The morning was unnaturally still, the sky a dull gray, as if Death City itself sensed the coming storm. Kuma and Shira moved swiftly through the academy grounds, Shira in human form, her eyes scanning every shadow, every subtle shift in the air. The pulse of Sukuna within Kuma thrummed sharply, a constant whisper urging power, urging destruction.
"This is more than a test," Shira murmured, her voice tense yet controlled. "They are coming, and they are organized. You must maintain focus."
Kuma's hand brushed instinctively against the hilt of Shira. The dark presence inside him surged, insistent and commanding. "Strike first. Show no mercy. Leave nothing standing."
He inhaled slowly, resisting the surge. Control first. Strategy second. Shira's pulse reinforced his focus. "We act as one."
From the perimeter, the first wave appeared. Not a single rogue entity this time, but coordinated units of Sukuna's forces—creatures and rogue Meisters imbued with his cursed energy, moving with precision and lethal intent. The streets shook under their approach, debris rattling, windows shivering in anticipation.
Maka, Soul, and Kid joined Kuma's flank, forming a defensive line. Maka's eyes narrowed. "This isn't random. They're coordinated, testing our formation. Don't underestimate them."
Soul's scythe gleamed as he moved into position. "Yeah… feels like they know our patterns already. Watch every angle."
Shira shifted to sword form, the resonance of metal humming in perfect synchrony with Kuma's pulse. "We adapt. We respond. Every move calculated, every strike precise. Sukuna will try to dominate your instincts—resist him."
The assault began. First, a squad of shadowed Meisters, their energy twisted, attacked from the alleys. Shira guided Kuma, her voice precise in his mind. "Left flank! Anticipate their formation. Maintain spacing."
Kuma moved with fluid precision, parrying strikes, countering attacks, and directing the flow of energy through Shira. Maka and Soul synchronized perfectly, their strikes forming arcs that cut through the first wave, while Kid's pistols formed suppressive fire lines. Each enemy was neutralized, but the sheer volume pressed the team to their limits.
Sukuna's voice surged from within Kuma. "End them all. Show your power! Unleash everything!"
He clenched his teeth, resisting. No. Precision, control, coordination. Shira's guidance anchored him, keeping him from acting on impulse. "Now, counter their apex. Time it perfectly."
A larger, malformed figure appeared—an apex of Sukuna's forces, emanating raw cursed energy that threatened to destabilize the street itself. Its attacks were swift, brutal, and unpredictable. Kuma felt the tug stronger than ever; Sukuna's whispers almost screamed for dominance.
Shira shifted to human form mid-combat, leaping onto a rooftop. "Observe, adjust, and strike in perfect timing. Do not give in!"
Kuma coordinated, integrating Shira's guidance into each movement. Every strike, every parry, every shift in position became part of a larger pattern—defense and offense in a dance of lethal precision. Maka's scythe, Soul's pivots, Kid's gunfire—all synchronized with Kuma's strikes, forming a combined assault that disrupted the apex's rhythm.
The apex roared, a shockwave of cursed energy ripping through the streets. Buildings trembled, windows shattered, but Kuma's restraint and Shira's guidance allowed him to channel the energy rather than succumb to it. Every movement was a balance of instinct, strategy, and control.
Stein's voice echoed from a vantage point. "Observe carefully! The control you maintain now determines whether you lead or falter! Remember the shadow within!"
The battle intensified, the streets erupting with flashes of energy and arcs of steel. Sukuna's influence pushed relentlessly, trying to break Kuma's focus, tempting him to abandon precision for raw destructive power. "All or nothing! Show them your true strength!"
Kuma's mind sharpened. No. Strategy first, power second. He struck with calculated precision, integrating Shira's movements and the team's positioning, dismantling the apex's defenses while protecting his allies. The combined assault fractured the apex's form, sending it sprawling into lesser units that dispersed under coordinated attacks.
Silence fell, punctuated only by the team's labored breathing and the hum of residual soul energy. Sukuna's whisper subsided slightly, leaving a tense quiet that allowed Kuma to feel the strain of both battle and restraint.
Stein descended from his observation point, eyes evaluating every detail. "Exceptional. You have faced not only an organized, powerful force but also the persistent influence of Sukuna within you. Kuma… your control has preserved the team and neutralized the threat. Yet, the presence inside you grows stronger. You must continue to refine restraint, coordination, and strategy. The next confrontation will be even more personal."
Shira returned to human form, placing a steadying hand on Kuma's shoulder. "We have survived today, but remember… he is always testing you. Every move, every decision matters."
Kuma exhaled, muscles tense, heart pounding. The assault had tested not just his combat skill, but his leadership, strategic thinking, and internal mastery. The team had functioned as one, guided by Shira's alternating forms, but the shadow of Sukuna remained, insistent and ever-present.
Maka approached, nodding. "You've proven yourself today. But do not mistake survival for mastery. Discipline is the path. Never let power outpace control."
Soul adjusted his scythe, voice calm but wary. "Yeah… today was good. But the bigger battles are coming. Keep your focus."
As the city returned to uneasy calm, Kuma and Shira walked side by side through the streets, aware that Sukuna's forces would regroup, that new challenges awaited, and that the real test of mastery—over self, power, and alliance—was just beginning.