Recalling Ye Xing's transformation, Light's mind raced.
Black flames...
Such phenomena shouldn't exist in reality. Given how Ye Xing remained unharmed, these clearly weren't ordinary flames.
It had to be spiritual power.
But unless the user chooses to manifest, shouldn't ordinary people be unable to perceive Soul Materialisation or interact with its true form?
What purpose would such undetectable camouflage serve?
Unless one chooses to manifest...
A thunderbolt of realisation struck Light.
He understood now.
So that's how it worked?
There was actually such a method!
"Release your grudge, Emperor Sutoku."
Without hesitation, Light invoked the true name of his Soul Materialisation.
The monster resembling the Great Tengu, with sharp fangs and claws, appeared behind him once again.
Then, wisps of black Qi began emanating from Emperor Sutoku's body, slowly coiling around Light Yagami like threads.
First his feet, then his legs, waist, arms, and shoulders.
A pure white outfit materialised across Light Yagami's body.
Finally, a featureless white mask formed over his face.
A trench coat, long boots, and equally white gloves completed the ensemble.
The attire exuded an aura of sanctity and nobility.
Yet from the mask's eyeholes downward ran two dark red patterns resembling dried blood, adding a touch of madness and fear.
"Quite impressive."
Light Yagami exhaled deeply, savouring the sensation of being enveloped by Emperor Sutoku's spiritual power.
He smiled at Ye Xing, standing before the Gate.
"Well, Ito-kun, have I passed the test?"
"Yes, you've passed."
Ye Xing nodded slightly, thinking Light Yagami's talent was indeed remarkable.
Not only did he possess Emperor Sutoku as his powerful Soul Materialisation, but he'd also grasped the principle of transforming spiritual power into clothing and completed the transformation in under a minute.
Even Ye Xing himself had taken nearly two months from first awakening his spiritual power to achieving this step.
Of course, this didn't necessarily mean Light Yagami was more talented.
Soul Materialisation was a completely uncharted territory.
Ye Xing had painstakingly explored and summarised experiences before developing the method of having his spiritual true form distribute power to alter clothing.
He was, so to speak, the first to eat the crab.
Light Yagami was merely walking the path Ye Xing had already paved.
The difficulty was worlds apart from developing an entirely new ability - they couldn't be compared.
Light Yagami clearly realised this too.
Only after accomplishing it himself did he understand this ability wasn't just for disguise - it could also enhance his defensive capabilities to some extent.
The more he marvelled at these enhancements, the deeper his awe grew for the youth before him, who was his same age.
What kind of genius could achieve such things?
After awakening his Soul Materialisation ability, Light Yagami had naturally consulted Japan's ancient texts, just as Ye Xing had done, attempting to find helpful experiences left by predecessors in legends.
Unfortunately, he'd found nothing.
If the other had mastered this new application of Soul Materialisation power with someone's guidance, that would be understandable.
But if...
He'd developed it alone?
Light Yagami thought this was highly probable.
If this were truly the case...
He looked at Ye Xing, who wore a flippant smile and appeared utterly relaxed, thinking that if his suspicions were correct, the other man would be the founder of an entirely new power system.
Only one word could describe it.
Genius.
"OK, let's go."
Ye Xing led Light Yagami through the Gate before them, returning to the present world.
The two oddly dressed figures—one in stark black and white—instantly appeared on the street, immediately drawing the attention of nearby pedestrians.
Fortunately, this wasn't the kind of bustling commercial district Ye Xing had previously visited with Miko Yotsuya and Mai Sakurajima.
Even though it was Saturday, the street was sparsely populated, with only about twenty or thirty people around.
"Let's make this quick."
Hearing Ye Xing's words, Light nodded. Beneath his pure white mask, his eyes burned with a manic excitement.
The two dark red patterns on the mask began to glow increasingly vividly.
Soul Materialisation was a manifestation of the user's inner self.
Similarly.
The attire Light wore was also an extension of his soul's true form, representing his innermost being.
The pristine white of his outfit symbolised supreme, sacred justice.
Yet the two dark red, blood-like patterns on his mask represented the ruthless determination to stain his hands with blood if necessary to uphold his own brand of justice.
One could say this outfit was the physical manifestation of Light Yagami's soul.
"This is the building."
After walking a short distance, the two arrived before a three-storey building.
Standing at the entrance was a sharp-featured man in a tailored suit, his neck tattooed, hair cropped short.
Upon spotting the bizarrely dressed duo approaching, the man frowned deeply. His left hand extended in a halting gesture, while his right hand reached toward his waist beneath his jacket; his expression was wary as he spoke.
"What do you want? This is private property. No unauthorised entry."
Light exchanged a glance with Ye Xing and whispered,
"He seems to be armed. Shouldn't we—"
Crash!
Before Light could finish, Ye Xing's hand shot out, gripping the man's head and slamming it casually against the wall.
The man's skull shattered against the hard surface like a bursting watermelon, the scene horrifically gory.
Pedestrians on the street froze at the sight.
Several seconds passed before the first scream rang out, followed by panicked scattering.
Light's mouth hung slightly open in disbelief.
Ye Xing merely shrugged, smiling carelessly.
"OK, area cleared. Now we can operate freely."
Light sighed, his masked face conveying helplessness.
Isn't your approach a bit... excessive?
Was it necessary to expose innocent civilians to such—
Wait.
Light suddenly realised.
Perhaps it was necessary.
If even a mere doorman carried firearms...
And considering the Black Dragon Society's involvement in illegal arms trafficking, according to Metropolitan Police Department investigations...
It was easy to imagine that every member inside this three-storey building was likely armed to the teeth.
What was the best way to avoid involving innocent bystanders?
To evacuate them all from the area.
But if they warned pedestrians about the danger, no one would believe them and leave.
The easiest and most effective way to clear the area seemed to be exactly what their opponent had just done.
Simply display the bloody scene before those pedestrians.
No one wanted to die.
Of course, they would run.
This course of action was unexpected by Light Yagami.
Yet upon reflection, it made perfect sense.
But seeing the fanaticism and enjoyment flashing in Ye Xing's eyes, he couldn't help but wonder if he was overthinking things.
Could it be that the other party simply wanted to kill them?
Was his mental state still stable?
A tumult of emotions swirled in Light's heart, but he chose not to speak up now, instead following Ye Xing into the three-storey building before them.
The moment they stepped through the door, several men in suits - bearing the same gang tattoos as the guards outside and wielding firearms - immediately pointed their gun barrels at the pair.
"Halt."
Light stopped in his tracks and asked in a hushed voice,
"What now?"
Ye Xing's response took him by surprise.
His tone was remarkably casual as he even shrugged nonchalantly, chuckling lightly.
"What now? How should I know? You figure it out, oh mighty Light Yagami-sama."
The initial defeatist remarks didn't faze Light much.
But the final sentence made his heart skip a beat.
'Why did you reveal my real name?'
This wasn't a confrontation on some ancient battlefield.
Enemy general: "Dare you declare your name?"
Some mysterious figure who'd previously called himself both Mitsuha Miyamizu and Makoto Ito: "I change neither my name nor my surname - I am Light Yagami, son of the Kyoto Metropolitan Police Department's Criminal Affairs Bureau Director!"
'You're getting me into trouble.'
Light had no time to ponder why his companion had exposed his identity.
He only knew one thing.
Light's gaze locked onto the armed gang members as he spoke in an utterly emotionless tone.
"It seems... you'll have to die."
"Manifest, Emperor Sutoku."
As Light uttered these words, the gang members' vision filled with a monstrous figure resembling a Great Tengu.
Before they could pull their triggers, Emperor Sutoku's razor-sharp claws pierced their throats with lightning speed.
"Bravo, bravo."
Leaning lazily against the wall, Ye Xing even applauded with an amused smile.
"Keep it up, Light-kun."
Seeing Ye Xing's almost gloating expression left Light speechless.
Of course, he understood perfectly well that it wasn't the other party who needed to prove their capability - it was himself.
Wanting to establish a non-aggression pact, or even a cooperative agreement?
Then demonstrate qualifications worthy of such terms.
Light had no objections to this.
Listening to the approaching footsteps from the staircase, Light took a deep breath, feeling his heartbeat accelerate in his chest.
This wasn't his first time taking a life.
But it was the first time he'd used Soul Materialisation to kill while facing a genuine risk of being attacked himself.
Light Yagami was a cautious man.
Due to the limitations of Soul Materialisation—preventing it from straying too far from its user—Light typically maintained an air of nonchalance. Whether walking down the street while glancing at his phone or dining in a restaurant, he would dispatch Emperor Sutoku to manifest before his targets and eliminate them.
The only risk in this method was that if the police investigated the exact time of death in cases of "accidental" fatalities and reviewed surveillance footage from surrounding areas, they would notice his presence nearby every single time.
Such coincidences could easily arouse suspicion—that was the sole drawback.
Thus, whenever Light took action, he always prepared flawless alibis in advance and chose bustling locations where his presence wouldn't seem out of place.
This time, however, traces, clues, and alibis were concerns for later.
Only one problem lay before Light now:
How could he kill all the Black Dragon Society members in this building—and survive?
Light glanced at Ye Xing, who was leaning against the wall.
One thing was certain—
If the other man said he wouldn't help, then he absolutely wouldn't.
It was better not to cling to futile expectations.
As Light pondered, over a dozen gang members armed with firearms came charging down the stairs.
The sight of their weapons made his pupils contract in shock.
Damn it, why do they have shotguns!?
According to the Metropolitan Police Department's investigations, the Black Dragon Society's involvement in the firearms trade was limited to standard handguns.
But now…
Had they actually equipped themselves with heavy weaponry?
Are these people insane!?
Light reacted swiftly, without hesitation, snatching up a fallen pistol from the ground.
"Emperor Sutoku!"
Even as he issued the command to his soul's true form, Emperor Sutoku had already positioned himself as a shield in front of Light.
Meanwhile, the dozen armed thugs surged into the corridor.
Faced with the corpses of their fellow gang members, they unhesitatingly levelled their guns at the two men and the spectral entity before them—and pulled the triggers.
Light crouched slightly, adopting the standard stance of the Metropolitan Police Department's riot squad when taking cover behind a shield, using Emperor Sutoku as his barrier.
Ye Xing, however, remained leaning against the wall.
As bullets rained toward him, he merely waved a hand dismissively and chuckled.
"Don't waste your bullets. Shoot him instead."
Boom!
The blast of a shotgun echoed through the narrow hallway, leaving Light's ears ringing.
But what happened next made his pupils dilate in shock.
The shotgun pellets—along with the bullets from several handguns—struck Ye Xing's body… yet failed to leave even the slightest mark.
The other's gaze remained calm, even carrying a hint of amusement.
"Didn't I tell you?"
As Ye Xing spoke these words, a series of crisp sounds echoed from the ground.
Clink, clink, clink...
Light Yagami glanced down to see dozens of bullets with deformed heads scattered across the floor.
"Don't waste your bullets."
Light was utterly shocked now.
He stared at Ye Xing in disbelief, wondering what kind of monster this Ito-kun really was.
It was true that Soul Materialisation could enhance defensive capabilities through manifested clothing.
From Light's own experience, his current outfit could at most withstand long-range shots from small-calibre pistols and attacks from bladed weapons.
Perhaps the other's spiritual power was stronger, hence the superior defensive qualities of his clothing.
But at this distance of less than five metres, against close-range shotgun blasts, the other man remained completely unscathed?
The bullets might be blocked.
But the sheer impact force alone should have pulverised internal organs!
Initially, Light had thought Ye Xing was just another psychic like himself.
Later, he'd become an equal partner.
Then, in the past few minutes, someone to look up to.
And now...
Light was beginning to doubt.
Were they even the same species?
This guy... is a psychic!?
This was practically superhuman!
No wonder the entire Kyoto Metropolitan Police Department had been powerless against him.
Though these thoughts raced through Light's mind, his movements never slowed.
The dozen or so Black Dragon Society members wielding firearms were equally dumbfounded.
They'd clearly aimed and fired.
Yet even after emptying their magazines, their target remained standing?
"Emperor Sutoku."
At Light's command, Emperor Sutoku pounced on the Black Dragon Society members with blinding speed.
As the emperor's clawed hands pierced two enemies' throats, Light simultaneously raised his pistol, its dark muzzle aligning with another enemy's forehead.
Bang!
The bullet cleanly penetrated the gangster's brow.
As the son of the Metropolitan Police Department's Criminal Affairs Director - and someone who'd once aspired to join the force himself - Light had naturally used his father's connections to receive specialised firearms training at the department's shooting range.
Just as he prepared to fire again, an unexpected sound reached his ears from behind.
Doot doot doot doot!
Without turning immediately, Light unhesitatingly kept firing, each shot finding a vital point.
Working in tandem with Emperor Sutoku, they eliminated all remaining enemies within three seconds.
Only then did he turn to see Ye Xing, holding a black suona and playing it once more. Light couldn't help but laugh wryly.
"Ito-kun, what's the meaning of this?"
Ye Xing lowered the suona with a grin.
"Thought you looked pretty cool back there, mate. Needed some background music, yeah?"
Light shook his head with an exasperated chuckle, thinking this wasn't some TV drama where fight scenes required musical accompaniment.
Just recalling the suona melody from earlier, though reluctant to admit it, he answered honestly.
"Can't deny it, that tune you just played really got my blood pumping."
"Of course it did."
Ye Xing wore an expression of absolute confidence.
"That was 'Guren no Yumiya', suona adaptation version."