Lin Yi was visibly exhausted, his pace slowing down significantly. Caught off guard, he received a powerful kick to the chest.
Struggling to his feet, he spat out a mouthful of blood. The serious expression on his face gradually transformed into a helpless smirk.
Tsukiyama, witnessing this scene, was momentarily taken aback and halted in his tracks.
However, his intense gaze remained fixed on Lin Yi.
"You truly are one of a kind. Your physical abilities are unmatched. What a delightful human specimen you are. I yearn to extract every ounce of flesh from your body and relish every morsel of bone," Tsukiyama described the scene with perverse delight.
"I had initially planned to spare your life, Shuu Tsukiyama," Lin Yi's voice paused, as he exposed Tsukiyama's true identity. "But now, the decision is out of your hands. You've interrupted its meal. Can you hear it? It's enraged."
Instinctively, Tsukiyama reached for the mask on his face, bewildered by how Lin Yi had discovered his true identity. However, he had no time to dwell on it as he heard a faint commotion.
The sound was barely audible, and if not for Lin Yi's reminder, Tsukiyama would have missed it entirely.
It was the quivering of a sword!
"Crack, crack~"
Previously, Jörmungandr had been used to impale a winged ghoul against a wall. The desiccated corpse of the ghoul now teetered on the brink of collapse, as if a gentle breeze could reduce it to dust.
The sound of bones snapping and scattering continued until it could no longer hold together. With a resounding bang, it burst open.
Jörmungandr had fully "awakened." The entire sword blade underwent a visible transformation. The once black-red kagune now glistened, exuding a metallic sheen.
Numerous new kagune extended from it, resembling the coils of a winding python.
This was Jörmungandr's Kakuja form.
"What is that?" Tsukiyama exclaimed, taken aback. Jörmungandr lunged towards him, prompting him to instinctively swing his kagune in defense. However, his proud and resilient kagune had no effect on Jörmungandr, merely creating sparks.
In an instant, Tsukiyama found himself ensnared by the swirling tentacles, coiling tighter and tighter around him.
"Ah!"
A scream of despair reverberated through the reception hall, its echoes lingering.
"I'm going to die, I'm truly going to die!"
Lin Yi remained expressionless, taking a step closer, reaching out to touch the raging Jörmungandr. In an instant, its colossal form rapidly transformed, reverting to the shape of the longsword in his hand.
Tsukiyama regained his freedom but collapsed into a pool of blood with a thud. His limbs were twisted and crushed, his head contorted twice, barely hanging on.
"This time, I'll surely meet my end. I beg you, let me have a taste, just a taste, please?" Despite his fatal wound, Tsukiyama desperately pleaded with Lin Yi.
Of course, Lin Yi couldn't entertain such a perverse request. Unfortunately, he couldn't confront Tsukiyama's Family, who were armed with a multitude of S-class ghouls, in the current situation.
He kicked Tsukiyama, sending him from the pool of blood.
With the sword in hand, Lin Yi's movements initiated the devouring process, the tip of Jörmungandr's blade touching the ground. The mountains of corpses and pools of blood in the vicinity were swiftly cleansed in a little over ten minutes.
"Buzz!"
This time, it seemed Jörmungandr had consumed too much.
Since its awakening, Jörmungandr had not ceased trembling. Countless chaotic tentacles sprouted from the hilt and blade of the sword, thrashing about and effortlessly smashing through a wall.
Accidentally breaking several load-bearing pillars, the entire ghoul restaurant now stood precariously, with debris continually tumbling down.
"Behave," Lin Yi scolded, firmly gripping the sword's hilt. Exerting force with his right hand, the veins on the back of his hand bulged.
Several minutes passed before the tremors finally subsided. Gradually, calmness returned.
Yet, Lin Yi could already perceive its transformation.
Jörmungandr's original material had been an A-class ghoul. While it possessed unique growth potential and "vitality," its overall quality still fell within the A-class range.
Both its quality and hardness were severely limited, but at this moment, Lin Yi sensed that his Quinque had ascended to SS-class.
"Not bad," Lin Yi smiled faintly, then turned his attention to the frightened Kaneki. "Are you alright, Kaneki?"
"I-Investigator Lin."
"Heh, now's not the time for reminiscing. If you hadn't been devoured by ghouls or crushed under the collapsing building, that would've been too unfair."
Lin Yi seized Kaneki's collar from behind, effortlessly lifting him up as if he were holding a small chick, and swiftly moved away from the structure.
Just as they exited the ghoul restaurant, a deafening explosion erupted behind them, reducing the entire building to rubble.
After emerging from the wreckage, Lin Yi nonchalantly dropped Kaneki to the ground.
"Didn't I warn you to be cautious of the recent surge in ghouls? If I hadn't stumbled upon this ghoul restaurant, you would've met the Grim Reaper by now."
Upon hearing this, the still-shaken Kaneki finally breathed a sigh of relief and felt an immediate surge of gratitude.
"Thank you, Investigator Lin. If it weren't for you today, I would've undoubtedly become their meal."
"No need for empty words. I recall you have a friend at a café. Shall I inform them and have them pick you up? The 20th Ward is quite a distance from here."
"No!"
Before Lin Yi could finish his sentence, Kaneki quickly interjected, displaying an overly alarmed reaction.
Gasping for breath, Kaneki no longer perceived Lin Yi as a neighborly older brother figure. The sensation Lin Yi evoked at this moment was even more terrifying than encountering ghouls.
Kaneki feared that Touka Kirishima's life would be in jeopardy if her identity were revealed to Lin Yi.
"Very well, just be more cautious from now on."
Lin Yi was not in a hurry. This performance would continue for a while. He would allow the leeks to grow stronger before harvesting them.
The fire resulting from the ghoul restaurant's collapse continued to spread, reaching a point where it could not be contained in time, posing a threat to the surrounding residential area.
Tsukiyama had displayed immense audacity, operating a ghoul restaurant right under their noses. With its outward appearance as a regular establishment, selling high-end Western cuisine, it had managed to deceive many.
However, once one passed through the secret passage, an entirely different scene awaited.
Lin Yi retrieved his phone and dialed the CCG headquarters, reporting the recent incident.
After all, this was the 7th Ward, not the 20th Ward. It fell outside his jurisdiction, and he was unfamiliar with the head of the 7th Ward branch, necessitating direct contact with headquarters.
~~~
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