Mono didn't know what was on Six's mind. If he did, he would surely have chuckled again. After all, girls who believe in the light... are rare.
Under the "validation," the flickering fluorescence on Six's face slowly stopped. Mono couldn't help but move his hand down to touch Six's cheek; it was still a bit cold. However, the tear stains on it had been wiped clean.
"Alright... remember, you're not allowed to cry anymore," his warm hand pinched her small cheek, and then he whispered, "otherwise, it will really look ugly..."
Six also raised her small hand and silently wiped the corners of her eyes. The fluctuations in her eyes slowly returned to calm as she faced him with a neutral expression.
"Mm," her little head nodded heavily as she hummed in response.
Mono looked on with relief.
Although his palms were still sweating, it was clear that Six at least had the intention and tendency to change her own state.
He only hoped that everything would truly be as he thought, and that a tenacious will could completely break through the haze and darkness tightly binding the soul.
"Let's go, I'll take you out of this place..."
Passing by places with televisions along the way,
Mono no longer just walked past like before.
As long as it could be avoided, he tried his best to avoid being exposed within their projection range.
He wasn't sure what Mono relied on to detect their location. Therefore, being a bit cautious was never wrong.
The two figures, one behind the other, held hands and silently walked along the dark street. Relying on cautious concealment, no accidents occurred during this time.
Mono became increasingly certain of his guess—that guy was using the televisions to track them.
Just as he was thinking this, Little Six suddenly pulled him.
"Mono... there are people..."
Mono looked up and realized they had already reached a street corner. However, at the intersection after the turn...
Televisions, densely packed and stacked layer upon layer, lay against the grayish-black walls, sat atop crooked utility poles, or lay on the rain-soaked ground.
And stiff adults were lined up, blocking the way like a high, silent wall of people, staring blankly at the televisions.
The path forward was completely blocked.
"Keep it down..."
Mono tightened his grip on her hand.
Six nodded.
Mono stepped lightly, silently continuing to circle along the inner ring of the peripheral alleys.
There wasn't only one road to the Signal Tower.
But soon, Mono realized his thinking was a bit naive.
No matter how far they walked to the side or how many streets they crossed, the figures gathered to block the path ahead did not decrease.
Mono had to stop his footsteps again.
Clearly, this unusual scene was not a "natural" phenomenon.
This was its handiwork.
These people must have been "arranged" by it; otherwise, they couldn't have gathered here so coincidentally and neatly.
The purpose was obvious: to block them from all sides and force them to reveal themselves inch by inch.
"It really is a hassle..." Mono had a bit of a headache.
Now, trying to enter the Signal Tower silently and without attracting attention seemed a bit forced.
Compared to the monsters he had encountered before, the Tall, Thin Black Shadow was much smarter.
Despite also being controlled by intense desire, it still possessed its own "consciousness."
This kind of enemy with "self-awareness" was even harder to deal with than those who possessed only great power.
Lost, confused, and uncomprehending, attempting to struggle yet sinking...
How should he respond now?
After a moment of contemplation, Mono pulled Little Six toward another alley again.
If they didn't continue forward, once it completely controlled everyone to gradually shrink the surrounding area, they would be in trouble.
Delaying time was very disadvantageous for them.
After walking a short distance further, a new obstacle appeared ahead.
Countless figures were scattered in an orderly fashion, constantly pacing back and forth on patrol.
Mono had to change direction again.
But as time passed, the range narrowed further, and before they knew it, the surroundings began to be covered by a chill again.
A frigid aura eroded the earth, making those standing upon it feel frozen to the core.
The adults, whose faces were already distorted and devoid of awareness, actually all began to wail in unison.
Mono had to change his path even more frequently.
Suddenly, at a certain moment, a huge head abruptly extended from behind an alley.
The moment it saw the figures of Mono and the other,
Li~
An incredibly loud wail instantly pierced through the entire street.
And the other "adults" also noticed the abnormal movement here and turned their heads one after another.
Then, the black shadows took mechanical steps and charged toward their location. Not only that, the surrounding magnetic field also began to distort...
"Run!"
A bead of cold sweat rolled down Mono's forehead.
Even though he had been very careful, there were too many people, and they were still detected.
Thump, thump, thump!
At a distance, a blood-soaked aura couldn't help but emanate out.
If an ordinary person were to face the scene before them, they would surely feel only despair. Urgent footsteps echoed once again in the quiet street.
Behind them, countless roads and walls were toppled and smashed by the surging adults.
Their steps were as if they were motorized, tireless; even if they were tripped and fell to the ground, even if they were crushed by their own companions, they still didn't forget to keep crawling in pursuit.
These people had gone mad once again.
Countless walls of people were blocking the way, and in the corner, a terrifying existence like a maggot on a bone was about to arrive...
They had already found them.
No, rather, it was here.
"Hu... hu... hu?"
The surrounding heavy rain became somewhat stagnant and cold again. The two's urgent breathing echoed continuously as their figures kept moving forward...
Buzz~
A television in the distance once again emitted bursts of dazzling white light.
The magnetic field began to distort. This time, the distortion was stronger than any time before. A black fedora slowly emerged from the television.
A deep, profound darkness, exuding a terrifying aura.
The shadow beneath the hat also slowly revealed itself once more.
First the head, then the shoulders, slender hands and fingers, a straight torso, long thin legs, and polished black leather shoes.
Its gaze lifted.
Mono saw its face clearly.
It was a numb face without a trace of emotion, pale as paper, waxen like ash, without a single drop of color. It even seemed as if one could truly see a thin layer of white frost on it caused by the chill.
"Dammit, quick, over there..."
Mono pulled Six and rushed toward the other side.
He already knew the surrounding terrain by heart.
Behind them, the indifferent eyes slowly lifted, falling upon the two small figures ahead.
Then, the long, straight legs slowly lifted.
A crisp footstep sounded,
as if striking directly at the soul,
making one's heart involuntarily
tremble along with it.
Six's body began to stiffen again.
"Don't stop!!"
Mono's gaze also slowly turned cold as he spoke urgently.
As he spoke, Mono glanced back.
He saw the light and shadow distort for a moment, and the slender shadow vanished from where it stood, only to reappear not far behind them.
Mono's eyes narrowed slightly.
[Teleportation]?
Clearly, Mono had already mastered this Ability.
With their "short legs," they already had no advantage against those long strides, and yet their opponent was even cheating. At this rate, it would certainly be difficult to escape.
Mono retracted his gaze, his eyes falling on a nearby house.
"Over there!"
He directly pulled Six and, with a quick movement, jumped into the building.
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