Hearing the train announcement, Katsura Kotonoha suddenly lifted her head, her eyes filled with horror.
Normally she would have already woken up, but at this moment she had no intention of waking up at all!
Her gaze fell on the Monkey Train not far from her, only to see that the Monkey Train had already shoved eyeballs into its eye sockets, and in its hand, out of nowhere, appeared an electric circular saw!
The Monkey Train turned toward Katsura Kotonoha, looking at the girl with the eyes of that woman, as if those eyes truly belonged to the Monkey Train.
Driven by a strong desire to live, Katsura Kotonoha began to struggle again, constantly trying to stand up and escape, but just like before, it was only a futile resistance.
"Bzzz!"
The Monkey Train activated the circular saw and, with a smile, began approaching Katsura Kotonoha.
That cold, familiar voice echoed in Katsura Kotonoha's mind:
"I won't allow you to escape again…"
"The final station of this journey — Death!"
"Bzzz!"
The teeth of the circular saw tore through the air, buzzing like the bells of death from hell.
Watching the Monkey Train steadily approach her, Katsura Kotonoha panicked and shouted:
"No, don't come closer! Don't come closer!"
"Please, don't, don't…"
The girl begged; she didn't want to die so inexplicably, in a place like this. She still had a home, and her Mother and Mother were waiting for her to return!
She also had friends! She had only recently begun making friends.
Why, why was the world doing this to her?!
Katsura Kotonoha didn't understand; she didn't know why this was happening to her.
But the Monkey Train completely ignored her pleas. The woman's eyes glowed red, and its emaciated hands held the circular saw, ready to cut off Katsura Kotonoha's legs!
"Hii hii hii!!! Stay here!!!"
The Monkey Train laughed strangely, screaming, wanting to keep Katsura Kotonoha in the dream forever.
The girl closed her eyes helplessly, no longer resisting, as if she had already accepted her inevitable death.
Just as the circular saw was about to cut off Katsura Kotonoha's legs and grind her body, a voice suddenly interrupted the Monkey Train.
"Huh?! Someone's here!"
Hearing the voice, the Monkey Train froze.
Another new passenger?
But, this wasn't right! The Monkey Train added only one new passenger at a time, and this one hadn't even merged with the Monkey Train yet, so how could a new passenger suddenly be pulled in?
Could it be an intruder?!
Thinking this, the deranged smile of the Monkey Train disappeared, replaced by boundless rage!
Someone, someone dared to intrude on the Monkey Train?!
Unforgivable! Unacceptable!
The Monkey Train does not welcome intruders!
Cut! Saw bones! Gouge eyes! Grind flesh!
Stay in the Monkey Train forever!
Thinking this, the Monkey Train turned sharply, and its gaze quickly found the intruder.
It was a young man sitting in the first row, easily noticeable. All the people assimilated by the Monkey Train were only empty shells, repeating the moments of their deaths day after day, but this young man was observing his surroundings — obviously alive!
Seeing the young man, the Monkey Train gripped the circular saw tighter in its hand. At that moment, the young man's gaze also turned toward it.
When he saw the Monkey Train and Katsura Kotonoha with closed eyes and tears on her face, the young man smiled and immediately shouted:
"Katsura!"
Hearing that voice, Katsura Kotonoha's body trembled, but she did not open her eyes, only quietly thinking to herself:
"Is this the last flash before death? Am I already dead…?"
"But why did Nakano-kun appear first? Could it be that Nakano-kun is very important in my heart?"
"Yes… after all, Nakano-kun is the first person, besides Mother and Mother, who cares about me…"
Katsura Kotonoha thought to herself. She couldn't even imagine that Nakano Yu had also boarded the Monkey Train at that moment and had come to save her!
"Wuwuwawa!!!"
Seeing the intruder so bold, the Monkey Train let out a piercing scream, jumped, and with the circular saw raised, rushed at Nakano Yu.
Nakano Yu frowned as the grotesque, one-eyed Monkey Train lunged toward him.
Then, under the furious gaze of the Monkey Train, he slowly stood up.
The Monkey Train, still in mid-air as it threw itself at Nakano Yu, watched the young man rise. The bloody thirst in its eyes gradually disappeared, replaced by immense disbelief.
Before the Monkey Train could react, Nakano Yu took two steps forward, grabbed the Monkey Train by the head, and with one motion, threw it aside.
"Uaaa!!!"
Holding the circular saw, the Monkey Train didn't even realize what had happened before it was thrown backward and slammed forcefully into the railing at the end of the train.
Wiping his hands with a touch of disgust, Nakano Yu approached Katsura Kotonoha, who was trembling with her eyes closed, and quietly called:
"Katsura? Are you okay?"
"So… so real. Is dying regret really this real? As if the real Nakano-kun appeared beside me."
Katsura Kotonoha thought, keeping her eyes closed.
Seeing the girl in that state, Nakano Yu helplessly twitched the corner of his mouth, stretched out his hand, and poked Katsura Kotonoha on the cheek, saying again:
"Katsura, I came to save you. Open your eyes and look."
Feeling the warm touch, Katsura Kotonoha flinched. She carefully opened her eyes and saw the familiar face of the young man.
"Na, Nakano-kun… Is that, is that really you?!"
Seeing Nakano Yu so close, Katsura Kotonoha still couldn't believe it. She reached out to touch him, but was afraid Nakano Yu would disappear like a phantom.
Seeing this, Nakano Yu sighed, stretched out his hand, and took Katsura Kotonoha's hand, saying:
"Don't be afraid, I'm here."
Feeling the broad palm of the young man, Katsura Kotonoha finally could no longer restrain herself.
During this period, every time she fell asleep, she did so in fear, and every time she boarded the Monkey Train, she was always alone!
But now… she was no longer! Someone had come to save her!
Thinking this, Katsura Kotonoha's eyes gradually blurred with tears. The anxiety and fear of the past two days surged out together with her tears at that moment.
"Na, Nakano-kun! It's you! It really is you! You came to save me!"
Katsura Kotonoha cried, holding Nakano Yu tightly, afraid he would disappear. If she hadn't been unable to stand, she would probably have hugged him tightly and not let go.
"Don't worry, I'll get you out of here."
Understanding the helplessness and injustice Katsura Kotonoha felt, Nakano Yu didn't know how to comfort her, so he quietly spoke, stroking the girl's hair.
Hearing that, Katsura Kotonoha lifted her head, just about to say something, when her eyes suddenly widened and she exclaimed:
"Nakano-kun, behind you!"
Behind Nakano Yu, the Monkey Train that had been thrown away was now holding onto the roof of the Monkey Train. Next to it were two or three more Monkey Trains, also holding circular saws in their hands.
"Uuu!!!"
The Monkey Train screamed and simultaneously charged at Nakano Yu, the circular saws spinning, aiming to cut the young man's neck.
Nakano Yu also turned at that moment, but faced with the group of armed Monkey Trains, his expression remained calm.
Having become a Godslayer, he already possessed terrifying defensive power; the circular saws of these Monkey Trains couldn't even scratch him.
Faced with the group of Monkey Trains, Nakano Yu simply raised his hand, and a golden long sword appeared in his grasp.
"Bzzz!"
Nakano Yu swung the sword, and the sound of the blade echoed. With a single swing, he cut all the Monkey Trains in half.
The severed remains of the Monkey Trains, along with their circular saws, fell before Nakano Yu, turning into black water and merging with the Monkey Train.
Noticing this, Nakano Yu frowned. It seemed that the Monkey Train was only a manifestation of this Monkey Train; perhaps this Monkey Train was the real body.
Thinking about this, Nakano Yu turned to Katsura Kotonoha, only to see the girl looking at him with a face full of shock and admiration.
"Katsura, your mother is very worried about you. Now I'll send you back."
Removing Joyeuse, Nakano Yu crouched slightly and said.
"Can I, can I go back?"
Hearing that, Katsura Kotonoha asked, with a surprised and somewhat hopeful expression.
"Of course you can, as long as Katsura doesn't mind."
Nakano Yu nodded, smiling.
"No… But what about Nakano-kun?"
Katsura Kotonoha wanted to say she didn't mind, but then suddenly realized that Nakano Yu didn't intend to return with her.
"Me? I still have some things to handle. While Katsura is here, it's a bit inconvenient for me to act freely."
Nakano Yu lightly waved his hand, making an excuse that her presence would be an obstruction.
"Alright… Nakano-kun, please be careful."
Katsura Kotonoha bit her lower lip upon hearing that, realizing her staying here was useless, so she just nodded.
"Then, with your permission."
Seeing Katsura Kotonoha nod, Nakano Yu quietly said, and then, before her shocked gaze, tilted his head back and pressed his lips against hers.
The moment their lips touched, a dazzling golden light emerged from Nakano Yu, quickly enveloping Katsura Kotonoha.
A moment later, their lips separated. The young man looked at Katsura Kotonoha, smiled, and waved his hand:
"Then, see you later."
At that moment, Katsura Kotonoha still hadn't fully reacted. She touched her lips with one hand, looking at Nakano Yu. Just as she was about to say something, a golden flash shone, and she disappeared from the Monkey Train.