Seeing this mysterious person wearing a pure black mask and black coat, dressed as if cosplaying, suddenly appear before him, the Sunny Doll Killer couldn't help but freeze for a moment before his pupils contracted in shock.
"You... Mask?"
Ye Xing didn't respond, merely allowing his right hand to turn a ghastly pale colour, with five fingers bearing sharp black nails that deeply pierced into the flesh of the Sunny Doll Killer.
The latter seemed to sense something, his bloodshot eyes revealing disbelief.
Immediately after, the Sunny Doll Killer performed a shocking act.
He used his left hand to grip his right arm at the elbow joint, and with seemingly little effort, actually tore off half of his right arm by brute force!
The next second, without the slightest hesitation, the Sunny Doll Killer turned around and rapidly fled.
His figure gradually blurred amidst the pouring rain until it finally merged into the downpour.
"Heh."
Ye Xing didn't give chase, merely emitting a sound filled with utter disdain and contempt.
He turned and walked over to Yui Yuigahama, who was slumped on the ground, extending his left hand.
"Are you alright?"
"Mmm... mmm, I'm fine."
Yui Yuigahama took a deep breath, grasped Ye Xing's left hand, and, with his help, stood up.
The next second.
She suddenly felt herself transported from the endless rain into an extremely warm place.
Her wet hair was being carefully wiped, the heat from above like a hairdryer gradually drying her previously dripping locks.
It felt like approaching a lit stove on the coldest winter day, warming her entire body.
Yui Yuigahama looked up and discovered Ye Xing was sheltering her head with his black coat, much like a mother hen protecting her chicks.
Feeling the warmth - whether from the burning black flames or from Ye Xing himself - her pretty face flushed slightly as she pouted, "You... you're treating me like a child?"
Ye Xing glanced down at a certain part of Yui Yuigahama's body that was revealing its contours due to being soaked by rain, and seriously shook his head.
"A child... you're certainly not a child in that regard."
Yui Yuigahama didn't understand at first, but when she did, her face instantly turned crimson. Covering her chest and lightly biting her silver teeth, she shyly said, "You... couldn't you create an umbrella?"
Ye Xing's response was as direct as ever.
"I could, but I prefer this way."
"P-p-prefer?"
Yui Yuigahama felt her heartbeat accelerate instantly.
She parted her lips as if to say something, but her peripheral vision suddenly caught the scattered cookies on the ground. Her expression changed as she anxiously said, "The cookies I made... they're all..."
"Were these meant for me?"
Hearing Ye Xing's question, Yui Yuigahama nodded with a complicated expression, softly saying, "Yes... but now..."
"Oh, for me then."
Under Yui Yuigahama's astonished gaze, Ye Xing actually bent down and picked up one of the rain-soaked cookies from the wet ground.
"Don't..."
Before Yui Yuigahama could finish, a black flame ignited in Ye Xing's hand, drying the soaked cookie. Then he lifted his sleeve, casually wiped off the mud and dust clinging to it, and finally placed it in his mouth.
"Ye Xing-kun... you..."
Watching Ye Xing actually put the biscuit into his mouth, Yui Yuigahama stood frozen in place, utterly at a loss for words.
"This... this has already fallen on the ground..."
"It doesn't matter."
Ye Xing waved his hand dismissively and smiled.
"You made these with your own hands, wanting to give them to me. I must taste them."
Hearing these words, Yui Yuigahama felt the fluttering in her heart grow stronger than ever before.
Just as Mum said...
Ye Xing-kun is a gentle person.
Both of them tacitly avoided mentioning how the biscuit tasted.
The flavour of the cooking no longer mattered.
Though the corner of Ye Xing's mouth was twitching involuntarily.
Still...
The taste no longer mattered.
Ye Xing took out his mobile phone and dialled Rio Futaba's number. When she answered, he went straight to the point.
"Futaba, the operation begins now. I'm sending you my location."
Rio Futaba's voice remained as calm and rational as ever.
"Mm, understood."
...
Ten minutes later, Mai Sakurajima, Rio Futaba, and Miko Yotsuya arrived on the street, having changed into clothing formed through Soul Materialisation abilities.
"Open your eyes, Hyakume."
With Miko's quiet command, Hyakume appeared once more in her kimono and geta. Her feet stepped into puddles on the street surface, yet didn't create the slightest ripple.
"Well? Can you see?"
Hyakume nodded slightly and spoke softly.
"Yes, I can see quite clearly."
In Hyakume's vision, the world within the rain seemed divided into three distinct layers.
The first layer contained faint golden hues within the raindrops, reminiscent of the Goat-Headed Deity's colour.
The second layer consisted of evil, distorted, ominous black viscous mist concealed beneath the curtain of falling rain.
And the third layer... the most prominent one.
A deathly pale haze stretched into a thread-like shape, extending from where they stood to the very front.
"Phew... that's good."
Hearing Hyakume's confirmation, Rio Futaba let out a long sigh of relief.
Although Ye Xing had decided the overall strategy of luring the enemy out, the specific operational plan fell to her as the strategist.
Before the Sunny Doll Killer took the bait, Rio Futaba had already considered possibilities where the Supernatural Society members couldn't defeat their opponent at their current level, or where the target might possess some peculiar ability allowing escape from Ye Xing.
For this, Rio Futaba conceived an ingenious plan that Ye Xing had named the Paintball strategy.
She had no idea what a paintball actually was - probably another random name Ye Xing came up with during one of his eccentric moments.
The plan's principle was simple.
Miko's Hyakume possessed the special ability to detect and track even the most minute traces of evil spirits.
Hyakume and Miko were originally one entity.
This meant that if it was an aura familiar to Miko, Hyakume could track it with greater ease.
So the question remained.
What evil spirit power was Miko most familiar with, having had the most contact with?
It was... that thing of Ye Xing's.
Simply put.
Hyakume was very familiar with Ye Xing's Qi aura. During those brief seconds of physical contact with the Sunny Doll Killer, Ye Xing had already completed the marking process.
The Sunny Doll Killer had also sensed something amiss, which was why he had torn off his own arm like a lizard shedding its tail.
Unfortunately, Ye Xing's marking wasn't targeted at the physical body, but rather a brand seared upon his twisted soul.
Once caught, there was simply no escape.
"Then, Yui, we'll be going ahead now."
After confirming the traces left by the sunny doll killer, Miko Yotsuya and the others prepared to set out to deliver final judgment upon this serial killer.
But just then, Yui Yuigahama suddenly gritted her teeth and ran out from under Ye Xing's coat cover.
Her peach-pink hair, which had previously been dried, was once again soaked through by the rain.
"Wait!"
Yui Yuigahama stood there, her hands at her sides clenched silently, her expression and gaze growing increasingly indistinct in the intensifying rain.
"I... I... I..."
Looking at Miko Yotsuya, Mai Sakurajima, and Rio Futaba's puzzled expressions, and at the clothing formed by Soul Materialisation power that they wore - representing their identity as psychics - Yui Yuigahama took a deep breath. The gentle, innocent smile that usually graced her face was gone.
In its place was unwavering determination.
Yui Yuigahama looked directly at her three friends before her and spoke word by word.
"I... like Ye Xing."
"No matter how you see me, no matter what you think, no matter how you compete with me..."
Yui Yuigahama clenched her fists, feeling more resolute than she ever had in her life.
"I don't want to lie anymore, I won't keep running away, and I won't back down, so..."
"Let's settle this!"
As Yui Yuigahama's words fell, the scene of pouring rain before her eyes suddenly cracked like glass, fine fissures spreading across it.
Simultaneously, a woman's voice echoed in her mind.
[Have you finally found your resolve?]
[The Yui Yuigahama who concealed her true feelings to maintain false relationships, constantly accommodating others - that ends here.]
[From now on, there will be no more lies, no more pretence.]
[If there's someone you're fixated on, then stake everything you have to get closer to them.]
[Here, call out my true name.]
Yui Yuigahama's mind went blank as she followed her heart, parting her lips lightly to speak.
"Here, I call out your true name."
"Chase your obsession, Kiyohime!"
Mai Sakurajima, Miko Yotsuya, and Rio Futaba couldn't help but freeze upon hearing these words.
"Is that... an awakening?"
The moment Yui Yuigahama finished speaking, illuminated by the pouring rain, a tall illusion materialised behind her.
The upper body was that of a beautiful woman.
But the lower body was that of a python-like serpent.
"Ara, has the time finally come?"
The moment Kiyohime appeared, she turned her gaze towards Ye Xing, standing there, her eyes filled with intense infatuation and admiration.
"My master"
"Huff... huff..."
Yui Yuigahama, manifesting Soul Materialisation ability for the first time, was clearly suffering from the same dual exhaustion of physical strength and mental energy that Miko and the others had experienced.
Even so, she clenched her fists and murmured to herself.
"Finally... I've become one too..."
Yui Yuigahama raised her head, first glancing at Ye Xing standing there, her gaze filled with tenderness.
Then she looked directly at Mai Sakurajima, Rio Futaba, and Miko Yotsuya before her, her expression and eyes becoming filled with unwavering determination as she slowly began to speak.
"Mai-senpai, Miko, Rio, let's use our Soul Materialisation true forms to settle this!"
Contrary to Yui Yuigahama's expectations, the three girls—Mai Sakurajima, Miko Yotsuya, and Rio Futaba—merely exchanged glances upon hearing this, then simultaneously sighed and massaged their temples, speaking in unison.
"Settle what?"
This left Yui Yuigahama completely bewildered, and she stammered blankly.
"Well... the right to be with Ye Xing?"
Hearing this, Rio Futaba's eyes beneath her mask revealed genuine exasperation. She slowly stepped forward, patted Yui Yuigahama's shoulder, and spoke with profound meaning.
"Dango, which version are you still operating on?"
"Eh?"
Yui Yuigahama looked confused.
"I... I confessed to Ye Xing, don't you... have anything to say about that?"
Mai Sakurajima also sighed, stepping forward to gently take Yui Yuigahama's hand, speaking softly.
"Dango, this isn't a life-or-death matter. Since we're all comrades bearing the responsibility of saving Kyoto City —and even saving the world —there are some things... You should understand, right?"
Yui Yuigahama shook her head blankly.
"I don't understand, Mai-senpai."
Mai Sakurajima sighed slightly but maintained her gentle and appropriate tone.
"Anyway, let's deal with that serial killer situation first. We can discuss other matters together afterwards, alright?"
"This... alright then."
Although Yui Yuigahama didn't fully grasp the current situation, she clearly understood.
Compared to emotional conflicts among members, catching that serial killer was the most important matter.
...
Half an hour later, outside Suga Editorial Studio.
Despite its impressive name, this studio was actually a semi-basement unit, constrained by financial circumstances.
Natsumi Suga sat before her computer, typing away at her keyboard as she composed today's manuscript.
Her uncle, the owner of this Suga Editorial Studio, had gone out to buy beer despite the heavy rain outside, having succumbed to his alcohol cravings.
Ring ring ring.
Listening to the incessantly ringing telephone, Natsumi Suga frowned slightly and muttered impatiently to herself.
"Really, it's almost 9pm, and they're still calling constantly. Don't these people know about rest hours?"
Though she complained, her train of thought had already been interrupted. She could only shake her head helplessly, walk over and pick up the phone, her tone stiff.
"Suga Editorial Studio, how may I help you?"
The words from the other end of the line made Natsumi Suga pause in surprise.
"This is Director Soichiro Yagami of the Metropolitan Police Department's Criminal Affairs Bureau."
"Criminal Affairs Director? You're calling to...?"
"No time to explain! Everyone currently in your studio must evacuate immediately. We have intelligence suggesting a potentially dangerous individual may be approaching. Our Metropolitan Police Department units are en route."
"Dangerous person...?"
Natsumi Suga froze momentarily, then nervously pursed her lips and nodded.
"Um... I understand!"
Before she could hang up, she suddenly heard violent banging sounds coming from the studio's main entrance, causing her pupils to contract in shock.
"W-wait... th-this is..."
...
"Hello? Miss, are you alright?"
Seeing that Natsumi Suga on the other end wasn't responding, and hearing the series of impact sounds coming through the receiver, Soichiro Yagami gritted his teeth and slammed the steering wheel hard.
"Damn it!"
After receiving the notification from Kyoto TV station, Soichiro Yagami hadn't hesitated for even a moment, immediately mobilising his subordinates from the Criminal Affairs Bureau.
Moreover, because this incident involved Mask and was suspected to be a supernatural event, he had specifically deployed the riot police unit.
Although Soichiro Yagami had acted promptly, the heavy rain today had caused flooding in many areas, making roads impassable for vehicles and resulting in significant delays.
"Damn it! Damn it!"
Soichiro Yagami cursed angrily through gritted teeth, picking up the radio.
"Everyone, turn on your police lights and drive at full speed! We must reach the scene as quickly as possible!"
Finally, the Sunny Doll Killer was right before them.
With his strong sense of justice, Soichiro Yagami absolutely refused to let even one more person die at the killer's hands.
Watching Soichiro Yagami's vehicle speeding ahead, voices came through the radio from other Metropolitan Police Department members.
"Chief Yagami, the road ahead has too much flooding; it's impassable. We should detour..."
"Detour my arse!"
Looking at the accumulated rainwater dozens of metres ahead, resembling a river nearly half a metre deep, Soichiro Yagami didn't slow down but instead floored the accelerator.
"You lot take the detour! I'm charging through first!"
Soichiro Yagami silently prayed in his heart, hoping this police car would hold up.
...
Meanwhile, riding on the giant pale ghost hand flying towards Natsumi Suga's editorial studio, the Supernatural Society team members.
"No matter how many times I ride this, I still can't quite get used to it..."
Hearing Miko Yotsuya's words, Rio Futaba shook her head helplessly.
"There's no helping it; this is the fastest method. Even without the rain, our current appearance isn't suitable for taking taxis."
Then, Rio Futaba turned to Ye Xing and spoke in a serious tone.
"About the problem I mentioned, have you thought of a solution?"
Ye Xing casually replied.
"Yeah, pretty much."
After combining it with the true nature of the Reverse World, Rio Futaba had made a deduction.
The Sunny Doll Killer wasn't something that could be easily eliminated.
Certainly, the Supernatural Society members could defeat them, destroy their body, and crush this murderer's soul.
But there was one thing that couldn't be erased.
That was the fear, imprinted in all Kyoto residents' minds, of the name "Sunny Doll Killer."
According to Rio Futaba's deduction, even if they killed that murderer, it would be useless unless Kyoto residents knew the Sunny Doll Killer was dead.
The fear and negative impressions in so many people's hearts would continuously gather in the Reverse World, creating one "Sunny Doll Killer" evil spirit after another, committing more horrifying crimes, deepening the fear in people's hearts, then again in the Reverse World...
It was practically an endless cycle.
The only way to break this cycle was to make everyone know the Sunny Doll Killer was dead, and also find a way to eliminate people's fear of this name.
"No problem."
Ye Xing replied to Rio Futaba, a smiling white pattern appearing on his pure black mask.
"My speciality is abstraction."