Chapter 44: Congratulations, You Successfully Unlocked Stage Two (Third Update)

Kitano Runa was an atheist.

Because ever since she could remember, she could often see or hear some "noises that did not belong to this world" in places with few people, gloomy places, strange places.

But no matter what she saw or heard, the final result was always just a false alarm, as if the childish her was scaring herself.

After coming to Tokyo alone to study, Kitano Runa often went to explore various popular ghost story locations, horror rankings, and even slept soundly on the legendary mass grave of ten thousand corpses.

However, Kitano Runa was always alone.

She practiced with the thought that "even if there really were ghosts, only I would die, and it wouldn't involve friends or family," but in the end, nothing happened.

So Kitano Runa did not believe, did not believe that there were ghosts and gods in this world.

When a "popular ghost story trend" inexplicably blew up on Twitter a few days ago, she also, as always, wrote down the summoning methods she saw, and then tried them one by one alone at home.

"If it's real, then run out and let me see!"

After completing fourteen summoning rituals in one night, Kitano Runa said as such.

That night, she heard countless eerie noises and saw many abnormal shadows, but still disappointedly discovered nothing at all.

Just like before, as if someone was making a fool of her, this clown.

"Just another false promotion, using the ghost banner to cheat traffic." After completing the last summoning ritual of the White Prajna, she thought at that time.

Then one day at noon, she saw her best friend Shizuka Mafuyu actually take out her mobile phone and pull out a selfie photo with the White Prajna.

"It's P-ed." Kitano Runa thought.

But immediately after, she saw Shizuku and that Uesugi-kun both become serious at the same time, and then in the afternoon they found people who looked like police.

Her years of experience chasing anime made her understand that at this time, if someone acted on their own and disagreed with everyone, they would definitely be the first to get the bento.

In the car, Sister Mafuyu in uniform told them a lot—the general meaning was that ghosts and gods indeed existed in this world, and they were very dangerous.

Although Kitano Runa was an atheist, she was not stupid.

So she chose to believe it rather than not—

Hanging up this phone call that might or might not be useful, cold sweat flowed from the temples of the girl leaning against the wall corner.

But her years of experience of "seeing" and testing her courage made Kitano Runa able to remain calm even in this extreme situation before her eyes.

She held the Hidden Talisman that had burned more than halfway, thinking that she had more than thirty seconds before she would have to face that damn White Prajna again.

"No matter what, I have to take Old Mother away from here first."

Kitano Runa tremblingly withdrew her gaze from the middle-aged woman lying unconscious on the ground, she gritted her teeth, and took out the last string of glowing Prayer Beads from her sleeve.

—These few Exorcism Tools were all taken by her from Shizuka Mafuyu's drawer before she came.

—Her Mother came to Tokyo from the countryside to visit her, and as a result encountered the White Prajna entrenched here at home; the cause of the matter was that simple.

Kitano Runa could not find anyone to help at the Special Affairs Division, nor did she want to drag Shizuka Mafuyu down, so she had to bring some miscellaneous props and come alone.

She held her breath tightly and faced the pale Evil Ghost Mask that was searching, but still made not the slightest sound.

Don't panic, Kitano Runa.

She said to herself in her heart.

She groped toward her mother's position, and just as she was about to carry her mother on her back, Kitano Runa fell into a moment of hesitation.

The eighteen-year-old girl stared at the Prayer Beads in her hand, counting down the remaining time of the Hidden Talisman in her heart, understanding that this was the last chance for her to escape alone.

—Abandon Mother, and she could definitely survive; but if she wanted to save Mother, both of them might die here.

How to decide...

"Such a simple question, does it need thinking—this damn thing is my Mother!"

Kitano Runa pulled the Prayer Beads off her wrist in one go and threw them hard toward the empty balcony.

The White Prajna that was wandering was instantly attracted by the glowing Prayer Beads and pounced there!

Taking this opportunity, she hoisted her mother onto her back in one go and ran desperately toward the open room door.

Feeling her lungs start to burn in just an instant, the super shut-in Kitano Runa roared in her heart:

—If I survive this time, I definitely must start exercising!

"Hiss—!"

A faint burning sound and the White Prajna's angry roar came from the balcony.

Kitano Runa had just stepped out the front door when she heard the noise behind her almost disappear.

It's over.

The girl's heart turned cold; she hadn't even reached the stairwell yet, and that monster could pounce over this ten-plus meters in one go, right.

Kitano Runa, who quickly placed Mother behind the door and ran in the opposite direction, raised both hands high and roared at the White Prajna: "Don't you want to eat me? Come on!"

After speaking, she turned around and ran downstairs, crossing ten steps of stairs in two strides under the effect of adrenaline, using the fastest speed of her life.

At this moment, Kitano Runa felt she was just like the lone hero in anime with his back to everyone, cool to the point of explosion!

Then, she was pressed against the wall by the White Prajna, who was who knows how much faster than her.

"Pfft—"

Kitano Runa felt her whole body go numb from the impact, as if she was about to fall apart.

Looking at the White Prajna looking down at her in front of her eyes, Kitano Runa gazed at the sky with lifeless eyes, thinking that someone like her, a sports loser, definitely couldn't be cool for more than three seconds.

I'm going to die.

Kitano Runa thought.

She was about to close her eyes and wait quietly for death, but suddenly saw a flash of cold light in midair.

Ah, wait, what is that?

Kitano Runa was stunned, not even caring that the White Prajna had already pinched her shoulder.

—A sword flying in the sky?

The next moment, that flash of cold light and a hoarse, low roar reached her at the same time, illuminating Kitano Runa's lifeless pupils.

"Tenraku!"

The trembling sword tip pierced out from White Hannya's illusory chest, forcibly stopping the Evil Ghost's movement; Kitano Runa tilted her head blankly and saw Uesugi Toru's expressionless face.

The girl saw him lower his head slightly and sighed in relief: "Fortunately, I wasn't one step too late."

After the words fell, the wild wind behind Uesugi Toru howled in, lifting Kitano Runa's hair strands.

The girl was bewildered—this was the fourth floor; how had he come up?

"A guest has arrived; don't you plan to welcome them?"

Uesugi Toru took a Kesa-giri strike and thus drew Kaga Kiyomitsu out from within White Hannya's body; at this moment, he saw a prompt pop up above White Hannya's head.

【Lightly Injured White Hannya Projection (One-Star)】

So this was not White Hannya's true body; no wonder he felt that even without transforming, he was not so strong as to be unable to fight it.

Uesugi Toru, who had just released the Laughing Hannya Transformation state, thought.

Because Kitano Runa was present, Uesugi Toru tried not to expose himself, so the previous ambush Tenraku was the final sword thrust by the transformed Laughing Hannya.

However, judging by its condition, his sword did not seem very effective; at most it had only inflicted Light Injuries on it.

Buzz buzz buzz.

Amidst the eerie movement, White Hannya slowly turned around, letting Uesugi Toru see that eerie and terrifying mask.

"Don't you want to eat fresh and tasty souls?" Uesugi Toru provocatively beckoned to it, "Come on."

The foolish White Hannya from the blacksmith's mouth indeed flew into a rage at the provocation; it let out a sharp cry and raised its pale Hand Palms to pounce at Uesugi Toru.

So fast!

Uesugi Toru's pupils shrank, and he hurriedly retreated into the spacious Corridor, but even so, his Forearm had already been sliced with a fine cut.

The wound felt numb and itchy; Uesugi Toru glanced at his arm from the Corner of his eye and found that the blood flowing out was actually white.

Poison?

It seemed that if he did not transform into Laughing Hannya, facing a One-Star Demon was still a bit difficult.

"Troublesome."

Temporarily using Internal Qi to seal that small piece of flesh to slow the poison's spread, Uesugi Toru shouted to Kitano Runa: "Can you move? You go first alone!"

Kitano Runa coughed up a mouthful of blood: "Can't... can't stand up."

Uesugi Toru clicked his tongue, parried White Hannya's sharp claws, and thought to himself that otaku two-dimensional people were indeed all fragile skins; the Original Body was, and Kitano Runa was too.

If this continued, the situation would probably develop in a direction unfavorable to him.

Without further Hesitation, Uesugi Toru poured a drop of Awakening Spirit Mist into his mouth, then took a Deep Breath and fully activated the Kiai Technique.

A faint white Qi Coating attached to Uesugi Toru's body surface; he turned his head as if he had foresight, dodging White Hannya's swinging claws by a hair's breadth, then immediately shouted and struck downward.

Tang Bamboo Momentum!

"Roar—!"

White Hannya's Miserable cry rang out.

But in the next instant, on that half-shattered face, it suddenly changed into a sad and weeping expression.

"Wuu... wuu..."

The mournful weeping Echoed; Uesugi Toru felt the world spinning before his eyes, nausea sweeping his Full Body, almost making him unable to hold his sword.

Rip!

His arm once again felt several stinging pains.

However, the weeping lasted only a moment, and when Uesugi Toru regained his senses again, he found that Kitano Runa lying in the corridor had actually fallen into a Coma because of this.

The situation, because of this insignificant Condition, would reverse in an instant.

Withdrawing his gaze, Uesugi Toru slowly curled the corners of his mouth toward the ferocious White Hannya,

"Congratulations, you have successfully unlocked the BOSS's second phase."

End of Chapter