"Yes."
Ren answered calmly within his mind.
The symbiote might possess terrifying power—
But it was not invincible.
Every symbiote carried a weakness rooted deep in its origin.
When the ancient creator Knull forged the first symbiote weapon—
the legendary All-Black Necrosword—
The process involved unimaginable cosmic forces.
Fire.
Resonating sound waves.
Celestial energy.
Those elements left an imprint deep within the genetic memory of every symbiote.
As a result—
All symbiotes instinctively feared extreme heat and high-frequency sound.
Even powerful ones were vulnerable.
Electricity could also disrupt their transformation abilities.
As a descendant of Carnage, his symbiote had already evolved far beyond ordinary specimens.
Its resistance to sound had improved greatly.
But high temperatures and electric current still posed a real threat.
Within Tokyo—
Ren believed only two individuals could truly threaten him.
One was Tatara.
A senior executive of Aogiri Tree.
Tatara's kakuja form could unleash devastating flames capable of melting steel.
The other—
Was the CCG's strongest investigator.
The White Reaper.
Kishou Arima.
Arima's quinque Narukami was infamous.
It converted concentrated RC cells into devastating electrical attacks.
A direct strike from Narukami could easily suppress or destroy regenerative abilities.
But Ren calculated calmly.
Neither of them were likely to appear tonight.
Tatara was one of the commanding figures overseeing Aogiri Tree's assault.
Their paths were unlikely to cross during the rescue mission.
Even if they did—
He was confident he could eliminate Tatara before the latter fully transformed.
As for Arima—
The probability was even lower.
Arima spent most of his time stationed in the 24th Ward underground labyrinth, hunting ghouls.
He rarely left the front lines.
More importantly—
Ren knew something most people didn't.
Arima possessed another identity.
A hidden one.
The One-Eyed King who secretly manipulated the balance between humans and ghouls.
If Aogiri Tree was truly moving against Cochlea—
Arima would certainly know.
Perhaps even support it.
Which meant—
He had no reason to appear and stop his own faction.
In short—
The probability of encountering Arima was extremely low.
That detail was critical.
Because if Narukami struck him inside Cochlea—
The rescue mission would fail instantly.
"…Which is why."
Ren concluded quietly.
"She must stay."
Carnage responded with a dissatisfied growl.
[…Hmph…]
[…Do as you wish…]
Then its voice became colder.
More violent.
[…But remember…]
[…If something inside that prison…]
[…can truly threaten us…]
[…I will tear it apart…]
[…along with anyone standing in our way…]
Ren felt the surge of murderous intent inside his mind.
His eyes sharpened.
Later That Night
The renovated first floor of Anteiku had fallen silent.
Only the faint smell of fresh paint and wood lingered in the air.
Ren sat beside the newly repaired window.
His fingers tapped lightly against the table.
"…You're distracted."
Carnage muttered.
"…thinking about that girl."
He didn't deny it.
Instead—
His gaze shifted toward a door down the hallway.
Touka's room.
The light beneath the door had long since disappeared.
Suddenly—
Soft knocking came from the back entrance downstairs.
He stood up quietly.
Moving through the hallway.
Down the stairs.
He reached the kitchen.
And opened the iron back door.
Standing in the narrow alley outside was a familiar figure.
Kazuichi Banjou.
He held a plain black canvas bag.
His expression was nervous.
Sweat glistened on his forehead.
"Mr. Ren…"
Banjou whispered.
"Ayato asked me to bring this."
"And take you to the meeting point."
He quickly handed over the bag.
Clearly eager to finish the task and leave.
Banjou's eyes darted nervously around the alley.
He still remembered the fate of Yakumo Oomori.
No one understood better than him how terrifying the man before him truly was.
Ren took the bag calmly.
"Thanks for the trouble."
He stepped aside.
Letting Banjou enter the kitchen.
Then closed the door.
Under the dim emergency light—
Banjou rubbed his hands nervously.
"It's almost time…"
Ren opened the bag.
Inside—
Was a red hooded robe.
The standard uniform of Aogiri Tree members.
Carnage trembled with excitement.
[…Red…]
[…I like this color…]
[…like fresh blood…]
At that moment—
Footsteps echoed softly from the staircase.
Both men looked up.
A figure appeared.
Touka Kirishima.
She clearly hadn't been asleep.
She wore simple home clothes.
Her hair slightly messy.
But her eyes—
Were sharp.
Her gaze moved slowly.
First to Ren.
Then to the red robe in his hands.
Finally to Banjou standing nearby.
The air froze.
Touka ignored Banjou completely.
She walked forward.
Stopping directly in front of Ren.
Their distance was very close.
Close enough to feel each other's breathing.
Her eyes remained fixed on the red robe.
Her lips pressed tightly together.
Her chest rose and fell slightly.
Ren saw everything clearly.
The emotions she was trying to hide.
Her clenched fists.
Her trembling fingers.
Without speaking—
He slowly folded the robe again.
And placed it back into the bag.
Then—
He gently took her clenched hand.
Touka froze.
Her fingers tightened around his hand instantly.
Her nails pressing into his palm.
Then suddenly—
She pulled her hand back.
As if burned.
She turned away.
Her back trembling slightly.
"…Don't die."
Her voice cracked.
Barely audible.
Before the sentence even finished—
She had already walked away.
Disappearing up the stairs.
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