Chapter 3: Beacon

Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction based on existing works. All original characters and plotlines are my creation, but I do not claim ownership of any pre-existing characters or content. All rights to these pre-existing works belong to their original creators. This is a non-profit work created solely for the enjoyment of fans, and no copyright infringement is intended.

The sound of fists hitting flesh and bones breaking echoed through the rooftop. The early morning sun cast a faint light over the scene of carnage, where dozens of twisted and grotesque creatures lay scattered on the floor. Some were still twitching; others were motionless. In the center of it stood a young man with black hair and a scarred face, breathing heavily. He was Mori, and he was fighting a bunch of cursed spirits with his bare hands.

"Hey, Hwan-Seok," he said, addressing the voice in his head. "Don't you think we've had enough of this crap? We've been dealing with these things for three days straight."

Hwan-Seok, his evil copy, answered with a wicked grin. "What's the matter, Mori?" Hwan-Seok asked. "Don't you enjoy smashing these ugly bastards? Besides, it's not like we have a choice. Our body is oozing with negative energy like a nuclear reactor. We're like a beacon for these spirits. They can smell us from miles away."

Mori clenched his fists and glared at the remaining spirits that circled him. He hated Hwan-Seok, but he had to admit that he was right. Ever since he awakened his power, he had been attracting cursed spirits like flies to honey. He didn't know why or how, but he knew that he had to fight them off or they would kill him.

"Speaking of power," Mori said, changing the subject. "You never told me what you can do. You said you have some special abilities that I don't."

Hwan-Seok snorted and retorted, "You never asked me what you needed."

Mori felt a surge of anger and frustration at Hwan-Seok's words. It didn't help that the screaming and moaning of the spirits kept grating his nerves.

"Shut up!" Mori shouted as he charged at the nearest spirit and punched it in the face. The spirit's head exploded like a watermelon, spraying blood and guts everywhere. Mori didn't stop there. He moved on to the next one, and the next one, until none were left standing.

He sat down on the rooftop's edge, taking a deep breath. He felt exhausted and sore from the fight. He wiped the sweat and blood from his forehead and looked at the horizon.

"Wow, Mori," Hwan-Seok said sarcastically. "You're amazing. You really showed them who's boss. Congratulations."

Mori ignored him and closed his eyes.

"Hey, Mori," Hwan-Seok continued, sounding amused. "You missed one."

Mori opened his eyes and turned his gaze to where Hwan-Seok was pointing. He saw a small spirit making a run for it, trying to escape from the rooftop.

Mori considered going after it but decided against it. He was too tired and hungry to chase it down. Besides, it was just one spirit. It wouldn't make much difference.

"Let it go," Mori said, lying down on the floor. "I need some rest."

Hwan-Seok laughed and said, "Fine by me. But don't blame me if it comes back with reinforcements."

Mori didn't reply. He closed his eyes again and tried to sleep.

He hoped that tomorrow would be a better day.

Mori's eyes shot open as an ominous presence washed over him, jolting him from his brief moment of respite. It was as if a dark cloud had suddenly cast a shadow over the rooftop.

Hwan-Seok's voice buzzed with excitement in Mori's head. "Oh, Mori, the main character's finally here! This is going to be fun!"

Mori blinked, still groggy from the fight and his exhaustion. He scratched his head and mumbled, "Main character? Who's that again?"

Hwan-Seok let out an exasperated sigh, his voice dripping with irritation. "Itadori Yuuji!"

Mori frowned, his memory failing him. "Itadori Yuuji? That name doesn't ring a bell."

Hwan-Seok's annoyance grew, and he tried to jog Mori's memory. "Pink hair, vessel of Sukuna, total dumbass."

Mori's brow furrowed, but he shook his head. Sorry, I'm still drawing a blank."

Hwan-Seok's frustration reached its peak, and he yelled, "Jennifer Lawrence!"

Mori's eyes lit up in recognition. "Oh, Jennifer Lawrence! Yeah, I remember now."

Hwan-Seok sighed in relief, thinking Mori had finally gotten it. "Good, so you know who Yuuji is."

But then Mori's expression shifted to one of confusion. "Wait, who's Yuuji again?"

Hwan-Seok's patience snapped like a rubber band stretched to its limit. He let out a scream of frustration so loud that it sent a psychic shockwave rippling across Japan. Locals scratched their heads, wondering if a new animal had arrived or perhaps a famous actor was shooting a scene nearby. Sorcerers, on the other hand, feared a new cursed spirit had emerged.

And amidst the chaos and confusion, Mori Kang, still clueless about who Itadori Yuuji was, scratched his head and muttered, "Guess I'll find out soon enough."

Inside the abandoned building, a mixture of frustration and bewilderment wafted through the air, mingling with the distant echoes of the city outside. Itadori Yuuji, Nobara Kugisaki, and Megumi Fuushiguro stood amidst the debris, their expressions a blend of annoyance and determination.

Nobara crossed her arms, a scowl tugging at her lips. "I can't believe Gojo-sensei tricked us like this! Seriously, who does that?"

The memory of Gojo's playful voice echoed in Nobara's mind as she recalled his words. "Hey, kiddos, we're heading to Roppongi for a special mission!" only for them to arrive at this abandoned building dripping with cursed energy. Her frustration bubbled over, and she screamed out her vexation, the sound reverberating through the hollow walls.

Itadori glanced at Nobara, concern flickering in his eyes. "Hey, calm down, Nobara. Getting all worked up won't help."

Megumi's voice cut through the tension, his tone pragmatic. "Itadori's right. We need to focus on the task at hand."

Just as their conversation settled into a more subdued tone, a sinister presence suddenly materialized. Sukuna, the cursed spirit trapped within Itadori, manifested himself by conjuring a second eye and mouth on Yuuji's face. He regarded the trio with a mixture of curiosity and nonchalance.

"Interesting," Sukuna drawled, his voice dripping with intrigue. "A powerful curse spirit... no it feels more like a sorcerror."

The three students exchanged startled glances, momentarily forgetting their frustration. Megumi's voice quivered with unease as he spoke. "Who's he talking about?"

Sukuna's question hung in the air, a shroud of uncertainty settling upon them. He seemed to disregard their presence as if they were mere bystanders to his thoughts.

Meanwhile, Megumi extended his senses, attempting to feel the currents of cursed energy in the vicinity. But the effort proved too much for his constitution. He abruptly doubled over, retching violently, his body convulsing.

Itadori rushed to his side, concern etching lines on his face. "Megumi! Are you okay?"

Nobara's eyes widened, her worry evident. "What the hell, Megumi? Is it that bad?"

Megumi managed to straighten up, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. His voice was strained as he spoke, a mix of exhaustion and determination. "Something sinister's around. Powerful. We need to be on guard."

As the tension in the room grew palpable, the three classmates stood together. Itadori Yuuji, Nobara Kugisaki, and Megumi Fuushiguro prepared themselves for whatever challenges lay ahead.

On a different floor of the dilapidated building, Mori Kang found himself engaged in a peculiar conversation with his internal counterpart, Hwan-Seok. As he descended the stairs, his expression was a mix of curiosity and intrigue.

On another floor of the decrepit building, Mori descended the creaking stairs, his footsteps echoing through the desolation. He maintained a casual conversation with Hwan-Seok, their connection transcending the physical world.

"So, negative energy." Mori mused, a hint of curiosity in his voice. "You've been pretty vague about it. What can we do with it?"

Hwan-Seok's disembodied voice sounded contemplative as he replied, "Negative energy's versatile. It's all about your imagination and creativity. There are limits, of course."

Mori raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What kind of limits are we talking about here?"

Hwan-Seok explained, "There are three main ones. First, it's all about how creative you can get with your negative energy. Second, it depends on how much your body can handle and supply. But the third... that's where it gets interesting."

Mori's curiosity was piqued further. "The third limitation? What's that?"

Hwan-Seok's tone turned somewhat ominous. "Vows. Making promises can either empower you or lead to your downfall. It's optional but can be a double-edged sword."

Mori scratched his head, trying to grasp the concept. "How do they work?"

Hwan-Seok launched into an explanation. "Vows are personal. They set limitations on the use of negative energy. But there's no limit on the number of vows or restrictions. Breaking a vow can either give you a massive boost in power or bring grave consequences."

Mori listened attentively, intrigued by the idea. "Give me some examples."

Hwan-Seok didn't hesitate. "Alright, first one: Guy makes a vow to defeat an enemy in one minute. He can't do it, but his stats skyrocket to fulfill the vow."

Mori nodded, starting to understand. "And the second?"

Hwan-Seok continued, "The second guy vowed to use his power not for vengeance until he encountered someone that ruined his whole life. He broke his vow, got a boost, but traded his entire lifespan for it."

Mori blinked at the seriousness of the consequences. "So, vows can be a big gamble."

Hwan-Seok chuckled a hint of mockery in his tone. "Oh, they can be more than that, Mori. Vows can turn you into a monster, a curse. Just be careful not to make promises you can't keep."

Mori absorbed this information, the implications sinking in. Negative energy and vows, it seemed, were a delicate balance of power and consequences. As he continued his descent through the eerie building, he couldn't help but wonder how this newfound knowledge might shape his journey through the multiverse.

Mori's questions flowed naturally, each one a pathway to uncovering the intricacies of negative energy and vows. "Hey, can you undo a vow?" he asked, his tone tinged with curiosity.

Hwan-Seok confirmed Mori's curiosity. "Yeah, it's possible, but it's a royal pain. And honestly, it's not worth it. Undoing a vow weakens whatever technique you've developed with it. Better off making a fresh vow and crafting new techniques."

Mori hummed in thought, his mind turning over the possibilities. A moment later, his decision was made. He closed his eyes and focused inward, a sense of determination radiating from him. A golden skull-shaped aura enveloped his body, crackling with energy before it dispersed like morning mist.

Hwan-Seok's voice dripped with sarcasm. "Oh, how exciting. Your vow and technique are probably the most dangerous and boring I've ever seen."

Mori glanced at his hand, his gaze intense and serious. "Do I look like I care about that?"

Without missing a beat, Mori's focus shifted, and his imagination came to life. A small bar of Snickers materialized in his palm, then transformed into a mouse that darted around, followed by the flicker of a pencil. Each transformation was swift, but Mori's gaze remained unwavering.

Hwan-Seok couldn't resist making another snide remark. "You're really rocking my world with this. Bravo~"

Mori's lips curled into a half-smile, and his imagination took a more explosive turn. Firearms of all shapes and sizes appeared in the air around him, their barrels aimed at the wall. The rhythm of gunfire filled the air as bullets shredded through the wall, reducing it to a cloud of dust and debris.

With a determined glint in his eye, Mori's next experiment was grander. A pebble-sized sun ignited in his palm, its light growing intense before it morphed into a black hole, its gravity warping space around it. And then, just as quickly, it vanished, leaving Mori unharmed.

Hwan-Sweok's voice was full of excitement. "Alright, I take it back. Your vow actually rocks, Mori."