[224] Episode 5 · Paradox Spiral! (22)

Chapter 224: Episode 5 · Paradox Spiral! (22)

In the film, Alba suddenly seemed to realize something and muttered:

"Wait, Aozaki, how did you get here in just a few minutes? What kind of magic did you use?"

For Alba's delayed reaction, Aozaki Touko sneered:

"Magic? That's overthinking it. It's just a small trick of magecraft. After all, this is the third time I've been here, and I even participated in the construction of this apartment. Naturally, I left some precautions in place..."

"You manipulated my consciousness?"

Realizing this, Alba quickly looked at the ground and saw that Kokutou Mikiya was lying there unharmed, without any trace of blood—just a minor wound on his head from a scrape.

This meant that from the very beginning, Alba had been under Aozaki Touko's control, likely trapped in an illusion the entire time.

"Haha, hahaha... I see now. From the very beginning, I was nothing more than a pawn in your hands! In the end, I truly am nothing but a clown," Alba mocked himself bitterly.

In response to his self-deprecation, Aozaki Touko coldly tossed the suitcase in her hand onto the ground.

Compared to the one she previously used to carry the black cat, this suitcase was much larger and more ominously structured.

"What… what are you planning to do? Take revenge on Araya Souren?!"

"That's ridiculous. Revenge on him? No. I'm here for you."

"For me?"

"It's simple. Because you called me by that name. It's a rule I set back in my Academy days—anyone who dares to call me the 'Red of Pain' must die."

"You—"

There was no room for resistance. The moment the horrific creature within the suitcase emerged, Alba's fate was sealed.

The bloody spectacle caused many viewers to instinctively close their eyes, while only a handful managed to endure and watch until the very end.

The screen on the television shifted.

Compared to Aozaki Touko's smooth handling of her situation, Tomoe's confrontation with Araya Souren seemed like nothing more than a futile struggle, akin to a mayfly trying to move a giant tree.

Tomoe desperately thrust the small knife in his hand at Araya, attempting to close the distance between them as quickly as possible.

However, against Araya Souren's impenetrable field of stillness, Tomoe couldn't make the slightest progress.

Yet, a sudden surge of power from within his body gave him an opportunity. Memories of Tomoe's life flooded his mind in a torrent, driving him to plunge the dagger into Araya Souren's chest.

"My family... they didn't deserve to die like that. Their sins weren't so great that they should have faced such an end...!"

As Tomoe made his desperate final effort, Araya Souren coldly grabbed his head and said in an icy tone:

"The Mystic Eyes of Shiki Ryougi can perceive my death, which gives them meaning. You, however, cannot see death itself. Without sight of it, you cannot strike at it. Let me tell you one last thing, Tomoe: the reason I chose you... is because your origin is worthlessness."

With those words, Tomoe's body crumbled like ashes in Araya's grasp, disintegrating into nothingness as though every trace of his existence had been erased.

...

Two starkly contrasting scenes unfolded in quick succession before the viewers' eyes.

Before they could fully relish Aozaki Touko's victory, Tomoe's tragic end was laid bare, leaving everyone in stunned silence.

The dichotomy between these outcomes left the audience deeply moved, highlighting the critical importance of power.

After all, whether in reality or within stories, only those who possess strength stand a better chance of survival.

Additionally, viewers were intrigued by the second familiar Aozaki Touko had unleashed.

Though the glimpse was fleeting, the creature's grotesque and terrifying form left a lasting impression on everyone.

The tension in the unfolding plot left most viewers no time to discuss or react before the next shocking developments swiftly took over.

...

After killing Tomoe, Araya Souren sent a projection of himself to the lobby on the first floor to survey the situation.

Finding Alba dead, just as he had expected, he spared little attention to the matter—it was all part of his plan, after all.

However, just as he was about to leave, Aozaki Touko suddenly called out to him, her voice laced with mockery:

"Araya, where are you off to? Spying isn't exactly a respectable hobby, you know!"

Araya stopped and, with a hint of amusement, replied:

"Hmph, while I anticipated you would use some trick to kill Alba, I didn't expect there to be another Aozaki Touko."

"Whether it's Alba or you, you both waste your time researching pointless things. Doesn't really matter, does it?"

"Judging by your tone, you're the real one. So, do you want to spar with me again?"

"No, because I have no chance of winning inside this apartment."

"That monster hiding in your suitcase might have a shot at taking me down."

"I refuse. That thing's appetite is insatiable. If I'm not careful, the entire apartment could disappear. The Association wouldn't ignore such blatant recklessness, and I'd end up on their wanted list instead."

"Still relying on the Counter Force to step in? Unfortunately, it won't activate anymore. This very barrier was designed to suppress it."

"Barrier?"

Touko froze for a moment at the word, her expression shifting.

Then she raised her voice sharply:

"Araya, this apartment—its true purpose is to manifest the concept of Taiji, isn't it?"

"Exactly. To completely isolate Ryougi Shiki from the outside world, I created this alternate dimension. The other functions are merely secondary."

Hearing Araya Souren's words, Aozaki Touko suddenly burst into laughter.

"—Is there a problem?"

"So that's it. This building itself is a form of magecraft. An alternate dimension crafted as the perfect prison to confine Shiki—it's indeed a flawless cage. But, ironically, Araya, you made a colossal mistake."

"The barrier may be perfect, but Shiki is no ordinary being. She's a death-seeing god. You, of all people, should have understood that by now!"

Hearing Touko's words, Araya Souren's expression shifted drastically as he exclaimed,

"Wait, are you saying—?!"

"That's right. If you wanted to confine Shiki, burying her in concrete would have sufficed. If you were dealing with just an ordinary girl with the strength of a teenager, a simple iron chamber would do.

But you, Araya Souren, as a magus, treated magecraft as something absolute. Unfortunately for you, this near-otherworldly apartment you created is utterly meaningless. This half-baked construct will be broken through in no time!"

As Touko's words fell, a sudden and intense pain shot through Araya's being. In that brief moment, he realized with shock that something had severed his body.

Of course, the current Araya Souren no longer possessed a physical body in the conventional sense. His true body was the apartment itself!

And if his body had been severed, it could only mean one thing—the apartment had been cut apart by someone.

At this revelation, the audience's expressions finally lit up with excitement.

After all, anyone could tell that the figure slowly stepping out of the elevator at that moment was none other than the film's heroine, Ryougi Shiki!

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