The Great Pyramid of Giza, ancient monument to human ambition, stood silent under the moonless night.
To the tourists who had departed hours ago, it was merely a wonder of the ancient world. But beneath its weathered stones, in a chamber undiscovered by modern archaeology, darkness stirred.
Not the simple absence of light, but darkness with purpose - darknesses with minds of their own.
The chamber walls bore hieroglyphs that shifted and changed when not directly observed, rearranging themselves into patterns that would drive human minds to madness.
The air hung heavy with cursed energy so dense it manifested as a visible miasma, swirling with colors that had no names in human language.
At the center of this impossible space stood seven figures arranged in a loose circle, each emanating their own distinct aura.
The Seven Deadly Sins - not yet fully formed, but conscious enough to recognize their peril.
Pride stood at what might be considered the head of the gathering.
Unlike the others, his form had achieved near-completion - a tall, elegantly proportioned figure with golden eyes that gleamed with absolute self-assurance.
His features were classically beautiful, yet constantly shifting subtly, as if unable to settle on a single ideal form.
"They possibly have already sensed our awakening," Pride declared, admiring his own reflection in a polished obsidian surface as he spoke.
"The Observer's Six Eyes detected the ripples of our formation in Kyoto. The Sovereign's taming of the Divine General was a direct response to our stirring. Our mere existence threatens them, as it should."
"You assume too much!" Wrath exploded, his crimson-tinged form pulsing violently as his fist smashed into a nearby column, sending cracks through ancient stone.
"I HATE your constant self-importance! The Sons of Heaven have their own agenda. Not everything revolves around YOU!"
"Of course it does," Pride responded with a dismissive wave, pausing to examine his perfect nails.
"Our emergence represents the next evolutionary step for cursed spirits. We are the concentrated essence of humanity's oldest sins, refined and perfected over millennia. They recognize the threat we pose. How could they not? We are magnificent."
Lust, a figure of impossible beauty whose gender and features shifted with each observer's desires, primarily preferring and - and as such - settling herself into a female form as she slid closer to Pride, running ethereal fingers along his arm.
"Mmm, threat? We're barely coherent, darling. Fragments held together by will and ancient curses."
"If either Son of Heaven found us now, they'd mhhmm... violate us." She stated the last part in a tone akin to almost wanting it to happen.
"We'd be extinguished before we could even scream... though the intensity might almost be worth it."
"Which is precisely why I've called this gathering," Pride declared, delicately removing Lust's hand from his arm. "We need protection while we complete our formation. We need allies."
Sloth stirred from what appeared to be a half-conscious state, its amorphous form rippling with reluctant attention. "Too... much... effort," it murmured, voice thick with disinterest, already sinking back into torpor. "Hide... wait... grow... why rush... anything..."
"Hiding is insufficient," Pride countered sharply, his perfect features momentarily marred by annoyance.
"The Observer's sight grows more penetrating by the day. The Sovereign extends his influence across continents. We need active protection, not passive concealment."
From the shadows at the chamber's edge, three more figures emerged - larger, more defined, yet still bearing the unmistakable marks of incompletion.
Jogo's volcanic head smoldered with barely contained fury as he stepped forward. "The Seven Sins speak of fear, yet call us for aid? Interesting."
His one eye narrowed, glowing with internal heat. "We Curses born from nature have existed far longer, grown far stronger. Why should we risk ourselves for your protection?"
"Because our interests align," Pride replied smoothly, giving Jogo an appraising look. "You seek the ascendance of curses over humans."
"We represent the purest distillation of human darkness - the perfect bridge between worlds. Together, we could accelerate the evolution you so fervently desire."
Hanami moved with ponderous grace, flowers blooming and withering across their bark-like skin. "Evolution... comes at its own pace," they intoned. "Forcing... growth... leads to... weakness."
"Not forcing," Pride corrected, admiring his reflection once more. "Cultivating. Directing. The Sons of Heaven have altered the natural order. Curses evolve faster in response to their presence. We must adapt to survive."
Dagon shifted nervously, his octopus-like features glistening with moisture. "The S-Sons of Heaven are too powerful," he stuttered, then immediately puffed himself up as if compensating. "Even in my domain, their techniques would be... challenging to counter."
"Which is why we need something more," Pride declared, turning toward the darkest corner of the chamber. "Something ancient. Something even the Sons of Heaven would hesitate to face directly."
The darkness deepened, coalescing into a form that seemed to absorb light rather than simply block it.
An old man stepped forward, leaning on a wooden staff that occasionally flickered into the form of a scythe. His eyes were bottomless wells of night sky, ancient beyond comprehension.
"Well, ain't this a fancy meetin'," Death - The Pale Horseman - drawled, his gravelly voice filled with crude amusement.
"Seven baby sins and three disaster brats, all huddle'd up scared of them Heaven boys. Makes an old reaper feel right special to be invited."
Pride inclined his head with calculated respect. "The Eternal One. Your presence honors us."
"Cut the flowery bullshit," Death snorted, scratching his beard. "I know what you want. Protection from them Sons of Heaven while you finish cookin'. Problem is, I ain't in the business of babysittin'."
"Not babysitting," Pride corrected smoothly. "Strategic alliance. You alone among the Horsemen have fully reformed. War, Famine, and Pestilence remain scattered, still gathering their essence. Like us, you need time."
Death's eyes narrowed, stars twinkling in their depths. "You presumin' to know what I need, boy?"
"I been around since the first critter looked at another and thought 'I'm gonna outlive ya.' I've watched gods rise and fall. Never died once. Can't say the same for you lot, can ya?"
The sins and disaster curses shifted uncomfortably, none possessing memories of their previous existences.
"And yet Sukuna defeated you," Pride stated boldly. "As he defeated us all, apparently. Now his vessel stirs, and the Second and Third Sons of Heaven walk the earth simultaneously. Even you must recognize the unprecedented nature of this convergence."
Death was silent for a moment, his ancient eyes studying each figure in the chamber. "You ain't wrong about that," he finally admitted. "Three Sons of Heaven at once... ain't natural. Throws the whole balance outta whack."
Gluttony, a grotesquely distended figure whose mouth seemed to occupy most of its still-forming face, lurched forward hungrily. "Then you'll help us? Shield us while we grow stronger? Give us more... more... MORE time to feed and develop?"
"Didn't say that," Death replied, leaning on his staff. "Just agreein' with your assessment. Situation's unusual. Don't mean I'm jumpin' into your little conspiracy."
Envy, a shifting green-tinged shadow whose eyes constantly darted between the other beings, measuring and comparing, spoke in a bitter whisper.
"He has what we don't... power... form... confidence... knowledge... why should he share with us? He's always had everything while we've had nothing... nothing..."
"Because of what's coming," Pride answered, addressing Death directly rather than responding to Envy. "You feel it too - the stirring. The Cleaver of Worlds awakens. His vessel grows stronger each day. When he fully returns, he will remember those who opposed him before."
Death's weathered face remained impassive, but something flickered in the starry depths of his eyes. "Sukuna," he murmured, the name carrying weight even in this gathering of horrors. "Yeah, that bastard's comin' back alright. Felt it in my bones. Ain't forgotten our last dance, neither."
"And when he does," Pride continued, pressing his advantage, "he will seek to establish dominance immediately. With two other Sons of Heaven present, the conflict will be... unprecedented."
"Catastrophic," Greed interjected, its form a constantly shifting mass of grasping hands and acquisitive eyes. "Glorious destruction. Opportunity. Resources for the taking. Powers to acquire. Techniques to steal. Everything will be up for grabs... all mine... mine..."
Death chuckled, a sound like dry leaves crumbling. "You think I'm scared of a little conflict? Death thrives in chaos, kids. Why would I want to prevent it?"
"Not prevent," Pride clarified. "Position. When these titans clash, the world will reshape itself. Those who have prepared will claim their rightful place in the new order. Those who haven't..."
He left the statement hanging, the implication clear.
Jogo stepped forward, volcanic heat radiating from his form. "The disaster curses have already begun positioning ourselves. Humans are merely the chrysalis from which we, the true form, the true humans will emerge!"
"The conflict between the Sons of Heaven will create the perfect conditions for our ascension!"
"Pretty speeches," Death snorted. "But you still ain't said what exactly you want from me, other than 'protection,' which is mighty vague."
Pride's golden eyes gleamed with calculation. "Simple. We need time to fully form. The Observer must not locate us before we're ready. The Sovereign must not turn his attention to our emergence until we can defend ourselves."
"Your presence... discourages direct intervention."
"You want me to be your scarecrow," Death translated, barking a laugh. "Stand around lookin' menacin' so them Heaven boys don't come peckin' at your tender little seeds."
"A crude analogy," Pride acknowledged with the barest hint of distaste, "but essentially correct."
Death scratched his beard thoughtfully. "And what do I get outta this arrangement? Ain't in the habit of doin' charity work."
"Information," Pride replied immediately. "We have agents among humans, vessels through which we observe and influence. We can provide intelligence about the Sons of Heaven's movements, their plans, their weaknesses."
"I got my own sources," Death dismissed. "Try again."
"Territory," Pride offered. "When we fully manifest, we will claim domains across the world. We would acknowledge your... primacy in areas of your choosing."
Death's laughter was genuine this time, echoing through the ancient chamber. "Territory? Boy, I walk where I please. Been doin' it since before continents had their current shapes. Try again, and make it worth my while this time."
Pride's perfect composure slipped for the first time, a flash of irritation crossing his features before he mastered it. "What do you want, then?"
Death leaned forward, his eyes suddenly intense. "Knowledge. Been collectin' it for eons. Only thing besides me that's immortal, y'see. I want to know what happened to Mahoraga.
That ol' boy and me, we used to have conversations back before Heaven locked his mind away, made him their puppet."
"Sealed away his personality, his memories... everything that made him more than just a weapon."
His voice grew bitter, ancient grudge evident in every syllable. "Heaven did that to him, and I ain't never forgiven 'em for it. Now I hear the Divine General rebelled during that taming ritual with the Sovereign."
"Broke Heaven's chains for a bit before they put 'em back on. I want to know exactly what happened. And you young bloods seem more in tune with the new sky."
The chamber fell silent. Death wasn't just asking for alliance - he was seeking information about a being he had apparently once considered... a friend?
"Done," Pride declared after a calculated pause. "When we rise, your position will be acknowledged formally. And you'll have your information about the Divine General."
Death studied him for a long moment, stars wheeling in his eyes. "Information first. Then we'll see about the rest."
Before Pride could respond, the chamber's atmosphere shifted.
The cursed energy that had hung like mist suddenly swirled with new purpose, coalescing into a vague humanoid shape near the entrance.
Not fully formed, barely more than an outline, but undeniably present.
"War," Death acknowledged, nodding to the manifestation. "Didn't expect to see you so soon."
The figure of War flickered, her form still too insubstantial to maintain consistency.
Her blood-red hair moved like liquid, occasionally forming shapes of weapons before dissolving back into vague outline.
When she spoke, her voice carried the distant echo of battlefield drums.
"The Crimson General... returns... not at full strength... but enough to warn," she managed, her words coming with evident effort.
"They move... faster than anticipated. The Sovereign prepares... demonstration. The Observer watches... patterns shifting."
"What demonstration?" Pride demanded, his composure cracking further. "Where? When?"
War's form flickered more intensely, struggling to maintain cohesion. "International... gathering. All major... jujutsu nations. The Sovereign will... reveal something. Something that will... change... alignments."
"When?" Pride repeated, more urgently.
"Three days," War replied, her form beginning to dissolve. "Cannot... maintain... this form. Too soon... need more... conflict to sustain..."
With that, her manifestation scattered like mist, leaving only a faint trace of crimson energy that quickly faded.
Death turned back to the gathering, his ancient eyes narrowed. "Well now, that changes things, don't it? Three days ain't much time for plannin'."
"We need to act!" Jogo declared, his volcanic head flaring with fresh heat. "If the Sovereign is consolidating international support, our window for preparation narrows! We are the true humans! We cannot allow him to strengthen his position!"
"Act how?" Dagon countered, his fish-like features contorting with anxiety. "We're not ready to c-confront them directly! Even in my domain, I couldn't-"
"Nobody's suggestin' direct confrontation, fish-face," Death interrupted. "That'd be suicide for you brats, and I ain't in the business of wastin' existences. What we need is information - exactly what this demonstration is, who'll be there, and what it means for our plans."
Pride nodded, regaining his composure. "I have vessels in position who can observe the gathering. Human sorcerers whose pride has made them susceptible to my influence. They'll report what they witness."
"Not enough," Death stated flatly. "We need someone inside. Someone who can get close to the Sons of Heaven themselves."
Hanami stirred, their ponderous voice rumbling through the chamber. "I have... roots... in many places. Eyes... that see... without being seen."
"Plants don't got ears, tree-hugger," Death retorted. "We need someone who can understand what they're hearin', not just see pretty pictures."
Lust shifted, their form momentarily stabilizing into something more human than before - beautiful beyond measure, yet carrying an aura of dangerous allure.
"I have vessels in the diplomatic corps," they purred, running hands over their own body suggestively.
"Humans whose desires have made them... receptive to my guidance. They'll be at the gathering, seeking satisfaction, craving connection... desperate for touch..."
"Better," Death acknowledged, ignoring Lust's display. "But still not ideal. Diplomats don't get close to the inner circle."
"I have someone," Greed offered unexpectedly, its mass of grasping hands momentarily stilling. "A vessel whose ambition has opened them completely to my influence. Someone with access to the Sovereign's inner circle. Mine. All mine. My perfect tool."
Pride turned, genuine surprise flickering across his perfect features. "You've never mentioned this vessel before."
"Of course not," Greed replied, eyes blinking across its amorphous form. "The most valuable assets are those kept hidden until needed."
"This vessel has been cultivated carefully, positioned precisely. They believe their ambitions are their own, never suspecting my guidance. My secret. My treasure."
Death's eyes narrowed with new interest. "Close enough to hear what matters? To see what's really happenin', not just the public show?"
"Close enough," Greed confirmed, a note of satisfaction in its voice. "And hungry enough for advancement that they'll take risks others wouldn't dare. Always wanting more. Never satisfied. Perfect."
"Then we have our spy," Death declared. "But we need contingencies too. Whatever this demonstration is, it's meant to consolidate the Sovereign's position. We might need to... complicate things."
"Sabotage?" Jogo asked, his eye gleaming with eager anticipation. "Destroy their plans? Burn their structures to ash?"
"Subtle interference," Death corrected. "Nothin' that points back to us. Just enough to ensure the demonstration doesn't go exactly as planned."
Pride considered this, then nodded slowly. "Wrath and Envy could work through their vessels to create small disruptions. Nothing dramatic - just enough to introduce an element of uncertainty."
"And what of the Observer?" Hanami questioned, flowers blooming and withering across their bark-like skin. "His Six Eyes... see much. Too much."
"The Observer will be focused on the demonstration itself," Pride replied confidently, admiring his reflection once more. "And on the international representatives. His attention will be divided, creating blind spots we can exploit."
Death scratched his beard thoughtfully. "Might work. Might not. Either way, I've made my decision." He straightened, suddenly seeming taller, more imposing despite his aged appearance.
"I'll give you your scarecrow act. Keep them Heaven boys from lookin' too close while you finish cookin'. But-" his eyes hardened, stars dimming within their depths,
"-I expect regular updates. And that information about anything you can find out about Mahoraga. You can move easier to places where there is no death. No secrets between allies. Clear?"
"Crystal," Pride agreed, inclining his head in a gesture that managed to convey respect while maintaining his inherent sense of superiority.
"Then we have an alliance," Death declared, his staff briefly shifting into a scythe before returning to its innocuous form. "Gods help us all."
The gathering shifted, each entity moving to its assigned task. Pride remained at the center, issuing instructions in low, authoritative tones.
Jogo and the other Disaster Curses formed their own huddle, clearly planning their own parallel operations.
Death watched them all with ancient eyes that had seen civilizations rise and fall.
These beings thought themselves the architects of a new order, but he had witnessed countless "new orders" throughout history.
The wheel turned, the players changed, but the game remained fundamentally the same.
Still, something was different this time. Three Sons of Heaven walking the earth simultaneously. The ancient balance shifting in ways unprecedented even in his long existence.
As the others dispersed, Death remained in the chamber, his weathered hand tightening around his staff. "Interesting times," he murmured to himself, stars wheeling in his eyes. "Interesting times indeed."
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(Author note: I'm back! See, this isn't dropped. Was planning everything cause well - Indra and Satoru are just so damn powerful, I needed to think how to continue the story.
Well, I hope you all are liking the direction where this is going.
Though do tell me who you think Greed is talking about that is close to Indra and where Mahito is.
For Mahito, just remember what he exactly is and that should give you an understanding.
Well, I hope to see you all later,
Bye!)