Within the dream world, Yuki found herself blind and drowning. As she instinctively tried to open her mouth to scream, slimy liquid rushed inside, making her choke.
Not only that, she felt her body hit the ground as she realized she was back in her house. She concluded that the liquid she was submerged in was likely the same dark, slimy substance, now risen high enough to swallow her whole.
Her throat burned as the dark slimy liquid flooded her lungs. Then came an intense surge of panic, followed by her body twitching, before eventually going completely still.
After a few minutes, her eyes opened again to nothing but black, her lungs spasming immediately.
I— I died?
the thought barely formed before the liquid closed in again. Arms flailed on instinct, legs kicked against empty space.
N— Not again!!
The realization of her death only fed the terror. The liquid forced its way back down her throat, burning worse than before. Her body convulsed, fighting for air that didn't exist, until the struggle broke apart and everything went dark again.
The moments between her deaths stopped making sense. Sometimes she woke up already choking. Other times, she died almost instantly the moment awareness returned, her body and mind collapsing from shock.
A thought drifted through her mind without an answer.
How many times has it been? three maybe four times now?
The thought that this would never end began to root itself in her mind, becoming her new reality.
***
Within the forest, Sasaki managed to kill about fifty-three cursed spirits in the area surrounding the GNN news van. His suit bore a few noticeable scratches, but he himself was unharmed. He exhaled and made both scythes disappear.
The GNN crew watched in awe as the man kept his camera trained on Sasaki, the live feed playing on television.
"Wow, sir, that was incredible! The way you were cutting down those monsters, one after another. Are you, by any chance, a sorcerer like the Hoshigiri family?"
Sasaki sighed, barely looking at the man holding the camera.
"No, I'm not. Damn it, I need to get to the mansion. I can't waste any more time."
Sasaki re-materialized his scythes and moved to hook the air, but the GNN employees latched onto each of his legs as he lifted off.
"What the hell is the matter with you two?? Let go of my legs!!"
The woman laughed, with a hint of panic.
"If...If we let go… we'll die from this height."
The man spoke this time.
"She's right, and don't you dare put us down now. You said it yourself that you had no time to waste. You better have been serious when you said that."
The two humans who latched onto him, were extremely persistent. Sasaki realized he had no choice but to bring them to the mansion with him. Nevertheless, they might even serve a particular purpose, only time would tell.
From a distance, Sasaki eventually saw the mansion in flames and a white glow coming from a second-floor window. He pieced together that the glow was coming from the butler's room. However, something didn't feel right. The sight of the white glow sent goosebumps across his skin.
"Listen up you two, I'm increasing my speed. So, hold on tight."
They both nodded as Sasaki hooked the air with his scythes and accelerated. The sudden increase in speed dragged the GNN crew with him, their grips locking firmly around his legs as the wind battered their bodies.
***
Riko's eyes flickered open as she noticed a white glow coming from Yuki's pinky finger. She didn't understand what had happened, but it didn't matter. She looked at her uncle Koji, now awake, and together they stood to face Nicholas, who was mesmerized by the glow.
"Incredible. What will this white glow entail? Hmm… I'm quite curious."
Koji chuckled and leveled his dagger at him.
"Unfortunately for you, I'll be ending your miserable, disgusting life. I hope you're ready to face me."
Nicholas glanced at him with a sly grin.
"Is that so? Then come on. My Obsidian Beast has been itching for a fight."
Before Koji, Sayuri, or Riko could do anything, the white glow vanished, replaced by a piercing white light that surged upward and shattered the roof. Once the light ceased, Yuki got up. Her body had changed, now looking closer to a woman in her late twenties.
A black crown rested on her head. Her blonde hair had turned white, and her blue eyes had gone dark. She wore slim white armor, black linings tracing the sleeves and leg guards.
Riko watched in confusion.
"Yuki…? Is that you?"
After standing there for a few seconds, Yuki took a few steps, passing by the injured Sayuri. She faced Nicholas as she looked down at him.
Feeling threatened, Nicholas shouted for his Obsidian Beast to attack her.
As it ran toward the newly awakened Yuki, it stopped midway when she lifted a finger toward it. Confused by the sudden halt of his Obsidian Beast, he shouted at it.
"What's wrong with you? Attack her!"
The Obsidian Beast moved again, lifting its shadow sword over Yuki's head before bringing it down. From Yuki's glitched Deathmark came a black spherical ball, about the size of a basketball. It latched onto the Obsidian Beast, coating it with its dark slimy liquid.
The Obsidian Beast struggled and screeched in pain.
Fear flashed across Nicholas' eyes.
"What did you do to him?! Tell me!"
Yuki kept her index finger raised toward the Obsidian Beast as it thrashed in panic, its body fighting the merger.
Eventually, it turned completely black, coated in dark, slimy liquid. Its size grew to ten feet. A second set of eyes appeared directly below the originals, glowing a circular white. It had been taken over by a cursed spirit.
Riko could not believe her eyes, but one thing was certain. Whoever stood there now was no longer Yuki. She looked completely emotionless as she dismantled the Obsidian Beast and claimed it as her own. Another terrifying thought crossed her mind. This version of Yuki might even decide to label her as an enemy and kill both her and her uncle.
She glanced to the side and saw her uncle put away his dagger and sit down, leaning against the wall as he winced in pain. Riko limped toward him and saw that he was bleeding from the back of his head and his right leg as well.
"Uncle, you shouldn't push yourself anymore, or you'll die for sure."
Koji managed a weak smile as he winced in pain.
"You got that right. I can barely walk, let alone fight."
He continued after Riko put his arm over her shoulder.
"I guess we'll have to leave everything to your friend…"
Riko observed Yuki and the Obsidian Beast who took a few steps toward the terrified Nicholas, its blade rising over his head.
"Uncle... Don't you think she's acting almost like a machine? Meant to kill whoever seems threatening to her. At least, that's the vibe I get from her."
Koji's eyes narrowed.
"What do you mean by that?"
Riko hesitated, concern showed on her face.
"I… I don't know… I really don't…but maybe Yuki is somewhere inside of her. At least i hope so..."
***
Within the dream world, Yuki had endured her one hundred and forty-eighth death before she finally found herself calm enough to use the little bit of strength she had left to swim upward. Her first attempt failed. She died instantly. Still, she kept trying. Eventually, on her one hundred and seventieth attempt, she reached the ceiling, finding a small pocket of space where the dark liquid had not fully engulfed the house, just enough for her to breathe.
Her first breath felt like breathing in heaven. It might as well have been after what she went through. Even so, Yuki remained trapped, unable to return to the real world.
Then the front door came into view. She swam toward it and kept pulling at the doorknob, but it wouldn't budge. Only then did she remember Kenji Igarashi's words.
"Igarashi, open the door!!"
Her voice faded without an answer. Yuki kept pulling at the door until she eventually lost all the strength she had managed to muster and sank into the dark liquid.
A creak sounded from the door, catching her attention as the dark liquid began to drain away, the opening illuminated by a white glow. Within that light, her eyes could only make out the color green before she inevitably died from shock.