For a moment, Sukuna didn't react.
His domain. The Malevolent Shrine had been completely crushed.
A deafening bang echoed across the battlefield as Sukuna's body slammed into the ground, sending shockwaves rippling through the ruined terrain. A massive gash tore across his torso, his flesh split open from the force of the attack. But Ryan knew better than to think that was enough.
Someone like Sukuna wouldn't fall from mere physical damage.
A deep, guttural chuckle cut through the dust and debris.
"Hah… You think this is enough to stop me?" Sukuna rasped, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. "That was a decent hit, but you'll have to do better than that, brat."
In a single breath, his body was already mending itself, flesh stitching back together, cursed energy pulsing violently around him.
Ryan's gaze remained sharp, unshaken.
He can't be killed like a human. Just hitting him hard enough won't be enough.
Sukuna's four eyes gleamed with sadistic amusement. His lips curled into a grin—dangerous, predatory.
"Come on, then," he taunted. "Show me more. Entertain me before I carve you apart!"
Ryan didn't respond. Instead, his grip tightened.
If I want to bring him down… I need to drain him and keep his strength from flowing freely.
Then, it clicked. A power of his own—one he had scarcely used since obtaining it.
As the thought crossed his mind, something clicked. A power of his own—one he had scarcely used since obtaining it.
Realization dawned.
The Truth-Seeking Orb in his hand shifted, reshaping itself into a black chakra rod. That's right.
The very same weapon wielded by the Sage of Six Paths' chosen, capable of suppressing chakra at its very core. Once impaled by this black rod, even someone as powerful as Naruto Uzumaki, armed with the power of the Six Paths, would find their chakra flow completely disrupted. They would be unable to mold energy, left helpless on the ground, with no way to fight back.
These black rods weren't just weapons. They were extensions of his will, capable of overriding an opponent's chakra network and locking them in place.
This was the power of the Six Paths chakra to dominate and neutralize energy itself.
A thought struck him.
If I use this to suppress Sukuna's cursed energy… will it work?
There was only one way to find out.
In an instant, Ryan vanished.
By the time Sukuna sensed the danger, it was too late. Ryan appeared behind him, driving the black rod straight into his leg.
Sukuna let out a sharp scream. He tried to move, but his leg refused to respond. A flicker of horror crossed his face as he realized something was terribly wrong.
He turned, eyes locking on Ryan.
Ryan watched him for a moment, assessing the situation before nodding in satisfaction.
"No problem," he muttered under his breath. Then, with a smirk, he confirmed, "Just as I thought, it can suppress the flow of his cursed energy."
Sukuna's body twitched, but before he could react, the air split.
SHUNK.
Several black rods tore through the space around him, each one piercing directly into his limbs.
One through his right arm. Another through his left. Both legs were pinned to the ground.
Sukuna's body jerked violently. His muscles tensed, straining against the restraint, but his limbs refused to respond.
His four eyes widened for just a moment before narrowing into a glare.
"Tch… You little," Sukuna growled, baring his teeth.
Ryan exhaled slowly, watching the once-mighty King of Curses squirm beneath him. Completely immobilized.
"Huh. So even the great Sukuna can look pathetic." His voice was calm, almost amused.
Sukuna's breath came heavy and ragged. He twisted his body, but every movement sent pain lancing through his form. For the first time… he wasn't healing.
The realization hit hard. The black rods were cutting him off completely. His cursed energy, his lifeblood, was locked away, rendering him no different from a powerless human.
Pain.
Real pain.
His fingers twitched uselessly against the dirt as his body registered every wound in excruciating detail. It was a sensation he hadn't felt in over a thousand years.
Then he laughed.
A deep, ragged chuckle, one that bubbled up from his throat like something feral.
"Heh… Haha…" Sukuna's voice was hoarse, but his eyes burned with something dangerous. "You think this means you've won?"
Ryan tilted his head slightly. "Pinned to the ground. Helpless. No cursed energy. Yeah, I'd say that's a win."
Sukuna's fingers curled into a trembling fist.
"Don't get cocky, brat," he snarled. "Do you think I need cursed energy to rip you apart?"
Ryan smirked. "Go ahead. Try."
Sukuna snapped his jaws shut, seething in silent fury.
For the first time, he had been completely stripped of his dominance—and looking at him now?
There wasn't a shred of dignity left.
It was almost pitiful.
Ryan's subordinates couldn't hold back their reactions.
Mahito tilted his head, eyes gleaming with amusement. "So… this is the legendary King of Curses?" He let out a mock sigh, shaking his head. "How underwhelming."
"What a disgrace," Hanami rumbled, his deep voice laced with disappointment.
Jogo scoffed, crossing his arms. "Yeah, he's nothing compared to my master." His lips curled in disdain. "To think someone like him ruled for so long… Ridiculous."
Laughter and mockery filled the air.
Sukuna, Two-Faced Sukuna, the monster feared by all, could do nothing but listen.
His rage boiled over.
"Unforgivable," he hissed under his breath.
Ryan, however, didn't let the taunts distract him. His focus remained on the real objective: saving Itadori. The black chakra rods still pinned Sukuna down, suppressing his cursed energy. But that alone would not be enough. As long as the King of Curses remained tethered to Itadori's soul, he could return.
There was only one way.
Ryan formed a series of precise hand seals, his chakra surging as he activated the Dead Demon Consuming Seal. It was the very technique once wielded by the greatest Hokage. The spectral form of the Shinigami loomed behind him, its eerie presence sending a chill through even the strongest fighters present.
Gojo's smirk faltered for the first time. "What… is that?" he murmured, his Six Eyes perceiving something beyond comprehension.
Ryan didn't answer. He pressed his hand forward, the Shinigami's mouth opening wide. A deep, otherworldly force latched onto Sukuna's very essence, pulling—dragging him away from Itadori's soul.
For the first time, Sukuna's arrogance cracked. His eyes widened in fury and panic. "You… dare?!" His voice twisted into a roar as his very being was wrenched from Itadori's body.
Yuji collapsed, body shuddering as the cursed presence was exorcised from within him.
Sukuna's form, now separate, struggled and raged, but the Shinigami did not release its grip. The death god pulled him into its gaping maw, sealing the King of Curses away for eternity.
The battlefield fell silent.
Then a low chuckle.
Gojo stood there, shaking his head before letting out a deep sigh. "Well… I was planning on dealing with Sukuna myself, but I guess I owe you one." His lips curled into a grin, though his gaze was sharp. "Not every day someone saves my disciple's life."
Ryan exhaled, lowering his hand as the Shinigami faded. "You're welcome."
Yuji stirred, weak but breathing.
Gojo turned to Ryan, hands in his pockets. "Seriously, though… That technique of yours. What exactly was it?"
Ryan smirked. "Just an old trick from my homeland."
Gojo's eyes narrowed, intrigued. "Huh… I might just have to pry into that one day."
For now, though, the fight was over. Sukuna was gone. Yuji was safe. And the King of Curses… was no more.
Ding!
A notification from the chat group appeared.
[Congratulations! All assigned tasks have been completed!]
[Task 1: Collect all of Sukuna's fingers – Completed!]
[Task 2: Awaken Sukuna and achieve victory – Completed!]
[Mission Accomplished! You may return at any time.]
As the system's message faded, Ryan exhaled quietly and gave a small nod.
It's finally over.
The battle hadn't lasted too long, but it had required a fair amount of effort.
Sukuna, the so-called King of Curses, was undoubtedly one of the strongest beings in this world. His raw power was immense, befitting the legend that had persisted for over a thousand years. Even for Ryan, dealing with him had been somewhat troublesome.
Not because he was at risk of losing. Ryan had emerged unscathed. But because of Sukuna's absurd regeneration.
No matter how many times he was struck down, he stood back up. Over and over, as if his body refused to acknowledge defeat. And each time, he attacked with the same relentless ferocity, throwing himself into battle like a berserker.
His fighting style was deceptively simple. Just raw power and relentless slaughter. His overwhelming force alone was enough to tear through nearly any opponent. If Ryan hadn't been the one facing him…
If it had been another Hokage instead?
Things might've been different.
There were only a handful of shinobi who could defeat Sukuna. The rest? It was uncertain. Some might not have stood a chance at all.
But none of that mattered anymore.
With Sukuna and his allies dealt with, it was time to move on.
Ryan turned to his subordinates, his tone calm yet commanding.
"Same procedure as before. Three days. Gather whatever you can. Bring everything to me."
His team nodded without hesitation before immediately scattering.
In this world, most of the valuable items were modern technology, but there were also some powerful artifacts and spell-related materials. Ryan intended to take as much as possible.
After all, once he returned, he'd need to analyze everything.
Some of these spoils could be game-changers for his world—he just didn't know which ones yet.
So, the more loot, the better.
Three days passed quickly.
When the time came, all the gathered resources were stored away in the Sukunahikona, a personal space Ryan relied on frequently.
It was a sealed, independent dimension—frozen in time.
Nothing decayed. Nothing changed.
A perfect vault.
Ryan had always found this ability useful, and today was no different.
And just as he was finishing up, the chat group's notification rang in his ears.
[Ding! Three days have passed! You may now return to the chat group!]
[The coordinates of this world have been recorded in the chat group]
Ryan's eyes flickered. Time to go.
Upon hearing the familiar voice, Ryan gave a slight nod.
He understood the process well by now.
The moment he left, this world would be completely frozen in time.
Before this visit, he hadn't been certain about how or when he could return. But now, it was clear. As long as there were rewards to claim and tasks to complete, he could come back.
Whether it was to finish missions or collect more spoils, he could always return.
Not bad. Not bad at all.
But for now, there was only one priority: returning to the chat group.
Ryan couldn't deny it. He was looking forward to seeing what rewards awaited him.
After everything he had accomplished, what would the chat group offer this time?
Something rare? Something powerful? It would be interesting, no doubt.
With that thought in mind, he wasted no more time.
His voice rang out, clear and decisive.
"Return!"
And just like that, the world around him began to shift.
---
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