Chapter 32: Tokyo Madness

Everyone was filled with dread.

Have we accidentally entered the world of demons?

“This isn’t an alien invasion at all—it’s demons descending!” Hirofumi Ichiro gasped, eyes wide with horror.

The scenery of Yunhu was teeming with demons and monsters, just like the legendary procession of a hundred ghosts at night.

Countless people stood frozen; the panic from the earthquake was completely overshadowed by the terrifying spectacle of Yunhu, leaving them too stunned to flee.

In Japan, even today, alongside preserved customs like yakuza culture, festivals, and kimono, demon culture has also been preserved and passed down.

In fact, demon culture is especially prevalent in Japan today.

The extent of its popularity is best illustrated by Japan’s anime industry, which produces at least one or two demon-themed anime every year—even when the subject isn’t demons, many characters are still inspired by them.

Demon culture isn’t just popular among otaku; many contemporary Japanese artists also dabble in it, and most have painted demon-themed ukiyo-e.

Japanese people don’t believe demons truly exist, but that doesn’t hinder the spread of demon culture—especially among the older generation, who often use demons to scare children into behaving.

Almost every Japanese person is at least somewhat familiar with demons.

Even if they don’t know all the types, everyone knows at least one or two well-known demons.

Without exception, everyone in Arakawa Ward who saw the Yunhu scene could identify demons they recognized in the chilling, hair-raising procession of a hundred ghosts, as terrifying as an army of the dead marching by.

“That’s… Hyakume no Koi?!”

Those who owned ukiyo-e prints of Hyakume no Koi felt their scalps crawl, their very souls tingling.

It was too similar.

In the Yunhu scene, there was a demon identical to the Hyakume no Koi ukiyo-e print in their home collection.

“Could it be… that demons are real?!”

Countless people were horrified, their bones chilled to the core.

Until now, since the earthquake began, no one believed the Yunhu scene was merely a natural phenomenon—they had reason to believe it was connected to the real world.

Otherwise, why would the earthquake here coincide exactly with the trembling visuals over there?

Everything happening in Arakawa Ward spread at lightning speed to neighboring wards and exploded across the internet.

【MAJOR EVENT! DEMONS APPEAR IN THE SKY OVER ARAKAWA WARD, TOKYO!】

【HUGE INCIDENT IN ARAKAWA WARD, TOKYO!】

【EARTHQUAKE IN ARAKAWA WARD HAS SUMMONED A BUNCH OF DEMONS!】

…

All kinds of topics about Arakawa Ward and demons spread across Japan’s internet at an astonishing rate.

At first, most netizens didn’t believe it.

But as bystanders from neighboring wards and fearless residents of Arakawa Ward uploaded video and photo footage taken of the sky above Arakawa, credibility rose.

There weren’t just one or two videos—there were dozens, even hundreds.

Each video, shot from different locations across Arakawa Ward and at different angles of the sky, was so realistically detailed it looked like a Hollywood special effect—and all captured the ongoing earthquake.

To Japanese netizens, these videos were undeniably real.

Then,

Verified online influencers who had witnessed Yunhu in Arakawa Ward or nearby areas confirmed it, and some reckless live-streamers went straight to the scene to film.

The incident exploded.

SHOCKED THE INTERNET!!

Countless curious onlookers who lived near Arakawa Ward didn’t hesitate—they rushed out, either driving or taking the subway, heading straight for Arakawa Ward.

All roads leading to Arakawa Ward were completely jammed, stretching into endless lines of traffic.

The blaring of car horns echoed across every route.

“Move forward, you idiot!!”

“No way—even this quiet road is blocked? Is Arakawa Ward really real?!”

Traffic was gridlocked, horns blaring nonstop.

The scene resembled the Spring Festival rush on the other side of the ocean—packed, chaotic, teeming with people.

Many live-streamers seeking viral fame, stuck on the road and unable to film Arakawa Ward, instead began streaming the traffic jam.

“Ladies and gentlemen, look! All roads to Arakawa Ward are completely blocked!”

“Look, everyone! The subway trains to Arakawa Ward are sold out, yet crowds still gather, desperate to board!”

The streamers blew things out of proportion, acting like they were enjoying a grand spectacle.

Their broadcasts amplified the rumors about Arakawa Ward, further convincing netizens that something massive had truly happened there—that demons were indeed appearing.

In today’s digital, information-driven age, mass hysteria is the most terrifying force.

Even a trivial matter, once debated endlessly online, can be twisted into truth and spread widely.

If that’s true for falsehoods, how much more so for the real, unprecedented event unfolding above Arakawa Ward? Its spread became even more exaggerated, even more explosive.

Within moments, the internet erupted—its intensity rose in stair-step increments, skyrocketing like a rocket.

Countless netizens went mad.

Not only did those nearby rush to Arakawa Ward—even those far away, in Shikoku and Hokkaido, booked plane tickets to fly to Tokyo.

Even more insane, some office workers directly asked their bosses for leave, claiming they wanted to go see the commotion in Arakawa Ward.

Instead of being fired for their absurd excuse, the bosses replied, holding up their phones: “Come on, I’m going too.”

Online discourse grew fiercer than the Fukushima nuclear plant leak, surpassing it in intensity.

The Japanese government had no time to intervene.

At this moment,

In Tokyo, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Headquarters’ highest conference room.

As soon as the Yunhu earthquake began, Director Takahashi ordered an emergency gathering of top government officials.

As Director of the Metropolitan Police and the highest-ranking officer of the capital’s police force, Director Takahashi knew summoning a high-level government meeting was an extreme measure—but he also knew the phenomenon above Arakawa Ward was serious enough to warrant it.

If the Prime Minister hadn’t been in the U.S., he would have summoned him here too.

When the demon imagery appeared over Yunhu, Director Takahashi confirmed his decision to convene the highest-level meeting was correct.

Director Takahashi kept glancing at the screen, then at the conference room door—no one had arrived yet. He frowned sharply and barked.

“What’s going on? Haven’t the demonology experts arrived yet?”

“Didn’t I tell you? No matter if they refuse or not, bring them here—did you not understand?”

“I’m giving you thirty minutes. I don’t care if you airlift them or drag them—get every renowned demonologist in Tokyo here within half an hour.”

“And where’s the lip-reading expert Saito ordered you to bring? Why isn’t he here? Are you all useless?!”

No wonder he was furious.

The phenomenon above Arakawa Ward was rapidly spiraling into unknown terror—he couldn’t afford the slightest slack.

Just as Director Takahashi waited another minute or two, growing more impatient as he stared at the screen, about to yell at his subordinates again—

The high-ranking officials in the room let out gasps of shock.

Director Takahashi froze, before his subordinates could answer—he spun sharply toward the screen.

…