The last scrap of liquid metal wrapped around Sora's knuckles barely survived the first exchange.
When the Special Grade's claw came down, Sora didn't try to block it. Instead, he twisted his wrist and attempted to catch the curse's arm with the thin silver strand, hoping to throw its attack off course.
It was like trying to redirect a freight train with a piece of thread.
SNAP!
The silver strand broke instantly. The backlash shot through Sora's arm, sending a sharp burst of pain through his bones. The force lifted him from the ground and hurled him sideways into the structural wall.
BOOM!
Concrete burst apart around him. Sora hit the floor and rolled across the rubble before coming to a stop against a pile of broken rebar. His vision flashed white before slowly returning.
His right arm was useless.
His cursed energy was completely dry.
There was nothing left to draw from.
Through the ringing in his ears, Sora heard the heavy clash of metal against the curse.
Yuji had stepped into the opening.
He swung Demon Slaughterer upward in a powerful diagonal slash, aiming straight for the curse's neck. The Special Grade reacted immediately, raising one hand and catching the broad blade between its fingers.
CLANG!
Sparks scattered across Yuji's face. The curse stopped the weapon's momentum completely, forcing Yuji to strain against it with both hands.
"Move!"
Yuji gritted his teeth and pushed harder, his entire body shaking from the effort. The curse barely seemed bothered. Its five pale eyes remained fixed on him.
Then it twisted its wrist.
The heavy blade groaned under the pressure before cracking apart.
Yuji's eyes widened.
"What?"
The curse drove its knee into Yuji's stomach, knocking the air from his lungs. Before he could recover, the curse struck him aside and sent him crashing into the far wall.
BOOM!
Yuji disappeared into a cloud of dust and broken concrete.
Above them, the damaged ceiling finally gave way. A huge section collapsed into the corridor, burying the path between them and the exit beneath concrete and twisted steel.
The dust slowly settled.
Only flickering blue sparks from exposed wiring illuminated the ruined hallway.
Sora remained against the wall, barely able to move his right arm. He tried pulling himself upright with his left hand, but his strength failed halfway through.
The exit is blocked.
Yuji is down.
No cursed energy.
This is getting really bad.
The Special Grade turned away from Yuji and began walking toward Sora.
Its claws dragged across the floor, scraping against the concrete with every step.
STEP.
STEP.
"Get... away from him."
The curse stopped.
From the rubble behind it, Yuji slowly pushed himself upright. A cut above his eye left a thin trail down his face, but his gaze remained focused. His left arm hung awkwardly at his side while his right hand tightened into a fist.
He stepped between Sora and the curse.
"Get away from him."
Sora slowly raised his head.
"Yuji... stop."
Yuji didn't move.
"I'm not letting it kill you."
His breathing was rough, but his voice remained firm.
"I said we're both getting out."
Sora stared at him for a moment.
Even now, the idiot was still trying to keep his promise.
The curse raised its arm.
Its claws pointed toward Yuji.
Sora's eyes narrowed.
"Yuji."
Yuji glanced back.
"Don't think about winning. Just survive."
Yuji gave him a tired grin.
"Same goes for you."
The curse suddenly lunged.
Yuji braced himself, but his body was already exhausted. There was no weapon left in his hands, and his movements had slowed considerably.
The incoming strike was too fast.
Yuji knew it.
For the first time, doubt crept into his mind.
He couldn't stop it.
He couldn't save Sora.
He couldn't even protect everyone else.
The corridor began fading from his awareness.
The broken walls disappeared. The dust disappeared. Even Sora's voice seemed to drift farther away.
Yuji found himself standing in a strange crimson space, surrounded by still water and enormous shadowy structures rising into the darkness.
A familiar presence waited ahead.
Sukuna sat upon his throne, watching him with an amused expression.
"You really are stubborn."
Yuji clenched his fists.
"Shut up."
Sukuna rested his cheek against his hand.
"You've pushed yourself this far and still haven't accomplished anything. Now you're standing there waiting for the inevitable."
Yuji glared at him.
"I'm not giving up."
Sukuna smiled.
"Then what are you going to do?"
Yuji didn't answer.
Because he already knew.
Nothing.
His body couldn't move fast enough. His strength wasn't enough. And Sora was lying helplessly behind him.
Sukuna watched the realization settle over Yuji's face.
Then his smile widened.
"I can solve your little problem."
Yuji's expression hardened.
"No."
"I haven't even finished speaking."
"I know what you're going to say."
Sukuna leaned forward.
"Then you know the answer already."
Yuji stared at him.
"What do you want?"
Sukuna's eyes gleamed.
"Control."
Yuji's fists tightened.
"You take over, kill the curse, and then what?"
"I'll deal with the curse threatening your life. Nothing more."
"And Sora?"
"I won't hurt him."
"Megumi and Nobara?"
"They aren't here."
Yuji remained silent.
Sukuna continued watching him.
"You're running out of time."
Yuji looked down at the crimson water.
He hated this.
He hated that Sukuna was right.
He hated that the only way forward seemed to be handing control to the one person he trusted the least.
But Sora was behind him.
And the curse was already moving.
Yuji slowly raised his head.
"Fine."
Sukuna's grin widened.
"But you don't hurt Sora."
"Agreed."
"And you give me my body back in one minute."
Sukuna paused.
That hesitation lasted only a fraction of a second.
Then his smile returned.
"Agreed."
Yuji narrowed his eyes.
Something about that answer felt wrong.
Before he could question it, Sukuna extended his hand.
"Then step aside."
The crimson world shattered.
Back in the detention center, the curse's claw was already descending toward Yuji.
Then Yuji stopped moving.
His head lowered. His arms fell loosely at his sides.
Sora watched from the rubble, barely conscious.
"Yuji...?"
The atmosphere changed.
The pressure of cursed energy that had filled the corridor suddenly disappeared beneath something far greater.
The Special Grade froze.
Its five pale eyes widened.
Yuji slowly raised his head.
Dark markings appeared across his face and body.
His expression changed completely.
The exhausted determination that had filled his eyes was gone.
Something colder had taken its place.
Sukuna smiled.
He rolled his shoulders and flexed Yuji's fingers, as though testing an unfamiliar set of muscles.
"Finally."
Sora stared at him.
His exhausted mind needed only a moment to understand.
That's not Yuji.
Sukuna looked down at him.
The smile on his face carried no warmth whatsoever.
"So the brat was desperate enough to make a deal for this one."
Sora said nothing.
Sukuna turned toward the Special Grade.
The curse slowly backed away.
For the first time since the fight began, it looked afraid.
Sukuna noticed.
He smiled.
"You understand."
The curse suddenly turned and attempted to escape through the collapsed corridor.
Sukuna didn't chase it.
He simply raised two fingers.
"Disappear."
A sharp motion followed.
The space ahead of Sukuna split apart under an invisible force. The Special Grade froze before its form dispersed into cursed energy and ash.
Silence returned to the corridor.
Sukuna glanced at the remains.
"Pathetic."
Something small rolled across the floor.
Sukuna looked down.
A preserved finger wrapped in old talismans rested near his foot.
His expression changed immediately.
"Well, well."
He picked it up and examined it for a moment before consuming it.
The cursed energy inside the corridor surged.
The remaining lights shattered.
Darkness swallowed the ruined detention center.
Sora remained against the wall, barely able to keep his eyes open.
The curse was gone.
The fight was over.
But the person standing in front of him was far more dangerous.
Sukuna slowly turned toward Sora.
His crimson eyes glowed through the darkness.
Sora tried to move.
His body refused.
Sukuna began walking toward him.
"So," he said, his voice calm and amused, "let's see what this era has to offer."