Dimensional Kaguya Ōtsutsuki

"Ha!"

"Hah!"

Take Hirako and Kousuke Houji, gripping their Quinques, lunged toward Kaguya in an instant. With a single step, they leaped high into the air, raising their weapons, the sound of rushing wind accompanying their strike.

But at that moment, Kaguya lifted her head, a mocking smile playing at her lips. She said coldly, "Mere ants, daring to appear before me—your courage is commendable, but your stupidity is unmatched."

"What?!"

Both Hirako and Hoji were startled. A sudden ominous feeling surged through them, as if something catastrophic was about to happen. But having committed to the attack, there was no turning back now. Clenching their teeth, they applied even more force, accelerating their strike as they brought their Quinques down on Kaguya like lightning.

By then, Kaguya had already raised her pale arm. Aiming at the two figures descending toward her, she coldly uttered.

"Shinra Tensei."

With those words, a colossal force erupted from her palm, roaring outward like a tidal wave, overwhelming everything in its path.

Boom! Boom! BOOM!

A series of deafening explosions resounded. The ground trembled violently as the earth fractured and split apart. Walls collapsed in an instant, and the massive shockwave surged forth with an unstoppable momentum, demolishing everything in its way. Buildings and skyscrapers crumbled in seconds, reduced to rubble. Roads and bridges shattered, and debris flew chaotically amidst the gale. The ground churned, flinging dirt into the air, creating a vast cloud of dust.

When the dust settled, Kuroiwa Iwao and Shinohara Yukinori, clutching wounds inflicted by flying debris, crawled out of the ruins with difficulty. But as they rose to their feet and took in the scene before them, their mouths fell open in shock, their pupils contracting.

What lay before them was a massive, jagged trench, tens of meters wide and over a dozen meters deep, stretching endlessly into the horizon like an immense canyon. Everything along its path had vanished—buildings, roads, and bridges alike—all obliterated into ruins. The landscape was a devastated wasteland, littered with rubble and destruction.

"How is this possible?"

Shinohara Yukinori stared wide-eyed, his voice trembling with disbelief.

"Why… why would it end up like this?"

Kuroiwa Iwao, equally stunned, was at a loss for words. The broken half of his Quinque slipped from his grasp, clattering to the ground.

"This is your punishment," a melodious voice suddenly echoed. "And also, your warning."

A silver-haired girl in a fox mask strode forward—it was Kaguya.

"It's you! You bastard!"

Kuroiwa roared in fury, reaching for his Quinque and charging at her, intent on fighting to the death. But before he could get far, Shinohara Yukinori grabbed him from behind, holding him back tightly.

"Calm down, Iwao!" Shinohara shouted. He knew all too well that with their strength, they were no match for her. Attacking recklessly would only mean a senseless death.

"Rest assured," Kaguya said, casting them a dismissive glance. "This time, it's merely a warning. I spared their lives."

"But next time," she added, her voice dropping to an icy tone, "you may not be so fortunate."

"You didn't kill them?"

Shinohara Yukinori and Kuroiwa Iwao froze for a moment, then followed Kaguya's gaze toward the ghouls who had been subdued by the CCG. Remarkably, they were still alive, albeit badly injured.

"On my turf, you follow my rules," Kaguya snorted, her tone disdainful. "If there's a next time, you won't be so lucky."

Shinohara stepped forward, his gaze fixed firmly on Kaguya. In a low, serious voice, he asked, "What exactly are you trying to achieve?"

"What I'm trying to achieve?" Kaguya paused mid-stride, resting her chin on her hand as though deep in thought. After a moment, she smiled and replied, "Probably world peace."

"World peace?"

Not only Shinohara and Kuroiwa but all the other investigators present were struck dumb.

The most powerful ghoul in the world, known for her ferocity, suddenly declaring her goal was world peace? It was a concept so absurd it was almost laughable, akin to a tiger swearing off meat for a vegetarian diet.

"That's right," Kaguya said with a sharp clap of her hands, her eyes narrowing into a cheerful smile. "What I want is for humans and ghouls to coexist peacefully, creating a better world together."

"That's impossible," Shinohara said, shaking his head in disbelief. "Have you lost your mind?"

"Don't listen to her nonsense," Kuroiwa interrupted, raising his hand forcefully. "It's just another lie meant to deceive us. Don't fall for it."

Kaguya turned toward him, her mocking smile sharp. "Do you really think I need to lie to you? Or, better yet, do you think you're worth lying to?"

Shinohara and Kuroiwa exchanged a silent glance. They couldn't deny it—the girl in the fox mask standing before them was beyond anything they could hope to contend with. Not just them, but even the entire CCG combined wouldn't stand a chance. The chasm gouged into the earth before them spoke volumes; this was no ordinary ghoul or human. She was something far beyond their comprehension.

"This is just a warning," Kaguya continued as she turned and walked toward Yoshimura Kuzen, who was still collapsed on the ground. Midway there, she stopped and glanced back over her shoulder. "If you carry out operations like this again in the 20th Ward, I'll consider it a provocation. Don't blame me if I respond harshly. Oh, and let Arima Special Class know—I have something to discuss with him."

"What do you need to discuss? You can tell me directly."

A lean, scruffy-looking man stepped forward, his voice calm but authoritative.

"And who are you?" Kaguya turned to him, her tone indifferent.

"My name is Yoshitoki Washuu," the man said as he approached her, his tone firm. "Director of the CCG. I believe I have the qualifications to negotiate with you."

Yoshitoki Washuu?

Could he be from the Washuu family?

The name triggered a memory in Kaguya. If she wasn't mistaken, the Washuu family was not only the hidden power behind the CCG but also key figures in the secretive "V" organization. The irony was laughable—those tasked with eradicating ghouls were, in fact, part-ghoul themselves. A ridiculous twist of fate.

"Negotiate with me?" Kaguya's lips curled into a dazzling smile, her voice dripping with mockery. "And who do you think you are?"

Yoshitoki Washuu was choked by Kaguya's words, coughing violently, his face flushing red.

"Don't go too far!" Embarrassed in front of his colleagues and subordinates, Yoshitoki Washuu shouted angrily, his tone full of frustration.

Suddenly, a dazzling blade of light shot toward him like lightning. Instinctively, he ducked his head, and the cold gleam skimmed his scalp before embedding itself into the wall behind him with a loud thud.

Turning his head to look, Yoshitoki Washuu broke into a cold sweat. There, quivering in the wall beside his ear, was a scarlet blade—half of the Quinque that had been shattered earlier in Kuroiwa's hands.

"Watch your words. My patience with you is very thin. If you value your life," Kaguya shot him a sharp glance before turning toward Yoshimura Kuzen, the coffee shop's manager. "And don't waste my time. If you're serious about negotiations, go call Arima Special Class."

Yoshitoki Washuu's face turned a dark shade of red as humiliation washed over him. For a moment, he hesitated, unable to respond.

"What's the matter?" Kaguya turned her head slightly, her voice cold. "Do you have a death wish?"

Biting his lip, Yoshitoki Washuu turned and left in large strides. Her tone and demeanor made it clear she wasn't joking. If he provoked her further, next time it wouldn't just be his dignity on the line, it would be his life.

The surrounding investigators began retreating as well. Those who were gravely injured, like Take Hirako and Kousuke Houji, who were barely clinging to life, were quickly taken away for treatment. If they weren't attended to soon, even emergency measures wouldn't suffice, and the morgue would be their next destination.

Kaguya crouched down, helping Yoshimura Kuzen sit up. "Hey, old man, you're not dead yet, are you?"

"Ugh… cough, cough." Yoshimura coughed violently, his weak eyes opening slightly. "Are… are they safe?"

"They?" Kaguya paused, then quickly understood who he meant—Kaya Irimi and Enji Koma. She chuckled. "Relax, I've already moved them to a safe place. Those two are going to be my star employees in the future. Good staff is hard to come by these days; no way I'd let them die so easily."

Though he didn't fully grasp what she was talking about, Yoshimura seemed to relax. A faint, kind smile spread across his face as he struggled to speak. "Thank you…"

"It's no big deal. After all, I also mooched—" Kaguya coughed awkwardly, catching herself mid-sentence. "Anyway, don't get too optimistic. I didn't save you out of charity. You'll owe me big time for this, with interest."

"We've met before, haven't we?" Yoshimura stared at Kaguya, his gaze thoughtful despite his weakened state.

"Nope. Absolutely not," Kaguya replied decisively.

"Is that so?" Yoshimura's voice trailed off.

After checking his injuries, Kaguya's expression grew serious. Only now did she realize how severe they were—his body was covered in wounds so deep they exposed bone, nearly all his blood had been lost, and his internal organs were on the verge of collapse. The fact that he was still alive was nothing short of miraculous.

Placing her hand over Yoshimura's chest, Kaguya channeled a warm, radiant energy into his body. The gentle glow spread through his wounds, which began healing at a visible rate.

Even on the brink of death, he had worried about the safety of his employees. It was no wonder so many people had been willing to follow him and devote themselves to the peace of the 20th Ward.

Suddenly, a slender figure dashed forward, taking several leaps before stopping in front of Kaguya, panting heavily. Her blue hair and beautiful face revealed none other than Touka Kirishima.

"Manager! Manager!"

Touka Kirishima hurried to Yoshimura Kuzen's side, clutching his clothing anxiously. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine, no need to worry," Yoshimura Kuzen opened his eyes, speaking gently with his usual kindness.

"That's a relief," Touka Kirishima murmured, her lips trembling as her eyes reddened slightly.

"Alright, he suffered serious injuries before. He'll need a long time to recover, but for now, his condition is stable," Kaguya said as she stood. "I should be leaving now." Her gaze had already fallen on Kishou Arima, standing at a distance.

"Leaving?" Touka Kirishima quickly stood up, her face filled with surprise.

"Of course, but only temporarily. I have some matters to take care of," Kaguya replied, beginning to walk away. Halfway there, she turned back, smiling faintly. "And don't forget our agreement."

"Okay," Touka Kirishima nodded silently, her voice low. "Thank you."

"No need to thank me," Kaguya chuckled. "If you really want to show your gratitude, just make me a cup of coffee."

With that, Kaguya turned and headed toward the CCG forces' location.

Touka Kirishima watched Kaguya's figure gradually disappear into the distance, instinctively clutching the ring in her hand tightly.

When Kaguya reached the CCG forces' position, she was surprised to see over a thousand personnel gathered, ranging from low-ranking soldiers to high-level investigators. If her guess was correct, CCG had mobilized their entire force for this Owl Extermination Plan.

It made sense. Though Anteiku appeared to be just an ordinary café on the surface, it actually harbored many powerful ghouls. The café had hosted SS-rated entities, and even individuals like Enji Koma, Kaya Irimi, and Touka Kirishima were S-rated ghouls. The sheer presence of such figures would require overwhelming force to suppress.

Kaguya strolled casually into the CCG forces' assembly. The investigators instantly froze as if facing an overwhelming enemy. They stared at the silver-haired girl walking toward them, nervously swallowing, unconsciously stepping back. Their faces were pale, sweat beading on their foreheads. It was as if what stood before them wasn't a young girl, but a demon queen.

After all, the colossal gorge resembling a canyon, created by Kaguya's Shinra Tensei, was still visible nearby. The apocalyptic scene had left an indelible psychological impact. If she had intended to annihilate them, none of them would still be standing.

"I'm here," Kishou Arima said calmly. "What is it you wanted to discuss with me?"

"There are indeed some things to discuss, but I'd prefer to speak privately, away from these onlookers," Kaguya replied, glancing at the surrounding investigators.

Under her icy gaze, the investigators felt as though they had fallen into a freezing abyss. A chill spread through their limbs, and they stood frozen in place.

"Where do you want to talk?" Kishou Arima's eyes narrowed slightly, his tone steady.

"Someplace more relaxing and pleasant," Kaguya's lips curled into a sly smile. "How about the Anteiku café?"

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