We came together, and Oddball Moe wrapped those invisible threads around us once more. Then, the six of us flew off in different directions. After about ten minutes, everyone returned. But since yesterday, I've noticed that the edge of the darkness is jagged and irregular.
Oddball Moe closed his eyes, calculating something. After a while, he opened them and told us that, as expected, the world had shrunk again—now only eighteen li in radius.
"What do we do? At this rate, in just ten days, this world will completely disappear." Mr. Blackmask said, gulping down wine and clutching his forehead, still looking agitated. Nearby, there was a smacking sound—Tammy Blade was eating a sapling again.
Suddenly, Vincent Swallow rushed over and grabbed Tammy Blade, stopping her from eating the sapling.
"Stop eating. Take a good look."
Vincent Swallow said, picking Tammy Blade up and leading her to the spot where she'd eaten a sapling yesterday. He reached out, squatted down, and parted the leaves. In that instant, we all saw it.
The sapling that Tammy Blade had devoured, roots and all, yesterday—beneath its leaves, there was already a patch of darkness, about a meter wide, its edge jagged and irregular. Then Vincent Swallow reached out and touched the blackened area.
"Don't eat anymore—who knows what might be there?" Vincent Swallow said doubtfully. Tammy Blade nodded.
"Is there any way to slow it down?"
Old Eccentric asked, and then the Vermilion Bird appeared on my right shoulder.
"Dinner time." As he spoke, the Vermilion Bird's wings unfurled again. Everyone walked over, resigned, each plucking a feather and eating it.
We spent the whole day doing nothing, barely speaking. Each of us wore a severe expression. Tonight, Mr. Blackmask would take the first watch, and Oddball Moe the second.
The night passed uneventfully. The next morning, we set out again, flying in different directions. When we returned, the world had shrunk even further—only twelve li in radius remained.
"At this rate, we’ll be doomed in three days," Vincent Swallow said.
After Vincent spoke, everyone’s expression grew even heavier.
"Tonight, let’s check the boundary. I have a feeling something’s off again."
The Vermilion Bird muttered something, and Vincent Swallow glanced at it.
"Don’t look at me. I’m not sure either. But this morning, I definitely sensed something strange at the edge."
At noon, we lay down to sleep. The world was so utterly twisted that we couldn’t feel anything anymore—and finally, we no longer had to worry about our desires attacking us.
Even if we couldn’t sleep, we forced ourselves to try. Tonight, we decided to guard our positions and watch closely to see how the darkness crept in, devouring the world bit by bit.
Night fell again, and everyone seemed energized. We each headed off in different directions.
I flew to the edge and landed quietly, watching for a long time. Nothing changed, but I was suspicious. In such darkness and vastness, my eyes might not be able to discern how this world is disappearing.
"Don’t worry, there’s no sign of anything unusual for now."
Vermilion Bird spoke, and I responded with a quiet 'oh.'
"You really felt something this morning, didn’t you?"
"I can’t explain it. Just a bad feeling in my heart."
I laughed, and Vermilion Bird stared at me in surprise.
"You know, I didn’t realize so many things before. But after coming here, I feel like I understand a lot of important things now. I used to be so tangled up in the past. I never knew how terrifying it was to be bound by it."
"That’s right. My powers change based on the user’s state of mind. Now, your mind is stable—not like before, when you only wished for death. That’s why you can’t bear the power after Nirvana."
"By the way, if I use your powers now, will I still get burned?"