Chapter 19

The survivors stood motionless, their terror momentarily eclipsed by confusion as the Yomigaeri spoke. It seemed impossible that a creature so inhuman could produce coherent speech, let alone possess the intelligence to taunt them.

Arumi shook her head, her mind still trying to process what she was witnessing. "Did it just..." her voice trailed off, the implication of what she had just heard too frightening to put into words.

"It spoke," Kai confirmed, his voice barely above a whisper. "And not just spoke, but understood the concept of a plexus. How is that possible?"

As the survivors stared in horror at the sinister Yomigaeri, a new sound pierced the air - the pounding of footsteps, rapidly approaching from behind. Toshi, sensing the new threat, spun around, his heart leaping into his throat at the sight of Sato, bloody and wounded, his face twisted in a mixture of fear and determination.

The sight of their leader, so close to the brink of defeat, sent a chill down Toshi's spine. "Sato!" he cried out, his voice trembling with panic.

As Sato dashed towards the group, his breathing ragged and his body battered with a horde of Yomigaeri was close behind, he became acutely aware of a sinister presence that seemed to ooze malevolence, almost tangible in the air around him. The mere thought of the presence made his stomach turn, threatening to expel the contents of his churning gut.

He stumbled to a halt, barely managing to keep his balance as he turned to face the threat.

Toshi, seeing his leader's dire state, broke free from his paralysis and rushed forward, his heart pounding with a desperate need to help.

As Toshi raced towards Sato , the sinister Yomigaeri displayed terrifying speed and agility, leaping high into the air above their heads with unearthly grace. Landing silently behind Toshi.

Kaori, spots the danger just in time and stretches her hands towards Toshi.

"Toshi, look out!" she screamed, unable to take any action because of the distance between them.

it grabbed him from behind with a stinging grip. Toshi felt the beast's harsh blade-like claws puncture his back, biting mercilessly into his flesh as they burrowed deeper, searching for his essence.

The Yomigaeri ripped Toshi's solar plexus apart with a terrible rend, removing the life-giving light within in an instant.

The survivors, startled and stunned by their comrade's unexpected death, could only stare in astonishment as Toshi's body dropped to the floor in a pool of his own blood. Arumi, her eyes wide and unblinking, could only give a choked cry as she saw the wicked creature approach them, its vile energy noticeable in the air around them.

With a simple flick of its hand, the Yomigaeri appeared to command the pack of lesser creatures. In an instant, the other Yomigaeri dispersed, vanishing into the darkness like smoke. The malicious thing, now alone with the survivors, gave a guttural hiss, its eyes blazing with sadistic joy.

Sato, blade still poised, took a step forward, snarling. "Whatever you are," he rasped, "you won't take any more of my people."

The room erupted in mayhem as the survivors charged at the Yomigaeri, entangling them all in a fatal dance. Blades clashed with claws, as shouts of pain and wrath reverberated off the blood-soaked walls.

Sato, driven by a fervent desire for vengeance, charged the Yomigaeri with a yell, his knife slicing through the air with precision. But the thing was quick, its motions fluid and unpredictable, and it twisted away from Sato's sword with frightening ease, a mocking sneer flickering across its twisted face.

As the conflict carried on, Arumi and Kanoe joined in, their blades flashing as they fought back-to-back, their gazes intense and intent. However, their combined efforts were insufficient to match the Yomigaeri's speed and agility, which slipped between their strikes with mocking ease.

In the midst of the turmoil, Shiro found herself isolated from the rest, her eyes widening in horror as she realized the Yomigaeri had flanked her. The creature's twisted smile seemed to expand at the sight of its prey, its movements altering into a lethal, predatory pattern.

Shiro, her breathing ragged and her body slick with sweat, glanced around frantically, desperate to find a way to escape. But the Yomigaeri was relentless, its eyes fixed on her with a hungry gleam.

"Kai!" she screamed, her voice hoarse with fear. "Kai, help me!"

Kai, who was still reeling with pain from a clean hit from the Yomigaeri, heard Shiro's cry and spun around, his eyes going wide with horror as he saw the malevolent creature bearing down on her.

Kai acted without hesitation, running towards Shiro with a wordless cry.  He reached her just as the Yomigaeri surged forward, his blade clashing with the creature's  hand.

For a minute, it appeared that Kai had the upper hand, his strength and rage overwhelming the Yomigaeri. However, in a swift and ferocious movement, the beast pivoted, its clawed hand slicing across Shiro's throat in a shower of blood.

Kai's world seemed to slow down, his breath catching in his throat as Shiro stumbled backward, her hands clasped to her neck, her eyes wide with shock and pain.

He couldn't speak, couldn't think. The sound of Shiro's desperate gasps was the only thing he could hear as the Yomigaeri laughed, its twisted amusement at the display of human suffering echoing through the room.

"Shiro!" he finally cried, his voice shaking with fear and rage. "Shiro, no!"

Shiro, her face pale and her eyes filled with tears, managed a weak smile as she looked up at Kai, the light already fading from her gaze.

"Kai," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Kai's vision blurred, his eyes stinging with tears as Shiro's body went limp, her lifeless form falling to the floor in a pool of her own blood. The scream that erupted from his throat was primal, his pain and fury all-consuming.

Fueled by his rage, Kai launched himself at the Yomigaeri, his blade flashing in the dim light of the storage room. The creature, seemingly amused by his display of emotion, met his attacks with a cruel smile.

But Kai was no longer fighting with tactics or strategy. His attacks were savage, driven by a single-minded need for revenge. And for a moment, it seemed as though he might succeed, his blade slipping past the Yomigaeri's defenses and carving a vicious wound across its chest.

With a snarl of rage, the Yomigaeri lashed out, its claws raking across Kai's face. Blood splattered across the room as Kai stumbled backward, clutching at the fresh wounds.

But he wouldn't give up, couldn't give up. Not when Shiro's blood still stained the floor.

He charged forward once more, his blade held high, the room spinning around him as he slipped into a state of blind rage.