Ghoul: Starting with Sharingan

Under the leadership of Byakuya, the Aogiri Tree swiftly broke through the Labyrinth's second line of defense.

The high-ranking kakuja who had previously fled was notably absent from this line of defense.

Without a powerful leader to oversee it, the strongest ghoul guarding the second line was merely an S+ rated.

There was no need for Byakuya to take action this time — Eto alone was enough to obliterate their resistance.

The second line of defense was quickly torn apart by the Aogiri Tree. While waiting for his RC cells and ocular abilities to recover naturally, Byakuya took the opportunity to allocate his accumulated attribute points.

[Ding! Points successfully distributed!]

[Physical Strength: +5]

[RC Cell Count: +200]

[Points Consumed: 250]

[Current Attribute Points: 30]

With these enhancements, Uchiha Byakuya could now sustain the initial form of his Susano'o for a longer period.

The ghouls defending the second line who hadn't been killed were promptly absorbed into the ranks of the Aogiri Tree.

Based on the intelligence gathered from these "captives" the next destination was clear: the Labyrinth's stronghold.

...

Inside the Labyrinth Stronghold...

"This is bad! They're probably done for!"

The high-ranking kakuja who had fled, now back at the Labyrinth's base, had already reverted from his kakuja form.

By "they," he was referring to the four other officers who had stayed behind to defend the second line.

At this moment, he was reporting to the 'King of the Labyrinth' Takeshi Ishikari.

"Just you? You're the only one who made it back?" Takeshi asked in a deep, stern voice.

"Many subordinates have retreated to the second line, but it won't hold for long! The 'One-Eyed King' of the Aogiri Tree is simply too terrifying!" The officer, Arai, spoke in a hurried tone.

Of course, he said nothing about abandoning his comrades and fleeing.

Takeshi, however, didn't have the energy to dwell on that detail. His focus was entirely on the so-called One-Eyed King.

"How powerful is this person to leave all of you so helpless?" Takeshi pressed further.

If it were just the One-Eyed Owl, Takeshi was confident he could handle it.

But with the addition of this unknown entity, the One-Eyed King, the situation had clearly taken a dire turn. Even Takeshi felt uneasy.

"He…"

Just as Arai began describing the One-Eyed King and his strange abilities, a subordinate burst into the room.

"My king! The second line of defense has been breached! The Aogiri Tree is advancing toward us!"

"Enough talk. Prepare to fight!" Takashi immediately stood up, his face grim.

Although the base had an escape route, Takeshi's pride as the King of the Labyrinth would not allow him to flee like a coward. If he were to die, it would be in battle.

Soon, Takeshi led the ghouls to meet the advancing forces of the Aogiri outside their base.

The first thing he noticed was the One-Eyed Owl.

Eto had remained in her kakuja form, a massive and imposing presence.

Standing next to her was a one-eyed ghoul wearing a crimson tiger striped mask. This figure could only be the true leader of the Aogiri Tree — the One-Eyed King.

Without any unnecessary words, Eto launched an attack on Takeshi.

Takeshi's pupils narrowed as he immediately activated his kakuja form.

His kakuja, similar in size to the One-Eyed Owl, was humanoid, covered in dark-red kagune, and grotesquely adorned with faces twisted in agony —manifestations of the ghouls he had cannibalized.

Eto and Takeshi immediately engaged in a brutal melee, their blows testing both strength and regenerative capabilities.

Neither side's forces dared to act rashly. Byakuya, observing the scene, remained calm and didn't intervene.

Meanwhile, Arai, the Labyrinth's second kakuja, seemed to be alert for potential threats from the Aogiri Tree. However, in truth...

Taking advantage of the moment when both combatants had sustained injuries, Arai suddenly sprang into action.

But his target wasn't the enemy—it was Takeshi.

Arai didn't even fully transform. Instead, he used his tail kagune to launch a surprise attack aimed directly at Takeshi's kakuhou.

The speed and precision of his attack suggested he wanted to avoid unnecessary delays or mistakes that could jeopardize his ambush.

Takeshi, focused entirely on his battle with the One-Eyed Owl, had no idea that Arai would turn against him.

Just as Arai's kagune was about to pierce Tekashi, Byakuya suddenly appeared behind Takeshi, blocking the attack.

"What?!"

Seeing the One-Eyed King suddenly materialize before him, Arai had no time to stop his attack. His kagune was about to strike the king instead — a move that was entirely unintended.

Arai's original plan had been to betray Takeshi and pledge loyalty to the Aogiri Tree, knowing they were no match for the One-Eyed King. Resisting any further was a death sentence.

But just as Arai's kagune was about to land, a chain shot out from Byakuya's sleeve, intercepting it midair.

"It's about time this ended…" Byakuya said coldly.

As his words fell, two swirling distortions of space appeared.

Arai's kakuhou was forcibly severed by an invisible force.

Simultaneously, Takeshi's kakuja armor was torn apart like paper.

"Gahhh!"

Arai let out a cry of pain as part of his kakuhou was destroyed.

Takeshi, his kakuja broken, turned around sharply, his face filled with terror. He had no idea how the One-Eyed King had appeared behind him or what method had dismantled his kakuja.

One thing was clear: he had no chance of victory.

"I've lost" Takeshi admitted, his tone calm yet resigned. He reverted to his normal form, choosing to end the futile struggle.

At this moment, he noticed Arai's attempted betrayal but chose not to dwell on it — it no longer mattered.

The ghouls of the Aogiri Tree, though familiar with their leader's abilities, couldn't help but feel awe-struck.

They silently celebrated their allegiance to the Aogiri Tree, relieved they weren't facing the One-Eyed King as enemies.

Meanwhile, the ghouls of the Labyrinth were completely dumbfounded.

First, Arai's betrayal had shocked them.

Then, the One-Eyed King had effortlessly defeated their two strongest fighters in an instant.

Their strongest defenses shattered, the Labyrinth ghouls knew the truth.

This was no longer a battle. This was annihilation.