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Chapter 21 - Chapter 21 : Unrestrained Anger

Two dangerous presences filled the air, but now, only one remained. Shin's gaze snapped upward to see Sukuna descending from the sky, a menacing figure casting a shadow over the battlefield. 'I need to find Nanami and inform him about the agents and my next task,' Shin thought, his heart pounding. Frantically scrolling through his contacts, he realized the bitter truth—he hadn't asked for Nanami's number earlier. 'Damn it.' Frustration mounting, Shin pivoted and hurried back to Ms. Shoko.

Shin: "How's Ijichi's condition?" he demanded, his voice cracking with raw concern. His eyes were wide, searching for any sign of improvement.

Ms. Shoko: "Stable, barely, but he'll live," she replied, her tone a mixture of grim reality and hope.

Shin: "What's my next task?" he pressed, his tone steady but his eyes betraying his underlying anxiety.

Ms. Shoko: "Hmmm, head back down and help retrieve Gojo," she instructed, her expression resolute and unyielding.

After receiving a swift treatment from Ms. Shoko, Shin plunged back into the chaos, ignoring the civilians scattering in a panic. 'Sorry, your lives are replaceable. Gojo isn't,' he thought, his resolve sharpening with each determined step. He soon found himself alongside Nanami, who was in a dire state. 'Jesus, he needs treatment,' Shin noted, concern evident in his furrowed brow.

Shin: "Nanami, you need to get back to Ms. Shoko," he urged, his voice urgent and tinged with worry.

Nanami: "Gojo is not far. We need to retrieve him immediately!" Nanami countered, his voice fierce despite his injuries, driven by an unwavering sense of duty.

Shin hesitated for a brief moment before nodding begrudgingly. "... ... ... Fine," he conceded, his tone reluctant but resolute.

As they proceeded, Shin adjusted his pace to accommodate Nanami's condition. 'He can handle one to three curses by himself. I should focus on swiftly dispatching the rest. Luckily, this weapon is proving its worth,' Shin thought, eyes scanning the area. Amidst the curses, he felt an unsettling shift—a new, more malevolent presence that felt disturbingly human yet distinctly inhuman. Turning around, he saw a figure with a patched face—Mahito. Without a second thought, Shin lunged at Mahito, but his stab missed. He compensated with a powerful kick to Mahito's chest, sending him crashing several feet away.

Mahito: "My, my, aren't you spirited?"

Mahito taunted, rising with a sinister grin. Dusting off his chest, he began to laugh with dark amusement.

Mahito: "You called me weak, plain, and boring last time. Ready for a second opinion?"

Mahito's body contorted grotesquely, his limbs elongating into sharp, curved blades. He surged toward Nanami with alarming speed. 'Shit!' Shin thought, acting on instinct. He kicked Nanami out of Mahito's path just in time to prevent a lethal blow. With Nanami temporarily safe, Shin and Mahito clashed with ferocity. 'He's stronger than last time—much stronger,' Shin realized with growing dread.

Despite landing several blows, Mahito remained eerily unfazed, his body seemingly impervious to Shin's attacks. Shin, now covered in cuts and scratches, felt the weight of impending defeat. 'If this keeps up, I'm done for.'

Desperate, Shin took cover behind a pillar and seized a nearby bench, hurling it at Mahito. Mahito, with a contemptuous smirk, sliced the bench in mid-air. The battle raged on, and Shin's exhaustion began to mount, his movements growing sluggish.

Mahito: "What's the matter? Slowing down? Can't keep up? Pathetic," Mahito sneered, his voice dripping with disdain.

The taunts stung, igniting Shin's rage. He threw caution to the wind, launching into a frenzied assault. Despite his relentless aggression, his attacks seemed to barely affect Mahito. Each failed strike left Shin more battered and weary. Mahito, relishing Shin's struggle, continued to slice him with cruel efficiency.

Shin: 'Dammit!'

Mahito: "Oh, what's wrong? Can't keep up? Too weak? You thought you could stand on equal footing with me, didn't you? You're nothing but weak," Mahito taunted, his eyes glinting with sadistic pleasure.

Shin: "Weak... weak... weak... FUCK YOU!" Shin roared, his voice a desperate howl. In a blind rage, he began tearing through the surroundings, hurling benches, vending machines, and even idle civilians at Mahito. Mahito, unfazed, sliced through each projectile with ease, encircling himself with wreckage and gore.

Mahito: "Weak, so weak, WEAK, weeeeaaak. HAHAHAHAHA!" Mahito laughed maniacally, basking in Shin's futile fury.

Shin: "SHUT THE FUCK UP!" Shin bellowed, his voice hoarse from exertion and anger. As he struggled with exhaustion and desperation, his gaze fell on Yuji, bruised, with Todo and Arata. In a split second of distraction, Mahito seized the opportunity to strike. Miraculously, he only sliced a piece of rubble instead of Shin.

Mahito, noticing the change in focus, grinned with cruel amusement.

Mahito: "I missed, but that's alright. I'll get you next time, weakling."

Shin, furious, attempted to charge at Mahito, but his fatigue overwhelmed him. Yuji and Todo intervened, restraining him.

Todo: "Arata, heal this one and Nanami, now," he ordered, his tone authoritative and unyielding.

Yuji: "Shin, calm down! We can't afford recklessness right now. Rest up. Todo and I will handle this," he said, his voice firm yet imbued with concern.

Shin looked at Yuji and Todo, his eyes filled with a mix of frustration and relief. He slumped next to Nanami, exhaustion heavy on his shoulders. As Yuji and Todo engaged Mahito, Shin felt his eyelids growing heavy. 'I need to be stronger,' he thought, before Arata's urgent voice jolted him from his thoughts.

Arata: "Hey, we need to get Nanami out of here immediately. His wounds need treatment, and it's a miracle he's been able to move at all."

Feeling slightly rejuvenated, Shin carried Nanami on his back as Arata guided them out above ground. The ground shook violently as they moved, a reminder of the ongoing chaos. Upon reaching the surface, Shin saw additional sorcerers arriving to assist. He quickly delegated Nanami to the care of nearby sorcerers and turned back to help Yuji and Todo.

After handing Nanami off, Shin raced towards Yuji and Todo, following their directions. As he approached, he heard the sounds of battle intensify. Arriving at the scene, he saw Todo being flung through the air by a grotesque mass of meat, while Yuji fought Mahito with fierce determination. Assessing the situation swiftly, Shin chose to aid Yuji. He closed the gap and managed to stab Mahito from behind.

Mahito: "Impressive, but catching me off guard is far from enough—"

Before Mahito could finish his sentence, Yuji executed a devastating Black Flash. Shin, using every ounce of his strength, pinned Mahito down. The impact of Yuji's attack left Mahito visibly injured, staggering from the force. 'At most three more Black Flashes could finish this bastard,' Shin thought, determination hardening in his chest.

Shin: "Yuji! How's your condition?"

Yuji: "Never felt better. Why?"

Shin: "I'll hold him down. Can you pull off another Black Flash?"

Yuji: "Ready whenever."

Mahito, regaining his composure, began laughing maniacally as he clasped his hands together. 'He's about to use a Domain!' Shin realized with dread.

In an instant, Mahito activated his Domain Expansion, Self-Embodiment of Perfection, for a split second. Shin and Yuji, recognizing the threat, rushed to close the gap—but it was too late. The world around them distorted into a nightmarish realm of Mahito's making.

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