One step.
The moment Uchiha Hikaru crossed the threshold into the department store, the air around her turned chillingly cold, as if summer had instantly given way to winter.
It was morning, with sunlight blazing outside, yet it seemed unable to penetrate the building.
Beside the support pillars stood cluttered shelves, shattered glass, household garbage, and…
Countless spirits, densely packed.
They came in all shapes, each more horrifying than the last—bloodied, twisted faces, scarlet tongues, hollow black eye sockets. All of them turned toward Uchiha Hikaru, their rasping, saw-like murmurs filling the air:
"Can you see us?"
"You can see, right?"
"She sees us…"
Uchiha Hikaru removed her colored contacts, then slowly raised her head. Her crimson eyes blazed like fire. "Nice to meet you… and thanks for the meal."
In the next instant…
The spirits surged toward the entrance like sharks smelling blood. Facing the thick, almost suffocating yin energy, Uchiha Hikaru didn't retreat. Her movements were as nimble as a spectral cat, dodging the claws of the vengeful spirits as she charged toward the deepest part of the building.
Time to feast!
…
That day…
Passersby near the department store recalled the fear once fueled by urban legends.
More than one person heard dull, inhuman roars echoing from inside the building. Some glimpsed flashes of crimson light and overlapping shadows darting past the windows, straight out of the spooky tales circulating on 2h forums.
Rumor had it this department store had suffered a devastating fire years ago, claiming many lives, which led to its abandonment. Over the past decade, ghost stories about the place had spread, and there were even a few bizarre disappearances. Even the police avoided getting too close.
Of course, every place has its thrill-seekers.
But the curious young folks who approached the entrance collapsed one after another, falling into a deep, infant-like sleep.
—With Uchiha Hikaru's mastery of genjutsu, setting up a trap to knock out ordinary people was child's play.
Nearly half an hour passed…
Then, with a crash, someone leaped from a third-floor window, vanishing into the shrubbery behind the building in the blink of an eye.
…
A few hundred meters away, in an alley…
Uchiha Hikaru came to a stop.
Since parting ways with Miko, she had used "Yachihoko" to absorb dozens of evil spirits, including an especially massive one inside the department store. The influx of mental energy sharpened her senses to an unprecedented clarity, and she could distinctly feel a significant boost in the ocular power within her eyes.
But there was a catch…
"I might've overeaten…"
Uchiha Hikaru pressed a hand to her temple, feeling a faint throbbing pain, like the aftermath of chugging too much ice-cold soda.
She quickly realized the issue—
Just as an Uchiha's ocular power was steeped in negative emotions, the mental energy of these evil spirits was similarly laced with "impurities."
These impurities—negative emotions, obsessions, and malice born from the darkest corners of human nature—had flooded into her through "Yachihoko." Right now, Uchiha Hikaru felt as if countless voices were whispering in her mind, stirring an inexplicable irritability.
Thanks to her dual-soul fortitude, her mental resilience was far stronger than most, allowing her to suppress these foreign emotions and keep her composure.
But if she kept absorbing spirits without restraint…
Who knows what might happen?
The Uchiha clan's psyche already had a latent tendency toward instability. The stronger their emotions, the greater their ocular power—and the more unhinged their personality could become. If too many dark emotions piled up, she might end up like Obito or Itachi, spiraling into madness.
"Better take a break… I wonder if Kikyo knows any way to purify malicious thoughts. Once we deal with Naraku, I'll ask her."
Uchiha Hikaru let out a soft breath, sitting by a flowerbed to bask in the sun and rest her eyes.
Time passed.
The sun, once directly overhead, began to tilt westward.
Finally, a new message popped up in the chat group—
[Kikyo @ Nameless: Miss Hikaru, I've entered Hitomi Castle.]
[Kikyo: I'm resting in the room they arranged for me. If you're free now, you could come over to discuss our plan.]
[Nameless: …Give me a sec.]
Uchiha Hikaru opened her eyes and first requested to enter Bulma's world.
"Lend me your mini wristband, Bulma."
Since they were close enough, Uchiha Hikaru didn't bother with formalities and got straight to the point.
Bulma, still in her student outfit on a school campus, rummaged through her bag and handed over the wristband along with a mirror. She looked concerned. "Hikaru, are you sure you don't need our help? You don't look so great… Those dark circles—are you not sleeping well?"
"…Maybe."
Uchiha Hikaru glanced at her reflection in the mirror and gave a faint smile. "It's fine. You saw the messages Erii sent, right? That Naraku guy is just a scheming half-demon with so-so strength. Kikyo and I can handle him no problem."
After a few lighthearted words, Uchiha Hikaru warped again.
[Nameless has requested to enter Kikyo's world.]
[Kikyo has approved the request.]
With a flash of white light…
Uchiha Hikaru vanished from the Dragon Ball world and appeared inside an ancient-looking Japanese wooden house.
"…Miss Hikaru? I'm Kikyo. It's our first meeting—please, let's work well together."
A clear, gentle voice came from beside her.
Uchiha Hikaru followed the sound and saw a delicate, refined face.
Kikyo's dark eyes were striking, her black hair smooth and flowing. Her white kosode and red hakama were pristine, and a simple bow and quiver rested on her back. Her serene, lotus-like aura, paired with a resolute yet faintly sorrowful expression, could make anyone feel a touch inadequate in her presence.
"I'm Uchiha Hikaru. Looking forward to working with you."
Uchiha Hikaru nodded in return.
Their eyes met.
Kikyo seemed to notice something and furrowed her brow slightly. "Pardon my bluntness, but… Miss Hikaru, have you recently been tainted by the malice of vengeful spirits?"