"Madara..."
Amon was somewhat surprised that he had learned his opponent's name so easily.
His opponent probably didn't consider them worth worrying about—after all, it didn't matter if a dead man knew.
And that "goodbye" had sent an intense wave of danger through Amon. He had a feeling he might die here today.
But he definitely wouldn't give up. Even if he was nothing but an "ant" to his opponent, he would struggle to the very end!
At that moment, Amon decisively pulled out the Quinque case that Chief Researcher Chigyou had given him—the one containing the second-generation New Proto.
Opening the case, a suit of armor that covered nearly his entire body instantly materialized around him.
Even though the armor's side effects were severe, he had no choice but to go all out!
"AAAAAAHHH—!!"
With a roar, Amon had donned the second-generation New Proto and readied Doujima Kai.
Deep Forest Emergence had thrown the investigators into panic, but it hadn't actually caused them any physical harm. Otherwise, Amon wouldn't have had the chance to power up.
"Parlor tricks..."
Byakuya said flatly.
He simply didn't want to hurt these people. That didn't mean Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence lacked lethal capabilities.
Incapacitating them without causing harm? Of course there was a way.
Wood Style: Deep Forest Bloom!
In that instant, the previously dormant trees and vines surged outward again, and massive flowers bloomed across the forest.
"What is that...?"
Seeing the giant flowers appearing overhead, Amon went on high alert.
But no amount of vigilance would help now. The flowers had already begun releasing their pollen.
In moments, every investigator who inhaled the pollen collapsed. They didn't even have a chance to struggle.
Only Amon lasted not even a second longer.
"No..."
I... can't fall here...
Amon tried to hold on, but his body was completely beyond his control. His vision went black and he collapsed.
[Ding! Host has defeated First Class Investigator "Koutarou Amon." Reward: 20 Fusion Points!]
[Ding! Host has defeated a "Rank 2 Investigator." Reward: 3 Fusion Points!]
[Ding! Host has defeated a "Rank 1 Investigator." Reward: 7 Fusion Points!]
[...]
Seeing that all the investigators had fallen, Byakuya had the flowers stop releasing pollen. Otherwise, Irimi and the others wouldn't be able to pass through.
Once the pollen had mostly dissipated, Byakuya made everything created by Deep Forest Bloom vanish.
Gone completely, as if nothing had ever happened. Only the field of ruined, broken buildings remained as proof that Deep Forest Bloom had been there.
All these wrecked structures would need to be rebuilt, but the responsibility would ultimately fall on the Washuu. They would foot the bill for reconstruction.
Then again, a century ago the Washuu had rebuilt all of Tokyo. The original Tokyo had been dragged into the underground world by the first One-Eyed King when he became Dragon.
Rebuilding this area was no big deal for the Washuu—just a bit of financial bleeding.
"Irimi-san, Koma-san, everyone—you can leave now."
Byakuya turned to address those behind him.
"This is unbelievable... You created all of that just now..."
Irimi was stunned by Byakuya's methods once again.
In her understanding, what had just happened should have been impossible. Yet with Byakuya, it had become reality...
"Amaha-san is too amazing. That guy in the armor looked tough to deal with. If it were me, I'd probably have gotten beaten again."
Koma sighed.
The rest of the Devil Ape and Black Dobers members were in complete awe of Byakuya.
And they owed him their lives.
"Let's go. They won't wake up for a while."
Byakuya addressed Irimi and the others.
From here, he would lead them out of Ward 20 to rendezvous with the other Wood Clone who had the Manager.
...
"Director! The 'mysterious ghoul' has appeared at Squad Leader Amon's position!"
"Director! We've completely lost contact with Squad Leader Amon's team! No response from anyone!"
"Director! According to reports from another squad, Squad Leader Amon's entire sector has been reduced to rubble! We can't imagine what methods the enemy used to create devastation on that scale!"
"Director! The 'mysterious ghoul' appears to have led the Devil Ape and Black Dobers' ghouls through the perimeter!"
"Director!..."
In the span of barely a minute, Yoshitoki Washuu received one urgent report after another.
He was completely numb at this point.
The appearance of that colossal kakuja had already made him question his entire worldview. Before he could even catch his breath, bad news kept pouring in. I really can't take much more of this.
"...The priority right now is dealing with the front-line battlefield. The ghouls that escaped have escaped—there's no stopping them anyway."
Yoshitoki responded wearily. "What's the status on Squad Leader Amaha? Has he reached the front lines?"
A moment later, an investigator nearby relayed the answer. "Squad Leader Amaha has reached the front lines! He's currently holding back the colossal kakuja's assault!"
"Good..."
Yoshitoki acknowledged, but his expression remained bleak.
That colossal kakuja was something even Arima couldn't handle. Could Squad Leader Amaha really succeed...?
In truth, Yoshitoki had already mentally prepared himself for complete defeat and the punishment that would follow. An operation under his command going this badly—the Washuu elders definitely wouldn't let him off easy.
Though he felt deeply aggrieved—everything that had happened was completely unexpected, accident upon accident—there was nothing he could do but accept his bad luck.
...
At that moment, Amaha Byakuya arrived at the front-line battlefield.
What an apocalyptic scene, he thought. The Susanoo before him was the "natural disaster" responsible for all of this.
Though Third-Stage Susanoo was far from his limit...
"Squad Leader Amaha is here!"
"Squad Leader Amaha, be careful! That thing's attacks are terrifying!"
"Now that Special Class Arima and Squad Leader Amaha are both here, can we win?!"
"..."
Byakuya's appearance sent a wave of excitement through the surrounding investigators.
But that excitement lasted only a moment. The enemy they faced was simply too overwhelming.
"..."
Kishou Arima watched as Byakuya appeared beside him. Though his expression remained impassive, his heart was certainly far from calm.
On the other side, the collapsed Eto also spotted Byakuya. With her sharp perception, she quickly understood what was happening.
Her eyes filled with bitter resentment. "That bastard... He played me completely..."
...
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