Disclaimer: Just in case nobody realized I don't own nor do I claim ownership of Highschool DxD, all characters and worlds belong to their real world respective owners. I'm just having some fun, that's all.
Warning sexual content disclaimer: All characters and actions are above 18+
Highschool DxD: The Cursed King of Kuoh
S1 Ch 27: Releasing One's Fear
Morning sunlight filtered softly through the curtains of Sukuna's room, thin beams of gold cutting across dark sheets and tangled blankets while the quiet sounds of mountain wind drifted faintly through the cracked window.
For once, the room was completely peaceful.
Sukuna stirred slowly beneath the blankets, one eye opening first before the other followed lazily after it. For a moment he simply stared at the ceiling in silence, still half asleep as his mind slowly clawed its way back toward consciousness.
Once the drowsiness passed, and his awareness returned he suddenly felt warmth pressed against him on both sides.
He turned his head slightly to the right.
Ura slept soundly beside him, dark hair spilled loosely across the pillow instead of tied into its usual neat bun. Without her constant composed posture and sharp gaze, she looked softer somehow. One arm rested lightly across the blanket while her breathing remained slow and even beneath the morning light.
A faint smirk tugged at Sukuna's mouth, but when he turned to the left, he blinked with surprise at the sight of Rias fast asleep.
The crimson-haired devil had somehow ended up tangled halfway into his blankets during the night, glasses discarded somewhere onto the nearby nightstand while strands of red hair spilled messily across the pillow beneath her head.
For several seconds, Sukuna simply stared, then his eyes drifted downward slightly when the blanket fell slightly away exposing her naked body.
"…Huh?"
Was all he could mutter at the sight of her exposed naked breasts. For a moment he wondered exactly when she'd gotten undressed, but then remembered a running gag in the series where she couldn't sleep unless she was completely naked which led to quite a few fanservice scenes with the dragon pervert.
For a moment he just stared at her round breast watching it rise and fall with her breathing, its pink erect nipple almost beckoning to him.
Unable to resist, Sukuna reached over lazily and took it into his hand, squeezing it lightly with the supple flesh spilling out between his fingers as he tested the softness with clear curiosity while mentally comparing it against Ura's.
A minute passed and then another as he continued to grope the sleeping girl, when suddenly he heard someone clearing their throat.
He looked up and locked eyes with the devil king who was staring at him with flat neutral eyes. Her eyes slowly slid downward to her chest and his hand that was still groping her despite the situation.
Silence filled the room.
For the first time in several minutes, Sukuna actually looked mildly uncertain as his brain attempted to come up with literally any believable excuse.
Nothing came to him, so he went with honesty.
"…It's exactly what it looks like."
Rias stared at him for another second, then a loud slap echoed throughout the room.
o-O-o
Several minutes later, the three of them made their way through the mansion hallways toward the dining room.
Ura walked calmly at Sukuna's side in her usual kimono, perfectly composed as always despite the faint amusement lingering quietly in her eyes. Rias walked slightly ahead of them, her posture composed and relaxed.
As for Sukuna—he walked with a bright red handprint across his cheek.
The moment they entered the dining room, however, the reactions became unavoidable.
Kiba looked up first from his breakfast before immediately coughing into his hand to hide a smile. Asia blinked in confusion for exactly half a second before realizing what she was seeing and quickly covering her mouth.
Akeno outright grinned.
"My my," she hummed while leaning against her chair. "Sounds like you three had an entertaining night."
Rias answered smoothly before Sukuna could.
"Sukuna simply needed to learn to keep his hands to himself," she replied calmly.
Akeno's smile widened instantly.
"Ara ara."
Kiba visibly looked away to stop himself from laughing while Asia's shoulders shook slightly beside him.
Only Koneko remained mostly quiet.
She sat at the table with her usual cookie stash beside her, though unlike normal, she barely touched them. Ever since yesterday's training session, a strange heaviness had settled around the small rook. Even now, her gaze remained lower more often than not.
Sukuna noticed, but said nothing. Instead, he dropped lazily into his chair while rubbing the side of his face.
"She hits hard."
"Then you should ask for permission," she teased back.
Akeno rose smoothly from her chair and slowly approached Sukuna, amusement dancing openly across her features as she stopped beside him. Her fingers reached up carefully before brushing lightly across the red mark on his cheek.
"My, my…" she whispered teasingly. "You shouldn't be so rough with him, Buchou."
He looked up at her.
Akeno leaned slightly closer, violet eyes meeting his crimson ones directly while her smile softened into something more playful.
"Do you need someone to make it better?"
Sukuna smirked.
His hand slid around her waist, pulling her closer enough that Akeno let out the faintest surprised squeak before recovering almost instantly. His other hand reached upward, fingers lightly cupping beneath her chin as he tilted her face toward his.
"Why?" he asked lazily. "Are you offering to kiss it better?"
For once, even Akeno looked briefly caught off guard by how direct he was, then her smile widened.
Slowly she leaned closer. Her pink tongue briefly peeked between her lips as she inched closer to his face only for a metal fan to suddenly unfold directly between their faces with a sharp snap.
Both of them paused, looking up to see Ura standing beside them with perfectly cold eyes.
"That's quite enough joking around, master."
Akeno's eye twitched, while Sukuna sighed heavily before releasing her waist.
"You're a terrible wingman, Ura."
"And yet somehow your survival rate improves around me."
The devil queen huffed softly before returning to her seat, visibly annoyed at having her fun interrupted.
Ura ignored her completely and made her way toward the kitchen instead. Breakfast for her master still needed to be prepared after all.
The others continued eating while conversation gradually shifted back toward training. Rias laid out plans for the second day while Kiba occasionally added observations from yesterday's sessions. Asia listened attentively while trying to take mental notes on everything at once, and Akeno lazily stretched in her chair while making occasional comments about how cruel mountain training was for her skin.
Only Koneko remained mostly silent.
Sukuna leaned back in his chair, watching her quietly for a moment before finally speaking.
"First spar today is me and the kitten."
Koneko looked up immediately, her expression a mixture of surprise and reluctance.
Rias's expression tightened slightly as well, concern briefly flickered across her face before vanishing again.
"…Alright," she said carefully.
Koneko looked between the two of them but ultimately said nothing.
Before the atmosphere could grow any heavier, the smell of fresh food drifted out from the kitchen, making everyone's head turn.
Ura emerged carrying a plate of thick-cut french toast coated lightly in powdered sugar and syrup, steam still rising faintly from it while the scent of cinnamon and butter filled the dining room almost instantly.
The collective reaction around the table was immediate. The sounds of stomachs growing filling the air as their eyes followed the plate until Ura carefully placed it before Sukuna.
"Your breakfast, master."
Sukuna took one bite, then nodded approvingly.
"Delicious as always, Ura."
Ura bowed her head slightly. "I'm pleased it satisfies you, master."
Around the table, everyone else continued staring at the food with varying levels of desperation.
Rias finally looked upward toward Ura.
"…Would it be possible to make—"
"No."
Her answer came instantly making Rias blinked with surprise at the maid's cold tone.
"You didn't even let me finish."
"I already knew your request."
Akeno burst into giggles while Sukuna nearly choked on his food from amusement.
"Told you," he said while pointing lazily at Ura with his fork. "She's my maid. Go find your own."
Rias glared at him briefly before sighing in defeat.
"…Unbelievable."
Despite the complaints, however, everyone eventually returned to eating. They'd need the energy for what they were about to endure. Outside the mansion windows, the morning sun had fully risen over the mountains.
And day two of Sukuna's training was officially about to begin.
o-O-o
The mountain air felt colder that morning.
Clouds drifted slowly overhead, occasionally covering the sun and casting shadows across the massive field in front of the Gremory estate. The wind rolled through the tall grass in restless waves while the distant forest surrounding the mansion whispered softly beneath the breeze.
Normally, the training grounds carried a calm atmosphere to them, peaceful even.
Today, however, the field felt tense. Almost like it knew something bad was about to happen.
Koneko stood near one end of the clearing wearing her usual training attire, fingerless combat gloves wrapped tightly around her small fists while her golden eyes remained fixed on Sukuna across from her. She looked composed at first glance, but the slight stiffness in her shoulders and the tension in her stance gave away the clear uneaseness she felt.
Across the field, Sukuna walked toward her in his black tracksuit with his hands buried casually in his pockets, looking completely relaxed despite the growing pressure in the air around them.
His expression remained lazy, almost bored, but something about the look in his crimson eyes kept Koneko's stomach tight.
The others stood gathered near the mansion steps, each of them watching the field with growing uncertainty.
Asia looked nervous, her fingers clasped tightly together against her chest while she shifted anxiously beside Kiba. The blond knight himself remained visibly tense, eyes narrowed sharply as if he were already preparing himself to interfere if things escalated too far. Akeno had lost most of her teasing smile, her violet eyes following Sukuna carefully.
Rias stood furthest forward among the group.
Her arms remained crossed tightly beneath her chest while her gaze stayed fixed on Sukuna. She trusted him—at least enough to allow this—but there was still an uneasy feeling twisting around inside her stomach.
Something about this didn't feel like training, at least not normal training anyway.
Eventually, Sukuna stopped several feet in front of Koneko and silence stretched across the field between them. The wind shifted softly through the grass while the morning sunlight dimmed again beneath drifting clouds.
Then Sukuna finally spoke.
"Ura."
The attendant standing beside the others bowed immediately.
"Of course, master."
Purple energy spread outward beneath her feet instantly.
A second later, massive translucent walls of violet force erupted upward around the field, forming a gigantic cubed barrier that completely enclosed Sukuna and Koneko inside. The magical construct hummed with enormous pressure as the glowing walls sealed shut around them like polished crystal.
The reaction from the others was immediate.
"What?!" Asia yelped.
Kiba stepped forward sharply while Akeno's eyes narrowed.
Inside the barrier, Koneko visibly stiffened as she looked around at the glowing walls surrounding them. Unease crawled slowly up her spine while the realization settled into her chest that there was no entrance—
Or exit.
Rias frowned. "Sukuna… what exactly are you planning?"
Inside the barrier, Sukuna finally spoke.
"The princess told me a little about your background, kitten," he said calmly. "And why you refuse to use your power."
Koneko's eyes widened slightly.
Instinctively, she glanced towards Rias outside the barrier. The crimson-haired devil winced faintly before giving her an apologetic look, clearly uncomfortable that the topic had even come up.
Before Koneko could say anything, Sukuna continued.
"Because your weak-willed sister lost control and butchered your former master," he said bluntly. "And now you're terrified of doing the same thing."
Koneko's fists clenched tightly.
Outside the barrier, the others remained silent. Even Akeno looked visibly uncomfortable hearing the situation spoken of so openly and without restraint.
Sukuna rolled his shoulders slowly before reaching up and unzipping his tracksuit jacket. He tossed it carelessly aside, revealing the black compression shirt underneath while stretching his arms overhead, his joints cracking slightly.
"At first," he continued, "I was prepared to lie and give you one of those compassionate friendship speeches." His mouth twisted faintly. "You know. Telling you your sister's mistakes aren't your own. That everyone believes in you. That kind of thing."
The rook continued to just stare at him, while Sukuna grinned.
"But since I don't have the patience for that kind of shit we're going to do this the old-fashioned way."
Something in his voice changed, as the laziness in his posture vanished. His crimson eyes locked onto hers while the atmosphere itself seemed to tighten around them.
"So here are your two options for leaving this barrier, little girl," he paused. "Fight or die."
Asia gasped loudly while Kiba immediately stepped forward. Even Rias's eyes widened at the sheer seriousness in Sukuna's tone.
"Sukuna wait—!"
"Begin!"
He shouted before anyone could object, vanishing and making Koneko's eyes widen.
Suddenly he appeared right in front of her in the blink of an eye. Her eyes couldn't even properly track the movement before Sukuna's fist smashed into her face with a full-power right cross.
The impact exploded across the field like a cannon shot.
Koneko's body flew backward violently before slamming into the barrier wall hard enough to shake the entire structure. The sound echoed across the training grounds while cracks spread through the earth beneath where she hit.
Asia screamed immediately.
"KONEKO!"
Outside the barrier, Kiba summoned one of his swords and sprinted forward without hesitation. His blade crashed against the glowing wall with explosive force—and bounced off uselessly.
"What the hell is this?!" he shouted.
Rias immediately turned toward Ura. "Drop the barrier now!"
The attendant remained perfectly calm.
"I'm afraid I cannot."
"That wasn't a request!"
"I follow my master's orders," Ura replied evenly. "Not yours."
Inside the barrier, Koneko slid weakly down the glowing wall before collapsing onto one knee, pain exploding through her skull.
Before she could even recover properly, Sukuna appeared in front of her again.
A brutal left kick smashed into the side of her head. Koneko's body launched sideways through the air once more.
This time, instinct barely saved her. She twisted awkwardly mid-flight and managed to land roughly on her feet before skidding backward across the grass. Immediately, her rook piece activated on reflex, demonic power surging through her small frame as reinforcement spread across her muscles.
Sukuna finally stopped moving.
"Good," he muttered.
Koneko shot forward instantly.
Her fist tore toward his face with enough force to crater concrete, but Sukuna casually caught the blow in one hand before it could touch him. The impact created a violent shockwave that blasted outward behind him, flattening the grass in its wake.
Koneko's mouth opened, making Sukuna grin. Then he slammed her own fist directly back into her face, her head snapped backward violently.
Before she could recover, another punch struck from the side.
Then another.
And another.
His fists came from different angles with brutal efficiency, battering her face repeatedly until her vision blurred and her footing became unstable. Finally, Sukuna reared back and drove another hard right hook right into her jaw.
The impact launched her across the field again, but this time Sukuna appeared beside her midair catching her ankle one-handed.
He spun her a few times before hurling her directly into the barrier wall.
Koneko slammed against the glowing force hard enough to crack the earth beneath her before collapsing into the grass in a crumpled heap. Blood spewing from her mouth.
Outside the barrier, panic finally began setting in properly.
"SUKUNA STOP!" Asia screamed.
Kiba continued hammering his sword desperately against the barrier while Akeno's lightning crackled violently around her body. Rias herself stepped forward sharply, fury and concern mixing visibly across her face.
"Ura drop it NOW!"
The attendant didn't even flinch.
"Trust my master."
"HE'S GOING TO KILL HER!"
Ura's expression remained unreadable.
"If he wanted to kill her she'd already be dead. He knows exactly what he's doing. Now shut up and watch."
Inside the barrier, Koneko coughed painfully against the dirt.
Every breath she took hurt.
Pain radiated through her jaw, ribs, and skull while the taste of iron filled her mouth. Her vision blurred as she struggled weakly onto her trembling arms. Then fingers gripped her collar, before Sukuna hoisted her upward effortlessly until she stood shakily on her feet again.
He looked directly into her eyes.
"Come on," he growled, punching her in the face again."Attack me."
Another fist slammed into her stomach hard enough to fold her body forward.
"You should be better than this."
A knee struck her ribs, then another punch smashed into her cheek.
Koneko staggered backward desperately before finally forcing herself to retaliate. Her fist slammed into Sukuna's stomach. Another clipped the side of his face. For the first time since the fight began, she actually landed clean hits.
But he barely reacted.
She attempted a roundhouse kick, which he easily caught.
"…Weak."
He muttered before lifting her up then slamming her into the ground hard enough to make a small crater. The impact blasted dust outward violently.
Koneko gasped painfully against the dirt, tears beginning to blur her vision despite herself.
"…P-please stop…"
Sukuna looked down at her coldly.
"Make me stop." His voice cut through the field like a blade. "You have the power to."
Koneko shook weakly. "N-No…"
He frowned.
Then kicked her squarely in the ribs hard enough to send her airborne again before crashing violently back into the ground.
Outside the barrier, even Akeno had stopped trying to remain composed.
"That's enough Sukuna!"
Kiba continued striking the barrier desperately while Rias's fists visibly shook at her sides.
Inside, Sukuna kept walking toward Koneko slowly.
The small rook lay barely moving against the grass now, blood staining the corner of her lips while her breathing came in ragged gasps.
Sukuna stopped in front of her, then slowly shook his head.
"Pathetic."
Koneko's fingers twitched weakly against the dirt.
"Is this really all you can do?" he asked coldly. "Roll around crying in the dirt?"
She didn't respond, just continuing to breathe heavily into the ground.
"Well I guess this is all your loyalty amounts to."
That finally got a reaction, one eye lifted weakly towards him.
"From what I heard," he continued casually, "the princess took you in when nobody else would. Saved your life and protected you from execution."
Koneko's breathing slowed slightly.
"And now the time's finally come to repay that debt."
His lip curled with disgust.
"But instead of using your power to protect the person who saved you, you'd rather wallow in self-pity and fear."
He scoffed.
"You coward."
At his words something snapped in Koneko's mind. The dam that had been holding back her power and emotions finally broke.
A violent column of blue-black energy exploded upward from Koneko's body, cracking the ground around her. The sheer pressure blasted across the enclosed field like a storm wave, slamming against Ura's barrier hard enough to make the massive construct visibly shake.
Outside the barrier, everyone froze.
Asia stumbled backward, Akeno's eyes widened, and even Kiba felt cold sweat run down his neck.
The energy kept growing, becoming darker, wilder and more unstable.
Koneko slowly rose from the ground.
Her body trembled violently as blue energy spiraled around her like living fire. Her breathing had changed now too—rougher, sharper, almost animalistic.
Outside the barrier, Rias stared in horror.
"Koneko…"
Inside—Sukuna crossed his arms slowly, a proud smile growing across his face.
"…Finally," he thought.
The column of blue-black energy continued to rise violently into the sky.
It twisted around Koneko's body like a living storm, roaring loud enough that the air itself vibrated from the pressure pouring off her.
The ground beneath her feet cratered further and further while cracks spread outward across the field in jagged patterns. Every few seconds the unstable aura slammed against Ura's barrier hard enough to make the gigantic construct tremble.
Outside the barrier, nobody moved or spoke. The sheer pressure flooding the field was suffocating.
Suddenly Koneko's started changing.
Senjutsu energy flooded through her system making her wounds heal at a rapid rate. The bruises and cuts vanished almost instantly beneath the torrent of power surging around her. Then her body itself began to change.
Her frame stretched taller and became older, more mature.
The childish softness she normally carried faded rapidly while her physique developed into that of a young woman closer in appearance and age to Rias and Akeno.
Her gym clothes strained tightly from the sudden transformation, the fabric stretching tightly across her chest as her breasts grew larger to the point the shirt tore creating a makeshift boob window, while her hips widened making her skirt hike up giving a constant view of her white polka dot panties. And her limbs lengthened and sharpened with athletic definition.
White cat ears emerged from her hair, as well as two matching white tails burst from behind her, swaying violently within the spiraling aura surrounding her body.
Her nails lengthened into claws.
And when Koneko finally raised her head—her gold amber eyes burned with blue senjutsu energy.
"I'M NOT A COWARD!"
Her older, more mature voice thundered across the barrier.
The ground exploded beneath her feet when she started sprinting towards Sukuna. To the others she was moving faster than their normal eyes could track, but to him she might as well been walking.
As she approached he unfolded his arms, spreading them wide as if inviting the attack. She leapt into the air raising her right clawed hand high and brought it down on Sukuna's face.
The impact sent Sukuna flying across the enclosed field hard enough to shake the barrier wall behind him. Blood sprayed through the air while deep claw marks ripped from his forehead down to his jaw.
Asia gasped loudly.
"SUKUNA!"
Slowly, Sukuna slid downward against the glowing wall. But before his body even fully stopped moving—his flesh began regenerating.
Torn skin stitched itself back together while blood evaporated into steam-like wisps beneath the influence of Reverse Curse Technique. Muscles repaired visibly before their eyes until only faint traces of damage remained.
Koneko appeared above him instantly, still furious and snarling.
Sukuna had barely managed to push himself onto his hands and knees when both of Koneko's clawed hands slammed downward into his back with monstrous force.
The scent of pierced flesh filled the air as Koneko's clawed hands pierced through his back and into his lungs.
Sukuna grunted in pain as he coughed up a mouth full of blood.
Then she seized him by the shredded remains of his shirt and hurled him violently upward into the air.
She attacked again.
Eight massive fists of blue-black senjutsu energy materialized around Sukuna's airborne body before crashing into him one after another in rapid succession.
The explosions lit up the inside of the barrier.
Boom Boom Boom
Each impact ripped chunks from his body. One shattered part of his ribs, another tore flesh from his shoulder, and a third obliterated a section of his side completely.
The sheer destructive force of the barrage stunned everyone watching. Even Akeno looked horrified as Sukuna's broken body crashed back down into the ground.
For a brief second—he didn't move, while his flesh began regenerating again.
Before the healing had even fully completed Koneko appeared beside him again. She grabbed the ruined remains of his collar and yanked him upward violently until he stood unsteadily before her.
"FIGHT ME!" she screamed.
Then punched him directly in the face hard enough to send him crashing backward into the barrier wall once more. But still he didn't retaliate.
Outside the barrier, the others noticed immediately.
Kiba frowned sharply. "Wait a second…"
Akeno's eyes narrowed.
"…He stopped fighting back."
Rias looked toward the barrier again and slowly realized she was right. Sukuna wasn't defending himself anymore. He was just standing there letting the girl unleash her anger on him.
Inside the barrier, Koneko continued attacking relentlessly.
Her claws ripped across Sukuna's chest, shredding through fabric and flesh alike while blood sprayed across the field. Another strike carved across his shoulder. Then his stomach. Then his face again.
Sukuna staggered backward beneath the assault while Reverse Curse Technique continued repairing the damage almost as quickly as she inflicted it.
But he still refused to attack her.
"FIGHT ME!" Koneko screamed again.
Another slash tore across his chest.
"WHY AREN'T YOU FIGHTING BACK?!"
Her fists slammed repeatedly into him now, each blow carrying enough force to crack stone while senjutsu energy exploded violently around them.
Still, Sukuna remained silent.
He simply stood there and let her hit him.
At first the attacks remained savage and wild. Fueled entirely by rage and fear and years of self-loathing buried beneath the surface.
But gradually—the strength behind them began weakening.
Koneko's claws stopped cutting as deeply. Her strikes became both less coordinated and violent. The fury pouring out of her slowly began collapsing beneath the weight of something much heavier.
Pain.
Years and years of pain.
Another weak punch struck Sukuna in the chest, then another.
"…Fight back…" she whispered hoarsely.
But there was no real force left behind the blow anymore. Tears finally spilled down her cheeks.
"…Please…"
The transformation around her began flickering unstably now, her tails lashing violently behind her while the senjutsu aura fluctuated wildly beneath the emotional collapse overtaking her.
Slowly Sukuna's arms reached out making Koneko freeze weakly as he pulled her against his chest.
At first she resisted instinctively, weak fists continuing to strike uselessly against him while broken sobs tore from her throat uncontrollably. But Sukuna simply held her tighter.
"It's alright," he muttered quietly.
Koneko's punches weakened further as years of fear and guilt finally broke apart all at once beneath the surface.
The fear of becoming her sister, of hurting the people she cared about, of losing control, but most of all of being abandoned again. All of it came pouring out violently through ragged sobs against Sukuna's chest while the senjutsu aura surrounding her fluctuated wildly around them.
Sukuna slowly lowered himself onto one knee while continuing to hold her tightly against him.
"That's it," he murmured. "Let it out."
Koneko clutched weakly at his ruined shirt while her body shook violently in his arms.
"All that fear," he continued quietly. "All that pain you've been bottling up."
His hand rested gently against the back of her head.
"Let it go."
Outside the barrier, complete silence had fallen over the others.
Asia looked close to tears herself while Kiba stood frozen watching the scene unfold. Even Akeno's expression had softened completely now.
Rias simply stared quietly and slowly—understanding settled across her face.
This had been Sukuna's goal from the beginning. Not to hurt Koneko, to break the fear controlling her.
Inside the barrier, Koneko's sobs slowly weakened into trembling breaths while Sukuna continued speaking quietly to her.
"Power isn't good or evil," he said softly. "It's just power."
Koneko's trembling slowed slightly.
"A sword can protect someone," he continued. "Or kill them."
His crimson eyes lowered toward her gently.
"The difference isn't the weapon," his hand rested more firmly against her head. "It's the person holding it."
Koneko slowly looked upward toward him through tear-filled eyes.
"You can let your power consume you like your sister did," Sukuna said quietly. "Or…"
A faint smile touched his face.
"You can use it to protect the people you care about."
The young girl stared at him in stunned silence.
"And if the day ever comes that you lose your way?" Sukuna continued calmly. "Then I'll beat the shit out of you and drag you back onto the right path myself."
A weak laugh escaped her despite the tears. The kindness in his expression caught her completely off guard.
Koneko truly looked at him, and felt something warm spread faintly across her cheeks. A subtle rosy blush. Slowly, she buried her face against his neck while the violent senjutsu aura surrounding her finally began calming down.
The transformation reversed gradually after that.
Her body slowly shrank back toward its normal size while the mature features faded away. Her ears and tails disappeared into fading wisps of blue-black energy.
Exhaustion hit her immediately, her body sagged weakly against his body. Then went limp as she fell asleep.
Sukuna looked down quietly at the sleeping girl in his arms before lifting his gaze toward Ura, giving her a small nod.
Immediately, the massive barrier dissolved, and the others rushed forward the moment the walls vanished.
"Koneko!"
Asia reached them first while Kiba followed close behind. Rias stopped only briefly upon seeing the blood covering Sukuna's ruined clothes and the lingering damage still healing slowly across his body.
Sukuna, meanwhile, simply scooped Koneko carefully into a princess carry before walking toward them.
"She just needs rest," he said calmly.
Kiba immediately stepped forward to take her, concern written clearly across his face as he carefully accepted the sleeping rook into his arms.
Asia hovered anxiously nearby while Akeno openly stared at Sukuna's injuries.
His compression shirt was practically destroyed.
Deep wounds still lingered visibly across his chest and shoulders where the senjutsu-enhanced attacks had torn into him. Even now, some injuries healed slower than normal, the flesh struggling to fully regenerate beneath the lingering purification energy.
Rias frowned immediately.
"Sukuna…"
"I'm fine."
"You're bleeding."
"I noticed."
Despite the dismissive tone, however, his posture looked noticeably less steady now. The others exchanged uneasy glances, but Sukuna just ignored them.
Instead, he looked toward Ura.
"Stay and help with training."
The attendant hesitated slightly.
"…Master."
"That was enough exercise for me today."
Ura studied him carefully for a brief second before bowing.
"As you wish."
Satisfied, Sukuna turned away from the group and slowly began walking back toward the mansion alone.
Rias watched him go quietly. A small smile tugged faintly at her lips as realization settled more fully into her chest.
His methods had been brutal, cruel even.
But he managed to do what she had spent years trying and failing to accomplish. He'd made Koneko confront her fear and overcome it.
A faint blush filled Rias' cheeks as her heart beat faster for some reason.
Farther ahead, hidden from the others once he disappeared around the side of the mansion—Sukuna suddenly stumbled.
One hand slammed heavily against the wall beside him to keep himself upright while a violent cough tore from his throat.
Blood splattered across his palm.
His breathing came rougher now, as pain burned through his body far worse than he'd expected.
"…Shit…"
The purification aspect of Koneko's senjutsu had damaged him far more deeply than normal attacks ever could. Even with Reverse Curse Technique actively healing him, the lingering energy still burned through his system like poison eating away at him from the inside.
For several seconds, Sukuna simply leaned there against the wall breathing heavily. Then he wiped the blood from his mouth, straightened his back as he adjusted the rags he was still wearing, then kept walking making his way to the kitchen.
After that beating he was now starving, and he was positive there were some of Ura's left overs in the fridge.
o-O-o
Night settled quietly over the mountain estate.
The forests surrounding the mansion swayed gently beneath the cold mountain wind while moonlight spilled silver across the rooftops and stone walkways. After the chaos and violence of the day, the estate itself had finally begun calming down. Training had ended hours ago, dinner had come and gone, and most of the servants had already retreated indoors for the evening.
Only the soft sound of water disturbed the silence now.
Steam curled upward from the outdoor bath behind the mansion where the girls once again soaked beneath the night sky. The large stone bath glowed faintly beneath the moonlight while lanterns surrounding the area cast warm orange reflections across the surface of the water.
Compared to the previous night, however, the atmosphere had noticeably changed. Becoming easier and lighter.
Even Koneko no longer sat isolated from the others.
The small white-haired rook rested quietly near one side of the bath with her shoulders submerged beneath the water while faint traces of exhaustion still lingered beneath her eyes.
Despite that, though, something about her posture had changed. It was as if the tension she constantly carried around her had completely vanished.
Asia sat nearby soaking quietly while trying very hard not to think about the fact she was sharing a bath with devils again.
Every now and then the former nun would sink slightly deeper into the water whenever the conversation drifted into teasing territory, which happened far more often than not whenever Akeno was involved.
Rias leaned comfortably against the stone edge of the bath with one arm draped lazily over the side while her crimson hair floated softly behind her in the water. Her expression remained calm on the surface, but every now and then her eyes drifted unconsciously toward Koneko.
Toward the girl she hadn't been able to help, and the boy who somehow had.
Then footsteps echoed lightly along the stone pathway leading toward the bath. Nobody looked surprised this time.
Sukuna entered the outdoor bath area wearing nothing except a towel loosely tied around his waist while Ura followed quietly behind him in a small towel that barely could contain her bust. Compared to earlier in the day, there was no visible sign left of the horrific injuries Koneko had inflicted on him.
Asia still blushed anyway despite knowing he would come.
"A-Ah…"
Akeno, meanwhile, smiled lazily.
"Well look who decided to join us."
Rias rolled her eyes faintly but didn't object as Sukuna stepped into the bath with a long sigh before sinking into the hot water.
"…Damn," he muttered while resting his head back against the stone edge. "This really is addicting."
Ura settled naturally against his right side while the warm water rippled softly around them.
"We should build an outdoor bath at home when this is over," Sukuna continued lazily.
Ura nodded in agreement.
"If that is your wish, master."
The attendant gently rested her head against the side of his neck while relaxing beside him, looking far calmer than usual beneath the moonlight and drifting steam.
Seeing an opportunity, and perhaps slightly irritated by how naturally comfortable Ura looked there, Akeno slowly moved through the water toward Sukuna's other side.
"My my," she purred softly. "How unfair."
Without hesitation, she settled comfortably against his left arm while leaning her chest lightly against him beneath the water.
"If Ura gets to monopolize you," she continued teasingly, "surely there's enough room for one more?"
Sukuna looked entirely unbothered by this development.
"Probably."
Akeno smiled wider immediately.
"My, such confidence." Her violet eyes gleamed mischievously as she glanced between Sukuna and Ura. "Though honestly…"
She leaned slightly closer.
"I think the three of us together would be far more entertaining."
Asia nearly melted into the bath, while Rias pinched the bridge of her nose.
Ura's eye twitched visibly.
"No."
Akeno laughed softly.
"Ara ara."
Sukuna snorted quietly while resting one arm lazily along the edge of the bath.
"You've been a buzz kill lately Ura."
Ura just turned her head away with a hmph.
The atmosphere relaxed again after that while steam drifted lazily through the air and moonlight reflected softly across the water's surface.
Then Koneko stood up.
The small rook had remained quiet for most of the bath, but now her gold eyes stayed fixed on Sukuna while something uncertain flickered behind them.
Sukuna noticed immediately.
"So?" he asked lazily. "You gonna stare all night, kitten?"
Koneko's cheeks pinked faintly, then blue-black energy flickered around her body again.
Everyone stiffened.
The senjutsu aura rose only briefly this time before stabilizing completely around her. Unlike earlier, however, there was no violent explosion of power, or loss of control.
Slowly, Koneko transformed again.
Her body matured rapidly into the older version of herself while white cat ears emerged from her hair alongside her twin tails. The water shifted softly around her taller frame while the others stared in visible surprise.
Sukuna raised a brow.
"Oh?"
Koneko ignored everyone else completely.
Instead, she quietly made her way through the water toward Sukuna before turning and sitting directly in front of him with her backside pressed lightly against his crotch.
The movement stunned almost everyone present, especially Rias and Akeno.
Sukuna himself blinked once in mild surprise before grinning.
"Well look at that."
Unable to resist, he reached upward and began rubbing the top of Koneko's head slowly.
Almost immediately, she started purring.
Koneko's cat ears twitched faintly while Sukuna scratched gently behind them with obvious amusement. The sensation made her shoulders loosen visibly while her tails swayed slowly through the water behind her.
Back in his previous life, Sukuna had always liked cat girls, and apparently that hadn't changed in his new one either.
"Good control," he said casually while continuing to pet her. "You stabilized the transformation already."
Koneko nodded faintly while leaning more comfortably back against him.
"We'll start working on actual senjutsu techniques tomorrow."
Beneath the water Koneko could feel Sukuna's 'excitement' pressing against her butt. But instead of moving away, she scooted even further back and began grinding her ass up and down against his crotch, making him exhale with pleasure.
Somehow the scene seemed to bother Rias far more than it should have. A strange tightness settled inside her chest while she watched the scene unfolding before her.
Akeno noticed immediately, and smirked at her king, which Rias ignored.
Mostly because she didn't actually understand why she was irritated in the first place.
Eventually the bath ended and one by one the girls left the water before returning toward their rooms for the night. The atmosphere throughout the mansion felt noticeably calmer now compared to previous evenings.
Koneko especially looked different.
The aura around her was lighter, and more free.
And although she barely spoke during the walk back inside, she remained close enough to Sukuna that her shoulder occasionally brushed lightly against his arm.
o-O-o
Hours later, the mansion had gone completely quiet.
Moonlight spilled softly through the massive windows lining the dark hallways while the distant sounds of insects echoed faintly from the surrounding forests.
Rias stood outside Sukuna's room clutching a pillow tightly against her chest.
Her nearly translucent purple nightgown shifted softly around her legs while loose crimson hair framed her face beneath the dim hallway lights. For several long seconds she simply stood there staring at the closed door while arguing internally with herself.
"This is ridiculous," she thought. "Completely ridiculous."
And yet—slowly, she raised her hand and knocked.
No response came.
Rias hesitated briefly before carefully opening the door herself, then blinked at the sight that greeted her.
The room was empty.
The bed remained untouched and neither Sukuna nor Ura were anywhere inside.
"…Huh?" Rias stepped fully into the room while lowering the pillow slightly. "Where did they go…?"
o-O-o
Far away from the mansion—deep within the forests surrounding the mountain estate, Sukuna walked calmly through the trees beside Ura.
The moonlight barely reached this part of the forest. Towering trees surrounded them on all sides while the cold night wind rustled softly through the leaves overhead.
Unlike earlier, both of them were dressed very differently.
Ura wore a dark kimono clearly designed for combat rather than comfort, the fabric tighter and easier to move in while her metal fans rested visibly at her waist.
Sukuna himself wore loose white Gi pants alongside a sleeveless black compression shirt and black sandals. The cold air rolled across his exposed arms while he continued walking toward a large clearing hidden deep within the forest.
Eventually they stopped.
The clearing stretched massively beneath the moonlight, surrounded entirely by trees while the earth beneath their feet remained unnaturally still.
Sukuna rolled his shoulders once before glancing toward Ura.
"No interfering," he said calmly.
Ura frowned faintly.
"…Master."
"No interfering," he repeated.
After several seconds, she finally bowed reluctantly.
"As you wish."
Purple energy spread outward from beneath her feet immediately afterward.
A gigantic cubed barrier erupted upward around the clearing, far larger than the one she had used earlier against Koneko. The glowing walls towered high above the trees while immense magical pressure sealed the entire area completely.
Inside the barrier, Sukuna slowly raised his hands.
The first sign formed carefully.
His left hand extended horizontally while the right rested atop it, fingers curled into the shape of a trunk.
Then came the second.
His fingers shifted again into another distinct sign, one hand forming the shape of a rabbit's ears while cursed energy pulsed violently around him.
The shadows beneath Sukuna's feet exploded outward, and something enormous began rising from the darkness.
The first creature emerged slowly.
Massive tusks pierced upward through the shadows before an enormous mammoth-like head followed after them. Max Elephant towered over the clearing like a living mountain, its grotesque size dwarfing the surrounding trees entirely. Dark markings covered its monstrous body while hollow sunken eye sockets glowed faintly with cursed energy.
The sheer scale of it was absurd, standing hundreds of feet tall.
Water dripped constantly from its gigantic form while the pressure radiating from the creature alone made the barrier groan faintly.
Then came the second summon.
The shadows split apart again as dozens—no—hundreds of giant gray rabbits poured from the darkness.
Each one possessed glowing red eyes and a single horn protruding from the center of its forehead like some twisted narwhal. Their mouths opened unnaturally wide while violent cursed energy spilled from their bodies in waves.
The swarm spread rapidly throughout the clearing.
Both shikigami stared at Sukuna with unmistakable bloodlust. The instinctive desire to kill the one attempting to dominate them, but Sukuna simply grinned.
Then he lifted one hand casually and waved them forward.
"Come on then," his crimson eyes gleamed beneath the moonlight. "Show me what you've got."
Deep within the mountains the subjugation ritual had begun.
A/N: If you like this story and what to read ahead chapters 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36 are already available for Patrons.
Just go to to Google and type in RoguePrince69 and click the link.