"A pile of trash stacked together into an even bigger pile of trash, and it actually dares to flaunt its power here? How disgusting."
Kaguya pinched her nose in distaste, waving her hand as if shooing away an unpleasant smell. Watching the six Kakuja giants rumbling toward her with earth-shaking footsteps, she wrinkled her brow in sheer disdain.
"Getting my hands dirty with these things? No thanks. I don't want to be touched by something so revolting."
With Kaguya's ocular abilities, she could easily see through the true nature of these creatures.
Though the Kakuja giants looked terrifying and powerful, their bodies were, in reality, nothing more than a grotesque amalgamation of countless ghouls and dead humans. Only through an abnormal process of RC cell fusion and absorption had they mutated into their current forms.
But to Kaguya, they were simply nauseating.
Especially the overwhelming stench of blood and decay—it was absolutely revolting.
"Since I don't want to touch them directly, I'll have to use another method… but what should I use?"
Resting her fingers on her chin, Kaguya fell into thought.
At that moment, the monstrous Kakuja giants were already right in front of her.
"What is the Fox Fairy doing?"
"The monsters are almost here!"
"Is she performing some kind of ritual?"
"What's going on?"
"This is way too strange…"
Below, the soldiers and civilians alike watched anxiously as the silver-haired girl floated motionless in the air. Their hearts pounded in their chests, their gazes locked onto her every move.
Then—
"What should I eat for dinner tonight?"
Kaguya's casual remark echoed from above.
The entire battlefield froze.
"W-what?!"
"You're thinking about food? Now?!"
"Are you kidding me?!"
"Fox Fairy, please! We're begging you!"
"There's no time left!"
"Alright, alright."
Kaguya waved her hand dismissively, her tone laced with impatience.
"Geez. You people are so noisy. Can't even think with all this racket."
As she spoke, she turned around, raising a fair and delicate hand toward the incoming giants.
From her palm, a black sphere materialized, its surface swirling with an ominous energy.
The sphere expanded rapidly—growing, stretching—until it dwarfed her entirely, swelling to an unfathomable size. In mere moments, it was larger than a football stadium.
"W-what is that?!"
The onlookers stood frozen in shock, their minds unable to process what they were witnessing.
Was this divine punishment?
As the crowd stared, dumbstruck, Kaguya turned her head back toward them.
She flashed a dazzling, mischievous smile.
"It might get a little loud—so be sure to cover your ears, okay?"
Upon hearing Kaguya's words, the crowd exchanged glances, unsure of what the goddess meant. Still, most of them obediently covered their ears.
"Super Tailed Beast Ball."
The moment Kaguya spoke, the jet-black sphere in her hand suddenly erupted forward like a streak of black lightning, tearing through the air at an unfathomable speed, hurtling directly toward the incoming Kakuja giants.
For an instant, time seemed to freeze.
Then—
A blinding light, more dazzling than anything before, erupted across the sky like a celestial rainbow, splitting the night apart. For a fleeting moment, darkness turned to day.
And immediately after—
A thunderous explosion shook the heavens.
BOOM!
The earth trembled violently, as if struck by a massive earthquake. Shockwaves, carrying intense gales, rippled outward like waves crashing across a lake. The ground fractured and shattered beneath the force, sending debris flying. Smoke and dust billowed into the air as entire city blocks—once thriving streets, towering skyscrapers, and serene parks—were annihilated in an instant.
A colossal mushroom cloud surged skyward.
It all happened in the blink of an eye.
And yet, it also felt like an eternity.
Only after a long silence, when the dust had settled, did the terrified citizens finally dare to step out of their homes, peeking out cautiously.
And when they saw what lay before them—
They were stunned speechless.
The once-bustling cityscape had vanished.
What remained was nothing but ruins.
Everywhere they looked, the land was scarred and broken.
Collapsed structures stretched endlessly into the horizon, flames raging unchecked, thick plumes of black smoke rising high into the sky, forming a fiery abyss.
As for the Kakuja giants and the mutant ghouls—
They had been completely erased from existence.
For humans, these creatures had been an impenetrable force—even Q-type bullets had barely scratched them. But before the Tailed Beast Bomb, their supposed "invincible defenses" had been no stronger than paper.
"Ah… looks like I overdid it a little. My bad."
Kaguya turned back toward the crowd, scratching her head with an apologetic smile.
"Well, you can always rebuild."
Rebuild.
She said it so lightly.
The people exchanged stunned glances.
Rebuild?
Just like that?!
…But of course, in front of a deity, they only dared to grumble inwardly.
Surviving this at all was already a miracle. Who were they to complain?
And so, just like that—
The disaster that had ravaged the 20th Ward was miraculously resolved in the most devastating way possible.
Though the Fox Fairy had revealed her unimaginable power, she had also demonstrated her terrifying capacity for destruction.
From that moment onward, history would forever remember this day.
In the centuries to come, the explosives industry would regard her as a patron deity. Before any mountain detonations or mining operations, people would first offer prayers in her name, lest they invoke her wrath.
The 20th Ward had suffered immense devastation.
However, thanks to the relentless efforts of the CCG-Squad and the warriors of Anteiku, the mutant ghouls had ultimately been contained, preventing them from overrunning the district. While countless civilians had perished, the majority of survivors had managed to escape, ensuring that the ward would recover in time.
In the aftermath of the battle, the Kakuja transformation process had been studied extensively. Many ghoul researchers and hunters sought to understand the phenomenon—why these creatures had become so powerful, and more importantly, how to prevent it from happening again.
But the deeper they delved, the more unsettling the truth became.
For one thing, the appearance of these mutants was not a random mutation.
They had been engineered.
And if these were deliberately created… then somewhere out there, someone had to be orchestrating everything.
But that was a problem for another time.
Kaguya, after leaving a few final instructions to the people of Anteiku, did not linger.
Instead, she immediately set off toward the 16th Ward.
If her instincts were correct—
The CCG-Squad's elite forces were likely walking into a trap.
And more importantly—
Furuta Nimura would definitely be there.
This was the perfect chance to eliminate him once and for all.
"It's about time we ended this."
With that thought, Kaguya soared through the night sky—vanishing into the distance.
Boom!
A thunderous explosion erupted as a slender figure plummeted from the sky like a meteor. With a deafening crash, the impact sent cracks spiderwebbing across the cement ground, leaving behind a massive crater.
Amid the dust and debris, a graceful young woman came into view—her long green hair flowing around her delicate face, her fair skin nearly luminous under the dim light.
It was Takatsuki Sen.
"H-how… how is this possible?"
Takatsuki's eyes widened in disbelief. Her body trembled as she struggled to push herself up, pain surging through her limbs. She could hardly process what had just happened—she had been completely overpowered.
"What's wrong? Surprised?"
A shadow descended from above, stepping out of the darkness with a smirk. His lips curled into a dazzling yet unnerving grin.
It was Furuta Nimura.
"Impossible… How could you have this kind of power?" Takatsuki gritted her teeth, her voice laced with both pain and shock.
"And why wouldn't I?"
Furuta crouched down, tilting his head playfully, his smirk widening. "Did you really think I was just some weak, lowly trash? How naive." He let out a mocking chuckle. "I must say, fooling you for this long was quite the experience. Your reaction right now… priceless."
Takatsuki's breath hitched. "Y-you… you're a monster."
Furuta merely shrugged, completely unbothered. "Of course." His tone was light, as if discussing something as mundane as the weather. "Though I must admit, I didn't expect you to fall for it so easily. You really made my job effortless."
Takatsuki clenched her fists. "What the hell do you want?"
Furuta tapped his chin as if deep in thought, then turned to her with a bright, almost childlike grin.
"Hmm… probably to have kids with a certain woman."
"What?!"
Takatsuki's mind blanked for a moment. Her breath caught in her throat, her body freezing in shock.
"Relax, relax." Furuta waved his hand dismissively, smiling as if he were telling a joke. "There were many potential candidates at first. You were one of them, actually. Your genetics are quite promising. With proper cultivation, you might have even produced an excellent next generation.
His smile faded slightly, his tone turning almost disappointed.
"But unfortunately…"
Takatsuki's pulse quickened. "Unfortunately what?"
"Unfortunately, I found someone far more… fascinating." Furuta's eyes gleamed with eerie excitement. "Compared to her, you all pale in comparison. A perfect specimen."
His fingers twitched with anticipation. "Just a tiny sample of her blood—such an extreme reaction… It's unbelievable. If I could…"
"You're insane!" Takatsuki snapped. "You seriously think she'd ever allow that? You're delusional!"
"Oh?"
Furuta turned his gaze back to Takatsuki, his smirk returning. "And why not? You think she can stop me?"
Takatsuki's breath hitched.
"I wasn't planning on killing you," Furuta said lazily. "But now that you know too much… well…"
His smirk widened.
"I'm afraid you'll have to die."
The instant the last word left his lips—
Furuta lunged.
His body shot forward like an arrow, his crimson tail-like Rinkaku kagune extending behind him in a blur of motion. He moved with terrifying speed, a lethal force surging toward Takatsuki.
"Too fast!"
Boom!
A thunderous explosion rang out as Furuta's Rinkaku kagune slammed heavily against Takatsuki.
Crack!
"Not good!"
Takatsuki's pupils shrank as she felt an overwhelming force pressing down on her. Even her Ukhaku kagune couldn't withstand the impact.
"It's useless."
Bang!
With a sharp crack, Takatsuki's kagune armor shattered, and she was sent flying through the air like a broken doll. She crashed violently into the ground, kicking up dust and rubble. Blood splattered across the cracked pavement.
"Guh—!"
A mouthful of crimson blood sprayed from her lips.
"I told you already—attacks like yours are nothing more than child's play. There's no strength behind them at all. Fighting you is completely dull and unsatisfying," Furuta said with a grin as he stepped forward. "But it looks like you didn't get your hands on that person's blood after all. What a pity."
Takatsuki wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, her eyes filled with disbelief.
This guy… his strength is monstrous.
She had revealed her Kakuja form, believing that aside from that person, no one else could rival her. Even if she were surrounded, she was confident she could escape. But this grinning bastard in front of her—she never imagined he'd possess such terrifying power.
Just one attack, and he completely shattered my kagune armor.
Did he… use the blood?
As if reading Takatsuki's mind, Furuta let out a playful chuckle, spreading his arms theatrically.
"No need to look so scared. Relax. I didn't use the blood," he said, smirking. "My strength? It's entirely my own. Just a little natural-born talent—nothing more!"
Takatsuki's fists clenched.
If that's true… if he's this strong even without the blood…
Then she had no chance.
"Well, that's enough talk." Furuta narrowed his eyes, still wearing that maddening grin. "You should be satisfied now. Time to send you on your way, miss."
The moment his words fell, four monstrous Rinkaku kagune shot out from behind him, whipping through the air like crimson vipers, striking toward Takatsuki—
She was severely injured.
She couldn't dodge.
The twisted kagune streaked toward her, sharp as blades—just inches from piercing through her body—
And then—
A sudden gust of wind roared past.
Takatsuki barely had time to react. She only felt a flicker of movement before her, then found herself soaring through the air—someone had grabbed her and yanked her away in a split second.
"Tch."
Furuta clicked his tongue.
"Still trying to run? How naive."
With a cold laugh, he lunged forward, his Rinkaku whipping through the air like a red lightning bolt, stabbing directly toward her exposed back—
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