What Remains

The sun rose over a changed world. The green dimensional energy that had rippled across the sky for days was gone, leaving only the familiar blue of Earth's atmosphere.

But the scars of what had happened remained - in the landscape, in the memories, and in the hearts of those left behind.

Original Mark flew alongside Nolan and original Eve, their path taking them back to the GDA facility. The devastated commercial district fell away behind them, giving way to suburbs and then the government sector where the facility stood.

None of them spoke. What was there to say? Their counterparts - alternate Mark, alternate Eve, and Sukuna - were gone, pulled through a dimensional portal into the Emperor's reality. The victory of reversing the merger felt hollow in the face of such a loss.

"We'll find them," Mark said, breaking the silence as they approached the GDA building. "Whatever it takes."

Eve nodded, her scientific mind already cataloging possibilities. "If dimensional travel happened once, it can happen again. We just need to understand the mechanics."

"It won't be easy, Mark" Nolan cautioned, his expression grim - having lost his own son, and the boy who despite his attempts at distance had begun to see as his son as well.

"The Emperor's reality could be anywhere in the multiverse. Finding one specific dimension among infinite possibilities..."

"We'll find it," Mark insisted, his jaw set with determination. "We have to."

As they descended toward the GDA facility, Mark noticed something wrong. The building's security perimeter had been breached, with sections of the outer wall torn away as if by immense force.

"Something's happened," he warned, accelerating toward the damage.

They landed in what had once been the facility's main entrance, now a gaping hole surrounded by twisted metal and shattered concrete. Inside, alarm lights flashed silently, the accompanying sirens disabled.

"Be careful," Nolan advised, taking point as they moved deeper into the facility. "Whatever did this could still be here."

They found the first signs of resistance in the main corridor - GDA agents unconscious but alive, scattered across the floor like discarded toys. Medical staff were already tending to them, moving with the practiced efficiency of people accustomed to crisis.

"What happened here?" Mark demanded, helping a dazed agent to her feet.

"Something... someone broke in," the agent managed, blood trickling from a cut on her forehead. "Tore through our defenses like they were paper. Headed straight for the lower levels."

"The containment areas," Eve realized. "Where they were keeping Battle Beast's body."

Mark's expression darkened. "Let's go."

They moved quickly through the facility, following the path of destruction. Each level showed signs of a powerful being's passage - walls punctured, security doors torn from their hinges, more injured but mercifully alive personnel.

On the fifth sublevel, they found both Cecils coordinating a response team, their identical expressions of controlled concern almost comical despite the situation.

"Mark," original Cecil acknowledged, relief evident in his voice. "You're back. The merger-"

"Reversed," Mark confirmed. "But our counterparts were pulled through to the Emperor's dimension. What happened here?"

"We're still assessing," altered Cecil replied, gesturing toward the monitoring stations where technicians worked frantically. "Something breached our perimeter approximately forty-seven minutes ago. It moved too fast for our cameras to track clearly."

"Uraume and the Itadori boy are checking the lower levels," original Cecil added. "We believe the intruder was headed for-"

A deafening roar interrupted him, the sound reverberating through the facility with enough force to shake dust from the ceiling.

"The morgue," both Cecils said in unison.

Mark didn't wait. He shot down the corridor, following the sound with Eve and Nolan close behind. They descended two more levels, the roars growing louder, now accompanied by crashes and the sound of metal tearing.

They burst into the morgue antechamber to find Uraume maintaining an ice barrier around the entrance to the main chamber, her expression strained as she fought to contain whatever was inside.

"It arrived minutes ago," she explained, ice crystals forming in the air around her as she reinforced the barrier. "Broke through all defenses like they weren't there."

"What is it?" Mark demanded, preparing himself for combat.

Uraume's expression was grim. "Battle Beast. But not the one that died here."

"Another variant?" Eve asked, her powers flaring in preparation.

"No," Yuji Itadori said, emerging from a side corridor. Though still weakened from his ordeal with Shibuya Sukuna, the young man stood tall, his eyes reflecting a determination that belied his exhausted appearance. "It's your world's one. The one from your timeline."

As if to confirm his words, another roar shook the facility, followed by the sound of Uraume's ice barrier shattering. The doors to the morgue blew outward, and through the cloud of ice and debris emerged a figure they all recognized.

Battle Beast stood in the doorway, his massive frame silhouetted against the morgue's emergency lighting.

Blood - not his own - covered his muzzle and chest, dripping onto the floor in a steady rhythm. In his hands, he held what appeared to be a half-eaten arm, the flesh torn and ragged where his teeth had ripped through muscle and bone.

For a moment, no one moved. Then Battle Beast's eyes focused on them, recognition and something like shame flickering across his bestial features.

With a roar that seemed more frustration than rage, he hurled the arm aside and charged, not at them but at the wall beside them. The reinforced concrete crumbled under his assault, creating a new exit that he immediately used, disappearing into the depths of the facility.

"After him!" original Cecil ordered through their communicators. "Containment teams to sublevel seven!"

Mark was already moving, flying through the hole Battle Beast had created. The others followed, tracking the alien warrior through his path of destruction.

They found him in a large storage area, surrounded by the remains of security drones that had attempted to stop him. He stood with his back to a wall, chest heaving, eyes darting between the various entrances as if expecting an attack from all sides.

"Battle Beast," Nolan called out, his voice carrying both authority and caution. "Stand down. We don't want to fight you."

The alien warrior's eyes fixed on Nolan, recognition dawning. "Omni-Man," he growled, his voice rougher than they remembered. "You live. Good. A worthy opponent should not fall to mere dimensional chaos."

"What were you doing in the morgue?" Mark demanded, hovering cautiously out of immediate reach.

Battle Beast's expression shifted, something like embarrassment crossing his features before hardening back into its usual fierce mask. "What I had to do," he replied cryptically.

"You were eating the other Battle Beast's remains," Eve stated, her understanding cutting through to the heart of the matter. "Why?"

For a moment, it seemed Battle Beast might attack her for the directness of the question. Then, surprisingly, he laughed - a harsh, barking sound that held little humor.

"Instinct," he admitted, wiping blood from his muzzle with the back of his hand. "When the green light in the sky began to intensify before it began to fade, I felt... compelled. Driven by something beyond conscious thought. I had to find my other self. Had to consume what remained."

"But why?" Yuji asked, stepping forward despite the danger. Unlike the others, who maintained combat readiness, the young man approached Battle Beast directly, showing no fear despite the alien's blood-covered appearance.

Battle Beast studied him, perhaps sensing something different in this human who had once housed a being of immense power. "To survive," he said simply. "When dimensions merge, duplicates cannot exist side by side indefinitely. One must prevail. One must... continue. My primal instincts... overcame me."

"By consuming your counterpart," Eve realized, her scientific mind racing ahead. "You ensured it would be you who survived the merger's aftermath."

"Yes," Battle Beast confirmed. "Though the merger has been reversed, its effects linger. Those who consumed their counterparts have... evolved. Grown stronger."

He flexed his massive arms, and they all noticed what they hadn't before - his musculature seemed denser, more defined. His presence more imposing, his energy signature subtly altered.

"I have absorbed his strength," Battle Beast continued. "His experiences. His... death." He looked directly at Nolan. "I remember fighting the four-armed one. Being defeated with honor. Though it was not me, I carry the memory now as if it were."

Nolan's expression darkened with sudden understanding. "If this happened to the Viltrumites too..."

"It would explain how strong Conquest was," Mark finished, the implications dawning on him. "He must have found and consumed his counterpart during the merger."

"And if Thragg did the same..." Eve began.

"Then the Grand Regent of the Viltrumite Empire is now twice as powerful as before, maybe even more," Nolan concluded grimly. 

Battle Beast snorted, the sound somewhere between dismissal and anticipation. "More worthy opponents. Good."

"Is that all you think about? Fighting?" Mark demanded, frustration coloring his voice. "People are dead. Our friends are trapped in another dimension. The world is still recovering from what just happened."

Battle Beast regarded him with something almost like pity. "Young Viltrumite, you still do not understand. Battle is life. Challenge is purpose. Without these, existence is meaningless."

"There's more to life than fighting," Yuji said quietly, drawing Battle Beast's attention once more.

The alien warrior studied him, his expression thoughtful. "Perhaps," he conceded after a moment. "But it is what I know. What I am."

"So what now?" Eve asked, her powers still at the ready despite the apparent de-escalation of the situation. "Are you here to challenge us? To fight?"

Battle Beast's laugh was genuine this time. "No, pink one. I am here to protect."

This declaration surprised everyone, Mark most of all. "Protect? Since when do you protect anything?"

"Since I consumed the memories of my other self," Battle Beast replied. "Since I felt his respect for the four-armed one who defeated him with honor. Since I understood what is coming."

"And what's that?" Nolan asked carefully.

Battle Beast's expression turned serious. "Viltrumites will come. More and more, drawn to this world by reports of dimensional anomalies, by stories of beings who could challenge even their might. They will come seeking conquest, seeking to finish what was started."

He straightened to his full height, his bearing suddenly regal despite the blood still drying on his fur. "Until the four-armed one returns, I will stand as this world's guardian. For two reasons."

He held up one clawed finger. "First, Viltrumites make worthy opponents. The battles will be glorious."

A second finger joined the first. "Second, I am grateful to the one called Sukuna for giving my other self an honorable death. Counterpart or not, I remember it. I respect it. And I will honor it by protecting what he valued."

The declaration hung in the air, unexpected and profound from a being they had only ever known as a ruthless gladiator, a creature of pure combat.

"How do we know we can trust you?" Mark asked, still suspicious.

Battle Beast's smile was all fangs. "You don't. But consider this, young Viltrumite - if I wanted to kill you, would we still be talking?"

Nolan placed a hand on Mark's shoulder. "He's right, Mark. If he wanted to kill us, then this talk would have been much shorter and a lot more violent."

For a long moment, no one spoke. Then both Cecils arrived, accompanied by security teams that immediately took up defensive positions around the perimeter.

"Stand down," original Cecil ordered after assessing the situation. "Maintain distance but hold your fire."

"So," altered Cecil said, addressing Battle Beast directly. "You're offering your services as Earth's defender?"

"Not Earth," Battle Beast corrected. "The four-armed one's interests. Until he returns."

"And if he doesn't?" original Cecil pressed.

Battle Beast's expression darkened. "He will. And until then, I will fight what comes. It is... payment of a debt."

The Cecils exchanged glances, a silent communication passing between them. "We'll need to discuss this," original Cecil said finally. "Arrangements would have to be made. Parameters established."

"Discuss all you wish," Battle Beast replied dismissively. "I will be here when the Viltrumites come. Whether you approve or not."

With that, he strode forward, the security teams parting before him like water around a stone. No one moved to stop him as he made his way toward the exit.

"Where are you going?" Mark called after him.

Battle Beast paused, glancing back over his massive shoulder. "To prepare. To hunt. To wait." A predatory smile spread across his bloodstained muzzle. "The Viltrumites will come soon enough. And when they do, I will be ready."

He continued on, his heavy footsteps echoing down the corridor until they faded into silence.

"Well," original Cecil said dryly, "that was unexpected."

"Can we trust him?" Mark asked, looking to Nolan for guidance.

His father's expression was thoughtful. "Battle Beast lives by a strict code of honor. If he says he'll defend Earth in Sukuna's absence, I believe him. Whether his methods will align with our preferences is another matter entirely."

"We should keep tabs on him regardless," altered Cecil decided. "But having a being of his caliber as an ally, even temporarily, could prove valuable in the coming days."

"Speaking of coming days," Eve interjected, "we need to focus on finding a way to reach the Emperor's dimension. To bring back our friends."

"Agreed," both Cecils said in unison.

As the group began to disperse, Yuji spoke up.

"I'm going after Battle Beast," he announced, his voice carrying the same unwavering resolve that had once helped him resist Sukuna's influence.

Everyone turned to look at the young man, surprise evident on their faces.

"That's not advisable," original Cecil responded, his tone carrying that bureaucratic caution that defined his character. "We have sophisticated tracking systems designed for precisely this purpose. No need to endanger yourself unnecessarily."

Yuji shook his head, that familiar stubborn set to his jaw taking a formal tone and wording - gained from sharing memories with Sukuna for a time. "With all respect, sir, cameras and fancy tech won't cut it with someone like him.

He'll just smash them if he doesn't want to be watched." His eyes followed the path of destruction. "Besides, I get him in a way you guys might not."

"How exactly do you figure that?" Mark asked, his voice carrying that mixture of skepticism and genuine curiosity.

Yuji's expression softened, his hand unconsciously moving to his chest where Sukuna's fingers had once been sealed. "I had someone inside me who saw the world as nothing but a playground for the strong. Who measured everything by power and dominance.

But even Sukuna had moments of... respect. Honor for worthy opponents. Battle Beast has that same code."

"It's still dangerous, " Nolan cautioned, "He's unpredictable - with his new memories and enhanced strengh even more than normal."

"That's exactly why someone should be there," Yuji insisted, that passionate conviction rising in his voice – the same quality that had once made him declare he wanted a 'proper death.'

"Not to control him – I don't think anyone can – but to understand him. To help him see the line between protecting and destroying." A slight smile crossed his face. "Plus, I'm probably the only one here he won't immediately try to pulverize if I annoy him."

Eve studied him with that analytical gaze of hers. "Your hypothesis is that your connection to Sukuna grants you some form of immunity?"

"Partly," Yuji nodded. "But mostly because I'm not a threat or a challenge to him. Just a regular guy trying to do the right thing."

His expression hardened. "And right now, the right thing is making sure our new... ally... doesn't cause more destruction than protection while guarding what Sukuna valued."

Uraume, who had maintained her typical stoic silence, finally spoke.

"I shall accompany you," she stated with absolute finality.

Yuji turned to her in surprise. "You really don't have to-"

"Sukuna-sama's final directive before his departure," Uraume interrupted, her tone carrying that unwavering devotion, "was to ensure your continued well-being. He specifically commanded me to maintain your health and facilitate your recovery from the possession."

This revelation visibly stunned Yuji. His eyes widened, his face showing complete disbelief. "He... he actually said that? About me?"

Uraume nodded, "Sukuna-sama's reasons are his own and not for me to question. If you intend to pursue Battle Beast, then my duty compels me to accompany you."

Yuji struggled to reconcile this information with everything he knew about Sukuna – the evil force of nature that had possessed him, that had reveled in destruction and death.

That any version of the King of Curses would show concern for his well-being seemed almost impossible to believe.

Yet Uraume's unwavering certainty convinced him she was telling the truth. This dimension's Sukuna, different as he might be from the one Yuji had known, had commanded his most faithful servant to protect the vessel he had inhabited.

"Alright," Yuji finally said, regaining that determined optimism that defined him. "We'll go together then."

"I still think this is a terrible idea," Mark said, that protective nature showing through. "Battle Beast isn't exactly the friendly type."

"Sometimes the craziest path is the right one," Yuji replied with that characteristic grin, "Besides, between Uraume's ice powers and my... experience dealing with difficult personalities, I think we've got this covered."

The Cecils exchanged another of their identical calculating glances before original Cecil nodded reluctantly. "Very well. But you will maintain regular communication protocols, and at the first indication of hostility, you will request immediate extraction. Is that understood?"

"You got it!" Yuji agreed with a smile and thumbs-up that seemed almost out of place given the gravity of the situation.

"Let's do this," he said to Uraume, as they began to leave. "We've got a Beast to catch."

As they headed toward the exit, following the swath of destruction Battle Beast had left behind, Yuji couldn't help but wonder what other challenges awaited him in this new world.

And when exactly he'll find his way back to his own.

He still had a purpose after all, five more fingers of Sukuna remain in his world - and he is the only one that can make sure that monster dies, permanently - his life being forfeit a worthy price. 

His atonement - in his eyes.

Until then he'll try to do as much good as he can.

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(Author note: Hello everyone! I hope you all liked the chapter!

So... do tell me how you found this development. I find it logical, and besides if this wasn't the case then everyone is basically fucked.

Like seriously, Vilts that eat their counterparts are broken. The only reason why they aren't really jumping down is because they still are waiting for Conquest to report and that Thragg is still in battle with his counterpart, constantly trying to eat one another.

Probably gonna last another year to be honest till one wins.

Also, Yuji was more respectful to these guys because I honestly think Yuji's got a feel for people. With Gojo when he first met him, he was informal because Gojo just gives off that kind of vibe.

These guys aren't like that, and well, he's a respectful kid.

So yeah, do tell me how you found it and I hope to see you all later,

Bye!)