Chương 12: Hey, It's Me, Gok-Sukuna.

The above is a DB reference...

________________________________________________________

As the perilous situation unfolded, Megumi plunged downward through the crumbling structure of the detention center. His mind raced as he fell, desperately calling out to his flying shikigami, Nue.

The majestic creature appeared in a flash, its form swooping beneath him with swift grace. Megumi clung to the hope that neither of his classmates would fall victim to the curse's wrath as Nue's powerful wings steadied his descent.

From his vantage point, Megumi scanned the area below, his thoughts focused on finding Nobara and ensuring her safety. The tension was palpable, each second feeling like an eternity as he navigated the darkness in search of his missing teammate.

Meanwhile, Yuji was locked in a brutal struggle against the special-grade curse. Despite the grievous injury to his hand, he fought with relentless determination. The curse's sheer strength was overwhelming, its attacks mercilessly pushing him to the brink. Yuji's mind flashed back to his confrontation with Sukuna, the promise he had made to never run away. Desperately, he tried to bait Sukuna into taking control, hoping that the cursed spirit might take over and shift the tide of battle.

Sukuna's voice, cold and menacing, echoed in Yuji's mind. "Why would I switch now? If you dare, I'll kill both of your friends. They'll die alongside you."

Yuji's resolve hardened despite the grim threat. Through gritted teeth, he shouted at Megumi, "Find Nobara and get out of here. Give me the signal once you're safe."

Megumi's face was a mask of uncertainty and defiance. He hesitated, torn between his duty to his teammates and the dangerous reality before him. Yuji's words, however, pierced through his doubts. "The curse is underestimating us. You need to go!"

Reluctantly, Megumi accepted Yuji's plan and began his search for Nobara, following the signal from his shikigami to locate her position. His resolve was bolstered by Yuji's unwavering spirit, even in the face of overwhelming odds.

Back in the heart of the battle, Yuji continued to fight valiantly, despite the odds stacked against him.

The special-grade curse's power was immense, and Yuji struggled to keep up. His remaining hand was a painful reminder of his vulnerability as he lost the fingers one by one, each blow from the curse chipping away at his already tenuous grip on life.

Yuji's thoughts were a turbulent mix of frustration and disappointment. He was acutely aware of his weakness, the bitter realization sinking in that he might not survive this fight.

...

His attempts to buy time seemed futile against the curse's relentless assault. Despite his fierce determination, the reality of his situation was setting in: he might not make it out alive.

Elsewhere, Nobara fought valiantly against the cursed spirits, her determination unyielding despite the odds. She managed to dispatch a majority of her enemies with her cursed nails and powerful attacks. However, the sheer number of curses began to overwhelm her. One by one, they closed in, and despite her best efforts, she was eventually overpowered. As the curses prepared to devour her, her vision blurred with impending doom.

Just as the darkness seemed about to claim her, a burst of movement from above heralded Megumi's arrival. Summoning his Toad shikigami, Megumi leaped into action, the large creature's powerful limbs reaching out to rescue Nobara from the clutches of the curses.

With a mighty leap, the Toad scooped her up and carried her to safety, the curses howling in frustration as they were left behind.

Back at the detention center, Yuji was locked in a desperate struggle with the special-grade curse. His attacks were futile against the curse's overwhelming power, and he found himself battered and on the brink of collapse. The weight of his inadequacy bore down on him, and he felt the crushing reality of his weakness.

Yet, amid the despair, Yuji began to grasp a crucial realization. His negative feelings—frustration, fear, and self-loathing—could be channeled into cursed energy. He focused on harnessing this raw, turbulent energy, directing it into his remaining hand. Summoning all his remaining strength, he attempted to strike at the curse.

At first, it seemed as if the attack had no impact. The curse remained unscathed, and Yuji's hope wavered. The battle appeared lost, and the situation seemed dire. But then, amidst the cacophony of battle, Yuji heard the distinctive howl of one of Megumi's Divine Dogs. It was a signal—a sign that his plan was coming to fruition.

With renewed determination, Yuji unleashed Sukuna's consciousness. The King of Curses stirred within, his presence a dark and formidable force. Sukuna's voice echoed with irritation as he acknowledged the cleverness of Yuji's strategy. "How troublesome," Sukuna's voice growled, clearly annoyed at being pulled into this fight. "So, you've managed to drag me into this mess. I suppose I'll have to deal with it."

Suddenly, Sukuna smiled, "Oh? In such case, by all means." Sukuna's relinquished control, just not to Yuji. His tattoos ¹receded as his deep red eyes shifted to a more pale red. "Aww~ How nice and here I thought you'd say no."

The Finger Bearer opposite to him, stared at the being in front with caution. "Hey, It's Me, Sukuna! Shh, just pretend, k' buddy?" Relaxing his muscles, "Sukuna" prepared to act.

...

Facing off against the Finger Bearer, the special-grade cursed spirit, Sukuna wasted no time in showcasing his formidable prowess. The air crackled with energy as he moved with almost casual arrogance, his every motion a testament to his overwhelming physical superiority. "Hehe, I'm an evil curse."

Without relying on any cursed techniques, Sukuna relied solely on his raw strength and combat skills. He delivered powerful, precise blows that battered the Finger Bearer mercilessly.

The cursed spirit, though formidable in its own right, was no match for the sheer force of Sukuna's attacks. Each strike seemed to reverberate through the very fabric of the cursed domain, the impact visibly shaking the structure around them. "Is it weird how despite being in the same body, we have ridiculously different stats? Meh, get used to it."

As Sukuna pummeled the Finger Bearer into submission, he took a moment to explain his superiority. "You see, I'm classified as a special grade because that's the limit of human understanding," Sukuna's voice rumbled with disdain. "But you, on the other hand, are merely a special grade because that's your grade. There's a difference."

With a final, crushing blow, Sukuna dismembered the Finger Bearer, tearing through its cursed form with ease. "You see, Control allows me to do a lot, even imitate techniques by simply infusing the air with cursed energy and creating an air slash, kinda like Ryomen, huh?"

The monstrous spirit's limbs fell to the ground in a tattered heap, the curse's grotesque form collapsing under the weight of Sukuna's assault. Sukuna's hand reached into the gory remains and ripped out the Finger that had been fueling the cursed spirit, holding it up with a disdainful look. "

Once the Finger was extracted, "Sukuna" relinquished control, allowing Yuji's consciousness to resurface. The transition was jarring; Yuji awoke in a daze, his body battered and his mind struggling to piece together the fragments of the fight he had just endured.

He was gravely injured, his body aching with the aftermath of the battle, and the sight of the dismembered remains of the Finger Bearer did little to comfort him. "At least...the others are okay..." With a final exhale, Yuji did not DIE. but simply took a nap.¹

...