Seeing that he couldn't strike the Point of Death, Kawashima Toya shouted in frustration.
If it weren't for his concern for Kasumigaoka Utaha's life, he would have already severed the mental pollution with a single strike.
Perhaps the concern in Toya's voice had an effect, for Kasumigaoka Utaha stopped dodging and stood still. Her expression was agitated as she asked, "Do you know what's happening to me?"
She didn't know why this was happening, but the fact that her hand was gradually turning into a grotesque, disgusting claw was unscientific enough.
Modern science could absolutely not explain such a phenomenon.
Toya nodded slightly, his expression serious. "Don't move. I won't hurt you."
"I promise!"
"I believe you." Kasumigaoka Utaha ceased her movements, standing perfectly still.
She could feel the genuine concern coming from this mysterious youth.
Although she didn't know why she was transforming, there was no harm in letting him try.
If he succeeded, everyone would be happy. If he failed, she would likely just continue transforming into the monster from her nightmares.
"Don't move. I have a way to solve your problem."
Toya walked toward Kasumigaoka Utaha one step at a time, his body tense and vigilant.
He was guarding against a potential surprise attack.
What if Kasumigaoka Utaha's hand moved on its own to deal a fatal blow?
As it turned out, his worries were unfounded.
Toya raised the wooden sword and effortlessly struck the Point of Death within the mental pollution.
In an instant, the Point of Death shattered and dispersed.
The indescribable mass of mental pollution reacted as if hit by a terrifying attack, gradually turning into black ash and vanishing into nothingness.
Once the mental pollution was thoroughly killed by Toya, no further mutations occurred.
Under Toya's gaze, the Kasumigaoka Utaha who looked like a grotesque monster gradually reverted to her original form.
From a hideous, terrifying anomaly, she transformed back into a beautiful black-haired girl.
The girl possessed smooth, waist-length black hair and wore a white hairband. Her eyes were as intoxicatingly beautiful as red wine, set in a delicate, quiet face.
Her tall, voluptuous figure, in particular, was far beyond what someone of her age should possess.
Her legs, clad in black stockings, were especially inviting of imagination.
"I'm... back to normal?"
"And my body feels so much lighter."
Kasumigaoka Utaha's beautiful eyes widened in surprise as she felt her body, which seemed reborn.
This mysterious guy had gently poked her, and her previously heavy, exhausted body had suddenly become much lighter.
Even the hand that was transforming into a monster's claw had returned to normal.
If not for the lingering pain and the fresh memories, she might have thought it was all just a nightmare.
"Wait, the nightmares are fading too?"
Utaha discovered a deeper change with astonishment.
The memories of the nightmares she had been having recently—dreams that felt as real as reality—were rapidly fading.
No matter how hard she tried to recall them, she couldn't remember what had happened.
Only one feeling remained: the nightmares were terrifying. Absolutely terrifying.
"Run!"
Seeing Utaha's confusion, Toya didn't have time to explain. His voice carried a hint of urgency.
After speaking, he didn't linger and started heading down the mountain path they came from.
Utaha was puzzled as to why Toya was leaving in such a hurry, but the events just now had made her realize this mysterious boy was no ordinary person.
Without hesitation, she followed Toya, fleeing the shrine area as if running for her life.
In just five minutes, Toya and Kasumigaoka Utaha escaped the range of the shrine.
Toya gazed solemnly at the high mountain, where it seemed as though demons were dancing wildly. "What exactly happened there?"
The mountain where the shrine stood was no longer as calm as when they had entered. The black aura covering the entire mountain seemed to have been agitated by something, becoming frenzied and violent.
The foul, malicious black mist seemed desperate to break through the mountain's restraints, yet it appeared to be tightly bound, unable to leave the area of the peak.