Are you sure?

The dimensional portal closed behind Yukuna with a sound like tearing fabric, the emerald energy dissipating as reality sealed itself once more.

He stood in the center of his sanctum - a converted shrine deep within the mountains of Japan, far from prying eyes and interfering sorcerers.

The familiar surroundings did little to soothe his seething rage.

With a roar that shook the ancient timbers, Yukuna unleashed his cursed energy in a violent wave that shattered every object within twenty feet.

Ceremonial vessels, priceless scrolls, and ancient artifacts exploded into dust as his power lashed out, physical manifestations of his fury.

"Insufferable," he snarled, pacing the length of the destroyed room like a caged predator. "Absolutely insufferable."

His mind replayed the confrontation with Emperor Mark - the Viltrumite's casual dismissal of his attack, the ease with which he had been overpowered.

He, Ryomen Sukuna, the King of Curses, forced to retreat before a battle could properly conclude.

The humiliation burned like acid in his veins.

But worse than his defeat at the Emperor's hands was the encounter with his alternate self - who called himself Sukuna yet embodied everything Yukuna despised. Compassion. Restraint. Humanity.

"Soft," he muttered, his fingers curling into fists so tight that blood dripped from his palms where his nails pierced flesh. "Compromised by humanity, by sentiment, by connection to lesser beings."

Yet even as the words left his mouth, Yukuna couldn't fully convince himself of their truth.

The other Sukuna had demonstrated power that rivaled - perhaps even exceeded - his own. Not just raw strength, but a level of control, of precision, that spoke of mastery beyond anything Yukuna had achieved.

Most disturbing of all was what he had witnessed in those final moments before the dimensional reversal.

His counterpart had somehow performed a technique of unprecedented scale and complexity, one that affected reality itself.

"He manipulated the dimensions," Yukuna whispered, genuine awe momentarily replacing rage as he contemplated the implications. "He bent the laws of reality to his will."

Such a thing should have been impossible. The scale, the complexity - it defied everything Yukuna understood about cursed techniques and their limitations.

"Genius," Yukuna admitted reluctantly, the word bitter on his tongue. "Absolute genius."

He moved to a shattered cabinet, retrieving a bottle of sake that had somehow survived his outburst.

Without bothering with ceremony or cups, he drank directly from the bottle, the alcohol burning a path down his throat that did nothing to dull his conflicted thoughts.

The truth, as much as he loathed to acknowledge it, was that his counterpart had transcended the limitations that still bound Yukuna himself.

While Yukuna had sought power through domination, through fear, through the subjugation of all who crossed his path, the other Sukuna had found strength in evolution, in adaptation, in the integration of seemingly contradictory aspects of existence.

"He's surpassed me," Yukuna murmured, the admission like poison in his mouth. "Not despite his humanity, but because of it."

The realization was a dagger to his pride, piercing the armor of arrogance he had cultivated for centuries.

He had always viewed his human vessel - first Yuji Itadori, now Yuta Okkotsu - as necessary inconveniences, containers to house his magnificence until he could fully manifest his true form without losing what he gained.

He had never considered that humanity itself might offer pathways to power he had overlooked.

"Unacceptable," he growled, hurling the empty sake bottle against the wall where it shattered into countless fragments. "Absolutely unacceptable."

Yet even as he rejected the notion, a part of him - the cold, analytical mind that had made him the King of Curses, the strategic intellect that had dominated the Heian Era - recognized the truth.

His counterpart had discovered something profound, something revolutionary about the nature of power itself.

The question was: could Yukuna swallow his pride enough to learn from it?

Before he could pursue this uncomfortable line of thought further, a soft chime echoed through the sanctum.

Yukuna turned, his eyes narrowing as he located the source - a small device resting on his thigh that had somehow survived his earlier outburst.

The device was alien in design, clearly not of Earth origin. Its metallic surface gleamed with an inner light that pulsed in rhythm with the chiming sound.

As Yukuna picked it off, it activated fully, projecting a holographic display into the air before him.

The image stabilized, revealing a face with cold, calculating eyes and a smile that never reached them - Sinister Mark, his expression as disturbing as it was familiar.

"Sukuna," Sinister Mark acknowledged, his voice carrying clearly through whatever dimensional barriers separated them.

"Or do you have another name you prefer in this form? Since I reckon this isn't your true one based on what we saw - and in my experience proper address smooths conversations over."

Yukuna's eyes narrowed. "How are you contacting me? The dimensional barriers have been restored."

"A testament to Astronaut Mark's ingenuity," Sinister Mark replied, gesturing to someone off-screen. The view expanded, revealing Astronaut Mark beside him (in image), focused on a complex control panel.

On another, Mohawk Mark lounged with affected casualness on his own throne in his own world with multiple red-headed women looking similar to Eve, but none of them were her,

while Viltrumite Mark stood with arms crossed, his imperial bearing unmistakable even in this informal setting.

"This is a trans-dimensional communicator," Astronaut Mark explained without looking up from his work. "Rudimentary but functional. A proof of concept for more ambitious projects."

"What do you want?" Yukuna demanded, his patience already thin after the day's events.

"Direct. I appreciate that," Sinister Mark commented, his smile thinning. "We find ourselves in a position of... mutual interest. All of us returned to our respective dimensions, all of us... humbled by recent events."

Yukuna bristled at the implication. "Speak for yourself."

"Oh, I am," Sinister Mark assured him, his tone sharpening. "Let's not pretend any of us achieved our objectives.

The Emperor failed to retain Sukuna despite having him physically in his grasp. You were forced to retreat from a battle with him. And we-" he gestured to the assembled Marks, "-were returned to our dimensions against our will."

"Your point?" Yukuna asked coldly.

Sinister Mark leaned forward, his expression intensifying. "My point is that we have all been shown our limitations. A hard truth, but a necessary one."

"We were weak," Mohawk Mark interjected, his affected casualness slipping to reveal genuine anger. "All of us. Fucking weak."

"A crude but accurate assessment," Sinister Mark agreed. "The Emperor could have killed us all in an instant had he chosen to. That reality... opened our eyes."

Viltrumite Mark stepped forward, his massive frame dominating the holographic projection. "We have grown complacent in our respective universes. Being the strongest in our own limited domains has made us... frogs in a well, unable to see the vastness of the ocean beyond."

"And you believe I share this... limitation?" Yukuna asked, his tone dangerous.

"We believe you possess abilities unlike anything in our universes," Sinister Mark replied smoothly.

"Just as we possess resources, technology, and conquered worlds that could complement those abilities. Separately, we have been defeated. Together..."

"We could claim the choicest worlds from across the multiverse," Astronaut Mark finished, finally looking up from his control panel.

"In infinite realities, there are infinite desirable worlds. We need never be enemies when the multiverse offers endless opportunities for all."

Yukuna considered the proposal, his mind working through the implications.

These variants had been returned to their dimensions just as he had, all of them defeated by the combined efforts of Sukuna and his allies. Their desire for revenge was predictable, their resources potentially valuable.

But Yukuna had never been one to form alliances easily. Trust was a luxury he rarely extended, particularly to beings whose motivations might not align perfectly with his own.

"And the Emperor?" Yukuna asked, testing their response. "Is he part of this... alliance?"

The variants exchanged glances, some unspoken communication passing between them.

"The Emperor has chosen a different path," Sinister Mark said carefully. "His... attachment to Sukuna clouds his judgment. Makes him unreliable for our purposes."

"He's gone soft," Mohawk Mark added with a sneer. "All that 'brother' bullshit. Pathetic."

"His strength remains unmatched," Viltrumite Mark cautioned, "but his priorities lie elsewhere. At least for now."

Yukuna nodded, filing away this information.

The Emperor's obsession with Sukuna - or rather, with Megumi Fushiguro, as he seems to prefer being called - indeeed made him unpredictable, potentially unreliable as an ally.

Not that he wanted him as an ally anyway, he had a bone to pick with him - eventually, when he was strong enough.

"And what exactly do you propose?" Yukuna asked, his tone carefully neutral.

"An alliance," Sinister Mark stated simply. "Your abilities, our resources. Together, we develop the means to traverse the multiverse at will, to claim the worlds most suited to our respective desires."

"And the other Sukuna?" Yukuna pressed, already suspecting the answer.

"Is powerful," Astronaut Mark acknowledged. "His dimensional manipulation abilities alone make him valuable. But he's chosen his side. Made his allegiances clear."

"He stands in our way," Sinister Mark concluded, his cold smile returning. "Unless you believe you can persuade him to join us instead?"

The implication was clear. Unlike the Emperor, these variants had no emotional attachment to Sukuna. They would use him if possible, eliminate him if necessary.

Yukuna found himself in the unusual position of feeling a flicker of... something... at the casual way they discussed disposing of his counterpart.

Not concern, certainly not protectiveness - such sentiments were beneath him. But perhaps a touch of... territorial possessiveness?

After all, if anyone had the right to destroy another version of himself, surely it was him.

"I'm listening," Yukuna said finally, neither accepting nor rejecting their proposal outright.

Sinister Mark's smile widened fractionally - a predator sensing potential prey. "Excellent. Astronaut will provide the technical specifications for a more permanent communication device.

Once established, we can begin coordinating our efforts more effectively."

"Don't mistake my willingness to listen for agreement," Yukuna warned, his cursed energy flaring visibly around him.

"I am Ryomen Sukuna, the King of Curses. I bow to no one, and I serve no one's interests but my own."

"Of course," Sinister Mark agreed smoothly. "We wouldn't expect anything less. This is an alliance of equals, each bringing unique strengths to achieve mutual benefits."

The communication ended shortly after, the hologram dissolving into motes of light that faded into the dim atmosphere of the sanctum.

Yukuna stood motionless for several moments, contemplating the unexpected turn of events.

An alliance with the variants offered significant advantages, resources he wouldn't otherwise have access to.

But alliances meant compromise, coordination, the sublimation of his own desires to a collective goal - concepts that had always been anathema to him.

Yet his counterpart had found strength in connection, in bonds that Yukuna had always dismissed as weaknesses.

Perhaps there was something to be learned from that approach, distasteful as the notion might be.

"Adaptation," Yukuna murmured, the word feeling foreign on his tongue. "Evolution."

With deliberate movements, he began to clear the debris from his earlier outburst, restoring order to the sanctum. As he worked, his mind continued to analyze, to calculate, to plan.

His counterpart had indeed achieved something unprecedented - manipulating dimensions themselves, breaking free of constraints that had bound conventional understanding of cursed techniques.

Understanding how he had accomplished this would be crucial to Yukuna's own evolution, his own transcendence.

And if that understanding required temporary alliances, careful study of his counterpart's methods, even the uncomfortable consideration of concepts like connection and humanity - well, Yukuna had endured worse indignities in his long existence.

The King of Curses had never been one to shy away from unpleasant truths when they served his ultimate goals.

And his goal now was clear: not just to defeat his counterpart, but to surpass him, to absorb and transcend whatever insights had allowed Sukuna to achieve what Yukuna himself had not.

Only then would he truly reclaim his title as the strongest, the uncontested King of Curses across all worlds.

-----------------------------

The Imperial Dining Hall gleamed with subtle opulence - not the gaudy display of insecure rulers, but the refined elegance of true power comfortable in its own skin.

Crystal chandeliers cast warm light over a table of polished wood harvested from a planet whose name none of the Earth visitors recognized.

The tableware was simple yet exquisite, each piece crafted with precision that spoke of artistry beyond Earth's technological capabilities.

At the head of the table sat Emperor Mark, his imperial regalia replaced by more casual attire that nonetheless carried an unmistakable air of authority.

To his right sat Atom Eve, her posture perfect, her eyes constantly drifting to Sukuna with an intensity that bordered on uncomfortable.

Sukuna himself sat at the Emperor's left - a position of honor that hadn't escaped his notice. Beside him sat his Eve, whose protective proximity was obvious to everyone present.

Across from them, looking somewhat out of place but determined not to show it, sat Mark the version from their original dimension.

The meal had progressed through several courses, each more exquisite than the last.

Conversation had remained carefully neutral -- discussions of the palace architecture, explanations of the exotic foods being served, polite inquiries about everyone's comfort in their assigned quarters.

The underlying tensions remained unaddressed, creating an atmosphere that grew increasingly strained beneath its veneer of civility.

"The Cerulean wine is from Altair Seven," Emperor Mark explained, gesturing to the pale blue liquid in their glasses with a casual wave.

"Crazy thing is, the vines grow in zero gravity. Makes the molecular structure impossible to copy anywhere else."

"The flavor profile is fascinating," Eve commented, her scientific mind taking over despite herself. "I'm picking up notes that definitely don't exist on Earth."

"Because they don't," Atom Eve replied with a small smile, leaning forward slightly. "The chemical composition has elements you'd only find in the Altairian system. I could show you the analysis later if you're interested."

Sukuna observed the exchange with careful neutrality, his mind cataloging every detail of the conversation, the setting, the subtle power dynamics at play.

Though he appeared relaxed, he remained vigilant, still wary despite Mark's assurances about the Emperor's change of heart.

"Man, it's good to finally sit down together without someone trying to kill someone else or reality literally falling apart," Emperor Mark said with a hint of his old self breaking through the imperial facade, his gaze settling on Sukuna.

"Yeah, definitely beats interdimensional warfare," Mark agreed with a half-smile, his shoulders visibly relaxing a bit.

"Right?" the Emperor continued, swirling the blue wine in his glass. "Plus it gives us a chance to clear up some... stuff that got pretty messed up when we first met."

And there it was - the shift in conversation Sukuna had been anticipating since they sat down. The careful small talk giving way to the real purpose of this gathering.

"What kind of 'stuff'?" Eve asked sharply, her hand instinctively moving closer to Sukuna's on the table.

"The elephant in the room," Emperor Mark said directly, setting down his glass with a soft clink. "Megumi's identity."

The room grew silent, the tension that had been simmering beneath the surface now rising to full boil.

"I believe we've been quite clear about who we are," Sukuna stated, his voice carrying that unmistakable authority that had made even Viltrumites pause. "And who we are not."

"Have you?" Emperor Mark challenged, leaning forward with his elbows on the table. "Or did you just shut down the possibility without really thinking about it?"

"Mark," Atom Eve interjected, placing a hand on the Emperor's arm. "Maybe we should save this for later-"

"There's not gonna be a 'later' that feels right for this," Emperor Mark replied, his gaze never leaving Sukuna's face. "We need to talk about it sometime."

He leaned back slightly, his expression softening. "Look, Megumi, I get why you're fighting this so hard. The idea that you might be both people at once – the person you remember being and the person we knew – it sounds crazy, I know."

"It is crazy," Sukuna stated flatly. "I'm not your Megumi reborn or returned. I am who I am from my own world, nothing more."

"And yet," Atom Eve said softly, her scientific detachment cracking, "your soul tells us something completely different."

Sukuna's eyes narrowed. "My soul?"

"This isn't just about alternate versions of people," Emperor Mark explained, gesturing with his hands. "If that's all it was, we'd just accept you're another Megumi from another timeline, end of story."

"But souls don't work that way across dimensions," Atom Eve continued, her voice taking on a passionate edge. "They echo each other, they reflect each other – but they're not the same at their core. Each soul is unique."

"And yours," Emperor Mark said, his voice dropping as emotion crept in, "yours is his. I'd know it anywhere, through any differences, any changes. The essence of who you are – I recognized it the second I saw you."

"You're seeing what you want to see," Eve snapped, her protective instincts flaring as she leaned forward. "You've spent seventeen years obsessing over someone you lost, and now you're projecting all of it onto him."

"Am I?" Atom Eve fired back, her composure fully breaking as she met her counterpart's glare. "I've spent my entire life studying molecular structures, including the energy patterns that make each consciousness unique. This isn't wishful thinking – it's observable reality."

"And I've had decades to learn how to recognize souls across lifetimes," Emperor Mark added, his voice rising slightly. "Viltrumites are observant enough to see patterns others miss.

I've met beings who reminded me of people I used to know, who had similar traits or abilities. None of them registered as Megumi. You do."

Sukuna remained silent, his expression betraying nothing of his thoughts.

The conversation was veering into territory he hadn't anticipated - not simple denial of his identity, but a complex argument about the nature of souls and consciousness across dimensions.

"This is bullshit," Eve stated bluntly, her normal vocabulary giving way to raw emotion. "You seriously expect us to believe Sukuna is somehow your Megumi reincarnated or whatever? The timelines don't even match up!"

"Time doesn't flow the same across dimensions," Emperor Mark countered, tapping his finger on the table for emphasis. "What was years here might've been centuries somewhere else, or just a few minutes. The multiverse doesn't play by our rules."

"Even if that were true," Sukuna finally spoke, his voice cutting through the argument with calm precision, "it doesn't change who I am now. My memories, my experiences, my choices - these define me, not some theoretical connection to a person I have never been."

"Hey, Megumi," Mark suddenly cut in, his casual tone a stark contrast to the intensity of the moment. All eyes turned to him, surprised by his intervention.

"How can you be so sure they're wrong?" Mark asked, scratching the back of his head awkwardly. "I mean, could they really be totally off-base here?"

The question hung in the air, simple yet profound in its implications.

Sukuna stared at Mark, momentarily caught off guard by the unexpected challenge from the one person he had assumed would unquestioningly support his position.

"I know who I am," Sukuna stated.

"Do you?" Mark pressed, leaning forward. "I don't mean to sound like I know a lot about this stuff, but do we really know enough about souls or multiverse or whatever that this is completely impossible? To just say they're delusional?"

The observation struck Sukuna with unexpected force. It was true, he couldn't completely dismiss it.

If one truly thought about it from what he knew - with the knowledge of his own consciousness having had experienced significant discontinuities, it would throw many things into question.

As Sukuna, he had no clear memories of his first life. As Megumi, he had remembered nothing of either previous existence until circumstances triggered the return of his first life and Sukuna memories.

How could he be absolutely certain that there wasn't another layer to his identity, another set of memories that remained inaccessible?

The thought was deeply unsettling, challenging fundamental assumptions about his sense of self that he had never questioned.

"This is absurd," he finally said, rising abruptly from his chair. The movement was smooth, controlled, but the tension in his body was evident to everyone present. "I need some air."

"Megumi-" Emperor Mark began, half-rising from his seat, his hand reaching out instinctively.

"Let him go," Atom Eve said softly, placing a restraining hand on the Emperor's arm. "He needs space to think."

Eve stood as well, her face etched with concern. "I'm coming with you-"

Sukuna shook his head slightly. "Alone," he stated, his tone making it clear this wasn't a request.

After a moment of hesitation, Eve nodded, though worry remained evident in every line of her body.

Sukuna moved toward the balcony doors with measured steps, his posture betraying none of the turmoil churning beneath his composed exterior.

As the doors closed behind him, those remaining at the table exchanged glances laden with unspoken concerns and calculations.

Outside, under an alien sky filled with unfamiliar stars, the King of Curses stood motionless, his mind grappling with questions of identity and continuity that he had never expected to face.

For the first time in any of his existences, Ryomen Sukuna - the unquestioned master of his own destiny - found himself uncertain about the most fundamental aspect of his being, found himself asking a single echoing question:

Who exactly was he?

---------------------------

(Author note: Hello everyone! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter!

So yeah, I'm going with option B. Sukuna has regressed, this is basically his 4th life, and he will end up with both Eves (I'll feel way too bad about Atom Eve to just let her rot forever since she can't move on from Sukuna.)

Also, don't worry I will make it logical.

So yeah, do tell me how you found it - especially the Yukuna and Invincibles part, since man,I just love that plotline, and I am not going to waste them like in the comics where they just eat each other since they're too strong and can't be in the main plot.

Well, I hope to see you all later,

Bye!)