[TL/N: New Book -
Anime Group Chat in a Doomsday World!]
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"W-What did you say?"
Kaneki frowned, his thoughts momentarily disrupted by Eto's words.
But just then…
Eto, pinned beneath Kaneki's kagune, suddenly shifted.
A massive spear of flesh and blood shot out from her back, piercing through her chest and thrusting straight toward Kaneki.
Clang!
A sharp metallic sound echoed through the crumbling structure, reverberating in the silence.
"It's pointless. I noticed your little tricks long ago," Kaneki said calmly, his voice steady.
Under the sharp gaze of his heightened perception, every subtle movement of Eto's was laid bare.
But then…
"Huh?"
A flicker of surprise crossed Kaneki's face as he focused on Eto's eyes.
Just moments ago, her kagune activation had caused her eyes to bulge unnaturally. But what caught Kaneki off guard was…
Eto, like him, had only one ghoul eye.
"What's going on with you?"
Kaneki's frown deepened as he recalled Eto's earlier claim. For the first time, he considered that she might not have been lying.
His transformation from human to ghoul… Could it really have something to do with her?
"Say that again!" Kaneki demanded.
"And tell me—why are you also a one-eyed ghoul?!"
The tip of Kaneki's sharp kagune pressed firmly into Eto's forehead, leaving a small, thumb-sized wound that began to bleed.
Blood trickled down her pale skin, but instead of showing fear, Eto's expression softened. A gentle, almost charming smile spread across her face.
She tilted her head slightly, ignoring the sharp sting in her flesh.
"What? You've never heard the legend of the One-Eyed Owl?" she teased.
"The One-Eyed Owl?!"
Kaneki's eyes widened in shock as he blurted out, "Are you saying… you're the One-Eyed Owl?"
Eto chuckled softly.
"Doesn't it seem that way?"
…
Kaneki fell silent at her cryptic response, his thoughts racing.
Slowly, his kagune retracted from Eto's body.
The One-Eyed Owl.
Although Kaneki was still new to the ghoul world and unfamiliar with its many factions and players, this name…
This name, he remembered.
Because the One-Eyed Owl wasn't just a legend.
It was the title passed down by none other than the heir of Yoshimura, the manager of Anteiku Café.
After joining him on his mission, Kaneki had learned much from Yoshimura himself—the secrets of the enigmatic ghoul organization 'V', his forbidden love with the human Ukina, and the tragedy that led to her death…
And their child…
A half-ghoul with a single radiant eye. The One-Eyed Owl.
In the original timeline, Kaneki might not have hesitated to kill Eto, knowing her past actions and the harm she brought to Manager Yoshimura.
[Note: For those who don't know, here's the relationship between the two; Yoshimura(the Manager) loved Eto greatly and would do anything to protect her. Yoshimura stated that after Ukina's death, his daughter was the only thing that gave him hope. However, Eto does not seem to hold the same feelings towards her father, since she captured her father to use him as the kakuhou donor for the creation of one-eyed ghouls.]
But now, after learning of her true lineage, Kaneki found himself unable to act.
However…
The atrocities committed by the Aogiri Tree and the One-Eyed Owl's reputation left Kaneki with no intention of letting her go so easily.
After a moment of deliberation, Kaneki raised his head once more.
Looking at Eto—her injuries already healing as she slowly stood up—he spoke firmly: "Join the Different dimension, Eto."
…
Half an hour later.
Ayato stared at the scene before him, his eyes wide with disbelief.
There, standing next to Kaneki, were Eto, Tatara, and Noro, all looking calm and composed.
"What the…?"
His thoughts scrambled.
"My bosses… surrendered to the enemy?!"
Ayato's jaw clenched as the memory of his earlier threats to Touka resurfaced.
"Then everything I said to her…"
"Was just… a joke?!"
His mind was in complete disarray. The situation was incomprehensible.
But before he could process it further…
Touka approached with a syringe in hand. Ignoring Ayato's struggling protests, she plunged it directly into his neck.
Instantly, a mysterious energy surged through his body.
Warmth flooded him, unlike anything he had ever felt before.
Moments ago, weakened by the ghoul inhibitor, Ayato had felt powerless. But now…
He could feel his strength returning.
"What… what's happening?"
Ayato stared blankly at his hands.
Something felt different. His body seemed to have changed, but no matter how hard he concentrated, he couldn't pinpoint what it was.
"Congratulations, Ayato," Touka said with a small smile.
"You've evolved into a high-level ghoul."
As she spoke, Touka pulled out a Ferrero Rocher she had snatched earlier and unceremoniously stuffed it into Ayato's mouth.
"Ugh! Pfft! Pfft!" Ayato spat and gagged.
"What did you just make me eat!?"
His instincts flared in resistance, but then an unfamiliar sensation swept through him. It was unlike anything he'd ever felt—something sweet, warm, and oddly comforting.
"What… what is this?"
Ayato coughed, spitting out the remnants of the chocolate. But his expression shifted to one of bewildered amazement.
"Chocolate!?"
Having previously forced himself to consume human food to blend in, Ayato recognized the treat immediately. However, what left him astonished was…
For the first time, it didn't taste like rotten meat. Instead, the sweetness lingered on his tongue, leaving a pleasant aftertaste.
Hesitantly, he stuck out his tongue and took another small lick.
The flavor overwhelmed him—pure sweetness, tinged with the nutty aroma of almonds.
"What… what is this sorcery?" Ayato murmured, utterly confused.
Touka, standing beside him, couldn't help but smile at the sight.
Her younger brother had once been kind and gentle, but everything changed after their father was killed by the CCG. Ayato had grown cold and distant, becoming someone she could barely recognize.
Now, seeing her brother evolve into a high-level ghoul like herself, she felt an enormous weight lift from her shoulders.
Reaching out, Touka grabbed Ayato's arm and gently pulled him aside to explain what had happened.
---
Meanwhile, Eto stood next to Kaneki, a soft chuckle escaping her lips as she playfully pressed a finger to them.
"Heh, it seems the Aogiri Tree has been completely subdued," she said, her tone carrying its usual air of mystery.
Though surprised by the events that had unfolded, her charm and composure remained intact.
Like Ayato, Eto had been injected with life essence. Her ghoul genes had undergone a transformation, elevating her to the rank of a high-level ghoul.
For someone like Eto—who dreamed of carving out a place for ghouls in the world—this revelation struck like a bolt of lightning. It shocked her, yes, but it also deepened her resolve to stay by Kaneki's side.
She was curious.
What secrets did this young man, whom she had initially chosen on a whim, truly hold?
However…
Kaneki, seemingly unaware of Eto's watchful gaze, wasn't focused on her at all.
His eyes were locked instead on Shuu, Renji, and the others nearby—or, more precisely, on the massive suitcases they carried.
Within those cases lay the spoils of the night's mission.
Each box contained twenty to thirty kakuhou, the biological cores harvested from fallen ghouls. In total, the haul amounted to at least 200 kakuhou.
But such a bounty came at a cost.
Tonight, more than two hundred ghouls had fallen within this abandoned building.
This transformation—the creation of more high-level ghouls—demanded sacrifice. Blood and flesh were the price.
In the end, there was no simple right or wrong.
Life and death hinged on a single decision.
Taking a deep breath, Kaneki steadied his expression and spoke firmly:
"Let's head back."
"Right," Touka replied, her tone weary.
After a long night of killing, everyone was visibly drained—both physically and emotionally.
Donning their masks, the group began their journey back to the 20th Ward.
At the start of the night, there had only been seven of them.
Now, their numbers have grown by four.
In addition to Ayato—now walking alongside Touka—and Eto, who had been subdued by Kaneki, Tatara and Noro had also joined them.
Despite their SS+ ratings, Tatara and Noro had played no significant role in the night's events.
For low-level threats, Guzzlord swept through everything. For high-level battles, the SSS-ranked Roma and Blacephalon dominated the field. Tatara and Noro hadn't even had the chance to participate.
And so, eleven figures silently left the Aogiri Tree's base.
---
Outside the building, the CCG had already set up a perimeter.
Due to the rushed operation, however, only Marude Itsuki—a Special Class Investigator—had arrived. The rest of the assembled force consisted of senior and junior investigators.
The dark barrel of the gun was aimed squarely at the gate of the Aogiri Tree Base.
In truth, they had already noticed Eto's silhouette as she attempted to flee.
The sight of that familiar monstrous figure instantly sent shockwaves through the ranks of veteran investigators present.
"No... it can't be…!"
Marude Itsuki's voice trembled as he stared at the frozen image on the surveillance screen.
"That figure… it's unmistakable…"
"The One-Eyed Owl!!!"
More than a decade ago, the One-Eyed Owl had stormed the CCG headquarters single-handedly, throwing the entire organization into chaos before making a narrow escape. That fateful battle solidified the One-Eyed Owl's reputation as the "Strongest Ghoul."
Yet now…
Marude couldn't believe his eyes.
Moments earlier, a mysterious figure had appeared high above the battlefield. With a simple wave of its hand, it hurled the One-Eyed Owl back into the abandoned building as if it were nothing.
The scene shattered everything Marude thought he understood.
"What kind of battle is this!?"
Even the One-Eyed Owl—a being of nearly mythical power—had tried to escape from the center of the conflict.
"Who… who is this ghoul?"
Shaking off his disbelief, Marude refocused on his duty. His mind was consumed by a singular thought: evacuate the civilians as quickly as possible!
Facing the One-Eyed Owl with their limited manpower was nothing short of a death sentence. And if there were ghouls even stronger than the One-Eyed Owl inside that base…
He couldn't fathom the devastation that District 13 might face if those beings decided to unleash their power.
---
After some time, the chaos within the Aogiri Tree Base subsided, leaving an eerie silence in its wake.
The investigators stationed on the perimeter held their breath, knowing full well that when the battle ended, they would face whatever emerged.
Soon enough, a group of individuals stepped out from the shadows of the abandoned base.
At the head of the group was a ghoul with an eyepatch—one they had previously spotted via satellite surveillance.
All the investigators snapped to high alert, their fingers twitching near their weapons.
However…
Kaneki and his companions walked forward as if the heavily armed CCG forces didn't even exist.
The overpowering stench of blood clung to them like a shroud, so oppressive that no one dared utter a word.
Finally, as Kaneki's group approached, Koutarou Amon stepped forward, gripping his quinque tightly.
He blocked their path, his voice steady but strained.
"Who… are you?"
Kaneki and his companions stopped in their tracks, standing mere feet away from Amon. Under the intense, nervous gaze of the investigator, Kaneki slowly raised his head.
A single scarlet eye gleamed in the darkness as Kaneki spoke:
"We are an organization from Different Dimension."
"Our mission in District 13 was to annihilate the Aogiri Tree—a ghoul organization wreaking havoc in this area."
His voice was calm but commanding.
"We of Different Dimension discovered a way for ghouls and humans to coexist—by allowing ghouls to survive on normal food."
"We call ourselves… Advanced Ghouls."
Kaneki continued, his tone unwavering as he divulged more details:
"Moving forward, we will work systematically to create more Advanced Ghouls. Our ultimate goal is a world free of ghouls who prey on humans."
Having said his piece, Kaneki took a step forward.
"What happens next is up to you," he said, addressing the CCG. "But know this: Different Dimension does not see CCG as an enemy. In fact, we have no reason to fight you."
Kaneki paused, his voice softening slightly.
"If necessary, we're even willing to cooperate with you."
Finally, he looked up at the night sky and said, "But for now… it's late."
"We're going home."
Without waiting for a response, Kaneki turned and began walking again.
His companions followed suit, their silence echoing louder than any words could.
Strangely, the investigators—so heavily armed and trained to fight—did not move to stop them.
Whether out of fear of the overwhelming power Kaneki's group exuded or because they were swayed by his words, the CCG forces instinctively stepped aside, allowing them to pass.
As the group disappeared into the distance, the investigators remained motionless, staring after them in stunned silence.
---
After what felt like an eternity, Marude's voice crackled over Amon's earpiece.
"Investigator Amon, what just happened out there?"
"That ghoul… could what he said possibly be true?"
Amon's grip on his quinque tightened as he processed the night's events.
Part of him wanted to believe Kaneki's words. A world where ghouls and humans could coexist peacefully—a world without senseless slaughter—was an idea too tempting to ignore.
But another part of him remained skeptical.
Taking a deep breath, Amon finally responded:
"Sir, I don't know if it's true."
"But one thing is certain…"
His voice grew heavier.
"This organization—this 'Different Dimension'—is far larger and more powerful than anything we've ever imagined."
As he spoke, Amon's gaze lingered on the silhouettes of Kaneki and his group in the distance.
A cold realization washed over him. Among Kaneki's companions, he recognized several individuals whose power rivaled even that of his adoptive father, Donato Porpora.
And Donato Porpora wasn't just any ghoul.
He was an SS-rated ghoul—a monster of the highest caliber!