678 Nice to see you again (1/2)
Mist spread everywhere and darkened the forest. The atmosphere seemed like demons or other such monsters might emerge and attack at any moment.
Seiji and the others remained on guard as they proceeded through the forest.
This forest hadn't existed just one moment ago. It was formed just like the black mist and cluster amaryllis flowers as a byproduct of the black mist realm.
Seiji felt that this place was resembling the Blood Moon Mountain even more as he trekked through the forest.
Although Kanzaki had already been defeated, this realm wasn't dispelled at all. It was still expanding!
The only apparent benefit was that no more ghosts appeared to attack Seiji and his party.
However, it seemed quite possible that the ghosts or something even worse would appear if this realm was allowed to continue developing.
While maintaining their guard, everyone proceeded as quickly as possible to Yoshihara's location on the minimap. More and more cluster amaryllis flowers became visible along the way. Finally, everyone witnessed a tremendous patch of flowers the color of bright-red blood, along with a strange large gray tree in the center of the cluster amaryllis flower patch.
This tree didn't have a single leaf. Its surface was covered with black runes, and its dense branches resembled countless hands reaching out towards the sky. This tree appeared quite demonic under the red moonlight.
Yoshihara's location was the same as this tree.
Either Yoshihara was within this tree, or… the tree itself was Yoshihara!
”Yoshihara-san…” Seiji walked up to the large tree and tried calling out.
There was no reaction.
Seiji walked over to the tree and placed his right hand on the tree bark.
His arm immediately started glowing silvery white while the tree glowed red. The runes on the tree began to glow as well.
Seiji instantly felt his entire right hand heating up, similar to what he'd experienced during the tournament contract ceremony. However, this time the heat kept increasing to the point where it was difficult to withstand! He did his best to grit his teeth and not make any sounds of pain.
*Ding dong~* Seiji heard the previous familiar clear sound that resembled a bell ringing.
His consciousness started to become hazy.
*Ding dong~* The sound rang out for a second time.
Seiji hazily saw two figures floating before him. One was male and one was female; one was black and one was white.
Yuuzou Yoshihara… Risa Kobayakawa…
Although Seiji was unable to see these figures clearly, he felt that they were these two people.
Just as he felt like he was about to witness a touching scene, he suddenly saw the white female figure viciously kicking the black male figure in the crotch!
'Ouch… she really used a lot of force in that kick.'
Yoshihara grabbed on to his crotch and kneeled on the ground. It was evident that he was in great pain.
Risa lifted her foot again and viciously stomped down on his body!
How powerful… Seiji's mental image of a gentle woman (similar to Mayuzumi Amami) immediately collapsed after seeing such a scene.
Still, he felt that Yoshihara deserved the beating.
One could only vent by delivering such a beating to someone as foolish as Yoshihara!!
Risa continued her stomping for quite a while before she finally stopped.
She then crouched down next to Yoshihara and said something to him.
Yoshihara slowly lifted his head. Tears were streaming down his face.
Risa turned to look in Seiji's direction.
Although Seiji was unable to see her face, he could sense that she was smiling.
”Thank you…”
He also heard her speaking faintly.
”No need for thanks.” Seiji smiled at her as well.
*Ding dong~* The sounds faded.
Seiji's vision suddenly returned to normal. The heat in his arm receded as the silver-white glow disappeared.
The glowing runes on the tree transformed into specks that resembled stars. These stars gradually rose up into the air and disappeared in the red moonlight, giving off a sorrowful beauty.
…Was that it?
What about the black mist realm? Did that still remain?