Chapter 10: Me Myself Echoe

Chapter 10: Me Myself Echoe

*(Sukuna POV)*

A sense of impending danger prickled at the edges of my consciousness, a warning sign that sent shivers down my spine. I could feel them approaching, their cursed energy pulsating with an intensity that bespoke of formidable power.

With a grimace, I surveyed the damage to my body, the wounds inflicted by my battle with Shadow refusing to heal despite my best efforts. My cursed energy was depleted, barely a flicker of its former strength remaining within me.

As the sound of their approach grew louder, I knew that I had only one option left. With a resigned sigh, I closed my eyes and relinquished control, allowing the vessel, Mato, to take over.

**(Flashback: Conversation between Sukuna and Mato)**

"Sukuna," Mato spoke, his voice tinged with uncertainty as he faced the embodiment of fear and destruction that resided within him.

"What is it, Mato?" Sukuna replied, his crimson eyes gleaming with an otherworldly intensity.

"I-I'm scared," Mato confessed, his voice barely above a whisper. "Scared of what I might become if I let you take over completely."

Sukuna's lips curled into a sardonic grin. "Fear is for the weak, Mato," he sneered. "But if it will give you the strength to seek revenge against those who wronged you, then so be it."

Mato's eyes widened in shock at Sukuna's words, the weight of their implications sinking in. "Revenge," he whispered, the word echoing in the recesses of his mind like a distant promise.

"Yes, revenge," Sukuna affirmed, his voice dripping with malice. "But remember this, Mato: when I say the word, you will take over the body temporarily and forget everything—even who you are."

Mato nodded, his resolve firming as he braced himself for the trials that lay ahead. "I understand," he replied, his voice steady despite the tremors of fear that coursed through him. "I'll do whatever it takes to get my revenge, even if it means losing myself in the process."

With a silent nod of acknowledgment, Sukuna retreated into the depths of Mato's consciousness, his presence a silent specter that lingered in the shadows of their shared mind.

And so, as the sorcerers closed in on his location, Mato steeled himself for the confrontation that awaited, his mind awash with memories of battles fought and promises made.

**(Mato's POV)**

As consciousness slowly seeped back into my battered body, I became aware of a dull, throbbing pain that pulsed rhythmically throughout every fiber of my being. My eyes fluttered open to reveal a sterile white room bathed in harsh fluorescent light, the antiseptic scent of disinfectant stinging my nostrils.

Confusion clouded my thoughts as I struggled to make sense of my surroundings. Where was I? How had I ended up here? The memories of my past lay shrouded in darkness, tantalizingly out of reach like fragments of a dream slipping through my fingers.

Before I could dwell any further on my predicament, the door to the room swung open with a sharp creak, revealing a group of individuals clad in the distinctive robes of sorcerers. Their faces were drawn with concern as they hurried to my bedside, their voices a chorus of anxious murmurs.

"What happened to him?" one of them exclaimed, their eyes wide with alarm as they took in the sight of my battered form.

"I'm not sure," another replied, their brow furrowed in concentration. "But it looks like he's been through hell and back."

The sorcerers exchanged worried glances as they assessed my condition, their expressions grim with foreboding. Despite their best efforts to mask their unease, I could sense the underlying tension that hung heavy in the air, a palpable reminder of the gravity of my situation.

As they attempted to ascertain the extent of my injuries, I felt a sudden surge of pain rip through my body, causing me to cry out in agony. It was as if a thousand needles were piercing my flesh, each stab more excruciating than the last.

My screams echoed through the forest, reverberating in a haunting cacophony of despair. Try as they might, the sorcerers were powerless to alleviate my suffering, their attempts to heal me thwarted by the mysterious nature of my wounds.

As the pain intensified, I felt my consciousness begin to slip away, the edges of my vision growing hazy and indistinct. With one final, desperate gasp, I succumbed to the darkness, my body slumping limply against the unforgiving surface of the bed.

**(Sukuna's POV)**

From the depths of my domain, I watched with a sense of detached amusement as Mato writhed in agony, his screams echoing through the confines of his fragile mind. It was a sight to behold—a mere mortal brought to his knees by the merest whisper of pain.

But beneath my amusement lay a deeper sense of satisfaction—a primal thrill that coursed through my veins like liquid fire. For in that moment of agony, I saw the spark of potential, the flicker of a flame that threatened to consume everything in its path.

As Mato's consciousness slipped into the abyss, I reached out with a tendril of my own cursed energy, weaving it into the fabric of his being with practiced precision. It was a delicate dance, a symphony of power and control that resonated with the primal rhythms of the universe.

And then, with a surge of dark energy, I unleashed the full force of my power, shrouding Mato's mind in a veil of darkness that obscured his memories and clouded his judgment. It was a temporary measure, a means to an end—a way to ensure that he remained under my sway without the burden of his past weighing him down.

As the darkness closed in around him, I felt a surge of satisfaction wash over me, a primal thrill that sent shivers of anticipation down my spine. For in that moment, I knew that Mato was mine to command, a puppet dancing on the strings of my will.

And so, as he lay unconscious in his hospital bed, I watched over him with a sense of grim satisfaction, knowing that his fate—and indeed, the fate of all who dared to oppose me—was sealed.

**(Matos POV)

As consciousness returned to me, I found myself lying in a bed surrounded by sterile white walls, the faint hum of medical equipment echoing in the silence. My body ached with a dull, persistent pain, each movement sending waves of agony coursing through my veins.

Confusion clouded my thoughts as I struggled to piece together the events that had led me to this moment. Who was I? What had happened to me? Questions swirled in my mind like a whirlwind, but answers remained elusive, dancing just beyond my grasp.

With a groan, I attempted to sit up, only to be greeted by a searing pain that radiated from every inch of my battered body. It was then that I noticed the bandages that encased me like a cocoon, their pristine whiteness a stark contrast to the crimson stains that marred their surface.

I glanced around the room, my eyes falling upon a figure standing in the doorway—a young woman with eyes wide with shock and disbelief. She called out to someone, her voice tinged with urgency, and within moments, a small group of individuals had gathered around me, their faces a blur of concern and curiosity.

"Who... who are you?" I managed to croak, my voice barely above a whisper.

The woman's expression softened, sympathy flickering in her eyes as she replied, "You've been asleep for more than a month. We found you in the forest, barely clinging to life."

A month? The realization struck me like a bolt of lightning, sending a shiver down my spine. What had happened to me during that time? And why couldn't I remember anything?

As the doctor tended to my wounds, I felt a sense of unease settle over me, a nagging feeling that something was amiss. It was as if I were being watched by unseen eyes, their gaze piercing through the veil of my consciousness with a chilling intensity.

But try as I might, I could not shake the feeling of disquiet that clung to me like a shadow, whispering secrets that danced just beyond the reach of my understanding.

**(Sukuna's POV)**

From the depths of my domain, I observed the scene unfolding before me with keen interest, my crimson eyes narrowed in silent contemplation. Mato's awakening had not gone unnoticed, and now, as he grappled with the fragments of his shattered memories, I sensed an opportunity—one that I would not allow to slip through my fingers.

With a flicker of will, I forged a connection between us, a tether that bound our consciousnesses together in a delicate dance of power and control. Through Mato's eyes, I saw the world anew, each moment unfolding before me like a tapestry of possibilities waiting to be woven.

But it was not enough. I hungered for more—for knowledge, for power, for the thrill of the chase. And so, as Mato slept, oblivious to the forces that lurked within him, I began to lay the groundwork for our ascent to greatness.

With a surge of cursed energy, I imbued Mato's left eye with a fraction of my own power, transforming it into a conduit through which I could observe and influence the world around us. It was a small gesture, but one that held the promise of untold potential—a glimpse into a future where we would reign supreme.

As the days passed and Mato's body healed, I watched with a sense of grim satisfaction as my influence grew, the tendrils of my power extending ever further into the fabric of his being. With each passing moment, he grew stronger, more resilient, more... like me.

And so, as Mato's eyes blazed with newfound intensity, I knew that our journey was far from over. Together, we would carve a path of destruction and dominance, leaving a trail of chaos in our wake as we ascended to heights of power beyond imagining.

For we were no longer just Mato and Sukuna—we were something greater, something unstoppable. We were the harbinger of a new age, the herald of an era of darkness and despair.

And who dared to stand in our way.