The city trembled under the intensity of Yuka and Dabura's duel. Concrete cracked like glass, shards of debris floated in the air, and the faint Mul-infused resonance from Dabura's energy warped reality itself. Tokyo was no longer just a battlefield—it was a living testament to power and will.
Yuka stood at the center of the chaos, Mahoraga's form swirling around her in a magnificent halo of energy. She had pushed herself beyond normal limits, fusing temporarily with the Shikigami to amplify her control. Her body glowed with golden light, her movements sharper, faster, and more precise than ever before.
Yet the cost was apparent. Sweat streaked her face, muscles trembled, and her cursed energy flared erratically whenever Mahoraga pulsed in alignment with her will.
Tsurugi, at her side, sword ready, scanned the battlefield. "Yuka… you're reaching your limit! You can't sustain that form for long!"
"I know!" Yuka shouted, voice carried over the roaring winds created by the clash of energies. "But if I falter now… everything we've fought for—everything we protect—fails!"
Yutsumi hovered slightly behind them, adaptive energy flaring as he analyzed every movement, every fluctuation in Mahoraga, and every ripple of Dabura's power. Adaptive Perfect Copy had evolved far beyond simple technique replication—it now predicted energy patterns, stabilized chaotic surges, and synchronized with Yuka to maximize both offense and defense.
Maru observed from the shadows, his third eye opening briefly to scan the battlefield. His expression was calm but heavy with concern. "She is pushing too far, yet this is necessary," he murmured. "This duel is not merely a test of strength. It is a lesson in balance—between power, restraint, and understanding. If she can maintain harmony with Mahoraga, she can withstand Dabura. If not… it will be catastrophic."
Dabura's voice thundered across the street. "You think your little trick can match me? The harmony you cling to is nothing but fleeting illusion!"
The massive Simurian swung his claw, warping space in a wide arc, intending to crush both Yuka and Mahoraga in a single strike.
Yutsumi's energy flared, instinctively harmonizing with Mahoraga's defensive maneuvers. For a brief moment, Yuka's form stabilized completely. She met Dabura's strike head-on, Mahoraga's energy counteracting the spatial distortion and redirecting its force harmlessly into the rubble.
Tsurugi's eyes widened. "He's… she's holding him off? And it's all being stabilized by Yutsumi?"
Adaptive Perfect Copy extended subtly, not taking direct control, but adjusting Mahoraga's movements and Yuka's cursed energy in perfect tandem. Every strike Dabura made was met with precise counterbalance. Every shift in space or gravity was neutralized before it could destabilize the battlefield.
Yuka let out a shout, energy flaring outward in a controlled pulse that forced Dabura back a step. "I will not yield!"
Dabura's eyes narrowed, a mixture of curiosity and frustration. "You are… extraordinary. But extraordinary does not mean invincible!"
He raised his claws, creating multiple distortions in space simultaneously. Yuka's form flickered under the strain, but Yutsumi's harmonization kept her grounded. She adjusted, summoning Mahoraga's full form briefly, creating a temporary sphere of synchronized energy that deflected Dabura's attack.
Tsurugi stepped forward, his sword slicing through residual energy to create space for Yuka. "Hold steady! You're doing incredible, Yuka!"
Despite the chaos, a faint ripple in the air announced the arrival of a new presence.
Yuji Itadori emerged from the shadows, eyes calm yet piercing, energy flowing silently around him. His arrival shifted the battlefield subtly; even Dabura felt the change.
"Yuji…" Yuka whispered, exhaustion and relief mixing in her voice. "You… you're here."
Yuji's gaze was steady. "I'm here. But I'm not stepping in… not yet. This duel isn't just about fighting Dabura. It's about showing what we can endure, what we can harmonize, and how we survive without becoming weapons ourselves."
Dabura hissed, sensing the new threat. "Ah… the boy who defies death… come to watch? Or to interfere?"
Yuji's smile was faint but unyielding. "I'm observing. And preparing."
Yutsumi felt the subtle shifts in energy immediately. Adaptive Perfect Copy adjusted, harmonizing with the new flow while maintaining Yuka's stability. The synchronization of the three siblings—Yuka, Tsurugi, and Yutsumi—was now amplified, creating a triad of control against Dabura's overwhelming force.
Maru's third eye remained open, scanning. "The balance has shifted slightly. But it is delicate. One misstep, and the entire battlefield could collapse. They must maintain focus."
The duel continued. Yuka, partially merged with Mahoraga, pushed Dabura back step by step, each strike more precise, each maneuver more calculated. Tsurugi's support was unwavering, his energy carving pathways and stabilizing space. Yutsumi's adaptive synchronization ensured the fusion of human, cursed, and Simurian energies remained in perfect balance.
Dabura's attacks grew more erratic, frustration evident in the distortion of space around him. "How… how do you resist me?!"
Yuka's voice rang clear across the battlefield. "Because I'm not resisting! I'm harmonizing! I'm controlling my power, and I'm not alone!"
Her declaration sent a shockwave through Mahoraga, amplifying the energy and stabilizing her form further. The synchronization was near perfect, a testament to training, trust, and the invisible thread of protection that bound the siblings together.
Tsurugi's voice carried a note of awe. "She's… she's mastered it… at least for now."
Adaptive Perfect Copy pulsed faintly through Yutsumi. He understood the limits, the dangers, and the potential for collapse—but he also understood Yuka's resolve. It was unyielding, and for the first time, he felt the full weight of what it meant to protect while adapting.
Dabura's claws struck again, but for the first time, his attack faltered, disrupted by the synchronized triad of energy. Yuka's form held, Mahoraga surged, Tsurugi stabilized, and Yutsumi harmonized. The battle had reached a new equilibrium—one born not of brute force, but of unity, understanding, and adaptability.
The city held its breath. The clash of power, strategy, and familial bonds had created a rare moment of balance.
And somewhere, unseen, Mahito watched, intrigued. "Interesting… the siblings are growing stronger, and the boy adapts beyond expectation. But the game is far from over."
Yuka's eyes burned with determination. "This… this is just the beginning. We won't falter. Not now. Not ever."
The first phase of the battle concluded, with chaos tempered by harmony, and the siblings poised for the next escalation.