The battlefield had collapsed into chaos.
Screams.
Shattered ground.
Cursed energy flooding every direction.
Nobara was on one knee, breathing hard, blood running down her arm. Her hammer trembled slightly in her grip.
"…Damn it…"
Another wave rushed her.
Megumi staggered back, shadows flickering unstable. His shikigami were thinning—fading under the endless pressure.
"…Not enough…"
Maki stood surrounded.
Her weapon was chipped.
Her stance—still strong—
But even she was slowing down.
"Tch…!"
Everywhere—
They were losing.
Yuji slammed through another curse, breathing heavy now, movements just a fraction slower.
"Takeru—!"
Takeru didn't respond.
He stood still.
Head lowered.
Six Eyes glowing—
Watching everything.
Calculating.
Too many enemies.
Too many variables.
No clean path to victory.
"…This isn't working," he said quietly.
Another wave surged forward.
Closer.
Closer.
Sukuna's mouth formed on his cheek.
Grinning.
Waiting.
"…You finally understand?"
Takeru's hand clenched slightly.
"…Yeah."
A pause.
The battlefield roared around him—
But for a moment—
Everything felt still.
"…Sukuna…"
Yuji turned, eyes widening.
"…Takeru?"
Takeru slowly lifted his head.
His Six Eyes burned brighter than ever before.
"…Switch."
Silence.
For the first time—
Sukuna didn't laugh.
"…You're serious?"
"…Halfway," Takeru said calmly.
"…Not full control. We fight together."
A beat.
Then—
A low, dangerous chuckle.
"…You're a bold one."
Cursed energy exploded.
Not wild.
Not chaotic.
But something… unnatural.
Takeru's body shifted—just slightly.
Markings crawled across part of his face—
One eye remained his—
The other… changed.
Sharper.
Colder.
Ancient.
The air warped around him.
Yuji stepped back instinctively.
"…Whoa…"
Sukuna's voice overlapped with Takeru's—
Two tones.
One body.
"…Now this…"
"…is enough."
The swarm lunged.
And everything changed.
Takeru moved—
No—
They moved.
A single step—
And three curses were gone.
Not struck.
Not thrown.
Gone.
Speed beyond perception.
Precision beyond logic.
Power layered on top of power.
"Back off!" Yuji shouted to the others.
Maki froze for a split second—then smirked.
"…He finally snapped, huh?"
Megumi's eyes widened.
"…No… that's controlled."
Another wave surged—
Takeru raised his hand—
And slashed.
Space distorted.
A line carved through dozens of enemies instantly.
Sukuna laughed—
Not fully free—
But not contained either.
"YES—this is what I'm talking about!"
Takeru's voice cut through it.
"…Focus."
The two consciousnesses overlapped—
Clashing.
Balancing.
Working.
Yuji grinned despite the chaos.
"…Alright… guess we're doing this."
He rushed in—
Now matching the rhythm.
Brother.
And something else.
Together—they tore through the battlefield.
The impossible odds began to shift.
Not gone—
But breaking.
Across the field—
Nobara stared, stunned.
"…What the hell is that?"
Megumi exhaled slowly.
"…Something we shouldn't rely on."
Maki grinned wider.
"…But I'm glad it's on our side."
Takeru stood at the center of the battlefield.
Breathing steady.
Eyes uneven—
One human.
One curse.
The swarm hesitated.
For the first time—
They felt fear.
Sukuna whispered—low, thrilled—
"…Don't die yet."
Takeru replied—calm, firm—
"…I won't."
The cursed energy surged again.
Stronger.
Sharper.
More dangerous than before.
And as the battlefield shifted—
As hope barely flickered back into existence—
The chapter ended.