Fictions Mentioned:
Episode 12
OP Insert Song:
Corpse Party Live Action Movie OST - BABYLON ~before the daybreak (SUBBED)
Start:
Fate.
Will you try to defy it? Will you give your entire being to fight it until your very last breath?
"Hrrrrrrrrrrrrng...!"
That was the question of Touma Kamijou who was forced to face the question numerous times. He sees a man suffering tremendously as his wife tries to calm him down. The man of course was tied up for his very own good in order for him to not hurt himself any more than needed. He was experiencing a type of suffering that was both unnatural and evil to the core which shuddered the spiky-haired eleven-year-old in physical appearance who could not help but narrow his eyes at the sight.
For you see, there was a curse that plagues the entire family consisting of the name "Shinozaki".
It states that due to an unconfirmed circumstance or strange occurrence, the Shinozaki Family only produces female heirs. The Shinozaki Family adopts male heirs thus the heirs inheriting the Shinozaki surname, but this also comes with each and every male dying a few years after the birth of the child.
And now...
"HrrrrRRRRRRRRRRNNNNNGG!"
And now, the time has come once more for this man, Seiji Shinozaki, to suffer the same fate as those who have gone before.
There were only seconds that Touma Kamijou has before he can stop what is about to occur that would eventually start the nightmare that he had once been through multiple times over and over and over.
He needs to stop this. He needs to stop this while there is still time left. With only seconds left on the clock, with the wife, Yoshie Shinozaki, trying her best to keep her husband as calm as she can while praying specific prayers in a muttering sound that was fast-paced for the sake of her husband. It was in fact a Shinto purification chant.
They were all in Yoshie's clinic. The husband himself was gagged with a towel in order to prevent himself from biting his own tongue. His arms were being grabbed by both of the hands of his wife in order to keep him steady. Sachiko Shinozaki was behind Touma Kamijou who was raising his left arm as if asking her silently to stay back.
"Onii-chan! What's happening with otou-san?!"
Touma Kamijou could only bit his tongue, unable to respond as he could only heavily focus on the major problem that he was feeling. He can feel it. The darkness and evil that was surrounding the suffering adult on the bed. A kind of coldness that signified an unnatural death. He dreads this outcome. He knows what awaits if he decides to do nothing. He has the power to stop this madness. Once and for all.
"Sachiko..."
Touma Kamijou glances at Sachiko who could only stare up at the latter and saw what appeared to be a reassuring smile that sprang a hint or glimmer of light in this darkened time. It was a smile that showed hope. He will show this young girl accursed with her fate that hope is always stronger, and even the fear is but gasoline or fuel to add to the fires of hope burning within his entire being.
"...I'll take care of this, okay."
And then, he turns back to this scene that was now present before him. His right hand ‒ Imagine Breaker ‒ was clenched into a fist and made itself ready, followed by the other hand as if by instinct. His resolve and determination were shown based on his firm jawline and the solemn expression that he makes even at the sounds of muffled screaming. His black orbs narrowed as he sees what appeared to be shadowy figures that were dancing and laughing in a kind of rhythm one could expect. It was as if these figures of the long-deceased Shinozaki women were now rejoicing once more at the sight of despair.
"That's enough!"
Touma Kamijou begins his monologue in a solemn clear echoing tone that had brought the full attention of everyone. Even the very spirits that were floating around the suffering man on the bed were flabbergasted and felt something much more than what they were expecting.
Who was this boy?
A question that is repeated by the muttering of many restless spirits. It almost felt like they were standing in the presence of someone that one should not be trifled with. He was a man whom gods and demons flee.
The One Who Purifies Gods and Slays Demons.
"For too long have all of you made this family suffer. For too long have you made everyone suffer because of your curse."
What was this boy?
Why was there a sudden dread that was coming down upon what is usually a sign of ultimate despair?
He was just a boy. He is nobody. Why should the darkness fear him?
"Because of you, you've created an endless cycle of suffering that was never-ending. An endless form of despair that has gripped this world and so much more."
His eyes narrowed. His right hand raised slowly. He walks slowly as he reaches the position of Seiji Shinozaki. It was as if the sound of the rain falling down from outside was anticipating this very moment. The times of despair were at an end. Now was the time of hope.
"But no more."
An echoing sentiment for the sake of everyone whose lives were ruined by the accursed book that was sought after for its power to raise the dead. The road to hell paved the way for good intentions.
"I'm going to break this illusion forever and set everyone free once and for all!"
And just like that, he raised his right hand. The spirits could not do anything. They were frightened. They were quite surprised that they were feeling this emotion as if they were merely alive. Shards of glass were heard as a booming sound effect that occurred repeatably. Yoshie Shinozaki was amazed and was silent. The same can be said for Sachiko Shinozaki as she saw the spirits become like glass breaking down into itty bitty pieces by her onii-chan's hand. It was nothing except a slow motion, it was as if time slowed down, and by the time the right-hand touches the forehead of Seiji Shinozaki, the sound of shattering glass was heard and a graceful white light was seen emanating from the sweating face that was once full of suffering but was now having the miasma clear little by little.
The Imagine Breaker.
It was his ability. The ability to defy fate and spit it in the face of everything. It makes its own rules as if it were a god. It negates and disposes of supernatural power. The shattering glass was an iconic sound that is heard by over a thousand fates whose lines broke free.
It was only a few seconds before the light subsided from Seiji's face as he fell unconscious but was still breathing.
The suffering was over. It was apparent as the screams stopped. The darkness subsided. It was over. And after a few seconds later, the husband opens his eyes slowly as if to look upon the little savior who was both young and old at the same time.
Darkness falls and hope rises once more.
A broken family was reunited and rebuilt by the right hand of one Touma Kamijou, an outsider who was taken in and showed random acts of kindness in return with no discrimination.
He was the Savior of Thousands.
He was the Man Who Defied Fate.
He was the Wandering Hope.
The three family members were seen embracing each other, worried and concerned over the other. Touma Kamijou only stood by and watch with a smile for a few moments. And in fact, he was about to take his leave in order for the family to get some privacy, but...
"...!"
He was pulled as well by the embrace and was given the best form of familial love that he had long since been deprived of in his journey through the endless bounds of eternity. He was a part of the family now whether he likes it or not. He was their miracle worker after all.
The same right hand was clenched into a fist in a very slow and solemn manner.
A memory of hope flashed by as Touma Kamijou from the present time made him sad and was also burning with the same resolve as he did back then and still is today.
He was young at the time. Now he grew older. He grew with more wisdom and insight. He had once inspired hope for the accursed Shinozaki Family. The resolve to break this curse forever that plagues and hurts everything in the way. The darkness that will be stopped by him and his friends.
Touma Kamijou, with his four other companions among Team TARDIS, an Indian friendly ghost by any other name, and the Eighth Doctor made their way with no hesitation as the rain complemented every step of the way.
He was the Imagine Breaker.
He was the Hope of Those Who Refuse Salvation.
He was the Right Hand of Negation.
He was the Wandering Hope.
He is all of these things and so much more.
And the darkness of Heavenly Host will be aware of that. For it will learn to fear him just as before.
Yes, he was afraid. But don't mistake fear with cowardice. It was the strength that allowed him to burn full of hope.
It was the virtue of hope that burns brightly and banishes the darkness.
Fear was a superpower.
And it was one that cannot be underestimated.
End:
Insert Song: Start
A Decaying World - Corpse Party: Blood Drive Music Extended
"Yuka! Yuka! YUKA!"
Satoshi Mochida was scared. Less for himself but more for his little sister who had gone missing alongside Kokuhaku Akaboji, another high school student from another school. They both separated as they were being chased by fast-running zombies. He manages to shake most of them off
He didn't know where else to go. He was running. And running. And running. And running. He didn't know when but by the time he turned his back, the zombies were nowhere to be found. Apparently, if what he heard from his ears were right as rain, they fell down so suddenly from the artificially made hole created from the broken-down wooden floor. And now, he was alone once more.
This was not good.
He looks in every direction he can find as if to check. There was no one there. All he sees was the dark hallway with only one passageway that leads from front to back. He can't find a flashlight anywhere. He lost his cellphone while he was running. It was probably somewhere else in this school by now. Or was it accurate to call this place a school at this point?
He was forced in fact to walk the cold hallway with not a hint of protection. Or maybe he had. For he sees a broken wooden chair with sharp-pointed wooden objects that he sees nearby the broken window. Rain was still coming down from outside. It never seems to stop. With no other choice, he can only make use of the broken sharp wood to defend himself. A weak but no less dangerous weapon. After a few pulls, he manages to get one wooden stick out of the broken chair, although he collapsed to the ground, with his butt landing in it.
He grimaced heavily and sighed. He somewhat complained about his ridiculous situation. He has nowhere to go except forward. He can't go back the other way as the road is broken. So he has no choice but to move forward.
So much for his luck.
"Never give up..."
"...!"
An echo was heard. It wasn't a sound. It was a flash of something. A flash of memory. An echoing sound that refuses to back down and give up. A voice offering a sense of encouragement even in spite of the bleakness and insanity and darkness.
"Never give up..."
It was a familiar voice. Who was it? It was the voice of a young eleven-year-old boy with spiky hair. That echoing voice urging him to soldier on even in spite of everything.
"Never give up..."
Who was this? Satoshi doesn't know who this is. And yet, he knows this voice. But he can't place where and when he last heard it. Light-headedness filled his mind as the echoing sound brings comfort even in the darkness. Even when he is alone, there seems to be something else watching out for him. Actually, the more he listened to this mysterious voice inside his memory, it wasn't just him but everyone else who was inadvertently sent with him.
Eventually, little by little, the voice carried onward and completes itself.
"Never cruel or cowardly. Never give up, never give in. That was the promise of someone that I considered to be many things. A father. A mentor. A friend. It's been years since I last saw him. But even now, what he had taught me still remained for me to recall in spite of my situation. Is my situation unfair? Maybe. Why was I put into this over and over and over again? I don't know. But what I do know is this. We can survive if we stick together. The darkness may look stronger but it's not. It may scare you. It may frighten you. But in the end, it is nothing. We keep pressing forward. We keep carrying on. We keep fighting. We will all get out of this place alive. And don't worry about anything, since I'll keep all of you safe. I promise."
He recalls the spiky-haired young man. He recalls the young...Touya Otohime. His real name in fact is...Touma Kamijou. There was a special type of memory that he could see in his mind. He was at the center and he was bolstering the needed courage among everyone gathered. He was small and yet felt like a giant. He was young but his eyes spoke a different story.
Satoshi recalled this as he sees himself alongside eight other individuals who he recognized all too well.
Naomi Nakashima. Yuka Mochida. Yoshiki Kishinuma. Ayumi Shinozaki. Seiko Shinohara. Sakutaro Morishige. Mayu Suzumoto. Yui Shishido.
They were the survivors. They all stood in awe and bewilderment at the sight of this young man who showed no sign of fear. Every dead body that they found was something that didn't make the young man flinch. Far from it. It wasn't that he was used to it. It was more subtle. It was raw anger that demanded justice for all of the poor souls whose lives were wasted and cut short because of the accursed place that they all found themselves in.
This young man was just walking forward, with them along for the ride, as they trek through the dark. With the young boy guiding them, they felt something. A very common feeling that was bewildering and comforting at the exact same time. This young man felt like a bright torch lighting the way. It's like he didn't need the flashlights and candles to see the darkness.
The darkness tries to consume him. But this was not accurate. Touma Kamijou did not just adopt the dark. He is the dark. And it is through the darkness that a spark of light was born.
Satoshi blinks at the memory. Where did this memory come from? Why was it so familiar?
Memories of that specific moment in time were slowly coming back to him. In fact, this wasn't the first time he had been here. No, it was not. He didn't know how, but he remembered enough to know that something is seriously wrong with his life. More than that, something is wrong with everyone's lives. It's like they keep repeating a rendition of similar and exact events over and over again. And each time, either it became worse or so much worse.
A time loop.
They were all trapped in a time loop.
Satoshi puts his hand to his head, trying to process what he was seeing and remembering. Even then, he keeps walking. Slowly. He turns right. There was no one there. Or is it? He can't be sure so he slowly raises his weapon a little bit. It was broken but it would do more than enough damage for any enemy nearby. He just hopes that he doesn't run into more zombies.
Actually...that in fact was strange.
Since when did Heavenly Host have fast-running zombies straight out of an American horror movie. Or was it Korean? He couldn't count the many zombie movies he was forced to watch with his mother and sister before all of this happened.
He kept walking forward. A few steps later, he spotted another dead body from somewhere nearby. From close inspection, it was a high school uniform all drenched in blood. The body in fact was greyish as if it were decayed. He could not deny that he had a sense of curiosity to check for the body. But something told him that it was a trap. And so, he pushed on, never looking back.
"Wait for me, Yuka, your onii-chan is coming to get you," he said with resolve.
Yuka Mochida, along with Ayumi Shinozaki, Yoshiki Kishinuma, Yui Shishido, and Kokuhaku Akaboji was staring at a picture with intrigue.
It was a rectangular shape and it contained a memorable picture of Touma Kamijou alongside his two parents, Touya Kamijou and Shiina Kamijou. Touma was quite young in fact, his appearance being discerned to be about ten years old, meaning that this was so very long ago since this was taken.
"So these are his parents, huh," Yoshiki glances curiously at Rika Kamijou who smiles and nods in confirmation.
"Yes, they are," Rika said.
"Heeeh," Yoshiki only said as he looked at the parents who were alongside their child smiling for the camera.
"When was this taken, um, Kamijou-san?" Ayumi asked, still not used to the name change, especially considering the significance behind the name change. She was still surprised at the fact that her old friend of long ago had finally settled down with someone. Lord knows that he deserves it more than anyone, she thought in her own personal opinion.
"Hmmm," Rika put her hand to her chin, deep in thought. "I believe it was before I even met my husband. From what my husband told me, he and his parents were on a family road trip with the Doctor acting as the tour guide and driver. That road trip includes visiting another world's Feudal Japan, the World of Pokemon, and other places in the Multiverse."
"I see," Yui smiled as she looked at the young smiling Kamijou with his parents. "That must have been quite fun."
"Now that I got a good look around the place, calling it big doesn't even been to describe it," Yoshiki sighed in exasperation. "I mean, who would have thought that Touma would have adventures in this box and travel wherever and whenever he likes to see. It's so ridiculous that it's almost as if you forget that Touma had a harsher life than what a normal kid could have."
"Yeah..." Ayumi softly muttered, unconsciously touching the part of her abdomen while recalling another type of memory. Ah yes, she recalled. It was another time when she had to pull the Book of Shadows out of her system. And it involved her stabbing and gutting herself open like a fish. It was a terrible, painful, and excruciating experience, not something that she would recommend to anyone in order to maintain a type of sanity without slippage. And it was also at that moment in time when she had the resolve to fight once again after everything that had occurred. And that was a time when Touma Kamijou wasn't there. Not during that time of her and everyone else's lives.
The thing about Touma Kamijou's time jumps is practically unnatural, to begin with. The time before and the time after. Jumping through timelines was quite complicated and sometimes for themselves and for Kamijou, they all end up meeting in the wrong order. It was one crazy time. Him having met us while they had yet to meet him. Time travel is for immortals and fools, a teacher of his used to say in order to describe this bewildering situation.
The young man who had been there from the very beginning. How many tries? Too many to count with her own ten fingers.
"I can't..." Ayumi muttered softly.
"Hm?" everyone looked at her.
"I can't...I can't stay here!" Ayumi spoke clearly. There was a determination that was never there before. Was it because of the fact that many important facts from different timelines were all real and all had happened that this determination had come from? But then, there was the fact that she glances back at the picture showing a very happy Touma Kamijou. Yes, it was all for him that this determination came. "I can't stand idly by and watch as Kamijou-kun and his friends are fighting in that same school that had ruined the lives of so many people including our very own. I want to help Kamijou-kun," she said, her right fist clenching. "I want to help him any way I can. Since my memories are slowly coming back, it's about time I take full responsibility once more. I am a Shinozaki. What had happened in Heavenly Host, like it or not, has a connection to my entire family. So I won't just sit back and feel safe. I need to go out there and fight alongside Kamijou-kun!"
"So do I," Yoshiki Kishinuma said with a smile, proud because of Ayumi and determined because of both wanting to help Touma, their own friend from long ago. "Touma saved our lives more times than we can count. I'm not gonna just chicken out and hide while Touma and the others are out there fighting. Count me in!"
"Same with me," Yui Shishido spoke with determination, being the teacher and the grown-up among those of Kisaragi Academy. "I want to help Touma-kun as well. Not just that, but the others are still trapped there. No way are we going to leave our friends behind that death trap."
"Same," Yui Mochida said with determination. "I want to help Touma-oniichan. And I also want to see my oniichan and the others again safe and sound."
"So do I," Kokuhaku Akaboji couldn't help but join in. Yes, she may be afraid of things like ghosts and zombies and other horrors lurking about the school. Yes, she may not a Kisaragi Academy student, but that didn't mean that she can't help. She was after all the heiress of the Akaboji Dojo. She was a warrior through and through and refuses to run even if it means facing the darkness outside.
Rika Kamijou couldn't help but smile at the determination of all of the four present. "Everyone," she said.
Everyone turned their attention toward Rika.
"If you want to help my husband, you would all need to follow me to the armory. You will have the tools that you may need if you all want to follow through in your determination and try not to get killed," she explained. "Plus, after arming yourselves properly, you're all going to have to report this to the Doctor who is at the main console room."
What does it feel like? Repeating time over and over and over again?
Sachiko Shinozaki certainly felt like a girl that was cursed to kill and kill and kill over and over and over again. It was an endless cycle that just drives her mad to the point of slipping into her bloodlust and insanity. No matter how many times she feels that she is sorry, she'll be forced to start the party all over again. It was a terrible tragedy. The moment Sachiko Shinozaki became the one who contained the Nirvana inside of her as a consequence, it was fated to happen again and again. It was an unnatural time loop that occurs throughout the multiverse, unnoticeable until now.
Red. Red. Red.
All she sees is red.
She must kill.
Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill.
Until...
Until what...?
When does this stop...?
Even then, it was too late for her.
She cannot stop killing. Something was making her become something she's not. A terrible vengeful spirit who finds entertainment in playing with her food, chewing it gently and savoring it, and then comes the time for the kill the moment the food breaks apart.
She cannot fight this feeling. She is forever cursed to have such feelings.
Even then, she could still feel all of the memories of long ago. The happy memories came from another timeline where she was finally free. But then, her onii-chan left her the moment he was needed in her life anymore. He just vanished. She knew that her onii-chan couldn't stay in one place forever. She knew that her onii-chan meeting her was an unnatural occurrence. She knew. And yet, it was one significant moment in her life that she can never truly forget. Even after having grown older, on the outside she was happy, but on the inside, she was broken.
She always thought to herself.
"Where did onii-chan go?"
She wanted to see him again. Just one last time. Was it that much to ask?
She wanted to see the young man who brought her family whole. The moment he disappeared from her life the moment he was no longer needed was the time when everything changed for her.
She and her parents tried to find him. They spent everything trying to find him. He was a member of their family. He couldn't just leave without saying goodbye. Onii-chan had warned her that he might unexpectedly go somewhere after all is said and done. And he was right. He did go. But not by choice.
"Why?"
Even now, she questions her very own existence.
Why was she even doing this anymore?
She was just so tired. She wants to rest. She needs to find some sleep. And yet, the curse would never let her rest.
She would always return as an agent of darkness. She was always the puppet. The Nirvana Queen in fact was no longer in control of her just like all of the times it had endlessly repeated for she too was being used as a pawn.
New dimensions are getting incorporated into this twisted realm of hers. Beings of hellfire, wraiths of despair, and old gods of darkness now roam the various school grounds in various spaces. New victims. New toys. Now it was time to play. Whether she likes it or not.
You like it do you not?
No. A soft echo within the mind of the girl dyed in red. Most of her was saying yes. But that tiny fraction of no meant something dearly. And it reminded one of the light that she used to have. She wasn't in control of her very actions precisely because of the fact that she was becoming once again a vengeful spirit that she loathed more than anything. She wanted to fight back. She wanted to cry. She wanted to see her onii-chan again.
"Onii-chan."
From just a mere flicker of a moment, there was something fighting from within.
KsssssshEhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhEvihhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
"̷̼͔̊̈Ë̵̡͙̟́̓v̸̟̂͝i̸̢̟͒l̵̗̝̆s̴͉̿ͅ ̴̖̝͗̏d̷̠̈́̆ó̷̦̩͗̇e̴̙̱̳͐͑͠s̵͖̮͛ ̸̠͓̄ṋ̴̅ͅo̸̯̜̿̿t̷̙̻̀̈̎ ̸͕̦̟͂͝d̶͉̓i̷̪̫͐̉̈́e̸͉̻̫͛!̵̖͓̈̏"̸̺̏
"̷̼͔̊̈Ë̵̡͙̟́̓v̸̟̂͝i̸̢̟͒l̵̗̝̆s̴͉̿ͅ ̴̖̝͗̏d̷̠̈́̆ó̷̦̩͗̇e̴̙̱̳͐͑͠s̵͖̮͛ ̸̠͓̄ṋ̴̅ͅo̸̯̜̿̿t̷̙̻̀̈̎ ̸͕̦̟͂͝d̶͉̓i̷̪̫͐̉̈́e̸͉̻̫͛!̵̖͓̈̏"̸̺̏
"...!"
Touma Kamijou senses something malevolent. His evolved precognition or sixth senses were tingling like it was ringing a subtle alarm bell warning for danger. The same can be said for all of the companions, Dhruv Varma, and the Eighth Doctor as they all heard the sinister voice. They were somewhere walking around another pathway. It was a bridge. From down below, one can see an abandoned highway that reminded one of those normal highways in America. Only, it was simply deserted. There were no vehicles below. There was nothing except the clear asphalt road.
But the bridge though. It had some dead bodies. Some were high school students while others were adults. They were all skeletons. Everyone on the bridge managed to confirm the identities of each person by looking at the remains. There were ID cards found that show their true identity.
Touma Kamijou knew why there were always IDs lying about the corpses even if it didn't make any form of sense. The master of this place wanted to turn this into a game of cat and mouse. She wanted to play with her food first. And then, after the last bit of hope is crushed, then she would kill the mouse and trap its corpse here forever.
"̵͓̠̱͋D̶͇̓͐͋o̴͎̮̿ ̶̤̥̤̈́̈y̴̱̙͒͐̓ọ̵̀̽̔u̸͎̲̐̔̂ ̸̥̚͘k̵̲̈n̵̦̜͋o̵̭̗̒̓͂ẅ̸̩̮̳́ ̷̰̖̻̍w̴̡̹̮̋̓ḧ̸̝́a̴̻͇͌̆t̵͓̑͝ ̸̥̀͝i̶̠̓͐̕t̷̟̎'̶̜̃s̴͆̔́ͅ ̶͈͊̇̈́l̴̖̂͝i̵̩̎̀k̴̗̍̆é̷͍͙̼͆͐ ̷̡͍͈̅ţ̵̣͉̄̅͊ö̵̱͖́ ̵̼́͒͜͝b̸͓̎͒ë̴̖̞̻ ̴̫̥̬̒́͂ṙ̵̡͖i̴̺̯̤͒ṗ̴̣p̶̺̃̋̀e̷̩̗̋d̷̻͛ ̵̧͘ả̴̺̀͝p̵̭̀a̵̳͒͐̿ŗ̸͗̆̌t̴̩̳̎?̸̰̂̓ͅ!̴̬͙̠̀͠"̸̨̟͂
There was a sinister voice. It echoes everywhere. And it seems to be directed towards them.
Kamijou grimaces as he felt the pure malevolence of the disembodied voice. It felt like a personal evil that was slithering or crawling under your skin unawares, like an ancient predator longing for its prey. There was no denying it. This disembodied voice filled with such hate and rage was all directed at him specifically.
"̶̫͙͊Y̵̨̅ȍ̸̯ū̸̠̫͘ ̴͙̰̄̄͘w̶̙̱̪̓͘̚i̸̬̠̐l̷̯̅ĺ̴̲̦̭̅̚ ̵̥͌͊n̷̯̰̍ę̶̪͒v̴̡̱̙̎̕ẻ̸̘͕͘͜r̴̟̲̬̋̈́̇ ̴͎̗̜͂̎g̵͚̪̜̓̈́̎e̸͈̞͛̄̈t̷̤͛̀͐ ̶̪̒̒ó̷̩͂̐ů̶̹͝t̴̢̜̝̓͑͒ ̷̥̮͚̐ö̵͚͔́̍͘ḟ̶͔͓͠ ̶̪͇̓͌̎h̸͎͚̝̀̋e̸͉̥̎r̵̖̖̝͆͗́e̸͉̞͝ ̷̯̋à̵͈͙̤ḽ̶̭̐̔͒ȋ̷͚̰̟̃͆v̷̦̹̄̄̀e̷̹̓͐,̷̡̒̽ ̴̣̓͘ Son of GOD."
The last one was much clear than the static malevolent gibberish that is still intelligible to understand everyone. And it in fact was directed towards Touma Kamijou, being referred to as Son of GOD, one of his many titles referring specifically to something else, who was now narrowing his eyes, from pure black switching into pale yellow with slit-like features.
"̷̲̋̋Y̷̯͊̒o̵̧̫̜͐͠u̷̞̎̀ ̷͖̊͠c̸̦̑̄á̶̞n̶̢͗n̴̦͑̀͜o̸̲̰͉͆t̶͚̮̑̕ ̷͖̖͚̿͒ś̷̞͉̃͘ͅẗ̷̛̟́o̶͍͚͊p̵͉͆̔ ̸̰̥̓̈́w̵͖̣̔̏̉h̴͖͋̽̒ă̸͙̟͐͋ť̵̟͍̐ ̵̲̇í̶͕̲̌͛s̷̛̮̩͈̿̈ ̷̰̩̓̍̏t̷̨̻͍̑̏́ỏ̶̢̞̫̕͠ ̸̻̗͚̑̄̄ç̵͗̊o̴̮͛͂̉m̶̳̭̯͗͌͐ę̸̝̟̒́̏.̸̖͓́̕"̷͔̗̫̒͂͗
And now...
The voice suddenly went away. Touma Kamijou simply looks at the rest of his companions, the ghost, and the Eighth Doctor who all made the same common look that indicated that they heard the voice quite clearly.
"We should keep moving," Kamijou said, summoning his circular shield bearing a Chinese dragon symbol, preparing and steeling himself from what lay ahead.
"Right," Kyon said as he raises his revolvers a bit.
And thus, they continued and press on to the pathway. The winds were cold and breezing from the western direction. Eventually, after passing through a bunch of debris and dead bodies lying around the quiet pathway, they finally made it to the other side. But they all knew that it was far too quiet for their liking. They didn't need to talk about the current issues surrounding the potential dangers of this place.
Satoshi Mochida was still walking with light footsteps, still carrying the sharp wooden stick that he got from a few corridors away.
Nothing. No one there.
It was just one abandoned corridor after another without any end in sight. But it seems that his foresight helps him a bit. An after-effect of the many times that he had done this before. All he can see was nothing except the stench of death and evil that was just quite familiar to him. His footwork was silent, not wanting to disturb the potential evils of this place, although even with his footwork, Satoshi still doubted that he can traverse the area without getting spotted by the girl dyed in red.
He knows that even stealth is worthless as this was her domain after all.
Still, he would have to avoid every dead body he sees for now and try to find a way toward everyone else. He has yet to see Kamijou once again, but he hopes that he would see him again. He, his sister, and the rest that came with him couldn't have survived without him by their side. He was their little form of hope and the de facto leader among them who fought the darkness and depravity of Heavenly Host.
He had saved so many over and over and over again. The nightmares, despite not stopping, were something that Kamijou kept fighting head-on, despite the weariness and almost to the point of absolute seriousness, rarely smiling and the kind of look that misses someone or a group of people who cared for him.
Actually, Satoshi was thinking about just what was Kamijou like before all of this started. Kamijou never talked a lot about his past, never speaking much of his family or his friends, but he and everyone else can tell that Kamijou misses them dearly based on the sober silent demeanor that he usually shows to them.
He wonders. He sympathizes. He thinks about this as he traverses through this building. He opens the door and what he heard was...
"Where are we? Actually, when are we since this paper said it was 1974?"
"...?!"
Satoshi Mochida hears the voice of a woman who was nearby. He hides from the corner of the wall and takes a slow glancing look, And he spotted a young woman with blue hair and wearing a white dress, she was the one whose voice Satoshi had heard just now. Accompanying her was a petite woman with pink hair and wearing a pink dress. They appeared to be looking at the flyer that has a bunch of words.
He didn't hesitate to show himself to them as he felt nothing of the familiar evil that he would usually feel around the dead bodies. His senses honed as it has reverberated throughout his many experiences, basically allowing him to tell when something is right or wrong in a spiritual kind of sense. It was handy to the point when it concerned him, his memories and experiences.
"Um...excuse me?" Satoshi asked.
"Hm?!"
The two women looked at him, surprised.
"Oh, someone's here, Rumiko-sensei!" the pink-haired petite woman said in surprise.
"Sensei?" Satoshi noted the term. "You're a sensei," he said, looking at the blue-haired woman.
"That's right, young man," the blue-haired woman said with a smile. "My name is Chie Rumiko. The one to my right is Tsukiyomi Komoe-sensei," she introduced with a smile.
"Oh? She's a sensei?" Satoshi was surprised, looking at Komoe with curiosity. He almost had the urge to point out how short her height is to be a sensei. Then again, he recalls the girl dyed in red that remembers encountering dozens of times already as much as he can remember who was more than she appears to be.
"Yes, I am, young man," Komoe Tsukiyomi pointed out with an admittedly strict but cute expression, raising her right forefinger. "So you better not say that I am a grade-schooler or other similar things relating to my height, got it?"
"Y-Yes, sensei," Satoshi agreed, nodding in a form of an apology. Then he started to turn serious. "So...how exactly did you two end up here? Was it because of the charm?"
"Charm?" Komoe asked, curious as to what the young man had meant.
"You know, the Sachiko Ever After Charm?" Satoshi asked again, curious and concerned.
"Sachiko Ever After Charm," Komoe and Rumiko looked at each other, concerned.
And thus, Satoshi Mochida begins to explain to the two teachers the circumstances behind Heavenly Host which includes him and eight others getting sent here through a spell that was shared by a classmate by the name of Ayumi Shinozaki who got it from an internet site made a blogger known for occult knowledge and tools. While Satoshi never really told them about his many experiences in this school in a groundhog day kind of time loop and worlds repeating over and over as it may seem too complicated to explain and may not be believed, his knowledge was explained concisely and properly enough.
But there was something strange.
Both teachers didn't interrupt him. They just listened. They didn't call this talk non-sense or other common reactions related to the subject of self-denial and needing proof and other similar misgivings for those who may hear these things for the very first time. Instead, they listened as if they were hearing a serious topic that needs to be given careful attention.
"I see," Rumiko muttered softly, thinking of the summary that was given to her and to Komoe. "I suppose that we are in another dimension after all."
"Eh? You believe my story, sensei?" Satoshi muttered surprised. "And what do you mean by 'another dimension'? Do both of you already have experiences with the supernatural?"
"That and probably more than you realized or would expect, Satoshi-kun," Komoe spoke seriously due to the grave situation that they all find themselves in, her arms placed to her waist. "If what you said is true, then we need to be extra careful and try to stay together. Strength in numbers in everything in this scenario."
"Now you said that you separated with your sister and Kokuhaku-san, right?" Rumiko asked, concerned.
"Yes, sensei," Satoshi nodded.
"Then we should probably try to find them. Since I feel that you're familiar with these surroundings, then you're going to have to take the lead and we could follow," Rumiko explained.
Insert Song: End
ED Song:
【ARTERY VEIN】Confutatis no Inori (Full Version)【CP Blood Covered】【Eng Lyrics】
Incarnation(s)/Regeneration(s) of the Doctor:
The Twelfth Doctor - A: Peter Capaldi
The Eighth Doctor - A: Paul McGann
Main Companion Protagonists:
Touma Kamijou - VA: Atsushi Abe
Shinichi Kudo/Conan Edogawa/Night Baron - VA: Minami Takayama
Kyon - VA: Tomokazu Sugita
Sota Mizushino/Kamen Rider Decade - VA: Daiki Yamashita
Lelouch vi Britannia/Zero - VA: Jun Fukuyama
Main Love Interests:
Rika Kamijou (née Furude) (Past) - VA: Yukari Tamura
The Club Characters:
Satoko Hojo (Past) - VA: Mika Kanai
Rumiko Chie - VA: Fumiko Orikasa
The Nine Characters:
Satoshi Mochida - VA: Hiro Shimono
Yuka Mochida - VA: Eri Kitamura
Yoshiki Kishinuma - VA: Yūichi Nakamura
Ayumi Shinozaki - VA: Asami Imai
Yui Shishido - VA: Miyuki Sawashiro
Main Enemy Characters:
Sachiko Shinozaki - VA: Ikue Ōtani
New Characters:
Komoe Tsukuyomi - VA: Kimiko Koyama