Dimensional Kaguya Ōtsutsuki

Noro turned around, his wide-mouthed mask standing out conspicuously in the dim light.

In truth, Kaguya had always been curious about how he could see. His mask had no openings, and there weren't even any holes where his eyes should be. How could he possibly see? Moreover, in the original work, his head was shriveled, and his eyes and nose were completely gone. He shouldn't be able to see anything.

Could it be that he was relying on his hearing?

If that were the case, it would be impressive—especially for eavesdropping in the future.

Just as Kaguya's thoughts began to wander, countless crimson kagune suddenly shot out from Noro's body. Like agile serpents, they blanketed the air and shot toward her like lightning.

"Didn't expect you to be a tentacle monster," Kaguya chuckled softly, twirling her longsword with a graceful flourish. "Too bad this level of attack is just child's play."

As soon as her words fell, Kaguya stepped forward. Her body shot forward like an arrow leaving the bow, meeting the oncoming kagune head-on. With a swing of her arm, countless arcs of blade light tore through the air.

Clang, Clang, Clang!

A series of sharp metallic clashes rang out as the longsword collided with the kagune, sparks flying brilliantly in all directions.

Nearby, the severely injured Seidou Takizawa stared in a daze. He had never witnessed such an intense and spectacular battle before—especially one between a human and a ghoul. The scene before him, where Kaguya danced and deflected Noro's kagune attacks, was beyond belief.

Until now, the only way to fight ghouls was through quinques. A direct confrontation using pure combat techniques and skills was virtually unheard of. Even investigators wielding quinques were often overwhelmed when faced with an SS-rated ghoul. Yet, here Kaguya was, holding her own.

"This is…" Takizawa murmured blankly, "incredible."

With a crisp "clang," Kaguya deflected another attack, planting her foot firmly and darting forward like a fleeting shadow. In an instant, she appeared behind Noro, her blade swirling with fierce momentum as it slashed toward his back.

However, before the blade could land, countless kagune suddenly erupted from Noro's back, lashing out like whips and striking toward her.

Clang! Clang!

Sparks scattered through the air as the whips were deflected, but the force of the clash sent Kaguya flying backward.

"So your whole body really is covered in kagune, huh," Kaguya said, the corners of her mouth curving into a faint smile. "Just like in the original. I guess with just human-level strength, you're a little tricky to deal with. But don't underestimate me."

As soon as she spoke, Kaguya's figure blurred into motion. Her movements became erratic, drifting like clouds one moment and darting like a gust of wind the next. In her hands, Liuli seemed to come alive, its blade moving with a fluidity that defied logic. Each swing left behind shimmering afterimages, as if sweeping through a storm of leaves.

Despite wielding only one sword, Kaguya effortlessly held off the countless kagune swarming toward her, blocking them before they could land a hit.

Noro, for his part, continued to release an overwhelming number of kagune, weaving them into a dense net in front of him. The crimson tendrils crisscrossed through the air, creating an almost impenetrable wall.

"You won't be able to defeat me like this."

Kaguya let out a soft laugh. With a single, fluid motion, she deflected the incoming kagune with a clear "clang". Twisting her body, she dodged another attack from her left, then stepped forward, weaving through the crimson barrage. In the blink of an eye, she slipped past the kagune and appeared directly in front of Noro.

Kaguya planted her foot and swung her sword. The blade cut through the air with a piercing whistle.

A flash of cold light erupted.

In an instant, Kaguya and Noro passed by each other, their figures briefly overlapping before coming to a standstill.

Pfft!

Scarlet blood sprayed out from Noro's chest, where a cross-shaped wound had appeared. The gash was so deep that it seemed as though he was about to be split in half.

With a dull "thud," Noro's body hit the ground heavily, and crimson blood flowed steadily from the wound on his chest.

"So that's all there was to you? I thought you'd be much stronger, but it turns out you're just another small fry," Kaguya said as she stood up. Walking forward, she kicked Noro's body lightly and continued, "Hey, are you dead yet? Looks like you are. Well, whatever. There are more important matters to take care of."

With that, she sheathed her sword and turned to leave.

Just as Kaguya was about to walk away, a thick, crimson kagune suddenly shot out from behind her like a flash of lightning, aiming at her unguarded back.

"Watch out!"

Seidou Takizawa's pupils contracted, and he shouted anxiously.

At the critical moment, a streak of cold light appeared behind Kaguya. With a crisp "clang," the kagune was deflected and sent flying. It was Kaguya's blade, Liuli.

"You're quite lively, aren't you?" Kaguya tilted her head slightly, her face calm and unbothered as she slowly turned around.

Seidou Takizawa looked embarrassed and quickly shut his mouth. It had indeed been a dangerous moment, but it was obvious that the girl in front of him had already noticed the attack. His warning had only served as an unnecessary distraction.

At that moment, Noro had already stood up again. The grotesque wound on his chest had completely disappeared, as though he had never been injured in the first place.

"Your regenerative ability really is impressive," Kaguya said, lightly tapping her chin with her pale fingers. Her expression turned slightly serious as she pondered for a moment before asking, "But tell me, how do your clothes regenerate as well?"

"Huh?"

From a distance, Seidou Takizawa's face darkened. Is this really the time to be asking that?

Kaguya, however, was genuinely curious. She could understand if his regeneration was incredibly powerful, but for his clothes to regenerate as well—that was something else entirely. Were his clothes actually part of his body?

The thought of Noro being stark naked underneath his clothes made Kaguya's stomach churn with disgust. The idea was revolting. If it were a beautiful woman, that would be one thing. But imagining a large man like this—absolutely unacceptable.

Just as Kaguya was preparing to quickly finish him off, a crisp ringing sound suddenly came from Noro's body. Reaching into his pocket, Noro pulled out a phone and answered it. After listening for a moment, he turned around and left without so much as another glance at Kaguya.

"Hey, hey."

Kaguya was momentarily baffled. "What's with this guy? Is he crazy?"

Who just up and leaves in the middle of a fight as if nothing happened?

To Kaguya, Noro didn't feel like a person. He was more like a machine—cold, lifeless, and emotionless. As soon as he completed his task, he would leave. Even office workers had to work overtime, yet here he was, walking away so effortlessly.

But just now, she had vaguely heard two words:

"Rize."

Kaguya's eyes narrowed. Had they already found Rize?

With that thought, Kaguya wasted no time. Planting her foot on the ground, she shot forward like a streak of light, dashing toward the distant CCG base.

The battle between the CCG and Aogiri Tree had reached its climax. From a distance, the dense sound of gunfire, the smoke billowing from buildings, and the bodies strewn haphazardly along the streets all painted a clear picture of the chaos.

This time, Aogiri Tree had deployed their elite forces, including ghouls who had previously been held in Cochlea. With their overwhelming strength, the CCG forces had already fallen into a disadvantageous position. If it weren't for Kishou Arima personally holding the line, the CCG would have likely been completely overrun by now.

Even so, the situation remained grim. After all, Kishou Arima was just one man—he couldn't be everywhere at once.

Bang!

A figure was sent flying, crashing heavily into a wall.

"Cough, cough."

The person coughed violently, wiping the blood from the corner of her mouth. Gritting her teeth, she struggled to get up, glaring forward with hatred as she muttered, "Damn it."

She had golden short hair, an icy yet beautiful face, deep and cold eyes, and thin lips pressed tightly together. Dressed in a black jacket and stockings, she exuded a mature and alluring aura. This was Akari Mado, the daughter of Kureo Mado.

At this point, she was the only one left standing. Her entire squad had been decimated in the earlier intense battle. A few others remained sprawled on the ground, barely clinging to life, their blood pooling around them. But at the rate their wounds were bleeding, it was clear they wouldn't last much longer. If they weren't taken to a hospital soon, they would surely die.

"Stop resisting. You can't hold out much longer," a tall, muscular man with golden short hair emerged from the shadows. It was Yamori (Jason), whom she hadn't seen in a long time. "Why don't you just become our toy? Heh heh."

"You're dreaming," Akari Mado said coldly as she stood up, her voice calm. "You have nowhere left to run. If you surrender now, there's still a chance you might be spared."

"Surrender and be spared?" Yamori burst out laughing, as if he'd just heard the funniest joke in the world. "That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard in my life! Are all humans this delusional now? It's hilarious!"

"Is that so?" Akira gripped the whip in her hand tightly and said icily, "CCG Headquarters personnel are already on their way here. You'll be surrounded soon enough. If you run now, you might still make it out alive."

"Oh, so considerate of you, Investigator," Yamori chuckled maliciously. "You're talking about Kishou Arima, right?"

"That's right," Akira replied. "Four of the seven Special-Class Investigators are already here. No matter how powerful your Aogiri Tree thinks it is, it's only a matter of time before you're wiped out.

"Scary, isn't it?" Yamori crossed his arms and let out a sinister laugh. "The White Reaper is indeed a terrifying figure. But no matter how strong he is, he's still just one person. Do you really think he has the time to come and save you? Besides, do you believe Kishou Arima is the strongest person out there?"

"The strongest person?" Akira's eyes widened. "You don't mean—"

"That's right," Yamori said with a cruel grin. "Akatsuki has decided to work with us."

"Akatsuki is working with you?" Akira's pupils shrank as she shouted anxiously, "That's impossible! Didn't she say she wouldn't interfere with the conflict between humans and ghouls?"

This matter had been brought up before during the battle at Cochlea. At that time, Kaguya had said she had no intention of getting involved in the war between humans and ghouls. She had even claimed, "Whether humanity is wiped out or the ghouls are eradicated has nothing to do with me."

But her words seemed to have been twisted.

"Those were just empty words, something said casually. Only you foolish humans would take it seriously," Yamori sneered viciously.

Akari Mado's heart sank to rock bottom. Aogiri Tree alone had already pushed the CCG to the brink. If Akatsuki were to join them, it would be catastrophic. Just thinking about the fox-masked, silver-haired girl and the power she had displayed sent shivers down her spine.

That kind of strength had far exceeded the limits of humanity. Or rather, it even surpassed the realm of ghouls. There were already whispers among the masses of a divine being walking the earth, a legend born out of awe and fear.

She had always scoffed at such claims. To her, they were nothing more than baseless rumors spread among the common folk. There was no such thing as gods, and if there were, they wouldn't allow ghouls to exist. She had always been firmly convinced of this.

But no matter what, if someone that powerful were to ally with Aogiri Tree, it would undoubtedly spell disaster.

"When did I ever say such a thing, Yamori? Are you itching for a beating?"

A voice rang out, clear and melodious like a heavenly tune. Yamori's pupils shrank instantly, and his body broke out into a cold sweat. That tone—it couldn't be…

Yamori whipped around suddenly, only to freeze in place.

Standing before him wasn't the terrifying figure he had imagined but a beautiful black-haired girl dressed in what resembled a high school uniform. Her frame was delicate and slender, appearing soft and frail, with none of the overwhelming presence one would expect from someone with immense power.

If there was any difference between her and an ordinary girl, it was her breathtakingly beautiful face, her enchanting voice, and the exquisitely crafted katana she held in her hand.

Yamori paused briefly before bursting into loud laughter. "Where did this little brat come from, spouting such arrogant nonsense? Hahaha!"

Akari Mado's expression fell slightly, disappointment flickering across her face. She had initially thought that the powerful figure from before had arrived, but it turned out to be nothing more than a teenage girl.

Still, she felt a faint sense of relief. Judging from Yamori's reaction, the earlier talk about Aogiri Tree forming an alliance with Akatsuki was likely just a lie. If it were true, Yamori wouldn't have shown that moment of panic.

But her relief was short-lived because her predicament remained unresolved. The brute before her was far stronger than she had anticipated, far exceeding what had been reported in the data. On top of that, there were still many other ghouls lurking nearby. The chance of her escaping this situation alive was slim.

As for the black-haired girl who had suddenly appeared, Akira had already dismissed her entirely. Her delicate features, the impractical and restrictive outfit she wore, and the ornate katana in her hands—which looked more like a decorative art piece than a weapon—made her seem completely useless in combat.

She's probably just some spoiled rich girl out sightseeing, Akira thought dismissively.

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