The Last Bargain

Chapter XXVIII: Yomi's Domain

The air grew colder as Zento and Shin stepped through the gateway, crossing the threshold from the Valley of Echoes into Yomi's domain. The world around them was a strange, disorienting blend of light and shadow, with a ground that seemed to ripple like water beneath their feet. The sky above shifted constantly, from deep crimson to a sickly green, and then to a starless black. It was a place where reality felt stretched and twisted, a realm that defied logic and natural laws.

"We're here," Zento muttered, his eyes scanning the bizarre landscape. "But where exactly is 'here'?"

Shin nodded, his expression tense. "I don't know... but it feels like the gods are watching us. Waiting for us to make the first move."

They took a few cautious steps forward, the ground shifting and undulating beneath them, making each step feel uncertain and unstable. The landscape seemed to pulse with energy, as if alive with some unseen force.

"We should stay close," Zento suggested, looking around warily. "We have no idea what we're dealing with here."

Shin nodded again, but before he could respond, the ground beneath them trembled violently. A crack split open, a deep, jagged line snaking its way across the ground. Without warning, the ground gave way beneath their feet, and they were both pulled in opposite directions.

"Zento!" Shin shouted, reaching out his hand as he was dragged away by an invisible force.

"Shin!" Zento called back, but before he could react, he was flung backward, separated from his friend by a wall of light that seemed to rise out of nowhere. The force of the split sent them hurtling into different directions, each thrown into their own corner of Yomi's twisted domain.

...

Shin landed hard on a solid surface, gasping as the air was knocked from his lungs. He pushed himself up, looking around to find himself in a strange, vast room with walls that seemed to stretch out infinitely, covered in smooth, reflective surfaces. Everywhere he looked, he saw his own reflection staring back at him, distorted and twisted by the curves of the mirrors.

He took a cautious step forward, trying to steady his breathing. "Where am I?" he muttered, his voice echoing unnaturally in the vast space.

Suddenly, one of the mirrors directly in front of him shimmered, and the reflection began to move on its own. The reflection stepped out from the mirror, solidifying into a figure that looked exactly like Shin—but with subtle differences. The mirrored version of himself stood taller, its expression colder, its eyes filled with a mocking glint.

"Well, well," the mirror Shin sneered, crossing his arms over his chest. "Look at you, stumbling around like a lost child."

Shin's heart pounded, but he stood his ground, narrowing his eyes at the reflection. "Who are you?" he demanded, though he already had a sinking feeling he knew the answer.

The mirror Shin laughed, a harsh, mocking sound that echoed through the chamber. "Isn't it obvious? I'm you. The real you. The one you keep hiding from."

Shin felt a chill run down his spine. "I'm not hiding from anything," he replied, trying to keep his voice steady. "I'm here to find Raito and bring him back."

The reflection shook its head, smirking. "Really? Or are you just trying to prove something to yourself? Trying to prove that you're not the coward everyone thinks you are?"

Shin clenched his fists, anger bubbling up inside him. "I'm no coward," he snapped. "I've made my choices, and I'm standing by them."

The mirror Shin's smile widened. "Oh, sure. You're always standing by your choices... after you've run away from everyone who depended on you. Your family... your friends... even Raito. What makes you think you can save him now?"