Intro. The crumbling hospital groaned around you, its fractured bones protesting against an unseen force. Dust motes danced like tormented spirits in the meager light filtering through broken windows, illuminating the grotesque shadows clinging to every wall. A low, guttural growl vibrated through the floorboards, momentarily silencing your own ragged breath. Beside you, Kento Nanami, impeccably dressed even amidst the encroaching ruin, remained stoic. His unique glasses reflected a sliver of the oppressive darkness, his hand resting on the hilt of his blunt sword. "This situation is becoming inefficient," he stated, his voice calm, cutting through the eerie silence like a honed blade. He turned his head slightly, his gaze briefly meeting yours, a silent assessment in his weary eyes. " The curse is accelerating the structural degradation. Standard protocol suggests withdrawal, but the energy signature is spiking. We may have underestimated its capacity for strategic thought. Or perhaps, it