Dimensional Kaguya Ōtsutsuki

"Haah!"

Amon Koutarou roared, his muscled arm swinging the massive crimson iron rod. With a spray of bright red blood, he smashed through several charging ghouls, their bodies splattering apart.

Boom!

A dull thud echoed as half a ghoul's torso flew through the air, landing heavily on the ground.

"Huff… huff…"

Clutching his Quinque tightly, Amon panted heavily, wiping the mix of sweat and blood from his face. He glanced at the growing horde of ghouls surrounding him, his sharp gaze unwavering.

The situation was worse than he had imagined. Initially, his plan had been to draw their attention and retreat. However, these ghouls were faster and more relentless than expected. Clearly, this was no ordinary pack of ghouls—this was a well-coordinated group with deadly intent.

For a moment, an exquisite face flashed across Amon's mind. He felt a small surge of relief knowing she had left earlier. If she hadn't, they might have been trapped here together.

Hopefully, the CCG task force would arrive on time. If not…

"Yaaah!"

With a battle cry, Amon gripped his crimson iron rod tightly and launched himself at the nearest ghoul, prepared to fight to the end.

...

Meanwhile, blocking Kaguya and Akira Mado's path was a masked man. His mask featured a large mouth that only covered half his face. Kaguya recognized it instantly.

If she wasn't mistaken, this was Tsukiyama Shuu—the man she thought was dead.

Moreover, the flamboyant stance could only belong to this degenerate. It was undoubtedly him.

"Ladies, life is hectic and fleeting. Why not sit down and savor the exquisite allure of existence?" Tsukiyama bowed elegantly, his smile graceful and polite.

"Apologies, we have urgent matters to attend to, so we can't stay," Akira responded politely.

Kaguya, on the other hand, had only one word: "Move."

"Such rudeness," Tsukiyama chuckled as he approached, his steps almost feline. "With such a beautiful face, your temper is surprisingly coarse. But that makes you even more charming—utterly captivating."

"You degenerate! Are you itching for a beating?" Kaguya growled, her disgust evident as she clenched her fists, ready to strike. His smirking face was infuriatingly vile.

Tsukiyama inhaled deeply, his hands placed theatrically on his chest as if enraptured. "Such a delightful fragrance. This richness, this intensity—it's like the freshness of a blooming lily, so enchanting and intoxicating. It's as if—"

He stopped mid-sentence, his body freezing as if struck by a revelation. His Adam's apple bobbed, and his gaze snapped toward Kaguya with fervent intensity, as though he could pierce her with his stare alone.

Noticing Tsukiyama's perverted gaze locked onto her, Kaguya's expression twisted in disdain. This man was the epitome of depravity.

"Marvelous!" Tsukiyama suddenly spread his arms wide, his voice filled with excitement. "This must be destiny! Fate has led me to you—it's all part of a grand design!"

"You're absolutely right," Kaguya said coldly, rolling up her sleeves. "Your destiny is…"

She clenched her fists, her eyes blazing.

"To be pounded into a meat patty!"

"I really enjoy that stubborn attitude of yours," Tsukiyama Shuu said, lightly brushing his fingers over his lips with an air of admiration. "Deicio."

"In a moment, you'll realize I have things much harder than just my attitude," Kaguya's eyes glinted with a frosty chill as she spoke coldly. "Akira, you should go. I'm going to teach this arrogant maniac a lesson."

Fighting here posed a risk of exposing her true identity. Particularly during combat, she feared she wouldn't be able to resist the urge to obliterate this lecherous degenerate into dust.

"Apologies, but I can't agree to that request," Akira Mado stepped out from behind Kaguya, her voice calm.

"What?" Kaguya was taken aback.

"I've never had the habit of abandoning my companions," Akira pressed a button on the white case she carried, summoning a crimson spike—the Quinque she wielded.

While Kaguya and Akira's relationship wasn't particularly deep, the camaraderie formed during their previous battle had made them friends. However, Akira's decision to stand by her side now signaled that she truly saw Kaguya as one of her own.

Kaguya felt a surge of emotion but shook her head. "You should leave. It's dangerous here, and I'll be distracted if you stay."

"Why?" Akira's expression turned cold. "Do you think I'm useless? That I'll drag you down?"

"I didn't mean that!" Kaguya quickly waved her hand. "I just think that instead of both of us wasting time here, it's better for you to leave and notify the CCG task force so they can arrive sooner—"

Clap. Clap. Clap.

Before Kaguya could finish, crisp applause rang out. Tsukiyama Shuu strolled toward them, smiling. "If you're waiting for the CCG's task force, I suggest you give up. They won't be coming here tonight. Instead of wasting time here, why not come with me? Don't worry; I'm a gentleman. I wouldn't treat beautiful ladies roughly."

"What?" Kaguya's eyes narrowed as she glared at him, her voice icy. "How do you know about the CCG? And how do you know they won't come?"

"Poor girls," Tsukiyama smirked, tilting his head. "It seems you've been left in the dark by the CCG. So much time has passed, and yet the outside remains silent. Don't you find that… peculiar?"

Hearing this, Akira froze, a sinking feeling welling up in her heart.

Indeed, given the time that had elapsed, even if the CCG forces were stationed far away, they should have arrived by now. Yet outside, there was no sound at all—only the whistling wind and the rustling of leaves. The eerie silence sent chills down her spine.

"What are you trying to say?" Kaguya took a step forward, her voice as cold as ice.

"Nothing much," Tsukiyama spread his arms in mock sincerity, a playful glint in his eye. "I'm merely pointing out that the CCG has abandoned you two. You're nothing more than pawns to them. The fanfare and mobilization were just for show, meant to mislead outsiders. Their true goal… isn't here."

"Their true goal…" Kaguya's beautiful eyes widened as a sinking realization dawned upon her. "Could it be—"

"So, why don't you both stay here obediently?" Tsukiyama's voice turned sharp.

As soon as he finished speaking, he lunged forward with the speed of lightning, targeting Kaguya with a swift and ruthless attack.

"Careful!"

Kaguya pushed Akira Mado aside and, at the same time, flicked her thumb across her katana's hilt. The blade, shimmering with a bluish glow, shot out like a streak of lightning.

Clang!

The sharp ring of metal striking metal echoed as Kaguya's katana clashed against the kagune blade forged from Tsukiyama Shuu's koukaku. Sparks flew from the impact.

The katana and the kagune pressed against each other, emitting a grating, teeth-on-edge sound.

Kaguya frowned slightly. She could feel the tremendous force emanating from Tsukiyama's kagune—far greater than in their previous encounter. His speed, too, had significantly improved, far exceeding what he had shown before.

"Liuli!"

Akira, who had been pushed aside, gritted her teeth and scrambled to her feet. She snapped her crimson Quinque whip into action and began running toward Kaguya to assist her.

However, before she could get close, a figure suddenly appeared in her path, blocking her way.

A golden-haired young man stepped forward, a playful smirk tugging at his lips as he looked at Akira with a smug expression.

"An S-rated Naki, is it?" Akira gripped her Quinque tightly, her face tense.

This man was is the S-rated ghoul Naki. The CCG archives contained detailed records on him. He was known for his blind admiration of Yamori, his childish demeanor, and his simple-mindedness that didn't even rival a grade-schooler's maturity. Essentially, he had the temperament of an overgrown, spoiled brat.

Still, there was no denying that his strength was significantly above that of ordinary ghouls.

Before Akira could act, Naki lunged at her, leaping into the air with excitement. "This is fun! So much fun! Come play with me!" he shouted, his koukaku kagune transforming into a spear and striking down fiercely.

Akira quickly retreated, swinging her whip-like Quinque with a flick of her arm. The crimson lash snaked out like a serpent.

Clang!

The whip collided with Naki's kagune, sparks flying.

"Oh?" Naki grinned excitedly. "You can block my attack? Not bad for a human." He swung his arm again, the kagune spear slicing toward her with renewed force.

Clang!

Akira was forced back several steps, her expression growing grim.

His attacks were heavy and relentless. While lacking technique, his raw power posed a significant challenge to her. The whip, flexible by design, struggled to withstand such force.

Sure enough, with a sharp crack, her Quinque whip was knocked from her grasp, sending it flying through the air. Alarmed, Akira hastily retreated as Naki seized the opportunity, swinging his kagune with a barrage of attacks.

"Don't run! Don't run!"

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The sound of steel clashing against steel rang out continuously as Akira struggled to fend off Naki's relentless assaults, forced to retreat further and further.

Though Naki wasn't considered particularly formidable among S-rated ghouls—being closer to the bottom tier—his raw strength and relentless aggression were overwhelming for someone like Akira, whose combat experience and abilities were still developing.

Meanwhile, Kaguya was locked in a fierce battle with Tsukiyama Shuu.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Kaguya's katana, Liuli, moved with the fluidity of flowing water, clashing repeatedly with Tsukiyama's koukaku blade. Sparks and metallic clangs filled the air as their blades collided.

To Kaguya's surprise, Tsukiyama seemed like a completely different person compared to their previous encounter. His strength, speed, and reflexes had improved dramatically. If he had previously been an ordinary S-rated ghoul, he now felt like he had ascended to an SS rating—possibly even rivaling higher-tier opponents like Kishou Arima or Yoshimura in sheer presence.

What could have caused such a dramatic transformation in such a short period?

Had he undergone some sort of ghoul equivalent to the Saiyan trait, where near-death experiences brought exponential power growth?

Could Tsukiyama's ancestors have been Saiyans?

The thought was ridiculous, of course.

Under Tsukiyama's unrelenting and storm-like attacks, Kaguya dodged and evaded with fluid grace, her movements reminiscent of a small boat riding out a storm on turbulent seas.

"Not enough with just this," Kaguya muttered.

With a sudden burst of strength, she swung her katana, Liuli. The blade moved like an extension of her own arm, cutting through the air like a rainbow arc.

Clang!

The katana struck Tsukiyama Shuu's koukaku kagune with immense force, sending him flying backward.

"Is that all you've got? You'll have to try harder if you want to defeat me," Tsukiyama said, a mocking smirk playing on his lips.

But his smirk quickly vanished.

After sending Tsukiyama flying, Kaguya's delicate face puffed slightly as she opened her lips. A thin line of fire emerged from her mouth, expanding rapidly into a massive, searing fireball that rushed toward Tsukiyama with alarming speed.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

Tsukiyama froze, his eyes widening in disbelief. His face turned pale as he stammered, "T-this is..."

The scene before him dredged up a nightmare he had long tried to forget. Long time ago, he had encountered a masked girl wielding similar terrifying power. The sheer force she commanded had left him in crippling fear, a memory so vivid it haunted his dreams.

Could this person be her?

The thought alone filled Tsukiyama with dread, his expression twisted in terror.

Boom!

A thunderous explosion shattered the air. The roaring blast swept through the corridor like a tidal wave, shattering windows, scattering furniture, and filling the space with flying splinters and thick smoke.

After a while, the dust began to settle.

What remained was utter devastation. The once-luxurious corridor was in ruins; the elegant decorations were obliterated, replaced by charred remnants and the acrid stench of smoke.

"Is he dead?"

Kaguya surveyed her surroundings but found no trace of Tsukiyama's body. She didn't have time to confirm his fate. Akira Mado was in a precarious situation—though she had some combat skill, facing an S-rated ghoul like Naki was proving overwhelming.

On the far side of the battlefield, Akira and Naki's fight had reached its peak intensity. Akira was clearly on the defensive. As a woman, her natural disadvantage in physical strength left her struggling against Naki's overpowering force.

Suddenly, Naki leapt into the air, his excitement evident as he laughed maniacally. "This is so much fun! Take this!"

Akira's heart sank. She bit her lip, choosing to stand her ground rather than retreat further. She flicked her arm, sending her crimson Quinque whip slicing through the air like a streak of lightning, aiming for Naki mid-flight.

Clang!

The sound of metal clashing rang out, sparks scattering.

Akira's pupils constricted. Her whip had been deflected.

"It's over!" Naki exclaimed with glee. His koukaku kagune transformed into a thick spear as he swung it down toward Akira's exposed neck.

Splurt!

Blood splattered.

Akira's eyes widened in shock.

Naki's neck had been pierced by a sharp katana, pinning him to the wall.

Just moments earlier, in the nick of time, a glint of steel had flashed through the air. The blade struck Naki in the neck, impaling him and carrying him back until his body was nailed against the wall.

The weapon that had pierced him was Kaguya's katana, Liuli.

"You need to be more careful, Second-Class Investigator Mado. That's not a mistake a CCG officer should make," Kaguya said, walking over with a light chuckle. "Don't forget—if we make it back, you owe me dinner."

"Liuli..." Akira exhaled a sigh of relief and turned to thank her. But before she could finish her sentence, her eyes widened in alarm.

"Watch out!" she screamed.

Unnoticed by Kaguya, a figure had emerged behind her, raising a crimson kagune high above its head before swinging it down with deadly intent.

A scarlet flash cut through the air.

Blood sprayed in every direction.

The one who ambushed Kaguya was none other than Tsukiyama Shuu, who had seemingly been struck down by Kaguya's Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique earlier and should have been dead. Yet now, aside from his slightly disheveled appearance, his scorched clothing, and a shattered mask, he appeared completely unscathed.

"I'm not the same as before now, haha!" Tsukiyama laughed maniacally, covering one side of his face with a hand while holding someone impaled on his kagune high in the air. "Not even you can possibly—"

Before he could finish his sentence, his body suddenly froze. His expression twisted into disbelief, his eyes widening in utter shock as if he had seen a ghost.

"Nani?"

The person impaled on Tsukiyama's kagune wasn't Kaguya—it was Naki, who had previously been locked in battle with Akira Mado.

"What... What's going on?" Akira also stared wide-eyed, unable to believe what she was seeing.

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