A primal roar clawed its way out of Yuji's throat, echoing across the ravaged training grounds. His rage, a searing inferno, remained, but underneath it, a spark of control flickered, fueled by the memory of Kenzo's guidance.
He remembered the lesson: "If you feel the rage consuming you, imagine the damage you can inflict with control. Three punches with decent curse energy, or black flashs?"
Yuji gritted his teeth, recalling the searing impact of the technique and the immense satisfaction of unleashing it with precision. His emotions became his fuel, not his master. He channeled his rage into a focused flow of cursed energy, circulating it throughout his body with a newfound intensity.
Sukuna, still basking in the amusement of Yuji's earlier outburst, watched with a hint of surprise as his opponent's movements shifted. The wild abandon was replaced by a controlled aggression, a predator stalking its prey with a deadly focus.
Before Sukuna could react fully, Yuji vanished from his sight, reappearing a split second later with a thunderous black flash impacting the King of Curses' right arm. The impact sent a shockwave through the air, ripping through Sukuna's clothes and leaving a charred crater on his arm.
Sukuna's amusement vanished, replaced by a flicker of annoyance. He glared at Yuji, his eyes narrowed. But before he could retaliate, a blinding flash erupted once more. Another perfectly executed black flash slammed into Sukuna's chest, the sound of his ribs cracking echoing in the clearing.
Yuji didn't relent. He danced around Sukuna, his movements fluid and precise. With a final surge of focused aggression, he unleashed a third black flash, striking Sukuna across the face. The force of the blow sent the King of Curses reeling backward, a growl escaping his lips.
Yuji, driven by an unwavering resolve and remembering Kenzo's guidance, unleashed another Black Flash, a testament to the "man chosen by the sparks of black." The thunderous impact echoed through the training grounds, momentarily stunning even Sukuna.
But the King of Curses was far from defeated. As Yuji prepared another strike, fueled by a righteous fury that burned brighter than his own blood loss, Sukuna's reflexes proved too fast. He darted to the side, narrowly avoiding Yuji's devastating blow.
In a flash, Sukuna seized the opportunity. With a chilling smirk, he slammed his hands into Yuji's stomach, unleashing the cursed technique, Cleave. A sickening sound ripped through the air as Yuji was sent flying back, a gaping hole torn into his uniform, revealing a network of deep, jagged cuts.
Despite the searing pain that threatened to engulf him, Yuji refused to yield. His eyes, blazing with an unwavering determination, locked onto Sukuna. The image of a malevolent entity defiling his friend fueled his resolve. This was not just a fight for survival; it was a battle for the very soul of Megumi, and potentially, the world.
Gasping for breath, Yuji stumbled to his feet, a crimson stain blooming on his uniform. His body screamed in protest, but his spirit remained unbroken. A fierce growl escaped his lips, a sound that spoke volumes of his unwavering defiance. He may have been battered and bruised, but the spark of hope, the flicker of defiance, refused to be extinguished.
The air crackled with an oppressive tension as Sukuna watched his opponent, a begrudging respect flickering in his eyes. This wasn't the naive boy he had faced earlier. This was a warrior forged in the fires of adversity, a testament to the indomitable human spirit.
Yuji coughed, a ragged breath escaping his bloodied lips. "Still alive, huh," Sukuna remarked, his tone laced with a hint of surprise, or perhaps, begrudging respect...no it was distain.
Yuji mustered a glare, his voice hoarse with exertion and laced with a burning hatred. "Why do you take such joy in trampling on the weak?"
Sukuna scoffed, his amusement morphing into a twisted kind of disdain. "The real question is, why are you so weak? Why do you cling to life like bugs? How can a creature so easily crushed even dream of happiness? Your suffering is natural, the way of the world. Your kind exists to be trampled upon."
His words hung heavy in the air, dripping with a chilling cynicism that painted humans as nothing more than insects to be squashed. It was a brutal and nihilistic worldview, one that challenged the very core of Yuji's beliefs.
But Yuji wouldn't be swayed. He stood tall, his form battered but his spirit unwavering.
A sudden shift disrupted the tense standoff. A figure materialized from the shadows, cloaked in the fading light of dusk. It was Maki Zenin, her obsidian eyes radiating a fierce determination. Sukuna, momentarily caught off guard by her lack of cursed energy, turned towards the newcomer, a flicker of amusement dancing in his crimson eyes.
"Zenin senpai," Yuji gasped, a surge of relief momentarily washing over him. He was battered and bruised, but the sight of his ally injected a renewed sense of hope into his weary spirit.
Maki, her gaze unwavering, approached Sukuna. "Sorry I'm late," she addressed Yuji, her voice devoid of emotion but laced with a subtle undercurrent of concern.
Yuji managed a weak nod, his voice raspy from exertion. "Kill him," he croaked, his words carrying the weight of his desperation and unwavering resolve. "He won't die."
Sukuna's smile widened, revealing a chilling display of sharp canines. This unexpected development had piqued his interest. "This will be fun," he declared, his voice dripping with a twisted pleasure at the prospect of another challenge.
The air crackled with a renewed surge of tension. The dynamic had shifted. Now, it was a two-on-one, a desperate gamble against an entity of immense power. But within the battered body of Yuji and the stoic exterior of Maki, burned a fire that refused to be extinguished.
A/N Fun fact Sukuna knows of Maki and Kenzo relationship...do with that info what you wish just know next chapter....