The world of the Heavenly Imperial Pillars slowly faded, and the ravaged ruins of reality returned.
Sukuna knelt on one knee on the scorched earth, his head bowed, porcelain-like cracks covering his skin, his aura utterly weakened and chaotic.
The backlash from his domain being completely crushed far surpassed any he had suffered before.
His brain felt as though invisible hands were kneading it over and over, sending waves of pain and ringing through him that nearly made him pass out.
His soul felt torn apart, and his perception and control of cursed energy had become slower than ever.
His body felt filled with heavy mercury. Even lifting a finger had become immensely difficult.
He had lost.
So completely. So helplessly.
Step, step, step...
Steady footsteps approached from a distance and stopped before him.
Sukuna raised his head with difficulty.
Pain and dizziness blurred his vision, but he could still make out the black-haired boy standing before him-Madara Uchiha.
Madara lowered his head slightly, looking down at the wretched Sukuna kneeling on the ground.
His black eyes held no victor's elation, no mockery of the defeated, not even much killing intent.
Only.
Disappointment.
"I'm very disappointed."
Madara spoke slowly, his voice calm, yet like a cold knife piercing Sukuna's already battered but still proud heart.
"Truly disappointed."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over Sukuna, as though looking through that ruined body at the soul within, unwilling to concede yet ultimately unable to meet his expectations.
"I thought that, driven into a corner, you could at least show me something... different."
Madara shook his head gently, his disappointment almost tangible.
"Unfortunately, you didn't."
"You merely... grew a little stronger, then... repeated your previous failure with greater power."
"In the end, you're still trapped within the framework of your cursed technique. You