Amano Hiro stood high above, calmly observing the fierce battle below.
Shinohara Yukinori, Iwao Kuroiwa, Ui Koori, Kousuke Houji, and Suzuya Juuzou, five Special-Class Investigators working in seamless coordination, had formed an encirclement around Yoshimura Kuzen.
From the very start of the battle, the manager had been at a disadvantage. Wounds continued to accumulate across his kakuja body, and his regeneration had clearly slowed.
"Logically speaking, with the manager's strength, he shouldn't be suppressed to this extent by just a few Special-Class Investigators."
Amano Hiro pondered silently.
"Either he's truly grown old, or he's deliberately holding back."
Just as the thought crossed his mind, the battle shifted abruptly.
Seizing an opening, Kousuke Houji fired three consecutive crystal shells, each striking with precise accuracy.
The manager's massive body shook violently. At last, he could no longer endure it and dropped heavily to one knee.
Seeing this, Shinohara Yukinori shouted immediately, "Now. Deliver the final blow."
The four Special-Class Investigators gathered their full strength at once. Their quinques flared with dazzling light as they launched a fatal strike toward the manager, who could no longer continue fighting.
Amano Hiro thought to himself that it was about time to make his dazzling entrance.
The power within him began to boil as his slaughter form slowly emerged.
A tremendous torrent of energy surged through his limbs and bones. Every inch of muscle emitted a low hum.
Dark red energy rippled outward like molten lava, covering his entire body before condensing into a massive crimson monster over four meters tall.
Ferocious exoskeletal armor gleamed with a metallic sheen under the moonlight. The energy radiating from his body distorted the very air.
At the critical moment.
The sky was suddenly torn apart by a streak of dark red light. The piercing sound of something cutting through the air rang deafeningly.
That streak descended like a falling meteor, carrying suffocating pressure as it crashed down from the heavens, targeting the four Special-Class Investigators.
"Watch above."
Kousuke Houji's warning and the sound of impact erupted almost simultaneously.
Relying on their battle-honed instincts, the four Special-Class Investigators forcibly withdrew their attacks and retreated at extreme speed in the final instant.
Boom.
The entire battlefield trembled violently. With a thunderous crash, the rooftop beneath them collapsed.
Rubble scattered like torrential rain. Thick dust rose into the sky like a mushroom cloud.
As the smoke gradually cleared, the enormous dark red figure slowly rose from the deep crater at the center of the impact.
Energy waves shimmered around its body. Its grotesque form radiated pressure far more primal and terrifying than an ordinary kakuja.
The terrifying figure turned slightly toward Yoshimura Kuzen, who was struggling to remain upright, and spoke in a low voice that carried metallic resonance.
"Manager, I'm not too late, am I."
If the manager could have known what Amano Hiro was thinking, he might have greeted him personally with his kagune.
Not too late. A moment later and this old life of his would have ended here.
Gazing at the towering dark red figure before him and hearing the familiar tone, the manager spoke between breaths. "Hiro."
It was the first time he had witnessed Amano Hiro's kakuja form in person.
Even without fighting, the overwhelming aura and ferocious shape alone made the terrifying power within unmistakable.
As the dust thinned further, Shinohara Yukinori focused on the newcomer. His pupils shrank abruptly.
"It's you."
He and Iwao Kuroiwa exchanged a grave look.
There was no doubt. The dark red monster before them was the one they had encountered in the 11th Ward. Slaughter.
Dark red energy rippled around Amano Hiro's body as his metallic, resonant voice echoed through the night.
"It's been a while, Special-Class Investigator Shinohara."
Shinohara Yukinori tightened his grip on his quinque until his knuckles turned pale.
"I didn't expect you to appear here as well."
A drop of cold sweat slid down his temple.
The situation had already deteriorated to the extreme.
Not only had they failed to successfully subjugate the Owl, but now another existence of equal terror had appeared.
Tonight's battle would be far more difficult than anticipated.
Shinohara Yukinori pressed his communicator, his voice taut.
"Command center, this is Shinohara. A new high-risk target has appeared on the battlefield. Confirmed as the one encountered in the 11th Ward. Slaughter."
Inside the command vehicle, Kisho Marude's brows knotted instantly.
He suppressed the shock in his heart and asked in a low voice, "What is the current situation. Any casualties."
"No engagement yet. No casualties for now." Shinohara's voice came through the static, heavy with gravity.
Marude fell silent for a moment, fingers unconsciously tapping the console.
"Do you have confidence."
A nearly inaudible sigh came from the other end.
"Hard to say. We can only try our best."
"Understood." Marude took a deep breath. "Prioritize personnel safety. Retreat is permitted if necessary."
Standing atop the command vehicle, Yoshitoki Washuu heard every word.
His gaze was deep as an abyss. His already stern expression grew darker.
Tonight's operation had been intended to draw out Yoshimura Kuzen's hidden child.
Instead, before the expected target appeared, another troublesome monster had emerged.
The situation was steadily slipping out of control.
Since the battle began, not a single piece of good news had arrived. Only minor targets had been eliminated. Not one meaningful objective had been achieved.
Shinohara Yukinori's voice rang out, heavier than ever.
"No one can afford even the slightest carelessness. The enemy before us may be even more dangerous than the Owl. Houji, long-range support is yours."
"Understood." Kousuke Houji responded steadily as his quinque began gathering energy.
Before his words had fully faded, Suzuya Juuzou had already rushed forward with manic laughter, his massive scythe carving a chilling arc.
It was unclear which unfortunate ghoul's kakuhou had been used to forge that scythe.
"Juuzou. Don't be reckless." Shinohara's warning was swallowed by the roar of battle.
Just as the scythe was about to fall, Amano Hiro casually raised his hand and struck.
Suzuya did not even see the movement. He was sent flying like a severed kite, crashing heavily into distant ruins, unable to rise again.
In the next second, the dark red figure had already advanced into their formation.
The twin-pronged spear formed from his right hand descended with a shriek that tore through the air. Iwao Kuroiwa and Shinohara Yukinori raised their blades simultaneously to block.
With a deafening crash, both were forced down onto one knee by the sheer force. The concrete beneath their feet shattered, spiderweb cracks spreading rapidly.
"How is this possible."
Ui Koori launched a flanking strike from the side, his quinque thrusting toward a vital point.
Amano Hiro did not even turn his head. With a casual motion of his left hand, he deflected the attack entirely. The residual force sent Ui Koori flying backward.
"What." Ui Koori adjusted himself midair with difficulty, disbelief written across his face.
At the same time, three brilliant crystal shells shot in from behind.
Three tendrils suddenly extended from Amano Hiro's back, lashing out midair at a speed too fast for the eye to follow.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
Kousuke Houji's pupils shrank violently. He had never imagined his attack would be reflected back in such a brutal manner.
He could only dive aside hastily. Even so, the aftershock hurled him several meters away. He lay among the rubble, bloodied and unmoving, his fate unclear.
A scream suddenly rang out.
Ui Koori.
Five sharp claws pierced straight through him, pinning him brutally to the ground. Blood instantly stained the shattered surface crimson.
In mere moments, the battlefield that had once favored the investigators was overturned completely.
Amano Hiro looked down at the two still struggling to endure. The force of his right hand did not lessen in the slightest. His low voice carried calm that chilled the bones.
"Special-Class Investigator Shinohara. Well."