The second and third ones followed. He swung his sword, cutting one down, then cutting another down. But more surged forward from all directions.
He was forced back into the house.
A Cursed Spirit's claw slashed across his arm, causing a stinging pain. Another bit into his calf; he kicked it away, but new ones rushed at him.
There are too many of them.
Tu Bai constructed a Shield to block a wave of attacks. He retreated to the center of the Living Room, panting.
His arm was bleeding, his calf was bleeding too. It wasn't serious, but it hurt.
He glanced at the Doorway—more Cursed Spirits were flooding in.
Can't go to Shibuya.
He cannot even leave this building.
Tu Bai grit his teeth and continued to swing his Long Sword.
Another Cursed Spirit fell, another.
But his movements were becoming slower and slower. His Demon Power was being consumed, his wounds were aching, his Breathing was becoming increasingly heavy.
There was a voice constantly spinning in his brain.
The Barrier disappeared.
The person who cast the Barrier is no longer there.
He did not dare think of that word. He did not dare think of "death." Every time that word surfaced, he would desperately suppress it.
But he couldn't suppress it.
Gojo Satoru's face had been spinning in his brain. Smiling, obnoxious, when he was stroking his hair, when he was kissing him, when he said, "Wait for me to come back."
Tu Bai's hand trembled, his sword nearly slipped from his grasp.
A Cursed Spirit took advantage of the opening and slammed into his chest.
He was knocked flying, slamming into the wall and crashing onto the Floor. His Back burned with a stinging pain, he tasted blood in his mouth.
Tu Bai propped himself up against the ground, trying to stand, but his legs were trembling.
More Cursed Spirits surrounded them.
He lifted his head, looking at those twisted, bizarre, foul-smelling things.
His abdomen suddenly throbbed with pain.
It wasn't just ordinary pain; it was a surge of colic rising from inside, as if something was falling downward.
Tu Bai's expression changed.
He lowered his head, pressing his hand against his Abdomen.
That warm cluster of Demon Power, which had been pulsing for three months, was vibrating violently. Like a glass ball about to shatter, its surface was covered in cracks.
"No.." he said softly.
The Demon Power Mass trembled again.
And then—
Broken.
Like bubbles being crushed by someone, they scattered silently.
Tu Bai felt that warmth flowing out of his body, bit by bit, unable to hold onto any of it.
Three seconds. Five seconds. Ten seconds.
Everything disappeared.
It was empty there.
No heartbeat, no warmth, nothing was left.
Tu Bai knelt on the floor, his hands still covering his abdomen, but he could feel nothing.
He opened his mouth, wanting to scream something, but no Voice came out.
Tears welled up, sliding silently down his cheeks.
Baby is gone.
He didn't even know when it was gone.
Cursed Spirits were still swarming from all around, one after another, a massive, dark mass. Their sharp claws glinted under the Light, low growls echoed in his ears.
Tu Bai knelt there, tears falling drop by drop onto the Floor.
He heard a voice in his brain saying: Stand up.
But he couldn't stand up.
He heard that Voice say again: he might still be alive.
But he no longer believed it.
He knew when the Barrier disappeared.
That person is gone.
Baby is gone too.
Tu Bai knelt in the center of the Living Room, surrounded by Cursed Spirits, his hands covering his abdomen.
He lifted his head, his Red Eyes filled with tears, making it impossible to see those distorted things.
"Senpai.." he said softly.
No one answered him.
The Cursed Spirit lunged forward.
Tu Bai closed his eyes.
Chapter 59
Tu Bai knelt on the Floor.
The Cursed Spirits in the surroundings were still rushing forward. Sharp claws slashed across his back, tearing his clothes and leaving bloody marks on his skin. One bit into his shoulder, while another grabbed his leg and dragged him down.
He couldn't feel any pain.
He could only feel that in his abdomen, it was empty.
That warmth that had accompanied him for three months, that heartbeat he would touch every single night, that "Baby" that made him vomit and feel miserable yet still secretly brought him joy—was gone.
It's just gone.
A Cursed Spirit's claw struck his chest. He was sent flying, crashing into the corridor wall before falling onto the floor. His mouth was filled with the taste of blood.
Another one pounced.
Tu Bai swung his Long Sword, cutting it down. He stood up, another one appeared. He swung again, another one.
The corridor was filled with Cursed Spirits. They were even pouring out from the stairwell, a dense, dark mass that blocked every path.
No, he must go to Shibuya.
Even if it meant truly dying, he had to see him one last time.
Tu Bai gripped his sword and rushed toward the stairwell. Blade light flashed in the darkness as one Cursed Spirit after another fell. His arm was bleeding and his legs were shaking, but he did not stop.
When he rushed to the stairwell, a Special Grade Cursed Spirit was blocking the way.
Its entire body was covered in white bone armor, it was on all fours like a beast. Its eyes were two black holes, staring at him.
Tu Bai did not slow down.
He leaped up and swung his blade down in a slash.
The Special Grade Cursed Spirit dodged to the side, its Tail swept across. Tu Bai was struck in the waist by the sweep and slammed into the Railing. The Railing broke, he fell downward.
He reached out and grabbed the railing of the next layer, flipping himself down to the ground.
Looking up. That Cursed Spirit has chased him down.
Tu Bai turned and ran.
When he ran out of the Apartment Building, the streets outside were also filled with Cursed Spirits. Large and small, they swayed under the streetlights.
He didn't care. He only wanted to run. To run toward Shibuya, to run toward that person.
Cursed Spirits were chasing him from behind, but he could no longer hear them. He could only hear his own Heartbeat, that Voice in his Brain—
He is the Strongest, after all; he must still be alive.
---
Shibuya.
When Tu Bai arrived, the Barrier was still there.
A massive black "Curtain" descended from the sky, covering the entirety of Shibuya Station. He stood outside the Barrier, panting. He was covered in wounds, his clothes torn in several places, blood had stained his hoodie a dark color.
He reached out and touched the Barrier. It was thick and hard.
He couldn't get in.
Tu Bai gritted his teeth and poured his Demon Power into his palm. The Barrier shuddered, but it did not break. He tried once more, but it still failed.
Footsteps came from behind.
Tu Bai suddenly turned around.
A man stood a few steps away.
A black robe, a half-bun, handsome features. It was Geto Suguru's face.
But there was a Suture on his forehead.
Le Ao