A/N at the end of the chapter

TW: Blood and injury


CHAPTER 8

{POV: Suzue Kujou}

Suzue's breath hitched as she took in the full scope of the situation. Her red eyes, usually so composed, now widened in sheer horror as the cursed energy emanating from the building crashed over her like a wave. The oppressive weight of it was almost suffocating, and for a moment, she felt herself teeter on the brink of panic. But there was no time to succumb to fear.

The worst had happened. Of course, it had. This had been the higher-ups' plan all along, a trap meticulously laid out, and she had walked right into it. Hoping for a different outcome had been nothing short of naive. The bitter taste of betrayal stung her, but she couldn't afford to dwell on it.

With a swift, almost mechanical motion, Suzue reached up and tied her hair into a small ponytail, the shorter strands framing her face. The gesture was both practical and symbolic—she was ready for the battle ahead, no matter how grim the odds. Her mind raced, each thought sharper and more focused than the last.

Yuji. Megumi. Nobara. They were still inside, trapped within the cursed domain. Time was slipping away, and every second that passed diminished their chances of survival. She had to act, and she had to act now.

Suzue wasn't a seasoned strategist, nor was she a warrior in the traditional sense. And she certainly wasn't Satoru Gojo, the indomitable force who could have dismantled this situation with a flick of his wrist. But she was strong, and her cursed technique was formidable—extremely versatile and devastatingly powerful when unleashed to its full potential. She had confidence in that, even if she didn't have the luxury of careful planning or the reassurance of invincibility. This was no time for doubt. She had to rely on her instincts and brute force.

She turned abruptly, her eyes locking onto Ijichi, who stood a short distance away, visibly shaken by the sheer malevolence radiating from the building. His face was pale, beads of sweat forming on his brow as he tried to steady himself against the overwhelming energy.

Suzue didn't waste time with pleasantries. «Call a medical team. Get them here as soon as possible.»

Her voice was steady, but it carried an urgency that brooked no argument. She didn't wait for his response—she knew Ijichi well enough to trust that he would follow through. He might have been overwhelmed, but he wasn't incompetent. As she sprinted toward the building entrance, she heard him shout something after her, but the words were lost to her as the roaring in her ears intensified. All she could think about was getting to those students before it was too late.

As she approached the building, Suzue forced herself to calm down, pushing aside the adrenaline and fear that threatened to cloud her judgment. Her eyes narrowed as she studied the structure, searching for any weaknesses, any signs that could give her an advantage. The cursed energy was dense, but there was something off about it—something incomplete. And then she saw it: the domain was unfinished, its boundaries not fully formed. The barrier that should have sealed the building in an impenetrable prison was missing. Relief flooded through her, though it was tinged with caution. This meant that the special-grade curse lurking inside was still in its infancy—powerful, yes, but inexperienced. It hadn't yet mastered the art of creating a full domain, and that was a critical weakness she could exploit.

But she couldn't afford to let her guard down. An incomplete domain was a double-edged sword: while it might lack the full scope of its deadly potential, it was still a domain, and the curse within was still immensely dangerous. The absence of a sure-hit effect gave her some breathing room, but it also meant that the curse might lash out in unpredictable ways. The thought of facing that raw, untamed power didn't deter her. If anything, it sharpened her resolve. She could enter the building without worrying about breaking through a barrier, but that also meant she had no protection once inside.

It would be just her, alone, against whatever horrors awaited within. She wouldn't be alone for long. She had to find the students, get them out, and then deal with the curse if necessary. Her hands, though steady, tightened into fists, feeling the familiar surge of her cursed energy crackling just beneath the surface. It was time to put everything on the line.

Suzue's mind raced as she carefully navigated the treacherous corridors of the building, her senses on high alert. The silence was oppressive, almost unnatural, as if the very air around her was conspiring to muffle any sound, to obscure any sign of life. The cursed energy that had been so potent outside the building now seemed to have dissipated, leaving her in an eerie void where nothing felt real.

When she realized that the entrance she had just come through had disappeared, her stomach twisted with dread. This was no ordinary building; the curse's domain had warped it into a twisted reality of its own making. It was a nightmare come to life, designed to disorient and confuse, stripping away every advantage a sorcerer might have.

"So this is the curse's innate domain… A labyrinth meant to disorient those who enter by nullifying their senses and the perception of cursed energy." she thought, her mind racing to adapt to the new reality.

The realization that she couldn't sense the curse's location sent a shiver down her spine. The thought of it lurking somewhere, hidden and waiting, ready to strike when she least expected it, was terrifying.

Suzue continued to move cautiously down the corridor that stretched before her, gradually picking up speed. As she advanced, she thought about her cursed technique, figuring out the best way to use it: Divine Flames allowed her to manipulate and shape highly destructive flames, molding them into any form she desired and adjusting their power at will. When these flames were let loose, they burned everything in their path and fed on her vast reserves of cursed energy. Additionally, they could consume any other cursed energy they encountered.

It wasn't complicated: an inexorable fire that devoured everything and fed on cursed energy.

A curse or an inexperienced sorcerer attacked by those flames who tried to defend themselves with cursed energy or cursed techniques would only speed up their own demise.

Suzue used her cursed technique to shape the fire into a long, slender staff in her hands. She was small and physically weak; she needed to rely on ranged attacks to have an advantage. Plus, being made of flames, the weapon had no weight, making it perfect for her lack of physical strength. If the curse appeared suddenly, a quick touch with that improvised weapon would start to consume it with her flames.

The staff crackled with energy, casting flickering shadows on the walls as she advanced. It was a reassuring presence in her hands, a tangible reminder of her strength and her ability to protect.

The thought of using her flames to consume the curse if it attacked gave her some comfort, but she knew the risks. Divine Flames were powerful, yes, but they were also dangerous. If she lost control, if she let her concentration slip for even a moment, those flames could turn against her and anything—or anyone—nearby. Suzue herself had suffered minor burns over time, but her growing control over the technique now allowed her to be immune to the flames.

But what choice did she have? She had to rely on her cursed technique if she wanted to stand a chance against the special-grade curse. The stakes were too high to play it safe.

As she moved deeper into the building, Suzue's unease grew with every step. The hallways seemed endless, each turn leading to another corridor that looked just like the last. It was disorienting, and she had to fight to keep her sense of direction. The bloodstains on the walls and the mutilated bodies of the prisoners told her that the curse had already begun its rampage. The sight was gut-wrenching, but she forced herself to push past it. She couldn't afford to let the horror of the scene paralyze her.

She felt a pang of panic creeping into her mind; she hadn't encountered anyone, human or otherwise, still alive, and it didn't sit well with her. Then, as she rounded a corner, she saw it—a flash of movement in the darkness. Her instincts kicked in, and she raised her staff, ready to strike. But just as she was about to unleash her flames, she recognized the form before her.

Megumi's shikigami stood before her, its dark form a stark contrast to the dim light of her staff. Relief flooded through her. If the shikigami was here, then Megumi couldn't be far behind. Suzue lowered her weapon, her heart still racing from the near-attack.

"Divine dog...?" Suzue thought, feeling a glimmer of hope.

«...Can you take me to your master?» she asked, her voice a mix of hope and desperation.

The shikigami seemed to understand, giving a slight nod before turning and dashing down another corridor. Suzue followed, her steps quickening as she clung to the hope that she was close to finding at least one of her students.

The corridors blurred as she ran, her breath coming in quick bursts, her stamina already waning. The fear of what she might find kept her going, though, and after what felt like an eternity, she finally saw him.

Megumi was running toward her, his expression as serious as she had ever seen it. Relief washed over her, but it was tempered by the grim look in his eyes. Whatever had happened here, it had shaken him.

As they met in the middle of a small atrium, Suzue took a moment to catch her breath, leaning on her staff for support. Her eyes scanned Megumi's face, searching for any sign of injury or distress.

She noticed the blood on his temple, but he was alive, and for that, she was grateful.

One out of three.

Megumi was panting heavily, his breath ragged. It was clear he had been in a fight—or at least tried to hold his own against something far more powerful. Suzue felt a wave of protectiveness wash over her. For three first-year students to face a special-grade curse and survive was no small feat. The terror they must have felt was unimaginable.

«Kujou-san, we tried to get out as you said, but this place turned into a labyrinth and… that curse didn't give us a break.»

His voice was strained, a mix of frustration and fear that he was barely managing to keep under control. Suzue shook her head, her tone gentle but firm as she reassured him.

«Don't worry, you did your best. Sorry to rush, but time is against us. Where are the others?»

She wanted to check on Megumi's injuries more thoroughly, to ensure he was truly okay, but there was no time. Two students were still missing, and every second counted. She couldn't afford to relax, not even for a moment.

Megumi nodded toward another shikigami—a giant frog—that was following him. As the creature approached, it opened its large mouth slightly, revealing Nobara inside, unconscious but alive. Suzue let out a sigh of relief. Two out of three.

But then she saw the shadow that crossed Megumi's face. She had already guessed what it meant, but still, she found the courage to ask.

«…Yuji?» She held her breath, waiting for Megumi's response. He hesitated, struggling to find the words.

«He... he stayed behind to give us an escape route. He held off that curse so I could save Kugisaki.»

Megumi's voice was filled with frustration, his self-reproach evident. He had left his friend to face a monstrous task alone, and the guilt weighed heavily on him.

Suzue felt her heart sink. Of course, Yuji had stayed behind. It wasn't about the higher-ups' schemes or the mission they had given her. Yuji was reckless, always putting others before himself, regardless of the danger. And now, that selflessness might have cost him his life.

She bit her lip, forcing herself to stay calm. This was a huge problem, but panicking wouldn't solve anything.

Suzue turned her attention back to Megumi, meeting his eyes with a look of steely determination. She needed to convey some sense of security in this dire situation, to assure him that they still had a chance.

«Megumi, your Divine Dogs seem to navigate here... get Nobara out quickly. This is an incomplete domain, once you find the exit there won't be any barriers blocking you. Ijichi has already alerted the medical team; they'll be waiting outside. »

Without wasting another moment, she moved past him, her grip on the flaming staff tightening. She knew what she had to do, even if it terrified her.

«And Itadori?!» Megumi's voice echoed after her, filled with a mix of fear and hope.

Suzue didn't turn around, her gaze fixed ahead. Her lip trembled slightly, but she forced herself to speak, hoping she could keep her promise.

«I'll get him out.»

"...if I can find him before it's too late" she added mentally, clenching her fists. The odds were stacked against her, but she couldn't let herself think about that. She had to focus on finding Yuji and getting him out alive.

She took off running out of the cramped atrium, hearing Megumi's footsteps receding in the opposite direction. She could only hope that he and Nobara would make it out unscathed, that they wouldn't encounter more danger along the way.

Suzue's heart pounded in her chest as she raced through the corridors, her mind consumed with one thought: finding Yuji. He had already spent too much time at the mercy of a special-grade curse, and every passing second made her fear the worst. The cursed energy in the air was thick and oppressive, making it hard to breathe, but she pushed through, her determination stronger than the fear gnawing at her.

When she was sure she was far enough from Megumi, Suzue decided to execute her plan—one that wasn't strategic but brutal. If the building had turned into a labyrinth, she would start tearing down the walls one by one until she found either Yuji or the curse.

It was dangerous, reckless even, but it was the only way she could think of to save him.

She cloaked herself in a thin but effective layer of fire, an armor that was almost transparent except for a faint red-orange glow. It would protect her from debris and soften any surprise attacks, allowing her to move more freely.

Suzue focused on the wall to her left, channeling cursed energy into her left hand. It was a technique she had mastered, one of the few legacies from the Kujou clan—a fireball, compressed into a small, concentrated sphere of flames. She aimed the fireball at the wall and launched it with precision. The flames, so tightly contained within the sphere, exploded on contact, causing the wall to collapse in a cascade of debris. The entire building shook from the force of the explosion.

Suzue observed the gaping hole she had created, her flame armor protecting her from the falling debris. But she knew she needed to be more careful; the power of the next blast would have to be moderated to avoid bringing down the entire structure on top of her.

There was no sign of Yuji or the curse. Suzue stepped through the hole and continued down another path. She stopped again and repeated the process, tearing down wall after wall, but still, there was no sign of Yuji. Frustration gnawed at her. It felt like she was wasting precious time, running in circles, and depleting her cursed energy with each blast. But she couldn't stop now. She had to find him.

She tried a new direction, entering a large, empty hall. She prepared another blast, this time aiming directly at the floor. The floor crumbled beneath her feet, and she fell into the void along with the debris, plummeting into what seemed like a vast atrium.

And there, finally, she saw it: the special-grade curse, grotesque and humanoid, its massive form towering. It was much larger and more intimidating than she had expected. The air was thick with its dark, malevolent energy, each pulse of cursed power sending a wave of dread through her. Her heart skipped a beat, and for a brief moment, the sheer enormity of the situation threatened to overwhelm her. But she forced herself to remain calm, her gaze quickly scanning the room, desperate to locate Yuji.

There he was, slumped against a wall, motionless and covered in blood. The sight of him sent a jolt of fear through her, her breath catching in her throat as she took in the severity of his injuries. Blood poured from his head, his arm ending in a gruesome stump where his hand had once been, and numerous other wounds marred his body. He was alive, but only just.

Mid-air, Suzue concentrated some flames beneath her, not too powerful, just enough to cushion her landing. The small explosion of concentrated flames propelled her downward, allowing her to land with minimal impact. Her flame armor absorbed the brunt of the force, leaving her with only a few superficial scratches.

She hit the ground in a crouch, her eyes locked on the curse before her. Now that she was closer, Suzue could clearly perceive the cursed energy she had sensed from outside the domain.

She felt herself waver. Now that she was face to face with the special-grade curse, alone, her determination began to crumble. Her hands started trembling slightly, and she began to doubt she could handle such a dangerous situation by herself. Her mind raced as she took stock of the situation. The curse was advancing toward Yuji with an irregular, almost infantile gait, emitting strange, unsettling sounds. It seemed ignorant of her presence, its focus entirely on the defenseless boy. She couldn't let it reach him. Without hesitating, she propelled herself forward with flames, the fiery bursts under her feet launching her toward the curse. As she passed it, she swung her staff, igniting the curse's leg in flames as she positioned herself between Yuji and the creature.

The curse howled in pain as its leg was consumed by Suzue's flames, its cursed energy fueling the fire instead of extinguishing it. For a moment, Suzue allowed herself a sliver of hope—maybe this would be enough. But her relief was short-lived.

A sharp pain in her shoulder brought her back to reality. She glanced down to see a fresh deep cut, blood seeping through her clothes. It wasn't deep, but it was enough to remind her that this curse was faster and more dangerous than she had anticipated. She hadn't even seen it strike.

"Damn, it's fast. I didn't even notice." Suzue's eyes widened in horror as she watched the curse regenerate so effortlessly. Sweat beaded on her forehead as she realized the full extent of what she was up against. "Inexperienced, my ass… This curse is more insane than it seemed."

The curse fought with a reckless abandon, throwing its full weight and power behind each move. Suzue knew it couldn't sustain such intense regeneration indefinitely, but she also knew that she couldn't afford to go all out with Yuji so close to the fight. She needed to draw the curse away from him, to find a way to create distance between them.

Before she could act, the curse lunged at her with terrifying speed. Suzue barely managed to raise her staff in time, blocking the attack, but the force of the blow sent her skidding back, sparks flying as her flames clashed with the curse's raw power. She dug in her heels, refusing to be overpowered.

Using the momentum of the curse's attack, Suzue pivoted and counterattacked, spinning her staff with deadly precision. Each strike landed with a burst of fire, but the curse seemed unfazed, its grotesque form absorbing the damage as it pressed its assault.

The curse quickly changed tactics, moving so fast that Suzue couldn't track it with her eyes—only her senses. It darted behind her, aiming once again for Yuji.

Reacting on pure instinct, Suzue slammed her staff into the ground, channeling her cursed energy into the earth. Flames erupted along the floor, forming a fiery barrier between Yuji and the curse. The wall of fire flared up, forcing the curse to retreat, its arm catching fire and sending it into a frenzied panic.

But Suzue's victory was short-lived. That was the breaking point. The moment she saved Yuji, she felt the consequences of her actions. The binding vow imposed on her by the Zenin clan struck with a vengeance. The invisible chains wrapped around her soul tightened, squeezing the air from her lungs and paralyzing her. Her legs buckled, and she collapsed to her knees, gasping for breath.

The staff slipped from her grasp, clattering to the ground as Suzue struggled to regain control of her body. She watched in horror as the curse, having cut off its burning limb and regenerated once more, advanced toward them with an almost mocking gait. It was as if it knew she was powerless to stop it.

"I have to get up… I have to get up…"

But no matter how hard she tried, Suzue couldn't move. The backlash from the binding vow held her in place, her muscles trembling with the effort to resist. The curse's shadow loomed over her, its twisted form a harbinger of death. Blood dripped from her shoulder wound, pooling beneath her, each drop a reminder of how little time she had left.

"Is this... the end?" Despair threatened to consume her as she watched the curse draw closer, its malevolent energy pressing down on her like a weight she couldn't lift."What did I expect? Someone like me couldn't hope for a different outcome…"

The image of Satoru flashed in her mind—his confident smile, the trust he had placed in her. She had promised to do her best, to protect the students, to stand her ground. But now, all she felt was helplessness. The contrast between the determination she had shown him and the despair she felt now was a bitter pill to swallow.

This was far from her best. Succumbing to that annoying binding vow's will wasn't what she considered her best. She had to find the strength to fight back, at least to save Yuji. She had to stand, to fight, to prove that she wasn't just a victim of circumstance but a force to be reckoned with.

With immense effort, Suzue forced her trembling hands to move, trying to conjure her flames once more. The pain in her body intensified, her vision blurring as she fought against the suffocating grip of the binding vow. The flames sputtered to life, flickering weakly as if mirroring her waning strength. The heat scorched her hands, but she gritted her teeth, refusing to let the pain break her focus.

Suzue gathered all her strength and willpower; she would fight to the last breath against that binding vow. Her body was trembling, every muscle tensed with the effort to resist the crushing force pressing down on her. The flames sputtered and flickered as if reflecting her own wavering resolve. She could feel the heat licking at her skin, slightly burning her hands; the pain was sharp, but it was the panic disrupting her concentration that truly hindered her.

«I'm not done yet.» she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible over the pounding of her heart and the curse's heavy footsteps.

Suzue, however, had miscalculated; she hadn't considered an important and highly unpredictable element. When she realized it, it was already too late.

Before she could unleash her flames, something changed. The atmosphere in the building shifted, growing darker and more oppressive. The cursed energy became almost suffocating, a malevolent aura that seemed to drain the life from the room.

Suzue froze, every instinct screaming at her to stay still. The presence that filled the space was overwhelming, radiating a power so immense that it eclipsed everything else. Her heart pounded in her chest, each beat like a death knell as she realized the true nature of the threat.

The special-grade curse, which had been so confident moments ago, now recoiled in fear. Its grotesque features twisted into an expression of bewilderment, its cursed energy faltering as it tried to comprehend the new presence.

Behind her, Yuji—or rather, his body—began to move and approached her back.

The change in his demeanor was immediate. His movements were no longer weak and sluggish but fluid and controlled. Suzue felt a cold shiver run down her spine as she sensed the shift in the cursed energy around him. He leaned in close to her ear, his voice low and mocking, sending waves of terror through her. The cold breath against her skin made her blood run cold.

«Come on, don't tell me you need a hand… Kaede.»

Before Suzue could react, the special-grade curse was sliced apart, its body disintegrating into nothingness before her eyes. The sheer speed and power of the attack left her reeling, her mind struggling to comprehend what had just happened.

But there was no relief in the destruction of the curse. Suzue's heart sank as she realized that the real danger had only just begun.

The true nightmare had arrived.


A/N

I feel so AWFUL at writing battle scenes, but you'll have to bear with me for a few more chapters.

Poor Suzue, she already had a big problem on her hands, and now an even bigger one has appeared. Oh well, let's see how she handles it!

Facts:

One thing I like about Jujutsu Kaisen is that they don't get too caught up in explaining techniques unless it's absolutely necessary. Some things are just left there to die, like Satoru's teleportation.

I wanted to stick to that approach, but I'll take a few lines here to better explain the functioning of Suzue's cursed technique as I've imagined it.

It's simply fire that she can generate and manipulate at will. She can shape and compress it to create various forms. She's essentially immune to the heat and burns from her own fire, except when she loses control and concentration—then she can get burned too.

The fire generated by Suzue's cursed technique literally consumes cursed energy, which means if it's directly attacked or comes into contact with cursed energy, it only gets more intense and powerful, saving Suzue's own cursed energy in the process.

Additionally, if she compresses the flames and lets them explode, they can be used to enhance her movement by giving her powerful boosts, even mid-air.

That's basically it—I'm sorry if it seems complicated because it's really not!

Anyway, once again, I think I took some creative liberties with the cursed domain that appears at the prison, but I don't think it was too detailed in the series, except for the fact that it was an incomplete domain.

Returning to the topic of binding vows: The binding vow between the Zenin clan and Suzue is very clear: eliminate Sukuna's vessel. So what happens when she intervenes in a direct attack on Yuji? The binding vow isn't pleased and punishes her. I imagine that when you "challenge" a binding vow, it chokes you, immobilizing you on the spot and threatening to leave you there in agony. Canon? Probably not, but once again, it's never been specifically explained, so this is my interpretation!

And with this information, as usual, I leave you! ❤️