Life After Death: The Strength Of Suffering

"Sp-spare me, please! I have a dau—"

The plea was silenced, cut short by the underside of a wooden geta crushing the man's skull. 'Fucking disgusting.' I ran a hand through my soaked black hair, brushing it out of my face as I turned away from the headless corpse. My eyes swept over the bodies scattered around me, searching for any sign of life.

'Just to be sure.'

Raising my hand, I channelled Energy through my body just as I'd done for years. I concentrated it at my palm and with deliberate precision, tilted my hand horizontally, making a motion as though slicing through the air.

"Cursed Slash."

My hand glowed a faint crimson before unleashing the stored Cursed Energy. A dark red and purple arc burst forward, slicing through the bodies effortlessly. It only slowed when it had chewed through one too many buildings.

'Hope they didn't have any alcohol.'

Shrugging off the deep gash the technique had carved into the ground, I wandered into another house, my footsteps squelching through the muddy debris. As I searched for more sake, my thoughts lingered on the relentless waves of enemies.

'This'll mark the seventh wave—closing in on the second day.'

Lifting a loose floorboard, I grinned when I found a stash of sake tucked below. Sitting cross-legged, I uncorked a bottle and took a long gulp.

'They're getting stronger as time passes.' I snorted at the observation. 'And now they're starting to work together.'

That wasn't something completely unusual. Though it was more common that Sorcerers from what I knew had massive problems cooperating, especially when one of them was weaker.

'But this wave… this wave was different. Support-based sorcerers and front-line sorcerers who clearly hated working together.'

I snorted, downed my third bottle, and threw it carelessly behind me. The faint sound of footsteps reached my ears, echoing through the ruined structure. Without turning, I spoke.

"I thought my message was clear. Fuck off."

Turning my head, I locked eyes with the scarred man from a few days prior. He met my gaze with an easy laugh and gestured to sit. I frowned then shrugged and nodded, passing him a full bottle as he settled across from me. He uncorked it, took a swig, and finally spoke.

"This is only the start, Sasaki-san."

I tilted my head, taking another deep gulp of sake as he continued.

"The number you've fought so far? Barely a drop compared to the Coalition that will soon arrive here."

'Coalition?' I snorted, intrigued despite myself and tipped back the rest of the bottle before reaching for a larger jar. As I ripped off the lid, I spoke.

"So fucking what? Is that supposed to scare me? Make me back off?" I looked him dead in the eyes. "And why are you here instead of moving to kill that woman about to give birth? You know there's only a few days left, don't you?"

'Four days, to be exact.' I reminded myself.

The scarred man nodded, taking another swig before answering.

"Because you rejected my deal, I can't tell you why. But… I'm not able to directly go after that soon to be born child."

He stood, wiping dust from his pants. I kept my gaze fixed on him as he headed toward the exit. His parting words hung in the air.

"As for wanting you to retreat? I don't believe even a god could make you do that."

I snorted and turned back to the jar, lifting it to my lips and drinking deeply.

'When will the rain stop?'

~Scene Change/World POV~

For the passing days the rain did not stop.

It continued its relentless assault on the land, gradually swelling into a heavy downpour. People began to wonder if their homes could withstand the weight of the water pressing down upon them. Those who traveled the roads trudged forward with their heads down, each step a struggle as though boulders were resting on their backs.

Yet, in the midst of a desolate and partially ruined village, a lone man stood with his middle finger pointed defiantly at the sky.

"Fuck you, you shitty rain!"

As if responding to his words, lightning cracked across the heavens and struck a building to his left. The man turned his head to the smoldering wreckage in silence before raising his other hand, flipping off the storm with both middle fingers.

"You fucking missed!"

The rain grew heavier, its roar drowning out everything else as nearby bodies of water swelled, threatening to flood the lands. But beyond the endless noise another sound began to emerge, footsteps. Footsteps that churned through the mud. Footsteps numbering in the hundreds and perhaps thousands, marching forward.

The man's head turned toward the sound, his gaze locking onto the oncoming figures. Through the hazy curtain of rain they came into view, an army of people. Some clad in matching uniforms that signified Clans or organized Groups. Others wore odd clothing, wielding weapons of all shapes and kinds, strange swords, staffs, bows, and chains.

It was clear what they were, Sorcerers.

"Fucking finally!"

The man's voice was lost to the storm, but his figure remained unmistakable to the approaching army. He turned toward the Sugawara Compound in the distance and clapped his hands together. The sound reverberated through the noise of the rain, loud and deliberate.

The reaction was immediate. Sorcerers tensed, assuming it was a signal for an ambush, while others remained still, unwilling to waste energy. Their theories were soon proven wrong as a white barrier began to rise, enveloping the Sugawara Compound in a protective dome. The rain rolled harmlessly off the shimmering shield. The man however, remained outside its safety, unprotected.

They watched as he turned back toward them, stripping off his soaked black kimono. Wide muscular shoulders were revealed, glistening under the downpour. Amidst the storm dozens of less than sane female sorcerers and a few males found themselves wondering if they could take his corpse back with them.

Then the rain stopped.

No-not stopped. The rain was still falling, but its sound had vanished, replaced by a profound silence that froze every sorcerer in place.

The man stood tall, his soaked long black hair rising unnaturally, as if gravity itself had surrendered. A red and purple hue ignited around him, an aura of pure concentrated malice.

The experienced sorcerers reacted immediately. They understood what was coming.

The man raised his foot, poised to take a single step forward. The sorcerers hair stood on end, despite the rain that still clung to their skin.

"Cursed Technique: First Step."

The moment his foot touched the ground, a massive wave of Cursed Energy erupted outward. It tore through the earth, vaporizing everything in its path. Corpses, mud and broken buildings were obliterated in an instant, reduced to nothing.

Panic rippled through the army. At the rear, a sorcerer bellowed orders, his voice cutting through the chaos.

"Defense techniques! Now!"

The command was met with frenzied agreement as dozens of sorcerers unleashed their own Cursed Techniques, barriers and shields shimmering to life in desperate attempts to protect themselves.

But the man's attack was already upon them.

~Scene Change/ Kaede POV~

I was watching through the eyes of a bird, a conduit used by a Sorcerer who could link sensations through talismans. My heart sank as I observed the Coalition army arriving at the village where Sasaki Souta stood, the man I had confessed my love to. Worry and fear gripped me as he faced them so casually, unshaken by the sheer number.

When I saw him turn and signal to the Sugawara clan, and the barrier formed with him outside of it, my panic only grew. I felt like passing out right then and there, but I clenched my fists and held on, for his sake.

And yet, it seemed I had vastly underestimated his strength.

"Cursed Technique: First Step."

The moment those words left his mouth and his foot hit the ground, a devastating attack rocked the land. Even here far away, the earth beneath me trembled violently.

'H-how can someone b-be so strong?'

That was my first thought as a clan head. My second was far more selfish, born from a woman's yearning.

'W-was his lover as strong as him?'

I gripped the cup in my hand tightly, my knuckles white as I shook my head violently to dismiss the thought.

'I won't give up.'

~Souta POV~

"Achoo!"

'Fucking rain.'

I grunted as droplets pelted my skin once again, the rain soaking through me as I suppressed the wild Cursed Energy raging within. Slowly the dust began to settle, revealing the deep wide ravine that stretched out from where I stood to… well, wherever the hell it ended.

'I'll admit, that might've been too much.'

I rubbed my soaked neck before shrugging.

'They can always hire someone to fill the ravine in. Not my problem.'

Just as I was about to turn away, I felt something, my left leg wouldn't budge. I looked down to find a hole in my thigh, as wide as my palm.

'When…?'

Before I could process it fully, instinct kicked in. I shifted my weight and narrowly dodged, though an invisible attack still grazed my right shoulder, leaving a deep gash.

Turning back to face the army of Sorcerers, I saw the dust had finally settled. They were standing, most of them anyway. A few were on their knees, bleeding from their eyes, noses, mouths, or ears.

'Seems like I didn't give them enough credit.'

I flexed my injured leg, slamming it into the ground as the wound closed up, along with the gash on my shoulder.

"Seems like you filthy monkeys are still alive." I muttered, knowing they couldn't hear me over the storm but aware my actions spoke louder.

I raised my hand toward them in a universally recognizable gesture.

"Fuck you."

In response, I felt it- a collective surge of Cursed Energy flooding the area from hundreds of Sorcerers.

'Cute.'

~Sukuna POV~

"W-Why—Ack"

'Weaklings, the lot of them.'

I looked at the now destroyed Sakurazawa clan with a frown. 'There was nothing worth learning from them.'

That wasn't entirely true nor was it a complete lie. They had a few techniques that were somewhat interesting, but nothing to make me linger on. I glanced at the gift left by that man, raising it as I walked out of the compound.

"Heavens Downpour."

The heavy rain ceased over the compound, slowly gathering into the sky. A massive ball of water began to form, growing steadily to the size of the entire compound.

"Release."

I leaped into the air just as the water crashed against the highest building, crushing it instantly. As I stepped on the Cursed Tool, I infused more Cursed Energy into it, making it float gently in the air.

From above, I watched as every building crumbled, every body whether dead or barely alive was crushed beneath the pressure until nothing remained.

Once it was over, I stepped off the Cursed Tool, landing lightly on my feet.

"Reveal yourself or die."

I turned in the direction I thought the presence was coming from, frowning. 'How did someone survive?'

There, standing amid the destruction, was a man who gave off a slimy feeling. I shrugged it off. I knew for certain he wasn't stronger than me.

"A pleasure to meet you, Sukuna-san."

He gave a small bow, but I didn't return it. This caused him to sigh, a smile creeping across his face.

"I have a question for you."

I raised an eyebrow in response, recalling my Cursed Tool to my hand and resting it on my shoulder.

"Did you know that your teacher is fighting hundreds of Sorcerers?"

'What?'

"Judging by your reaction, I take it you didn't." He took a small step forward, continuing, "I have another question."

"Did you know that once this is all over, and he comes out on top, someone will make him weaker?"

'That man… become weaker?'

It was an absurd thought. I had no doubt he would not fall to a bunch of weaklings.

"If he becomes weak, will you be able to say you've truly become the strongest if you never fought someone stronger at their peak?"

My frown deepened. 'He wants to use me for something.'

I snorted at the thought. I didn't care what this slimy man wanted. What he was saying, however, rang true.

'I will beat that man at his peak, or not at all.'

I looked the man in the eyes, answering with the response I knew he wanted.

"Very well. I'll kill the one who wants to ruin my fight."