CHAPTER 16: BEYOND THE SHADOW

The platform burned.

Ash mixed with blood. The air reeked of seared flesh and cursed malice.

Nanami Kento stood upright, but barely.

Half of his coat was gone—his entire left side charred, skin scorched and peeling from Mahito's cursed flames. His glasses had cracked. His movements slowed. But his eyes—those calm, clear eyes—blazed with wrath.

Mahito twirled through the air like a dancer of death. "Nanami~ you're slower now. You sure you want to keep going?"

Nanami didn't answer. He lunged. A perfect cut aimed at Mahito's shoulder—

But Mahito twisted his body grotesquely and dodged. Laughing.

"You're like an old radio," Mahito sneered. "All static, no sound."

Nanami struck again, harder—faster than he had strength for. He was not fighting to win anymore.

He was fighting because he had to.

He was fighting because Nobara and Maki had fallen.

He was fighting because Gojo was gone.

He was fighting because if he didn't—everything would collapse.

But Mahito was too twisted. Too fast. Too cruel.

A black tendril erupted from Mahito's arm and pierced Nanami's abdomen. Blood sprayed. Nanami fell to one knee.

Still, he rose.

"You don't understand," Nanami rasped, "what it means to protect others."

Mahito smirked, and his hands glowed blue with cursed technique—Idle Transfiguration.

Before Nanami could retreat, Mahito's hand touched his chest.

There was a sudden tremor in the air—Mahito had grabbed hold of Nanami's soul.

A cursed resonance cracked through Nanami's body.

"Let's see what your soul looks like when it shatters," Mahito whispered.

Suddenly—

"STOP!!"

Yuji Itadori crashed onto the scene, kicking Mahito back just in time.

"Nanami!" Yuji cried, running over, grabbing him. Nanami Smiled At Itadori..

Blood oozed from his lips. His body trembled, barely holding on.

"Nanami, stay with me!"

Nanami looked at Yuji.

With cracked glasses and trembling breath, he smiled.

"…Yuji."

His voice was faint.

"I leave…the rest…to you."

"No. Don't say that—"

But Nanami placed a hand as a salute…

"You're strong. You have to be. This fight…it's not just yours anymore. It's…everyone's."

And then—

Mahito snapped his fingers.

A pulse of cursed energy shattered through the platform.

Nanami's soul—detonated.

Infront Of Itadori, Nanami disintegrated, fading into light, heat, and memory.

Mahito grinned.

Yuji froze.

The subway went silent.

Then, the boy stood.

His fists clenched. His breath trembling.

His eyes no longer innocent.

"…Mahito," Yuji whispered, voice shaking.

"You're dead."