Chapter 21: Malevolent Shrine
"So what you waiting for, let the hell lose," Yuji said as Sukuna gained control over the body.
"Ah, At last, some freedom," Sukuna said then turned his attention to the Soul Eater.
"I want to see, what you are capable of."
With a swift motion, Sukuna lunged forward, his movements a deadly ballet of precision and malevolence. Yuji's body became a vessel for Sukuna's overwhelming power, and the adversary caught off guard, realized the grave miscalculation of underestimating this cursed duo.
The clash erupted with ferocity, a symphony of blows and curses. Yuji, under Sukuna's influence, exhibited a savage prowess that left the enemy reeling. Each strike reverberated with the might of a centuries-old curse, shaking the very foundation of the battleground.
Nobara, observing from a safe distance, couldn't help but be awestruck by the sheer intensity of the confrontation. The moonlight cast eerie shadows, emphasizing the gravity of the unfolding battle.
"Hahaha... You are weak. How can you be the same grade as me if you are this weak?" Sukuna's mocking laughter reverberated, the arrogance evident in his voice as he revelled in the chaos.
Undeterred by Sukuna's taunts, the enemy unleashed desperate manoeuvres, attempting to regain control of the spiralling battle. However, Sukuna didn't back down either.
In a sudden twist, the battlefield resonated with an eerie energy as Soul Eater responded to Sukuna's mockery. Though Soul Eater couldn't speak, the intelligence within him understood the condescending words all too well.
Summoning an army of undead, Soul Eater orchestrated a haunting spectacle. The ground trembled as a horde of skeletal warriors emerged, their hollow eyes fixated on Sukuna. The moonlit night transformed into a nightmarish tableau of clashing forces.
Sukuna, momentarily taken aback by the unexpected turn, scoffed, "What are these? Undead Minions? Is this the best you can conjure?"
It's the same Undead's Yuji and Nobara faced.
The horde, animated by Soul Eater's command, advanced with relentless determination to make Sukuna fall. Each step echoed the collective chaos of the fallen, an assembly of spirits bound by the resonance of Soul Eater's power.
If by any chance, the Soul Eater were to reach the outside world, then a massacre is the least of the worries. The sheer number of skeletons is already enough to make even the top Jujutsu sorcerer think twice.
Normally, for anyone to raise the dead, they need a corpse or a similar catalyst, but due to the Soul Eater being mutated, it needed no such thing; only its cursed energy is needed to create the skeleton pawns.
Sukuna, however, remained undeterred, his laughter echoing once more. "Pathetic! You think mere pawns can stand against me?"
The clash intensified as Sukuna waded through the horde, his curses cutting through the skeletal ranks. Yet, the undead, driven by Soul Eater's silent command, fought with an eerie coordination, proving to be more formidable than Sukuna had anticipated.
As the horde of undead clashed with Sukuna, the battlefield became a chaotic symphony of curses and bone-chilling howls. Soul Eater's silent command orchestrated a macabre ballet, each skeletal warrior driven by an unyielding will to defy the ancient curse.
In response to the escalating conflict, Sukuna, with a smirk playing on his lips, decided to amplify the chaos.
"Your domain expansion is cute, to say the least, but let me show you what the true height of Jujutsu Sorcery is," Sukuna said as he put his hands together.
"{Domain Expansion: Malevolent Shrine}"
Befitting its name, Malevolent Shrine constructs an environment centred around a small, disfeatured Buddhist shrine that has been distorted to instead enshrine demons.
It is surrounded by dark water with bull-like skulls and horns floating on it. The roof also has horns emerging from it, along with human skulls that hang down from it. The four entrances to the shrine are formed by large, grotesque mouths, complete with humanlike teeth and tongues.
Yuji, who was observing the fight, just had one thought, seeing Sukuna's domain, Badass!
As the Malevolent Shrine expanded its influence, Sukuna unleashed the devastating power of his Sure-hit ability. The battlefield trembled as the relentless slashes cut through the undead horde like a scythe through wheat. In its wake, nothing but dust remained, the skeletal warriors reduced to mere echoes of their former existence.
"It's weak; I'd rather have a rematch with you," Sukuna declared Yuji, his disdain evident in the aftermath of the destructive display.
In response, Yuji regained control of his body, staggering backwards as Sukuna's influence waned.
"Damn, you worked this body to its breaking point." Yuji collapsed onto the ground, the toll of the battle evident in every laboured breath.
Along with the Soul Eater, his domain expansion died down, and because of that, the building also returned to its formal self, but there was damage due to the fight.
Nobara, witnessing the toll the intense battle had taken on Yuji, rushed to his side. The remnants of Sukuna's malevolence lingered in the air, a testament to the fierce struggle that had unfolded.
"Yuji, you okay?" Nobara's voice carried genuine concern as she knelt beside him. Her eyes scanned his fatigued form, acknowledging the resilience that had allowed him to regain control against the overpowering Sukuna.
Yuji managed a smile, acknowledging Nobara's presence. It was not his mental strength strength that low instead his physical.
Because Sukuna used this body, overlooking its limit, the body itself is refusing to get up. Of course, Yuji has the ability to return his physical state to its previous state, but doing so is wasteful, as a strong body is made through harsh training and there is no shortcut to that.
Greater the struggle, more the reward.
Nobara extended a hand to help Yuji up. "Come on, we need to get you out of here," she insisted, her strength contrasting with the exhaustion evident in Yuji's posture.
Even in his exhausted state, Yuji doesn't forget to enjoy the close-up ride with Nobara. After all, a man needs to get his priorities straight.
As they reached the exit, Nobara glanced back at the battleground, a mix of relief and determination in her eyes, Just then someone called Yuji's name.
"Yuji, Nobara," Megumi's voice reached them as he hurriedly approached. Positioned on the other side of Yuji, Megumi offered his support, acknowledging the toll the battle had taken on his friend.
"What were you doing till now? Sleeping," Yuji quipped, his tone laced with a mixture of exhaustion and playful banter.
Megumi, managing a wry smile, replied, "Finding the exit took longer than expected, and there were curses blocking the way. But what happened to you?" His eyes scanned Yuji's fatigued form, concern etched on his face.
"He released Sukuna," Nobara interjected, speaking from Yuji's standpoint.
Yuji, leaning on Megumi for support, mustered a reassuring smile. "We handled it, Megumi. But we'll need to be even stronger next time."
Yeah, next time, I don't want to exhaust myself doing some petty tricks. I need to start my training routine after the injuries are healed. It will bring shame to my immortal self if I am unable to use this body to its full potential.
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