Okarun stood trembling, his face flushed red, but as Makima leaned in closer, a strange resonance occurred.
The Sukuna-energy within him, which thrived on absolute ego, and the Eternity-loop, which could trap a concept forever, reacted to Makima's proximity.
"I... I can't trust your words,"
Okarun whispered, his voice suddenly deepening.
"But I can trust your essence."
Before Makima could react, Okarun reached out. Instead of a strike, he used a Phase-Grasp.
His hand didn't touch her skin; it phased directly into her metaphysical core—the seat of the Control Devil.
"What are you—?!"
Makima's composure finally shattered.
Her eyes widened as she felt a vacuum force unlike anything in her world.
Okarun wasn't just taking her energy; he was copying the frequency of her authority.
The violet glow of his Phase-power began to bleed into the golden-ringed pattern of Makima's eyes.
He inhaled sharply, and a surge of command-heavy energy flowed into his system.
Okarun gasped, falling to one knee as the weight of the Control Devil's power settled into his brain.
He could now see the invisible chains connecting Makima to the citizens of Japan.
He could feel the "contracts" vibrating in the air.
Okarun stood up, his aura now a regal, terrifying mix of violet, crimson, and gold.
He looked at Makima, who was panting, her power diminished but her eyes filled with a new, submissive hunger.
"I—I have your power now,"
Okarun stated.
"And I'm making a contract. You will obey me, Makima-san. You won't hurt my friends. You won't hurt this world."
Makima knelt.
"And what is your first command?"
Okarun looked at her, then glanced at the shocked Momo. He took a deep breath, his face turning beet-red again, but he didn't waver.
"My first order... is that you have to love me. Truly. Not as a dog or a tool... but as a human loves another."
"WHAT?!"
Momo's psychic aura flared so bright it nearly shattered the office windows.
"Okarun! Are you insane?! You just gained the most cheating power and you're using it to get a girlfriend?! This is the most embarrassing thing I've ever seen!"
Okarun turned to Momo, his eyes soft despite the glowing rings within them.
"Ayase-san, listen. Makima-san... the Control Devil... her whole existence is built on the fact that she can't have equal relationships. She can only control or be controlled. That's why she's so cruel."
He looked back at Makima, who was staring at him in stunned silence.
"If I order her to love me, it forces her to view someone as an equal. It forces her to feel empathy. It's the only way to 'purify' her without killing her. To change this world, we have to change the thing at the top."
Momo stared at him, her mouth agape.
She realized Okarun wasn't being a "pushover"—he was using the most powerful force he knew to neutralize a Primal threat.
Makima felt the contract take hold. It wasn't a chain around her neck; it was a warmth in her chest she hadn't felt since the beginning of time.
Her predatory gaze softened. She stood up, walked to Okarun, and gently took his hand.
"Love..."
She whispered, the word tasting strange on her tongue.
"It's a very difficult command, Okarun-kun. But I think... I would like to try."
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