The Last Bargain

Chapter XXXIX: The Darkness Within

The shadows began to twist and churn violently, their dark forms swirling around Raito like a storm. Zento and Shin watched in horror as the air grew colder, the whispers turning into a low, guttural rumble that seemed to vibrate through the very ground beneath them.

Then, with a sudden roar, the shadows parted, and Yomi burst forth, his form towering above them, larger than life, his eyes blazing with a cold, malevolent light. His presence was overwhelming, a force of pure darkness that seemed to swallow all hope, all light.

"Too late," Yomi boomed, his voice echoing across the dark plain like thunder. "You fools, did you really think you could save him?"

Zento's heart sank as Yomi's words cut through the air, a wave of dread washing over him. "No..." he whispered, his eyes darting to Raito, who stood motionless, his face pale and drawn, his eyes empty. "We're not too late... we can still—"

Yomi laughed, a harsh, mocking sound that sent chills down their spines. "Raito has already succumbed to the shadows," he declared, his grin widening. "He is lost to you now... lost to the darkness."

As if on cue, the remaining shadows swarmed around Raito's body, twisting and coiling around him like snakes. They moved with a vicious energy, wrapping themselves tightly around his arms, his legs, his neck, leaving dark, inky trails across his skin, like a demented tattoo that seemed to writhe and pulse with a life of its own.

"Raito!" Shin shouted, taking a step forward, his voice filled with urgency. "Fight it! Don't let them control you!"

But Raito's eyes remained distant, his expression vacant. The shadows twisted tighter, sinking deeper into his flesh, and Shin could see the pain flickering in his friend's eyes, as if his very soul was being torn apart.

Yomi watched, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "He is mine now," he taunted, his voice dripping with cruelty. "His consciousness sinks deeper and deeper within... swallowed by the shadows. He will be my puppet... forever."

"No!" Zento yelled, stepping in front of Shin, his fists clenched. "We won't let you take him!"

Yomi chuckled, a low, rumbling sound that seemed to shake the ground. "Oh, you'll try, of course," he sneered. "But you cannot fight the inevitable. You cannot fight the darkness."

Suddenly, Raito's body jerked, and his eyes snapped open. But they were no longer his eyes—they were filled with the cold, black emptiness of the shadows, a void that seemed to stretch on forever. The shadows that wrapped around him pulsed with a sinister energy, controlling his movements, forcing him to step forward.

Zento felt his heart break as he saw his friend's face twisted with pain and confusion. "Raito...?" he whispered, his voice choked with emotion.

Raito moved with jerky, unnatural motions, like a puppet on strings, his body bending and twisting in ways that seemed impossible. The shadows controlled him, guided him, turning him into a weapon against his own friends.

"Defend yourself!" Yomi commanded, his voice a whip of authority. "Destroy them!"

Raito's hands clenched into fists, and he lunged forward with a speed that caught Zento and Shin off guard. His movements were fast, but erratic, each strike coming from an unexpected angle. Shin ducked just in time to avoid a vicious punch aimed at his head, feeling the rush of air as it passed by his ear.

"Raito, stop!" Shin shouted, trying to reach through to his friend. "It's us! We're here to help you!"

But Raito didn't seem to hear him. The shadows tightened their grip, pulling his movements tighter, making him lash out with even more aggression. He swung a powerful kick at Zento, who barely managed to block it with his forearm, the force sending him stumbling backward.

"Shin!" Zento called out, his voice strained. "We can't hurt him! We have to find a way to stop him without killing him!"

Shin nodded, his mind racing. "I know," he replied, dodging another strike. "But how do we get through to him? The shadows have him completely!"

Yomi laughed again, louder this time, a sound that seemed to vibrate through their bones. "There is no saving him," he mocked. "He belongs to the darkness now. You can fight, but you cannot win."

Shin gritted his teeth, his frustration mounting. "Raito," he called out again, ducking under another blow, "I know you're in there! I know you can hear us!"

But Raito's body moved faster, more fluidly, as if the shadows were growing stronger, feeding on his doubt and fear. He swung a backhand at Shin, and Shin had to twist his body to avoid it, the force of the blow nearly knocking him off balance.

Yomi's taunts grew louder, his laughter echoing in their ears. "You see?" he said. "He is lost to you. He is my weapon now. Your friend is gone."

Shin felt a pang of anger and fear twist in his gut, but he refused to give in to it. He tried to focus, to find some way to break through, to reach the real Raito hidden within the darkness. But with every strike, with every move, it seemed more hopeless.

And then, as Raito lunged again, his movements fast and violent, Shin was suddenly reminded of his past—of his own failures, his own fears, his own moments of doubt. He remembered the faces of his family, his friends, all the people he had felt he had let down. He remembered the weight of those failures, the crushing guilt that had threatened to drown him.

But he had overcome it. He had faced his mirror self, his own darkness, and he had emerged stronger. He had found his strength in his friends, in the bonds they shared, in the knowledge that he was not alone.

And now, he saw the same fear, the same doubt in Raito's eyes, buried deep beneath the shadows.

"Raito," Shin whispered, his voice filled with determination. "I understand... I know what you're feeling. But you're not alone. We're here with you. We won't leave you behind."

He dodged another punch, his eyes never leaving Raito's face. "Remember who you are!" he shouted. "Remember your strength! Fight it, Raito! Fight the shadows!"

Raito's eyes flickered for a moment, a hint of recognition flashing in their depths. But then the shadows tightened their grip again, and his face twisted with pain.

"Fight, Raito!" Zento yelled, stepping beside Shin, his voice filled with urgency. "Don't let them take you!"

Yomi's laughter boomed once more, shaking the ground. "You think you can reach him with words?" he sneered. "You are fools! He is mine!"

The shadows around Raito pulsed and tightened, and he moved with renewed ferocity, attacking Zento and Shin with a flurry of blows. They dodged and blocked, trying not to hurt him, but the fight was growing more desperate by the second.

Shin felt his breath quicken, his heart pounding in his chest. He knew they were running out of time. Raito was slipping away, deeper into the darkness.

But he refused to give up. He would fight to the end, for his friend.

No matter what.