The Fire That Refused to Kneel

"You bowed to gods once. You won't bow again." 

— Some old inscription, dug up from Spiral Codex Fragment X

Tokyo Jujutsu High — Training Grounds 

Yeah, after the dust settled from Akashi's trial, everything acted like it was normal. Birds singing, wind in the trees, the whole "nothing to see here" routine. Nobara didn't buy it for a second.

She watched Akashi from a distance. Guy was shirtless, standing in the middle of scorched stone and busted up training dummies, with three grade 2 cursed spirits just lying there like they'd never heard of self-respect. Blood and soot all mixed at his feet. He looked steady, breathing slow. But his eyes? Man, those were not the same eyes as before.

A lot deeper. A little unhinged.

She walked up, arms crossed. "So… you're back."

He didn't bother turning around. "Back? Weird word. Not sure I ever left."

She scowled. "You okay?"

Akashi let out this long, tired breath. "I'm something else."

Nobara reached for his hand, gentle. He didn't pull away.

"Then be that with me. Whatever it is."

Elsewhere — Jujutsu High Main Hall 

Gojo and Yaga sat across from Principal Gakuganji, who looked like someone had just peed in his tea.

"He unlocked the Thirteenth Flame? Alone?" Gakuganji demanded.

Gojo just grinned, arms behind his head. "Yup. Nobody's done that since the Spiral War. Four centuries ago."

"This violates every protocol—"

Yaga smacked the table. "Protocols don't fight curses. Akashi does."

Gakuganji dropped his voice, all ominous: "Or he'll become one."

Gojo flashed that sharp smile. "That's why they keep me around."

Spiral Remnants – Cavern of the Four-Tongued Worm 

The last of the cultists, Spiral Flesh-Priest, dragged a dead shikigami over a pool covered in runes and just tore it open. Blood everywhere.

"Let the parasite wake. Let it take our shape," he croaked.

The Four-Tongued Worm slithered out, all wrong—human hands, dragon scales, a mouth that splits into four jaws. Stuff of nightmares.

"Find the Spiral Flame. Snuff it out."

Tokyo — Shopping District (Nightfall) 

Akashi, Yuji, and Nobara strolled down neon-lit streets. For once, Akashi was the quiet one. Megumi trailed behind, eyes sharp.

"You good, man?" Yuji asked. "You've been real quiet since the trial."

Akashi looked up at the city lights. "Everything's louder now. Colors. Sounds. My own damn heartbeat."

Nobara bumped him, trying to snap him out of it. "You'll get used to it."

He managed a half-smile, and then—CRACK. Whole intersection just split open.

Guess who decided to show up now? Yup!The Four-Tongued Worm, fresh outta hell, puking necrotic mist everywhere.

"Incoming!!" Megumi yelled, already summoning his divine dog.

People screaming. Akashi's jacket just burns away—flames licking up his arms. He steps forward, calm as you please.

"This thing's after me."

Yuji cracks his knuckles. "Then we end it. Together."

Battle: Cursed Beast vs. Four Sorcerers 

The Worm whipped tongues around buildings, swinging through the air, spitting black mist that melted signs and skin. Akashi ducked, launched himself upwards in a burst of cursed energy, and slammed into the Worm mid-air.

"Dragon's Tongue: Red Fang!"

A burning hook of energy ripped one of the Worm's mouths clean off. It shrieked, instantly growing it back. Yuji followed up with a punch that would crack concrete, Megumi called in Max Elephant to wash away the mist.

Didn't matter. It was learning. Getting faster.

Then the Worm's tail caught Nobara and slammed her into a wall.

"NOBARA!" Akashi roared, and suddenly he was fire—no, something more.

The Awakening — Spiral Fire Unleashed 

Something broke inside Akashi. Not rage, not fear—just pure resolve.

Flames erupted from his back, not just energy but shape. Wings. Tail. Horns. Full-on dragon mode.

He shot across the sky, a trail of fire, tackled the Worm and dragged it right through a building.

"You're not taking her!"

He muttered a forbidden Spiral spell and shoved both hands into the Worm's core.

"Thirteenth Flame: Memory Pyre."

The Worm exploded from the inside out. Fire ate its own cursed memories. Black ash rained down.

Aftermath — Rooftop 

Nobara awake with her head in Akashi's lap. "Did we win?"

He grinned, brushed the ash from her face. "Always."

She sat up. "Don't get cocky." But she didn't move away.

Megumi and Yuji watched from across the roof. Both beaten up, both breathing like bro we also battled..:)

"He's not the same," Megumi muttered.

Yuji just smiled, a little shaky. "He's never the same twice. That's what makes him scary as hell."