The air warped.
No warning.
No build-up.
Pop.
Takeru vanished from Tokyo Colony 1—
and reappeared somewhere else entirely.
A different colony.
Different pressure.
Different chaos.
Sendai.
Takeru blinked once.
Looked to his right.
"…Oh, hi Yuta!"
Yuta Okkotsu turned—
mid-step—
eyes widening instantly.
"WHAT THE HE—"
CRASH.
Both of them snapped their heads toward the sound.
A massive shape tore through a nearby structure—
chitin scraping—
limbs unfolding—
a grotesque, insect-like cursed spirit emerging into full view.
Kurourushi.
Its presence was suffocating.
Rotting.
Swarming with smaller cursed insects spilling from its body.
Yuta's expression hardened instantly.
Switch flipped.
"…Civilians!"
His voice cut through the area.
"…Get to the stadium! Now!"
Panic erupted around them—
people running—
tripping—
scrambling to escape.
Takeru looked toward the distance.
"…Stadium?"
Yuta nodded sharply.
"…Rika's there. She's protecting it."
As if on cue—
a massive surge of cursed energy pulsed from afar.
Heavy.
Familiar.
Rika.
Holding the line.
Takeru rolled his shoulders once.
"…Understood."
Kurourushi screeched—
its body twitching—
locking onto both of them.
Target acquired.
Yuta stepped forward.
Katana already in hand.
"…Stay sharp."
Takeru nodded.
"…Confirmed."
The cursed insects began swarming outward—
a flood of movement.
Kurourushi lunged.
And just like that—
the fight began.