Just as Amano Hiro was crushing the Special-Class Investigators with overwhelming force, the situation across the entire battlefield changed once again.
"Kill."
Thunderous battle cries erupted from all directions. Countless ghouls from Aogiri Tree surged out like a dark tide rising from underground, pouring in from street corners, rooftops, and ruins.
Their scarlet kakugan connected into a sea of red beneath the night sky, like sparks from hell.
The originally orderly CCG lines were instantly scattered. Screams and the clash of weapons rang out one after another.
Yet amidst the chaos, Yoshimura Eto stood motionless at the edge of a nearby rooftop.
Her wide cloak fluttered violently in the night wind. Beneath the bandages, her gaze remained locked onto the dark red figure at the center of the battlefield, as if waiting for something.
At the center, the twin-pronged spear formed from Amano Hiro's right hand still firmly suppressed Shinohara Yukinori and Iwao Kuroiwa.
The Arata armor emitted strained creaking under the immense pressure.
Their knees sank deep into the shattered ground. Blood continuously seeped from the gaps in their armor.
"Heh. Hehehe."
Amano Hiro suddenly let out a low, crazed laugh. The sound carried metallic distortion that made it chilling to hear.
His left claw slowly rose. Five sharp blades gleamed coldly in the moonlight.
"End it."
The claw slashed down with a shriek that tore through the air. The sheer range of the strike nearly enveloped both of their upper bodies entirely.
Crack.
The Arata quinque armor shattered instantly, breaking into countless fragments that scattered outward.
Shinohara and Kuroiwa were hurled away like puppets with cut strings.
Blood traced two glaring arcs through the air before they crashed heavily into ruins dozens of meters away, falling motionless.
Amano Hiro turned toward Yoshimura Kuzen, who had barely managed to stand. Dark red energy rippled faintly around him.
"Manager, leave first. I'll follow shortly."
The manager looked at him deeply. His damaged kakuja form was gradually receding.
He nodded. "Hiro. Be careful."
Watching the manager stagger away, Amano Hiro felt a trace of confusion.
He surveyed the increasingly chaotic battlefield. Aogiri Tree was fully suppressing the remaining CCG forces, but.
"Why hasn't Arima Kishou arrived yet," he murmured.
Since Arima Kishou had not appeared, he decided he might as well finish off the fallen investigators first.
Then he would keep Kousuke Houji alive and bring him back as a gift for Tatara.
After that, he could capture Yoshitoki Washuu and take him back as a kakuhou donor.
Yes. That settled it.
Another thought suddenly crossed his mind. Instead of killing them, he could remove their organs and turn them into something like Suzuya Juuzou.
The idea made him laugh out loud.
While calculating how to deal with the fallen investigators, Amano Hiro had already stepped beside Ui Koori.
Without hesitation, he raised his grotesque claw. It was about to descend.
A white streak suddenly shot through the air at astonishing speed, aimed straight at Amano Hiro's head.
He sensed it instantly and snapped his head aside, narrowly avoiding the fatal strike.
But his descending claw did not stop.
A sharp slicing sound followed.
With a piercing scream, one of Ui Koori's legs was severed and sent flying. Blood gushed out violently.
"With injuries that severe, you're still conscious."
Amano Hiro's voice carried a hint of surprise before shifting into regret.
"Too bad. He dodged."
Arima Kishou's figure had already appeared beside Ui Koori.
His expression was cold, his gaze sharp as an eagle's. Ui Koori endured the agony, pressing both hands tightly against the severed leg in an attempt to slow the bleeding.
"Arima-san."
Arima Kishou gave a slight nod, his eyes never leaving Amano Hiro.
He pulled the pure white Narukami from the ground and gently set the black case with golden patterns at his feet.
Amano Hiro looked at Arima Kishou. An uncontrollable excitement surged within him. He had finally arrived.
He had long yearned to face this legendary CCG Reaper in battle.
Without warning, Arima Kishou struck first.
Narukami instantly shifted form in his hand. Its cannon-like muzzle gathered dazzling yellow electricity.
A thick bolt of lightning fired straight at Amano Hiro.
Amano Hiro shifted aside and easily evaded it. At the same time, countless dark red spikes formed instantly before him.
They shot toward Arima Kishou like a torrential storm.
Arima's figure blurred repeatedly. Narukami danced before him, precisely deflecting every spike.
Metal clashed without pause. Sparks flew in all directions.
In the gaps between blocks, he stepped forward, closing the distance with astonishing speed.
Narukami shifted again into a long blade, thrusting toward Amano Hiro's vital point with fierce momentum.
The blade and claw collided dozens of times in an instant.
Their speed left streaks in the air. The sparks from metal clashing shone brilliantly in the night.
Amano Hiro's hands had fully transformed into savage claws. His assault grew even more violent.
Arima Kishou keenly realized that Narukami alone was insufficient to completely withstand this storm-like barrage.
He decisively retreated several steps. His left hand reached for the black case on the ground.
IXA unsheathed.
Arima thrust IXA deeply into the ground. A sinister tremor ran through the earth beneath Amano Hiro's feet.
Several twisted black tendrils burst from the soil, piercing upward with shrieking force.
Amano Hiro moved like a phantom, slipping through narrow gaps and evading every strike.
At the same time, six tendrils from his back unleashed a rain of spikes downward.
Arima calmly raised IXA before him. A black shield unfolded instantly like blooming petals, blocking the dense barrage completely.
Sparks scattered across its surface, illuminating his emotionless eyes behind the lenses.
Amano Hiro frowned slightly. Arima Kishou was actually matching him evenly.
Even though he was not yet using his full strength, it was still astonishing.
"Looks like I need to get serious."
The dark red energy around him surged violently. His body expanded again. Savage bone spikes erupted from his joints.
The six tendrils twisted and reshaped in midair, their ends morphing into various grotesque weapons that swept forward with destructive force.
Explosive booms from colliding weapons shook the air.
Arima's figure maneuvered through the relentless assault. IXA became a streak of black light in his hands, shifting between shield and spear.
Yet anyone could see that his defense was beginning to strain. Each block caused his arms to tremble slightly.
The longer Amano Hiro fought, the more shocked he became. This was already ninety percent of his power, and Arima Kishou could still barely withstand it. Was this still human?
At the instant their weapons clashed again, Arima suddenly lowered his voice. His words reached Amano Hiro's ears with precision.
"Now is not the best time."
Amano Hiro's pupils contracted. His arms surged with force as violent energy erupted.
The explosion of power blasted Arima backward. IXA scraped sparks across the ground.
His feet carved two deep trenches before he crashed through half of a ruined wall, barely halting his retreat.
Amid the drifting dust, the two stared at each other from a distance.