The battlefield was unrecognizable.
Cracked ground.
Shattered trees.
Cursed energy fading into the air like smoke after a fire.
And silence.
Where once there had been hundreds—
Now there was nothing.
At the center—
Takeru stood alone.
Breathing steady.
Eyes still glowing faintly.
The last curse lunged.
Desperate.
Broken.
Takeru didn't move much.
Just one step forward—
One precise strike—
And it ended.
The battlefield…
Was finally clear.
For a moment—
He didn't move.
Didn't speak.
Didn't think.
Then—
The glow in his eyes dimmed.
"…It's over."
Behind him—
Maki lowered her weapon slowly.
"…Tch… about time."
Nobara let out a long breath, dropping to sit on the ground.
"…Remind me to never do that again."
Megumi scanned the area one last time, shadows settling.
"…No remaining cursed energy signatures. It's done."
But Takeru was already moving.
Back to Yuji.
He dropped to one knee beside him, carefully turning him over.
Blood still stained his clothes.
The wound—
Deep.
Too deep.
"…Yuji."
For the first time since the fight began—
There was something in Takeru's voice.
Not calm.
Not controlled.
Fear.
"…Don't mess with me right now," he muttered quietly.
"…You said you'd stay alive."
A pause.
Then—
A cough.
Yuji's body shifted slightly.
"…Ow…"
Takeru froze.
"…Yuji?"
Yuji cracked one eye open, wincing immediately.
"…Man… that hurt…"
Silence.
Then—
Relief hit all at once.
Nobara shot up. "YOU IDIOT, DON'T SCARE US LIKE THAT!"
Maki smirked slightly. "…Tougher than he looks."
Megumi exhaled quietly, tension finally leaving his shoulders. "…Good."
Takeru didn't say anything.
He just stared.
"…You're alive," he said finally.
Yuji gave a weak grin.
"…Yeah… kinda hard to get rid of me, right?"
A beat.
Then Takeru flicked his forehead.
Hard.
"OW—HEY!"
"…Don't do that again."
Yuji laughed weakly.
"…Yeah… yeah… my bad…"
From Takeru's cheek—
A faint voice echoed.
"…Hmph. Disappointing."
Takeru didn't react.
But Yuji smirked slightly.
"…He's still talking, huh?"
"…Yeah," Takeru replied.
"…But he stayed out of it."
Megumi stepped closer.
"…That power you used… you controlled it."
Takeru nodded slightly.
"…Barely."
Maki crossed her arms.
"…Doesn't matter. You won."
Nobara smirked.
"…Yeah. And next time? Maybe don't go full demon mode without warning."
Yuji laughed again—then immediately regretted it, clutching his side.
"…Okay yeah—next time let's avoid the whole 'almost dying' part too…"
The group stood together.
Bruised.
Exhausted.
Alive.
The night air felt lighter now.
Calmer.
But not peaceful.
Far away—
Watching from the shadows—
Mahito smiled.
"…You survived."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Good."
Because now—
He knew exactly what he was dealing with.
Back at the battlefield—
Takeru helped Yuji to his feet.
Slowly.
Carefully.
"…Let's go home," Yuji said.
Takeru nodded.
"…Yeah."
But as they began to walk—
His eyes flickered once more.
Just for a second.
A reminder.
That the storm…
Wasn't truly over.