"There are two kinds of power. The kind that demands loyalty through fear... and the kind that inspires it through will. Yuji chose the second. Sukuna never understood it—until now."
🏰 Scene 1 — The Announcement
The Occult Research Club gathered around their usual table, but the air today crackled with tension. Rias stood at the head, her crimson hair glowing in the afternoon light.
"Yuji," she said firmly, "you've fought beside us. Risked your life. But if you truly want to be part of this peerage—even unofficially—you must face the Peerage Trial."
Yuji blinked.
"A test?"
"A trial," Akeno corrected. "One passed only by those strong enough… and trusted enough."
"You'll fight in front of nobles. Scholars. Even beings from other factions will be watching."
Kiba added with a smirk,
"And devils can be… judgmental."
Yuji rubbed the back of his neck.
"I've faced death gods, curses, and a walking volcano. I guess one more trial won't kill me."
"Hopefully not," Koneko muttered.
🔥 Scene 2 — The Arena of Judgment
The following evening, Yuji stood in the center of a colossal underground arena, hidden beneath Kuoh's sacred ground. Glowing crimson glyphs lined the circular stage, and balconies above swelled with devils in dark cloaks.
Even from afar, Yuji could feel eyes on him. Some curious. Some hostile.
Rias stood behind him with her peerage at her side.
"Don't worry," she whispered. "You just need to prove who you are."
"No pressure," Yuji muttered.
From across the arena, a tall male devil stepped forward. Black uniform. Arrogant smirk. Green eyes burning with challenge.
"My name is Vael. Heir of the Zepar family. Your opponent."
Yuji frowned.
"This isn't a spar, is it?"
"No," Rias said quietly. "It's a message. They're testing your right to stand beside me."
"Typical politics," Sukuna whispered in his mind. "Time to remind them why I don't play politics."
⚔️ Scene 3 — The First Clash
The trial began.
Vael struck fast — a blade formed of demonic energy in each hand, slicing through the air. Yuji dodged with fluid ease, his body moving on instinct honed through battles against cursed spirits.
He blocked with his forearms, ducked, spun low, and delivered a punch that cracked the ground.
The watching devils murmured.
"He's fast—""No magic?""What is this technique?"
"It's called being built different," Issei muttered proudly.
Yuji kicked upward and sent Vael flying, but the noble devil caught himself midair with wings of shadow.
"Not bad, monkey," Vael sneered. "But let's see how you do against this."
He unleashed a wave of black flame that scorched the stage.
Yuji ran through it.
Ran through it.
The flames wrapped around him—and burned out before touching him.
The crowd gasped.
"He purified the spell with raw cursed energy?" A scholar devil whispered.
"Not cursed energy," Akeno said, smiling. "Yuji."
🧠 Scene 4 — More Than Power
After the third exchange, Vael backed away, panting.
"What are you?" he snapped.
Yuji didn't answer.
He lowered his fists.
"I didn't come here to prove anything to you," he said. "I came because someone offered me a place. And I want to protect that place."
Silence fell across the arena.
Even devils, it seemed, could recognize conviction.
👼 Scene 5 — Divine Interruption
Then… a ripple.
Not of cursed energy. Not demonic aura.
But grace.
Above the arena, a golden rift tore through the sky, and a figure descended — wings of light folded behind him.
A Grigori. A Watcher.
Yuji tensed as the being hovered above them, eyes glowing with knowledge and power.
"Fascinating," the Watcher said. "The soul of a cursed vessel… entwined with something ancient. He is not of this world."
Rias stepped forward.
"This is a devil's trial. Leave."
"Not when a threat of this magnitude appears on your soil."
"He's not a threat," Akeno snapped. "He's a protector."
"He is bonded to the King of Curses," the angel hissed.
Yuji stepped forward.
"I've fought curses. I know what I am. But if you think I'm going to stand down just because I scare you—"
The angel raised his hand.
"Then be unmade."
And then…
The world screamed.
😈 Scene 6 — Sukuna's Wrath
Before the angel's light could fire, the arena darkened. A pressure slammed down, so heavy the crowd staggered.
From Yuji's side, Sukuna erupted in full form, tattoos glowing, four eyes burning like hellfire.
"You. Pointed. That. At. Him."
The angel froze.
Sukuna's voice shook the earth.
"You think divine light scares me? I was slaughtering priests before your wings grew in."
He stepped forward.
"One more move toward him… and I'll show you what divine dismemberment looks like."
The angel backed away.
Then vanished in a burst of feathers.
Silence reigned.
Even the devils watched Sukuna with awe.
🧠 Scene 7 — Earning the Peerage's Faith
After Sukuna faded, Yuji turned back to the arena.
Rias stepped toward him, the trial forgotten.
"You stood your ground against a noble, a Grigori… and your own demon."
She smiled softly.
"And you still chose restraint."
Akeno grinned.
"You're terrifying. But in a good way."
Kiba nodded.
"You fight like someone who's already lost too much… and refuses to lose again."
Koneko looked up at him.
"You can sit beside me anytime."
Even Issei raised a fist.
"Bro. I've officially got a man crush."
Yuji laughed, rubbing his neck.
"You're all weird."
"You're one of us now," Rias said. "We're all weird."
🌌 Scene 8 — The King and His Vessel
That night, as Yuji sat alone outside the arena, Sukuna appeared beside him again.
"You didn't need me," Sukuna said. "But I'm glad I came."
Yuji smiled faintly.
"You saved me."
"You saved yourself. I just… added flair."
Yuji chuckled.
"Think they'll trust me now?"
"They already do. The question is—do you trust yourself to stay?"
Yuji looked at his hands.
"Maybe I'm starting to."
"Good," Sukuna said. "Because this world is watching now. And next time…"
He turned to the sky.
"It won't be just angels."