The monster's body tightly surrounded Jotaro, and the constantly stirring tentacles possessed power that could crush steel bars in an instant.
"BOSS!"
"Jotaro!"
"Kujo-kun!"
Irimi, Eto, Tsukiyama Shuu and the others screamed heart-wrenchingly. In front of them, the monster's skin tightened, and countless mouths emerged on top.
Those exposed teeth were trembling excitedly.
"No way! It actually swallowed Kujo-kun!" Tsukiyama Shuu clutched his own hair, looking utterly shocked.
"That… that… that was my finest food!" He had already begun to go crazy, not caring at all about the difference in strength between them, jumping onto the monster's massive body, constantly slicing with his sharp koukaku.
"Give back Kujo-kun! Give him back!"
Maybe his power was too insignificant, or maybe the monster was too focused on savoring its delicacy right now.
This soft and weak attack didn't even elicit the slightest response.
"Calm down!"
Irimi stepped forward and pulled him back.
She was also very concerned about Jotaro's safety, but was much calmer than Tsukiyama Shuu.
"Knowing the Boss, he wouldn't do something he's not confident about."
She looked toward the direction where Jotaro had disappeared, her gaze abnormally firm.
"I think it's very likely he let the monster eat him on purpose."
Eto had a trace of worry in her eyes, but rarely, she agreed with Irimi's words.
"Moreover…" Irimi suddenly smiled. "Boss is a man of great luck, and only people like that can carve out a path in a way no one expects!"
As soon as the words fell, the monster's massive body began trembling constantly, its body emitting a sobbing-like sound.
"Ooooooo…"
The monster's wailing stunned the group.
It seemed to be suffering, constantly slamming into the ground in pain. The massive tremors were comparable to an eight-magnitude earthquake.
…
Shinobu's body was in the bottomless darkness. After obtaining the precious research data, she had been instantly swallowed by the enormous monster.
She wanted to resist, but this overwhelming force was not something she could shake.
Even though she had learned to use Haki, she couldn't cross this insurmountable chasm.
She was aware that she had been eaten, aware that she was gradually becoming nourishment for the monster.
The Haki covering her body could only delay this process.
Right now, she already felt powerless, unable to support herself alone. Maybe it wouldn't be long before she was completely digested by the monster.
In a daze, it felt like she had a long dream.
That dream didn't have Jotaro in it.
Just like her sister, she died at the hands of Douma.
The Demon Slayer Corps suffered devastating losses to defeat Muzan Kibutsuji, and very few survived.
The scenes flashing in her mind snapped Shinobu's fuzzy consciousness back to clarity, and cold sweat drenched her body.
Even though she had been unwilling to die that way, she had still embraced death with courage.
Now, she was again close to death, but couldn't face it as resolutely as before.
This brief part of her life had been incredibly happy to her.
She still had regrets, regret that she might never see Jotaro again, never help him return to his own world.
Regret whether he ever felt the emotions she conveyed to him.
In that moment, she suddenly felt some remorse, if only she had been more proactive back then.
Just like Akira Mado.
———
"If the monster was rampaging before, now it must be completely berserk!"
Watching the monster crazily flail and slam the ground, Irimi shouted in shock.
Those painful, ear-piercing cries were enough to rupture human eardrums.
Just the sound waves it emitted caused cracks to appear on the surrounding walls.
"What the hell is going on! It seems to be in agony."
Eto looked at the scene before her in confusion, then as if recalling something, speculated, "Could it be Jotaro…"
Before she finished her words, blood suddenly gushed out from the monster's body in large amounts, spreading rapidly from head to toe.
"Ora ora ora ora ora!"
Star Platinum's flurry of punches had already blasted the monster's body to the point of collapse.
The various external energies had interfered with Jotaro, preventing him from determining Shinobu's location.
But once he entered the monster's body, it was a different story.
"Though this is really disgusting…" Jotaro closed his eyes, his expression still showing reluctance. "Yare yare… but now this is the only way!"
His fingers slid across the brim of his hat, and a cold light flashed in his eyes.
"Ora ora ora…"
At once, Star Platinum's punches grew faster and faster, turning the monster's insides upside down.
With a splurt sound, the massive monster occupying Ward 24 exploded, scattering into piles of minced flesh.
This scene happened to be seen by the CCG group that had just arrived at Ward 24.
"This trip was totally worth it. I knew there had to be some way to deal with these monsters in Ward 24. Their skin can even block missiles."
Nagachika Hideyoshi, eyes wide open, withdrew his gaze, pulled out his business card, and smiled toward the crowd in front of him.
"Yo, Kaneki! Long time no see."
He glanced at the unfamiliar girls beside Kaneki, smiling with teasing intent, "No wonder you haven't contacted me lately. So this is why. Had me worried for nothing."
"Hide? Why are you here?" Seeing his familiar friend, Kaneki was briefly dazed. Looking at the card in his hand, he was so shocked he couldn't close his mouth. "CCG Acting Deputy Director?!"
That must be a legendary story in itself, but Hide didn't explain, only smiled brightly, his gentle eyes focused on Kaneki.
'As long as he's safe, that's enough.'
Seeing all the ghouls around looking at him warily, Hideyoshi Nagachika quickly explained his purpose.
"CCG wants to cooperate with Ward 24 to deal with this disaster together."
"Our acting director, Suzuya Juuzou, has already approved it."
Touka said coldly, "Why should we believe your lies? CCG tried to kill that man before."
Nagachika Hideyoshi replied, "I'm sorry, but that wasn't our intention."
"I'm also a supporter of Mr. Kujo's ideals. This is a chance to eliminate prejudice from the world."
"I more than anyone want to create a world where humans and ghouls coexist peacefully."
"Because I want my best friend to live like he used to." He scratched his head, looked at Kaneki Ken, and under his cheerful smile was some sadness. "While you were gone, I was really lonely."
Kaneki's eyes were already moist.
Wasn't it the same for him?
When he had just turned into a ghoul, he had been truly terrified.
The people in Aogiri Tree had tortured him badly.
He had thought about contacting Hide, but quickly dismissed the idea.
He didn't want to involve his friend and put him in danger.
Looking at the two men crying with tears streaming down, Touka turned away and muttered, "Two men crying, gross."
Hide didn't mind, wiped away his tears, and asked, "Where's Mr. Kujo? I think he would definitely agree to this proposal."
"Him? He went to the monster." Touka replied.
Jotaro leading the charge made Hide's eyes fill with deep admiration.
"Even with powerful advanced weapons, going to such a dangerous place requires immense courage. Mr. Kujo really is a great man." Hide sighed with emotion.
Touka frowned slightly. "Powerful advanced weapons? We're dirt poor."
Seeing that Touka didn't seem to be lying, Hideyoshi broke into a cold sweat.
"Then how did that monster get blown into pieces?"
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