On Desolate Street.
Megumi Fushiguro dragged his injured body out of the swimming complex. The Divine Dog followed beside him, looking back with every step, its black eyes scanning their surroundings warily.
The night wind swept into his soaked clothes, making him shiver. The cold air stung his wounds, making them hurt even more.
He walked slowly, every step tugging at wounds all over his body. The bleeding from his shoulder had stopped.
It was too quiet, unnaturally quiet. There was not even the moan of wind passing through the broken walls.
Megumi Fushiguro frowned and quickened his pace, though he knew that in his current condition, he would be no help even if he made it there.
He might even become a burden, but his steps still involuntarily grew a little faster.
Tsumiki was over there. Itadori was over there. He could not pretend he did not know.
The Divine Dog suddenly stopped.
It lowered its head, bringing its nose close to the ground to sniff, then abruptly raised its head, its black eyes fixed on the shadow of a stretch of broken wall ahead.
But its movements were a little unsteady. Its left hind leg was slightly curled up, reluctant to put its full weight on the ground.
A car Reggie had summoned inside the domain had clipped it earlier, and Reggie had attacked it again afterward, leaving it badly injured.
Megumi Fushiguro stopped too. He followed the Divine Dog's gaze, but there was nothing in the shadow of the broken wall.
But the Divine Dog's reaction could not be wrong. A shikigami's senses were much sharper than a human's. Something was there.
Just then, a chill brushed the back of his neck.
It was not the wind. It was breath.
A faint breath, carrying a cold dampness,