Amid Tokyo's neon-lit streets, Kishou Arima stood motionless, observing the crowds with his white metal case in hand.
Black armoured vehicles prowled the roads repeatedly. To oblivious passersby, they were merely frequent SUVs. But to Arima—once called the White Reaper—these vehicles embodied death more than he ever had.
Adjusting his glasses, Arima turned into an alleyway. After navigating several lanes into a dead end, he faced the entrance in silent vigil.
A minute later, footsteps echoed.
Kichimura Washuu appeared at the alley's mouth, his asymmetrical fringe giving him a bohemian air. Clapping slowly, he said:
"As expected of CCG's White Reaper. You saw through it."
"What do you want?" Arima's voice was low, his gaze steady.
"Want?" Kichimura seemed taken aback before covering his face with a laugh. "Shouldn't I be asking you that?"
His mirth faded as he studied Arima with darkened eyes.
"That Aogiri Tree operative—you planted them, didn't you?"
"I did," Arima answered instantly.
The admission stunned Kichimura. He'd anticipated denial, violence, any reaction but blunt honesty.
"And?" Arima pressed calmly. "Your business with me?"
"Business?" Kichimura repeated numbly. After a long pause, he ventured:
"You despise the Washuu Clan, don't you?"
Arima's brows lifted slightly in surprise.
Seeing his reaction, Kichimura Washuu seemed to confirm something, suddenly realising:
"So it's like that... You're the same as me. I should have realised sooner."
As he spoke, he let out a cold chuckle:
"I was born into a noble clan, yet treated as a servant to the main lineage because I'm illegitimate."
"And you, the strongest existence in the Washuu Clan despite being a half-human mixed with Ghoul power, have your lifespan drastically reduced due to your bloodline, used as a tool by Tsuneyoshi Washuu."
"How interesting. I always thought you were Tsuneyoshi Washuu's perfect obedient dog, but it turns out you want to rebel too."
Kishou Arima didn't deny this, merely adjusting his glasses calmly as he said:
"Is this all you wanted to say?"
"Of course not."
Kichimura Washuu shook his head. His lips curled into a smile that gradually twisted into something more sinister as he extended a hand towards Kishou Arima:
"Though there was some misunderstanding earlier... Arima, why don't we work together?"
"Let's climb to the pinnacle of the Washuu together and trample both humans and Ghouls beneath our feet!!"
Listening to this proposal, Kishou Arima suddenly took a deep breath:
"That's impossible now."
"What?" Kichimura Washuu was somewhat stunned. He could understand refusal, but what did 'impossible' mean?
"Didn't you hear me clearly?" Kishou Arima's eyes were hidden behind his glasses as he stated calmly: "After tonight, the Washuu Clan - even the Ghouls - will cease to exist."
"What?!" Kichimura Washuu's expression changed drastically: "Arima, what have you done?"
Kishou Arima didn't answer, only saying mildly:
"Are you going to keep watching?"
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Clear applause rang out.
Behind Kishou Arima, where there should have been a dead end, space gradually distorted before revealing a wide passageway.
From within the passage emerged a silver-haired man with a short ponytail, dressed in a black suit, smiling at Kishou Arima:
"As expected of Mr Arima, to detect me even when I've erased my presence."
"Who are you?" Kishou Arima asked calmly.
"Ichiru Kiryu." The newcomer introduced himself with a smile. "Currently working for the Vampire Elder Council, and a participant in tonight's cleansing operation."
"Currently?" Kishou Arima caught the implication in his words and frowned. "What's your relationship with that Pureblood Vampire cooperating with Eto?"
Ichiru Kiryu's eyes flickered slightly, seemingly surprised by Kishou Arima's sharp perception:
"That one is my true master."
'True master, huh...' Kishou Arima asked no further, simply stating:
"He's yours to deal with."
With that, he turned to enter the now-revealed passageway.
At this moment, Kichimura Washuu shouted:
"Arima! What did you mean earlier? What do you mean the Washuu Clan and Ghouls won't survive tonight?!"
"You bastard, what have you done?!"
Bang!
A gunshot rang out.
Kichimura Washuu looked down in shock at the bullet wound in his abdomen, then up at Ichiru Kiryu holding the pistol.
"You...!"
Kichimura Washuu let out a choking sound, vomiting blood as he staggered forward several steps before his legs gave way, sending him crashing to his knees on the verge of collapse.
At that moment, Ichiru Kiryu spoke with detached indifference:
"Whatever you're trying to do, it's common knowledge that medium-calibre pistol rounds are useless against Ghouls."
"Are you pretending to die in front of me?"
Kichimura clicked his tongue in irritation, his face darkening as he glared at Kishou Arima's retreating figure. He immediately attempted to rise, preparing to engage Ichiru in combat.
Yet just then, his body suddenly swayed violently as overwhelming dizziness seized his mind.
"What's... happening?"
Instinctively looking down, Kichimura confirmed the bullet wound that had been bleeding profusely moments ago was no longer shedding blood - instead, thorn-covered vines were emerging from the injury.
"...My blood is turning into thorns?"
Kichimura froze, having never witnessed such a bizarre phenomenon before.
Which Ghoul's Kagune manifested as thorns?
"It's over."
Ichiru calmly holstered his firearm:
"The Vampire Elder Council's specially crafted soul-infused bullets compress vampiric bloodline abilities, releasing them within the target upon impact."
"My mistress Lady Shizuka Hio's bloodline ability governs the manipulation and transformation of plants and life force."
"From this moment onward, all your life energy will be converted into thorns through your bloodstream."
Ichiru concluded impassively:
"Thus, everything ends here."
"...Don't screw with me."
As the thorns proliferated, Kichimura's consciousness rapidly faded until even his vision failed:
"I still need to eradicate the Washuu Clan... to climb over humans and Ghouls alike... to become the One-Eyed King..."
"How can I... die here..."
Thud.
Kichimura collapsed. The vines cultivated from his own blood began seething, expanding wildly before suddenly coiling into a dense sphere that burst with a pop like an overinflated balloon.
Observing this dispassionately, Ichiru approached the remains and retrieved a black diamond-shaped crystal from the centre, remarking:
"This size... equivalent to ten lives' worth of vitality?"
The Pureblood Vampire Hio family's ability could condense a being's entire life force into a single Life Crystal.
Within Japan's upper echelons and the Onmyou Agency's leadership, these crystals served as shadow currency.
Securing the crystal, Ichiru activated his communication device to report to command before turning his gaze towards the Washuu Clan's location, murmuring:
"By my calculations, the Nura Clan should have already made their move."
...
Within the Washuu residence...
Screams and the scent of blood perpetually echoed through the halls.
Strangely, none of this reached the neighbouring estates.
Inside the mansion...
The Nura Clan's senior officer, Great Yokai Ushi-oni, flicked blood from his blade with practised ease before sheathing it, his cold eyes fixed on Tsuneyoshi Washuu - now lying in a pool of blood, his body shrouded in pitch-black Demon Power.
"Matōmaru, confirm whether this man is the Washuu Clan's patriarch."
As the words fell, a youth wearing an equine skull suddenly appeared and knelt on one knee, saying:
"Understood."
As he spoke, dozens of black threads materialised at Matōmaru's fingertips, swiftly encircling Tsuneyoshi Washuu. Within seconds, the threads retracted. Lowering his head, he addressed Ushi-oni:
"Lord Ushi-oni, we've confirmed the corpse is indeed our target Tsuneyoshi Washuu."
Hearing this, Ushi-oni remained silent for a moment before speaking:
"My blade is soiled."
"My sword shouldn't have been used to cut down such weak prey."
Matōmaru lowered his head, speaking with some regret:
"My apologies, Lord Ushi-oni. We failed to assess the enemy's strength beforehand."
"No matter. It was ultimately the Supreme Commander's order."
Ushi-oni spoke calmly while turning to face the corridor.
At that moment, a delicate-looking youth with six massive beastly claws extending from his back came hurrying down the hallway, his face full of concern as he carried his blade:
"Lord Ushi-oni, we've eliminated everyone in the courtyard. None could withstand a single strike. Have we killed the wrong people?"
Hearing Ushimaru's words, Ushi-oni replied impassively:
"No mistakes were made. Let's go."
With that, Ushi-oni led Matōmaru and Ushimaru away, along with several yokai who had been maintaining the barrier.
Ten minutes later.
Ushi-oni reappeared in the courtyard, scanning the premises with his Demon Power.
Beside him stood Matōmaru with thermal imaging equipment and Ushimaru wearing a skull ring.
After triple-checking and delivering coup de grâce to each corpse, Ushi-oni finally relaxed slightly:
"Matōmaru, inform the human command post that they can clean up now."
"Yes!"
In the pitch-black night, no one knew the Washuu Clan - who had secretly ruled over both humans and Ghouls - had met its final curtain.