Chapter 134: Danger

Suddenly, the sound of a struggle erupted outside the door. A second later, the door swung open. Kizami stood there holding a sharp blade, while Takagi Ken lay on the floor behind him.

"Kizami-kun, why would you do this?" Miyuki asked, trembling with fear.

"Takagi-kun!" Kuai cried out, looking at the fallen figure with concern.

Fujita stepped in front of Kuai, shouting, "Watch out for this madman!"

"So, I’ve finally been found out? I was hoping to play a little longer."

Kizami walked slowly into the room, his hand clutching the blade, a wicked smirk playing on his lips. "Do you know? I envy this world. I envy everyone. I envy all those who are exceptional. Why is it that others can live so well? Why can others lead lives so much happier than mine?"

"I hate seeing people smile. I hate the faces of the happy. That’s why I love savoring human corpses, photographing them inch by inch with my camera. No matter how comfortable or glorious their lives were before, before me, they are nothing but corpses. This is the only way I can surpass them: I am… still alive! Ahahahahaha!"

Kizami let out a peal of laughter, the terrifying sound sending chills through the horrific space.

"This isn't real, this can't be real. Kizami-kun has always protected me, he’s always been so kind at school. It must be the influence of this place, it has to be!" Miyuki stared at him, her face etched with disbelief and an agonizing struggle to understand.

"This isn't the real world. Haven’t you realized that yet? No matter what you do here, no one will hold you accountable. Laws and rules mean nothing here. This is the perfect place for me to bare my soul—I envy the entire world!" Kizami raised the blood-stained fruit knife and began to advance, step by step, toward Fujita, Kuai, and his companion, Miyuki.

"Run!" Fujita yelled, pushing Kuai aside as he prepared to charge at Kizami.

"Fujita-kun!" Kuai cried, realizing he was no match for Kizami, and grabbed him, pulling him back.

However, Miyuki, still in a state of shock, walked toward Kizami as if in a trance. "Senior, tell me this isn't true. Tell me you're just playing a joke on us, right?"

Suddenly, she felt a chill in her chest. The blood-slicked blade pierced through her back and out her chest.

"Aaaah!" Fujita and Kuai screamed in terror.

"Kizami-senpai…!" Miyuki’s eyes remained fixed on him, filled with shock. The boy she knew to be so gentle possessed such a terrifying darkness in his heart.

"Goodbye, my dear Miyuki. In a place like this, you shouldn't trust anyone. Looking at a corpse that has finally lost its warmth—this is the only sense of superiority I have left. Hahaha!" As he spoke, Kizami withdrew his blade. Miyuki collapsed, her pupils dilating as she drew her final breath, her expression frozen in disbelief.

Just then, a wooden plank slammed heavily into Kizami’s back. He stumbled, and as he turned, he saw Takagi Ken, who had been struck down earlier, struggling to his feet while clutching his wounded abdomen. He had used a piece of wood he found on the floor to stage a surprise attack.

"Die, you freak!" Fujita grabbed a wooden rod from the floor and swung it at the distracted Kizami.

The blow landed, and Kizami finally collapsed to the ground, falling unconscious.

"Takagi-kun, are you alright?" Kuai rushed to check his wounds.

"I'm fine, it didn't hit anything vital. Quickly, tie this guy up, then let's get upstairs to find Yuriko. We have to hurry!"

Meanwhile, on the other side of the school, Abe Hareya and Fang You were making their way through a corridor toward the upper floors.

"I can feel my sister nearby," Abe said, sensing a connection.

"I hope so," Fang You replied. As a Taoist Yin-Yang Master, he felt it was his duty to save the victims trapped in this place.

"No, don't! Why are you doing this?" A cry suddenly echoed from the upper levels of Heavenly Host Elementary.

"Sister!" Abe recognized the voice instantly—it was his sister, Yuriko. "Hurry!"

As they raced upstairs, a white, ethereal spirit appeared before them. Abe stopped, on guard, but realized the spirit appeared pure and harmless, unlike the vengeful red or black spirits that haunted this place. Still, the sight of a pure soul in such a desolate realm was unsettling.

"Who are you?" Fang You demanded.

"I can sense that you are also Yin-Yang Masters. I have something I must tell you." The spirit’s eyes were vacant, yet it retained a fragment of consciousness.

"My name is Saenoki Nanahoshi, and I, too, am a Yin-Yang Master. About half a year ago, my mentor, Kibiki, and I discovered this space at Heavenly Host Elementary. He was obsessed with it. Through extensive research, we found a way inside."

"But after discovering the method, he was determined to enter immediately, driven by a desire for fame and further research. I knew the power here was too malevolent for us to suppress alone, but I couldn't stop him."

"Before we left, I posted the 'Sachiko Ever After' ritual online, disguising it as a happiness charm. I hoped that if we didn't return, some people in the real world would perform the ritual and end up here. I knew it would eventually attract powerful Yin-Yang Masters who could help break the barrier. I have finally waited long enough for stronger masters to arrive—you."

"At first, we intended to exorcise the spirits. But once we entered, we realized our mistake. This place isn't just Sachiko’s grudge; it’s a space composed of the collective resentment of everyone who has ever died here. Every time someone dies, the malice grows. By now, the space is unbreakable."

"Our spiritual power was heavily suppressed. Gradually, the environment eroded our sanity. This place drives people mad; it warps their minds. You must be careful—not just of the spirits, but of those around you. At any moment, they could do something unthinkable."

"So you lured innocent people here with a fake ritual just to save your own skin?" Abe asked, his voice filled with indignation.

"Abe, stay calm. Let him finish," Fang You urged.

"Did you find nothing else in this place?" Fang You asked the spirit.

"We did. We did find something. I am sorry for dragging you into this, but I will tell you everything we discovered."

"Even though my master and I perished here, we did find the ritual to return to the real world: the 'Reverse Incantation.' You entered using the paper doll game, right? To go back, you must gather the remaining paper dolls, join them together, and recite the incantation 'Sachiko-san, please' three times. That will allow you to use the technique to return to the real world."