Marvel: The Cursed Hero

Yuji sat on the cold ground of the alley, his hands trembling as he tried to make sense of everything. His body ached, and his mind spun like a broken carousel. What had just happened? He'd fought monsters—actual monsters—and something inside him had taken over.

He clenched his fists and screamed into the void. "SUKUNA!"

For a moment, there was nothing but silence. Then, to Yuji's horror, a mouth materialized on the back of his right hand.

"Yes, brother?" the voice said smoothly, with a sinister edge.

Yuji's heart stopped. He stared at his hand, wide-eyed, before jumping to his feet in a panic. He shook his hand violently as though he could fling the mouth away, his breathing ragged.

"Get off! Get off!" he shouted, his voice echoing in the alley.

But Sukuna's voice came from his left hand now. "Calm down, brother," it said with an almost amused tone.

Yuji froze, his hands outstretched as he struggled to process what was happening. After a few moments, he managed to steady his breath, though his legs still felt weak.

"Who are you?" Yuji demanded. "What's happening to me?"

The mouth remained silent for a moment. Then Sukuna finally answered, his tone dropping into something colder, more serious.

"You are special, brother. A rare creation. A being unlike any other."

Yuji's chest tightened. "What do you mean? Special how?"

"You are not entirely human," Sukuna said after a pause. "You are an artificial creation, an experiment. You were made to be the perfect weapon—a hybrid of mutant and demon."

The words hit Yuji like a freight train. His knees buckled, and he sank to the ground again, staring at the concrete as his mind raced. "I'm… a clone?"

Suddenly, the alley vanished. The world around Yuji dissolved into darkness, and he found himself standing in a vast, shadowy space. At the center of the void was a throne, ornate and foreboding, and seated on it was a figure.

The man looked like Yuji—same face, same build—but his eyes were blood-red, and intricate markings adorned his skin. The figure stood, his movements fluid and commanding, and Yuji instinctively stepped back.

Sukuna spoke again, this time from the figure itself. "You were created in a laboratory. But a man—a prisoner who was captured alongside us—saved you. He took you from that place and left you at an orphanage, where your grandfather eventually found you."

Yuji's heart broke under the weight of the revelation. His throat tightened, and tears spilled down his cheeks. "So I'm not… human?"

"You are human," Sukuna said firmly. "I am the demon. The man who saved us separated your human and demon sides, creating me. My only purpose is to protect you."

Yuji wiped his tears with the back of his hand, his voice trembling. "Protect me? Then why did you take over my body like that? Why make me hurt those people?"

Sukuna stepped closer, his expression unreadable. "Because you were in danger. I made you strong to keep you alive. I have always been with you, training your body, sharpening your instincts. That is why you've always been faster, stronger, and better than everyone else."

Yuji stared at him, his tears momentarily forgotten. "That was… you?"

Sukuna nodded. "Yes. Everything you've achieved is because of my influence."

Yuji's mind was a storm of emotions. He wanted to scream, to cry, to deny everything Sukuna was saying—but deep down, he knew it was true.

"Do you know anything about the man who saved us?" Yuji asked after a long silence, his voice quiet.

Sukuna's eyes softened slightly. "I know only that he had white hair and crystal-like blue eyes. He is the reason you are free. The reason you have a chance at life."

Yuji nodded slowly, his mind piecing together the fragments of his identity. "Anything else I should know?" he asked hesitantly.

Sukuna smirked. "Only that we share many of the same abilities. You and I are connected, brother."

Yuji frowned. "What kind of abilities?"

"Your strength comes from a unique energy called Curse Energy," Sukuna explained. "It is born from negative emotions—fear, anger, hatred. Everything living—humans, animals, even plants—radiates this energy. We can harness it to empower ourselves and manifest unique abilities. My technique, for example, allows me to create invisible slashes."

Yuji's eyes widened. "Invisible slashes? That's what you were using against those mutants?"

Sukuna nodded.

"What about me?" Yuji asked. "Do you know what my ability is?"

Sukuna shook his head. "No. You have not yet awakened it. But once you activate your Curse Energy, it will reveal itself."

Yuji processed this, the weight of it all making his head spin. "Can you… teach me?" he asked hesitantly.

A sly grin spread across Sukuna's face. "Yes. Fortunately, this place works in our favor. Time here moves differently—one day here is only one hour outside."

Yuji blinked in surprise. "That's… useful."

"It is," Sukuna agreed. "Now, let us see where you stand."

With that, Sukuna took a step back and fell into a fighting stance. His movements were deliberate, every muscle poised and ready.

Yuji hesitated, then mirrored the stance. His heart pounded as he stared at his demonic counterpart, unsure of what to expect.

"Do not hold back," Sukuna said, his voice low and commanding. "If you wish to learn, you must fight."

Yuji nodded, his determination outweighing his fear.

And with that, the sparring began.

Sukuna lunged first, his movements impossibly fast. Yuji barely had time to react, raising his arms to block an incoming strike. The force sent him stumbling back, his feet skidding across the dark ground.

"Too slow!" Sukuna barked, his voice sharp.

Yuji gritted his teeth, his instincts kicking in. He ducked under Sukuna's next attack, countering with a swift punch aimed at Sukuna's side. But Sukuna deflected it effortlessly, spinning to deliver a sharp kick to Yuji's chest.

The impact knocked Yuji to the ground, but he scrambled to his feet, refusing to stay down.

"You're relying too much on instinct," Sukuna said, circling him like a predator. "Focus. Harness the anger, the fear. Use it."

Yuji clenched his fists, frustration bubbling inside him. He could feel it—a faint, burning energy deep within his core. Was that his Curse Energy?

Sukuna attacked again, his movements relentless. This time, Yuji dodged more effectively, weaving through Sukuna's strikes and landing a glancing blow to his shoulder.

"Better," Sukuna said with a smirk. "But not enough."

The training continued, each clash pushing Yuji closer to his limits. His body ached, and his breaths came in ragged gasps, but he refused to give up.

With every strike, every block, he felt the energy within him grow stronger. It was wild and untamed, but it was there—a spark waiting to ignite.

As the session stretched on, Sukuna finally called for a pause.

"You're improving," he said, his tone almost approving. "But there's still much to learn."

Yuji wiped the sweat from his brow, his chest heaving. "I'll get there," he said, his voice filled with determination.

Sukuna grinned, his sharp teeth glinting in the dim light. "Good. Because the world out there is far more dangerous than you realize."

Yuji nodded, a newfound resolve settling over him. Whatever he was—whoever he was—he would face it head-on. And he wouldn't do it alone.