threads of infinity: Echoes of Determination 34 (ermmm sorry for not posting! ive focused a lot in to finals, btw this chapter is a 2 in 1!)
The once-bustling streets of Shibuya were eerily silent, the weight of destruction lingering like a heavy fog. Tsukasa strode forward with purpose, his repaired cloak billowing slightly in the wind, his Six Eyes subtly active as they dissected every trace of cursed energy left in the area. Despite his outward calm, a fire of resolve burned within him. Each step felt heavier with the knowledge of what lay ahead, but retreat was no longer an option.
"Whatever storm is coming... I'll be ready," he murmured to himself, the faint hum of cursed energy flickering at his fingertips like an unspoken promise.
The air turned heavy as Tsukasa stepped deeper into the fractured city. His Six Eyes flickered to life, revealing a sudden, seething knot of cursed energy coalescing in the distance. It wasn't subtle; the cursed spirit clearly wasn't bothering to mask its presence.
Tsukasa's grip on the fabric of his ruined cloak tightened. He tilted his head slightly, his icy blue eyes narrowing as he studied the entity. "Special grade," he muttered. It wasn't the first he had encountered, but the sheer malevolence of this one's aura was unlike anything he'd felt since Shibuya began unraveling.
From the shadow of a crumbling building, the cursed spirit emerged. Its grotesque form was part arachnid, part humanoid—a long, sinewy body supported by spindly, segmented legs, with a face that bore a permanent, jagged grin. It stood unnaturally still, its countless black eyes fixed on Tsukasa.
"Another insect drawn to the remnants of the chaos," Tsukasa said, his voice calm yet cutting. The spirit's grin widened unnaturally at his words.
It spoke, its voice a grating mixture of whispers and growls. "Not an insect. The reaper of sorcerers. I've been waiting for a feast, and here you are."
The cursed spirit lunged forward, its claws slicing through the air with terrifying speed. Tsukasa stepped sideways, his precision blurring into the surreal, as if he were moving between dimensions.
"Feast, huh?" Tsukasa said, materializing behind the spirit. He extended his hand, summoning a surge of cursed energy. "Let's see if you can even survive the appetizer."
The Infestation's Gambit
Tsukasa stilled as a sickening noise filled the air—a wet, squelching sound that sent a shiver down his spine. The cursed energy in the area shifted violently, twisting like a vortex. From the shadows ahead, a grotesque figure emerged. A pulsating mass of writhing tentacles surrounded a core, its grotesque, childlike mask smiling unnaturally.
The cursed spirit spoke in a voice that was both high-pitched and echoing. "You've wandered far from your comfort zone, Six Eyes." Its tentacles writhed, leaving trails of glistening ichor on the ground. Parasites the size of rats dripped from its form and skittered toward Tsukasa.
"Another parasite," Tsukasa muttered, stepping back slightly as his Six Eyes analyzed the cursed spirit. "Special grade, huh?"
Writhe's voice twisted with amusement. "Oh, far beyond special. Let me show you what it means to infest despair."
The parasites moved unnaturally fast, swarming toward Tsukasa. He flicked his wrist, sending a precise burst of Red forward. The cursed energy obliterated the first wave, but more poured out from Writhe's tentacles, relentless in their approach.
Tsukasa narrowed his eyes, watching as the parasites rushed toward him in waves. With a flick of his hand, he unleashed a barrage of Blue, warping the space around him and pulling the creatures inward before crushing them into oblivion. The cursed energy from the attack illuminated the area momentarily, revealing Writhe's true form—a writhing mass of intertwined parasites pulsing with cursed energy.
"Is that all you've got?" Tsukasa taunted, though his stance remained cautious. He was fully aware of how deceptive cursed spirits could be, and this one was unlike anything he'd encountered.
Writhe's mask tilted, its grin widening. "Oh, little sorcerer, I've only just begun."
The spirit extended its tentacles toward the ground, and with a sickening rumble, they burrowed into the earth. The ground beneath Tsukasa's feet shifted unnaturally, splitting apart as grotesque appendages erupted from below, aiming to ensnare him. With a burst of cursed energy, he leapt back, narrowly avoiding the grasping limbs.
"Your tricks won't work on me," Tsukasa muttered, charging Red in his palm. He launched the technique toward the ground, obliterating the appendages in a fiery explosion. Dust and debris filled the air, but as it cleared, Writhe stood untouched, its form regenerating rapidly.
"You misunderstand," Writhe hissed. "I am not a fighter. I am the infestation. Every step you take spreads me further."
Tsukasa felt a cold sweat form as his Six Eyes picked up an alarming shift. The cursed energy Writhe emitted wasn't just centralized—it was infecting the environment. The parasites he destroyed left remnants of cursed energy that were beginning to creep toward him.
"You're stalling me," Tsukasa realized aloud, his tone sharp. "But why?"
Writhe didn't answer directly, instead releasing a cacophonous laugh that echoed throughout the ruins. "You're sharp. Too sharp. Let's see if your wit can outlast my hunger."
Tsukasa braced himself as Writhe began to morph, its body unraveling into a swirling cyclone of cursed energy, launching projectiles of condensed parasitic masses toward him. He had no choice now—he'd have to end this quickly before the infestation spread any further.
Tsukasa launched himself toward Writhe, closing the distance between them in a flash. The cursed spirit lashed out with several appendages, each pulsating with parasitic energy and aiming to ensnare him. However, as they neared Tsukasa, the attacks halted, repelled by the invisible barrier of Infinity.
Writhe snarled, its attacks ceasing momentarily. "You think your precious technique makes you untouchable?"
Tsukasa didn't respond, instead darting forward with a precise strike to the spirit's core. His fist connected with Writhe's mass, sending vibrations through the entity's twisted form. The impact splintered its body outward, parasites scattering across the ground like spilled ink.
But the spirit quickly reformed, tendrils weaving together as it lashed out again, this time with coordinated strikes meant to overwhelm Tsukasa's defenses. Tentacles flailed and thrust toward him from all angles, their cursed energy pulsating with a sickly green hue.
Still, none could breach Infinity. Tsukasa moved with calculated precision, slipping through the chaos as though walking on air. His Six Eyes kept track of every fragment of cursed energy, identifying weak points and patterns in Writhe's regeneration.
"Stop hiding behind tricks," Tsukasa said, his voice low but commanding. He pivoted sharply and drove his palm into Writhe's mask, a pulse of raw energy rippling outward. The force cracked the mask's surface, exposing writhing tendrils beneath.
The spirit recoiled, letting out a guttural screech. "You cannot destroy me! I am everywhere! I am unending!"
Tsukasa stepped back, dusting his hands as though unimpressed. "Everywhere, huh? Then I'll just have to burn it all down."
He began charging Blue, the cursed energy spiraling around him in an intense vortex. Writhe's tendrils dug into the earth again, attempting to spread further, but Tsukasa didn't let up. With a burst of motion, he closed the gap once more, delivering another devastating blow to the spirit's center mass.
The air grew heavy with tension as the battle continued, Tsukasa dominating every exchange. Yet, he remained wary. Writhe's resilience wasn't just due to its regenerative abilities—there was something else at play, and he was determined to uncover it.
Tsukasa's gaze sharpened as Writhe spread its cursed tendrils further, the parasitic influence creeping along the ground like a disease. A faint smirk crossed his lips. "You want everywhere? Let's see how well you handle this."
He extended his hands, cursed energy pooling and condensing at his palm in a spiraling vortex. The chant came to him instinctively:
"Phase, twilight eyes of wisdom."
The air around him distorted, drawn into the growing center of energy as Maximum Blue took form. The compact sphere glowed intensely, humming with power that threatened to collapse in on itself.
Without hesitation, Tsukasa slammed the technique into the ground.
The impact was immediate and catastrophic. A deafening roar echoed through the area as the compressed energy tore through the earth. The cursed energy expanded outward in a devastating shockwave, obliterating the ground beneath and creating a gaping chasm in the once-solid terrain.
Writhe screamed as its tendrils were severed and scattered, fragments of its body disintegrating in the explosion. The shockwave disrupted its hold on the environment, forcing it to retract and reform closer to its core.
Dust and debris filled the air, but Tsukasa remained unfazed, his Six Eyes piercing through the chaos. He spotted Writhe's core—a pulsating, dark mass desperately clinging to its remaining strength.
"Found you," Tsukasa muttered, his voice barely audible over the fading echoes of destruction.
Writhe writhed in agony, its voice rasping with desperation. "You…you'll regret this…you'll see the futility of your efforts…"
Tsukasa cracked his knuckles, stepping toward the exposed core. "You're all talk. Let's end this."
As Tsukasa advanced, Writhe's fractured body convulsed violently. Tendrils snapped back toward its core, desperately knitting together the remnants of its form. The cursed spirit's voice rasped, full of malice and pain.
"You think you've won… but I am endless!"
With a sudden surge of cursed energy, Writhe's core shot upward, its regenerating mass spiraling into a twisted, towering shape. The cursed spirit moved to retreat, slithering with unnatural speed through the devastated landscape.
Tsukasa's eyes narrowed. His Six Eyes tracked every movement, analyzing the flow of cursed energy as Writhe tried to escape and reconstruct itself. "Running won't save you," he muttered, his voice cold.
Writhe extended newly formed tendrils, latching onto the debris and pulling itself faster toward a fissure in the earth—a dark cavern created by the earlier Maximum Blue attack. The cursed energy pulsed violently as it poured its power into regeneration, trying to vanish into the darkness below.
Tsukasa extended his hand, cursed energy swirling around him in a vortex. "Not a chance," he growled, forming another Red in his palm. Without hesitation, he launched the technique.
The compressed blast of cursed energy ripped through the air, colliding with Writhe's core just as it began to sink into the fissure. The force of the attack sent fragments of the cursed spirit scattering, halting its retreat.
Writhe screamed, its regenerating form faltering as it struggled to maintain cohesion. "You... cannot destroy me entirely! I will rise again!"
Tsukasa clenched his fists, the air around him vibrating with intensity. "You might want to try convincing yourself of that."
Writhe's fractured mass twisted and darted with renewed desperation, surging toward the nearest structure—a half-destroyed building teetering on the edge of collapse. It wormed its way through shattered windows and cracked walls, its cursed energy barely holding its form together.
Tsukasa tracked its movement with an unyielding glare, leaping upward with a controlled burst of cursed energy. He landed gracefully on the rooftop, the Six Eyes painting every detail of Writhe's chaotic energy below.
"Running again?" Tsukasa muttered, his tone sharp and disdainful. "You're only making this worse for yourself."
He raised his hand, red energy swirling fiercely around his fingertips. The air around him thickened as he began the chant, his voice steady and cold.
"Phase paramita, pillars of light..."
The energy condensed rapidly, forming into a pulsing orb in his palm. With a swift motion, he hurled Red directly downward. The energy blast ripped through the air, a deafening roar echoing through the city.
The building trembled violently as the cursed technique struck its center, detonating with enough force to obliterate the foundation. Walls caved in, glass shattered, and the structure began collapsing in on itself, swallowing Writhe within a storm of rubble and dust.
From his vantage point, Tsukasa watched the destruction unfold, the debris swirling in chaotic patterns. He could sense Writhe's energy flickering, struggling to maintain its presence amidst the chaos.
"Still alive, huh?" Tsukasa muttered, scanning the wreckage for any signs of movement.
(i forgot everything about tsukasa's domain expansion so, we have a new one!)
The dust began to settle, revealing the remnants of Writhe's form—a barely coherent mass of cursed energy trying to reform amidst the rubble. Tsukasa narrowed his eyes, considering his next move.
The cursed energy in the area grew suffocating as Writhe's battered form began to rise, tendrils of cursed energy flowing erratically. Tsukasa froze, his sharp gaze locking onto the cursed spirit as its distorted voice echoed through the air.
"Enough running," Writhe growled, its fractured body shuddering violently. "You think you've cornered me? You've only stepped into my lair."
The space around Writhe darkened, the oppressive energy pulling inward. Tsukasa's Six Eyes detected the rapid shift—cursed energy folding and expanding in unnatural ways. His eyes narrowed.
"Domain Expansion," Writhe hissed. "Labyrinth of Sorrow."
The world around Tsukasa twisted violently, the cityscape vanishing as he was pulled into Writhe's domain. The air turned thick with despair, the surroundings morphing into a grotesque maze of endless, pulsating walls made of fused human faces. They screamed in agony, their distorted cries filling the air with an unbearable cacophony.
The ground beneath Tsukasa felt unsteady, like stepping on quivering flesh. The cursed energy pressing down on him was immense, each breath heavy with the weight of suffering.
Writhe's voice echoed from all directions. "In here, my sorrow becomes yours. My pain is eternal, and now it will be yours to share!"
Tsukasa stayed calm, his Six Eyes analyzing the domain's structure. The oppressive cursed energy was immense, but the nature of Writhe's domain was erratic and unstable—a reflection of its fractured state.
"An impressive display," Tsukasa said coolly, raising his hand as cursed energy swirled around him. "But no amount of sorrow can cloud my vision."
Writhe lunged from the walls, its tendrils slicing toward him. Tsukasa shifted slightly, the attacks stopping inches from his body as they collided with his infinity.
"Let's see how well your sorrow holds up against absolute power," Tsukasa said, his voice low and menacing. Energy began to build around him as he prepared to strike back against the cursed spirit's broken sanctuary.
The air around Tsukasa shimmered with golden light as his cursed energy surged to its peak. The distorted maze around him seemed to recoil in response, its pulsating walls quivering as if anticipating destruction.
"Domain Expansion," Tsukasa declared, his voice resonating with power. "Ethereal Monastery."
A radiant burst of energy erupted from his body, shattering the oppressive sorrow of Writhe's domain. The labyrinth dissolved into a sea of golden light as the celestial monastery materialized, its cracked golden tiles spreading outward, chains of cursed energy descending from the void above.
The contrast between the two domains was striking: where Writhe's domain was a grotesque, despairing prison, Tsukasa's Ethereal Monastery was an overwhelming display of control and majesty. Gravitational forces warped the space, pulling the remnants of Writhe's domain into black holes that formed at the edges.
Writhe roared, its body twisting unnaturally as it tried to resist the gravitational pull. Tendrils lashed out, but golden chains from the void intercepted them mid-air, binding and pinning them down with unyielding force.
"You can't suppress me!" Writhe howled, its fractured form struggling against the overwhelming pressure. "My sorrow is eternal!"
Tsukasa's Six Eyes gleamed as he raised his hand, summoning shards of amber energy in the air. "Eternal?" he echoed mockingly. "I'll show you what true eternity feels like."
The shards rained down, each one exploding into brilliant bursts of energy that tore through Writhe's tendrils. The cursed spirit screeched, its body disintegrating piece by piece under the relentless assault.
As the monastery began to quake, Tsukasa's voice cut through the chaos. "Celestial Finale."
The golden tiles beneath him shattered, and the entire monastery collapsed inward, releasing a cataclysmic gravitational shockwave. Writhe's remaining form was caught at the epicenter, its screams silenced as it was obliterated by the crushing force.
When the light faded, Tsukasa stood alone in the void left behind, his breathing steady despite the immense power he had just unleashed. His cloak was tattered, his body bruised, but he stood tall, victorious.
With a wave of his hand, the void dissolved, and the real world returned—a broken cityscape, eerily silent in the aftermath of their battle.
The air was still as Tsukasa took a moment to glance over the desolate cityscape. The damage left by the clash of domains was evident: crumbled buildings, shattered streets, and a lingering aura of cursed energy that hung like a stormcloud.
He adjusted the remains of his tattered cloak, letting out a slow breath. The fight had been taxing, but it was over, and Writhe was no more.
Without a word, Tsukasa turned, his steps deliberate as he left the scene. The faint light of dawn broke through the smoky horizon, casting long shadows as he disappeared into the city's depths, a solitary figure amidst the wreckage.
As Tsukasa strode through the ruined streets, his mind churned with thoughts he would never voice aloud.
That cursed spirit's domain... it was broken from the start, he thought, his icy gaze scanning the remnants of what once was. But even a fractured domain holds power when unleashed recklessly.
He flexed his fingers absently, still feeling the faint sting from overexertion. The weight of his own actions gnawed at him. Despite his precision, there was always collateral damage—remnants of lives disrupted, maybe even ended. But remorse didn't suit him; regret wouldn't fix anything.
No. There's no room for weakness, he reminded himself, though the Six Eyes didn't miss the faint trembling in his fingertips.
The void within his heart felt heavier than usual, the loneliness pressing harder now that he had once again stood at the brink of devastation, alone. The fight hadn't even been challenging—not truly. Yet it left a hollowness behind.
"Power without purpose," he muttered under his breath, his voice lost in the wind.
His thoughts briefly flickered to Gojo. Was this what he felt? Constant battles, endless responsibility, the weight of everyone's expectations?
Tsukasa's jaw tightened. He shoved the thought away, burying it like he always did. No comparisons. No distractions. He had no time for doubt, no time for sentimentality.
Each step he took away from the ruins echoed louder in his head. The world didn't need his regret. It needed his strength.
And so, with a resolute glare at the horizon, Tsukasa pressed forward. More training. More control. Until I can end this all for good.
Tsukasa's pace slowed as he reached a crumbled fountain at the edge of the city ruins. His reflection shimmered faintly in the water pooled at its base, distorted by ripples from the faint breeze. For a moment, he stared at his own face—a face too calm, too composed for someone who had just torn through a cursed spirit and left another swath of destruction in his wake.
How long can I keep this up?
The question lingered in the back of his mind, one he hated to acknowledge. Every battle, every display of his overwhelming power, only seemed to push him further into a chasm of isolation. He clenched his fists at the thought, the memories of countless encounters flashing through his mind. Faces of those he'd fought for, fought against—they all blurred together now, mere fragments of a story he couldn't piece together anymore.
The faint trace of a bitter laugh escaped his lips, surprising even himself. It was a hollow, humorless sound that echoed softly against the silence around him.
"Power without purpose," he murmured again, this time the words tinged with mockery. "Maybe they were right. Maybe I really am just a tool for destruction."
He exhaled sharply, shaking his head to clear his thoughts. It wasn't weakness—it couldn't be. Weakness didn't survive. Weakness didn't win. And yet, there was a part of him that wished for something more—something beyond the endless cycle of fighting and retreating, winning and losing.
He looked up at the darkened sky, stars barely visible through the haze of cursed energy that still hung in the air. The night felt as hollow as he did. Even the stars seem distant, he thought.
Tsukasa straightened, his expression hardening once more. He couldn't afford these moments of doubt. He had no one to lean on, no mentor to guide him, no companions to rely on. All he had was himself, his cursed techniques, and the faint hope that someday, this path would lead to something more than destruction.
But for now, all he could do was walk forward, leaving behind the ruins of his latest battle—and the fleeting echoes of his own laughter.
erm, the end! i guess this is a late christmas gift? idk, happy late new years!