"What a coincidence."
Koma Enji tilted his head slightly beneath the Demon Ape mask.
"This is my Flower Fruit Mountain, Mr. Mustache."
Before his sentence even finished—
He burst forward.
His body shot toward Tanaka Maru Nozomi like an arrow.
"So you're approaching instead of running?"
Tanaka Maru narrowed his eyes.
The casual contempt in his gaze vanished.
Replaced by sharp caution.
The quinque cannon in his hands—Higher Mind—began to glow with blue energy.
The weapon hummed as it charged.
"HIGHER MIND!"
A blinding beam erupted.
A blazing blue laser tore through the street.
Koma twisted his body mid-charge.
The beam grazed past him.
Barely missing.
"You dodged?"
Tanaka Maru showed no surprise.
The cannon immediately began charging again.
"So what about the next shot?"
BOOM!
The beam smashed into a concrete pillar.
Debris exploded into the air.
Before Koma could regain balance—
Another beam fired.
At the last second—
His kagune lashed out.
Wrapping around a nearby pillar.
With a violent pull—
His body swung out of the laser's path.
The beam burned past his head.
Scorching the fur on his mask.
"Quite the acrobatics."
Tanaka Maru smirked.
"A monkey really does leap well."
Koma clicked his tongue while dodging.
"Does that old man have to shout every time he fires?"
Then—
Something unexpected happened.
Tanaka Maru raised the cannon again.
Pulled the trigger—
But the weapon only flickered.
The blue light vanished.
"…Damn it."
He muttered.
"Out of energy."
Koma froze briefly.
Then laughed beneath his mask.
Maybe he didn't understand how someone who fired randomly like this became a Special Class investigator.
But as a veteran ghoul—
He wouldn't waste an opportunity like this.
His legs exploded with power.
In a single instant—
He crossed the distance.
His kagune lunged forward like a crimson spear.
"Goodbye, mustache uncle."
The strike pierced toward Tanaka Maru's chest.
But at that moment—
The panic on Tanaka Maru's face vanished.
Replaced by a triumphant grin.
"Got you."
Koma's instincts screamed.
He tried to withdraw.
Too late.
The barrel of the Higher Mind cannon suddenly extended.
Transforming into a sharp blade.
THUD!
The weapon stabbed straight through Koma's chest.
The sound of metal piercing flesh echoed sharply through the night.
Blood sprayed across the pavement.
Koma staggered backward.
Using his kagune to wrench himself off the blade.
He stumbled away.
Blood poured from the wound in his chest.
"The Special Class really are dangerous…"
He coughed.
Blood leaked beneath his mask.
"…I got careless."
Then he raised his head.
"But don't underestimate the Demon Ape."
He forced his injured body forward.
Charging again.
But the cannon had already recharged.
Blue light gathered again.
A second beam fired.
The blast struck him directly.
"UGH—!"
Koma's body flew backward.
Smashing violently into a wall.
Concrete exploded around him.
"Goodbye, Mr. Monkey of Flower Fruit Mountain."
Tanaka Maru raised the weapon again.
The cannon aimed steadily at the fallen ghoul.
Energy flowed from the fuel tank attached to the weapon.
A deep mechanical hum filled the air.
"Compress."
Blue light gathered at the muzzle.
Brighter.
Brighter.
Koma struggled to move.
But his body refused.
He could only watch the light grow.
"Spread."
Tanaka Maru pulled the trigger.
BOOOOOOM—!!!
Multiple shockwaves blasted forward.
The explosion shook the street.
Concrete shattered.
Steel twisted.
Dust erupted like a tidal wave.
The entire area disappeared inside smoke and debris.
Tanaka Maru lowered the cannon.
Exhaling slowly.
His expression relaxed.
He adjusted his collar.
Stroked his mustache.
"Finally…"
But halfway through his sentence—
He froze.
Years of battlefield instinct screamed inside him.
Something was wrong.
The smoke smelled strange.
Not just dust and gunpowder.
But something else.
The unmistakable scent of kagune.
"…What?"
Tanaka Maru spun around.
Raising Higher Mind again.
The cannon pointed toward the smoke.
His fingers tightened on the trigger.
Sweat formed on his forehead.
Slowly—
The smoke cleared.
A massive silhouette stood within the ruins.
Dark red armor made of kagune covered his body.
Jagged bone spikes protruded from his shoulders and elbows.
Under the streetlights—
The armor pulsed like living flesh.
Through the gaps of the mask—
Two crimson eyes glowed.
It was Arata Kirishima.
He crouched low.
One arm raised.
His kagune armor still smoldering from the laser blast.
Behind him—
Koma Enji lay collapsed in the rubble.
Blood soaking the ground.
But still breathing.
"The Corpse Collector…"
Tanaka Maru murmured.
His voice turned serious.
"…Your defensive ability really is terrifying."
He tightened his grip on the cannon.
His expression darker than ever.
"If you're here…"
"Then Shinohara was right."
"…That monster is here too."
Tanaka Maru activated his communicator.
"This is Tanaka."
On the other end—
The voice of Itsuki Marude responded.
"Marude here. Speak."
"The Corpse Collector abducted from Cochlea has appeared."
He repeated slowly.
"The Corpse Collector has appeared."
Silence filled the channel.
Then Marude replied.
"…Understood."
"Prioritize your own survival."
"Good."
Tanaka Maru smiled slightly.
Blue light began gathering again at the cannon's muzzle.
"Then I'll send you…"
He said calmly.
"…and this monkey…"
"…back to Cochlea."
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