In hindsight, Sukuna would readily admit that tanking Vulkan's punch using his face was probably not among the best ideas he's ever had, probably one of the worst if he was being honest. Vulkan's punch held enough power to rival a black flash and Sukuna wasn't even exaggerating. The worst part was that it was all physical – not a single hint of Cursed Energy. The rumors of Vulkan being the physically strongest Primarch were apparently not just rumors. That one punch would've cracked his skull and broken his jaw if he hadn't applied Reverse Cursed Energy immediately. Playing fair was nice and all, but getting knocked out in one hit by this genetic freak would've been ridiculous; Malcador also told him about Vulkan's healing factor, which was so ridiculous it made RCT look slow, in comparison. So, in fact, it wasn't unfair at all. Sukuna planted both feet on the ground and swung his body forward, before sending a counter right into Vulkan's exposed jaw, sending his fellow Primarch reeling backwards.
Bad choice, kind of okay outcome.
Would he do it again? Probably. Definitely not a good idea, though, because if Vulkan had hit him any harder then his head might've just popped open like a fruit. And if his brain got squashed, then there was no recovering from that, not even with the best RCT – though, Sukuna supposed, it was probably possible, due to his Primarch Physique, but he'd rather not find out the hard way. Plus, Vulkan's punches were hilariously telegraphed, though he moved so fast that only another Primarch – or maybe a particularly potent Jujutsu Sorcerer – would've noticed such a thing. Everyone else would've only seen a blur.
Sukuna did not give Vulkan a moment of reprieve as he surged forward and threw five more punches within the span of a single second, each one blasting into Vulkan's exposed torso, sending the larger Primarch staggering back. And then, Vulkan launched himself forward, sending a slap that sent Sukuna hurling across the open air, breaking his left shoulder, where the open hand made contact. Sukuna chuckled and healed himself with RCT, before flipping over and landing on his feet a few meters away. He smiled and rolled his left shoulder. Vulkan's little slap hadn't just broken the shoulder joint, no; Vulkan's slap pulverized it. "Wow. You're quite literally stronger than me and I'm shocked."
Vulkan laughed heartily, looking as though he hadn't just received killing blows to his vital organs. An immortal opponent. If Vulkan possessed some kind of adaptation mechanic to his regeneration, then he'd be closer to the Yamata no Orochi; as he was, Vulkan was greater than that old Cursed Spirit, however. He was stronger, too – very strong. If he unlocked Jujutsu, Vulkan might just become an actual nightmare on the battlefield, capable of throwing normal punches that each possess the same power as a Black Flash, which had Sukuna wondering what an actual Black Flash from Vulkan would be like.
"I told you, brother mine," Vulkan chuckled and raised his fists close to his head, forming a rudimentary guard, the same guard used by bare-knuckle fighters. Odd, Sukuna noted. Vulkan had adopted an actual martial arts stance not too long ago, but seemed to have abandoned it after only using it a short while. Very odd. But he didn't care to question.
Sukuna grinned and got into the same guard.
Boxing.
Around them, the Salamanders and Devourers cheered, roaring in support for either Vulkan or himself.
Sukuna tightened his guard and met Vulkan's gaze. "Alright, let's see what you've got."
Vulkan's grin widened, and then he came in fast, the ground shaking with every step as he closed the distance between them in an instant. Sukuna barely had time to duck as Vulkan's right hook sailed overhead, the force of the missed punch causing a gust of wind to whip across the battlefield. Sukuna responded with a jab to Vulkan's midsection, but it was like punching a solid wall – his fist barely sank in, the feedback of muscle and bone absurdly dense.
Vulkan grunted but didn't slow down. His left fist came in next, this time a hammering blow aimed straight at Sukuna's chest. Sukuna sidestepped, his eyes flickering with amusement at how sloppy the move was despite the power behind it.
"Not bad, brother, but you're leaving yourself wide open." Sukuna planted his foot and launched a hook straight into Vulkan's ribcage, the crack audible even over the cheering soldiers. But before Sukuna could pull back, Vulkan's massive hand grabbed his forearm, pulling him in closer for a brutal headbutt.
The collision of their skulls echoed, a resounding thunk that sent a tremor through Sukuna's spine. Stars flickered in his vision as he stumbled back, feeling his nose break and immediately mend itself with a quick burst of Reverse Cursed Energy.
"Damn," Sukuna spat, blood dripping down his lip for a brief moment before it was gone. "I'm gonna feel that one tomorrow."
Vulkan barked out a laugh, his thick brow furrowed but his tone light. "If you survive 'til tomorrow, that is!"
Sukuna grinned, relishing the challenge. He darted in low, aiming for Vulkan's legs, and swept out a kick that collided with the side of Vulkan's knee. The Primarch staggered, but his massive frame refused to collapse. Instead, Vulkan pivoted and brought both fists down in an overhead smash, forcing Sukuna to leap back or risk being flattened. The ground splintered where Vulkan's fists met the earth, sending debris flying.
Sukuna wiped some dust from his shoulder. "You're really trying to make me work for it, huh?" His tone was light, but there was a gleam in his eyes that spoke of genuine excitement.
Vulkan shrugged. "I thought you liked a challenge."
Sukuna cracked his knuckles.
"Oh, I do." He dashed forward again, faster this time, and unleashed a flurry of jabs, hooks, and uppercuts aimed at every vulnerable spot he could find. Vulkan took most of the hits without flinching, his regeneration kicking in almost immediately. The few that did connect with enough force to matter were healed before Sukuna could follow up.
And then Vulkan's fist came out of nowhere. A sharp uppercut that Sukuna barely registered before it connected with his jaw, sending him flying a good ten meters into the air. Sukuna somersaulted midair, landed on his feet, and laughed.
"That one hurt!" he called out, flexing his jaw to make sure it was still attached. Yep, it was still attached. If he didn't have absolute mastery over RCT, then he may not have an actual jaw anymore.
Vulkan grinned, lowering his fists slightly. "You're still up. Maybe I'm not hitting hard enough."
"Or maybe you just need more practice." Sukuna winked, rolling his shoulders before charging in once more. This time, he went high, aiming a punch for Vulkan's jaw. Vulkan blocked, but Sukuna had expected that, twisting his body mid-motion and using the momentum to deliver a sharp elbow to the side of Vulkan's head.
Vulkan stumbled but regained his footing, shaking his head. "That was cheap."
"All's fair in a friendly fight," Sukuna countered, already preparing for the next exchange.
As they circled each other, the soldiers around them grew louder, their cheers becoming a thunderous roar. The energy of the crowd was electric, and Sukuna could feel it pushing him forward, urging him to go harder, to push Vulkan to his absolute limit.
Vulkan's fists tightened, his grin never fading. "Let's see how long you can keep this up, brother."
Sukuna's eyes gleamed with amusement. "Oh, I'm just getting started."
Sukuna shifted his stance, the boxing guard lowering slightly, his feet becoming lighter, more fluid. It was subtle, but Vulkan surely noticed the difference; he was also a Primarch, after all. Sukuna's movements became less predictable, more dynamic – more chaotic.
Vulkan threw a quick jab, aimed at Sukuna's chin, but Sukuna wasn't there. He slipped to the side, deflecting the punch with a gentle tap on Vulkan's forearm before spinning low and delivering a sharp kick to Vulkan's calf, buckling his leg momentarily. Vulkan grunted, recovering fast, but there was a slight hesitation now in his next move.
Sukuna smirked.
"That's the thing about boxing," Sukuna said, his body swaying like water as he ducked under Vulkan's next wild swing. "It's straightforward. Limited."
He pivoted around Vulkan's body, delivering a swift elbow to the ribs and following it up with a palm strike to the back of the knee. Vulkan stumbled slightly, his guard faltering for just a second, but it was enough for Sukuna to slide in close and deliver a sharp knee to his liver.
Vulkan wheezed, his body instinctively curling inward to protect the point of impact, but Sukuna was already gone, moving with an elegance that contrasted Vulkan's brute force. He healed very quickly, Sukuna noted, but that did not mean he was immune to pain and that, if nothing else, was the only thing Sukuna could work on.
Vulkan straightened and chuckled through a pained breath. "What's this? You're switching it up on me, brother mine?"
"Gotta keep things interesting," Sukuna grinned, bouncing lightly on his toes. His movements were almost serpentine now, graceful and precise, a little technique he learned from observing martial artists from distant lands, many of them from Cathay.
Sukuna threw a couple of feints, testing Vulkan's reactions, before surging forward again.
Vulkan, still sticking to his rudimentary guard, blocked the first jab but missed the second that came from an awkward, upward angle, catching him right in the temple. The Primarch blinked, stunned for just a split second, and that was all Sukuna needed to launch into a spinning backfist that cracked against Vulkan's jaw with a loud thwack.
The crowd roared in approval, the soldiers of both legions growing more animated as the fight ramped up. Sukuna was moving faster now, his strikes more varied and difficult to predict. Every time Vulkan threw a punch, Sukuna was already slipping past it, countering with a strike that seemed to come from an impossible angle.
Vulkan's frustration began to show. He switched his approach, adding in more kicks, testing Sukuna's balance. The first few kicks were clumsy but powerful, each one sending shockwaves through the air. Sukuna danced around them, bobbing and weaving, but then Vulkan's shin smashed into Sukuna's side with the force of a battering ram, knocking him off his feet and sending him skidding across the ground.
Sukuna rolled and popped back up, laughing as he rubbed his ribs. They were all broken.
"That was a good one," he admitted, applying yet another burst of RCT to fix his broken bones. "Guess you're adapting."
"Kickboxing," Vulkan grinned. "Still straightforward enough for me."
Sukuna cracked his neck. "Let's see how far that gets you."
Now, Sukuna's style shifted again. He began incorporating low sweeps, spinning kicks, and intricate joint locks that forced Vulkan's towering figure into awkward positions. His strikes targeted pressure points, joints, and tendons, not just relying on brute force but leveraging the delicate mechanics of the body. Vulkan, still relying on his raw strength and resilience, found himself constantly trying to catch up to Sukuna's increasingly complex maneuvers.
It was almost amusing.
Sukuna ducked under a roundhouse kick and immediately grabbed Vulkan's leg, twisting it at an odd angle and forcing the Primarch off balance. Before Vulkan could react, Sukuna flipped him onto his back with a thunderous crash that shook the battlefield. Sukuna didn't give him a moment to recover, driving a knee into Vulkan's chest and pinning him down momentarily before springing off again, his movements fluid and fast.
"You've got power, Vulkan, but technique-" Sukuna darted in, landing a spinning kick to the side of Vulkan's head, "-beats brute force."
Vulkan growled, wiping a bit of blood from the corner of his mouth. His eyes gleamed with something akin to excitement.
"You're pushing me, brother mine. I am learning much from you." He stood, shrugging off the damage like it was nothing. His body was healing. None of Sukuna's attacks did any lasting damage. But, fair enough, since Sukuna wasn't exactly trying to kill his fellow Primarch to begin with.
Sukuna, grinning, shifted once again. His movements became even more elusive, drawing from a variety of martial arts. He flowed around Vulkan like water, slipping past each punch, every kick, and responding with counters that targeted weak spots with surgical precision.
At one point, Sukuna caught Vulkan's wrist mid-punch, twisting it into a wrist lock and flipping him over his shoulder with a practiced ease. Vulkan hit the ground hard, but his laughter echoed through the air as he rolled back to his feet.
And then, familiar blue energies came to life around Vulkan's right hand. Sukuna huffed.
Not even surprising anymore.
AN: Chapter 37 is out on (Pat)reon!