Dimensional Kaguya Ōtsutsuki

"My dear, no need to be so hasty. Why not join me for a candlelit dinner?" Tsukiyama Shuu brushed back his hair, a gentle smile gracing his lips. "I promise, you'll love it."

"Sorry, I'm not into effeminate types," Kaguya replied coldly. "Also, you talk way too much."

Before he could respond, Kaguya lunged forward. With a flick of her wrist, the sharp sound of steel echoed, and a gleaming blue light flashed through the air. In the distance, her katana spun midair, landing precisely in her outstretched hand. With a swift swing of her arm, the blade's sharp edge sliced through the air toward Tsukiyama.

Tsukiyama chuckled softly and stepped forward to meet her. He threw a punch, and his spiral-shaped kagune rapidly expanded, clashing violently against the katana.

Clang!

Sparks flew as metal struck kagune.

Tsukiyama smirked, his kagune successfully blocking the katana. "I told you, it's useless. While you may be strong for a human, you're far from enough." With that, he exerted more force. His kagune writhed and mutated, protruding sharp spikes and jagged teeth, exuding a terrifying aura.

"What is that?" Akira Mado's pupils shrank as an ominous feeling crept into her heart.

"Take this!"

Tsukiyama snarled, swinging his arm with full force. The crimson kagune, now a jagged longsword, slashed furiously, leaving afterimages as it cleaved through the air.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Sparks flew in rapid succession as the relentless assault echoed.

Under Tsukiyama's storm-like barrage, Kaguya backpedaled quickly, her katana working overtime to parry the onslaught. Yet she was clearly on the defensive, akin to a fragile boat tossed amidst raging waves, perilously close to capsizing.

This won't work.

Sweat trickled down Akira's forehead as she gripped her quinque whip tightly. She knew this battle had far surpassed her level, but she also understood that letting it continue like this would lead to no favorable outcome. Desperation began to set in—if she could just create an opening for Kaguya…

But at that moment, the battle took a sudden turn.

"I think I've figured out the principle behind your moves," Kaguya said, lifting her head. A sly smile played on her lips. "You've got no more use to me. Why don't you just lie down like a good boy?"

With those words, she stepped sharply to the side, narrowly evading Tsukiyama's attack. At the same time, she extended her arm. A massive, pale blue sphere, far larger than a basketball, materialized in her palm.

"Take this—Big Ball Rasengan!"

The sphere roared with a high-pitched whine as it tore through the air, hurtling straight toward Tsukiyama.

"This little trick? You think you can scare me with that?" Tsukiyama sneered, his arm swinging his kagune-sword in a powerful thrust toward the incoming Rasengan.

But the moment his kagune-sword touched the sphere, Tsukiyama's pupils contracted, and a wave of dread surged through him.

Something's wrong.

BOOM!

A deafening explosion rocked the area, unleashing a violent gale. Tsukiyama coughed up blood, his body flying backward. His kagune shattered in midair, fragmenting into countless pieces before he slammed into a distant wall with a thunderous crash, vomiting blood upon impact.

"How… how is this possible?"

Akira was stunned. Just a moment ago, she hadn't even caught what had happened, and now Tsukiyama had been sent flying. Could it be...

"Truly disgusting. How can someone like this exist? Such a waste of my time," Kaguya muttered, clutching her waist with an expression of sheer disdain.

If it weren't for her curiosity about why Tsukiyama had grown so much stronger after drinking her blood, Kaguya wouldn't have wasted her time talking to him. She would've dealt with him long ago. However, during the battle, her visual jutsu had already provided her with most of the answers, allowing her to deduce the basic principles behind the transformation.

Ghouls differ from humans primarily due to their abundance of RC cells—more than ten times the amount found in humans. These RC cells are the essence of a ghoul's power, enhancing their kagune. When nourished with ample resources, particularly human flesh, the RC cells rapidly proliferate, increasing the kagune's potency.

Essentially, it all boiled down to consuming energy.

Since Kaguya's body, being tied to her Bloodline Limit, contained immense internal energy, her blood was like a feast to ghouls. It provided them with nutrients far beyond what ordinary humans could. For a ghoul like Tsukiyama, drinking her blood wasn't just beneficial—it was transformative.

After consuming Kaguya's blood, the surge of energy caused Tsukiyama's RC cells to multiply exponentially, supercharging his kagune and enhancing his overall strength. This was how he had leapt from being an S-rated ghoul to an SS-rated powerhouse in such a short time.

However, Kaguya's immediate concern wasn't about the mechanics of his transformation—it was something else entirely.

"Are you alright?" Akira ran toward her, worry etched across her face. "Are you hurt anywhere?"

"No, someone like him couldn't possibly hurt me," Kaguya replied with a light smile. "But I do have some questions I need him to answer. If you don't mind..."

"Understood," Akira nodded, catching on quickly. She smiled warmly and said, "I'll wait for you outside. If you need anything, just call for me." With that, she turned and walked away, her steps confident and assured.

Kaguya watched Akira's retreating figure and couldn't help but smile faintly. What a sharp woman, she thought, before turning her attention back to Tsukiyama.

Tsukiyama was in a pitiful state. His clothes were torn to shreds, hanging off him like ragged strips, and his body was riddled with injuries, each wound oozing dark red blood. He looked utterly wretched.

Normally, ghouls possessed exceptional regenerative abilities, enabling them to recover quickly even after sustaining severe injuries. However, after the beating he had endured, his regeneration seemed sluggish, his strength all but spent.

Kaguya approached him and stomped down on his face, her expression cold. "Don't play dead. I know you're alive. I have a few questions for you."

"I know what you want to ask," Tsukiyama croaked, his twisted face forming a grotesque grin. "But unfortunately, it's already too late."

"What's too late?" Kaguya's heart sank as an ominous feeling crept over her.

"You'll find out soon enough. Hahaha..." Tsukiyama broke into wild laughter. Before he could finish, Kaguya's foot slammed into his stomach with a thunderous kick. Boom! He flew backward, crashing into the wall, his laughter abruptly cut off.

"I hate it when people talk to me like that," Kaguya muttered.

At that moment, a crisp crack echoed through the silent corridor, the sound eerily clear.

Kaguya froze, extending her hand instinctively. A Truth-Seeking Orb appeared in her palm, its surface smooth and dark. Yet, a faint crack had appeared upon its surface.

...

...

The sky was clear, with a bright moon and sparse stars. Tonight was particularly serene. The autumn winds had swept away the clouds from the past few days, revealing the pitch-black night sky. A full moon hung high above, casting its cold light and illuminating the earth in a snowy white glow.

However, tonight, the moon appeared different. It carried a faint, ominous crimson color, tinged with an eerie blood-red light. Surrounding the moon was a ring of white mist, resembling a pale halo. Anyone with basic knowledge of nature would recognize this phenomenon as a lunar halo, often signifying the approach of strong winds in the near future.

A few hours earlier.

In a spacious conference room, two men sat at a table. One was a thin-framed man, Special Class Investigator Itsuki Marude. The other was a white-haired man, Kishou Arima.

"Are we really going forward with the plan to eliminate the Owl?" Marude frowned and asked, "Do we have any conclusive evidence?"

"No," Arima replied flatly, taking a sip of coffee from the cup on the table.

"Then," Marude leaned back on the sofa and said, "is it intuition?"

Arima did not respond.

"Seriously," Marude sighed helplessly and continued, "you're starting to resemble that guy, Koori Ui. It's one thing for Shiki to act this way, but for someone as meticulous as you to agree to such a plan is truly unexpected."

"Whether it's true or not will be evident when the time comes," Arima said calmly.

"I knew you'd say that," Marude remarked. Picking up the documents in front of him, he asked, "Has the Chairman already approved this?"

"Yes, I've informed him," Arima replied.

"Such decisiveness... it truly fits your style," Marude said with a faint smile. "But according to my reports, it seems you've reassigned the unit with Liuli and Akira Mado to investigate the restaurant hideout. Was that necessary? If we're already moving forward, there shouldn't have been a need for additional probes."

"Liuli has been closely associated with members of the 20th Ward's 'Anteiku' in previous reconnaissance missions," Arima glanced at him and said, "Sending her there might not be the best idea."

"Really?" Marude frowned. "Are you saying Liuli might be a spy for the Owl?"

"No," Arima shook his head. "But just to be safe, it's better to reassign her."

In truth, there was more Arima had chosen not to say. If his suspicions were correct, Liuli might very well be...

"Fine," Marude shrugged, setting down the documents. "Since you're keeping an eye on it, I won't push further. But I have to say, your instincts have been sharp lately."

"Mm," Arima nodded slightly. "The command for today rests with you."

"Understood," Marude nodded in return and turned to leave.

"Special Class Marude! Special Class Marude!"

The voice of a junior investigator pulled Marude from his thoughts. He steadied himself and asked sternly, "What's the status of the battle?"

"Reporting, Special Class," the young investigator said quickly, "The ghouls of Anteiku have largely fallen into disarray. Their core members are retreating, and their outer defenses are crumbling. Victory is within reach."

"They've all retreated?" Marude turned and asked gravely. "Any other developments? Any sign of Aogiri Tree?"

"None," the investigator shook his head. "There have been no sightings of Aogiri Tree members near Anteiku."

"Very well," Marude said after a moment's pause. "Keep me informed of any updates immediately."

"Yes, sir!"

As the young investigator hurried away, Marude's unease did not abate. On the contrary, he felt a growing sense of foreboding. Something was about to happen, he was certain. This cloud of apprehension cast a shadow over the battle to exterminate the Owl.

Above, the crimson-tinged full moon loomed, its ominous glow a harbinger of the storm brewing on the horizon.

...

The battle in the 20th Ward had reached its climax. The streets were littered with bodies, pools of crimson blood staining the ground. Even the air reeked of iron and death.

This operation to eliminate the Owl had brought together a vast number of CCG forces. Elite investigators had been deployed in droves. Among them were five Special Class Investigators, with countless Associate Special Class and First-Class Investigators filling the ranks.

However, Anteiku's forces were at a severe disadvantage. Apart from a handful of S-rated and SS-rated ghouls, and one or two SS+ individuals, most of their members were too weak to hold their ground. Many of them were mere fodder, their combat effectiveness negligible. Against the overwhelming might of the CCG, the ghouls of Anteiku could do little but resist desperately. Even so, their resistance was nearing its end.

In the early stages of the battle, due to the ghouls' desperate resistance, some initial skirmishes allowed them to gain a temporary advantage. Under the bridge's shadowy depths, the humans clashed with the ghouls. The flickering firelight illuminated the fierce conflict, highlighting the resolve of both sides.

Despite their efforts, the few ghouls couldn't possibly contend against the overwhelming forces of the CCG. The scales of victory began to tilt unmistakably in favor of humanity.

...

"Ha!"

"Take this!"

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Sparks flew amidst the resounding echoes of steel clashing.

Beneath a dimly lit bridge, two figures were locked in intense combat. Their movements were rapid and precise, each trading blow for blow. Flashes of their attacks illuminated the dark, creating brief glimpses of the fierce struggle.

On one side was a ghoul clad in a coat, his face concealed by a grotesque mask. This was Koma Enji, a veteran of Anteiku. His opponent was Special Class Investigator Mougan Tanakamaru, whose muscular frame wielded a massive quinque resembling a cannon, a weapon of sheer destructive power.

"Ah, such dangerous toys," Koma Enji remarked, panting heavily but grinning mischievously.

"Dangerous indeed," Tanakamaru retorted, also drenched in sweat. His cold voice echoed with conviction, "but they'll send monsters like you straight to hell."

"You think so? Sorry to disappoint you, but you're far from enough," Koma taunted, his lips curling into a smirk.

With those words, Koma bent his knees slightly, launching himself forward like an arrow. His claw-like weapons gleamed as he slashed at Tanakamaru with razor precision.

Clang!

The clash of Koma's claws against the quinque sent sparks scattering, but Tanakamaru stood firm. He swung his massive weapon with all his might, aiming to knock Koma back.

Koma, undeterred, grinned slyly. "You've let your guard down."

With a sharp kick against the bridge wall, he used the recoil to propel himself like a bullet, his claws targeting Tanakamaru's chest, now wide open and unguarded.

"Die, Special Class!" Koma yelled triumphantly.

"Fool. The one who will die is you," Tanakamaru countered coldly, his head snapping up, revealing eyes full of determination. In a swift motion, the cannon-like quinque swiveled to aim directly at the airborne ghoul.

"What?!" Koma's face contorted in shock. Suspended midair, he had no way to maneuver or evade.

He hadn't anticipated that Tanakamaru's exhausted appearance was all an act.

"Die!" Tanakamaru roared, pulling the trigger.

"Boom!"

A dazzling beam of light erupted from the cannon, striking Koma midair and piercing through his chest.

"Ahhhhh!"

A blood-curdling scream escaped Koma's lips as crimson blood gushed from the gaping wound, spraying into the air like a fountain.

With a heavy thud, Koma's body crashed to the ground, blood pooling around him. His mask clattered onto the ground, revealing his bloodied, weary face.

"We humans—Homo sapiens—are far superior to you unevolved apes. How could we ever lose to monsters like you?" Tanakamaru sneered, standing over Koma's fallen body.

"I… I can't… die yet," Koma rasped weakly, coughing up large amounts of blood. His gaze was unfocused, his strength fading rapidly. "I can't… die… not before… confessing… to her…"

Before he could finish his sentence, darkness overtook him, and his consciousness faded into oblivion.

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