Bony Boy goes to JJK World
-Lots of spoilers on JJK read at your own risk.-
Sukuna's pov
Sand... everywhere Sukuna looked there was sand. The eight-layer was once again a completely unexpected environment for Sukuna. It didn't have any effects like the 7th layer had, which meant that he didn't have to keep a protective layer of cursed energy around him, a huge plus for the player who got there, but there was also nowhere to go. The blue sky meant the sand line on the horizon, that told them they were in a flat desert biome.
"No structures in the distance and an open area... where could the door be? " Geto asked himself. He was helping the king of curses walk, something that he never expected would happen, and was now the only combatant. Whatever awaited in that place, Geto had to fight it alone with a time constraint on top of that.
"Look harder... " Sukuna said. His voice was low and had a hint of pain. Sukuna was trying his best to look powerful so he had to talk back every time he could while pretending to be in control, but even he was spooked by the fact that there was no hint. "Up until now, the goal was either obvious or easy to find, if this layer has a gimmick like I predicted then the fact that we can't find the door is a great thing. The guardian is probably not that strong." Sukuna said.
"Either that or the guardian is a mole or maybe a sand whale... but let's hope that you're right. " Geto said as he started walking in a random direction. Nothing called his attention so there was no need to wait there for too long, but Geto had no idea where to go so he let luck bring him to where he wanted to go.
Geto took a few steps before he heard a very light voice. "You are correct, Intruder. " Geto quickly turned around. He saw a small pink creature with wings and a halo flying right where they were. Beside the creature, stood a door. Sukuna immediately thought that this was the guardian and that was the entrance to the 9th layer, he was so excited about it that he pushed Geto away to allow his teammate to fight.
"Welcome to the 8th layer. I am the 8th layer's guardian, Victim. Pleased to meet you." The guardian said as it spun around in the air mimicking a small bow.
"Something is wrong. "Sukuna said. Once he had a very good look at the supposed guardian, he couldn't believe it since the amount of cursed energy was extremely weak compared to one of the random pop monsters on the previous floor.
"I know. " Geto said. He instantly could tell that the creature in front of him was the guardian. Although weak, it was talking with them after all. "Why are you talking to us? " Geto asked. He believed this was a strategy to either buy time or fool them with a fake guardian. They hadn't seen any guardian pulling something like that yet, but it was a possibility.
Victim spun around in the air once again revealing its exposed belly to them while having no protective cursed energy barrier. It was like the creature wanted to show how comfortable it was around them. "Dammed coocky bastard. " Sukuna said. He slowly got up, but stopped once Geto shook his head.
"It's just a taunt, Sukuna. Remember, something is up here. Don't be too careless. " Geto said. Initially, he was the only one capable of fighting, but now that the guardian revealed itself, it became obvious that even Sukuna could one-shot it. "You're no threat to us. At all. " Geto said as he placed his hands inside his kimono. He crossed his arms and began walking around the creature. "Is killing you a trap? "
Geto half expected to be attacked from a different angle. He had faced Wrath and Guren in the 7th layer which meant that there might exist curses that were more powerful than the guardian, but there was still no reason for revealing themselves like that unless they were a trap or the guardian wanted to be killed. Geto wasn't sure which yet.
"You are very wise and perspective. As expected of the intruders who made it all the way to my floor. " Victim said. The guardian spun around again. "Let's begin the explanation of how the layer works and after that, you can go ahead and do whatever you want. " The guardian said before quickly moving toward the door.
"As you might have guessed, this door does not lead to the 9th layer. It is in fact, the exit. " Victim said before perching on the door with its head.
Geto and Sukuna quickly understood the gravity of the situation. By placing the exit and the guardian right at the beginning of the layer, Ainz showed his intention. Even if you kill the guardian you won't make it anyways so why not just leave.
"That's not an option so speed the damned explanation you flying features. " Sukuna said with disdain and anger in his voice. He wanted to kill the guardian and move on ahead, but if he did that, he feared that he would waste too much time just understanding what the hell he was supposed to do. Of course, he also knew that listening to the explanation was a problem, but he didn't feel like he had a choice.
"The door that leads to the 9th layer is located southeast from here, but if go there you will not see anything. It will only spawn once you kill me. " Victim said.
"And the other curses will pop up too, right? " Geto asked. Revealing one's hand was a powerful binding vow one made with themselves and that was what the 8th layer was about. Not a maze like the first three, or a gigantic boss, not an honest fight, an arena, or even a game of tag like the 7th layer, it was an obstacle race. Once the guardian was killed, you had to make it all the way to the next layer.
There were no tricks and no traps in the explanation. The only problem would be carrying Sukuna while avoiding whatever Ainz could throw at him.
"Correct again, but please wait until the end of the explanation before asking questions. You must understand some things. " Victim said before clearing his throat with a fake cough. "As I was saying, once you kill me the door will spawn. All you have to do is to get there and you enter. There are no traps along the way, no mazes, no structures, and no illusions. The path to the door is also visible from anywhere in the layer so you don't have to worry about where to go. The problem is... how. "
"After my death, 4 guardians like curses will spawn. I say guardians like before have strength similar to a guardian, but killing them is not necessary at all. As long as you pass through the door, you're clear. " Victim said as it flew back to Geto.
'4 guardians will block the way?! 4?! Even if we had the hole them and were at full power... I'm not sure we could make it. ' Geto thought as he saw Sukuna staring at him. He didn't need to hear anything to know what the king of curses was thinking. Geto took a step back. The mission just became an impossibility for him and Sukuna knew it, still, the king of curses didn't want to quit. Geto, however, was about to walk to the exit.
"One extra detail which you must know. After my death, I will place a debuff on you. Think of it as a cursed technique that activates after death. " Victim said before spinning around in the air once more. He did four spins while humming a fanfare theme. "And with that, the explanation is done. I personally don't understand why Lord Ainz wanted me to explain this to you or even why he wanted me to use those words, but since it was an order, I had to fulfill it. Also, asked me to answer anything in more detail if you want to know so feel free to ask anything you want. However, I hope that cursed technique makes sense to you because I can't tell you anything about it. If that happened, I would have failed my mission and Lord Ainz is going to be disappointed." Victim said as he lowered his head.
'A cursed technique that activates after death?! Rare, but can be extremely powerful, especially considering it was something that Ainz cooked up. ' Geto thought. The reasons for him to bail on the plan became even more plentiful.
"What is a debuff?! " Sukuna asked. He had already heard most of the explanation so he was already under the effects of the reveal of one's hand binding vow. Even if he attacked right now, it would still strengthen the other curses that would appear so he decided to learn more about the technique.
"Debuff is affliction type status effect. It will lower your combat capability. How much or how my debuff work precisely is a secret, but you believe that you won't be at 100% until you get out of this layer. Once you make it to the 9th layer though, you're free of its effect. " Victim said.
"What about the curses? What can we-" Geto tried to ask before being interrupted.
"It's a secret. I can't tell you that, sorry. " Victim said while lowering its head.
"You can get more bang for your buck if you tell us about the curses. Anything will increase their strength." Geto said. Of course, It was a small lie. The curses wouldn't get any more powerful by Victim revealing the unless they were somehow linked to the guardian itself like a summoned creature or a shikigami would be, but he didn't have to explain that to something that didn't know what a cursed technique even was. In fact, that detail came in as a shock to Geto. The reasoning behind withholding that information from this guardian but not Demiurge was interesting, but he wouldn't be able to figure it out now so Geto just pushed it back into that thought into the background.
"It's mostly a secret too, but I can tell you that they are powerful and big. They won't attack anyone that stands in the circle that will spawn around the exit only if you try to get to the 9th layer so you can escape if you change your mind. By the way, my debuff will also disappear if you leave the domain so there's no reason to not turn around and run." Victim said as it moved close to Geto. "Any more questions or are you ready to begin the challenge?" Victim was now flying just an arm's reach away from Geto. Once simple slap with cursed energy to boost its power and the guardian would be dead. Geto knew that, but he hesitated.
"Will the debuff affect only the person that kills you?! " Sukuna asked with anger in his voice. The 8th layer could be conquered, he knew it. If he found a way around the debuff and rested until he recovered most of his strength, 4 curses wouldn't be able to hold him back, but he couldn't rest. He couldn't wait. The damned vow he broke on the 7th layer was constantly eating away at him and he would be dead in just a few minutes.
Sukuna could think of a solution for his problem, but he couldn't do that in the domain. He had to leave, but if he did that, he would lose. Geto also hesitated. Once Sukuna asked the question, he knew what the king of curses had in mind, but even if Geto wasn't affected by it, the four guardian-like creatures would still prove to be a challenge for him.
"It will affect your entire team for as long as they are here in the 8th layer. " Victim clarified. The bad situation turned even worst.
Geto turned around and began walking toward the exit. He didn't stop at all until he was standing right in front of the door, he extended his hand and grabbed the bland-looking doorknob. "Kenjaku... " Sukuna said. He wanted to call him out, to convince him to stay somehow, but no words were coming to him. Geto had no obligation to push beyond this point, the contract was fulfilled once the 20 fingers had been eaten. Sukuna knew that Geto only helped him out further because he believed that Sukuna would win.
"Sukuna... we can't do this. The 8th layer, as it stands, is impossible. If we were with Gojo, Yuki, Yuta, Yorozu, you with your full power, and me with my curses, maybe... maybe we could make it with a few losses. But a Sukuna who is dying and struggling with the host for control of the body and me with barely anything at all. It's impossible. " Geto said before opening the door. There was no room beyond it, only darkness, but Geto knew that once he walked through it he would end up outside. "Besides, if you leave, Uraume could take some of the burdens of the backlash onto him. After that, you'll at least survive this. "
Sukuna immediately got up and started yelling at Geto. "If the skeleton curse bitch wins, I'm bound by another vow to face him as soon as he claims victory. He will be supercharged with cursed energy and ready to take me on. My strength won't return even if I did what you're proposing... winning is the only way I have to survive. "
"Then you have already lost. " Geto said before walking through the door. Now alone, Sukuna turned to the guardian and immediately flew toward him.
"Are you ready to start now, intruder? " Victim asked with an innocent intonation not caring for his life at all. Sukuna was left speechless for a moment, Geto had just become an enemy and there was a very good possibility that he would go unpunished.
[Slice]
"Shut up!" Sukuna said before turning around. He swiped his hand in the air creating a motion like a whip before walking south-east.
The guardian felt two huge cuts through its body. "Arg! " Victim recoiled in pain while losing height some height.
"Wait, intruder. You have to kill me before going. " Victim said.
Sukuna immediately stopped. 'What?! ' He thought as he slowly turned around. Victim was hurt, but not dead.
The look of shock and confusion on Sukuna's face was something to behold. For the first time in his life, an opponent who he considered to be a fooder didn't die in one hit. Sukuna stood there with his mouth half open as some sweat droplets ran down his face. Whether they were from the pain, from the effort that he had to do just to keep control of the body, or from the fact that he finally admitted, deep in his heart, that he lost, was something that no one could tell.
Sukuna took a few steps toward Victim. "You are stronger than I thought you were or maybe I messed up on my end. No matter. I'll-"
Sukuna stopped talking once he saw another player appear in front of him. Megumi.
The boy was now free from Demiurge's control and had chased them all the way to the 8th layer. Looking like he had just crawled back from hell, with tears rolling down his face and a hand sign already formed, it was only a matter of spacing for Megumi. Mahoraga slowly appeared from the shadows. The burns in his body told everything Sukuna needed to know. Megumi had deliberately chosen to take damage just so he could save as much cursed energy as possible just to face Sukuna once more.
Sukuna took a small step backward while looking at Victim, he wanted to kill it right away, but the debuff would be too much of a hassle. Megumi would not be affected by it since he belonged to a different team and he hadn't heard the explanation yet so doing that would put Sukuna at a great disadvantage. Escaping or fighting wasn't an option either.
"Boy... " Sukuna said in an angry and annoyed tone. His face slowly turned into that of a growling animal. Sukuna's hands were tied and he knew it. There was only one thing that could possibly improve the situation and even that was not something that he could do himself.
"Welcome to the 8th layer, I'm-"
[Mahoraga]
Megumi ordered his shikigami to strike immediately. The target was the small pink-looking thing that immediately flew toward him. He didn't know what it was and he didn't care, Sukuna was the only thing in his mind.
Mahoraga quickly pierced through the guardian which blew up thanks to the amount of positive cursed energy running into it. 'Sukuna... ' Megumi thought as he continued staring at the king of curses. He took a few steps with blinking until everything suddenly became black.
Megumi stopped right away and placed his hands over his eyes. 'I can't... see?! ' Megumi thought. He couldn't understand what had happened. Whether that was Sukuna's doing or not, it was a massive problem, but Megumi's will was not shaken. His shikigami could still tell him where his Sukuna was and that was all that mattered.
Sukuna's expression immediately soften as he turned his head. A gigantic beam of light flashed in the distance before leaving a huge statue of Ainz Ooal Gown in its place. 'The entrance to the 9th layer! ' Sukuna thought as he started running. He felt his arms weighing him down, his legs were not leaving the floor properly and the sand was making it extra difficult, but he wanted to gain as much space and time as he could before the guardian-like curses appeared. He didn't have to wait much.
One step. After taking a single step outside the safe zone, another four beams of light appeared. "What is this?! " Megumi thought as he sensed four creatures with similar power to that of Gargantua and one with an even greater amount. Not only that, but he also felt his body become numb and every single breath became a struggle. "Mahoraga..."
Megumi called his shikigami back to help him pursue Sukuna, but for some reason, even Mahoraga's movements were sluggish and he couldn't make it all the way before falling to the ground crushed under a mysterious weight.
Sukuna continued running ahead not caring that the beams of light had disappeared signaling that the guardians were now active. That lasted only for a brief second.
With a deafening thud and in a flash, four creatures descended upon Sukuna, using his body as a reference, one in each cardinal direction. the one in front of Sukuna resembled a young human woman wearing a beautiful red kimono with flow petals and details on the sleeves. He could tell that the creature was a powerful cursed spirit, but even as he stared into the face of someone who could now kill him, Sukuna's attention was actually on the one behind him.
The woman quickly lifted her hand as she changed her attention to the creature behind Sukuna. "Lord Ainz ordered us to not kill this one, Rubedo. Isn't that right, King of Curses, Ryomen Sukuna... " The curse didn't finish her sentence as she already had her answer. Even without a shadow of his power, she could tell that the intruder in front of her held two different souls. "Are you going to turn around and give up willingly or do you want us to beat you up first? "
Sukuna couldn't believe the audacity and the arrogance in the woman's voice. Even though he was in a disadvantaged situation, he couldn't help but laugh in her face. "I get to choose? How accommodating of you. "
The woman bowed before saying, "You may be an intruder, but since Lord Ainz ordered to spare you, I'll extend a privilege and treat you like a guest. "
"What do you think the answer will be? Filthy cursed spirit. " Sukuna said as he took a defensive fighting stance.
"Something extremely stupid, no doubt. " The woman said as she slowly raised her hand. "Rubedo, don't attack directly. The intruder can't handle your strikes. Ootoshi, Uka no Mitama, restrain the intruder and then throw him through the exit gate. "