The Last Bargain

Chapter XXXI: The Battle Within

The chamber seemed to shrink around Shin, the walls of mirrors drawing closer, their surfaces glinting with sharp edges that reflected the conflict raging in his heart. His mirror self—his dark reflection—stood before him, its eyes blazing with a mix of fury and cruel amusement. The air crackled with energy, charged with the tension of the fight that was about to escalate.

Shin steadied his breath, his muscles tensing, every nerve in his body alive with adrenaline. "I'm ready," he repeated, his voice firmer now, louder, echoing off the mirrored walls. He felt a surge of determination that seemed to push back the oppressive weight of the room, the pressure that sought to crush his spirit.

The mirror Shin smirked, a cold smile spreading across its face. "You think you're ready?" it mocked, its voice dripping with contempt. "Ready to face yourself? To face the truth?"

Shin's eyes narrowed. "Yes," he said, and with a burst of speed, he lunged forward, throwing a punch aimed straight at his reflection's face.

The mirror Shin moved with equal speed, dodging the blow effortlessly, its expression never faltering. "Is that all you've got?" it taunted, sidestepping and countering with a swift kick that Shin barely managed to block.

Shin gritted his teeth, feeling the sting of the impact through his forearms. "I'm just getting started," he growled, pushing back and launching a flurry of quick jabs and kicks, his movements fluid and precise.

But the mirror Shin matched him move for move, its strikes mirroring his exactly, as if it could anticipate every action, every thought. Shin felt frustration building in his chest as his reflection parried each blow, effortlessly blocking his attacks.

"You're too predictable," the mirror Shin sneered, ducking under a punch and landing a solid hit to Shin's ribs. "You've always been too predictable... too weak."

Shin stumbled back, wincing from the pain, but he refused to let it slow him down. He knew he had to dig deeper, to find a way to outmaneuver this twisted version of himself. He had to be smarter, faster... more unpredictable.

He took a step back, his mind racing. "If it's my reflection," he thought, "then it knows everything I'm going to do. I need to change my approach... to do something it won't expect."

The mirror Shin grinned, sensing his hesitation. "What's the matter, Shin?" it taunted. "Losing your nerve?"

Shin ignored the taunt, his eyes flicking around the chamber, searching for any clue, any advantage he could use. Then, an idea struck him—a memory of his old training sessions with Raito, of the times they had sparred together, pushing each other to their limits.

He remembered a move Raito had taught him, a feint that relied on deception and misdirection—a move he had never quite mastered but had always admired for its elegance and simplicity.

Shin took a deep breath, calming his racing heart. "Alright," he muttered to himself, "let's see if this works."

He moved forward again, launching another attack, but this time he pulled back at the last second, shifting his weight and spinning to the side, delivering a low sweep aimed at his reflection's legs.

The mirror Shin seemed caught off guard for a split second, its eyes widening in surprise, but it recovered quickly, jumping back just in time to avoid the sweep. "Clever," it muttered, its tone grudgingly impressed. "But not clever enough."

Shin didn't let up, pressing his advantage with a series of rapid strikes, mixing up his movements, throwing in feints and unpredictable jabs. He could see the reflection struggling to keep up, its movements becoming less fluid, less certain.

"You think you can beat me with tricks?" the mirror Shin spat, its voice filled with anger. "You can't outsmart yourself."

Shin smiled, a flicker of confidence returning. "Maybe not," he replied, "but I can keep you guessing."

He continued to press his attack, shifting his stance, changing his rhythm, using every trick he had learned over the years. His movements became faster, more erratic, and he saw his reflection falter, its balance wavering.

But then, just as he felt he was gaining the upper hand, the mirror Shin's eyes flashed with anger, and it unleashed a burst of speed, charging forward with renewed ferocity. It swung a hard punch aimed at Shin's head, forcing him to duck, and followed up with a vicious knee strike to his midsection.

Shin grunted as the blow connected, pain exploding in his ribs, but he refused to back down. He twisted to the side, using the momentum of the hit to spin around, catching his reflection off guard and delivering a powerful elbow strike to its jaw.

The mirror Shin staggered back, its eyes wide with shock and fury. "You think you're clever," it hissed, rubbing its jaw. "But you're still just a shadow... a pale imitation of who you could be."

Shin's breath came in short, ragged gasps, his body aching, but he stood tall, his eyes blazing with determination. "I'm more than you think," he said firmly. "And I'm not afraid to fight for what matters."

The reflection snarled, its expression twisting with rage. "Then prove it!" it shouted, lunging forward again, its hands glowing with a dark energy that crackled in the air.

Shin dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the blast of energy that shot past him, shattering another mirror in a burst of light and sound. He knew he had to stay focused, to keep his wits about him. The reflection was powerful, but it was also predictable—driven by anger, by a need to prove itself superior.

"Come on," Shin thought, bracing himself for the next attack. "Come at me... show me what you've got."

The mirror Shin obliged, charging forward with a roar, its hands raised to strike. Shin watched closely, his body tensed, his mind sharp. He waited for the right moment, the perfect opening, and then he moved.

He ducked under the reflection's swing, twisting to the side and delivering a swift kick to its knee, knocking it off balance. The reflection staggered, and Shin followed up with a quick series of punches, each one landing with precision and force.

The mirror Shin reeled, its eyes wide with shock. "No..." it muttered, its voice filled with disbelief. "This can't be..."

Shin pressed his advantage, refusing to let up. "I'm not afraid of you," he said, his voice steady. "I'm not afraid of myself. I've made my choices, and I'm willing to face them... all of them."

The reflection's eyes blazed with fury, its form flickering as if struggling to maintain its shape. "You can't beat me," it hissed. "You can't beat yourself."

Shin shook his head, a small smile forming on his lips. "I don't have to beat you," he replied calmly. "I just have to accept you... to accept myself."

The mirror Shin froze, its expression faltering, as if unsure of how to respond. "What... what are you saying?" it stammered.

Shin stepped closer, his gaze unwavering. "You're a part of me," he said softly. "My doubts, my fears, my regrets... but you don't control me. I do. I'm choosing to move forward, to fight for my friends, to fight for what's right. And nothing you say will change that."

The reflection's form flickered again, its edges blurring, its eyes wide with shock and confusion. "No... this isn't... this can't be..."

Shin took a deep breath, feeling a sense of calm settle over him. "I forgive myself," he whispered. "I accept who I am... and who I've become."

With those words, the mirror Shin let out a final, anguished scream, its form shattering into a thousand pieces, the sound echoing through the chamber like breaking glass. The shards dissolved into the mist, leaving Shin standing alone, his breath coming in slow, steady gasps.

He felt a sense of peace wash over him, a weight lifting from his shoulders. He had faced his reflection, his doubts, his fears... and he had emerged stronger.

Shin smiled, a genuine smile, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. "I'm coming, Raito," he whispered. "And I'm not giving up."

He turned, ready to find his way out of the chamber and back to Zento, knowing that the true battle was still ahead, but feeling more ready than ever to face it.