The forest was quiet.
Too quiet.
Leaves barely moved.
No wind.
No sound.
Megumi stepped carefully over a fallen branch, eyes scanning the area.
"…Grade 4 curse," he muttered. "Should be simple."
Takeru walked beside him, hands in his pockets, sunglasses reflecting the dim light filtering through the trees.
"…It won't be."
Megumi glanced at him. "…You feel something?"
Takeru stopped.
His head tilted slightly.
"…Yeah."
The air shifted.
Cursed energy—
Heavy.
Dense.
Wrong.
The ground beneath them cracked slightly.
"…That's not grade 4," Megumi said instantly, summoning his stance.
Takeru slowly removed his sunglasses.
His Six Eyes ignited.
"…No," he said quietly.
"…It's special grade."
The forest split open.
A massive form emerged—
Twisted limbs, layered armor-like flesh, a hollow core glowing deep within its chest.
Its presence alone warped the air.
Megumi exhaled slowly.
"…Of course it is."
Takeru stepped forward slightly.
"…Stay sharp."
And then—
A voice echoed.
Low.
Amused.
Watching.
Ryomen Sukuna.
"…Well now…"
The world didn't stop—
But something changed.
"…this is far more interesting than a pathetic grade 4."
Megumi's eyes narrowed slightly. "…He's talking again."
Takeru didn't look away from the curse. "…Yeah."
The curse moved.
Fast.
A jagged arm shot forward—
Megumi dodged, summoning Divine Dogs instantly.
They lunged—
Claws tearing into the curse's side—
But the flesh hardened mid-impact.
No damage.
"…Observe carefully," Sukuna's voice echoed.
"…its outer layer isn't flesh. It's compressed cursed energy—solidified into armor."
Takeru's eyes sharpened.
"…So brute force won't work."
Megumi nodded. "…Then we break it from the inside."
The curse roared—
A pulse of energy burst outward—
Both of them were forced back.
"…And there it is," Sukuna continued, almost entertained.
"…a defensive pulse. It converts excess cursed energy into shockwaves. Inefficient… but effective."
Takeru smirked slightly.
"…You're really narrating this?"
"…You should be grateful."
Megumi summoned Nue—
Lightning crashed down—
The curse staggered—
"…Good choice," Sukuna said.
"…electricity disrupts its energy flow… temporarily."
Takeru moved instantly.
Closing distance—
Striking the core—
But the curse twisted—
Blocking with its armored limb.
"…Too direct," Sukuna commented.
"…it's adapting."
Megumi's eyes narrowed.
"…Then we don't give it time."
Shadow spread beneath his feet—
Multiple shikigami emerged at once—
Divine Dogs.
Nue.
Toad.
All attacking simultaneously.
The curse reacted—
But too many angles—
Too many attacks—
Its armor cracked.
Takeru saw it.
Instantly.
"…There."
He vanished forward—
Striking the exposed core—
Impact.
The curse shrieked—
Its body distorting violently.
"…Now that," Sukuna said, voice low—almost impressed—
"…was efficient."
But the fight wasn't over.
The curse's core pulsed—
Then expanded—
Mutating.
Growing.
Megumi stepped back slightly.
"…It's evolving mid-fight."
"…Of course it is," Sukuna said dryly.
"…a desperate adaptation. It's increasing output at the cost of stability."
Takeru's eyes glowed brighter.
"…Then we end it before it stabilizes."
Megumi nodded.
"…Together."
The two moved—
Perfect timing.
Perfect coordination.
Megumi locked the curse in place with shadow binding—
Takeru surged forward—
Cursed energy condensing into one precise strike—
"…Finish it," Sukuna murmured.
Takeru struck.
The core shattered.
The curse froze—
Then collapsed completely.
Silence returned to the forest.
Megumi exhaled slowly.
"…That wasn't supposed to be a grade 4 mission."
Takeru slid his sunglasses back on.
"…It never is."
A pause.
Then—
Sukuna spoke again.
Quieter this time.
"…You're learning."
Takeru didn't respond.
But his grip tightened slightly.
Megumi glanced at him.
"…You okay?"
"…Yeah," Takeru said.
"…Let's head back."
They turned—
Leaving the forest behind.
But the silence felt… different now.
Because for once—
Sukuna wasn't just watching.
He was…
Interested in the outcome.