Jujutsu Kaisen: I was killed by Sukuna

Lying on my back, I gaze up at the sky, staring emptily at the dark, stagnant clouds and the rain pouring down from above. 

My body is cold. The sensations in my body are barely functioning. 

Blood flows out. My body is losing more and more blood, inching closer to death. 

I can't even remember why I'm in this situation anymore. 

Why did I end up like this? 

---

"What a shame." 

Suddenly, I hear a voice. 

"If you hadn't divided your attention among those worthless fools back then, it might have been you standing here instead." 

The sound of footsteps splashing through the puddles slowly approaches me. 

At the same time, I feel an overwhelming pressure—a torrent of absolute strength that only the strongest can exude. 

"Therefore… be proud,────" 

---

"I will never forget you for as long as I live." 

With those words, the man appears in my field of vision. 

---

"…Haha." 

Ah, I know him. I know that figure all too well. After all, we were just trying to kill each other moments ago. 

The King of Curses, Ryomen Sukuna… the man who killed me. 

Ah, that's right. I fought him and got completely wrecked. There's no room for excuses—I was utterly destroyed. 

In his Domain, I was completely overpowered. Most of my shikigami, except for Mahoraga, were destroyed. My hand-to-hand combat, my cursed techniques, everything—I lost it all. 

A complete defeat. A crushing, humiliating defeat… so bad that I can't even feel anger. 

I couldn't even use my trump card, let alone my flames. 

And yet, why does he praise me so much? 

I'm not like Gojo Satoru. I didn't push Sukuna to the brink like he did. In every aspect, I was overwhelmed. 

This Sukuna, with 19 fingers and some additional measures, is practically at his peak. The strongest sorcerer born centuries later, Gojo Satoru, managed to overwhelm him for a time. But I'm nothing like that. 

So why does he praise me so much? Why does he smile at me so brightly? I don't understand. 

I don't understand… and I don't like it. 

---

"…Kukuku, kukuhihihihihi…" 

I muster all my strength, forcing my trembling legs to stand, pushing my creaking body to rise. 

It's not enough. I haven't shown you enough to make you acknowledge me. 

Don't acknowledge me yet. Don't judge me until you've seen this. 

"…Thank you, Sukuna." 

Words of gratitude spill out. Sukuna waited for me, and this is my thanks for that. 

Why did he wait? I don't care. It's probably just the arrogance of the strong. He must have been entertained enough to wait. Otherwise, I'd already be dead. 

I refine my cursed energy. My body doesn't matter anymore. This isn't the time for Reverse Cursed Technique. 

All my shikigami except Mahoraga have been destroyed. 

Divine Dogs, Nue, Orochi, Rabbit Escape, Toad, Round Deer, Piercing Ox, Tiger Funeral, Max Elephant… all of them were destroyed by your hand. 

I'll pass on the power of all those destroyed shikigami… everything… to Mahoraga. 

But that's not enough. That level of power won't defeat Sukuna. It's not enough for him anymore. 

I know. In the future, Mahoraga was obliterated in one strike by Sukuna, and by Gojo Satoru. So, as it is now, it's useless. 

That's why I'll add binding vows. If it's not enough, I'll just add more. 

First, after summoning this, I will never use my cursed technique again, nor will I allow it to be used. I'll transfer all authority over my technique to Mahoraga. 

Second, I'll relinquish ownership of Mahoraga, transferring all control to him… meaning I can no longer command him. 

And finally, the third vow: I'll grant Mahoraga a sense of self. 

These three binding vows will serve as the conditions for summoning an enhanced Mahoraga. 

---

…Even as I think about it, it's a strange set of vows. 

First, the vow to never use my cursed technique again is insane. It's like throwing my life as a sorcerer into the gutter. In this era, it's practically suicide. 

And since I'm transferring my technique to Mahoraga, he won't stop functioning even if I die or if Sukuna dies… Well, I'll leave that to the current Gojo clan. I've already told them his weakness. 

Second, relinquishing control over Mahoraga makes no sense. It's like reverting him to an untamed state. Most likely… no, almost certainly, I'll be killed. 

And finally, the third vow: granting him a sense of self. What does that even mean? I don't understand it at all. 

I don't know if shikigami can have a sense of self, but if I explicitly grant it, who knows what he'll do? Can shikigami even be given a sense of self? That's the first question that comes to mind. 

---

"Well… whatever." 

But I dismiss even that. 

I know myself best. The moment I didn't use Reverse Cursed Technique immediately, my death was certain. 

Blood continues to pour out of me, pooling on the ground with a steady drip. It's easy to imagine I'll die from blood loss soon. 

So, whether I die or not doesn't matter anymore. 

The only regret I have is that I won't get to see what the enhanced Mahoraga looks like with my own eyes. That's my only regret. Nothing else remains. 

Straighten your back. Stand tall. It's unbecoming to cower before the King. 

Refine your cursed energy. Pour everything into it, even your life. Show the King before you my magnum opus in all its glory. 

---

"Furube──" 

──Yura Yura. 

This is… everything I have. 

---

When I next opened my eyes, for some reason, I had become a child… Huh?