#33Target: GeckoAI Model: moonshotai/kimi-k2-instruct-0905
Chapter 32 – Target: Gecko
Arima Kishou's designated target for Roland was Yamori, better known as Jason—the private math tutor of the original story's protagonist, Kaneki Ken!
According to the intel Arima Kishou provided, this world's Jason and Kaneki had clashed early on just as in the original plot.
The grudge born from that conflict never healed, even while both were lost inside the same dream.
Every so often their feud flared into vicious battles that required other high-ranking Ghouls to step in and mediate.
Once Kaneki's standing among Ghouls soared with his growing power, Jason never returned to The Nest, and instead haunted the ruins.
He made a habit of hunting Ghouls who had committed offenses; whether or not their crimes deserved death, he killed them and devoured their flesh.
Many Ghouls denounced—or even formally accused—him, yet under the protection of The Knights' commander Furuta Nimura, Jason remains alive and well to this day.
Through relentless cannibalization his strength has leapt beyond its original level, reaching the threshold of an SSS-Rank Ghoul.
Roland's earlier fight with Kirishima Touka had originally slated Jason as reinforcements.
But the moment he sensed Arima Kishou's presence, Jason deliberately led several other Ghouls on a fruitless search.
Roland knew the outcome all too well: under Jason's cold gaze, Touka died upon his blade.
Clearly Jason still clung to old resentments—or rather, spurred on by Furuta Nimura, he still meant to settle every past score with Kaneki.
Roland found it odd that Arima knew so much about this world's Ghouls; when he asked, the only answer was a cryptic, "I woke from the dream."
Roland asked no more. He simply took the file detailing Jason's hunting grounds and left the Geheros Organ.
"This is the place?"
Following the map, Roland arrived at a long-derelict bar.
The neon sign above looked cleaved by a giant axe; its dazzling colors were dead, and the surviving letters couldn't spell the bar's forgotten name.
Rain began to fall, and within moments a cold curtain linked heaven and earth, blotting out everything.
The instant Roland appeared, four Clones guarding the entrance snapped into hostile readiness.
One Clone spun to dash inside; the other three released their Kagune and lunged, buying their comrade time.
Roland flickered, reappearing among them as a silvery arc swept past.
Frost Breathing, First Form: Scrap Silver Slash!
The circular blade-light cut all four in half; Orlando's tail swept the pieces up and swallowed them.
Giving Orlando a few seconds to digest, Roland stepped into the bar.
The eye of ishu drifted ahead, scouting ten meters in front of him.
Down a long dark corridor, roars echoed. Through the visor he saw hundreds of Monstrosities writhing on the dance floor above and below.
Perhaps, inside that dream, this place still throbbed with lights and heat, young bodies gyrating under a haze of hormones.
Roland shook the thought away, lowered his stance, and gathered strength for the coming strike.
He shot into the swarm; the familiar silver arc of Scrap Silver Slash reappeared, limbs flying, bodies collapsing.
His coat flared into twin Ukaku wings, loosing a storm of black-crimson feathers that Orlando directed into the thickest knots of Monstrosities.
In two breaths the ground floor was cleared.
"Daring to stride into my turf and challenge me!"
A tall figure rose at the upstairs bar, thick Rinkaku tentacles lashing; biomass armor creaked as his frame tightened for battle.
"Think I'm that useless fool Kaneki? Monster, you've truly pissed me off—there'll be no escape for you!"
Jason's kakugan blazed red with killing intent; he smashed the bar beneath his foot.
Two slightly smaller Ghouls flanked him, eyes equally hostile.
"Nico and Naki…"
Roland recognized them; the file had mentioned these two close allies. The cross-dressing masochist Nico ranked above SS-class, while Naki, slightly weaker, still qualified as SS.
Facing three elite Ghouls plus a horde of Monstrosities and Clones inside the bar, it was no wonder Arima Kishou doubted he could pass this trial.
Without a word Roland vaulted to the second floor, blade raised overhead; Naki's Koukaku caught the downward cut.
"Heh! As long as I'm here, you won't touch Big Bro Gecko!"
The small blond Naki stood before Jason, giving Roland a none-too-bright grin.
His Koukaku, rooted below the shoulder-blades, condensed metallic rc cells into ultra-dense armor—hugely tough but slow.
Roland activated his greaves, kicking Naki aside, then flipped and brought Dismounted Hawk Water Wheel down on Jason.
Jason snorted, driving his thick Rinkaku to block.
Clang!
Sparks showered as steel met Kagune; with a roar Jason hurled Roland back to the dance floor.
The effeminate Nico ghosted to his landing spot, striking alongside several Monstrosities, but Orlando's tail intercepted them.
The moment Roland's feet touched down, a ripping sound came from above—Jason's Rinkaku spearing toward him.
Instead of retreating, Roland stepped in and, a heartbeat before impact, stamped the tentacle to the floor.
Mikiri Counter!