“Who could be calling?”
“Someone is calling you? I don't hear anything?”
“No, she's being called in her hand, it's like a phone.”
“Who gave you a call?”
“What is a phone?”
“I think I need to answer it.” You cut in.
“Did someone link with you before we left the witch's home?” Getou asked with repeated worry.
“No. No one did…but…” You were hesitant to tell them you were able to call Mahito back, and you did so without their knowledge. “…I think this person figured out how to call me without being in person. The girls had told me about that ability.”
“That’s scary, You don’t know who it could be.” Gojo warned.
“I do actually.”
“Who?”
“…” You paused, nervousness took your words away. However, the vibration had stopped. You sighed. “…It’s gone now.”
“That’s fine… this kind of thing needs careful inspection… maybe there is a way for me to join you…” Getou stated.
“A phone…” Nanami began looking toward Yuji and Megumi, “… It's on her hand, it’s a way to link her mind with another person anywhere, but it can be dangerous as we have witnessed in the past.” He finished just as your hand started to go off again.
“It’s vibrating again! This must be something important guys!” What could Mahito want? What if it was about Dove? “I know who’s calling, and I know how to disconnect from a call. We just discussed pushing forward and I cannot be afraid to speak with this person. I’m answering it.” You moved, but Nanami caught your wrist.
“Wait! You have no clue what could happen!”
“We just got you back we don’t want to lose you again!” Getou hissed.
“I understand my alphas but there is a reason for this urgency. I won’t let this caller get close to me, and if he takes one step forward, I will end the call immediately.”
“We…we haven’t gotten enough info-”
“I know! But how could we? We lost the people who could have helped us!”
“Ok so this thing is dangerous but how much could one do while not being in person?” Megumi asked in confusion. “It seems kind of convenient to be able to talk to anyone around the world.”
“She can get her memories wiped!” Gojo was up in arms ready to stop you from connecting as well. “We should talk to everyone-“
There was too much commotion going on. You cut in swiftly, “-There is no time you guys, trust me! You wanted me back and well here I am! I am answering this call! Let me do this please!” You shout but you don’t make a move, don’t pull from Nanami’s grasp. You wait for him to let you go despite your arm misting into shadows.
“…” Nanami’s jaw clenched.
“…I will be fine…” You try again with strained desperation.
“You get in and get out...”
“Ok.”
Gojo looked away in anger, “If anything happens to you, I’m heading North.”
“No more than a minute you hear!” Getou added swiftly and as soon as Nanami let you go you cast the spell.
“Ansho!”
~
You were back in the mental world. The rings appeared and connected within an instant and Mahito emerged.
He had his arms crossed his foot tapping as he stared at you, “Bout time you answered, what were you doing choking on knots?”
“Hitting low already, what got your panties in a bunch?” You questioned seeing that he looked annoyed… but he wasn’t yelling at you. Something was bothering him. But he was being…careful. Calculating even. You had never seen him like this.
You felt you had the upper hand here. He needed something from this conversation and he had nothing to threaten you with besides Dove… you glared at him awaiting his response.
It seemed neither of you wanted to be in this call.
“Ugh- I sent the stupid letter to you and you haven’t answered, very funny Raven, trying to make me look like the bad guy huh? Let’s all laugh! Raven is sooo funny! Hahaha-”
You blink in utter confusion as the maniac laughed, “Hold on-What? You sent Dove’s letter to me?”
“Ha-Don’t act coy with me whore!” He exploded with an angry point, “Send a damn response so this bitch will stop fucking crying! I can’t sleep! What? You want me to apologize is that it?! Well, you will never get it! NEVER!”
You quickly digest what he was saying, and as you did you realized how frazzled he looked. His hair was like a nest and some of his stitches were undone as if they were being heavily picked at in different areas. Specifically, his hands and face. That’s when you connected his appearance to your alphas. Like an alpha whose omega was depressed and he was running out of options. He moved just an inch forward and you shrieked- “COME NEAR ME AND I DISCONNECT!”
“FUCK YOU-JUST SEND A DAMN MESSAGE BACK!”
“I DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT I NEVER RECEIVED A LETTER!”
“I KNOW YOU DID POKO TOLD ME!”
“WHO THE FUCK IS POKO!”
“MY BIRD!”
“Enough-” you huff, “-We aren't going to get anywhere I…when did you send the letter?”
Mahito ran his hands through his hair, eyes searching your face, “It doesn't matter, I know for a fact the letter has been delivered Poko gave it to one of your stupid men!”
“When!?”
“I don't know like a day ago!”
You pondered on his words, and slowly nodded, “Ok… yeah. We have been a little busy so they haven't given it to me yet. But I'll ask them for it as soon as we get out of this call…and send a letter back…”
“Busy?! Y'all have nothing to deal with!”
“Actually we have a lot to deal with Mahito, most of our issues are caused by you.”
“I haven’t even done anything!” Mahito muttered, picking at his face.
Your eyes narrowed, “Do you like…like Dove or something?”
“Are you kidding?” Mahito looks at you in shock, “I could kill that bitch where she sleeps! Her insistent moping is pissing me off!”
Yet he hasn't killed Dove. You don't know if that was due to you or because of some hidden feelings he had for the omega. Perhaps you could fish for the truth.
“Then why not give her to Yu? My alphas and I are going home, so there is no reason to have her annoying you. Like you said you haven't done anything and neither have we.”
“Riiight, and as soon as she's gone I'm sure I'll smell your funky pack coming my way. I'll hold on to her, she can be entertaining when she behaves.” He grinned with that suggestive twinkle in his eyes.
You stopped the disgust from taking over your face. “Ok.” you stated simply. “I-” you couldn't finish talking before the world was abruptly cut out.
Everything went black and you woke in shock.
“You did it!”
“What the fuck?” you hiss putting a hand to your head, the sudden shift from being inside a link and being brought back to the real world made your head SPIN.
“Are you okay, Raven?” Choso questioned, you were within his arms.
“Why the fuck did you guys let her link with that alpha?” you heard Sukuna growl.
“Baby you alright? What do you remember?” Toji questioned yanking you from Choso.
“She said she would only be in there for a minute!”
“Did he touch you?”
You groaned, “Ahhhh shhhh-everything is too loud what did you guys do?!” The dizzy spell slowed a bit.
“I'm sorry-” Choso began but Sukuna cut him off,
“We told him to get you out, what were you thinking? And why wasn't this a discussion with all of us? Toji and I weren't here.”
“It was three against two anyway.” Getou scoffed, “Are you okay? You were in longer than we agreed.” There was a bit of a disapproving tone in his voice when he spoke to you.
“Can I have a moment please...” You were granted a bit of silence…
“Yuji, Megumi would you two like to go to bed?” Nanami questioned with softness.
“Yeah, we should.” Megumi stood with a bit of a yawn but Yuji furrowed his brows not yet budging.
“Are you all okay? Is someone trying to hurt you?” You were surprised to hear so much concern in his voice.
Getou waved him away, “Someone is trying to hurt us every day. It's nothing new. But we will take care of it. Don’t worry.”
The boy hesitates for a moment, looking toward you, and swiftly you flash him a smile to let him know you are okay.
“Come on.” Megumi urged and this time Yuji went.
“Good night.”
“Night.”
Nanami handed you some water and once Gojo couldn't take the suspense anymore he said-
“Nothing bad happened?”
“Nope ah- thank you Nanami. Also Choso please do not do that again that was awful.”
“They wouldn't stop freaking out and said they'd kill me if I didn't figure out a way to force the disconnect.”
“Which he did. Good job keeping your life.” Sukuna half-assed complemented the beta.
You shook your head, “Seriously? I wasn't in there for that long.”
“You were. Much longer than the time we agreed upon.” Getou reminded you.
“Sorry, I didn't realize my time went over-” Truthfully, you didn't realize they were THAT serious about their ludicrous time restriction. “-but I can assure you nothing was going on. He was calling to see if I got Dove’s letter. I'm guessing someone has it?” you questioned, searching everyone with your eyes.
Immediately, they gave it away by looking at Toji.
“I-I wasn’t hiding it from you it was just- I didn't think it was a good time…”
“Toji it’s okay, I’m not mad. It’s been…tough… and I was a mess… May I see it now?”
Toji retrieved the letter handing it to you.
“We had suspicions that Mahito could have monitored the note but she doesn't say anything bad in it.” Getou spoke as you read.
“But if he's calling to inquire about a response… that seems strange.” Nanami murmured.
Before you could even speak you heard someone collapse- it was Choso- “Oh my tengen is he okay?” You were about to go to him but Sukuna picked him up by the back of his robes.
“He’s fine.” and tossed him into his tent.
“Mm…” you weren't going to say anything more because the fact that Sukuna was training him in his death circle and throwing him in his nest when done was the highest level of affection one could receive… from him… “…So… yeah this doesn't seem bad at all… it seems like she's doing fine…” You took a sniff, “…it also smells like her…”
“This could be a trick...” Gojo stated cautiously.
“Yes… But how?” you questioned as everyone looked at each other.
“…A sense of false comfort...” Nanami finally said. “…maybe that's what this is.”
“Then we can do the same… I'll answer… and play along… until we can find an opening…” You grabbed the inventory worm, ready to write your letter.
“Hopefully Mei Mei has some answers.”
“I hope so too.” you agreed with Gojo.
“Don’t forget we still have Mahoraga. A shikigami who has been around for a long time. If we defeat him he could tell us possibly more than we need.” Getou reminded everyone.
“We can fight him tomorrow.” Sukuna stated. “I don’t doubt this will be a challenge so get as much rest as you all can. We do this bright and early.”
Your pack nodded in agreement, but anxiety crept up your spine. You had no idea how hard this curse was going to be. Luckily there were ways to get out of a challenge, while playing the game if you lost to a Shikigami ‘FAIL’would flash on the screen and you had to heal your party before trying again. But you have read in passing that these fights used to be to the death.
You had nothing to worry about.
If the Shikigami is too tough, then you could try again.
~
“You guys are going to fight that Shikigami?” Megumi questioned while eating breakfast.
“Yup, we won’t go far.”
Your pack moved away from your camp, just in case this summon causes mass destruction all around you.
Breaking into a clear opening Gojo had looked at Choso crossing his arms he scoffed, “What are you doing here?”
“Proving his worth.” Sukuna spoke for the beta.
You looked between the three of them seeing some sort of weirdness going on. Did Sukuna just protect Choso in a sense? What the hell happened while you were dancing with the mad hatter?
“Alright…” you slap your hand upon the book within your arm. “…I don’t know how tough this guy is, or what his weakness is so there is a good chance we do not win the first time.”
“Do not insult us.”
“No, she makes a point. The only reason we won against those other shikigamis was due to her knowledge. She has none for this fight.” Nanami aided you.
“Then we must find its weakness fast.” Toji pointed out..
“Yes, but like I said this could go either way so we must use this fight as training. Find anything that could be of help and search for the information we need in the opponent. I'm quite certain this shikigami is going to be our hardest challenge...”
You drifted off as Yuji hopped through the bushes, Megumi trailing behind him in annoyance.
“I want to help too-!”
“No.” Sukuna denied.
“Let him fight with us, let’s let everyone fight with us.” Gojo stated while glaring at Choso.
Choso only side-eyed the alpha, allowing him to gripe about his presence.
You ignore the extra noise, “It’s fine, but uh, I’m not sure about your fighting styles?”
“I’m not here to help I'll watch.” Megumi found a place to sit as Yuji hummed.
“I guess I never really had a fighting style. My music is helpful but then after that, I usually handle things with whatever is necessary.”
“He has great strength and defense.” Nanami informed.
You hummed looking at your group, a bard with good defense and attack ok… “Do you think it would be best to have him by you?”
“Somewhere in between mid-range and front line. Same with Choso. Since he uses his blood.”
“Yuji if you could play something that gives us boosted attack and defense that would work well for now but until we fight this guy, I wouldn't know what we would need to be prepared for so I guess we will have to wing it a bit.”
“Yes ma'am.” Yuji beamed. He just looked happy to be here.
“I'll keep you safe brother.” Choso said as everyone moved into position.
“He'd better hold his own fucking weight.”
You looked at the book smoothing your hand over the cover, “Alright… now time to summon…” You focus on the book, channeling your curse energy into it, but nothing happens. “Ah…how do I-”
“You alone cannot release me star hero, you need your bonded partner.”
You looked at Getou, “Suguru-”
“I heard him.”
“What? What did it say?” Gojo questioned.
“She needs a bonded partner.” Choso informed
“Why do you think we aren't bonded with her?” Toji whispered to Sukuna.
“Don’t fucking know.”
You wanted to comment on the side remark but you figured it would be best to save that for Mahroaga. Only he could fully answer that question.
“You are gonna need to be more specific if you want us to release you.” Getou spoke out loud.
“Meld your energy to shape the key to my prison.”
“Meld our energy? How do we do that?”
“I would have to assume we have to allow our magic to become one with another…“ Your alpha mused.
“That sounds like what Nanami was trying to help me do... So I have to use myself as a conduit and mix my curse energy with yours…?”
“Is that what you want us to do?” Getou confirmed with Mahoraga.
“Precisely.”
“Ok…” You closed your eyes, as Getou put his hand on top of yours.
You breathed trying to absorb your energy. Draw it within yourself with every breath. Yet it was hard to do so.
You released a sigh, “I know Nanami said I should be able to do this without touching it but I'm going to try to grab it instead.”
“If that is what helps you. I'm ready when you are.”
You shift the book in your arm and grab your two strands and pulled it into your chest. It was much easier for you to absorb the energy into your body. It was like icy hot blossomed upon your flesh and spread throughout your body from head to fingertips. The electrical feel made you gasp, especially so when you felt Getou’s curse energy upon your hand. It was comforting, radiating with a warming pulse that waves through your body back and forth. The sudden feeling had you surprised pushing against the current.
Getou hissed as your energy shocked his system. “Try- try to relax you are overloading me.”
“Sorry sorry-”
You could feel it, as the two of you worked together to find the perfect match of your combined power.
“I-i think we got it-” the book flew open with a beam of light, scriptures busted out and twirled around, you could read one word but the next word you could not read and it went on like that as the scriptures continued to swirl. “Do you see that? I can't read all of the words?”
“Same, I only see the second word-”
“Huh? I see the first word!”
“Then we will say it together.”
You spoke the first word as Getou would say the next- as the spell began to cast the words would light up and the tornado would surge with more strength.
“What the hell-”
“I have never seen anything like this-”
Your alphas were amazed by the spectacle, but they also sounded nervous.
“You jump back here as soon as this thing is summoned!” Toji shouted at you.
You heard him as you finished the scripture-
And at the end, your words blended-
“With this treasure we summon, Eight Handled Sword Divergent Sila Divine General Mahoraga!"
A flash of light blinded you, and as your eyes came back to normal you were in a world that was much brighter than what you were used to. You realized that the sun was much closer, bright and sunny- no wait it's not the sun. It's a giant ring of light with multiple orbs surrounding it.
"Where are we..." Getou wondered.
It took a moment to take in your surroundings. You were on a large stone platform with many rings indented in the surface getting smaller as it moved to the middle. It was like you were on a floating rock that was drifting in the air. But what caught you most by surprise was the fact that the others were not behind you. Instead, there was a long drop down from where you stood near the edge.
"What happened to everyone else?" You gasp in shock.
"It would appear it's just us. I have never-"
"Finally..." You heard that demonic voice, but it was much, much louder. "...Worthy opponents!"
The ball of light sizzles in the middle and out bursts a large white creature that looks like a hollow. He was large and muscular, wings sprouted from where his eyes should be and he had another set right underneath just like. There was a wheel on top of his head.
“Holy shit-” you could feel his power, feel how strong he was. It was like his mere presence made it difficult to breathe. Yet you pulled out your sword ready to defend yourself. You didn't have hope of winning not without everyone. “-What is happening!? Why is it only the two of us?!”
Mahoraga cocked his head to the side, his teeth looked uncanny as he grinned excitedly, “I challenge your bond not the others. Now come forward and face me. Show me your strength!”
“Absolutely not.” Getou put an arm before you, standing in front with a protective stance. “This is a death ring!” he pointed down and that's when you noticed that the outside spot you were standing in was the only one that was lit up.
However, the name had you gasping, “Death ring?!”
“Yes! A fight to the death! That is the greatness of battle! Win, and I will be at your command! Show me your will to adapt and conquer!”
“Tch- I think not, sweetheart, don't step in there whatever you do- matter of fact just stand still… I'll figure out a way out of this prison.” Getou turned around to look for the exit, which only angered the shikigami.
“You would not fight me?!”
“Not if it means death, I believe we are strong enough to open your container but to fight you is another spell.” Getou ran his hands in the air searching for energy residue.
You were looking at your alpha but when the looming shadow cast over your figure you nearly jumped off the edge into the abyss below. “Ah-” you gasp seeing Mahoraga stand before you. He was absolutely terrifying. You scooted close to Getou. Knowing that he wasn’t nervous, gave you a sense of composure. “-We don’t want to fight you to death Mahroaga. You are clearly a very strong opponent and we wish to give you a challenge and not die in five seconds.”
Truthfully you don't think you'd ever step back into this world. You weren't going to willingly fight ANYTHING to death even if the very boss was standing in between you and a possible secret ending that you wish to unlock. You will have to find another way to get to the end with or without Mahoraga.
“How very disappointing.” The Shikgami stalked away as it spoke, “Star Heroes are brave warriors but I see they have chosen an omega this time. Perhaps a mistake on their part. I shall wait for the next pair.”
You were taken aback by his comment, “Am I the first omega star hero?”
The petty demon didn’t respond, instead jumping back into the sphere he came from.
You scoffed looking over your shoulder, “Did you hear that?”
“I did… we will talk about it once I find- ah here we go.” Getou shoved both hands forward, and light crackled around his fingers but he couldn't fully open them, struggling with one side. “Ngh- I think I need your help with this.”
You pushed your hand beside his and used your curse energy to pull it apart. A blinding light flashed and when you were coming too you had the book in your hand and it closed shut.
Gojo tsked, “Nothing happened?”
You looked toward him with furrowed brows, “What?”
“What do you mean nothing happened?” Getou added to your question.
“I thought you were summoning Mahoraga, not a tornado of light.” The alpha gestured.
“Is he perhaps somewhere in the world now?” Nanami looked around wondering if the shikigamai was going to fly out of the woods.
“Huh…” You smacked your lips, “…Did I imagine all of that or were you there with me?”
Getou nodded, “I was there… it would appear time works differently in the prison…” he then turned his attention to the others. “…We were sucked into another realm. But only the two of us. This Mahoraga is an ancient shikigami that follows the older laws.”
“The summing of death?” Sukuna raised a brow.
“No! That is dangerous we weren't even there!” Toji stated.
“Yes, I know. That's why we didn't fight him. But perhaps next time we can be better prepared.”
“Better prepared?” you echoed looking at your alpha. “I-I don’t think I ever want to face him again if I'm being honest. I don’t wish to fight to the death. The other Shikigami’s… if we lost we didn't lose our lives but this? It’s not worth it.” you shook your head looking upon the stone book in your hand.
Getou frowned, “Yes, but I believe we could-”
“She’s right, if you were to go in there and die, I would kill you again.” Toji threatened.
“Count this as a blessing Getou, you are lucky you recognized the death circle, once you step in it, you wouldn't have been able to get out. Or so that's what I have read in some historical books.” Nanami’s words gave you a sort of grim feeling.
This could have ended very poorly. You quite nearly greeted death at a glass tank and he asked you to jump into the water and swim with him.
You felt relieved to be out but you could see the conflict within Getou.
“It is through our bond and strength that allows us to even summon this thing. This is a powerful weapon that we are just letting collect dust.”
“If anyone should go in there with her, it's me.” Sukuna stated.
“What?! Do you not trust us to be able to defeat this Shinigami?” Suguru growled.
“Go in there by yourself, you can’t take my baby with you.”
“It’s our connection that allows this! OUR connection!” he stated proudly with a hand upon your shoulder. “This is an obstacle that WE need to face together.”
“I get what you are saying, and I respect it but if you can’t even beat me there is no way I am going to trust you to protect her on your own.” Sukuna spoke sternly.
“What?” Toji scoffed, “I don’t even care if he steps in your brutal training, she’s not going in there, I wouldn't even allow it if it were you-that's the problem.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“Maybe Megumi and I can fight him!”
“Yuji!”
“No bud, there's no point in sending anyone in there just to die.”
“Yes, a risk like this is not worth it.” Nanami added.
“We might as well chuck the book into the water.” Gojo shrugged.
“Are you kidding?” Megumi jumped in making everyone turn to look at him, “If someone else finds that book they might try to open it just as you had. Perhaps they might not know this Shikigami follows the old laws of summoning and they could get killed.”
“Yeah…” You nodded thinking the same thing. The only reason you even bothered to summon Mahoraga is that you didn't see a big risk of losing. If you knew the truth before you probably would have never even looked his way.
“Hm… maybe that's why the witches had it locked up.” Yuji mused.
“The door wasn’t locked.” Choso inserted.
“Well yeah, but you know what I mean. Maybe they were protecting people from being killed by this thing.”
“Sure…but I guess now we need to keep it safe.”
“We can put it in our armory when we get home.”
”Okay...” You sighed coming to the end of the discussion, “Sorry guys for wasting your time. It does really suck to not get any information from this.”, you say feeling a bit of dismay.
“Don’t be so distraught, we still have Mei Mei we need to speak to.” Your blonde rubbed your back gently.
“That’s true…and the only little crumb he did give me was insinuating that I was the first omega star hero he has met… so I guess they are typically a beta or alpha.” You tossed the idea out there to see what it could grab.
“Maybe…he just hasn’t come across any omega heroes until you.”
“Sure, but... We will never be able to confirm it…It might remain a mystery…”
⋆⁺｡˚⋆˙‧₊☽ ◯ ☾₊‧˙⋆˚｡⁺⋆
Chef Note: Mahoraga would have smeared us across that final boss master hand Super Smash Bros stage ✌️🙂↕️