Chapter 140: What Will You Choose?

Their figures overlapped.

For an instant, Asuramaru's crimson eyes narrowed.

It was not an illusion.

In Yuji Itadori's stance, in the angle of his breathing, in the way the flames flowed along his swords, Asuramaru saw the shadow of Tanjiro Kamado.

What concerned him even more was the mark.

A flame-like Slayer Mark had appeared on the upper right side of Yuji's forehead, burning with the brilliance of the sun.

Just like back then.

Inside Yuji's body, Sukuna's expression also changed.

What happened?

The brat's swordsmanship had improved too much, too quickly. A moment ago, Yuji was still forcing his way through battle with raw strength and borrowed power. Now, his movements had become smoother, sharper, and more natural, as if someone had poured years of training into him in a single breath.

Was this Asuramaru's doing?

Doubt filled Sukuna's mind. For once, even he could not immediately understand what had just occurred.

Yuji, however, felt something different.

It was not knowledge alone.

It was warmth.

Guidance.

A kind of care so gentle that it almost made his chest ache.

He tightened his grip around the swords and twisted his body midair, flames trailing behind him as he cut down the incoming trees one after another.

"Head Dance!"

The burning dragon carried him forward.

Yuji broke through the storm of thrown trees and descended into the dust cloud below. The violent impact scattered the haze, revealing Mahoraga waiting within.

The Shikigami raised its right hand.

The bandages around its arm shifted, and the sword of extermination emerged from its grip, dense Positive Energy rolling off the weapon. Against a Cursed Spirit, a single touch would be fatal.

Yuji did not retreat.

Flame met Positive Energy.

The swords clashed.

Their figures crossed.

The sword of extermination shattered.

Yuji's flaming edge continued through the opening and severed Mahoraga's head.

The sight made the expressions of Kenjaku and the others, who were watching through the projection, finally change.

Jogo reacted first.

His single eye widened.

"Geto," he said, voice tight, "I can't block that strike."

The image on the screen showed Yuji landing beyond Mahoraga's body, flames still burning along his swords.

Jogo's voice grew heavier.

"We need to move the plan forward. We can't give this brat any more time to grow."

His gaze shifted toward Mahoraga's headless body.

"And that Shikigami Fushiguro summoned, if any of us faced it alone, we would die."

This time, Kenjaku did not refute him.

He watched the screen in silence.

To be honest, even he had not expected Yuji to grow at such a ridiculous pace. This was no longer within the realm of normal talent. It was unreasonable, almost absurd.

Perhaps they really did have to speed things up.

Beside him, Mahito's smile had vanished.

He stared at Yuji on the screen, and for once, no laughter came out.

On the battlefield, Inumaki and Kamo had also witnessed Yuji's attack.

Kamo Noritoshi's expression was extremely grim.

He remembered Principal Gakuganji's order.

Find an opportunity to kill Yuji Itadori.

Now, after seeing that strike, Kamo only wanted to ask one thing.

Are you serious?

In the next moment, Yuji turned back toward Mahoraga.

He did not pause.

Before the Shikigami could fully recover, he rushed in and swung both swords in a frenzy. The arm reaching toward its severed head was cut off with one stroke.

Yuji stepped forward again.

He abandoned everything unnecessary.

Thoughts, hesitation, fear, strategy.

Only the swords remained.

Under his frantic output, Mahoraga's body was hacked apart piece by piece. Flames and black Demon Power tore through its flesh, while Arcana's soul-cutting power and Asuramaru's abilities continued damaging it beneath the surface.

Yet even with Blood Weeping and Demon Curse suppressing it, Mahoraga could still heal.

Its body restored itself again and again.

Looking at the monster before him, a creature that seemed impossible to kill, Yuji's heart was strangely calm.

He still had the presence of mind to think.

To observe.

To understand.

When Mahoraga reattached its severed head to its body, the wheel above its head turned once more.

At that moment, Yuji clearly felt it.

The damage his swords caused had weakened.

At first, he had thought the problem was his own strength failing.

Now he understood.

This was Mahoraga's ability.

It adapted.

Every time the wheel turned, it adjusted to the attack that had harmed it. The damage Yuji could inflict would continue decreasing. Perhaps, after enough turns, it would become completely immune to his attacks.

As Yuji's offensive power grew less effective, Mahoraga finally found an opening.

Its fist slammed into Yuji's abdomen.

The blow drove the air from his lungs.

Yuji flew backward like a cannonball, smashing through tree after tree before finally crashing to a stop.

He spat blood.

His body went limp for a moment.

When he looked down, a clear fist print had sunk deep into his abdomen. His internal organs had been displaced, some of them ruptured.

Fortunately, Asuramaru's self-recovery repaired the damage quickly.

Yuji forced himself to stand.

"Asuramaru," he thought, "thanks."

Asuramaru's voice answered with little warmth.

"You should worry more about yourself. You have less than a minute left before Demonization reaches its limit."

Yuji's breathing paused.

Then he asked calmly, "After I lose my mind, I'll still prioritize killing Mahoraga, right?"

"Correct."

Asuramaru's answer was direct.

Yuji smiled.

"Then that's enough."

He tightened his grip on the swords again.

"I think my death will be meaningful."

That smile was bright.

Too bright for someone standing at the edge of death.

He faced Mahoraga and shouted, "Come on!"

The moment his voice fell, Mahoraga arrived before him.

The sword of extermination formed again in its hand.

Yuji was already prepared.

The two clashed at high speed.

Swords flashed.

Afterimages crossed through the forest.

Flames, black crescents, and Positive Energy tore apart the earth around them. Every collision shook the air, every step shattered the ground beneath their feet.

But Yuji was losing ground.

His body was too close to its limit.

Mahoraga's adaptation had reduced the effectiveness of his attacks, and with each passing second, the Shikigami became harder to injure.

Finally, Mahoraga found an opening.

The sword of extermination aimed straight for Yuji's neck.

If it landed, his head would fly.

Asuramaru was about to act.

But Sukuna moved first.

A mouth opened on Yuji's neck.

It bit down on the incoming sword of extermination and crushed it with raw force.

The weapon shattered between Sukuna's teeth.

If Mahoraga could speak, it might have cursed them then.

This looked like a one-on-one duel.

In reality, it was a three-on-one beating.

There was nothing honorable about it at all.

Even with that strike blocked, Yuji had reached his limit.

Mahoraga's other fist slammed down.

Yuji crashed into the ground.

The earth cracked beneath him, and his body sank into the impact crater. Blood burst from his mouth, but his eyes did not change.

Sukuna spoke at that rare moment, his voice carrying irritation.

"Brat. Hand the body over to me next."

For once, his words were not purely mockery.

Sukuna was not certain he could win.

He had already figured it out.

Mahoraga's ability was adaptation to all phenomena.

To put it simply, it was like playing rock-paper-scissors after seeing the opponent's hand.

If the opponent could not destroy it in a single decisive strike, Mahoraga would continue adapting to their abilities.

Once the adaptation was complete, the same attack would no longer harm it.

With Sukuna's current power, crushing this Shikigami in one move was almost impossible.

But stalling for time would not be a problem.

Satoru Gojo should be close to breaking through the Curtain.

That was enough.

Yuji could also feel his body approaching collapse.

He had already set aside life and death, but if Sukuna was willing to help without demanding a condition, there was no reason to refuse.

"Then..."

Before Yuji could finish, Mahoraga punched him in the chest.

His body sank deeper into the cracked earth.

His consciousness began slipping toward darkness.

Just as he was about to surrender control to Sukuna, Asuramaru's voice suddenly rang out in his mind.

"I'm also somewhat interested in this Shikigami's ability."

Yuji's dimming consciousness paused.

Asuramaru continued calmly.

"So let's be direct. I can step in and help you defeat Mahoraga."

His voice was quiet.

"But it won't be for your sake."

Yuji listened.

"With your current physical strength, you can withstand my power for twenty seconds at most."

Asuramaru's words fell one by one.

"After that, your body will explode and you'll die."

A faint chill spread through Yuji's fading mind.

"But in exchange, you'll be able to witness my true power."

Asuramaru's crimson gaze seemed to pierce straight through him.

"What will you choose?"

.....

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