Chapter Five: Void
In the crumbling heart of the shrine, Sukuna stood illuminated by the dim, wavering firelight. The air was saturated with the scent of freshly split timber, and distant roars seemed to reverberate through the shadows. His eyes, cold and hard as obsidian, were fixed on the petite figure before him—Tanasuya, the spirit of mercy. He had expected fear, submission, even resignation. But as their eyes interlocked, he found defiance instead. It blazed brightly in her eyes, an inferno fueled by hatred and despair that enthralled him despite his indifference.
Slowly, Sukuna sank to his knees before her, his dark robe cascading around him like a pool of midnight silk. He tilted his head. "You know, I sought to form a pact with you, spirit," he said softly, his tone almost gentle, "but it seems my efforts were misguided." Snatching her by the collar, amusement filled his eyes as she thrashed against his iron grip. Her nails carved crimson furrows into his pale skin, and he reveled in the sweet sting. "You're no benevolent force of nature," he drawled with a sneer. "You're weak."
As he awaited her response, expecting her defiance to wither, her attention abruptly darted upwards. She gazed skyward, her eyes widening as they fixed on a point above his head. "Oh gods," she whispered, voice trembling.
Satisfaction coiled in his stomach as he believed he had finally struck fear into her heart. But before he could revel in his triumph, a powerful gust of wind suddenly engulfed them, whipping chaos through the hall. His expression contorted in surprise as he strained to see what was causing the turmoil.
Through a gaping crevice in the canopy of branches above, the air rushed out, vanishing into a vast, frigid void. Enormous, taloned hands reached out from the darkness, accompanied by an earsplitting shriek that saturated the chamber with devastating sound.
It was earth-shattering. An immense, piercing wail echoed repeatedly, as if a legion of tormented souls were screaming out in unison. It reverberated with rage, fury, and a ravenous hunger that jolted Sukuna to his core. A tidal wave of dread crashed over him, demanding every ounce of his discipline to maintain composure before the ruptured abyss. Clenching his jaw, he managed to remain steady, dropping a hand to the floor to brace himself as a writhing shadow emerged from the rift.
An endless expanse of midnight unfurled above them, devouring every hint of light and warmth. It was a bottomless chasm where the very air seemed to congeal into an oppressive weight.
"Weaver," it rasped, a chilling whisper that seemed to emanate from every shadow. "You cannot hide from me. I have broken your spell, and I will not rest until your light is extinguished."
Sukuna watched as a creature emerged from the abyss, scales drinking in the fading light. Argent eyes gleamed like twin moons, their vertical pupils slicing through the gloom with a deadly glint.
At first, it resembled a serpent, its form overflowing with menace. But with each ripple, the creature shifted, blurring the lines between reptile and man. It sank its massive body from the hole, an impossibly thick coil of rope that gathered over the cracked floor. The creature released a potent stench, an unsettling mix of scorched wood and ice. Sukuna observed it with intense fascination. Was this a shikigami? A creature summoned by a sorcerer? It towered above him, nearly scraping the crumbling ceiling with its diamond-shaped head. Black tendrils wafted around its figure as its large eyes found Tanasuya.
"Your arrogance has kept me imprisoned, but now I shall break free and devour everything you cherish," it vowed in a sibilant hiss. "Your light will flicker and fade before the darkness I unleash."
Though it had no mouth, its voice was a hellish cacophony that rattled through Sukuna's chest. He glanced down at Tanasuya who was gaping at the creature in abject horror.
"Did you summon this wraith?" he demanded of her sharply.
"No," she stammered.
"Well, it seems rather keen on you," he mused.
Sukuna pondered the situation, intrigued by this new development. His mind raced with several questions. What was this creature that had appeared from the darkness? And why was it so fixated on Tanasuya? His eyes darted between the massive beast and the cowering spirit before him. Was she lying to him? It seemed rather convenient that the entity would choose now to close in on them while her life dangled by a thread. Perhaps he had been wrong in thinking he had wasted his time coming to this shrine.
Despite his outward calm, Sukuna couldn't contain the thrill coursing through his veins. The creature's presence was exhilarating, its chilling voice only adding to the rush. He needed to find a way to regain control of the situation, and quickly. His eyes flickered down to Tanasuya once more, taking in her trembling form.
She was clearly terrified, but there was something else there too - a flicker of recognition.
"No," she uttered, shaking her head in horror. "Umi, forgive me but I can't…" tears formed in her eyes, leaking down her cheek. "I can't do what you ask of me. This burden is too great."
A furrow creased his brow, betraying his confusion. Was Tanasuya truly the formidable force the rumors painted her to be, or had he grossly underestimated her strength? Her trembling form and tear-streaked face seemed incongruent with the tales of her prowess. But he pushed aside his confusion, his interest only growing stronger as he focused on the creature before them.
The void advanced, filling the chamber with its imposing presence. "You may have resisted until now, but know this, weaver," it declared with a lethal finality, "your efforts are futile. I am the hunger that gnaws at the edges of existence, the emptiness that devours all in its path! And soon, you will be consumed like all who came before you."
They both flinched as it shed its form and washed over them in a tidal wave of shadows. They were surrounded by true darkness, not just lightlessness, but light consuming, and so cold Sukuna felt it pierce through his body. He couldn't hear anything, but he could feel the darkness screaming, vibrating against his skin. Panic like none he had ever experienced before closed over him like a sheet of ice and he began to sink. The darkness sucked him down like a ravenous mouth, screaming and laughing at the same time. He couldn't even move to defend himself; all he could do was sink and wait as the darkness poured down his throat, consuming everything it touched.
A sudden warmth radiated against him. Looking at Tanasuya, he saw a faint glow beginning to form around her. Her grip on his arm tightened, and he sensed a shift in her energy.
As they remained locked in a vice grip, Tanasuya fell into a limp trance, a glistening cloak of stardust draping her body like a shroud. Her skin radiated with the allure of a thousand fireflies, emitting an ethereal light. The brightest aura emanated from her hands - the same hands still firmly grasping his arm.
A hawk's gaze pierced his, stilling the air in his lungs. Every trace of the girl's fear vanished, replaced by a steely calmness.
You have wandered into my spell, cursed one. She spoke without using her voice, her eyes bright gold. Her gaze emitted a luminous haze, like the shine of a yellow moon against a black sky. You are now a part of this eternal dance and shall now face the fire.
Sukuna felt an intrusion on his mind, a razor-sharp flash of red before a vision unfolded before him, a figure of mythic proportions. With six majestic wings of gleaming gold, she stood as a beacon of hope against the encroaching darkness, her spirit unyielding in the face of adversity, a champion of light in a world of shadows.
The vision left him as soon as it appeared, but remnants of her heavenly raiment still seared his eyes with black spots.
Hold fast to your light, she warned him, drawing close. We will make a sacrifice of you yet.
She placed a hand on his chest, and a gold mandala burst between them as she gathered cursed energy into her palm – the thin band of gold on her wrist thrumming with power. The cavity of his chest collapsed, and Sukuna lurched forward onto his knees as he choked. His lifeforce was leaving his body in a torrent, and he doubled over in pain as an immense pressure threatened to crack his ribs from the inside out. His vision blurred and he was short of breath as he wrenched himself free and staggered back onto his knees.
"What in the blazes are you doing to me, wench?" He snarled through gritted teeth, his voice dripping with anger. A bitter laugh escaped him as he eyed her suspiciously. "Trying to bleed me dry? I don't think so."
He lunged forward, fist clenched tight, ready to strike at Tanasuya with the full force of his wrath. But she was too quick, rolling onto her side and delivering a sharp kick to the hollow behind his knee. The blow caused his leg to buckle, giving her the chance to shove against him with all her might, creating enough distance between them to brace for the next attack.
You mistake my intentions. Tanasuya replied, serene as still water. I seek not to bleed you dry, but to free you from the shackles of your own darkness. Allow me to unburden you.
Gossamer threads stretched taut at her fingertips. His gaze dropped to the shimmering disc pulsating above his heart and realized he was tethered like prey snared on a hook. She splayed her hands, grasping the threads and drawing them tightly toward her, causing the mandala to flare blindingly bright.
Sukuna let out a string of expletives as he felt his power being drained even more rapidly. Two ribs splintered under the crushing pressure and the coppery tang of blood surged up his throat. In a paroxysm of rage, he lifted a finger, intending to rend her in two. But an identical mandala bloomed across her chest, swallowing the blow.
For the first time, he faltered.
Your power won't get you very far here, she said with a tilt of her head, for how can lead compete with gold?
She harnessed his power, transmuting it into an uncanny, lambent essence he struggled to comprehend. She had used it before to conjure creatures from the ether, turn solid bedrock to liquid, and set the shrine ablaze, yet it behaved unlike any sorcery he knew. It lacked the ruinous force that cursed energy wielded; instead, it felt boundless and incorporeal. As she gathered his power like spun threads, looping them into more substantial strands of gold, he watched in disbelief as the shallow gash on her hand knitted together and all her other injuries evaporated. This was no reverse cursed technique he had ever witnessed.
Who was this woman?
Her illusions had seemed too trifling to warrant further scrutiny, but as she stood before him now in her deadly radiance, he began to reconsider his indifference.
Tanasuya turned to face the void. A line of gold traced down her body, replacing her torn chihaya with a red and black tunic and gilded trousers. Her hair, wild and windswept, obscured her face, but her stance exuded perfect calm.
I will not be cowed by your threats, curse, she declared, her words resonating through the hall. How many times must we spar before you surrender?
The serpent's hiss pierced the air, a chilling sound that signaled its imminent attack.
"As many times as it takes to break you," it vowed.
Favoring his fractured ribs, Sukuna observed the roiling darkness, his mind aflame with ambition as he coveted the power that danced before him. Shikigami or not, the presence of a threat that could evoke fear in even him was rare and exhilarating. It had been too long since he had tasted the thrill of real danger, the kind that made his heart race and his blood sing with anticipation. For in the black void lay the promise of infinite power – a power that he would do anything to possess.
He coughed, spitting blood onto the stone with a grin.
Tanasuya remained steadfast, her determination unwavering even in the face of overwhelming darkness. With a graceful flourish, she conjured a sheet of gold that rippled through the air like molten sunlight. Static electricity danced and crackled around them, and Sukuna felt his skin prickle as the air pressure plummeted. He watched in disbelief as she stretched the radiant fabric into a translucent veil, so delicate it seemed to hang by a mere wisp. Swiftly, she cast the veil across the ceiling, forming a barrier against the gaping black holes that threatened to consume them.
"You think your power can hold me, weaver?" The serpent unleashed a deafening bellow, its black fangs gnashing as it hurled itself against the golden barrier with single-minded fury. Yet the veil held fast, its light flaring in defiant brilliance, as if to taunt the darkness itself.
Sukuna had made his decision. He would subjugate both woman and serpent, claiming their power for his own. Light and darkness were mere tools to be wielded, their potential for destruction a canvas upon which he would paint his dominance.
Disregarding the broken ribs grinding in his chest, he stood tall, his hands coming together as he whispered with relish, "Domain expansion."
In an instant, a small Buddhist shrine rose from the center of the hall; a grotesque tribute to darkness adorned with demonic symbols and twisted figures. Sinister bull skulls and horns floated ominously on the murky waters surrounding the shrine, casting eerie shadows across its surface.
The roof of the shrine was adorned with protruding horns and dangling human skulls, creating a macabre spectacle that sent shivers down the spines of all who beheld it. The four entrances to the shrine were formed by grotesque mouths, their human-like teeth gnashing and tongues lolling in a grotesque mockery of life.
Sukuna was pleased to discover his domain bore little resistance as it emerged within the enchanted shrine. His awareness expanded with it, stretching out in a vast radius that surpassed the very mountain upon which they stood. A throne of bones and decay settled over a pool of inky blackness, a testament to his uninhibited power.
"Now this is far more interesting," he remarked, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "Allow me to join in on the fun."
He sauntered forward, the air ripe with both anticipation and the cloying sweet stench of decay. The golden barrier had been breached, and the serpent slithered towards the shrine with a depraved glee in its eyes. Its dark tendrils reached out, eager to seize anything within its grasp.
Tanasuya maintained her stance, her deft fingers manipulating the gossamer threads of the golden veil at her command. With a show of force, she wove the fabric into intricate patterns that began to blaze with brilliant light. The radiance pulsed and crackled, permeating the air with a tingling sensation.
The serpent, however, was not deterred. It locked on Sukuna for the first time, a sinister grin twisted its reptilian features. "Ah," it hissed in appreciation, "how kind of you to provide me my first meal."
It lunged, its massive body writhing in an attempt to engulf him.
Sukuna unleashed a maelstrom of invisible blows in reaction, each strike aimed with lethal precision. He no longer held back, reveling in the euphoric rush as cursed energy gushed to rejuvenate his body. This was what he lived for - the thrill of battle, the intoxicating surge of power flooding his veins as he faced formidable foes in a struggle for supremacy.
His strikes were relentless, each one packing the force of a battering ram as invisible blades of cursed energy sliced through the air, leaving carnage in their wake. And yet, maddeningly, the serpent remained unscathed. It coiled around Sukuna, enveloping him in its umbral embrace. The serpent's scales twined around his limbs, its tendrils of pure spite strangling the very breath from his lungs.
"It's been an eternity since I savored a mortal soul," the serpent gloated, as if coveting a fine delicacy, "especially one as youthful and tormented as yours. I'll take pleasure in devouring you gradually, relishing your agony for as long as I've gone hungry." It leaned its monstrous jaws close to Sukuna, displaying an endless throat of serrated teeth. It tightened its grasp, causing Sukuna to wince with pain as his ribcage threatened to shatter further.
Suddenly, Tanasuya materialized. Her hand shot out to grab Sukuna's collar, yanking him free from the serpent's cruel grip.
Enough, her voice cut through the chaos like a blade. She pressed two fingers into Sukuna's back, a shockwave rippling through his body. This is not your battle to fight. Your meddling will only give rise to chaos.
Sukuna turned, his arrogance burning bright. "You have no power over me," he spat, contempt dripping from his words. "Have you forgotten your own weakness?"
Her response was composed, tinged with bemusement. Our perspectives on weakness differ greatly, she countered. Perhaps it's time you gained some insight.
Tanasuya's counterstrike was swift and exacting, her fingers nimbly manipulating the golden threads that cracked through the air like whips under her command. Ephemeral bloom, she intoned, molding her hands into a sacred mudra.
Countless celestial spheres burst forth in a dizzying array of intricate mandalas that pulsed with vibrations so intense it made Sukuna's bones tremble.
The veil continued its low, guttural hum. The serpent, caught unprepared, found itself ensnared within the golden threads, which constricted around its body in an unbreakable vice. But it would not submit. Not yet. Stretching itself to an impossible length, it retreated towards the gaping fault in the ceiling. Tanasuya was dragged forward along with it, her golden aura bleeding into the darkness. She struggled to maintain her footing on the crumbling edge.
"You can't seal me, weaver! I made to strike the moment I sensed your fear," it hissed. "Each time we meet, a piece of you succumbs to my wrath. Your demise is inevitable!"
Silence, Tanasuya ordered, straining against its hold.
"I've evolved beyond your seal - feasting on the souls of your loved ones," it seethed, thrashing against her grip. "You won't be able to hold me back forever!" It drew her nearer, well within striking distance. "This world will soon be mine."
Tanasuya clenched her jaw, patience fraying. I said, silence!
A blinding explosion of white light bathed the hall, forcing Sukuna to shield his eyes. When the brightness subsided and reality reestablished itself, he lowered his arm, anticipating a scene of devastation.
But it was Tanasuya who remained standing, gazing down at the mound of black scales heaped limply at her feet. The golden shroud enveloped the creature in a luminous cocoon, its darkness at bay against the pure light blazing from within. Sukuna seized the chance and lunged, aiming a lethal blow at her unguarded back.
Temporal resonance, she murmured softly.
In an instant, everything froze as if suspended in time. The air around them twisted under immense pressure as their surroundings started to dissolve into a warped version of reality. A thousand threads looped around Sukuna's hands and neck, holding him captive in this altered state. He watched helplessly as his dominion faded away into oblivion. The oppressive pressure threatened to rip apart the fabric of their reality, a raw and visceral power tamed only by Tanasuya's unyielding will.
You deem yourself invincible, she observed, her voice steady yet firm, but you are merely a pawn in a much grander scheme. Your lust for power blinds you to your own weakness.
Sukuna snarled, her words striking a nerve within him. "You have no idea what I'm capable of," he hissed through his teeth, defiance flashing in his eyes.
Oh, but I do, Tanasuya replied evenly. I have seen it firsthand - your hunger for destruction knows no bounds. And yet…She paused, surveying the wreckage of the shrine, the limp serpent, the rubble of splintered timber and cracked stone. Lastly, she focused on the mandala still hovering above his heart, her golden eyes fixated on something he couldn't see. She seemed to have reached a decision. You are more than this hatred inside you. There is still light. Her hawk's gaze met his, hidden machinations burning brightly behind her eyes that seemed to see straight through him. We ought to put it to good use, she whispered.
Sukuna tensed at her words, fighting back a snarl.
What will you decide, I wonder? she said, her voice soft yet commanding. Will you cling to your arrogance and remain in the dark, or will you embrace your vulnerability and discover true strength?
For an instant, uncertainty flickered in Sukuna's eyes. But then, with a snarling roar of defiance, he summoned forth cursed energy. As his power surged, the golden threads blazed incandescent, enveloping him in blinding radiance. With a bellow of rage, he was dragged into the vortex, his essence unraveling within its grasp.
When the time comes, Tanasuya's voice echoed, you will have a choice to make. Until then, I bid you luck, Ryomen Sukuna.
A/N: This was originally planned to be included in chapter four, but I needed more breathing room as all three of these characters are on the verge of being OP.
Thank you so much for reading!
Until next time,
Lavendermoonmilk