Dodging Kuroiwa Iwao's horizontal slash, Fushimi Kyo drifted backward dozens of meters as lightly as a feather.
He steadied his stance, blade held crosswise, his presence dominating everything in sight.
For a brief moment
The battlefield fell into complete silence.
The armed combat personnel, lacking direct orders from their superiors, dared not fire.
The other investigators stood at a distance, having been utterly unable to intervene in the lightning fast exchanges earlier.
"He's… too terrifying. We don't even have the power to resist him."
"This is an SS class ghoul? He hasn't even released a kagune yet!"
"I've fought alongside Special Class investigators against SS class ghouls before none of them were this strong!"
"In front of him, no matter how many of us there are, it's just suicide!"
Though rigorously trained, fear began spreading uncontrollably through the ranks.
Fushimi Kyo looked toward Kuroiwa Iwao, standing not far away.
"I'm not a ghoul," he said calmly.
"I have no conflict with humanity whatsoever. In fact, I've helped you wipe out over a hundred ghouls."
"No matter how you look at it, my existence benefits the CCG far more than it harms it."
"How about this, let's all stand down."
"I held back earlier. Look at those combatants I only disabled them. I didn't take their lives."
"If I truly went all out, even if every single one of you died here, you still wouldn't be able to kill me. Why push it?"
"And besides there's a mysterious ghoul organization lurking in the shadows. Are you sure you want to cripple yourselves fighting me?"
His voice echoed across the battlefield like a curse.
"He's right, why fight him instead of ghouls? He's the Ghoul Hunter!"
"With him in the 20th Ward, ghoul predation incidents have dropped drastically!"
"The 11th Ward is where our focus should be!"
"This extermination operation is meaningless!"
Whispers spread rapidly.
This campaign had already been controversial now that the first clash ended in disaster, many were eager to retreat.
Kuroiwa Iwao surveyed the surroundings, his thick brows knitting tightly together.
"We are only carrying out orders. And your danger level… is indeed extremely high."
"A ceasefire is not impossible."
"Lay down your weapon and come with us to the CCG. I can guarantee your safety."
As one of the seven Special Class investigators of CCG's First Division, Kuroiwa Iwao's words carried real weight.
But Fushimi Kyo would never make such a foolish choice.
"Heh," he said lightly.
"I don't like putting my life in someone else's hands."
Inside the command room, Washuu Yoshitoki stared coldly at the surveillance feed.
In the original narrative, he was known as a gentle, considerate CCG Director.
But this world was different.
As one of the Washuu family's rulers within human society, he would use any means necessary to benefit his clan.
Human lives meant nothing to the Washuu family.
If anything, reducing humanity's combat strength only gave ghouls more breathing room.
With that mindset, he issued a merciless order to all units:
"The Ghoul Hunter's species is unknown. His motives are unknown. His growth rate is terrifying."
"He represents a grave threat to humanity."
"All personnel are to capture him at any cost."
"Junior combatants equip quinque bayonets and engage in close combat to drain his stamina."
"Investigators look for opportunities to deliver lethal strikes."
"This operation requires everyone to wager their lives."
"For the future of humanity please."
Inside the command room, Marude Itou was also present.
"Director Washuu," he said coldly,
"This plan is reckless. It shows complete disregard for the lives of our soldiers."
"You know how powerful an SSS class ghoul is. To someone like that, killing humans is no harder than stepping on ants."
"This is sending them to their deaths."
"Every battle has sacrifices," Washuu replied calmly.
"Marude, how would you propose capturing him?"
Marude fell silent.
CCG's manpower was already stretched thin. Reinforcements were impossible.
Washuu Yoshitoki was frighteningly skilled at manipulating hearts.
To the frontline personnel, the gap between themselves and the CCG Director was like that between commoners and an emperor.
And yet
That emperor was now requesting their help.
Pride surged through them, dispelling fear. Their eyes hardened with resolve.
"Equip quinque bayonets!"
Someone shouted.
And like a butterfly effect
"Equip quinque bayonets!"
"Equip quinque bayonets!"
"Equip quinque bayonets!"
The shouts swelled into a thunderous roar, sweeping across the 20th Ward.
Clatter clatter
From their lower legs, soldiers pulled out bayonet-like weapons and twisted them onto their rifle muzzles.
Fushimi Kyo immediately understood.
This was no different from the bayonet charges of wars past
a descent into pure, brutal melee.
Watching their eyes fill with grim resolve, he suddenly laughed loudly.
"Hahahaha what a bunch of fools."
"Being used without even realizing it."
He had no intention of revealing the Washuu family's true nature here.
No one would believe him; it would only sound like the ranting of a cornered beast.
There was only one way to end this farce.
Kill.
Kill until fear took root.
Kill until their faith shattered.
Only then would this madness stop.
Today, I become a demon of hell
Let mandala flowers bloom upon mountains of corpses and seas of blood.
A horrifying killing intent burst from his body.
From this moment on
Fushimi Kyo bared his fangs completely.
"Kill him and take down the Ghoul Hunter!"
"Kill, take him down!"
"Kill !"
The crowd surged forward like a tidal wave, fearless and overwhelming.
"Impressive resolve," Fushimi Kyo said coldly.
"Pity your strength doesn't match it."
His figure flashed
and plunged into the masses.
A casual swing.
A flash of snow-bright steel.
"Aaagh!"
An arm flew into the air.
"Dragon Cyclone Flash!"
As blades thrust toward him, Fushimi Kyo unleashed his most effective crowd-clearing technique.
His body became a whirlwind.
At its edge
a curtain of blades formed by Bloodsong.
Clang clang clang clang!
Their quinque bayonets shattered one after another.
A pinpoint glint of cold light circled
Slash slash slash!
More than a dozen heads rolled across the ground.
The blood-soaked spectacle ignited their frenzy further.
Another wave charged in.
"Flying Sword Style Secret Art: Netherworld Nine-Headed Dragon Flash!"
Fushimi Kyo turned into a streak of light, weaving through the crowd.
Countless blades bloomed from his hands.
Lives withered cheaply.
Warm blood splashed across the cold pavement.
"Monster stop!"
A furious shout erupted behind him.
Amon Koutarou, wielding his massive cleaver-like quinque, charged in and swung down violently.
If he had hesitated before
Now, seeing lives fall before his eyes, Amon felt only rage.
Fushimi Kyo glanced back.
As the blade descended, he threw a punch meeting it head-on.
Using flesh to clash with a quinque?
Is he suicidal?!
Amon thought
and increased his strength.
CLANG!
Fist met blade.
The fist remained unscathed.
The blade shattered.
" !"
Amon was sent staggering backward more than ten steps by the immense force.
He stared at Fushimi Kyo in horror.
"Is this thing… really human?"
"Even a Kakuja wouldn't dare do that!"
With Amon repelled, Fushimi Kyo continued his slaughter.
Every swing claimed a life.
Every punch sprayed blood.
In less than ten minutes
Corpses carpeted the ground within dozens of meters.
Blood pooled into streams, flowing toward the sewers with a gurgling sound.
He had fulfilled his words.
A demon of hell.
Mandala flowers blooming in a sea of blood.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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