The golden rays emanating from the Emperor were blinding, radiating such an overwhelming purity of Positive Cursed Energy that even the air around them seemed to crackle and hum with its intensity. Sukuna, standing before this great being, couldn't help but appreciate the raw power that the Emperor held, even after all this time. It had been decades since their last encounter, yet the Emperor's sheer presence still felt insurmountable. But now, there was something different – Sukuna himself had changed.
He could feel it. The gap between their strength was still vast, but he had closed it, at least a little. His growth, both in power and understanding of his Cursed Techniques, had been immense since their last clash. He grinned, feeling the familiar surge of his Cursed Energy rising, pressing against the atmosphere like a storm about to break. His muscles tensed, and his four arms crossed over his chest, a casual gesture of confidence that only hinted at the explosive force he could unleash if pushed.
The Emperor, ever serene, regarded him with a faint smile, as though Sukuna's power – however much it had grown – was still nothing more than a curiosity. He spoke first, his voice resonating across the empty plateau they stood upon.
"Sukuna," he said, his tone calm but authoritative, the weight of a thousand suns behind it. "We've not met in a long time. How are things with your legion?"
Sukuna chuckled softly to himself, his gaze drifting out over the expanse of the world below. They were far above the arena where his siblings and the others had gathered, standing atop a massive plateau that overlooked much of the dark, storm-ridden landscape of Nikaea. The winds howled around them, but Sukuna felt none of it. His mind was focused entirely on the Emperor, who, despite everything, stood here now – undeniably stronger, but somehow less distant than Sukuna remembered.
"It's been fun," Sukuna replied with a smirk, cracking his knuckles loudly, the action sending a faint ripple of energy through the air. He regarded the question a little deeper for a moment, before ultimately finding that there was no deeper answer. "No problems with my legion. The little guys follow my commands and don't act like mindless drones. Some of them have even grown powerful enough to take entire worlds by themselves."
The Emperor hummed in acknowledgment, nodding slowly, as if he had already anticipated Sukuna's response. His golden gaze lingered on Sukuna, a mixture of amusement and quiet pride in his expression. No not pride, but something closer to relief. "That is good to hear. Your legion has exceeded expectations – Malcador himself was unsure how your methods would fare, but I never had such doubts. You've conquered nearly a thousand worlds in the name of the Imperium, and in a fraction of the time it's taken most of your siblings to achieve half as much."
Sukuna shrugged, unfazed. The numbers had never interested him. He didn't keep track of how many planets he'd conquered or how many victories his legion had claimed. He just knew that he enjoyed the process – enjoyed the battles, the bloodshed, the thrill of pushing his strength to its limits, the amusement of watching the Devourers ravage entire civilizations into dust literally overnight. The Emperor's approval, while notable, was secondary to his own amusement.
"I'm not competing with them," Sukuna said simply. "I'm just doing what you told me to do and having fun with it."
The Emperor's eyes sharpened as he appraised Sukuna's form, his golden gaze flickering with interest. He nodded after a moment.
"I see you've made some... modifications to yourself," he remarked. "I hadn't realized you were this skilled in Biomancy."
Sukuna grinned wider, flexing one of his four arms as if to show off his handiwork. It had taken time, but he had finally managed to restore a semblance of his original form from the old days—four arms, four eyes, all brimming with raw, destructive power. The mouth on his stomach, however, had eluded him, and he had long since abandoned the effort of recreating it.
"Yeah, it wasn't easy," Sukuna admitted, his grin taking on a predatory edge. "But I figured it out eventually. It wasn't just Biomancy, though. I had to tap into a lot of things – things I didn't even know existed until I started digging."
The Emperor's smile grew, ever so slightly. It was akin to an artist, who'd just heard that someone discovered the little hidden messages they'd etched upon their creation. "Ah, I didn't think anyone would notice this early. The Primarchs – your siblings – are not their true selves either. Their forms are... limited. They don't yet realize it, but they are trapped within the bodies I created for them, unable to fully synchronize with their souls."
Sukuna raised an eyebrow, intrigued. He had noticed something similar during his sparring session with Vulkan. The Salamander had been immensely powerful, but something about him had felt incomplete - as though his body and soul were not entirely aligned. Sukuna had suspected it was a flaw in the Emperor's creation, but hearing it confirmed only deepened his curiosity.
"I figured as much," Sukuna said. "When I fought Vulkan, I could feel it. He wasn't fully there. His soul and body weren't in sync, even after he awakened his Jujutsu."
The Emperor nodded. There was a fascination in there as well, somewhere in his eyes. "Correct. I created the Primarchs by forging bodies for powerful entities from the Immaterium to occupy, allowing them to become souls. But until they embrace their true nature, they will remain incomplete."
"Unlike you," The Emperor added.
"I've always been my true self," Sukuna said, shrugging. "I can't be anything or anyone else other than Ryomen Sukuna. What point is there in denying anything?"
The Emperor regarded him for a moment, his blazing golden eyes narrowing in thought.
Then, with a swift motion, he snapped his fingers. A shimmering golden barrier materialized around them, encasing the two in a bubble of radiant light. The air grew still, and the overwhelming power of the Emperor's Positive Cursed Energy created an impenetrable shield, blocking all forms of detection, Cursed or mundane, physical or technological.
Sukuna tilted his head.
"Alright," he said, his grin fading slightly as he assessed the barrier's purpose. "This is definitely more serious than I thought."
The Emperor's expression remained calm, though there was a weight to his eyes that hadn't been present before.
"It is," he said softly. "You've grown, Sukuna. Far more than I anticipated. You've embraced your true nature, something none of your siblings have yet to achieve. That is why I can speak to you with a candor I cannot afford with them."
Sukuna's eyes narrowed, his senses heightened. There was something unsettling about the way the Emperor spoke, as though the vast, godlike power that radiated from him was momentarily laced with something fragile – something vulnerable, something disgustingly human. Sukuna knew better than to underestimate this being, but the tone in the Emperor's voice hinted at a gravity that even Sukuna couldn't dismiss.
Then, the Emperor spoke again, his voice calm but carrying the weight of fate itself.
"A great calamity is coming," he said, his golden eyes flickering with an intensity that seemed to pierce through time itself. "It will tear apart humanity from within. Half the Primarchs will rise in open rebellion, turning their backs on the Imperium, while the other half will fight to preserve it. And aside from you, Sukuna... I don't know who else will stand by my side when that time comes."
Sukuna raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth twitching in amusement.
"Wouldn't it be easier," he began, his voice dripping with casual malice, "to just kill them all?"
The Emperor paused for a moment, staring at Sukuna with a look that was both contemplative and, surprisingly, amused. Then, he chuckled softly and shook his head.
"Unfortunately, no," he said, his voice carrying a tinge of regret. "That is not an option. They are still my sons, flawed though they may be. And I cannot destroy them now, when the rebellion is still far away."
Sukuna shrugged, his four arms folding over his broad chest.
"So, what exactly are you planning to do?" His tone was light, but there was a sharp edge beneath it. He was curious. Because this was interesting, just the sort of unexpected event to break the growing boredom that was slowly plaguing his brain with every world he conquered.
The Emperor's gaze drifted toward the horizon, his expression hardening.
"The one certainty I have," he said slowly, each word carefully measured, "is that whoever becomes Warmaster will fall to rebellion. And once he does, the others will follow. It is inevitable."
"Warmaster, huh?" Sukuna's lips curled into a smirk as the realization settled in. "So that means... Horus is going to rebel?"
He couldn't help but chuckle at the thought. "What could that bald fool possibly want so badly that he'd throw away everything and rebel against you? And you're the one who appointed him, yes? You want him to rebel, don't you?"
The Emperor's expression remained unreadable.
"The Warmaster is meant to lead the Great Crusade in my stead," he explained, though not exactly bothering to explain why he was leaving the crusade to begin with. Then again, Sukuna didn't exactly care. "Horus is... suitable for the role. His Jujutsu abilities aside, he is neither the strongest nor the most skilled of your siblings. But he is competent enough for now. And more importantly, when the time comes, he will not be too difficult to dispose of."
"Ah, I see," Sukuna nodded thoughtfully, his smirk never fading. Compared to someone like Vulkan, Horus was painfully average, but then that was also his greatest strength. Someone who was kind of okay at many things was far more useful than someone who was only good at one thing. "So, you're using him. Makes sense. He's the perfect puppet."
The Emperor's eyes flickered with the faintest hint of amusement before he continued. "Horus is useful, for now. But once he turns, he will serve as the catalyst for the rebellion that will fracture the Imperium. He will rally the disillusioned, the prideful, and the ambitious. When that happens, his fall will trigger the collapse of everything we've built."
Sukuna leaned forward slightly, his interest piqued. "And you're just going to sit back and let that happen?"
The Emperor's gaze shifted back to Sukuna, his eyes burning with intensity.
"No. That's where you come in. I don't want you to follow Horus or even watch him. I want you to prepare. Consolidate your power in Shibuya. Stop conquering worlds for now and train more Devourers. Strengthen your forces. When the time comes, I will call upon you. Your task will be simple: eliminate Horus before his rebellion gains too much momentum."
Sukuna's grin widened, his sharp teeth gleaming in the fading light.
"Oh? You want me to kill Horus? That sounds like fun." He felt eager, for once, because Horus could not have possibly stagnated since they last met. And the bow his brother had gifted him had seen plenty of use. "And if I can't get to him in time?"
The Emperor's expression hardened. "If Horus's rebellion progresses beyond control, you will have another task. Kill those who follow him. Annihilate their legions. Leave nothing standing."
Sukuna let out a low, sinister chuckle.
"Now you're talking my language." His eyes gleamed with excitement. "You've gotten me all fired up for this rebellion."
The Emperor sighed softly, his golden aura flickering with something almost imperceptible – a deep weariness hidden beneath his godlike composure.
"I expected as much," he said, shaking his head. "But understand this, Sukuna – this rebellion will not be a simple skirmish. It will be the end of an era, and I cannot predict how far it will spiral out of control."
Sukuna raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued once again. He didn't care for the Imperium. But he'd defend it if that's what the Emperor told him to do. "What do you mean by that? How bad are we talking here?"
The Emperor's gaze turned distant, his expression darkening as he spoke. "Once, Horus would have fallen to the dark powers of the Immaterium, those ancient entities that lurk in the shadows of reality, waiting for their chance to strike. But now... I don't know what will lead him to rebel."
Sukuna's grin widened somehow. The casual mention of the Immaterium, the Cursed Realm itself, and the Cursed Spirits that dwelt there, sent shivers of excitement running through his form.
"You mean like the Cursed Realm?" he asked, his voice low. "Like my old buddy Skarbrand?"
The Emperor hesitated for a moment, clearly conflicted. His expression tightened before he let out a sigh and nodded. "Yes, in a sense. Like Skarbrand, but far more dangerous. The powers of the Immaterium are sentient storms of pure energy and emotion, capable of consuming entire galaxies. They feed off the raw, unchecked chaos that spreads through the universe. And if Horus falls to them... there will be nothing left of him."
"But that's not going to happen anymore, yeah?" Sukuna raised a brow. "You said it yourself."
The Emperor nodded. "Indeed. Now... I don't even know how or why he will rebel."
"Oh, don't look so glum!" Sukuna chuckled. "Uncertainty makes life interesting! Nothing a good spar won't fix."
AN: Chapter 42 is out on (Pat)reon!