Chapter 27

Although Yuuji was already exhausted, the defenses of Saya's home could not be allowed to fall—otherwise, even more people would die.

Yuuji didn't realize that the magical hand, which should have vanished completely, had partially remained and was slowly merging with his body.

Gradually, Yuuji's vision began to blur, and a voice whispered in his ear.

"You're tired... why don't you just rest?"

"No," Yuuji growled, brushing the voice aside and pushing forward.

"Don't worry. They'll be fine…"

"Shut up," he hissed, trying to block it out, but the voice kept echoing.

"Relax. I don't mean you any harm."

"Last time someone said that, they nearly took over my body," Yuuji muttered darkly. He could sense that the magical hand—like the cursed sword Frostmourne—was inhabited by a powerful soul.

"You're worn out. You can't stop them."

"I can. I'll fight again," Yuuji replied. He swung his blade, cutting a zombie in half.

"That's just one. What about a horde?"

"Shut up! I will stop them!" Yuuji snarled, hacking down the next wave of undead as he pushed toward Saya's home.

"You can't do it alone. Let me take control."

"No!" Yuuji barked, as a dark silhouette appeared before him. He slashed at it, but the figure blocked the attack with its bare hands.

"See? You're too weak," the shadow murmured, stepping closer. Yuuji realized with a chill that the figure looked exactly like him.

"Stop resisting. Let me handle everything."

"No. I have to do this on my own," Yuuji growled, breaking free from the shadow's grip and continuing forward.

"No, Yuuji… poor Yuuji. You can't save them. Only I can."

"Get out of my head!" Yuuji shouted, slashing through the dark shape and another zombie that came too close.

Finally, Yuuji reached the gate of Saya's house. A mass of zombies were still pounding against it, while the survivors behind it fought desperately to keep it from falling.

"See? There are too many. You're too late."

"I'm not! I'll hold out to the end!" Yuuji shouted, brandishing both his blades as he charged into the undead swarm.

"Look! That special forces guy is back—he's here to save us!"

"Fight back! Hold the line!"

Yuuji slashed and stabbed, his movements relentless. He couldn't afford to stop—he had to protect the people behind that gate.

But he noticed his swords were growing duller, his vision blurrier.

"You're slowing down. You're nearly done," the shadow murmured from beside him, untouched by the chaos.

"Shut up… they'll find a solution soon…" Yuuji panted, still swinging, though his attacks were becoming sluggish.

Eventually, Yuuji staggered to the gate. The survivors blasted the advancing zombies with high-pressure water cannons, holding them off just long enough for him to slip through.

Inside, Saya and Sousuke rushed to meet him.

"Yuuji, we found the herbs—they've been harvested," Saya reported, slightly out of breath.

"But the zombies haven't stopped. While some have retreated, many are still attacking," Sousuke added grimly, surveying the chaos beyond the gate.

"Everyone into the house. Abandon the outer compound!" Saya's father, Junichiro, finally gave the order.

Everyone quickly retreated into the main building. The zombies poured into the now-empty yard, but with no humans visible, they didn't advance further.

For now, they were safe.

"Just let me take over, and I'll save them…" the shadow whispered again.

This time, Yuuji ignored it, refusing to respond.

Utterly drained, Yuuji collapsed where he stood.

As he slipped into unconsciousness, a red claw appeared in his fading vision. The last thing he heard was:

"You can't hold on anymore. Let me take care of the rest…"

In his dream, Yuuji saw Jack from another world, and Yuki and Sister Ci from this one. They were all standing together, waving to him. Yuuji tried to walk toward them, but no matter how far he went, they kept drifting further away.

"No, don't go!" Yuuji cried, breaking into a run—but he couldn't catch up.

In the end, he stood alone in darkness.

"It's okay. Leave the rest to me…"

Behind him, the familiar silhouette of the dark figure emerged.

Yuuji awoke with a start. He was on a bus, with Saya and Yoko asleep beside him. As he sat up, he saw that the rest of Saya's family was also aboard, along with several other buses following in convoy.

They had left the main city of Bedford and were now driving across the long ocean bridge.

Saya stirred beside him and smiled brightly.

"Yuuji, you're finally awake!"

"Saya… what happened?" Yuuji asked, confused.

"You got us out. You led everyone from the house, found the buses, and brought us across the bridge," she said. "Don't you remember?"

"No… I don't." Yuuji furrowed his brow, uneasy.

"It's okay. Thank you, Yuuji," she said softly, hugging him.

Yuuji's heart was unsettled. That thing—the shadow—what exactly had it done?

"What's the matter? Isn't it normal to help you?" the voice suddenly echoed in his head, clear as ever.

"Don't be surprised. I'm still inside you. I was never gone," it said.

"You can talk to me in your mind."

"Who are you?" Yuuji finally asked, calming himself.

"I'm your demon, Yuuji. Or should I say… Wushou."

"You… know my real name."

"Of course. I'm your demon. Knowing that is hardly surprising."

"Demon? Why would you help me?"

"There's a reason. You'll understand soon enough."

With that, the voice fell silent.

Yuuji remained still, holding onto Saya as he pondered the strange, sinister presence inside him.

But he had forgotten one critical detail—the company had already prepared a full-scale plan.

A plan designed specifically to capture Yuuji.