bitter!" Sunny said with a grimace not expecting the hot drink to taste bad. Sukuna looked at him with a mocking smile and spoke, "What? Too weak to handle your coffee, brat." Sunny just glared at him and responded irritated, "Shut up. We`re the same age and if anyone is the brat here it's you." Sukuna merely laughed, however it slowly turned into a tired yawn as the feeling of sleepiness starting to get the better of him. He extended his hand for the coffee and sunny reluctantly gave it to him while muttering a few curses underneath his breath.
He took a large sip of the coffee not minding the burning sensation he felt, after that he returned it to sunny and they grew quiet. The only sounds present were of people rushing towards whatever they were rushing too. Sunny suddenly spoke, "Hey, Sukuna." He began, his tone nervous and somber. Sukuna glanced at him, his crimson gaze not revealing any emotion. Sunny hesitated for a second before asking something that's been bothering him, "Do you think we will be able to survive the first nightmare." Despite surviving the outskirts together, sunny doubted both he and sukuna could survive this harrowing ordeal.
Sukuna did not respond for a moment, then a wild and vicious grin split his lips, his eyes gleamed with the malice that still made him shiver every time he looked and without any hesitation, Sukuna spoke. "Not only will we survive sunless, we will thrive."
The two outskirt rats entered the police station and there was a tired-looking officer by the desk who looked at them and frowned with obvious distaste. "Are you kids lost?" The officer asked with barely hidden irritation. Sukuna`s eyes narrowed as he glared daggers at the officer, which sent shivers down the man`s spine and quickly changed his tone to be more respectful. "I mean, are you kids ok?"
Sukuna looked pleased and before speaking, he elbowed Sunny`s side who let out a groan as he held it for a bit while glaring at Sukuna who ignored him. "As demanded by the Third Special Directive, we are here to surrender ourselves as carriers of the Nightmare Spell.
The officer paled and studied the young men with a piercing intensity. "Are you sure you're both infected? When did you start showing symptoms?"
The two looked at each other and responded at the same time. "A week ago."
The officer paled further and quickly rushed towards the button on his terminal and bellowed:
"Attention! Code Black in the lobby! I repeat! CODE BLACK!"
Sukuna stared at the man for a bit as a sadistic smile was plastered on his face. It had been since he saw the fearful state of others, although he wasn't the one causing it, it was still satisfactory nevertheless.
Sunny just shook his head slightly already used to his partners antics, but was unnerved regardless.
A few minutes later, both Sunny and Sukuna were strapped to a bulky chair that looked like the mix between a hospital bed and a torture device. They were in the basement of the police station, with thick armored walls and a formidable vault door. There were several officers by the door holding automatic rifles with grim looks on their faces.
Sukuna looked eerily indifferent to it all and mainly pondered on a few things. What would his nightmare be like? What powers would he attain? Would he ever be able to use cursed energy ever again? And the question that had been plaguing him since he arrived in this world: Would he ever become the strongest ever again?
He was pulled out of his thoughts by the vault door opening and a grey-haired policeman walked in. He had a seasoned face and stern eyes, looking like someone who had seen a lot of terrible things in his life. After checking the restraints, he glanced at his wristwatch and turned to both Sunny and Sukuna as he focused on Sukuna due to his appearance. He has short pink-red hair spiked hair slightly pushed upfront and red eyes. An unusual hair and eye color with the latter being more seen with people from clan valor.
He looked more like his previous vessel, Yuji Itadori. Except unlike him, he was more skinny and a bit pale due to not having much to eat in the outskirts. The policeman refocused on both him and Sunny and asked.
"What are your names, kids?"
Sunny blinked a few times, trying to concentrate, then shifted uncomfortably.
"Sunless."
Sukuna replied in an even tone.
"Ryomen Sukuna."
The officer raised an eyebrow?
"Sunless and Ryomen Sukuna? Strange names you boys have."
Sunny tried to shrug, but found himself unable to move.
"What's so strange about it? At least we have names. Back in the outskirts, not everyone even gets one."
After another yawn, he added:
"It's because I was born during a solar eclipse. My mom had a poetic soul, you see."
The officer turned to Sukuna, wondering if he had anything to say about his name.
Sukuna yawned and simply said in a tired tone. "Convenience."
The officer grunted.
"Do you wish for me to contact your parents?"
Sunny and Sukuna simply shook their head.
"No use, no one will answer."
Sunny spoke for the both of them.
A dark expression crossed the old policeman for a second, then his expression turned serious.
"Alright you two, how long can you last currently."
Sunny yawned and said tiredly, "Not long." The policeman sighed. "Then we don't have time for a full procedure. Tell me boys, what do you know of the Nightmare Spell."
Sunny thought for a bit before responding. "As much as anyone knows about it, I guess." The old policeman proceeded to explain what happened in the Nightmares and how they will encounter both unholy abominations and humans. He also told them to think of the people as illusions instead of real people, which for Sukuna, it didn't matter as he would kill all those who stood in his way no matter what.
Finally, Sukuna couldn't stay awake anymore and close his eyes and surrendered to sleep. In the darkness, a faint voice is heard in his head.
[Aspirant! Welcome to the Nightmare Spell. Prepare for your First Trial…]