A beeping sound rang out. Izzy Izumi took out his communicator and checked it. The message was from Oura and the others. Oikawa Yukio and those children had appeared again.
"Be very careful. Don't do anything rash, and avoid fighting at all costs. We'll be right there." After replying, Izzy got up, only for his left foot to catch on his right. He crashed heavily onto the tatami.
"Izzy, what's wrong?" his mother asked gently. Then she pushed the door open and let out a piercing scream.
"Izzy, what happened? How did you end up like this? I'm taking you to the hospital." His mother hurried over and tried to help him up.
A thick, foul stench filled the little room. Its source was clearly Izzy, who lay sprawled on the floor. He seemed to have sweated profusely. His clothes were soaked through and clung to his body. Huge dark circles occupied a full third of his face, while another third was covered in stubble.
Izzy's condition was already very close to the legendary five signs of decay. Cultivators possessed power far beyond that of ordinary people, but their consumption was countless times greater as well. Under normal circumstances, their self-control kept this hidden, but once they lost control, it was like opening the floodgates, unleashing a torrent. An ordinary person's illness could be treated, but the five signs of decay had no cure.
"Mom, I'm fine. I need to go out." No sooner had Izzy spoken than he fell to the floor again with a thud.
At the sight, his mother burst into tears. "Izzy, what's wrong? Don't scare me like this. I'm taking you to the hospital. Just wait a moment. The doctor will be here soon."
"I'm fine. I really am. Mom, I have things to do.