"This... this is First Class Amaha... Those ghouls all look like they're at least S-rated, and there's even an SS-rated like Shachi among them. Yet First Class Amaha can fight them all alone..."
"Good thing First Class Amaha was stationed at this position. Replace him with any other Special Class—except maybe Special Class Arima—and they probably couldn't manage this..."
"This is my first time seeing First Class Amaha in combat. He really is incredible!"
"..."
Seeing that Byakuya wasn't losing ground against those ghouls, the investigators in the rear felt their initial panic and fear subside considerably.
But they soon realized they'd celebrated too early...
Rize's kagune suddenly swelled abnormally. In the blink of an eye, the kagune had enveloped her entire body.
This was clearly a complete kakuja form—not an incomplete half-kakuja.
It's worth noting that Rize only had a single kakuhou. Having never engaged in "cannibalism," she'd had no opportunity to develop additional kakuhou. But all Washuu ghouls were born kakujas, which allowed her to achieve "kakuja transformation" even with just one kakuhou.
However, precisely because she had only one kakuhou, Rize's kakuja form was limited in size—similar to Touka's father Hikari Kirishima, maintaining a normal human form with the kakuja serving as armor encasing her entire body.
Now Rize's full-body kagune had formed a kakuja shell that conformed to her figure, the same dark crimson as her kagune.
Though it couldn't match the power of the Non-Killing Owl with his six to eight kakuhou, even a single-kakuhou kakuja transformation dramatically amplified Rize's base strength, elevating her from S+/SS- to at least SS and above.
"That's—! A k-kakuja?!"
"Wasn't the Owl supposed to be the only kakuja in this operation? Just how many allies does the Owl have?!"
"What do we do? Can First Class Amaha hold on alone?"
"..."
The sudden development threw the investigators into panic. The appearance of a kakuja had shaken them.
"She's the 'Binge Eater.' Report to the Director immediately—a suspected Binge Eater kakuja has appeared..."
Akira spoke up.
"Ah... yes!"
An investigator behind her immediately contacted Director Washuu and the command post, rapidly describing the situation.
In his nervousness, he accidentally omitted the word "suspected" from "suspected Binge Eater."
Shortly after, Byakuya received Director Yoshitoki's request to hold this position.
"No problem..."
Byakuya responded without hesitation.
Events continued to unfold in his favor.
Of course, Rize's kakuja transformation was also part of their plan.
"What did the Director say? Is he sending Special Class Investigators as reinforcements?"
Akira urgently asked the investigator behind her.
"N-no... The Director wants First Class Amaha to hold them here..."
The man didn't dare speak loudly, because he too felt the Director's decision was... essentially leaving First Class Amaha in a dangerous position without regard for his safety!
Akira's pupils contracted. "...Are you kidding me?!"
"But those are the Director's orders..."
The man said timidly.
"..."
Akira's expression grew complicated, losing her usual calm composure.
From a strategic standpoint, if First Class Amaha couldn't hold back these powerful ghouls, the entire Owl Suppression Operation might fail. That was why the Director had made this decision.
But this could mean sacrificing First Class Amaha in exchange for ultimate victory.
Influenced by personal feelings, Akira found herself hesitating—unable to achieve perfect calm and rationality.
This Owl Suppression Operation absolutely could not fail. Eliminating the Owl was everyone's wish. She and her father had longed for revenge for years. But...
Just then, a voice beside her interrupted her thoughts.
"Rank 2 Mado, Special Class Marude requires us to reinforce logistics and stop any ghouls that might attack the command post!"
"I..."
In this situation, Akira momentarily lost her ability to think clearly.
THOOM—!
At that moment, Rize's attack collided with the shield-form 13's Jason in Byakuya's hands, producing a dull impact.
Byakuya deliberately pretended to be sent flying by the blow, moving the battlefield further from Akira and the others.
"First Class Amaha!..."
Akira immediately worried about Byakuya's situation, but she couldn't disobey the command post's orders. After some internal conflict, she followed the other investigators toward the command post.
Amaha... please be safe...
Powerless to do anything else, she could only pray silently.
...
The CCG's battles with the Devil Ape and Black Dobers had entered their most intense phase.
Associate Special Class Investigator Hachikawa Chuu with his partner First Class Investigator Hogi Ayumu, and First Class Investigator Hirako Take with his partner First Class Investigator Itou Kuramoto—these four were engaged in combat with the SS-rated ghoul "Black Dog."
Special Class Aura Kiyoko, serving as Squad Three's captain, was on scene directing the entire squad against the Black Dobers faction. Since her Quinque hadn't been fully repaired before the operation and posed stability concerns, she wasn't directly fighting the Black Dog, instead leaving that to Hachikawa, who was most familiar with the Black Dog...
Hachikawa's group of four was currently locked in a fierce stalemate with the Black Dog.
If Hirako Take were just an ordinary First Class Investigator, Irimi wouldn't be struggling this much. But this "plain-faced" man was stronger than most Associate Special Class Investigators.
"...This plain-faced guy is really annoying. He might threaten Touka and the others later on. Dying alone is kind of lonely—might as well take him with me..."
Irimi thought, and immediately focused her attacks on Hirako.
But she was quickly intercepted by cannon fire from Hachikawa's ukaku Quinque.
"Tch... Hachikawa~ you're getting in my way!"
Clearly, even after all these years, Irimi still remembered this man.
"I'm flattered."
Hachikawa snorted coldly and continued firing at Irimi.
Irimi nimbly dodged onto a building's balcony railing.
But she hadn't noticed that an elderly woman was actually on the balcony—apparently drawn out by the sounds of fighting.
"?!"
Irimi was startled.
"Eek!..."
The old woman was trembling, frightened by those red ghoul eyes and the Black Dog mask.
"Why didn't that old lady evacuate?!"
Itou Kuramoto exclaimed in surprise.
"Hurry and save her."
Hirako said immediately.
"I don't care!"
But Hachikawa fired directly at that area. "Just die along with that old hag!!"
"!!"
Irimi could have dodged, but the old woman was right behind her. If she simply evaded, the old woman would certainly die.
"This... stupid old hag..."
But Irimi couldn't bring herself to do that. Not only did she not dodge—she shielded the old woman. "...I'll resent you until I die"
...
Get 20+ chapters ahead on - P.a.t.r.e.o.n "RoseWhisky"