Chapter 167: The Inescapable Mark, Tuanzi's Awakening
Seeing this mysterious person wearing a pure black mask and a black coat, dressed as if doing cosplay, suddenly appear in front of him, the Teru Teru Bozu Killer couldn't help freezing for a moment, then his pupils shrank in shock.
"You... 'Mask'?"
Yoru didn't reply, just his right hand turned pale white, and the pitch-black sharp nails on the five fingers pierced deeply into the flesh and blood of the Teru Teru Bozu Killer.
The latter seemed to feel something; a look of disbelief emerged in his bloodshot pupils.
Immediately after, the Teru Teru Bozu Killer made an astonishing move.
He directly used his left hand to grab the elbow joint of his right arm, and without seemingly using much force, actually forcibly tore off half of his right arm!
In the next second, the Teru Teru Bozu Killer didn't hesitate at all, directly turned around and fled quickly.
His figure gradually blurred in the pouring rain, until finally blending into one with it.
"Heh."
Yoru didn't chase after him, just emitted a sound that seemed very disdainful and contemptuous.
He turned around, walked up to Yui sitting paralyzed on the ground, and extended his left hand.
"Are you okay?"
"Mmhmm... mmhmm, I'm fine."
Yui took a deep breath, held Yoru's left hand, and stood up with his help.
Next second.
She suddenly felt like she had entered a very warm place from the sky full of rain.
Her wet hair was carefully wiped, and the heat on it was like a hairdryer, gradually drying her dripping hair.
It was like getting close to a lit fireplace in the coldest winter, feeling warm all over.
Yui looked up and found Yoru, like a mother hen protecting her chick, using his black coat to shield the top of her head.
Feeling the warmth coming from either the burning black flames or Yoru's body, her pretty face blushed slightly, whining嬌嗔 (Jiao Chen).
"You... do you treat me like a child?"
Yoru looked down at a certain part of Yui that showed its outline because it was wet by the rain, and shook his head seriously.
"Small (Child)... you are actually not small."
Yui didn't react at first. When she did, her pretty face instantly turned completely red. She protected her chest, biting her silver teeth shyly.
"You... can't you create an umbrella?"
Yoru's answer was as straight a ball as always.
"I can, but I prefer this."
"Pref, pref, prefer?"
Yui felt her heartbeat accelerate instantly.
She parted her lips, seemingly wanting to say something, but her peripheral vision suddenly caught the scattered cookies on the ground, couldn't help changing her face, saying hurriedly.
"The cookies I made... all..."
"These are what you wanted to give me?"
Hearing Yoru's inquiry, Yui nodded with a complicated face, saying softly.
"Yeah... but now..."
"Oh, for me."
Under Yui's surprised gaze, Yoru actually bent down and picked up a soaked cookie from the rain-stained ground.
"Don't..."
Before Yui finished speaking, a ball of black flame burned in Yoru's hand, baking the soaked cookie dry. Then he raised his cuff, casually wiped off the mud and dust stained on it, and finally put it into his mouth.
"Yoru-san... you..."
Watching Yoru really put the cookie into his mouth, Yui stood blankly in place, not knowing what to say.
"This... this has already fallen on the ground..."
"It doesn't matter."
Yoru waved his hand and smiled.
"This is what you made with your own hands, the cookies you wanted to give me. I must taste them."
Hearing this, Yui felt the throbbing in her heart stronger than any previous time.
Just as Mom said...
Yoru-kun, is a gentle person.
The two very tacitly didn't mention how the cookie tasted.
The taste of the food was no longer important.
Although the corner of Yoru's mouth was already twitching unconsciously.
But...
The taste was no longer important.
Yoru took out his phone from his bosom, dialed Rio's number, and after the opponent picked up, went straight to the point.
"Rio, the operation has begun; I'll send you the location."
Rio's voice was as calm and rational as always.
"Mmhmm, understood."
...
Ten minutes later, Mai, Rio, and Miko, who had changed into clothes formed by the Soul Manifestation ability, arrived on this street.
"Open your eyes, Hyakume."
With Miko's soft shout, Hyakume wearing a kimono and wooden clogs appeared again. Her feet stepped on the puddles of the street, but didn't stir up the slightest ripple.
"How is it, can you see?"
Hyakume nodded slightly, saying softly.
"Mmhmm, I can see very clearly."
In Hyakume's vision, the world amidst the rain seemed divided into three areas.
The first layer was the pale gold color contained in those raindrops, like the Goat-Headed Deity.
The second layer was that wisp of black viscous mist exuding an evil, twisted, and ominous meaning hidden under the sky full of rain.
And the third layer... was also the most obvious layer.
A pale white haze, stretched into the shape of a silk thread, extended forward from where everyone was standing now.
"Phew... that's good."
Hearing Hyakume's affirmative answer, Rio breathed a long sigh of relief.
Although the general direction of luring the snake out of its hole was decided by Yoru, the specific action plan was handled by her, the staff officer.
Before the Teru Teru Bozu Killer took the bait, Rio had already considered that the Super-Quant Club members couldn't defeat the opponent at this stage, or that the opponent possessed some strange ability sufficient to escape from Yoru's hands.
For this, Rio thought of a wonderful plan, named "Paintball" by Yoru.
She didn't know what a paintball was either; guessing it was another random name Yoru came up with while being crazy.
The principle of the plan was very simple.
Miko's Hyakume possessed the special ability to discover and track even the tiniest evil spirit traces.
Hyakume and Miko were originally one.
This meant that if it was an aura familiar to Miko, Hyakume would be even more adept at tracking it.
Then here comes the question.
What is the evil spirit power Miko is most familiar with and has contacted the most?
It's... Yoru's that thing.
Simply put.
Hyakume was very familiar with Yoru's power aura, and in the short few seconds of physical contact with the Teru Teru Bozu Killer just now, Yoru had already completed this marking process.
The Teru Teru Bozu Killer also realized something was wrong, so he made the act of tearing off his arm like a gecko discarding its tail.
Unfortunately, Yoru's marking wasn't aimed at the body, but a brand engraved on his twisted soul.
Once caught, he couldn't escape no matter what.
"Then Yui, we are leaving first."
After confirming the traces left by the Teru Teru Bozu Killer, Miko and others prepared to set off to carry out the final sanction against this serial killer.
But just then, Yui suddenly gritted her teeth and ran out from under Yoru's coat cover.
Her originally dried peach-pink long hair was completely soaked by the rain again.
"Wait a minute!"
Yui stood there, her two hands placed by her sides silently clenching. Her eyes and expression became increasingly blurred in the growing rain.
"I, I, I..."
Looking at the puzzled eyes of Miko, Mai, and Rio, and the clothes they wore formed by Soul Manifestation power representing their spirit medium identities, Yui took a deep breath. Her face was no longer that gentle and simple smile she usually wore.
Replaced by incomparable firmness.
Yui stared straight at her three good friends in front of her, speaking word by word.
"I... like Yoru-san."
"No matter how you look at me, no matter what thoughts you have, no matter how you want to compete with me..."
Yui clenched her fists, so firm for the first time in her life.
"I don't want to lie anymore, nor will I continue to escape, much less back down, so..."
"Let's have a showdown!"
As Yui's voice fell, the scene of the sky full of rain in front of her suddenly bloomed with fine cracks like glass.
At the same time, a woman's voice rang in her mind.
"Finally made up your resolve?"
"That Yuigahama Yui who hid her true heart to maintain hypocritical relationships and constantly catered to others ends at this moment."
"From now on, no more lies, no more disguises."
"For the person you are attached to, gamble everything and approach him."
"Here, call out my true name."
Yui's mind went blank, only following her heart, slightly parting her lips.
"Here, call out thy true name."
"Pursue the obsession, Kiyohime!"
Mai, Miko, and Rio couldn't help freezing upon hearing this sentence.
"That is... Awakening?"
At the moment Yui's voice fell, under the reflection of the sky full of rain, a tall phantom emerged behind her.
The upper body was a beautiful woman.
The lower body was a snake-like body.
"Ara, has the time finally come?"
The moment Kiyohime appeared, she cast her gaze on Yoru standing there, strong infatuation and admiration emerging in her eyes.
"My Master~"
"Phew... phew..."
Yui, showing the Soul Manifestation ability for the first time, obviously suffered from the double exhaustion of physical and mental strength like Miko and others.
Even so, she still clenched her fists, murmuring to herself.
"Finally... I have also become..."
Yui raised her head, first glanced at Yoru standing there, her eyes very gentle.
Then she stared straight at Mai, Rio, and Miko in front of her, her eyes and expression becoming incomparably firm again, speaking slowly.
"Mai-senpai, Miko, Little Rio, let's use the true bodies of Soul Manifestation to have a showdown!"
Unexpectedly for Yui, hearing these words, the three girls Mai, Miko, and Rio just looked at each other, then simultaneously held their foreheads and sighed, speaking in unison.
"What showdown?"
This completely confused Yui, saying blankly.
"Um... the right to be with Yoru?"
Hearing this, Rio's eyes under the mask revealed sincere speechlessness. She stepped forward slowly, patted Yui's shoulder, and said earnestly.
"Tuanzi, what version are you still on?"
"Eh?"
Yui was puzzled.
"I... I confessed to Yoru, don't... you guys have anything to say?"
Mai also sighed, stepped forward slowly, held Yui's hand, and said gently.
"Tuanzi, this isn't a life-and-death matter. Since everyone is a companion shouldering the responsibility of saving Kyoto city, and even saving the world, some things... you should understand, right?"
Yui adorkably shook her head.
"I don't understand, Mai-senpai."
Mai sighed slightly, still maintaining a gentle and appropriate tone.
"Anyway, let's deal with that serial killer's matter first, and then we can communicate together about the subsequent matters, okay?"
"This... okay."
Although Yui didn't quite understand the current situation, she obviously knew very well too.
Compared to emotional disputes among members, catching that serial killer was the most important thing.
.....
Half an hour later, outside the Suga Editorial Studio.
Although the name was very loud, due to economic conditions, this studio was actually a semi-basement.
Suga Natsumi sat in front of the computer, typing on the keyboard, writing today's manuscript.
Her uncle, who was the boss of this Suga Editorial Studio, even though it was raining heavily outside, still ran out to buy beer because of his alcohol addiction.
Ring ring ring~~~
Hearing the constantly ringing phone, Suga Natsumi frowned slightly, murmuring to herself impatiently.
"Really, it's almost nine o'clock in the evening, still calling continuously. Do these people not know the concept of rest time?"
Saying this, but Suga Natsumi's thoughts had already been interrupted. She could only shake her head helplessly, walk over to pick up the phone, her tone stiff.
"Suga Editorial Studio, how may I help you?"
The words coming from the other end of the phone made Suga Natsumi freeze involuntarily.
"This is the Chief of Criminal Investigation Bureau of the Police Department, Yagami Soichiro."
"Chief of Criminal Investigation Bureau? You calling is..."
"No time to explain! Everyone currently in your studio must leave immediately. There is intelligence that suspected dangerous personnel might appear; our Police Department is on the way."
"Dangerous personnel...?"
Suga Natsumi froze, pursed her lips nervously, and nodded.
"Mmhmm... I understand!"
Before hanging up the phone, she suddenly heard the sound of the studio door being hit hard, her pupils shrinking in shock.
"Wait... wait a minute, this... this is..."
"Hello? Miss, are you okay?"
Seeing no reply from Suga Natsumi on the other end, and hearing the continuous sound of impact from the receiver, Yagami Soichiro gritted his teeth tightly and slammed the steering wheel hard.
"Damn it!"
After receiving the notification from Kyoto TV Station, Yagami Soichiro didn't hesitate at all and directly dispatched with his subordinates from the Criminal Investigation Bureau.
Moreover, because this incident had the participation of "Mask" and was suspected to be a supernatural event, he also specially mobilized the riot police unit.
Although Yagami Soichiro's action was timely, due to the heavy rain today, many roads were flooded and vehicles couldn't pass, still delaying a lot of time.
"Damn it! Damn it!"
Yagami Soichiro cursed a few times angrily, gritted his teeth, picked up the walkie-talkie and said.
"Everyone turn on the police lights, drive at full speed, make sure to arrive at the scene as soon as possible!"
Finally, that Teru Teru Bozu Killer was right in front of him.
Yagami Soichiro, who had a strong sense of justice, absolutely didn't want to see another person die at the opponent's hands.
Seeing the vehicle driven by Yagami Soichiro leaving everyone behind, the voices of other Police Department members came from the walkie-talkie.
"Chief Yagami, there is too much water accumulated on the road ahead, unable to pass, better detour..."
"Detour my a**!"
Looking at the accumulated water dozens of meters away, half a meter deep like a river, Yagami Soichiro not only didn't decelerate but pressed the accelerator to the bottom.
"You guys detour; I'll rush over first!"
Yagami Soichiro prayed silently in his heart, hoping this police car could live up to expectations.
....
On the other side, the Super-Quant Club team riding on the huge pale ghost hands flying towards the location of the Suga Editorial Studio.
"No matter how many times I ride, still a bit unaccustomed..."
Hearing Miko's words, Rio shook her head helplessly.
"No choice, this is the quickest method. Even if it wasn't raining, our appearance isn't suitable for taking a taxi, right."
Immediately after, Rio looked at Yoru, her tone solemn.
"Regarding the problem I mentioned, have you thought of a solution?"
Yoru replied casually.
"Mmhmm, pretty much."
After combining the true essence of the Otherworld, Rio made a speculation.
The Teru Teru Bozu Killer wasn't that easy to eliminate.
Admittedly, the Super-Quant Club members could defeat the opponent, obliterate his body, and crush the soul of this serial killer.
But there was one point that couldn't be simply erased.
That was the fear left by the name "Teru Teru Bozu Killer" to everyone in Kyoto city.
According to Rio's speculation, even if they killed that serial killer, if they didn't let the residents of Kyoto city know that the Teru Teru Bozu Killer was dead, it would be useless.
The fear and negative impressions in the hearts of so many people would continuously condense in the Otherworld, creating one "Teru Teru Bozu Killer" evil spirit after another, committing more appalling cases, deepening the fear in the public's hearts, and then in the Otherworld...
It was simply an endless loop.
The only way to break this loop was to let everyone know the Teru Teru Bozu Killer was dead, and also find a way to eliminate everyone's fear of this name.
"No problem."
Yoru replied to Rio. On the pure black mask, a smiling white pattern appeared.
"What I'm best at is being abstract."