[You have triggered a Time-Limited Mission: Make Renji Yomo Recognize Reality]
[Objective: Crush Yomo with overwhelming strength and show him what reality truly is]
[Reward: Random weapon]
A weapon reward?
The system's voice echoed in Hayashi's mind, and his eyes instantly lit up.
Another weapon? Seriously?
If it turned out to be another blade, he could finally dual-wield like a proper swordsman. Just imagining that made his blood race.
"Looks like I have no choice but to take this mission seriously."
He couldn't help but smirk. First he'd beaten up the little brother-in-law, and now the system wanted him to fight the uncle-in-law.
At this rate, when Touka's whole family gathered someday, he'd be the one person who'd fought every single one of them.That family dinner was going to be fun.
Yawning, Hayashi tilted his head and looked ahead.
Yomo's kagune began to crackle with lightning, the air around him buzzing with electric tension. He was clearly going all out from the very start.
Though he didn't know much about the white-haired boy's background, he could tell this was no ordinary opponent. Someone who rose through the CCG ranks that fast couldn't be underestimated.
Better to strike first and test the waters.
With a burst of speed, Yomo dashed forward like a thunderbolt.
In response, Hayashi calmly unsheathed his blade. As if sensing a worthy enemy, the blade trembled faintly in his hand, pulsing with excitement.
"Time to stretch a little. Let's make this quick."
He cracked his neck and stepped forward.
The next instant — a flash of steel tore through the air.
Yomo barely managed to dodge, but the ground half a meter away was split open like soft clay.
"What kind of weapon is that…?" He frowned, watching as fragments of the blade floated midair, rearranging themselves before his eyes.
"So the attack range could change at will? That was… troublesome."
Still, he wasn't about to back down. Yomo accelerated again, his movements now twice as fast as before.
But Hayashi's response was even faster.
Each swing of the Thousand Demon Daggers scattered into multiple slashes that filled the air.
Yomo tried to block one—only to realize the shards shattered mid-strike, splitting apart for a second wave of attacks.
"What kind of cursed weapon does that?"
Gritting his teeth, he summoned his kagune in full. Wings of electricity flared from his back, crackling with violet lightning.
"Enough holding back" he muttered, lightning gathering in his hands until it condensed into a glowing orb.
He charged in, weaving between Hayashi's attacks, his body already riddled with shallow cuts.
Each dodge brought him closer.
Two meters.
One.
Then, with a roar, Yomo took a direct slash—his arm nearly severed—but managed to close the distance.
The lightning sphere in his hand exploded point-blank.
The explosion shook the factory, the floor cracking under the sheer force of the blast.
"At this range… no human could survive that."
Yomo exhaled slowly, his muscles relaxing. For a moment, he actually believed the fight was over.
But as the dust began to settle…
A white silhouette emerged, completely unharmed.
"This… can't be."
Yomo's eyes widened in disbelief. That attack should have torn any human apart — and yet Hayashi stood there without so much as a scratch.
Impossible. He wasn't human. Could he be a ghoul?
But that couldn't be right either. Ghouls couldn't become CCG investigators—and even if one could, no ghoul had a body like this.
"Your turn's over" Hayashi said calmly, lifting his blade. "Now it's mine."
"Damn it!"
Yomo crossed his arms, trying to defend himself—
—but the blade split apart in a blur of motion, its fragments slashing like a storm.
The edge of one shard sliced clean across Yomo's throat, forcing him back a step.
Before he could react, Hayashi followed up with a flurry of precise cuts.
None were fatal, but every one targeted a weak point — joints, tendons, and nerves.
Within moments, Yomo's body collapsed to the ground, unable to move.
He was strong — no doubt about that — but this boy was on another level entirely.
"Don't move," Hayashi said coldly, pressing the blade to his neck. "Even a ghoul can't live without a head."
Yomo froze, his eyes narrowing.
"I underestimated you" he admitted hoarsely. "Didn't expect CCG to raise a monster like you."
In his fading vision, he saw a familiar face—Touka's.
"Sorry, Touka.Looks like I couldn't protect you after all. I just hope he doesn't hurt you someday."
He gathered what little strength he had left, lightning surging once more—
—but the power vanished as quickly as it came.
"What… what's happening to me?"
His kagune was gone. His wounds were closing fast, far faster than his regeneration should allow.
And warmth—soft, almost comforting—was spreading through his body.
It was coming from the boy standing before him.
"Why are you… helping me?" Yomo asked weakly.
"Because you and I have no real reason to fight." Hayashi sheathed his blade, his voice calm and distant.
And because you're going to be my uncle someday, he thought silently.
"I'm a CCG investigator. You're a ghoul. Our worlds have always been at odds—I don't expect you to believe me."
He looked Yomo straight in the eye, his tone turning colder.
"But I can promise you one thing…I'll never let anything happen to her."