Essence Of The Void: Part 3

Tang-Ji's pulse thumped heavily as she ran down the worn-out wooden stairs of the mansion. She sprinted mindlessly towards the front door, her footsteps reverberating through the foyer as Kazami's words echoed in her head.

"No one can help us... personal tragedies... a game where our lives are on the line." Tang-Ji mumbled coherently to herself.

While collecting her scattered thoughts, she noticed Ukiyo resting against the door frame to prevent it from shutting. The veranda outside the ominous mansion was blanketed in a thick layer of snow, which appeared to glow red because of the reflection of the crimson sky. The snow fell in slow motion around Ukiyo as she sat on the veranda, her small, delicate frame wrapped in a thick, fluffy cloak.

The mansion loomed over her, its presence creating a sombre atmosphere. Before making her way to the entrance, Tang-ji had forgotten entirely about Ukiyo. After some effort, Tang-ji lifted her face and met Ukiyo's eyes, which stared back at her curiously. The two individuals stared blankly into each other's eyes for a while before speaking.

"Zilynx, what's wrong? Are you alright?" Ukiyo asked nonchalantly.

Tang-ji paused for a moment, her eyes darting back and forth between Ukiyo and the ground.

She took a deep breath, struggling to find the right words.

"Don't worry, it's... nothing major," she said unsteadily. "I... I had an argument with Kazami. He said some things, and I... I just need some fresh air, that's all."

Ukiyo slowly got to her feet, shaking the powder snow off her clothing before making her way carefully towards Tang-ji, who was standing awkwardly with one arm crossed.

"Hey, Zilynx," Ukiyo said softly, her voice carrying through the cold air. "I couldn't help but overhear what Kirizkuuk said to you.

Tang-Ji's eyes once again meet.

Ukiyo's expression still seems serene, but with a flicker of curiosity. "You... heard that? Were you upstairs?"

Ukiyo shook her head. "No, I was down here the whole time; however, my ability allows me to detect sound from extremely far distances."

Tang-Ji was surprised and wanted to ask about what other abilities she had, but refrained from going further.

Since the start of the death game, Tang-Ji has felt nothing but terror. She didn't know how to fill the void that her inability to communicate had created between herself and Kazami. She briefly considered the possibility that confiding in another girl might help her open up; however, she instantly dismissed the idea. Seeing that the closest girl in the area was merely a computer programme produced by the game.

Tang-Ji was at a loss; everything she'd tried thus far had caused more pain for herself, and those close to her, so she decided to keep everything to herself. At that moment, she wanted to shut her eyes and never open them again, but whenever she did close them, she would start to think of Kazami, an old friend whom she no longer knew, and the things he had said to her. The weight of his words hung heavily over her head, a constant reminder of her own emotional detachment.

Tang-Ji now curled up on the carpet and buried her red, puffy face into her knees, whispering, "No one can help us... We're disconnected from the actual world," over and over.

As Tang-Ji sorrowed silently, a voice could be heard speaking softly besides her.

Ukiyo gently placed her hand on Tang-Ji's trembling back. Her presence was like a soothing balm that eased Tang-Ji's discomfort.

"Once, I had an individual who really cared about me," Ukiyo said softly. "They would often yell at me, telling me what I did was wrong and that following their instructions would benefit me."

Tang-Ji looked up. "Huh?" She muttered, visibly confused.

Ukiyo continued, "We often argued because this person would force me to follow their every direction. Even though they meant well, they had no right to dictate my life." She paused for a moment, looking as if she was trying to find the right words. "I followed them reluctantly at the time, solely because they had a special place in my heart; they were the ones who came to my rescue and the ones who stood by me when I needed a friend the most. The more we fought, the more I shut off emotionally, even though I knew it was their way of showing they cared."

A faint plume of white vapour escaped Ukiyo's mouth as she finished, which melted back into the icy air as quickly as it came.

"What happened to you and that person now?" Tang-Ji questioned.

"Our connection ended. We still see each other, but we have no idea of each other's current identity. It's almost like we're travelling on parallel lines." She looked at Tang-Ji's confused expression before explaining. "Although we are walking in the same direction, we will never cross paths. Only a miracle can connect the two parallel lines."

Tang-Ji listened intently. Even though she was simply an AI, knowing that Tang-Ji wasn't alone in her fight gave her an odd feeling of comfort.

As silence hung in the air, Tang-Ji mustered up the courage to ask, "Ukiyo, how did you find the strength to carry on after your connection ended? How did you cope with the emptiness and loneliness?"

Tang-ji knew she had to ask those questions. Her whole life, she had an unshakable feeling of loneliness that was only made worse by the entanglement with her previous life. She had been pushed into isolation, and now she was eager to feel the empathy that she sorely lacked, wishing to finally be able to reconnect with that perspective.

Ukiyo let out a soft sigh, her voice tinged with regret. "It wasn't simple. At first, the pain of losing that person was unbearable. In a world that no longer made sense, I felt lost. But as time went on, I understood that I couldn't let that loss define who I am. I had to choose my own future. When I was with them, I wasn't fully myself, and I was acting like someone I didn't want to be."

She paused for a moment, her gaze drifting outside the door as it opened out into the frigid landscape—to the place where the blizzard storm was still in rage. "I started to explore new things, to discover who I was outside of that connection. I sought solace in art, in nature, and in the relationships I could still forge. I surrounded myself with others who genuinely cared about me, even if they couldn't fill the void entirely."

Tang-Ji continued to listen to Ukiyo, fully invested in her story. However, the conversation was suddenly interrupted by a loud thud coming from upstairs.

"Kazami?" Tang-ji shouted as she sprang to her feet, expecting Kazami to be behind her. Instead, her gaze fell onto the bag she'd seen earlier, the one belonging to the deceased player. She slowly bent down, lightly tapping her finger on the small bag, causing a pull-down menu to emerge. The faintly glowing screen displayed the contents of the simple bag. Tang-Ji reached out her index finger and touched the screen gently, allowing her to scroll through the player's inventory using the white projected screen. Then suddenly, something caught her eye. An item, represented by an icon resembling a mailbox, was labelled.

Tang-ji, intrigued, added the item to her inventory and opened the message's contents. Her eyes widened as she read over the text within. "A Clicker Husk... it killed him," she mumbled, perplexed.

Abruptly, the silence was broken by a blood-curdling scream from one of the upper floors. Tang-Ji's body tensed up and broke into a cold sweat, her eyes darting towards the stairs.

"Did you hear that?" she asked, startled by the horrifying sound.

Ukiyo nodded; her expression became serious.

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Warning to all players:

I write to you this letter in my last moment, as I find myself trapped within this desolate place during the Dusk Protocol. There is a dangerous mob that resides in this mansion. The Clicker Hush is a relentless being, relentless in its pursuit to break your spirits and claim your souls.

It began with a faint clicking sound that reverberated through the air, barely noticeable amidst the chilling winds. At first, I dismissed it as mere exhaustion from my arduous journey to this forsaken realm. But as the days passed and the clicking persisted, I realised there was something more sinister at play.

The Clicker Hush possesses a malevolent power, capable of tapping into the depths of one's inner despair and amplifying those emotions to an unbearable degree. It preys on our vulnerabilities, slowly eroding our spirits until we can no longer find the strength to fight. Each click resonates with a subtle reminder of our own darkest fears, sapping away our resolve with every passing moment.

Whoever receives this letter is dire: leave this mansion immediately, for if you stay, you will find yourself devoid of even the will to live.

I only took this job to provide for my family, but instead I'm about to die without fulfilling my promise to them. I've already let my family down in the real world; I don't want to die without accomplishing anything. This game world is all I have left; my death wouldn't be in vain if I could at least save a life.

Please don't die, whoever you are, and clear this nightmare of a game for me.

I'm sorry, Red Hood.

Sincerely, Sebastian Wicky.

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As Tang-Ji read the letter, her eyes widened in horror. She clutched the crumpled piece of paper tightly, her heart pounding with fear. "Who is Red Hood? And a Clicker Husk... it killed him," she whispered. "He had a family and everything. What the hell is wrong with this world?" She continued to murmur slowly.

"If the contents of the letter are true, then we need to leave this house immediately, so hurry and get Kirizkuuk." Ukiyo made the remark. "I know I mentioned there were no mobs here earlier, but it's possible that this is a trap dungeon where monsters appear only once a certain item or quest is interacted with."

"Wait, are you saying that it will activate if an object is interacted with?" Tang-Ji swiftly turned around to stare directly into Ukiyo's eyes.

"Oh no... The bodies from earlier upstairs." Tang-Ji gasped. However, before she could react, a blood-curdling scream pierced the air, echoing through the mansion.

Startled, Tang-Ji's attention snapped towards the staircase, where Kazami's anguished cry emanated from. Her heart sank as she saw him tumbling down the steps, his body colliding with each unforgiving edge. The room seemed to freeze in time as he crashed to the floor, surrounded by a swarm of black creatures.

The name appeared above a red cursor over the mob's head, and a single green line above its head indicated the monster's current health. They have long, slender bodies with razor-sharp claws that enable them to grab onto the ceiling. From a distance, the crowd hissed at Tang-Ji, its black, almost wendigo-like bodies emitting a strong rotten odour from its oddly curved jaws.

Tang-Ji's mind raced; her voice caught in her throat. She tried to scream out Kazami's name, urging him to fight back and not succumb to the relentless creatures. But her desperate pleas fell on deaf ears as the Clicker Husks sank their fangs into him, their numbers overwhelming.

Her entire body trembled as she stood there, paralysed with fear and grief. Tears streamed down her face as she witnessed the terrifying sight unfold before her eyes. The Clicker Husks moved with a ghastly fluidity; their movements synchronised in a macabre dance as they feasted upon Kazami.

It was a horrifying tableau of darkness and despair, the air thick with the stench of decay. Tang-Ji's mind was a whirlwind of emotions, her anguish merging with a fierce anger that burned within her. She wanted to rush forward to save Kazami from the clutches of the Clicker Husks, but her body refused to obey.

She could see the green bar beneath the green cursor over Kazami's head emptying as her virtual body violently trembled. She understood very well that once the health gauge reached zero, the player's avatar would be permanently removed from both Dusk Protocol and the actual world.

"KAZAMI! Please get up!" She cried out; however, it was as if the life had been drained out of Kazami, his body limp and devoid of any will to survive.

"Come on, please come out; I need you right now." Tang-Ji talked to herself as she stretched her arms out with open palms to call forth her Leere. So far, she has always had someone to help her when she was in trouble. This time, however, she had no one else she could count on. She could only do one of two things: use her Leere or die along with her friend.

"COME ON, PLEASE!" She cried out once again, and the tears started to fall upon her outstretched hands.

Covered in shadowy armour, its eyes glowing with malevolence, The Clicker Husk fixed its unsettling gaze on Tang-Ji, its intent clear; to feed on her fear and despair.

Tang-Ji's mind began to race, her thoughts consumed by a mixture of terror and resignation. She believed that her death was imminent, a cruel fate awaiting her in the clutches of this abomination.

"This is it—the end. I-I shouldn't have just left Kazami on his own." She mumbled hysterically while biting onto her lips out of fear. "I shouldn't have agreed to be in the game. I shouldn't have joined the E-sports club, and I should have avoided Kazami altogether. Even though I would probably be in the corner of the room, where no one could see me, it would have been much better if I hadn't had to watch people I care about die. If I never made friends, I'd never know what it was like to lose one. I can't believe this is happening. I'm sorry, Mum and Dad. I wish I had been able to say goodbye."

As the Clicker Husk continued its relentless pursuit, jumping from wall to wall with unnatural agility, Tang-ji could feel an overwhelming sense of helplessness. The gap between them closes with each passing moment, her escape narrowing to a vanishing point.

Just as the Clicker Husk lunged forward, ready to claim its terrified prey, a blur of movement caught Tang-Ji's attention.

"UKIYO??!!" Tang-Ji called out, her voice half drowning in despair.

"You won't touch her." Ukiyo's calm voice carried throughout the mansion, her hands glowing with an ethereal-like energy. "Tune Burst," she mumbled, a high-level striking skill that momentarily allows the user to enter an extremely mobile state. With a burst of speed and agility, Ukiyo had avoided the Clicker Husk's initial attack, evading its grotesque claws. She retaliated with a flurry of powerful strikes, her movements fluid and precise. The five hit combos knocked back the monster, sending it plummeting into the wooden staircase besides Kazami.

Amidst the chaos and despair, a sudden presence emerged from the shadows. Ukiyo stepped forward without hesitation as she began to unleash a powerful surge of energy, emanating a bright light that momentarily blinded the Clicker Husks. Startled and disoriented, the mobs released their grip on Kazami, retracting their fangs from his body. In that moment of reprieve, Ukiyo swiftly moved, positioning herself between Tang-Ji and the horde of menacing creatures.

Ukiyo glanced at Tang-ji, who was still on the ground trembling, before stretching out her right hand towards her. Ukiyo's hand began to radiate with a pulsating glow as she placed her hand upon Tang-Ji's chest. The glow intensified, revealing a glove adorned with a heart entwined with black and white thorns.

'It felt as though time was completely frozen between reality and dreams,' Tang-Ji thought to herself.

As Ukiyo leant closer to Tang-ji, she began to whisper, "You've always been afraid of arguments and showing your emotions. You believe that being logical is the best way to navigate relationships, fearing that others won't care or take you seriously if you reveal your true feelings. You're scared of confrontations with those you care for the most, and it weighs heavily on your soul."

Tang-Ji's eyes welled up with tears, her emotions threatening to overflow. Ukiyo's words strike a chord within her, resonating with the truth she tried to bury deep within herself. She had been fighting against the urge to cry, a lifetime of conditioning telling her it's a weakness.

"How... how did you know?" Tang-Ji questioned her with tears streaming down her face.

Ukiyo slowly held up her right hand. The glow from Ukiyo's hand intensified, revealing a mystical glove on her palm. Its design was both striking and enigmatic, featuring a heart at its core, surrounded by thorny vines in contrasting shades of black and white; a symbol of Tang-Ji's suppressed emotions and fear of emotional vulnerability.

"This is Queen's Soul. My Leere allows me to see the depths of people's hearts and understand their struggles."

With a gentle touch, Ukiyo placed her hand on Tang-Ji's chest, joining their Leere together. A blinding beam of light illuminated the entire mansion, shattering the illusion that ensnared the two girls. As the light subsided, a massive jade sheer materialised, its majestic form towering over them.

"So, this is what lies within your heart. How beautiful."

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The eerie illusion that once enveloped the mansion shattered like fragile glass as the powerful beam of light pierced through the darkness. Tang-Ji was pushed down onto her knees by the sudden surge of energy that emitted from Ukiyo. The air molecules were releasing in waves of panic, crashing into the mansion's pillars as they wailed against the already worn-out walls. It was as if Tang-Ji was caught between a tornado and an earthquake; that was the incredible force that she was experiencing.

Finally, the supernatural veil was lifted, revealing the dark nature of the surroundings. In the aftermath, an ethereal sight unfolded before Tang-Ji's eyes. A colossal jade shear, standing tall and majestic, materialised within the grand hall. Its translucent form emanated a mesmerising glow, casting intricate patterns of emerald light across the room.

With a swift motion, Ukiyo wielded the intricately designed pair of shears that seemed to radiate an otherworldly power. She swung it with precision and speed, cutting through the air with a resounding force. The giant shears cleaved through the Clicker Husks, one after another, sending them scattering and dissipating into nothingness.

Tang-Ji's breath caught in her throat as she witnessed Ukiyo's fierce display of combat prowess. It was a mesmerising sight, a glimmer of hope in the midst of their dire circumstances. Ukiyo's movements were fluid and calculated, with each strike aimed at neutralising the Clicker Husks with ruthless efficiency.

Kazami could be seen lying agitatedly beneath the stairwell, his heavy breathing prompted by the sight of his health bar. The percentage of his health that was currently red showed that he had lost 97 percent of his total health. It was far into the red, potentially life-threatening zone, with only barely a pixel of red remaining. He attempted to pull himself up before his legs started to tremble, and he eventually fell flat on his back. Seeing this, Tang-Ji quickly dashed towards the stairs, where her friend was struggling to regain his balance.

However, a dark bulk ran between Tang-Ji and the weakened Kazami as the grin jaws loomed over Tang-Ji's head before charging into them.

"Aaahh!" Tang-Ji's eyes widened as she let out a shriek.

She had a vision of a red tongue lolling out of a gaping mouth and fangs' flashing white inches from her face; however, it was also accompanied by the blinding light of the jade sheer surging forward. A blur was whipping through the air, striking the Clicker Husk with a force that reverberated through the room. The black mass dispersed into thin holographic shards right before Tang-Ji.

Tang-Ji whirled her head towards Ukiyo, hoping to thank her, only to catch a glimpse of a dreadful sight slowly unveiling before her. Ukiyo's whole body shook, and her breathing became laboured as she stumbled ahead onto Tang-Ji.

"But, but how? You were winning." Tang-Ji's lips quivered in disbelief.

"I'm sorry," Ukiyo whispered. "The cost of the ability to use any Leere is the immense physical strain that it places on the user, not to mention that my stamina bar has completely depleted to near zero."

The immense power exerted by Ukiyo's Leere, Queen's Soul, has taken its toll on her stamina. She had fought with grace and precision before, but the price she paid for wielding such a formidable Leere became apparent now. It wasn't because her attacks were weak; rather, it was the opposite. They were all high-damage output strikes that could easily destroy their tough husks; however, the number of Clicker Husks was simply far too many for her to keep up with.

"I... I'll be fine. I just need a moment to catch my breath." Ukiyo murmured haltingly as her body limped even more.

Suddenly, masses of Clicker Husks continued to multiply, their numbers increasing exponentially. The room vibrated with their collective growls and clicks, threatening to drown out any hope that remained. Tang-Ji quickly blocked her ears with both hands; however, it was already too late; the effect of the Clicker Husk was already activated.

She suddenly loses strength in her legs before collapsing to the ground. As she lay restlessly on the cold floorboard, she began to trace her eyes above her current health bar. Although her health was almost entirely inside the green zone, she noticed a chain symbol next to her health metre. This symbol represents the decay mechanic, which locks the player out of action while slowly draining their health.

With her last bit of power, Tang-Ji cried out as she swung her arms forward at the barely conscious Kazami.

"No, no, no. Not yet; I need more time to recharge." Ukiyo whispered right beside the two players before entering a battle position to make one last stand against the mob. However, the weight of the jade shear on Ukiyo's hand abruptly disintegrated into dust. Ukiyo slowly turned to Tang-Ji, who was watching with wide eyes and an open mouth. Ukiyo understood what was going to come next.

"Dammit!" Ukiyo nodded meekly and smiled at Tang-Ji before uttering her words, "RUN! Ji-Chan!" She exclaimed before turning around to creatures with fangs as long as her arm; they slowly enclosed her with their numbers, readily to feast upon their new prey. With inches away from the rabble's onslaught to devour Ukiyo, a gust of wind suddenly blew rapidly from across her face.

It was a gust of deep red and pure white wind.

"Huh...!?" Tang-Ji grasped.

With this surprise, the large fangs of the Clicker Husk were thrown high into the air. Tang-Ji stared speechlessly at the silhouette of the person who had appeared.

With a swift motion, not only did Kazami deflect the mob's fangs with ease but also completely sliced right through them with a fast, executed swing of his oversized blade, which has a crimson hilt and a purple-hued edge. The impact reverberated through the room, creating a shockwave that sent the Clicker Husks sprawling.

In an instant, Kazami had unsheathed a Miao Dao, a large blade traditionally used in Chinese martial arts. But to their astonishment, the blade has transformed, growing to a size much larger than before, as if responding to Kazami's anger.

Kazami, with his breathing heavy and sweat trickling down his forehead, paused for a moment amidst the chaotic battle with the horde of Clicker Husks. His eyes blazed with a mix of exhaustion and resentment as he clutched his enlarged Miao Dao tightly.

"I've had enough. I won't let any more of you harm the ones I care about. I'M GOING TO KILL ALL OF YOU!" A furious rumble escapes his lips.

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The blade bursts into existence as a shining sword, towering above Kazami. He brims with rage at the prospect of facing such a large number of Clicker Husks. A burst of adrenaline flowed through his digital veins as he tightened his grips on the abnormal blade. The massiveness of it caused the herd of Clicker Husks to stare in confusion. 

Concentrating intently, he channelled a sword skill in preparation for calling out his ultimate technique. In a two-part striking sequence, "Level 1 deployment, Guard Technique: Storm Blade," he entailed a rapid body rotation followed by a downward smash with the user's sword.

Dusk Protocol's fighting system took an individual's real-life physical strength and considerably enhanced it, making it possible for players who otherwise lack the physical power to do so in real life to use such a hefty weapon. Kazami had felt this weight before, when he tried to protect Tang-Ji from the catastrophe that occurred during the Shrine of the Beginning.

Kazami swung the massive blade in a broad arc, creating a tremendous blast of wind that reverberated around the room. The horde was pushed back by the power of his stroke, forcing the Clicker Husks to stumble back against the mansion's colonnade.

He twisted and contorted his body as the massive blade spun in his hands, utilising the momentum to push back the horde of Clicker Husks. His every action was a dance of pinpoint accuracy and overwhelming force, a tornado of devastation that held back the oncoming swarm.

'The vials. Where are they?' Kazami thought to himself before activating a wide range of search skills.

Paralysed by the degrading effect of the Clicker Husks, Tang-Ji and Ukiyo lay on the ground among the turmoil. Although he was in his enraged state, Kazami's true intention was to get the girls who had been supporting him back on their feet, not to eliminate all the Clicker Husks. Kazami's gaze swept the area while his aggressive swings were still in motion.

Just when he was about to exhaust all of his remaining mana, he spotted two potions. It was near the pouch that the player had left behind, glinting with a faint, restorative aura.

Before he began his investigation on the first quest, the corpse's hand on the first body had a faint glint when Kazami saw it. A closer look revealed it to be a potion with the label name "Decay Cleanser," although its usage was unclear at the time. The preceding player must have discovered, in his last moments, that the clicking sound coming from the Clicker Husk could trigger the decaying effect. He probably just left it on the corpse of the NPC who died so that the following players could find it.

Kazami gritted his teeth before yelling out, "Tang-Ji! Ukiyo! Drink these potions! They'll cleanse the decay effect!"

With his last-ditch effort, Kazami slashed through the air, expertly guiding the spinning blade towards the potions. The giant blade swept them up delicately as he commanded before carrying them towards the immobilised girls.

As the potions hovered in front of them, Kazami's voice cut through the chaos, reaching their ears. "Quickly! Drink the potion! They'll restore your mobility!"

Tang-Ji and Ukiyo's gaze locked with Kazami's as they summoned every ounce of strength they had left to catch the pods. With trembling hands, they reached out and grasped the potions, their fingers closing tightly around the vessels. They raise the potion to their lips, drinking deeply. Almost instantly, a warm feeling coursed through their bodies, dispelling the decay effect that held them captive.

The air became thick with tension as Kazami stood at the forefront of a chaotic scene, defending the girls. The Clicker Husk began to swarm around him once again as their grotesque forms moved in a disorganised frenzy. Kazami's eyes narrowed, and he tightened his grip on his weapon, ready to carve a path through the masses.

Raising to her feet quicker than Tang-ji, Ukiyo dashed towards Kazami, who could now be seen getting slower by the second. As the player and NPC exchanged glazes, Kazami realised that his stamina was diminishing due to his repeated slashes. He quickly pivoted his front foot, which was carrying most of the weight of the sword, on his right arm before swinging vertically downward. With a mighty swing of his colossal blade, Kazami struck the ground in front of him, cleaving through the crowd with a display of raw power.

The icy mansion trembled beneath the force of his blow as a straight and narrow path emerged amongst the black mass. Dust and debris filled the air, momentarily obscuring the chaos that surrounded him. However, as the dust slowly settled, a figure emerged from the periphery of the dark horde. It was Ukiyo; she was agile, evading multiple attacks from the Clicker Husks, and now sensing the opportunity, she sprinted towards Kazami. Her steps were light and purposeful.

Just as she reached him, she leapt into the air, her body soaring gracefully through the space above the path that Kazami had created. Kazami slowly lowered his weapon. He left the giant blade in front of his body before exposing the flat section of his weapon.

Ukiyo landed with a flourish on the flat section of Kazami's blade, balancing herself effortlessly. She paused for a moment, her eyes locked on the path ahead, before propelling herself forward with an explosive burst of energy. The shockwave from Kazami's weapon radiated through the air, pushing Ukiyo higher into the sky.

"Ready, set, fly!" Kazami roared as he projected Ukiyo through the air.

She ascended, her hair flickering like ethereal flames and her slim form cutting through the air with precision. Time seemed to slow as Ukiyo reached the apex of her flight, a moment of suspended grace before she began her descent. The black mass of Clicker Husk awaited her below, a writhing sea of danger.

As Ukiyo descended, she activated her Leere, and the glove on her right arm began to glow prominently before settling down with the sight of a holographic blade materialising in her hand, crackling with electric energy. At the same time, Kazami's giant blade vanished into thin air as Ukiyo now held a blade that could conjure lightning at will. She struck the ground with fierce determination, the holographic blade piercing the earth beneath her. In an instant, a powerful area effect surged outward, electrifying everything within its reach.

The Clicker Husk, once frenzied and chaotic, now convulsed as the electric current coursed through their grotesque forms. They writhed and spasmed, their movements disrupted by the overwhelming power of Ukiyo's attack. The black masses let out piercing screams of anguish as lightning crackled and danced over their bodies. Ukiyo was in the core of the charged cluster, her Leere still active, and her body was emitting an electric field with a controlled intensity.

As she surveyed the aftermath of her strike, her eyes reflected a mixture of anguish and relief.

Sighing with relief and amazement, Tang-ji was observing Ukiyo and Kazami's demonstrations of teamwork.

"Woah!" She exclaimed.

The Clicker Husk was now weakened and disoriented, providing a perfect opportunity for Kazami to launch a counterattack.

However, in an instant, the group stood frozen, their eyes fixed upon the ominous door behind them, which began to creak violently. In spite of the fact that the battle was still raging on, as displayed by the incessant growls and clicking that echoed through the mansion, an unsettling silence now hovered in the air; broken only by the soft sound of Tang-Ji's own breathing.

Suddenly, the creaking noise grew louder as it pierced the stillness, drawing Tang-Ji's attention to the large wooden door as it slowly started to move. Before anyone could react, the door that served as a bridge between the winter wasteland and the realm of chaos was severed. In a blink of an eye, any chances left of escaping unscathed were gone. The door quickly slammed shut with a bone-chilling force, shaking the very foundation of the mansion.