Kaido's pulse raced as the creature loomed closer, its red eyes glowing with rage in the now-darkened chamber. The shattered altar lay in pieces at his feet, but it had only delayed the inevitable. His grip tightened around the makeshift weapon in his hand, but he knew it wouldn't be enough. The thing in front of him wasn't just a physical threat—it was something much worse.
"Kaido!" Yumiko's voice echoed from the staircase above. "Get out of there!"
But Kaido couldn't move. He felt rooted to the spot, frozen in place as the monstrous form slowly advanced. The ground trembled beneath its steps, the air growing colder with every second. He glanced toward the staircase, knowing his only chance was to flee. But how could he outrun something that was part of the mansion itself?
The creature let out a low, guttural growl, its body shifting and twisting in the dim light. Shadows flickered and danced around its form, as if the very darkness was alive, wrapping itself around the beast like a cloak. Kaido could feel the malevolent energy radiating from it, seeping into the walls, into the air, into his very bones.
"You... will never leave," the voice boomed, louder than ever. It came from everywhere, from the mansion itself. "This place is your tomb."
A chill ran down Kaido's spine. He had to move, had to escape, but his legs refused to cooperate. His mind raced, trying to think of a way out, but every path seemed blocked, every option hopeless.
And then, as if on instinct, Kaido's hand shot to his pocket. The button Leo had given them—the emergency button. His fingers closed around it, but doubt filled his mind. Would it even work again? Would Leo show up, or was it a one-time thing? He didn't have time to debate. The creature lunged forward, its massive claws swiping at him with terrifying speed.
Kaido slammed his finger down on the button.
A deafening crack filled the air, and a brilliant flash of yellow lightning exploded from the walls. Kaido was thrown backward, tumbling across the floor as the beast let out a furious roar. For a brief moment, the room was illuminated with electric energy, and then, just as quickly, it was plunged back into darkness.
Kaido groaned, trying to push himself up, but his body felt heavy, weighed down by exhaustion and fear. The room was silent now, unnervingly so. The oppressive presence that had hung over him seemed to have vanished, but the air was still thick with tension.
A soft thud caught his attention. He lifted his head and saw Leo standing at the center of the room, his back turned to Kaido, facing where the creature had been. He was calm, almost unnervingly so, his dark coat billowing slightly in the breeze that came from nowhere.
"Leo…" Kaido gasped, struggling to catch his breath.
Leo didn't respond at first. His eyes glowed faintly, scanning the room, his psychic energy swirling around him like an invisible storm. Finally, he turned, his face as cold and unreadable as ever. "You pressed the button again."
Kaido managed to sit up, wincing from the ache in his muscles. "The… the creature… it was going to kill me."
Leo's gaze shifted to the shattered altar, then to the shadows lingering in the corners of the room. "You've angered the mansion. Breaking the altar was a bold move, but it didn't sever the connection."
"What do you mean?" Kaido asked, his voice hoarse. He could still feel the malevolent presence lingering in the air, even if the creature was gone.
Leo's eyes narrowed. "This mansion isn't just haunted. It's alive, feeding off fear, pain, and confusion. You've disturbed its heart, but now it will strike back."
Kaido's mind raced. "So, destroying the altar did nothing?"
"Not nothing," Leo replied, his voice measured. "You weakened it, but you've also provoked it. Now, it will fight back harder."
Yumiko, pale and trembling, appeared at the top of the staircase. She hesitated before running down, her eyes wide with fear and worry. "Kaido! Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Kaido said, pushing himself to his feet. He glanced at Leo, then back to Yumiko. "But we've got bigger problems. This place is far worse than we thought."
Yumiko's gaze shifted to Leo. "Can't you do something? You have all this power—just destroy the mansion!"
Leo turned his gaze on her, his expression unreadable. "I could, but that would kill you both as well. The mansion is tied to you now. Its power extends into your minds."
Kaido felt a chill run down his spine. "What do you mean? It's… in our heads?"
Leo nodded. "It's been manipulating you from the start—altering your memories, creating illusions. That's why you can't trust what you see here."
Yumiko's eyes widened in horror. "Then… Dan…"
Leo's gaze darkened. "Dan was never real. The mansion created him as part of its game."
Kaido's fists clenched in frustration. "So, what do we do now? How do we get out of here?"
Leo glanced around the room, his psychic energy rippling in the air. "There is a way out, but it won't be easy. The mansion has a core—a central point of power. If we destroy it, the mansion will fall."
"Where is it?" Kaido asked, his voice determined.
Leo's eyes flickered with a strange light. "Deeper inside. Beneath the very foundation. It's a place that even I have never ventured into. But if we go there, we'll face the full wrath of the mansion."
Yumiko shuddered. "But we don't have a choice, do we?"
"No," Leo replied. "You don't."
A deep rumbling shook the chamber, and the walls around them began to tremble. The voice—the one that had tormented them earlier—echoed again, but this time it was more furious, more desperate.
"You will not leave. You will never escape."
Leo glanced toward the ceiling, his expression grim. "It's begun."
Kaido swallowed hard, trying to keep his fear at bay. "Then let's end this."
Without another word, Leo turned and led them out of the chamber, the air growing heavier with each step. Kaido and Yumiko followed closely behind, their hearts pounding in unison. The mansion was no longer a simple maze of corridors and rooms—it was a living, breathing nightmare, and it wasn't going to let them leave easily.
As they moved through the darkened halls, the walls seemed to pulse, shadows shifting in unnatural ways. The deeper they went, the more oppressive the atmosphere became. The mansion was fighting them, trying to disorient them, to trap them in endless loops of corridors and doors.
Yumiko clutched Kaido's arm tightly. "I don't like this. It feels like we're walking straight into its trap."
"We probably are," Kaido replied, his voice low. "But what choice do we have?"
They continued in silence, the mansion's labyrinthine layout twisting and turning in ways that defied logic. But Leo seemed unfazed, his psychic senses guiding them through the maze. Eventually, they reached a set of massive stone doors, carved with intricate symbols similar to those on the altar.
Leo placed his hand on the door, his eyes glowing faintly as he concentrated. "This is it. Beyond here lies the core."
Kaido exchanged a glance with Yumiko, both of them steeling themselves for what lay ahead. "Are we ready for this?"
"No," Yumiko whispered, her voice trembling. "But we don't have a choice."
With a deep breath, Leo pushed open the doors, and they stepped into the final chamber. Inside, the air was thick with darkness, and at the center of the room stood a towering, pulsating mass of shadows—twisting and writhing with an unnatural energy. It was the heart of the mansion, the source of its power.
And it was waiting for them.