Chapter 41 - Complicated
Cecil Stedman sat across from... Cecil Stedman.
The mirrored image was perfect down to the last detail - same thinning hair, same wire-rimmed glasses, same perpetually exhausted expression that came from decades of managing superhuman crises.
The only difference was the subtle hardness in the eyes of the Cecil from the original timeline - a man who had witnessed the betrayal of Earth's greatest hero and the slaughter of the Guardians of the Globe.
"So," original (canon) Cecil began, his fingers steepled before him, "in your version of events, Nolan never killed the Guardians."
"No," altered (fanfic) Cecil confirmed, leaning back in his chair. "Thanks to Sukuna's intervention."
They sat in the secure conference room deep within the merged GDA headquarters - a strange architectural hybrid that somehow incorporated elements from both their original facilities, creating a building that felt simultaneously familiar and alien to both men.
"And you trust him?" original Cecil asked, skepticism evident in his voice. "After knowing what he was sent here to do?"
Altered Cecil adjusted his glasses. "Trust is a strong word. Let's say I recognize the strategic value of his cooperation. Especially with the Viltrumite Empire's imminent arrival."
Original Cecil's expression darkened. "In my experience, Nolan nearly killed Mark before fleeing Earth. He's been off-world for months."
"Interesting divergence point," altered Cecil noted. "In my experience, Sukuna confronted Nolan in the Flaxan dimension, forcing him to reconsider his mission. The battle between them was... significant."
"This Sukuna," original Cecil said, pulling up footage of the four-armed being on a nearby screen. "He's not in our records. No equivalent exists in our history."
"A unique variable," altered Cecil agreed. "His presence appears to be the primary divergence between our timelines."
The door opened, admitting both versions of Mark and Eve, along with Sukuna, Nolan, and Uraume. The tension in the room immediately spiked as original Mark's eyes locked onto Nolan.
"I still don't understand why he's here," original Mark said through gritted teeth.
"Because we need every resource available," original Cecil replied, his tone making it clear the decision wasn't up for debate. "If dimensional barriers are collapsing across the multiverse, we can't afford to indulge personal grudges."
"Personal grudges?" original Mark repeated incredulously. "He murdered the Guardians! He tried to kill me!" He was still too incredibely traumatised to even contemplate truly trusting his father again - another version of him or not.
"In your experience," altered Mark interjected, stepping between his counterpart and his father. "In mine, he didn't. Because of Megumi."
Original Mark turned his glare to Sukuna. "Right. The mysterious four-armed guy who supposedly stopped Omni-Man. Forgive me if I still find that hard to believe."
"Your disbelief changes nothing," Sukuna replied, his eyes regarding original Mark with detached interest. "Facts remain facts regardless of your emotional response to them."
"Everyone, please," altered Cecil interrupted, raising a hand. "We have more pressing concerns than historical discrepancies."
He gestured to the main display, which showed a map of the merged city with dozens of glowing green points indicating dimensional anomalies. "We're detecting new incursions every few minutes. Most appear to be confused civilians or alternate versions of known individuals, but some are hostile."
"Define hostile," altered Eve asked, moving closer to examine the data.
"We have reports of at least three alternate Invincibles attacking civilians in different parts of the city," original Cecil explained. "Along with what appears to be a version of Battle Beast rampaging through the financial district."
"Another Battle Beast?" altered Mark groaned. "We just finished dealing with one!"
"Actually, I finished dealing with him," Sukuna corrected, his tone matter-of-fact rather than boastful.
Original Cecil's eyes narrowed slightly. "You defeated Battle Beast? Alone?"
"Yes," Sukuna confirmed simply.
Original Cecil exchanged a glance with his counterpart, clearly reassessing the four-armed being's capabilities.
"There's more," altered Cecil continued, changing the display to show surveillance footage from downtown. "We're picking up energy signatures unlike anything we've encountered before.
Three distinct sources, all sharing certain characteristics with Sukuna's energy pattern, but each with unique variations."
The footage showed three figures moving through the chaos of the merged city. Each appeared humanoid but with distinctive characteristics that set them apart from normal humans.
The first moved with predatory grace through a shopping district, his eyes scanning the surroundings with cold interest as civilians fled in terror.
Though he appeared mostly human, there was something fundamentally wrong about his presence, as if reality itself rejected him.
The second strode confidently down a main boulevard, four arms casually swinging at his sides, his traditional Japanese clothing marking him as clearly out of place in the modern setting.
Buildings crumbled in his wake, not from any visible attack but simply from proximity to his overwhelming presence.
The third moved more deliberately, studying his surroundings with analytical precision. This version appeared as a young man with haunted eyes and a face that seemed too burdened for its years.
Though his body was clearly different from the others - leaner, with messy black hair falling across his forehead - the presence within was unmistakable.
He too had a normal set of arms much like the first one and wore modern clothing. But what was most noticeable about him was his more controlled demeanor suggesting a different temperament from the others.
There was something particularly unsettling about this version, a cold calculation behind those dark red eyes that promised methodical destruction rather than chaotic violence.
Sukuna stared at this third version longer than the others, his four eyes narrowing in what might have been recognition or concern.
'Yuta Okkotsu,' he murmured in his mind, the name falling from his lips with a weight that suggested significant history. 'He found a way to possess him after all...'
Sukuna himself wished to possess the body of Yuta rather than Megumi as well - for the Special Grade could copy all Cursed Techniques, the Ten Shadows as well.
But, Sukuna could not find a way to work away the fact the boy was unsuited in body for his soul's poisonous strength.
Apparently, this version of himself somehow managed to find a workaround.
"What are they?" original Mark asked, staring at the footage with growing concern.
"They're me," Sukuna replied, his four eyes narrowing as he studied the images. "Or rather, versions of me from different timelines."
"There are more of you?" original Eve asked unable to keep the alarm from her voice.
Stupid question, she later thought in her mind, since with there being more versions of Mark and herself, more of others is a logical conclusion,
but when it comes to a guy capable of subdueing Omni-Man, the peak of strength in both Mark's and her eyes, with them having to face three of them, the thought was... terrifying.
"It appears so," Sukuna confirmed. "Though each seems to represent a different point in my... evolution."
Altered Eve moved closer to the display, her curiosity evident despite the seriousness of the situation. "The energy signatures are similar but distinct. Like different stages of the same fundamental force."
"This complicates matters," Nolan observed, speaking for the first time since entering the room. "If these versions have even a fraction of Sukuna's capabilities, then they're immense threats."
Both Marks exchanged glances, a shared thought passing between them despite their differences.
"I need to check on my mom," they said in unison, then stared at each other in surprise.
"I should come with you," Nolan said, rising from his seat. "Debbie might be-"
"No," original Mark said firmly, placing a hand against Nolan's chest to stop him. "There are probably two versions of my mom now, and you can do whatever you want with your wife, but you stay away from my mom.
Don't speak to her. Don't even be in the same room as her. She's dealt with enough grief because of you."
A flash of pain crossed Nolan's face before he quickly masked it with a neutral expression. "I understand," he said quietly, stepping back.
Altered Mark looked between them uncomfortably. "We should go," he said to his counterpart. "The sooner we make sure they're safe, the sooner we can deal with... everything else."
As the two Marks prepared to leave, Nolan nodded once to his son - the one from his timeline - before turning away, his shoulders carrying a weight that hadn't been there moments before.
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Sukuna's attention remained fixed on the display, particularly on the image of the version possessing Itadori Yuji.
"I'm going to handle that one," he stated, the decision already made.
"I'm coming with you, " altered Eve -
"I'll get things ready Sukuna-sama" and Uraume stated at the same time, immediately, moving to his side.
Sukuna shook his head. "No. This is something I must do alone." his tone brooking no argument.
"But-" Eve began, while Uraume herself retreated, understanding when her master has made up his mind.
"You should test your new capabilities," he interrupted, his tone softening slightly as he regarded her. "Discover your limits before engaging in combat. It would be tactically advantageous."
Eve hesitated, clearly wanting to argue but recognizing the logic in his words. "Fine," she conceded reluctantly. "But be careful."
Sukuna's lips curved in a slight smile. "Always." while as he left he gently put his hand on Uraume's head and ruffled her hair slightly, causing her eyes to widen in surprise as she looked up - but Sukuna had already passed her.
As he walked toward the door, his thoughts turned to the vessel his alternate self had chosen - Itadori Yuji, the boy whose very existence he had once despised with every fiber of his being.
Now, confronted with the possibility of facing him directly, Sukuna found his feelings unexpectedly complicated.
He didn't know what he wanted from this encounter, but he knew he needed to face this version of himself. To speak with the boy. And ultimately, to destroy his other self.
After all, the heavens and earth were too small to contain more than one King.
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(Author note: Hello everyone! I hope you all enjoyed the Chapter!
Sorry if this Chapter wasn't as long or as good as the others. I'm kinda tired right now.
But! Do tell, you guys understand now why the third is the most dangerous?
I'm very excited to write Sukuna fight Yukuna.
It's basically the philosophy of physical strength versus pure Jujutsu all over again - since now our Sukuna has focused more on gaining pure strength with Smart atoms,
while that Sukuna has leaned more towards Jujutsu with having a vessel that can copy endless amount of techniques.
Well, I hope to see you all later,
Bye!)