The air hung heavy with the scent of blood and cherry blossoms.
The forest clearing beyond Narukami Shrine had transformed into an otherworldly garden bathed in crimson light—petals swirling endlessly in the thick, unnatural breeze.
Riku stood in the center, muscles tense, eyes blazing gold. His silver hair rippled like liquid moonlight as he took a deep breath, feeling the surge of cursed energy coalesce beneath his skin.
"Focus…" he whispered, every nerve firing.
This was it.
The moment he would push beyond his limits and attempt his first Domain Expansion.
His mind flicked back to the shattered mirror, the echo of Sukuna's shadow inside him, the surge of ancient power bound by blood and soul.
But this time, it wasn't just power for destruction.
It was a promise.
A promise to himself, to Momo and Aira, and to a world that hadn't yet seen the full storm of his rebirth.
---
Training had become obsession.
For days, Riku had secluded himself in the clearing, meditating and pushing cursed energy to the brink.
Momo and Aira had urged him to rest.
"Dude, you're gonna kill yourself if you keep burning the candle like this," Aira had warned, arms crossed, but with concern in her eyes.
Momo had simply smiled, eyes sparkling. "If anyone can pull it off, it's Riku."
He wanted to believe them.
But deep inside, a knot of doubt twisted tighter with every passing hour.
Domain Expansion wasn't just a technique—it was the ultimate test of mastery over cursed energy and soul. It was said to be nearly impossible for even the strongest sorcerers to wield without losing themselves.
And Riku… was still learning who he really was.
---
Now, standing in the center of the crimson clearing, Riku raised both hands.
Cursed script etched across his skin began to glow, searing warmth radiating through his veins.
He chanted softly, invoking the ancient words Sukuna had taught him in fleeting visions.
The air rippled.
The trees surrounding the clearing blurred, their leaves turning into swirling petals of blood-red cherry blossoms.
The ground cracked beneath his feet, revealing roots glowing with cursed energy like veins of molten lava.
The petals gathered, swirling faster, forming a dome—a sphere of impossibly delicate yet unbreakable energy.
Riku's breathing deepened as the dome solidified into the Crimson Blossoms Domain.
Within it, the laws of reality bent.
Time slowed to a crawl.
Every breath felt heavier, every sound amplified.
The petals weren't just decorations—they were weapons, guided by Riku's will.
---
Suddenly, the ground erupted as a massive cursed spirit charged into the domain.
Its grotesque form was a twisted fusion of wolf and serpent, eyes glowing with malice.
The cursed spirit snarled, lunging at Riku with jaws snapping.
But inside the domain, Riku was in control.
He reached out with his cursed energy, and the petals responded—whirling violently to form razor-thin blades.
With a flick of his wrist, the petals sliced through the air, meeting the cursed spirit mid-leap.
The beast's roar was cut short as petals tore through its flesh.
It staggered, snarling fiercely but unable to land a hit.
Riku smiled, the thrill of the battle surging through him.
"Come on. Show me what you've got."
The cursed spirit unleashed a blast of poisonous mist, trying to blind and choke him.
But the domain's power absorbed the attack, petals dissolving the toxin instantly.
Riku advanced, petals forming into sharp claws around his hands.
He dashed forward, slashing at the beast's exposed flanks.
With a final strike, he summoned a massive blossom—the Crimson Bloom Slash—and cleaved the cursed spirit clean in two.
The domain shimmered and then faded.
Riku fell to his knees, chest heaving, sweat mixing with dirt.
He had done it.
He had manifested his first Domain Expansion.
---
Momo and Aira rushed forward, concern etched on their faces.
"You okay?" Momo asked, crouching beside him.
Riku nodded slowly, a tired grin breaking across his face.
"I'm fine. More than fine."
Aira's eyes were sharp. "That was incredible. But it's also dangerous. You pushed yourself hard."
Riku looked up at the sky, cherry blossoms falling gently around them.
"I know."
"But this is just the beginning," Momo said quietly.
"Yeah," Riku said, standing tall despite the exhaustion. "I have to master this. Not just for me, but for all of us."
Aira nodded.
"We're with you."
---
But even as the three friends shared that brief moment of victory, a shadow moved silently beyond the trees.
Watching.
Waiting.
The Keepers were not done.
And neither was the curse buried deep within Riku's soul.