-New beginnings- BOOK 1: THE ORIGIN OF DARKNESS

-CHAPTER 3: REGROUP-

Itadori's breath came in ragged gasps as he and Megumi tumbled through the crumbling rift, collapsing onto the cold, desolate ground of the Origin of All Darkness. The oppressive atmosphere was still there, but it was nothing compared to the crushing malice of Sukuna's Malevolent Shrine. They had barely escaped, their bodies battered and their energy nearly drained. Itadori could feel every bruise, every cut—his cursed energy flickering like a dying flame. His arms shook as he pushed himself to his knees, chest heaving with the effort. Nearby, Megumi lay on his back, staring up at the void above, trying to catch his breath. His domain was gone, his energy completely sapped.

"We... failed," Itadori whispered, his voice thick with frustration. The weight of their failure pressed down on him, heavier than any wound Sukuna had inflicted. "He's still—he's still out there." Megumi didn't answer immediately, his breath slow and deliberate as he tried to regain control of his body. After a moment, he pushed himself up, his expression grim and determined. "We didn't fail. We're alive. That's what matters right now." "But—" Itadori started, clenching his fists against the ground. "We couldn't stop him. He's going to—" "I know," Megumi interrupted, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside him. "But going back in there would have been suicide. We would've died if we stayed any longer." His eyes met Itadori's, the weight of their situation reflected in his gaze. "Right now, we need to regroup, recover, and rethink our approach." Itadori opened his mouth to argue, but the exhaustion was too overwhelming. He knew Megumi was right. They had faced Sukuna at full power, and they had barely made it out. Charging back in without a plan or reinforcements would only mean death.

"Regroup," Itadori muttered, staring down at his trembling hands. His body was screaming for rest, but his mind was racing with thoughts of Sukuna's taunts, his overwhelming strength, and the helplessness that had flooded him during the fight. Megumi pulled himself to his feet, wincing from the pain shooting through his body. "We need to find a way back to Jujutsu High. Get healed up, report to Gojo-sensei... and figure out how we're going to beat him." Itadori nodded slowly, still staring at the ground. His chest felt tight, his throat constricted with frustration. The image of Sukuna's sneering face, untouched and unbothered, flashed in his mind. His fists clenched harder. "Next time..." Itadori said quietly, barely audible at first. Then he repeated himself, louder, more resolute. "Next time... we're taking him down." Megumi glanced at him, nodding in agreement, though his own expression remained stern. He wasn't one to indulge in grand promises, but he understood the fire burning in Itadori's chest. He felt it too. "Next time," he echoed, his voice calm but edged with determination. For now, though, their bodies demanded rest. The fight had taken everything from them, and pushing forward without recovery would be reckless.

"Let's find a place to rest," Megumi said, looking around at the endless darkness surrounding them. The portal they had escaped through was gone, sealed behind them, and the oppressive void of the Origin of All Darkness stretched out in every direction. But somewhere, there had to be a path back to the real world. "We'll find the way out once we've recovered a bit." Itadori stood up slowly, his muscles protesting with every movement, but he forced himself to stay upright. "Yeah. Let's get out of here." As they began to walk, their pace slow and limping, Sukuna's mocking laughter echoed faintly in the back of their minds. His parting words still hung in the air like a promise of doom. But Itadori and Megumi didn't look back. They had faced death and survived. And when they returned, they would be stronger. They would be ready.

And Sukuna, no matter how powerful, would fall.

Itadori and Fushiguro moved cautiously through the oppressive gloom of the Origin of All Darkness. Every step felt heavier than the last, not just because of their injuries but also due to the strange weight of the space they were trapped in. The air was thick with cursed energy, and the shadows seemed alive, shifting and twisting in the corner of their vision as if they were being watched. Itadori winced as he gingerly pressed a hand to his bruised ribs. "Any idea where we're going, Megumi?" His voice echoed slightly, swallowed by the endless void that surrounded them.