The connection of minds, the establishment of communication through thought alone.
No need for speech, no need for physical response—only the silent dialogue of consciousness.
For players, this represented an exceptionally safe method—avoiding information leaks, preventing interaction with supernatural entities, while dramatically increasing communication efficiency.
Yet risks remained. Should any player within the mental link become compromised, all connected individuals faced potential contamination. A classic example occurred when a player, upon learning core Obsession-related information and suffering mental corruption, shared it through the link, resulting in entire teams being wiped out—a scenario that had repeated itself many times.
Of course, countermeasures existed. Kumami could simply overwrite her personality to erase any knowledge of contaminated information, making her fearless regarding psychic communication. At worst, she could perform a complete mental reset. Whether such personality rewriting constituted a form of suicide never concerned her. As long as she still recognized herself and could continue fighting as a player, that sufficed.
As for Takakai, his mental link—provided by the Black Watch—stood as the pinnacle of such abilities. Unlike ordinary links that risked unwanted mind-reading between users, his allowed precise control over shared information. Having used it extensively, Takakai now operated it with practiced ease, adapting instantly when the connection established.
For Yotsuya Miko, however, the experience defied simple explanation.
What... was happening?
The momentary music and sobbing faded, leaving her consciousness somehow altered.
Her perception seemed enhanced.
Within this Obsession-forged psychic network—connected to Takakai, Kumami, and the external trio of Maki, Chika, and Hitori—her mental faculties received an inexplicable boost. The shared consciousness somehow amplified her innate perceptive abilities.
No mistake—this sensation...
While most players experienced no change from such mental sharing, Miko's unique perception clearly intensified. Touching the minds of two Crimson Moon players (Kumami and Hitori) and further connecting with Takakai's consciousness seemed to shatter some invisible barrier, elevating her awareness to unprecedented levels.
Thus, she saw them.
With absolute clarity.
Not the faint glimpses from before, but fully materialized entities occupying the room—so tangible they obscured reality itself, so detailed she could discern every horrific particular.
That... was it a student?
Its uniform hung in tatters, saturated with grime and dried blood.
Exposed arm skin had completely ulcerated. One eye socket stood empty while the other's lidless orb bulged grotesquely.
Hairless, its skullcap had been removed—sharp steel needles impaling the pinkish brain matter, nails anchoring the flesh in place.
All teeth extracted, putrid decay spreading across lips and oral cavity, tongue lolling with drool.
The thing stood at the room's center.
Neither Takakai nor Kumami perceived it—only Miko's enhanced vision revealed this twisted aberration.
"..."
Miko averted her gaze.
That momentary observation had drawn its attention—the head rotating toward her with a sickening creak.
The motion revealed an umbilical-like cord extending from its body, snaking through the doorway to some unknown destination.
[What do see?]
Takakai's voice resonated directly in her mind.
[There's something in front of me... something horrible. Looks like one of those tortured delinquents from Fujisaka Academy...]
Despite the shock, Miko quickly steadied herself, carefully explaining through the psychic link.
[Could you see it before, or only now? Mental links sometimes enhance perception—this might be your case.]
Kumami's experienced assessment followed immediately.
[I've seen similar things before, but only through mirrors or glass. Direct vision... this just started.]
As Miko responded, the monstrosity advanced—its head detaching with a crack, caught by skeletal hands and thrust toward her face.
Simultaneously, a voice traveled through the umbilical cord—not the creature's own (she was certain this thing lacked any consciousness), but one she recognized from the three figures observing her earlier in the ward.
[Odd. Can she actually see us?]
The entity's movements appeared externally controlled. Had those observers from the ward commandeered it?
Maintaining perfect outward composure—even feigning a yawn—Miko continued mental communication.
[Takakai: So you noticed anomalies through the ward's mirror earlier? Tch... "Takamagahara"? Seems the masterminds behind these artificial supernatural projects survived—hiding in some hidden layer of this scenario. Probably not fully human anymore either—using Obsession loopholes to exist between states.]
[Kumami: Most likely. And they've retained some means of scenario interference. Probably occupying a space overlapping with the scenario itself—invisible to us while observing freely... Damn, this means all exported core Obsessions need re-examination. Could be traps.]
[Takakai: Leave that to external teams. Aoyama should have Crimson Moon players' contacts. For now—Miko, confirm that thing only suspects your awareness? Try walking through it.]
[Yotsuya Miko: ...Walk through it? Understood...]
[Takakai: Physical contact should be impossible—you're not in the same spatial layer. Best way to dispel suspicion. We'll intervene if anything goes wrong.]
[Yotsuya Miko: O-okay. I trust you, Kai-kun...]
Rising smoothly, Miko stretched before stepping forward—expression neutral, movements natural.
Takakai and Kumami maintained their tactical discussion facade while monitoring intently.
The mutilated schoolgirl entity remained stationary, its severed head tracking Miko's movement... until she passed cleanly through its form.
No sensation. No resistance.
As predicted—separate spatial existences prevented interaction.
For now.
Had her awareness been confirmed, the rules might have changed drastically.
[Can't see? Strange. Maybe just faintly sensed?]
The controller's mutter preceded the entity's sudden collapse—flesh dissolving into putrid chunks, the umbilical cord retracting impotently.
[Dammit! Another defective vessel!]
The enraged voice faded with the cord's withdrawal.
Miko's composure never wavered, though Takakai—having merged with her essence last loop—recognized the discomfort in her pupils' subtle dilation.
"Rest period's over. We move now."
Kumami's declaration coincided with the dormant "Hitori" lying in the corner suddenly activating—snapping fingers while growling [I am destiny].
"Trouble?"
Takakai read the urgency in Kumami's stance.
"Touyama's been fully assimilated. Same for Miko's classmates. If we delay, escape may become impossible."
Through the window, they saw gathered figures in patient gowns—all staring toward their hiding place with unsettling synchrony.
Kumami sensed something locking onto their position. Those who'd known their true identities—now hospital converts—might act unpredictably based on living memories.
"Then we go."
After exchanging nods with Miko, Takakai opened the door.
Kumami took point, scanning for ambushes.
The Hitori construct followed—now reverted to manual control and its natural slouched posture.
Miko stepped third, with Takakai guarding the rear.
Upon entering the corridor—confronted by previously invisible horrors now fully revealed—the girl's footsteps faltered momentarily.