Nearly everyone's attention was fixed on the One-Eyed Owl ahead—no one noticed Byakuya's peculiar oversized fan.
Then again, Quinques came in all shapes and forms. Even if an investigator noticed the Gunbai, they'd probably just assume it was some kind of koukaku Quinque.
Thanks to the confidentiality surrounding each investigator's Quinque, no one questioned where he'd gotten it.
"Shinohara, you ready?"
Kuroiwa kept his gaze locked on the One-Eyed Owl.
"Yeah..."
Shinohara replied.
In the next instant, both men exploded into motion, charging at the One-Eyed Owl simultaneously.
While wearing the New Proto, they each wielded a second Quinque.
Kuroiwa held his "Kuroiwa Special" while Shinohara gripped "Oni Yamada No.1"—one rinkaku, one bikaku. Both were high-grade, versatile offensive Quinques.
Few investigators could wield two Quinques simultaneously. Clearly, both had trained extensively for this—as expected of Special Class investigators.
"Cover Special Class Shinohara and Special Class Kuroiwa!"
Ui immediately ordered the others.
The New Proto not only elevated Shinohara and Kuroiwa's defense to SS-rated koukaku levels but also dramatically enhanced their strength and speed.
The One-Eyed Owl finally moved, launching countless blade-shaped ukaku projectiles from its massive body.
But this couldn't stop Shinohara and Kuroiwa. Clad in the New Proto, they could completely ignore those kagune projectiles, closing the distance to strike with their Quinques at blinding speed.
The One-Eyed Owl possessed a pair of enormous arms that could both attack and defend—arms formed entirely of kagune.
In truth, Yoshimura hadn't assumed his full kakuja form this time. His own human hands remained visible, uncovered by kagune.
The massive kagune arms blocked most of Shinohara and Kuroiwa's attacks, while Yoshimura dodged the rest.
Despite their best efforts to target his head, they couldn't even graze the kagune mask that formed his "one-eyed" visage.
BOOM—!!
Then Yoshimura got slightly serious. He unleashed a shotgun-like burst of black kagune, blasting the clinging Shinohara and Kuroiwa away. Multiple holes were blown through the surrounding walls.
Both flew back several meters before barely stabilizing themselves, Quinques still firmly in hand.
"The New Proto may still be a prototype kakuja Quinque, but this defensive capability is incredible... If we'd had our old equipment from ten years ago, we'd probably be dead a couple times over by now."
Shinohara let out a shaky sigh of relief.
"Mm..."
Kuroiwa grunted. "An ukaku excels at ranged attacks but can also fight close-quarters with shoulder-mounted kagune. Then there's that shotgun-like kagune blast for catching opponents off guard. And we can't outlast his stamina either. Truly an unbeatable ultimate ghoul..."
Just then, Shinohara noticed Hirako lurking in a corner, waiting for an opening.
First Class Hirako... His early career wasn't particularly distinguished, but he partnered with then-Associate Special Class Arima for six years until his promotion to First Class.
You could say Hirako was Arima's closest colleague. If he learned anything from Arima, then against the same Owl that Arima once defeated...
Sorry, Shinohara-san. I'm just an ordinary man...
Hirako could tell exactly what Shinohara was thinking.
He'd once asked Arima for guidance. The result? Arima turned out to be a "natural"—he simply couldn't teach others.
For example, Arima would hold two Quinques and say something like, "First you do this, then that, then this, and you can defeat an SS-rated ghoul." How was anyone supposed to learn from that?
Though Shinohara and Kuroiwa's expectations weighed on him, Hirako had to move.
He'd already circled around to the rear, then launched a sudden attack from behind the One-Eyed Owl.
But the Owl's reflexes were terrifyingly fast. It whipped around, its kagune arm slashing toward Hirako.
Fortunately, Hirako had learned something from Arima. He dodged with nearly the same movement Arima had used ten years ago—but his helmet was still sent flying, along with one of his ears.
As for his counterattack? Useless against the One-Eyed Owl. After all, ten years ago Arima had borrowed a Special Class investigator's Quinque.
Mado's mind was sharper than almost anyone's in the CCG. He immediately seized the opportunity while Hirako distracted the Owl, charging in.
Shinohara and Kuroiwa followed close behind. All three slashed at the Owl's neck simultaneously, dealing massive damage to its shoulder and neck kakuhou.
"Did... did we win?!"
The other investigators watching were stunned.
"Ah... no. We lost."
Hirako's voice was low.
"?!"
The investigators couldn't believe it. Even wounded this badly, the One-Eyed Owl still hadn't fallen!
"Even two Special Class investigators can't deal fatal damage to the Owl's kakuhou. Put simply, our firepower can't keep up with its regeneration speed."
Hirako explained.
The One-Eyed Owl had already regenerated most of its wounds. Shinohara and Kuroiwa were swatted away once more by its massive kagune arms.
Rat-tat-tat—
A group of investigators who had somehow circled behind the Owl opened fire. But the bullets hitting its body were less effective than a tickle.
The One-Eyed Owl glanced back at them. They immediately froze in terror, thinking their end had come, their gun-wielding hands dropping.
Yet the One-Eyed Owl didn't attack them—it simply ignored them entirely.
"Iwa, let's go all out..."
Shinohara spoke gravely.
"Do it. I'm ready."
Kuroiwa rose to his feet.
They had no other options. They would unleash the New Proto's full power.
Mado knew that without the New Proto, even a glancing blow from the Owl would be fatal. He continued biding his time.
As both men released their power, the New Proto came alive, the living kagune covering their heads, transforming them into something resembling true kakuja. Their flesh was being consumed by the New Proto.
In exchange for this heightened explosive power, they momentarily seemed to be suppressing the One-Eyed Owl—but still showed no signs of actually defeating it.
After a few exchanges, Shinohara's condition deteriorated.
Both immediately created distance from the Owl, which didn't pursue.
"Shinohara?!"
Kuroiwa immediately checked on him.
"So there's a Quinque that devours its user... Even gritting my teeth through it, if this continues..."
Shinohara's condition worsened by the moment as the New Proto consumed his body.
"What a terrifying weapon... This world constantly births grief and hatred, mutual slaughter and plunder, with each side considering their actions righteous. The equipment you wear is a prime example."
The One-Eyed Owl, rather than pressing its advantage, spoke slowly: "No excuse can justify killing. Regardless of the circumstances, taking another's life is always a sin..."
"?! What are you saying..."
Kuroiwa seemed oblivious that these words were directed at them.
Shinohara was too far gone to care what the Owl was saying—he'd dropped to one knee, barely holding on.
"Shinohara-san, Kuroiwa-san, leave the rest to me."
Just then, Byakuya approached, Gunbai in one hand.
"Are you sure?"
Kuroiwa asked immediately.
"...I'll win."
Byakuya replied simply.
"..."
Kuroiwa said nothing more.
Shinohara's consciousness was fading, but watching Byakuya walk toward the One-Eyed Owl, he was suddenly reminded of Arima from ten years ago.
This situation was too similar to back then—everyone helpless, and like Arima, he was a newcomer...
"Shinohara, get that thing off now!"
Kuroiwa warned him.
He was also tearing at his own New Proto, trying to remove it.
"Amaha!"
Suddenly, Mado threw Byakuya's discarded Quinque case to him.
The Quinque-obsessed Mado was worried the fan-shaped "Quinque" in Byakuya's hand might get destroyed by the Owl.
"..."
Byakuya couldn't help but smile wryly. Still, he caught the case and slung the Gunbai back over his shoulder.
Since it's come to this, might as well spar with the manager using Jason first.
Yoshimura watched the young man approach. He'd thought it was about time to leave—one Special Class was nearly crippled, the other half-incapacitated—but there was still one more Special Class-level fighter here: the youth before him.
He didn't want Aogiri's command center to fall too quickly, so he intended to delay this third "Special Class" a bit longer.
When Byakuya was about five or six meters away, he suddenly exploded into motion. The case in his hand instantly transformed into "13's Jason."
"Ohhh!"
Gasps of amazement filled the room—Byakuya's explosive speed appeared no slower than the two Special Classes wearing the New Proto.
Just then, Amon—who had doubled back after driving off some ghouls—arrived to see Byakuya engaged in combat with the Owl.
Why is Rank 1 Amaha alone?!...
Amon was stunned. Weren't there two Special Class investigators?
Then he spotted Kuroiwa, who had just removed his New Proto and was covered in blood. Shinohara was in even worse shape.
He rushed over. "Shinohara-san! Kuroiwa-san! What happened?"
While Amon asked about the situation, Byakuya was already exchanging blows with the One-Eyed Owl using Jason's sword form. His perception and dynamic vision, far beyond ordinary humans, allowed him to dodge the Owl's attacks.
But with the Mangekyo Sharingan deactivated, his abilities fell short of when it was active. When he sensed he couldn't dodge in time, he'd preemptively switch Jason to shield form to block.
Yoshimura was holding back as well. They appeared evenly matched, but both were essentially putting on a show.
Byakuya didn't want to hurt the manager. The manager didn't want to hurt him.
Watching Byakuya hold his own against the One-Eyed Owl single-handedly for so long, nearly everyone stared in disbelief.
"Iwa, I feel like I'm seeing Arima from ten years ago in him..."
Shinohara, having removed the New Proto with medical assistance, was recovering somewhat. He let out a sigh of amazement.
"Another Arima? That's excellent news."
Kuroiwa nodded.
"Arima-san's eye for talent is certainly sharp. No wonder Amaha-kun earned such high praise from him."
Ui smiled.
"..."
Amon stood speechless, watching the battle unfold.
He couldn't imagine that the SSS-rated Owl—which even Special Class Shinohara and Kuroiwa couldn't handle—could be matched by Rank 1 Amaha alone.
By now, Byakuya sensed it was time. His other hand drew the Gunbai from his back, perfectly intercepting the black kagune projectiles the Owl fired—shotgun-like in their devastating power.
More precisely, the Gunbai didn't just block them—it absorbed them completely.
"That's enough, right? Manager..."
Suddenly, Byakuya murmured under his breath.
Only Yoshimura heard him. He froze.
Amaha-kun had recognized him—how could he not be shocked?
Uchiha Reflection!
Byakuya was ready to end this fight. He converted the energy the Gunbai had just absorbed into wind-natured energy.
As Uchiha Reflection activated, the Gunbai unleashed a gale fierce enough to tear through space itself.
The stunned Yoshimura was sent flying by the violent winds. A layer of kagune flesh was stripped from his kakuja shell, and along with the wall behind him, he was blasted clear out of the building.
[Ding! Host has repelled SSS-rated "Non-Killing Owl." Reward: 100 Fusion Points!]
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