Following Eto's order to withdraw, the vast underground warehouse had already become empty, leaving only Big Madam, who was still "dining," and her two subordinates.
Amano Hiro raised his hand toward the target. A sharp spike condensed in his palm, ready to be released.
At that very moment, a sudden change occurred.
"Ughhhh."
Urie Kuki, who had been held inside the massive mouth, suddenly awakened. The veins on his arms bulged violently
as he forcibly pried Big Madam's blood-filled jaws apart. Amano Hiro saw this and withdrew the spike,
leisurely wrapping an arm around Rize's waist, preparing to watch this unexpected spectacle with interest.
"Big Madam."
The two subordinates hurried forward to assist.
At this moment, Urie Kuki had completely entered a berserk state, his reason entirely consumed by instinct.
His eyes darted wildly as he kept roaring, "Merit... merit..."
The kagune on his right arm grew uncontrollably, transforming into a ferocious giant pincer.
With a casual swing, the two ghouls were severed at the waist, blood spraying like a waterfall.
Amano Hiro raised an eyebrow. "Somewhat interesting."
Rize leaned against him and frowned. "Tsk, how ugly."
"When kagune run berserk, this is what happens." Amano Hiro chuckled softly.
Urie Kuki was completely immersed in the ecstasy of his surging power, even more crazed than an awakened Gojo Satoru.
He stared obsessively at his mutated right arm, muttering incoherently. "What... is this feeling? So happy... I am too strong..."
However, when he roared and charged toward Big Madam, he was struck heavily and sent flying.
What followed was a brutal beating from Big Madam, knocking him unconscious directly.
The arrogance from moments ago vanished instantly. Truly living up to the rule of not lasting handsome for more than three seconds.
He had thought Urie would become something impressive, but he was taken down in an instant. It had been so long that he had almost forgotten the original plot.
He only remembered that Urie could go head on with Roma Hoito. Turns out he was just a roadside stray.
Amano Hiro lost patience, his figure suddenly turning into an afterimage.
His claws sliced through the air with a piercing shriek. Big Madam's bloated body was cut into several pieces in an instant, not even given time to scream.
Flicking the blood droplets from his claws, Amano Hiro stepped toward the unconscious Urie Kuki.
Looking down at him, a thought suddenly arose in his mind.
His control over the symbiote had now reached an entirely new level.
He could already sense Rize's position regardless of distance.
However, when the portion of the symbiote fused with Rize had split off, his control had not yet reached its current state.
Though it had no consciousness, it had become an independent entity and thus could not be manipulated.
But now, even if separated from his body, he could fully control it.
If he separated a small fragment of the symbiote and attached it to someone else, letting it survive only by absorbing nutrients without fusing with the host,
that would be an excellent tracker, and there would be no need to worry about detection.
He would use this kid to test its feasibility first.
Amano Hiro raised his hand. Carnage began to wriggle slowly, then formed into a small sphere the size of a longan in his palm.
He pinched it lightly. The texture was unexpectedly good, elastic like a beef ball.
Moreover, the sensation of separation was completely different from before.
Previously, it felt like moving a limb. Now it felt like an extension of consciousness.
As if a tiny version of himself had suddenly appeared. He could neither see nor hear through it,
only perceive the surrounding environment through touch. It was remarkably strange.
He raised his hand and tossed the small fragment onto Urie Kuki. The red sphere instantly liquefied and quickly seeped into his chest.
It slowly moved downward, stopping at the position of the heart, spreading until it completely wrapped around it.
Focusing his perception felt like holding a huge, constantly moving furnace. Very warm.
Amano Hiro opened his eyes, delight rising in his heart. Just as he had expected.
If he could also hear through it, that would be perfect, but unfortunately he could not.
Even so, it was already quite good. When the time came, he would attach a small piece to Arima Kishou for tracking. If the Washuu did not die, who would.
For now, this small fragment would remain attached to him. It might produce unexpected effects.
Next, he would wake this kid up and paint him a grand picture. Without Sasaki Haise to guide him now, deceiving him should not be difficult.
Amano Hiro suddenly cleared his throat and produced a deliberately lowered, magnetic voice.
"Ahem. Ah. Mm."
As if testing the tone, he repeatedly said the same name.
"Rize, Rize, Rize, Rize."
Finally, he nodded in satisfaction. "How about this voice?"
Rize could not help but laugh at his serious manner. "Hiro, what are you doing?"
Amano Hiro pointed at the unconscious Urie Kuki not far away, a crafty gleam in his eyes.
"When we 'guide' that little friend later, would this voice not give off the aura of a mastermind behind the scenes?"
"It is indeed very magnetic." Rize covered her lips with a light laugh, ripples shimmering in her purple eyes. "But is Hiro not already a true mastermind?"
"That is different." Amano Hiro raised a finger solemnly.
"A proper sense of ceremony helps lost lambs find direction more easily."
Amano Hiro looked at the unconscious Urie Kuki and extended a dark red tendril.
The tendril curled flexibly in the air and aimed at the pale face.
Smack.
A crisp sound echoed in the empty underground space.
Urie Kuki's head tilted slightly with the force, but there was still no sign of waking.
"Hm." Amano Hiro tilted his head and raised the tendril again.
Smack.
An even louder strike. The figure on the ground merely twitched unconsciously before falling still again.
"Oh." Amano Hiro withdrew the tendril. "Still not awake?"
Rize covered her lips, unable to hold back her laughter. "Hiro, are you sure you are not making him sink deeper into unconsciousness?"
Amano Hiro paused, the tendril curling innocently in the air.
If slapping would not wake him, then special measures were needed. He raised his hand toward Urie Kuki and clenched it slightly.
The symbiote around Urie Kuki's heart tightened along with Amano Hiro's gesture, gripping his heart fiercely.
Urie Kuki's eyes flew open. His mouth opened wide, but the agony of his constricted heart left him unable to make a sound.
The sensation was indescribable. He felt unable to breathe, unable to speak, only able to writhe in pain on the ground.
Suddenly the pain vanished. Only then did he feel as though time began to flow again, allowing him to gulp down air.
"You are awake?" A low, magnetic voice filled with inexplicable charm came from not far away.
He jerked his head up. A masked man and woman stood a short distance away. "Ghouls?"
He quickly scrambled to his feet and retreated warily, his gaze sweeping around as his mind raced frantically.