[SIDE STORY 1 - [C4] PRETENDER

Not even a second has passed, and the blackened cells have all devoured Sukuna's cells, turning them into nourishment.

Blood then dripped at Sukuna's mouth, though no one, not even those that were near him, had noticed; it was like they were in a whole nother dimension.

As every cell in Sukuna's body has been devoured by the unknown cell, the only thing that has not been completely devoured is his consciousness, which is deeply embedded in his mind.

Meanwhile, Sukuna opened his consciousness, immediately taking refuge.

'Haaa... Haaa... Haaa...

I was completely overpowered... To think that I'd get to feel it... The sense of death that I've yet to discover upon having travelled the whole plains...'

Right as he was catching his breath, something came knocking into his mind.

"Knock, Knock.

Guess who it is~"

Sukunahikona's eyes widened in fright as he heard the same voice which held upon the entire lower part of his neck.

"Why are you doing this?"

Sukuna questioned, his face completely pale and overturned with fear.

"What do you mean why?

Don't tell me you've already forgotten~"

The Old Healer's head throbbed in pain as he heard his answer.

"You mean, you're---"

Right as he was about to answer, suddenly a surge of corrupted cells rushed into his mind, completely eating away his last bit of consciousness.

"Urgh... You're... A devil..."

Sukuna's last bit of consciousness vanished just like that. His bright golden eyes turned pale white as if to show a sign of his absence.

The unknown entity who invaded his body has completely taken over the empty vessel of Sukuna.

Right after taking over his body, it then multiplied itself and spread itself over across his entire body for it to normally function again.

"Alas... This should be the 7th...

I'm now closer to achieving what needs to be achieved before the true epochs of Mortals and Gods are thoroughly extinguished.

I sincerely apologize on behalf of others who will soon meet their end with my own two hands...

A sacrifice is needed for its continuation I supposed."

He then smiled creepily as if what he told was bent over with twisted and hypocritical lies but what was truly hidden within this facade is emptiness as deep as within that no one can reach.

A few moments later, the light which was extinguished burned once more, and the eyes of the old healer brightened but were changed into pitch black, the bright golden hue which shone as his embodiment was no more.

Now, there's only darkness and negativity, which will soon give rise to suspicion.

The possessed body of Sukuna leaked a bit of putrid and heavy dark aura for a second, though no one seemed to have noticed the changes happening inside Sukuna's body because not a single entity in that household held much power that may detect his absolute presence.

As Sukuna just stood there idly still silently pushing down his hand onto Izanagi's chest, Tsukuyomi grew wary and was about to grab Sukuna's shoulder.

The Young Clan Head sharpened his gaze doubting the Old Healer's credibility, but as soon as he took the first step forward, Sukuna turned his gaze towards him and spoke just the right amount of information needed to be laid out.

"Young Clan Head, please step a bit further back."

His voice sounded just the same as earlier though what was off-putting was his sudden proud and confident gaze.

Tsukuyomi's distrust and suspicion grew more and more, but since he didn't have any concrete evidence to his assumptions, nor did he see anything wrong with the way he spoke and from his pure Divine Energy, which he kept emitting, he just brushed his suspicion aside for the time being.

Seeing as the Young Clan Head is growing suspicious of him, he "healed" them with utmost urgency, unbeknownst to Tsukuyomi, whilst the old healer was healing his Father, he implanted a "seal" to temporarily halt the "corruption."

Tsukuyomi noticed his sealing almost instantly after he placed it on the core of his Father.

Though this was all according to "his" plan and the Young Clan Head certainly took the bait which was laid out just for him.

Tsukuyomi then jumped at his side, carefully sliding his hand imbued with a thick layer of Divine Aura and with a murderous glare he said.

"What are you trying to do right now?

SPEAK!"

His hand drew closer touching the skin of Sukuna's neck, resulting in a bit of blood dripping over the Healer's neck due to the imbued Divine Aura he used to cover his hand with.

"Otherwise, I'll immediately cut your head off this instant."

"Sukuna" calmly answered with a frown on his face, "worried" about the status of his parents.

"Whatever do you mean by this? Lord Tsukuyomi?

Are you trying to hinder my work right now?"

It was that very same expression he had earlier, though his face showed it all but Tsukuyomi's senses started to feel off since the very moment he was eerily silent earlier with no sign of Divine Healing being emitted.