Above the entrance to the 24th Ward, the massive figure of Carnage tore through the clouds.
Its crimson wings beat heavily, whipping violent gusts through the air and shredding the clouds beneath it.
Unlike the numbered districts of Tokyo—Wards 1 through 23—
The so-called 24th Ward had never been officially designated by the authorities.
The Commission of Counter Ghoul simply used the term as a convenient label.
In reality—
The 24th Ward was a vast underground labyrinth.
A sprawling ghoul-built world beneath Tokyo.
Its tunnels extended for kilometers beneath the city.
Its complexity far exceeded anything the surface world could imagine.
The walls here were not concrete.
They were formed from hardened kagune tissue.
Living structures grown and layered by ghouls over decades.
The concept was similar to the creation of quinques, except the technology had evolved independently within the ghoul society of the underground.
Deep within this labyrinth lurked countless dangerous ghouls.
Creatures even the CCG preferred not to confront directly.
The density of these kagune structures created natural barriers.
They formed living walls that made exploration extremely difficult.
To prevent ghouls from emerging onto the surface—
The CCG periodically launched underground sweeps.
Special squads known as 24th Ward Investigation Teams were deployed.
Within the organization, these operations were jokingly called:
"Whack-a-mole."
One investigator who frequently led such missions—
Was Kishou Arima.
Carnage descended heavily into the labyrinth.
Its massive body landed with a thunderous impact.
Dust exploded outward from the ground.
"…Why…did we come here…?"
Carnage's deep voice echoed in Ren's mind.
"…Are you giving up on the people at the café…?"
"Of course not."
Ren answered calmly.
"You know…"
"There's an old story preserved within the Washuu clan."
"A forbidden story."
"The legend of the first One-Eyed King."
Kiryu began explaining.
The Washuu Clan was an ancient ghoul lineage.
For centuries they maintained power through selective breeding and cannibalistic traditions.
Their bloodline produced unusually powerful ghouls.
It was precisely because of this lineage—
That scientists such as Akihiro Kanou became obsessed with obtaining their genetic material.
Centuries ago—
The Washuu family migrated from the Middle East to Japan.
Eventually establishing political control over Tokyo.
To maintain their dominance—
They created the predecessor of the modern CCG.
Over time, the clan split into branches.
Only the purest bloodlines retained the name Washuu.
Those of mixed heritage—
Particularly half-humans—
Were denied the name.
One famous example:
Nimura Furuta.
Though he was the biological son of Tsuneyoshi Washuu, he was never allowed to acknowledge him as his father.
More than a century ago—
A one-eyed ghoul appeared within the Washuu lineage.
Despite being born into the clan—
He despised them.
Eventually he defected.
Becoming an enemy of the very system his family created.
Few people knew the full truth.
At one point—
That ghoul transformed into a monstrous Dragon-like form.
The rampage nearly destroyed all of Tokyo.
Later generations called him:
The Underground King.
Or—
The first One-Eyed King.
After his death—
His remains sank deep beneath the earth.
Hidden in the ruins of old Tokyo.
The modern city was built atop those ruins.
The story was buried by the Washuu clan.
Erased from official history.
Even so—
The traces of that ancient catastrophe still lingered beneath the city.
Carnage listened silently.
"…So…"
It asked slowly.
"…why are we here?"
Kiryu looked deeper into the tunnels.
"Our goal is simple."
"To find the Underground King's remains."
"And devour them."
The Anteiku Extermination Operation was approaching.
Carnage was already extremely powerful.
But Kiryu preferred certainty.
Because one opponent still existed—
A man whose strength defied logic.
Kishou Arima.
In the original story—
Arima's combat ability bordered on the supernatural.
If Kiryu were defeated by him—
Everything would end.
So he chose the safest path.
To grow stronger.
Across all of Tokyo—
No source of power could rival the remains of the Underground King.
Once Carnage devoured those remnants—
Its strength would rise to unimaginable levels.
"…Do you know where the body is?"
Kiryu asked.
Carnage grinned.
Its crimson tongue slid across its fangs.
"…Of course…"
"…I can smell it…"
"…Such a delicious scent…"
"…The Underground King…"
"…is deep below."
Carnage suddenly moved.
Its claws tore violently into the kagune wall ahead.
CRACK.
The living structure split apart.
Revealing a dark passage beyond.
Carnage pushed forward.
One wall.
Then another.
Then another.
Each shattered by brute force.
Finally—
The last barrier collapsed.
A massive underground cavern appeared.
Before them lay the ruins of an ancient city.
Frozen in time.
And above those ruins—
Rested the colossal remains of a monstrous creature.
Dark crimson kagune fragments covered the skeletal structure.
Even in death—
It radiated overwhelming pressure.
"…We've arrived…"
Carnage whispered excitedly.
"…The Underground King…"
"…is right in front of us…"
The crimson symbiote mass retreated.
Reforming beneath Ren's skin.
Revealing his human form.
He stared at the corpse.
Speechless.
"…Incredible…"
"If this creature once lived…"
"…Tokyo would have been erased."
If such a monster truly rampaged—
Destroying the Washuu clan would have been trivial.
Yet the clan still ruled.
Which meant—
Perhaps the Underground King had hesitated.
Perhaps—
Even he could not bring himself to slaughter his own blood.
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