Silver Light lit up in his Palm, very faint, but enough to condense into a blade. It was not the imposing Long Sword from before, but a broken Short Sword with nicks along its edge.
But at least it was a Weapon.
Dairoku raised an eyebrow. "It can fight? Interesting."
He raised his hand, a bead of blood condensed at his fingertips. Under the Moonlight, the bead of blood shimmered with an eerie glow, slowly growing larger and splitting into dozens of tiny beads of blood that hovered in the air.
Erosion Rot Technique," Dairoku said softly, as if introducing his own work, "If even a little bit touches you, your circulatory system will collapse. Don't worry, you won't die, it will just be.. very painful.
Blood droplets flew toward Tu Bai.
Tu Bai swung his sword, slicing through several of them, but there were too many blood droplets, densely packed like a rain of blood. He retreated while slashing, but he was soon forced in front of a large tree, with no way to retreat.
A bead of blood brushed against his arm. The skin turned black in a moment, a sharp pain surged through him, as if countless ants were gnawing at his flesh.
Tu Bai gritted his teeth and used his blade to slice away that piece of flesh. Blood surged out, but the black corrosion stopped.
Dairoku let out an "oh" of surprise, looking somewhat astonished: "Cruel enough."
Hanami remained motionless. He simply stood in the back, watching everything, his eyes deep and profound.
Choso could not wait any longer. He rushed forward, opened his massive mouth, spat out a large mouthful of poisonous blood. The venom surged toward Tu Bai like a waterfall, covering such a wide area that it was impossible to dodge.
Tu Bai constructed a Shield, but the Shield was corroded by the toxic blood the moment it took shape, disintegrating in an instant.
The venom splashed onto him, burning holes into his Clothes, white smoke rose from his Skin. He let out a scream and fell to his knees, his Long Sword slipping from his hand and flying out to plunge into the ground not far away.
Choso shouted excitedly, "Brother! I hit him!"
Dairoku frowned: "Don't kill him. We still need to take him back."
Hanami finally moved. He walked over slowly and came to a halt in front of Tu Bai, looking down at him from above.
Tu Bai raised his head. The areas on his face splashed with Poison Blood had already become ulcerated, with blood and pus flowing down in a mixture. His Red Eyes were dim and lusterless, but he continued to glare at Hanami, neither begging for mercy nor crying.
Hanami stared at those Eyes, remaining silent for a few seconds.
Then he raised his hand, a drop of blood condensed at his Fingertips. It was his own blood, bright red, shimmering under the Moonlight.
Since he refuses to go back with us," he said, "then let's settle this here.
The drop of blood flew toward Tu Bai.
Tu Bai watched as that drop of blood drew closer and closer, knowing he could not dodge it.
He closed his eyes, protecting his abdomen with both hands.
The last image flashed through his mind.
It wasn't combat, it wasn't a Mission, it wasn't any of those messy plans.
It was morning. In the apartment, sunlight streamed in through the window. Gojo Satoru stood in the Kitchen, wearing that old dark blue shirt, his hair messy and tousled, as he prepared hot milk for him with sleepy eyes. The milk steamed in the pot, Gojo Satoru let out a yawn, looked back at him, said with a smile, "It'll be ready soon, just wait a little longer."
Those Ice Blue Eyes were filled with smiles.
Tu Bai closed his eyes.
Sorry. Can't go back.
---
At the same time, in Yokohama.
Tu Bao bolted upright from the Bed.
He gasped for air, his Heartbeat racing as if it were about to leap out of his Chest. His Back was covered in cold sweat, his Sleep Pants were soaked through, clinging to his body.
A dream. Incorrect, it wasn't a dream.
It is a connection.
It was that kind of connection between triplets. Tu Bai was calling him. Calling him in extreme pain.
Tu Bao jumped off the bed and rushed to the Desk without even putting on his Slippers, grabbing the Mobile Phone. His Finger was trembling, it took several tries to unlock the Screen. He found Tu's number and dialed it.
The call was answered after a single ring.
Brother?" Tu's voice came from the other end of the Phone, also trembling, "Did you feel it?
Something happened to Er Bao," Tu Bao said, his voice sounding hoarse and unlike himself. "Where?
The Mountain Forest.. the Mountain Forest in the Tokyo Suburbs. I can feel the direction, but I can't specify the exact location.
"I'll be there right away." Tu Bao hung up the Phone and turned to rush outside.
Opening the door, he saw a person standing in the Corridor.
A long Sand-colored Trench Coat, black curly hair, violet eyes half-lidded with laziness, yet at this moment, he was staring at him intently.
Dazai Osamu.
"It's so late, where are you going?" Dazai asked, his tone sounding relaxed, but he was already blocking the Doorway.
"Move," Choso said, his voice turning cold.
Dazai did not move: "Bao'er, you look terrible. What happened?"
"My Younger Brother is in trouble," Tu Bao said, attempting to walk past him.
Dazai reached out and grabbed him: "Is rushing out like this going to be of any use? Do you know where he is? Do you know how to save him?"
Tu Bao shook off his hand, his Eyes turning red: "I don't care! I must go!"
Dazai looked at him, remained silent for a second, then he sighed.
"Let's go," he said.
Tu Bao froze: "You—"
I'll go with you," Dazai said. "I'm not comfortable with you going alone. Besides, what if you need help?
Tu Bao stared at him for two seconds, then turned and ran.
Dazai followed behind, his steps light, but his gaze was heavy.
---
Italy, Florence.
When Tu's Mobile Phone rang, he was painting in the studio. It was late at night, he was alone, with only the moonlight shining in from outside the window.
He picked up the Phone and heard Tu Bao's Voice, causing the paintbrush in his hand to snap with a "snap."
After hanging up the Phone, he stood there in place, his Finger trembling.
Then he turned around and rushed out the door.
Sawada Tsunayoshi's room was at the End of the Corridor. Tu knocked a few times, but when no one answered, he pushed the door open and went straight in.
The person on the Bed was startled awake and sat up, his dark brown hair messy and his dark brown eyes still heavy with sleepiness. But upon seeing Tu's expression, that bit of sleepiness vanished in a moment.
"What's wrong?" Sawada Tsunayoshi asked, lifting the blanket and getting out of bed.
Something happened to my Brother," Tu said, his Voice trembling, "I must go back to Japan.
Sawada Tsunayoshi did not ask a second question. He picked up the Mobile Phone from the Nightstand and dialed a number.
Prepare a helicopter. As fast as possible. Fly to Japan.
After hanging up the phone, he looked at Tu, his gaze steady: "Change your clothes, we're leaving."
Tu froze. "You.. you're going too?"
Sawada Tsunayoshi walked over and reached out to press his hand against his shoulder.
I'm not comfortable letting you go alone," he said. "Besides, Vongola has resources in Japan as well. Once you get there, I'll help you find someone.
Tu looked at him, his eyes suddenly turning red.
Sawada Tsunayoshi didn't say much, only patted his shoulder: "Go change your clothes. We depart in ten minutes."
---
Tokyo Suburbs, the edge of the Mountain Forest.
The Poison Blood was less than a meter away from Tu Bai.
At the very moment that drop of blood was about to touch him—
A flash of Silver Light passed by.
**With immense force, it slashed down, severing the drop of blood and stopping between Choso and Dairoku, stabbing fiercely into the ground, the blade still trembling.
Everyone was stunned.
Tu Bao rushed out from the forest, his pink curly hair flying wildly under the moonlight, his baby face flushed bright red, the tears in his eyes not yet dry. He ran in front of Tu Bai, spreading his arms to shield him, shouted at the three Cursed Spirits:
Don't you dare touch my Younger Brother!
Behind him, another Figure descended.
Tu jumped down from the helicopter, his silver-white long curly hair fluttering in the night breeze, his peach-blossom eyes with red pupils were as cold as ice at this moment. He gripped a small fruit knife in his hand, but anyone could feel that the knife could turn into a lethal weapon at any time.
Dazai Osamu slowly walked out from the forest, the hem of his sand-colored trench coat stained with a bit of dew. He stood beside Tu Bao, his鸢色 eyes sweeping over the three Cursed Spirits, a faint, elusive smile playing on the corners of his mouth, though the warmth did not reach his eyes.
Sawada Tsunayoshi was the last to land, a black Vongola coat draped over his black suit, his brownish-gold eyes as calm as still water. He stood in front of everyone, facing the three Cursed Spirits, his voice steady:
Gentlemen, could you do me a favor and let this Child go?
Hanami stared at these people who had suddenly appeared, his gaze shifting.
Three Cursed Spirits, four Humans—no, not all Humans. Those two with Red Eyes, just like the Rabbit on the ground, are of the Demon Race.
"Brother.." Choso took a step back, instinctively moving closer to Dairoku.
Dairoku frowned and looked toward Hanami.
Hanami remained silent for a few seconds. His gaze lingered on Dazai and Sawada Tsunayoshi for a long time—the Aura surrounding these two people was not simple.
Finally, his gaze fell upon Tu Bai, who was curled up on the floor.
In his abdomen, there was a faint energy fluctuation. What was that?
He frowned.
"Let's go." He turned around.
Dairoku froze for a moment: "Eldest Brother?"