Two Ghoul Investigators ran down the corridor.
Hearing Lan Qing's shout, the two immediately picked up their cases and took out their Quinques.
One of their Quinques was a massive club, its tip encased in red crystals, resembling a mace without spikes.
The other's Quinque looked peculiar, like an oddly shaped machine gun.
The next moment...
Both attacked Byakuya simultaneously. The Ghoul Investigator wielding the gun quickly pulled the trigger, and then blood-red crystals were fired one by one, sweeping towards Byakuya.
"Raijin!"
Byakuya extended his hand forward, and electricity continuously surged from his body, emitting a "sizzle, sizzle" sound.
An invisible wave spread outwards, and the incoming red crystals were continuously deflected, shattering against the walls.
At the same time, the other Ghoul Investigator closed in, raising his club and bringing it down upon Byakuya's head.
Then...
Clang!
Byakuya raised Raiya Nōju horizontally, intercepting the opponent's attack.
Seizing this opportunity, Lan Qing scrambled to his feet and fled.
Those two Ghoul Investigators were definitely no match for Byakuya. As long as he could buy himself time to escape, that was enough.
Byakuya, however, didn't pay attention to Lan Qing, as he was distracted by something else.
Because...
The mastery of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit had increased.
Rumble-Rumble Fruit (Devil Fruit) (Item) (Gold): A top-tier Logia-type fruit that allows the user's body to elementalize after consumption. It can transform the body into lightning. While in the lightning state, physical attacks are nullified, some energy attacks are nullified, and lightning can be released to attack. Through mastery of the ability, the power of attacks can be strengthened, and more techniques can be learned.
Weaknesses: Cannot come into contact with seawater or Seastone.
Current Mastery: 0/8000
Techniques Unlocked: 4/12
Effects: Teleportation...
Lightning...
Raijin...
Raiju (Releases a beast-shaped lightning with physical attack effects, targeting ground attacks and defense)
Byakuya had been away from the ancient town for many days, encountering numerous dangers along the way. During battles, Byakuya had deliberately used the abilities of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit.
Therefore, his mastery was on the verge of increasing, and it had finally reached three thousand points.
As expected, a new offensive technique had been unlocked.
At the same time, his mastery had increased from 3000 points to 8000 points.
Byakuya watched the light screen while swinging Raiya Nōju forward.
Sizzle!
A piercing sound of electricity echoed.
A large net of electricity formed, blocking all of the opponent's attacks.
The next moment, Byakuya raised his fist, intending to unleash it forward.
"Let's try the new technique, Raiju..."
As soon as Byakuya finished speaking, before he could attack, a figure suddenly streaked across the ceiling. Immediately after, a pair of crimson wings suddenly unfurled in the air.
The blood-colored crystalline feathers appeared incredibly beautiful.
However, beautiful things often appeared dangerous.
Rumble, rumble, rumble.
As the red crystalline feathers landed, the ground continuously erupted with explosions, and the surrounding walls collapsed, sending large clouds of dust billowing into the corridor.
Byakuya stood with his fist raised, unsure whether to throw it.
What was going on?
A moment later, as the dust settled, the two Ghoul Investigators revealed themselves. One was pinned beneath the collapsed wall, with only an arm exposed, from which blood was continuously seeping.
Seeing this, the other Ghoul Investigator immediately ran towards his comrade, reaching out to push aside the stones, trying to dig him out. It was at this moment...
A figure suddenly appeared behind the Ghoul Investigator and forcefully stomped down on the Ghoul Investigator's head.
With a bang, the opponent's head smashed into the ground, and a large amount of blood splattered.
Byakuya also saw the opponent's appearance: a black hoodie and leather pants, with slightly long, curly blue hair. His face was obscured by a mask, but from the visible parts, it seemed he wasn't very old.
As Byakuya thought, he used his bio-mask for a scan.
Biological scan activated...
Biological scan completed...
Yoshimura Ayato (Native) (Healthy): Eerie region Ghoul, currently affiliated with the organization Aogiri Tree.
Strength...
Speed...
...
At this moment, Yoshimura Ayato turned his head to look at Byakuya, his gaze lingering on Byakuya's mask for a moment, then he said, "Are you the Eater?"
Byakuya asked in confusion, "What?"
"It seems you don't know the codename the White Doves gave you?" Yoshimura Ayato said, hands in his pockets. "As a pervert in Ward 11 who specializes in attacking women and consuming their bodies, the White Doves gave you the codename 'Eater' and have officially issued a warrant for your arrest."
As Yoshimura Ayato spoke, he walked towards the back, brushing past Byakuya.
"Let's go, I'm here to save you," Yoshimura Ayato said. "Seeing as you've been able to entangle with them for so long, your strength should be considerable. I hope you can be of use."
If you hadn't come, I would have already electrocuted those two into charcoal.
However, in the current situation, Byakuya didn't seem to have the room to argue.
Purely based on deduction, there was a group called Ghoul Investigators who wanted to kill him, and another group called Aogiri Tree, who seemed to want to save him.
Good heavens, if I told them now that they had saved the wrong person, that I was just passing by...
Byakuya felt that he would immediately have to fight Yoshimura Ayato.
Byakuya sighed and could only obediently follow.
What went wrong somewhere, how did it turn out like this?
Byakuya was utterly bewildered. Didn't he just want to get some money and happen to witness a murder?
How did he become the target of both sides?
Hidden mission?
Byakuya glanced at the light screen...
There was no hidden mission!
Byakuya became even more depressed. If there was a hidden mission, it would be better, but without one, it meant...
He was purely unlucky?
Byakuya listlessly followed Yoshimura Ayato into the elevator, then directly to the underground parking lot. After getting into a car, they quickly drove away.
As they passed the front of the hotel, Byakuya realized that it wasn't just lively; many Ghouls and Ghoul Investigators were fighting, and the pedestrians on the street had already been evacuated.
Yoshimura Ayato glanced over, then picked up his phone and said, "Tell everyone to retreat. I've found the person."
After speaking, Yoshimura Ayato drove the car away rapidly.
Byakuya looked out the car window and asked, "Where are we going?"
Yoshimura Ayato replied, "To Aogiri Tree's headquarters, of course."
"Aogiri Tree?" Byakuya asked, "Can you explain to me what exactly is going on? I'm a bit confused right now."
...