Blizzard | Gojo Satoru x Reader |

Chapter 44

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

"We need you. I need you."

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

The aftermath of the battle left the facility in ruins. Smoke billowed from the cracks in the walls, debris littered the ground, and the acrid scent of burnt concrete filled the air. The group stood, battered and bleeding, before the goddess, who hovered ominously in the center of the chaos. Her ethereal form glowed with an eerie red light, casting long shadows over the shattered remnants of the building.

Gojo, usually the epitome of calm confidence, was hunched over, blood dripping from a gash on his forehead. He wiped at the crimson streaks with the back of his hand, his vision blurring. Yaga's arm hung limply at his side, a deep cut marring his shoulder. Rei, too, was visibly shaken, clutching her side where a bruise was already forming. Her eyes darted nervously between the goddess and her injured comrades.

As the goddess turned to leave the facility, a horrifying realization settled over them. They knew what they had to do, but their hearts rebelled against the idea. Killing Y/N, their friend, felt impossible, a last resort they couldn't bear to consider. But the goddess, an unstoppable force of destruction, left them no choice.

"Y/N!" Geto called out, his voice raw with desperation. He took a step forward, ignoring the pain that shot through his body. "I know you're in there! Please, you have to fight this!"

The goddess paused, her head tilting slightly as if considering his words. But there was no recognition in her eyes, only a cold, impassive stare. Geto swallowed hard, his throat tight. He had to reach her, somehow.

"I know I hurt you," he continued, his voice breaking. "Back then, I did things that I sure as hell don't deserve forgiveness for. I pushed you away because... because I was afraid. Afraid of losing you, afraid of what you might become. But that doesn't matter now. What matters is that you're still in there, Y/N. I know you are."

He took another step, his eyes locked on hers. The red aura around the goddess flickered, as if reacting to his words. For a brief moment, it felt like Y/N might be listening, struggling against the force that controlled her.

Gojo, watching the exchange, straightened painfully. He joined Geto's plea, his usually light-hearted tone now sombre and earnest. "Y/N, remember all the times we fought together? The laughs we shared, the moments we had each other's backs? That's still you, deep down. You're not a monster, you're our friend. Please, don't let this take over."

Rei, tears streaming down her face, stepped forward as well. Her voice was soft, trembling. "Y/N, you saved me, remember? You were there when no one else was. You can't leave us like this. We need you. I need you."

The goddess's aura flared, a deep, ominous red, as if resisting their words. But there was a flicker of hesitation in her movements, a subtle shift that hinted at an internal struggle. Yaga, who had been silently watching, finally spoke up.

"Y/N," he began, his voice heavy with emotion. "You've always been stronger than you know. Not because of your power, but because of your heart. Remember who you are. Remember the good you've done. This isn't you."

The room fell silent, save for the crackling of the flames and the distant rumble of the crumbling facility. The group held their breath, watching the goddess intently. Her eyes flickered, the red glow dimming ever so slightly.

Inside the goddess's mind, a battle raged. Y/N's consciousness, buried deep under layers of divine power, fought desperately to surface. The memories of her friends, their voices, their faces, gave her the strength to push back against the overwhelming force trying to suppress her. She could feel the goddess's anger, her desire for dominance, but Y/N clung to the one thing she knew was true: she wasn't alone.

The goddess's form trembled, the red aura flickering like a candle in the wind. Geto's heart pounded as he saw a spark of recognition in her eyes. "Y/N, you can do this!" he shouted, his voice hoarse. "We're here with you!"

For a moment, it seemed like they might succeed. The goddess's hand, which had been raised to strike, wavered. Her expression softened, the cold detachment melting away to reveal a glimmer of the girl they knew. Y/N's consciousness clawed its way to the surface, her presence becoming more tangible.

Then, in an instant, everything changed.

A loud gunshot echoed through the ruined facility. Time seemed to slow as the group turned toward the source of the sound. One of the injured facility members, bloodied and barely standing, had aimed a gun at Y/N. His face was twisted in a mixture of pain and determination, his hand trembling as he fired.

The bullet struck Y/N squarely in the forehead. Her eyes widened in shock, the red aura around her flaring violently before dimming. She staggered, her expression frozen in a moment of surprise and pain. The goddess's influence seemed to shatter, the divine light in her eyes extinguishing.

For a brief, heartbreaking moment, Y/N's consciousness surfaced completely. She looked at her friends, her eyes filled with sorrow and apology. Her lips moved, as if trying to say something, but no words came out. Then, with a soft sigh, she collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

The group stood in stunned silence, the reality of what had just happened crashing down on them. The facility member who had fired the shot fell to his knees, his expression a mix of relief and horror. The air was thick with tension and disbelief, the echoes of the gunshot still ringing in their ears.

Geto was the first to move, rushing to Y/N's side. He dropped to his knees, his hands shaking as he reached out to touch her. "Sis... no," he whispered, his voice breaking. "No, no, no..."

Gojo, Yaga, and Rei stood frozen, their faces pale and stricken. The battle was over, but the cost of victory was too great. They had tried to save her, to reach her, but in the end, they had lost. Y/N, the girl they had fought so hard to save, was gone. And the world, once again, felt a little darker without her light.

── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──