A/N at the end of the chapter
TW: Blood and Injuries
CHAPTER 26
POV: Suzue Kujou
Suzue's heart pounded violently, the rapid thudding in her chest so loud that it drowned out every other sound. It felt as though her very heartbeat was trying to escape, hammering against her ribs in frantic, uneven beats. Her mind raced alongside it, spiraling into chaotic loops of doubt and confusion. This couldn't be real. The figure walking ahead of her—it looked like Satoru, moved like Satoru, even spoke like him. But it wasn't him. From the moment he had appeared, there had been something off, something in the way he carried himself, a subtle shift in his usual carefree demeanor.
"This is wrong. So wrong."
The realization settled in her chest like a weight, suffocating in its intensity. The tiniest detail had given it away—a single, seemingly insignificant comment. The fall into the river. It was a detail she hadn't shared with him yet. How could he have known? In that instant, the facade shattered, falling away like broken glass, and the truth stood before her, undeniable and terrifying.
The imitation stopped in its tracks. Slowly, deliberately, it turned toward her, savoring the moment like a predator playing with its prey. For a fleeting second, it wore the familiar cocky smirk, the one Satoru often flashed when he was being particularly insufferable. But then, there it was—the shift. A subtle darkness rippled through its posture, twisting that smirk into something cold, something... cursed. The once playful grin curled into a sneer.
«It's not him.» The words slipped from Suzue's lips, barely more than a breath, as if speaking them aloud might somehow make it less real. Her pulse quickened, her body going rigid as every muscle tensed, preparing for what was to come. Her hands gripped the naginata with such force that her knuckles turned white, grounding her as dread crept through her veins. Behind her, the gentle murmur of the river sounded mocking in its calmness, a cruel contrast to the storm brewing inside her.
«Not Satoru...» she repeated, this time her voice gaining strength, though still barely audible over the roaring in her ears.
The cursed energy that radiated from the imposter was disturbingly familiar, almost indistinguishable from Satoru's. It was so close, so painfully close to what she had come to associate with him—his familiar presence, the sheer force of his power. But now, as her senses sharpened in response to the danger, she could feel it—the subtle wrongness, the twisted edge that undercut the mimicry. It was there, lurking beneath the surface. This thing had copied Satoru's mannerisms, down to the way it tilted its head in that casual, arrogant way he always did. But where Satoru's arrogance was playful, almost a mask for the depth of his strength, this was something else entirely.
This was cruel.
«You're getting smarter, Suzue.» The imitation purred, its voice dripping with that same sarcastic tone Satoru often used. But there was something behind it now, something razor-sharp that sent a chill down her spine. «But not smart enough.»
The words wrapped around her like a vice, tightening the knot of fear in her stomach. Her pulse spiked, heart racing as her body prepared itself for what was coming. She instinctively took a step back, trying to put distance between them, her naginata raised like a shield between her and the creature wearing Satoru's face. Her eyes flicked to the river behind her, a sinking feeling settling in her gut as she realized just how little room she had to maneuver.
Trapped. She was trapped. The water, once a calm and steady presence, now felt like a looming threat, a death sentence waiting for her to stumble.
The imposter took another step forward, its grin widening, every inch of its demeanor dripping with sinister amusement. Suzue's stomach tightened, dread surging through her veins like poison. She had to act, and soon. That thing—it was playing with her, toying with her reactions, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Her thoughts raced, every scenario playing out in rapid succession, every instinct screaming at her to act. She needed distance. She needed space to breathe, to think.
"Distance." her mind repeated, almost like a mantra. "I need to keep it away from me."
Before she could fully process the thought, her instincts kicked in and screamed at her. The sound of the river shifted, subtly but unmistakably. Something unnatural was coming.
Suzue barely had time to react before the attack was upon her. Her body moved on its own, throwing itself to the side just as jets of water, cursed energy swirling through them, shot into the air like the fangs of a predator striking its prey. The first barrage slammed into the ground where she had been standing mere moments before, the impact shaking the earth and sending up a cloud of dirt and debris.
She gasped, adrenaline spiking as the cold, sharp edge of survival surged through her veins. One of the jets pierced her thigh, slicing through her uniform and skin like a blade. The pain was immediate, sharp and searing, burning through her nerves like fire.
Suzue sucked in a breath through gritted teeth, the sting of torn flesh pulling her back into the present moment with brutal clarity. Warm blood soaked into the fabric of her clothes, spreading through the tear. But there was no time to process it. She had hit the ground hard, her body rolling through the dirt, each movement sending jolts of pain through her muscles.
«Dammit...» she hissed through clenched teeth, her voice tight with pain as she instinctively reached down to press against her wounded leg. Her fingers came away slick with blood. The cut was deeper than she had realized, the sharp throb of it syncing with her heartbeat in painful rhythm. But there was no time to think about it. She had to move. She couldn't stop now.
Staggering to her feet, she forced her body to comply, her injured leg protesting with every step. The imposter hadn't moved, standing there with cold amusement, its eyes tracking her every movement like a hunter watching its prey struggle. Mocking her. Waiting.
"I can't let it get close." Suzue's mind raced, the urgency of the situation pressing down on her like a weight. She could feel the next attack coming, could sense the shift in the air. "Water." her thoughts circled back, grimacing as she put weight on her injured leg. The bitterness of the realization cut deep. It made too much sense, too perfect a weakness for her to overcome. "Why not? Just my luck." she thought, her jaw tightening in frustration.
Maki's voice echoed in her head, sharp and unforgiving: "You're terrible in close combat, Kujou-san. Keep your enemies at a distance."
«Yeah, thanks, Maki.» she muttered under her breath, frustration gnawing at her. "Like I didn't already know that."
Her grip on the naginata tightened, the familiar weight of the weapon grounding her for a brief moment. She couldn't afford to lose focus now. She couldn't afford another mistake.
With a flicker of cursed energy, her hand ignited. Flames crackled to life, their heat comforting in its familiarity. Suzue could feel the warmth sinking into her skin, easing the tension that had built in her muscles. Fire had always been her strength, her refuge. Her cursed energy surged, building with every steady breath she took, humming through her veins like a song. It was time.
Her decision was made. No more hesitation.
'
With a sharp exhale, Suzue hurled a massive orb of fire toward the imitation. The flames roared to life, twisting and swirling as they shot through the air, a searing wave of heat that distorted the space around it. The sound of the fire crackling was deafening, a fierce roar that echoed in the stillness. For a brief moment, hope flickered in Suzue's chest. Maybe this would be enough. Maybe, just maybe, it would catch the imposter off guard. She could almost see the fireball slamming into the fake Satoru, engulfing him in flames and turning the tide of the battle.
But as the flames hurtled toward the imposter, the fake Satoru didn't even blink. With an almost bored flick of its wrist, it summoned more water. A swirling barrier materialized between them, shimmering with cursed energy as it effortlessly absorbed the fireball. The flames collided with the water in a violent hiss, steam rising in thick, choking clouds as the fire was extinguished. Suzue's attack—something that would have devastated any lesser opponent—was reduced to nothing in an instant.
Her heart sank, the flames of her confidence extinguished as swiftly as the fireball. It had all been for nothing.
"Of course." she thought bitterly, her teeth grinding together in frustration. The smirk on the imposter's face was infuriating, that same smug expression plastered across its features as if this was all a game. "Water against fire. The perfect counter." The words echoed in her mind, each one twisting the knife deeper into her growing sense of despair.
The imposter took a step closer, its eyes glinting with malicious glee. The smirk on its face widened, as if it was savoring her struggle, taking pleasure in her frustration. It wasn't like the real Satoru, who might tease or push her but never out of cruelty. The real Satoru wouldn't have drawn this out for so long, wouldn't have taken such obvious delight in her pain. No, this thing wanted to see her broken. It wanted to see her fail.
Frustration boiled within her, mingling with the sharp pain radiating from her injured leg. She couldn't let this thing win. She couldn't let it control the pace of the fight, dictating every move with its cursed energy. She needed to find a way to disrupt its power, to break through the endless waves of water it commanded with such ease.
But every time she tried to move forward, she was met with another wall of water. The cursed energy seemed limitless, drawn from the river behind it, a never-ending supply that doused her flames before they could ever gain momentum. It was like fighting an ocean—unrelenting, overpowering, impossible to breach.
Her mind spun, desperate for a solution. "I can't let it control the pace of the fight. I need to turn the tables." But how? How could she overpower something that was her elemental opposite, that had control over her one true weakness? The seconds were slipping away, each one a reminder that time wasn't on her side. Every breath felt heavier, every movement a strain against the mounting pressure in her chest. This was a fight she couldn't afford to lose.
Suzue's grip tightened on the long naginata that Maki had lent her, the weight of the weapon settling heavily in her hands. Yet, despite its heft, it was a familiar burden, one she had come to trust after countless hours of training. Maki had brutally drilled it into her time and time again: control, precision, focus. "I can do this." Suzue reminded herself, her fingers tightening around the hilt as if drawing strength from the weapon itself, as though it could become an extension of her will.
Inhaling deeply, Suzue closed her eyes for a brief second, centering herself. She focused inward, feeling the pulse of her cursed energy thrum beneath her skin, its rhythm steady and strong. She drew her cursed energy, channeling it into the naginata. The weapon responded immediately, the cursed flames flickering to life along its length. The orange glow intensified, casting long, wavering shadows across the cursed fog that clung to the battlefield.
The hum of her cursed energy was palpable now, vibrating through the metal, intertwining with the flames. The air around her shimmered, waves of heat rippling outward as her cursed technique fused with the weapon in a seamless bond.
She exhaled slowly, her breath mixing with the heat as she let the flames spread. They crawled up her body, tendrils of cursed energy wrapping around her like a second skin. It wasn't a wild, untamed inferno, but rather a controlled shimmer of energy, barely visible to the naked eye yet pulsing with dangerous intent. It was armor—an armor of cursed fire, delicate and nearly imperceptible, but capable of deflecting damage in the critical moments to come.
The heat grounded her, its familiar warmth seeping into her bones, chasing away the cold dread that had begun to creep in. With her flames coating her body, she felt insulated, protected from the overwhelming pressure of the cursed spirit that loomed ahead. The steady burn of her cursed energy became a focus point—something tangible she could hold onto.
Suzue opened her eyes, her gaze sharp as the world around her blurred in the heat waves radiating from her form. With a sharp inhale, she planted her feet firmly on the ground, widening her stance, bracing for whatever was to come. Her chest rose and fell with slow, measured breaths, each one controlled, each one feeding the flames that crackled around her. Her fingers tightened around the naginata's hilt.
Across from her, the imposter stood motionless, watching her with an air of smug disinterest. The fake Satoru lowered its hand slightly, its posture loose, almost relaxed, as if it had already decided the outcome of this battle. The sight of him standing there, so casually dismissive of her efforts, only fueled the fire burning within Suzue. She wanted to wipe that look off his face.
«Oh, so that's your plan?» the fake Satoru mocked, his voice dripping with condescension. Every word was steeped in the insufferable arrogance that made Suzue's stomach churn. «Fire against water. Clever, Suzue. Real clever.»
Suzue's jaw tightened, her teeth grinding together as she forced herself to stay calm. The flames around her flared in response to her irritation, their crackling heat a mirror to the rage simmering beneath her skin. She refused to let his taunts burrow under her skin—not this time. "Arrogant bastard. Is this how Satoru act all the time?" she thought bitterly. "Does he ever shut up?" Every nerve in her body screamed at her to lunge forward, to silence that smug voice once and for all. But she forced herself to remain still for a moment longer, knowing that rushing in blindly wouldn't do her any favors.
Her focus narrowed, her vision honing in on the imposter as the world around her blurred into irrelevance. The pain from her wounded leg throbbed with every heartbeat, but she pushed it aside, sinking into her fighting stance. She wouldn't be distracted by his arrogance, no matter how much it grated on her nerves. She had one goal: to take this thing down, to put an end to this twisted game.
'
Without hesitation, Suzue lunged forward, her body moving on instinct. The naginata cut through the air in a fiery arc, the flames roaring to life as the blade swung toward the imposter's chest. Her cursed energy surged, the flames blazing hotter as she landed the strike.
However, the imposter was fast. It was almost -almost- as if she was fighting the real Satoru. Before her blade could make contact, a barrage of water tendrils shot toward her, conjured with terrifying precision. Each tendril was sharp, slicing through the air like liquid whips, aimed to incapacitate, to wound. Suzue's body twisted mid-air, dodging as many of the strikes as she could, but several of the tendrils grazed her arms, cutting through her skin with searing precision.
The sting of fresh cuts registered, sharp and immediate, but she didn't stop. She couldn't stop if she wanted to live. Her naginata collided with the water, the cursed flames hissing violently as they clashed with the liquid. Steam exploded from the impact, momentarily obscuring her vision, but Suzue pushed forward, refusing to let up.
She swung again, a wide arc that ignited the ground between them in a fiery line. The imposter stepped back, its movements quick but measured, as if testing her limits. For a brief moment, Suzue caught a flicker of uncertainty in its eyes—a hesitation, barely perceptible but there nonetheless. She pressed her advantage, pouring more of her cursed energy into the naginata, forcing her injured leg to the limit as she closed the distance between them.
But even as her flames burned fiercer, the heat intensifying with every breath she took, Suzue could feel the creeping discomfort. Her skin began to sizzle where the flames licked too close, her own cursed energy biting at her. Her uniform, designed to withstand fire, was beginning to fail her. The edges of her top were singed, fraying as the heat spiraled out of control. She hissed through clenched teeth, frustration mingling with the discomfort. "Damn it."
The imposter noticed her falter. Its smirk widened, that same irritatingly smug expression that made Suzue's blood boil. «You're going to have to do better than that, Suzue!» It mocked, its voice rising above the hiss of the steam. With a lazy flick of its hand, it summoned another wave of water, crashing into her flames with a force that sent steam billowing into the air, thick clouds that swirled and obscured her view.
Suzue's eyes narrowed in frustration as she gritted her teeth. They were perfectly matched—her fire versus its water, her cursed energy versus the endless supply of the river at the imposter's command. No matter how much fire she conjured, it was doused almost immediately, her flames snuffed out before they could land a meaningful hit.
Her mind raced, desperate to find a way to break the curse's rhythm. She needed to disrupt its control over the water, to find a weakness, a crack in its defenses. And there—it was subtle, but she saw it. The hesitation in its movements, the brief falter in its control over the water. It wasn't perfect. It was slipping.
She had to press forward, now or never.
Suzue's breath came out in sharp bursts, the pain in her leg a dull throb beneath the overwhelming surge of adrenaline coursing through her veins. Her thoughts blurred, her instincts taking over as her mind screamed one thing over and over: move.
She surged forward again, the flames of her naginata burning to life as she aimed for the imposter's chest. She swung the blade in a wide arc, flames trailing behind it in a brilliant display of light. The curse's eyes widened, clearly not expecting the intensity of her assault. It raised its hands, summoning a final torrent of water in a desperate attempt to block her.
But Suzue was faster this time. She thrust her flaming naginata forward, her breath sharp with determination as she closed the gap. The flames blazed hotter, surging toward the imposter, and then...
... and then everything stopped.
The sudden stillness was jarring, disorienting, as though the world had frozen in place. Suzue's naginata was abruptly suspended in mid-air, mere inches from the imposter's chest.
Her heart plummeted, a cold pit of dread opening in her stomach as realization began to set in. Her naginata trembled in her grasp, the flames sputtering weakly as they licked against an invisible force—an impenetrable wall. Her cursed energy, once so fierce and vibrant, now felt small, insignificant against the power standing before her.
Frozen. Mid-air.
The words echoed in her mind like a death knell. Her attack had been stopped, not by the water she had expected to face, but by something far worse. The very thing she had feared from the beginning.
Infinity.
Her chest tightened as the word sank in. The cursed technique that made Satoru untouchable—the barrier that no one could break through. And now it stood between her and any hope of victory. The flames that had surged so brilliantly moments ago now flickered weakly, the heat dwindling against the invisible barrier. The realization hit her like a punch to the gut: she couldn't touch him.
«Shit.» she whispered, her voice barely audible over the crackling flames.
'
Her stomach churned with dread, a weight settling in her chest as the full realization hit her. The imposter hadn't just mimicked Satoru's personality—it had replicated Limitless, his cursed technique, as well.
Infinity. The most powerful defense in existence, the one that made Satoru practically invincible. The sheer magnitude of what she was facing made her feel utterly helpless, the weight of her situation pressing down on her with suffocating intensity.
The imposter grinned, that infuriatingly smug expression plastered across its face, eyes gleaming with sadistic amusement as it watched her realization dawn. There was something cruel in the way it looked at her. «You really thought that would work?» it sneered, the mockery dripping from every word. The tone of its voice was thick with condescension, its words twisted into something dark and malicious, savoring her desperation. «You never learn, Suzue.»
Each syllable was a dagger, a sharp reminder of how futile her efforts had been. Her heart sank further, a cold pit of despair growing in her stomach. She had thrown everything into that last attack, poured a lot of her cursed energy into one desperate strike, hoping—praying—that it would be enough to end this battle before it spiraled beyond her control. And now, it had all amounted to nothing.
Before Suzue could even think to recover, the atmosphere around her shifted. It was sudden, violent—a surge of cursed energy so intense that the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. Instinct screamed at her to move, to defend herself, but it was too late. The cursed water from the river behind her—it was coming. Fast.
She barely had time to register the attack before it hit.
"No, no, no—"
The water slammed into her back with the force of a sledgehammer, knocking the air from her lungs in an instant. It was like being hit by a tidal wave. The impact sent her flying forward, her body colliding hard with the ground, the force of it jarring every bone in her body. She skidded across the dirt, pain erupting in her leg as her already injured wound was torn open further, fresh blood gushing from the gash. The world around her spun, her vision blurring as she fought to regain her bearings.
Her mind reeled, thoughts a chaotic jumble as she gasped for air, each breath shallow and ragged. She could feel the heat from her flames sputtering out, her cursed energy flickering like a dying ember as the shock of the blow drained her strength. The ground beneath her felt cold and damp, the lingering moisture from the cursed water clinging to her skin, a stark contrast to the burning pain radiating from her wounds.
Blood filled her mouth, the bitter metallic taste flooding her senses as she struggled to stay conscious. Her body wanted to give up, to collapse under the weight of exhaustion and pain, to let the darkness take her. But Suzue refused. She wouldn't let herself fall. She gritted her teeth, forcing the pain aside with sheer willpower as she tried to focus on the fight.
"I was caught off guard... blindsided." The thought echoed bitterly in her mind, each word laced with frustration. The imposter had been playing her from the start, waiting for the perfect moment to strike, and she had walked right into its trap. She should have seen it coming—should have known better than to believe she could take it down so easily. But she hadn't. Her focus had been too narrow, too fixated on the fire, on the battle.
And now, it was costing her.
The fake Satoru stood a few paces away, that same insufferable grin plastered on its face. It watched her struggle with a lazy, almost casual posture, hands in its pockets as though it had all the time in the world. As though her fight, her pain, was nothing more than entertainment. «Still standing, Suzue?» It teased, its voice thick with mockery. «I thought that last hit would've put you out of your misery. But then again, you always were too stubborn for your own good.»
Every word grated on her nerves, each one a twisted reminder of how far she was from victory. Suzue winced as her body screamed in protest, every movement an agonizing reminder of the damage she had taken. But she refused to let the pain break her. She forced herself to her feet, her legs shaking beneath her as blood dripped from her reopened wound, staining the scorched earth beneath her feet. Her chest heaved with labored breaths, each one a battle, but the naginata remained clutched in her hands, its faint glow of cursed energy barely visible now, but still there.
"It's using Limitless now—no, just Infinity, but still..." he thought, panic creeping into the edges of her mind as her heart raced. The situation had taken a sharp turn for the worse, and she could feel the walls closing in around her. "Shit. This fight just got so much worse."
The fake Satoru sauntered closer, its movements slow and deliberate, as though it knew there was no need to rush. The mocking grin never left its face as it closed the distance between them, each step a twisted reminder of how powerless she was against it. «What's the matter?» it taunted, its voice dripping with sarcasm. «"You look a little tense.»
Suzue's breath quickened, her mind scrambling to find a way out of this. She had trained with Satoru, had sparred with him enough to know how Infinity worked—how it made him untouchable, how it rendered even the most powerful attacks useless. And now, she was facing a near-perfect replica of that technique. How was she supposed to fight something she couldn't even touch?
«You're out of your depth here.» the curse continued, raising a hand lazily to summon more water from the river, the cursed liquid swirling ominously at its command. «Why don't you just give up? Save yourself the trouble.»
Suzue's glare burned hotter than her flames, frustration boiling inside her. Her blood mixed with the cold dread pooling in her gut, a sickening cocktail of anger and fear. "Oh come on, you jerk." she thought bitterly. "Arrogant, insufferable, and impossible to hit? God, I'm starting to hate him."
The imposter's voice grated on her, every word a twisted mockery of the real Satoru. But she couldn't let it get to her. Not now. Not when there was still a chance, no matter how small. There had to be a way through this.
Her mind raced, trying to find some gap in the imitation's technique, some flaw in its execution.
It wasn't right. If this cursed spirit could truly mimic Satoru's Limitless without restriction, the fight would have been over already. The real Satoru's Infinity was flawless—impenetrable. But this wasn't the real Satoru. This was a copy, a cursed imitation, and something wasn't adding up.
"Why hadn't it used Infinity earlier?" The thought nagged at her, clawing its way to the forefront of her mind. If the imposter had been capable of using Infinity from the start, it would have deployed it the moment she realized it wasn't Satoru. But it hadn't. It had waited. "Why?" There had to be a limitation, a weakness she hadn't yet seen.
"There's something I'm missing." Suzue thought, her mind racing as she tried to piece the puzzle together. "Something's preventing it from using Satoru's full technique, otherwise, it would've wiped me out already."
The imposter's voice cut through her thoughts, snapping her back to the present. «What's wrong, Suzue? You look confused.» Its smile was infuriatingly smug, a perfect mirror of Satoru's arrogance. «You've fought me enough to know how Infinity works, haven't you? Or were you too... distracted by my good looks to pay attention?»
The laugh that followed was cold, mocking, a sound that made Suzue's blood boil. She gripped her naginata tighter, the heat of her cursed flames licking at the blade as she ground her teeth in frustration. "Shut the fuck up-" she thought bitterly, her knuckles white with tension. "You lucky I don't hate the real you."
But beneath the anger, Suzue could feel it—something the fake Satoru wasn't telling her, something it was hiding. Her eyes narrowed as she studied the imposter carefully. "Why now?" she wondered, her mind racing to connect the pieces. "Why wait until now to use Infinity?"
That fake Satoru's earlier attacks hadn't relied on Satoru's signature technique. It had fought using water, mimicking his style but not his powers. And now, all of a sudden, it was using Infinity like a trump card? Something was definetly off.
His grin widened as it stepped closer, the cursed water swirling around its hands like a living thing. «Come on, Suzue. You know how this ends. Just give up.» it taunted, its voice soft and mocking.
Giving up wasn't an option.
'
She ground her teeth, determined to get to the bottom of it. "Fine..." she thought, her mind sharpening with a clarity born of desperation. "You want to hide behind Infinity? Let's see how long you can keep it up."
Her gaze darted to the river behind her. The cursed water shimmered ominously, swirling with dark energy like a predator waiting to strike. It was a constant threat, lurking just beyond her reach, ready to overwhelm her at any moment. Suzue's eyes flicked back to the fake Satoru, now grinning wider, his posture loose and arrogant, as though daring her to make a move. "He's enjoying this." she thought, her frustration rising. The mocking amusement in his eyes only fueled her anger, the condescending smirk making her blood boil.
Suzue's fingers flexed, her hands shaking slightly as she prepared her next move. Her breath came out in sharp, controlled bursts as she extended her hand, focusing her cursed energy into her palm. It flared to life with a crackling, violent intensity, the raw power swirling around her hand like wildfire.
A massive orb of fire began to take shape in her grip, the heat radiating off it so intensely that the air around her began to distort. It felt as though the very atmosphere was bending under the weight of her cursed energy, the flames swirling chaotically as they responded to her growing frustration and desperation. Her skin tingled under the heat, and for a moment, it felt like her flesh was about to blister. But Suzue didn't falter. She pushed more power into the orb, pouring every ounce of strength she had into it.
Her hand trembled under the sheer strain of the energy she was channeling, her muscles burning with effort. The imposter eyebrow twitched, its eyes narrowing slightly as they locked onto the fireball forming in her hand. For the first time, Suzue saw something new in its expression—wariness. It wasn't much, but it was enough to make her heart skip a beat.
Good. It wasn't as invincible as it wanted her to believe.
'
«What's the plan, Suzue?» The fake Satoru mocked, though there was an edge to its voice now, a sharpness that hadn't been there before. «Going to burn everything down again?» The words were dripping with false amusement, but Suzue caught the flicker of caution in his eyes—a momentary hesitation that sent a chill down her spine.
"...Again?"
The word hit her like a punch to the gut. Again. The way the imposter said it—it wasn't just a casual taunt. It was digging deeper, pulling at something buried in the dark corners of her mind, something she had been trying to avoid. Her jaw clenched painfully, the muscles in her neck tightening as she fought to keep her composure. That single word echoed in her mind, unraveling fears she hadn't even realized were still there.
Her jaw clenched painfully, her throat tightening as she fought to maintain control. That single word echoed in her mind, reverberating through her like the aftermath of an earthquake, shaking loose fears she hadn't even realized were still there. She tried to push it aside, but the harder she fought, the louder it became.
The cursed flames around her naginata flickered, reflecting her rising frustration and turmoil. Her grip tightened on the weapon, her entire body trembling as if she was about to snap under the pressure. But this wasn't just about frustration. There was something deeper in the imposter's eyes—a flicker of something beyond arrogance. It wasn't merely mocking her; it was baiting her, probing at the cracks in her mental defenses.
«Oh, did that hit a nerve?» The imposter's voice turned sharp, cruel now. «Did I remind you of something? Maybe something you're too scared to admit to yourself? You know... what happened back then?»
The taunt cut deep, like a blade sinking into her chest. First Naobito, then Sukuna, and now this cursed spirit—they all seemed to know something she didn't, something from her past that they were using against her. Her fragmented memories from that night—the night everything had burned—flashed before her eyes.
She could see it all again. The fire. The screams. The oppressive heat that suffocated her, leaving only ash in its wake.
Images flooded her senses—the fire, the screams, the suffocating heat that had consumed everything. Her village, her home, her people—swallowed by flames. She had been there. She had seen it all. The ashes of her childhood, the people she loved—everything had burned.
"...Again."
The cursed spirit's voice twisted in her mind, as if it had seen something she hadn't, as if it knew her darkest secret, one that even she didn't know yet. Her breath quickened, panic creeping in at the edges of her thoughts, threatening to overwhelm her. It was starting to work. She could feel it. And she hated it—hated how much this thing sounded like her Satoru, hated how it was tearing at her defenses, and most of all, hated how it was getting under her skin.
The memory of Sukuna's voice echoed in her mind, intertwining with the cursed spirit's taunts. "What a waste... you don't even realize it. Do you? Or maybe you're just scared of what'll happen if you lose control... again."
"No," Suzue thought desperately, her teeth sinking into her lower lip until she tasted blood. "No. It's all a mind game. He's lying." The fire roared louder in her ears, threatening to drown out the rest of the world, but that one word—again—kept echoing, haunting her. haunting her.
But now, as the cursed spirit stood before her, wearing Satoru's face and throwing the same accusations at her, she couldn't help but wonder.
What if there was truth to Sukuna's words? What if there was truth in his words?
Her breath grew shallow as the memories overwhelmed her. The chaos. The heat. The uncontrollable flames that had burned everything to the ground. She had been just a child, too young to understand, too scared to fight back. But the fire—it had been everywhere, all around her. And she had survived. Somehow, she had survived.
She had always believed the fire was part of the attack, a consequence of the battle. But what if... what if it hadn't been?
What if she had caused it?
A wave of nausea hit her as the thought took root, her mind spiraling into confusion and self-doubt. "Stop it. He's lying. It's just a trick." She repeated the words like a mantra, trying to ground herself, trying to push the growing panic aside. "It's all a game, a way to make me doubt myself."
The fire in her hand flared dangerously, the flames crackling with unstable energy. She couldn't afford to lose focus now. She couldn't afford to let the fear take control. Whatever this cursed spirit thought it knew—whatever had happened in the past—it didn't matter. She was in control of her own power. She had always been.
Or... at least, that's what she had to believe.
'
With renewed determination, Suzue extended her arm, summoning a massive fireball in her palm. The cursed energy pulsed violently as the orb grew larger and larger, each second increasing the intensity. The heat was suffocating, even for her.
Her hand trembled under the weight of it, but she pushed past the exhaustion. She had to. Survival came first, doubts would come later.
Suzue hurled the fireball toward the ground between them, the sheer force of the release sending shockwaves rippling through her body. The moment the fireball struck the earth, it exploded outward, the flames roaring to life as they consumed everything in their path. The fake Satoru leapt back, his Infinity shimmering to life, the barrier flickering as the flames licked at its edges, unable to breach it.
Suzue's heart clenched painfully as she watched the flames spread, devouring the remains of her village. Her home—what little remained of it—was now being consumed by her own cursed energy.
For a fleeting moment, guilt twisted inside her. She had been the one to stop Satoru from using Hollow Purple, from leveling the entire cursed zone with one devastating attack that would have solved the problem in an instant. She had wanted to preserve what was left of her past, no matter how cursed or broken it was.
And now, here she was—burning it herself. The irony was suffocating.
Her breath came in ragged gasps as she struggled to maintain control over the firestorm she had unleashed. The flames were wild, untamed, and it took every ounce of her strength to keep them at bay. Her body trembled under the strain, but strangely, she didn't feel drained. In fact... she felt fine. Better than fine.
"How is that possible?"
Her eyes widened as realization struck. "Hibiki's technique?" The thought hit her like lightning. Hibiki's cursed technique—the one she had dismissed as useless earlier—was it actually replenishing her cursed energy? Slowing down the drain? There was no other explanation for why she wasn't completely exhausted by now.
A surge of gratitude washed over Suzue as the realization settled in. "Maybe Hibiki's not so useless after all." She thought with a small, bitter smile tugging at her lips. Hibiki, with her seemingly minor technique, had given Suzue a lifeline. And now, with that extra cursed energy flowing through her, she felt more confident, more determined.
With newfound resolve, Suzue gripped her naginata tighter, the familiar weight of the weapon grounding her amidst the chaos. Flames roared to life along the blade, the cursed energy pulsing brighter, fiercer. She wasn't done. Not even close. Her heart raced with adrenaline, but this time, it wasn't panic—it was anticipation. She could feel the shift in the air, the slight tremor in the imposter's confidence.
Across from her, the fake Satoru's smirk wavered for the first time. It was a subtle flicker, barely noticeable, but Suzue caught it. "Got you." The irritation that flickered beneath his usual arrogance was unmistakable.
«Nice try, Suzue.» he sneered, though there was a tightness in his voice now, an edge of frustration that hadn't been there before. «But it's going to take more than that to break through Infinity.»
With a lazy gesture, he raised his hand, the familiar barrier of Infinity shimmering into place around him. The flames around Suzue's naginata collided with the invisible force, unable to penetrate. As before, the flames parted, unable to touch him, the barrier holding strong. But there was something different this time. A split second, almost too brief to notice, but it was there—Infinity had dropped.
"What was that?" Suzue realized, her eyes narrowing as a plan began to form. "Have Infinity just dropped?"
And that was her opening. Her body tensed, her focus narrowing to a single point. "Alright, Satoru-wannabe..." She thought, her body tensing as her focus narrowed into laser-sharp clarity. "Let's see how long you can keep up."
With a sudden burst of speed, Suzue lunged forward, the air around her crackling with the intensity of her fire. Her naginata cut through the air with fiery precision, flames trailing behind it like a comet. The cursed spirit reacted instantly, summoning a surge of water from the river to counter her attack. Suzue's body twisted mid-air, narrowly dodging the torrent of water as it rushed past her, and she swung her naginata again, this time aiming directly for his head.
The blade, engulfed in flames, seared through the air with deadly intent.
But the cursed spirit was quick, its movements a near-perfect imitation of Satoru's effortless grace. It dodged easily, its body moving with a fluidity that was almost inhuman. "Too perfect," Suzue thought bitterly, her frustration building as the cursed spirit conjured another sphere of water, aiming to extinguish her flames and force her back.
But Suzue was ready. She reacted on instinct, summoning a wall of fire to block the water attack. The elements collided with a violent hiss, steam rising between them as fire and water battled for dominance. The heat of the steam burned her skin, but Suzue didn't waver. She couldn't afford to.
They exchanged blow after blow—her fire against his water, each attack met with a counter. Suzue kept her distance, relying on the long reach of her naginata, her mind racing as she searched for an opening. Every time she pressed forward, every time she got too close, Infinity flickered back into place, keeping her at bay.
Until it didn't.
In one fateful moment, she saw it again—Infinity dropped. Her breath caught in her throat as the realization hit her like a wave. "It's gone." Without missing a beat, Suzue swung her weapon in a wide, powerful arc, flames roaring to life along the blade. This time, when the blade cut through the air, it met no resistance.
Her blade passed through.
Not by much, but enough to graze the cursed spirit's side. Water spilled from the wound—clear, cold water, as though the cursed spirit's body was made of the very element it commanded.
"Is it's body made of water too?"
Before she could fully register the implications, the fake Satoru stumbled back, his expression unreadable for the first time since the fight began. The cocky smirk had vanished, replaced by something else—surprise.
«So, you can get hit, huh?» Suzue murmured, the realization dawning on her like the first light of dawn breaking through a storm. Her voice was low, but filled with a newfound sense of determination. For the first time, the cursed spirit wasn't untouchable. Infinity wasn't impenetrable after all. He could be hit.
And if she could hit him once, she could do it again.
Her confidence surged, bolstered by the small victory. The cursed spirit had been wounded, even if only slightly, and that meant he wasn't invincible. Suzue tightened her grip on the naginata, her heart racing with a mixture of adrenaline and anticipation. She could do this. She could win.
A small grin tugged at the corners of her mouth as she took stock of her energy reserves. Despite everything—the intense, fiery clashes, the relentless use of cursed energy—her power felt nearly limitless. It was a strange, intoxicating sensation, like having an endless well of strength to draw from. She should've been exhausted by now, drained from the sheer amount of energy she had poured into each attack, but instead, she felt invigorated. The cursed energy coursing through her felt too abundant.
"Hibiki's cursed technique is really something, uh?" Suzue thought, half-jokingly, a flicker of amusement crossing her mind. She could almost laugh at the absurdity of it. It was like someone else's energy was fueling her attacks, giving her the strength to keep going. The sensation was foreign but comforting, a welcome source of power in the midst of a seemingly impossible battle.
'
But just as she allowed herself to bask in that small victory, a voice—familiar and sharp—cut through her thoughts like a blade.
"Hey, genius."
Suzue's eyes widened in shock, her body freezing for a moment. The voice was faint at first, almost like an echo, but unmistakably him. "What?" Her breath hitched, the naginata momentarily faltering in her hands as she tried to process what she was hearing.
The voice wasn't her own inner monologue.
It was Satoru's voice.
"Suzue, sweetheart... are you seriously going to waste all that cursed energy on one attack!?" Satoru's voice was sharp, laced with irritation, as though he were scolding her for some minor inconvenience. "What do you think you're doing, throwing it all out like some damn confetti?!" His tone was familiar—annoyed, sarcastic, and more than a little pissed.
Suzue's smile froze, her thoughts clouding with confusion. "What the—" She looked around wildly, her heart pounding in her chest. Was she imagining this? Stress from the fight? But the voice didn't stop. It continued, louder now, and more annoyed than before.
"No shit- Listen don't ask me how, but I'm here, and you're using my cursed energy like it's some bottomless pit. Which—newsflash—it's not!"
The small sense of triumph Suzue had been savoring evaporated in an instant. Her eyes widened in disbelief, her grip tightening on the naginata as she glanced back at the cursed spirit in front of her, momentarily distracted by the voice in her head.
"...Satoru?" she ventured cautiously in her mind, hoping this strange communication was a two-way street.
"Of course it's me. Who else would have the patience to put up with you right now?" Satoru's voice shot back, laced with exasperation.
Suzue's mind spun as she tried to make sense of it all. "How… Why are you in my head?" she asked, though the question felt ridiculous even as it formed. The whole situation was absurd—battling a cursed imitation of Satoru while the real Satoru's voice lectured her inside her mind. It was like something out of a fever dream.
"Oh, I don't know, maybe because your little friend Hibiki linked our cursed energy?" Satoru shot back, his irritation practically palpable through whatever cursed connection they had. His voice was dripping with sarcasm. "Congrats, Suzue. You're draining my reserves. Like a credit card I never authorized."
The exasperation in his tone was palpable, and Suzue could practically feel the glare that would be on his face if he were actually here in person. Despite the intensity of the battle, Suzue found herself biting back a laugh. The sheer absurdity of the situation was almost too much. "You're lecturing me in the middle of this fight?"
"Damn right I am! You're throwing around more cursed energy than necessary, and I'm the one footing the bill! What are you, twelve?"
Even in the middle of a life-or-death situation, Satoru found time to scold her for something as trivial as energy expenditure. It was so... him. «This is so weird.» she muttered under her breath, her mind reeling "How is that even possible?" Suzue stammered internally, trying to make sense of it all.
Then, the realization hit her like a punch to the gut. She wasn't just using her own cursed energy—she was tapping into Satoru's reserves. That's why she wasn't tired, why her attacks had been so powerful. It wasn't just her. It had never been just her.
Suzue glanced down at the flames flickering around her naginata. The sheer intensity of the cursed energy coursing through her was beyond anything she had ever felt before. The fireball she had conjured moments ago had been massive—far larger than anything she could have managed on her own. The energy... it wasn't hers. It was his.
Now that she thought about it... it did feel strangely abundant. Too abundant. Her mind was spinning as she tried to wrap her head around the fact that she was unknowingly tapping into the vast reserves of Satoru Gojo's cursed energy.
And she was doing it badly.
"Look, I get that you didn't know." Satoru's voice softened, the irritation fading slightly. "But we need to focus. This isn't just your fight anymore." His tone was more serious now, as if he understood the gravity of the situation better than she did.
Suzue's grip on the naginata tightened, the flames flickering along the blade as she tried to regain her focus.. "Alright, fine. But why are you in my head? How is that even possible?"
There was a brief pause before Satoru spoke again, his voice laced with exasperation."I told you, it's Hibiki's cursed technique. She managed to link our energy pools somehow. Don't ask me how—it's a mess." He let out a sigh, the sound almost tangible through their connection. "But good news for you—I've figured out how this curse's technique works. Are you using your cursed technique right now?"
Suzue blinked, her mind still trying to wrap itself around the fact that Satoru's voice was literally inside her head. "Of course I am. Why?"
There was a brief pause before Satoru's voice came back, this time with more urgency. "Because the fake Suzue I'm dealing with is using your cursed technique too. And it's a pain."
Suzue's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't even considered that. If she was fighting a cursed spirit mimicking Satoru, then it made sense that he was fighting a fake version of her. It was a mirror match—one that could quickly spiral out of control if she didn't handle it right.
But now wasn't the time to dwell on it. There was a more pressing problem in front of her. "Alright, fine! But what do we do now?" She asked, feeling the weight of the battle pressing down on her.
"You're fighting a fake version of me, right?" Satoru's voice was sharp, his tone suddenly serious.
Suzue nodded, her eyes flicking back to the cursed spirit standing in front of her. "Yeah. He was using Infinity, just like you."
"Are you sure?" Satoru pressed, his voice tinged with urgency.
Suzue frowned. "Of course I'm sure. I couldn't touch him."
There was a moment of silence before Satoru's voice came back. "Well, I dropped off my Infinity just moments ago. What about now?"
Suzue's heart skipped a beat. "Wait… what?" She glanced at the fake Satoru, still standing there, his smirk unwavering. Infinity was off. «Oh crap. That's how it works…» Suzue cursed under her breath, realization dawning, as the pieces of the puzzle finally click into place.
"Exactly!" Satoru's voice was tinged with smugness now. "That curse is mimicking our cursed technique in real-time. It's not acting on its own."
Suzue's breath caught in her throat as the realization sank in. The cursed spirit wasn't independent—it was tethered to Satoru's actions. When Satoru used Infinity, so did the fake. When Satoru dropped it, so did the imposter.
"So, if you're not using Infinity or Limitless…" Suzue began, her voice trailing off.
"Neither can it." Satoru confirmed. "You've got two minutes before I turn Infinity back on. Finish it off before then."
Suzue's heart raced, panic flaring in her chest. "Two minutes?!" She thought, her mind scrambling to come up with a plan. "How am I supposed to take down a fake you in two minutes?"
Satoru's voice was tinged with amusement, as if he found the whole situation hilarious. "Sounds like a you problem."
"Satoru!" Suzue snapped, exasperation creeping into her voice. "This isn't funny! He's still using water-based attacks, and I—"
"He is?" Satoru cut her off, his voice calm but firm. "Well the one over here is not, so... that must be the main body." There was a brief pause before he continued. "C'mon Suzue, you're stronger than this. Use my cursed energy stop wasting time and fight smart. He can't use Infinity, and that's your opening."
Suzue hesitated, her mind spinning with possibilities. She could hear the confidence in Satoru's voice, the absolute certainty that she could handle this. It was comforting in a strange way, but it also put more pressure on her shoulders. "How are you even handling the fake me without your technique?" She asked, panic creeping into her thoughts despite her best efforts to stay calm.
His voice came back with an air of nonchalance. "Oh, Suzue. You're making this sound difficult. I'm… well, how do I put this nicely? I can handle the fake you with my bare hands. It's not a big deal for me-"
Suzue's brow furrowed, she rolled her eyes, despite the tension building in her chest. "Thanks for the ego boost."
"You're welcome." Satoru shot back, his voice laced with amusement. But then, his tone shifted. There was a brief pause, and when he spoke again, it was with a mix of sarcasm and finality. "Good luck!"
Before she could even respond, his voice cut off. Silence.
He was gone.
"Satoru?" she thought, panic flaring up as the silence stretched.
Nothing.
No reply.
Just the deafening silence of her own thoughts echoing back at her.
'
Suzue swallowed hard, her pulse pounding in her ears as the gravity of the situation settled in. She had two minutes. Two minutes to take down the fake Satoru before the real one turned Infinity back on. After that, it would be nearly impossible to land a hit again.
No pressure.
"Two minutes to take him down. I'm so screwed."
She could still hear his voice in her head, dripping with sarcasm as he casually informed her that he didn't need Infinity or Limitless to take down the fake version of her. Of course he didn't. He could probably handle this fight blindfolded, without even breaking a sweat. But her? She was going up against the most powerful sorcerer in existence, or at least a damn good copy of him, and she had less than two minutes to figure it out.
Suzue glanced at the fake Satoru, who still stood there with that infuriating smirk, radiating arrogance as if he were untouchable. But now, after Satoru's words, she knew. He was vulnerable. His Infinity was down, and she had two minutes—just two—to finish him before the real Satoru turned Infinity back on.
"Alright, two minutes," Suzue muttered under her breath, her eyes narrowing with fierce determination. "Let's end this."
Two minutes to defeat the cursed imitation of Satoru Gojo, the most powerful sorcerer of their time. And somehow... she was going to do it.
«What's wrong, Suzue? You look like you're struggling to keep up. Not like you're used to much success, anyway, right?» The fake's voice dripped with sarcasm, mimicking Satoru's condescending tone with eerie precision. Suzue bit the inside of her cheek, forcing down her anger.
Unbelievable.
Even as a curse, he was a cocky bastard.
Her gaze flicked to the cursed water shimmering ominously nearby, waiting to sweep her away in an instant. "How do I fight water with fire?" she thought desperately, her mind racing as she scanned the battlefield. The cursed village was burning, flames still licking at the ruins, but even her fire couldn't keep up with the relentless tide of cursed water.
"Water puts out fire." It was simple. Basic.
She thought back to the brief moment when her naginata had grazed the curse, when water spilled from its body like blood. That cursed spirit wasn't just controlling water—it was water. Suzue's mind whirred, piecing together the plan. If she could ignite an explosion of steam, directly from the curse's core, the intense heat could trigger a reaction from within, sublimating the curse in one final blast.
The thought made her chest tighten with anxiety. It was reckless—dangerous—but she didn't have time for anything else. She had only two minutes before Satoru's Infinity would snap back into place, and then she'd lose her opening.
«Steam…» she muttered under her breath, her brow furrowing with determination. «I have to turn that cursed water against itself.»
Steam. Sublimation.
She forced her gaze away from the fake Satoru, her mind racing to recalibrate. The battlefield was a furnace, her flames still blazing across the cursed village, turning everything to ash. Thick plumes of smoke curled into the sky, casting long, twisting shadows over the shattered remains. The heat shimmered, warping the air, but beneath it all, Suzue could feel the oppressive presence of the cursed energy lingering, swirling in the thick fog that clung to the ground like a living entity. The cursed water shimmered nearby, still under the control of the spirit, ready to strike at any moment.
She let out a sharp breath and, with a swift movement, tossed her naginata aside. It clattered against the ground, and the fake Satoru's smug grin widened. He thought she was surrendering, giving up.
"Perfect."
He had no idea what was coming.
She took a deep breath, ignoring the searing pain in her leg as she shifted into a low stance. Flames spiraled around her arms and fists, wrapping them in concentrated cursed energy. Her hands glowed with heat, the fire burning hotter, fed by the cursed fog. The air shimmered, warping as the ground beneath her feet began to blacken from the intensity.
"Sorry, Satoru." she muttered, her voice tinged with grim determination. "But I'm about to burn through your energy."
Her body trembled with the raw power coursing through her veins, the cursed energy pulling in from every corner of the battlefield. The ground beneath her cracked, the air shimmering with heat so intense it warped her vision. Her flames weren't just fire anymore. They were living things, spiraling upward, feeding on the cursed energy that hung thick in the air, growing stronger by the second..
This wasn't precision—it wasn't about control anymore. She needed chaos, needed the kind of fire that would consume everything in its path. She could barely contain it, and she knew this was a gamble. But she only needed one shot. If this didn't work, there was no plan B.
«You really think this'll work?» the fake Satoru continued, his voice dripping with smugness. «You've never been able to control your flames for long. You'll just burn yourself out.»
Suzue's lips twitched, her mind flashing briefly to the real Satoru. Both versions of him had that insufferable arrogance. But this one… this cursed imitation was even worse. His words should have hurt, but they didn't. Suzue's lips twitched in a bitter smile. The fake Satoru's arrogance was insufferable.
Yet, he wasn't entirely wrong. Control was her lifeline. She had always been too scared of her own power, too afraid that it would spiral out of control. But now? Now, she needed that recklessness. She needed the chaos.
Her mind briefly flashed to Maki, to the countless hours of grueling training. "You're terrible in close combat, Kujou-san, but that doesn't mean you can't hit harder than anyone else." Maki had said, blunt as ever, but then she'd offered the solution. "Wrap your fists in flames. Make sure what you do hit burns."
Suzue's hands flexed as the memory came back to her. "I'll make you proud, Maki." Her fists, wrapped in searing flame, suddenly felt less like a weakness and more like the key to victory. She wasn't a fighter, not like Maki or Satoru. But if she could turn her fists into weapons of pure destruction—if she could unleash her cursed energy the way Maki had trained her to—then maybe, just maybe, she could pull this off.
The fake Satoru's smirk faltered. «Oh? Hand-to-hand now? I mean, come on—those little fists? You do realize I'm, like, two feet taller than you, right?» His voice wavered, uncertainty creeping into his tone.
"The world doesn't need two of you." she thought bitterly, her resolve hardening as her flames grew hotter, wrapping around her like a living entity.
She had no time to hold back. No time to second-guess.
"Okay. Let's see what happens."
'
Suzue lunged forward with a burst of speed, her body propelled by the flames that now wrapped around her like armor. The cursed energy in the air surged with her, feeding her fire, making it burn hotter with every movement.
With each strike, she sent waves of fire crashing into the fake Satoru. His water defenses hissed and evaporated, steam billowing up in thick clouds as the two elements clashed violently. But this time, the fire didn't falter. It grew stronger. She could feel it now—the cursed water was weakening, unable to hold its form against the relentless heat.
Each punch sent shockwaves through the ground. Suzue's fists burned brighter, her flames roaring louder as she threw herself into the fight. The fake Satoru dodged, his movements growing slower, more desperate. But Suzue kept pushing.
Satoru had put her through grueling training for moments like this. "You'll thank me later!" he'd always say.
And she was thanking him now.
Her flames surged, hotter and more violent. Steam billowed as fire met water, the two elements colliding in a chaotic dance. The ground beneath them cracked and blackened, consumed by her flames. The remains of her village blurred in the haze of heat, but she forced herself to focus. If she lost focus now, it could backfire—literally.
"Survive first. Mourn later." she told herself, her hands trembling as the cursed energy in her body built to a fever pitch.
She slammed her fist into the ground, and a column of fire erupted beneath the curse, catching it off guard. Her hands blazed hotter, her flames spiraling into a vortex around her, cutting off any chance of escape. The fake Satoru's smirk was gone, replaced by a flicker of fear.
"Got you."
The curse's smug expression faltered as she advanced. It could feel the shift, too. «You're wasting your energy!» it spat, its voice crackling with distortion.
The form of Satoru rippled, dissolving as the curse revealed its true appearance. A tall, gaunt woman stood before Suzue, her translucent, blue skin shimmering under the flames. Her eyes—pale, pupil-less—glowed faintly in the dark. Her wet, dark blue hair clung to her back, framing her ghastly face. She looked like a creature pulled from the depths of the ocean, a drowned, decaying figure wrapped in seaweed and rot.
The curse summoned another wave of water, launching it at her with desperate speed, but Suzue was already moving. «You monster-» it hissed, its voice guttural and distorted. «I am made of water—»
"Yes, that's the point."
The curse was made of water. It wasn't just a defense—it was its body, its very essence. And Suzue had already seen what happened when her flames met that water. If she could strike at its core, unleash her cursed fire from within, she could force a violent reaction.
Her body became a blur of motion, the cursed flames that wrapped around her arms and legs propelling her forward with explosive speed. She twisted through the air, dodging the water as it hissed and evaporated against the heat radiating from her. The curse summoned another wave, larger this time, but it was too slow. Suzue's blazing fists cut through the watery tendrils, her flames burning hotter with every strike.
The watery figure recoiled, its form flickering as steam rose from its body. The cursed water hissed and sputtered, unable to withstand the sheer heat of her flames. The more it tried to defend, the more it weakened.
Her next punch connected with its chest.
Suzue felt her fist plunge into the translucent skin, the cold liquid of the curse's body wrapping around her arm as if trying to suffocate the fire. For a split second, everything seemed to freeze—the curse's pale eyes widened in shock, its form trembling as it struggled to hold together. Suzue could feel it—the core of the curse—the center of its cursed energy, buried deep within the water.
And she knew exactly what she had to do.
More. More fire.
With a sharp inhale, Suzue summoned every ounce of cursed energy she had left, pouring it into the flames that blazed around her arm. Her hand was still buried inside the curse's chest, her fist pulsing with heat, and now she pushed even harder. The cursed fire surged through her, flowing from her core into her arm, and then into the curse's body. The flames that had already been wrapping around her fist now exploded outward, tearing through the curse like wildfire.
She felt the cursed energy ripple violently as her flames collided with the water inside the curse.
Steam began to pour from the point of contact, the cursed water evaporating almost instantly. The flames spread faster now, feeding on the cursed energy that made up the curse's very essence. The more it tried to hold its form together, the more violently it reacted.
She could feel the cursed energy inside her reaching its breaking point, but she pushed even harder. She forced more cursed energy into the flames, igniting them into a blazing inferno. Her arm burned with the effort, her skin blistering from the heat, but she kept going, her body screaming with the strain.
She didn't need to last long. Just enough to finish it.
The curse's form began to collapse, its watery body breaking apart under the intense heat. The translucent skin sizzled and bubbled as Suzue's flames consumed it from the inside out. The cursed water boiled, the pressure building within the curse's core. Suzue felt the energy shifting, the heat and cold colliding violently.
Now.
'
With one final surge, Suzue unleashed everything she had, pushing her flames deeper into the curse's core. The reaction was immediate—an explosion of steam so powerful it shook the ground beneath them. The curse's body began to sublimate, its watery form evaporating in an instant as the intense heat from Suzue's flames consumed it.
The explosion of steam blasted outward, a massive shockwave of fire and vapor that sent debris flying in every direction. Suzue was thrown backward, the force of the explosion ripping through her, but she didn't let go. She held on, focusing all her remaining energy into maintaining the flames, even as the shockwave tore through her defenses.
The curse's body didn't just evaporate—it disintegrated. One moment it was there, and then it was gone, consumed by the violent reaction of fire and water. All that remained was a swirling cloud of steam, the cursed energy dissipating into the air like smoke.
But Suzue didn't have time to celebrate. The explosion had thrown her through the air, and her body was already at its limit.
Instinctively, she summoned the last vestiges of her cursed flames to protect her. The fire surrounded her in a tight, glowing cocoon, forming a barrier. She could feel the heat pressing against her, but she held her ground, concentrating on maintaining the fiery shield.
For a moment, it seemed to work—the flames absorbing the brunt of the shockwave, the force pushing against her shield but not breaking through.
But then, the impact of the sublimation hit her like a freight train. Pain exploded through her body, her injured leg screaming in agony. She was hurled backward, the world spinning around her as she was thrown through the air. The force of the blast ripped at her skin, and even though her flames tried to protect her, she could feel the sting of the explosion tearing through her defenses.
"Everything hurt-"
The sound of the blast echoed in her ears, but it was distant, muffled by the overwhelming rush of pain and adrenaline. For a brief moment, time seemed to stretch out, her body weightless as she tumbled uncontrollably.
And then—the river.
Suzue crashed into the icy surface of the river, the cold water swallowing her whole in an instant. Her body sank into the freezing depths, the current pulling her under. The cold water swallowed her whole, the current pulling her under. Her limbs were too heavy, too exhausted to fight back, her lungs screamed for air, and darkness crept in at the edges of her vision. The cold was numbing, but it wasn't enough to extinguish the fire still burning deep within her chest.
As darkness crept in at the edges of her vision, Suzue's thoughts drifted back to Satoru, his voice echoing faintly in her mind. His arrogance, his sarcasm—it was almost comforting now. She could imagine him scolding her for wasting so much cursed energy, for letting herself get overwhelmed. He would never let her live it down.
For a moment, Suzue floated in that dark, icy void. Disoriented. Helpless. Her thoughts jumbled and frantic. There was nothing but the cold, the darkness, and the steady thrum of her heartbeat in her ears.
"Two minutes."
Her grip on consciousness slipped further, and black spots danced in her vision.
But even as the cold closed in around her, Suzue felt it—a flicker of hope.
"I really did it."
Suzue gasped, her lungs burning as icy water filled them, the sharp sting of the river's cold biting into her skin.
The shock of the impact had stolen her breath, and now the weight of the current dragged her deeper, its dark, freezing grip paralyzing her limbs.
She tried to swim, her body fighting to obey, but her muscles locked up against the cold, leaving her movements sluggish, desperate. The water was too strong. It pulled her under, and as she sank further, a wave of terror washed over her, eerie in its familiarity.
The suffocating pressure around her chest, the way the darkness swallowed her whole—it was too similar, too much like that day years ago. That same river. That same terror. Her heart raced as memories flooded her mind. She had been here before.
For a brief, terrifying moment, she was no longer Suzue, the sorcerer, fighting a cursed spirit in a world full of danger. She was that little girl again—helpless, her arms flailing in the river, lungs screaming for air, a small body swept away by the currents. Her throat constricted with panic, her pulse pounding in her ears. The fear, the cold, the isolation—it was all the same.
"No."
Her eyes fluttered shut, her chest aching as water rushed to fill the void her breath had left behind. No, not this time. She wasn't that girl anymore. She wasn't that helpless child. She had survived worse—curses, battles that should have killed her. And she wasn't alone anymore, she was a sorcerer, and she had the strength to fight back.
Then, just as the pressure in her chest became unbearable, a voice cut through the silence of the water, soft and familiar, yet powerful enough to reach her through the numbing cold.
«Are you in trouble?»
The voice was calm, soothing—its presence a sharp contrast to the suffocating fear and darkness that surrounded her. Suzue's heart lurched, the suddenness of it pulling her focus away from the freezing water and her sinking body. That voice. She knew it.
Her limbs stopped thrashing for a moment, the sound stilling her panic. That voice had been with her before. Long ago. When she had been in this same river, trapped under its waters. She remembered now—she had heard that voice before.
It was the same voice that had saved her. That voice, this presence, had been there then, and it was here again, offering her the same sense of calm, that same strange comfort.
She wanted to respond, but it wasn't her lips that moved—it was as if her thoughts themselves reached out, whispering into the blackness that surrounded her. "I think... I think I'm dying."
The voice responded immediately, its tone laced with a warmth that felt both unfamiliar and intimately known.
«Would you like me to save you again... my child?»
Again? That word echoed in her mind, familiar yet distant. It stirred something deep inside her—memories.
She choked, coughing as water filled her lungs, the urge to breathe overwhelming.
The voice. She knew it, didn't she? There had been a moment, years ago, when she had felt something similar. She had been drowning, like now, but the flames—the fire had been there too. It had surrounded her in warmth, never burning her, only protecting her. The fire. The voice. It had always been there.
Home.
She thought of that word again. It had felt like home. A presence that had been with her all along. It had been there in the flames, in every moment when death had come close.
She felt her consciousness drifting, her grip on reality loosening as the voice settled over her like a heavy blanket.
But before she could fully surrender to it, she asked, softly, "Who... are you?"
The pressure in her chest built, the cold tightening its grip, but she waited. Waited for an answer.
And then, after what felt like an eternity, the voice responded, soft but clear, each word dripping with ancient familiarity.
«I'm Kaede.»
A/N
Hey readers! How are you?
As I write these notes, I've just finished editing this chapter for the hundredth time.
Mother, an ENTIRE chapter of battle and action? You have no idea what a struggle it's been. Or maybe you do? I was never satisfied, and at a certain point, I just said, 'You know what? Enough.'
ಥ_ಥ
So I'm already apologizing if it's a pain to read, but unfortunately, it's a necessary pain!
I'm not even sure if what's happening is clear, I hope it is, otherwise, let me know in the comments and I'll give you a summary!
Facts:
- Hibiki has no idea what her cursed technique really does; it's so seemingly useless that no one, not even her, has ever bothered to understand it. But surprise! She mentioned in the last chapter that it was the first time she used it on two people simultaneously, and apparently, it created a connection between their cursed energy reserves. And mentally too. Can you imagine hearing Satoru's sarcasm non-stop in your head? Unbearable.
- If Satoru used his technique (Red, Hollow Purple, Infinity, anything), the fake Satoru would do the same, and well, Suzue would be pretty much dead. He considers this, so he basically tells Suzue, 'You know what? I'm staying still for two minutes, you'd better do something.' (ㆆ ᴗ ㆆ)
- I find it so funny how Satoru, at over 190 cm tall, faces every battle with grace and elegance, barely getting his clothes dirty, while poor, small, and fragile Suzue always comes out of it dirty and covered in blood.
- Did I train Suzue for 20 chapters just to have her throw punches with her little fiery fists? Pew pew—yes, absolutely yes. ( ･ㅂ･)و
- I think some physicist or scientist is turning in their grave, but I have a master's degree in economics, so you'll have to make do.
Basically, Suzue concentrates fire into her fist at such a high temperature that when she punches the fake Satoru, who is a concentration of cold water, it causes instant sublimation. The water rapidly absorbs heat, vaporizing almost instantaneously. This transformation from liquid to gas causes a sudden and massive expansion, as vapor occupies significantly more volume than liquid water. The rapid expansion of vapor can lead to a powerful, often explosive, reaction due to the drastic increase in pressure.
I don't know if that makes sense. I don't even care anymore, it's a fantasy story and honestly, I've run out of mental energy for this chapter by now.
With these brief bits of information, and feeling extremely tired, I leave you! (ゝω・)ｂTHX