Ataraxia 平静 | Gojo Satoru

-'๑'-𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟒𝟓-'๑'-

Gojo's POV:

The courtyard became a clash of shadows and light—a battlefield wrought from nightmares.

Gone were the dark man's mocking eyes, now replaced by a steely hunger, his aura flaring and twisting with violent intent. Yuji's fist still smoldered from his last strike, but he was already preparing for another attack, his gaze briefly darting to Yue—a momentary distraction that created a dangerous opening.

A dark blur dashed toward him.

Before Yuji could react, Suguru's serpent lunged, fangs bared. The dark man sidestepped with inhuman speed, his large hand shooting out to grasp the serpent by its throat. With a brutal twist, he hurled the creature into Megumi's airborne shikigami, triggering a massive explosion of cursed energy.

Suguru leaped from the falling beast, landing gracefully beside Yuji. "This will be a problem," he muttered, eyes narrowing.

"We need to find a way to seal him," Yuji replied, his cursed energy flaring a brilliant cobalt.

As the dust settled, the dark man stood amidst the chaos, unscathed and laughing. "I would've thought the King doesn't need someone else's protection," he taunted, his voice dripping with contempt.

My brows furrowed as I watched them exchange a glance. He knew about Sukuna.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Yue struggling—a fierce, desperate figure against the onslaught of Naoya and Ranta Zen'in. Her movements were frantic yet precise, her gaze tormented. Blood streaked her face as she spun and parried, her blade clashing with their relentless assault.

When I glimpsed the streak of midnight, my body lunged towards Yuji in an instant, only to realize the attack was meant for me. Our powers collided in a searing flash. The shadowy claws vanished into my Infinity as I turned, my face inches from the man Yue had called Father. My breath came sharp, the air thick with the metallic tang of blood and the acrid scent of cursed energy.

He straightened, his eyes shimmering like crimson-stained clouds. "You haven't changed at all." His voice was a low, dangerous growl.

I gritted my teeth. "And you were supposed to be dead."

The ground shuddered beneath us as my fingers wrapped around his slippery wrists, trembling from the force of my grip.

"Hah," he sneered with almost satisfaction. "This vessel is nothing but death, a lesson in fluidity." His shadows lashed out, parting us like a slithering whip. "Do you think I have a soul, mortal? Do you think I care for his?"

My jaw tightened when he pressed his thumb into his chest, tendrils of smoke and darkness pouring out.

Yuji and Megumi were now locked in their own deadly dance with Naobito Zen'in. Yuji's fists glowed with raw cursed energy, each punch rattling the very air. I almost failed to notice Shoko's limp form at his side, her body covered in dust and blood now that my barrier was gone.

Megumi's shikigami darted and struck, their fangs and claws tearing through the night. The courtyard echoed with their struggle, a symphony of clashing steel and raw, primal energy.

I turned my attention back to the man in front of me as he hissed, the sound foreign to any human tongue. "You're distracted, Gojo," he taunted, his voice a low, mocking drawl that grated on my nerves. "Too many people to protect."

The ground beneath me cracked, my hands a blur as I unleashed a torrent of Red. The air around us distorted with the force of my cursed energy, and I held my breath as the impact sent Ranta hurtling into the bedrock and Yue stumbling.