"Usually, only high-potential trainees are allowed to start internships early, right? It's not surprising to come across a genius occasionally," Ui Koori remarked.
"Go for it, Kanzaki-san!"
Ihei Shio cheered enthusiastically for Kanzaki Ryoma.
At this point, Kanzaki had already closed in on the starving ghoul before him.
From the very beginning, something felt off about this ghoul—and the two others his teammates were fighting.
Their movements were erratic, their expressions twisted, and their bodies trembling with hunger-induced frenzy.
Despite being outmatched, they didn't retreat—instead, they charged forward, drooling and rambling incoherently.
---
This wasn't normal hunger—this was ghoul starvation at its most extreme.
When ghouls go too long without eating human flesh, their bodies enter a horrific state of deprivation. As time passes, their rationality deteriorates, and they lose control, attacking anything that moves—even their own kind.
At this point, they aren't just acting on instinct—they're completely mad with hunger.
Even humans have been known to turn on each other in times of extreme famine—so for ghouls, who are naturally driven by predatory instincts, it is almost unavoidable.
If a starving ghoul sees a "food source"—even if it looks like their own kind—they will eventually attack.
Perhaps some might be able to restrain themselves for a while.
But once their mind snaps… there is no stopping them.
"Eat... eat... you…"
The ghoul in front of Kanzaki muttered incoherently, his kakugan glowing like a wild beast's glare.
The scaled kagune erupting from his lower back writhed unnaturally.
This wasn't just madness—his kagune's erratic movement was a symptom of his starvation, his body unable to properly control RC cell flow.
Unlike Ward 20, where Yoshimura Kuzen had established a stable supply of preserved corpses, other districts—including Ward 24—were far more chaotic.
Here, it was survival of the fittest.
Weak ghouls couldn't secure food, leaving them to starve—or worse, become food for stronger ghouls.
Ward 20's system ensured every ghoul received a share of corpse meat, but other areas had no such luxury.
This was the reality.
And cannibalism wasn't a solution, either.
While devouring another ghoul's kakuhou increased RC cell activity—temporarily boosting strength—it didn't sustain life.
If it did, ghouls would have formed a self-sustaining ecosystem, endlessly "recharging" by eating each other.
But that wasn't how RC cell metabolism worked.
This meant for some ghouls, starvation was inevitable.
And these three before them… were past the breaking point.
---
The starving ghoul lunged forward—
—but Kanzaki sidestepped smoothly, avoiding the attack effortlessly.
Using his momentum, he closed the distance, gripping his Hinoko 1/76 Quinque tightly.
With a single decisive strike, he thrust the dagger forward—
—directly into the ghoul's kakugan.
A grotesque squelch filled the air.
One of the ghoul's eyes exploded, blinding him instantly.
"AAAAAAAGH!"
The ghoul's scream echoed through the tunnels.
At the same time, Juuzou Suzuya made his move.
Although his speed wasn't quite at Kanzaki's level, he was still far quicker than an average investigator.
Following the strategy Kanzaki had suggested, Juuzou flanked the ghoul from behind, exploiting his moment of blindness.
With a sharp flick of his wrist, he hurled his Scorpion 1/56 Quinque straight at the ghoul's kakuhou.
The dagger-like Quinque embedded itself deep into the organ.
A fatal hit.
Even if a ghoul's head was removed, they could still survive under the right conditions.
But a heavily damaged kakuhou?
That was a guaranteed kill.
The kakuhou was the source of a ghoul's regeneration.
If the organ was severely injured, their ability to heal was destroyed, leaving them completely vulnerable.
Seeing the ghoul stagger, Kanzaki finished the job—
—driving his dagger straight through its heart.
[Ding!] System Notification
[Host has defeated a B-Rank Ghoul. Reward: 5 Fusion Points!]
As the lifeless corpse hit the ground, Kanzaki casually pulled out Juuzou's Scorpion Quinque, its blade still slick with blood.
With an unfazed expression, he handed it back to Juuzou.
"Nice work."
Then, Kanzaki raised his hand—offering a high five.
Juuzou blinked, confused.
For a moment, he simply stared at Kanzaki's raised palm, not understanding the gesture.
After a few awkward seconds, he slowly lifted his own hand, mimicking Kanzaki's movement.
Smack.
Kanzaki clapped their hands together, completing the high five.
For the first time in the entire mission, Juuzou smiled genuinely.
---
With their target down, Kanzaki and Juuzou prepared to return to Arima Kishou's side.
Meanwhile, the Yasuhisa twins were still locked in combat with their assigned ghoul.
Since they were holding their own, Kanzaki didn't feel the need to interfere—
—until he noticed something alarming.
Kurona Yasuhisa had let her guard down.
She had been too distracted watching Kanzaki's fight—
—and the ghoul she was fighting noticed.
It lunged at her, full force.
Kanzaki moved instinctively—
—but at that exact moment, Arima Kishou acted as well.
Arima opened a second white Quinque case, revealing the legendary Narukami—
—an S+ Rank Lightning-Type Ukaku Quinque.
Kanzaki didn't hesitate.
Rather than attacking, he rushed forward and grabbed Kurona, lifting her into a bridal carry to pull her out of danger.
At the same time—
—a blinding bolt of electricity shot past him.
Arima's Narukami discharged a surge of lightning that struck the attacking ghoul mid-lunge, electrocuting it instantly.
The raw energy surged through its body, frying it from the inside out.
Before it could even scream, its body convulsed violently—
—then fell dead on the spot.
...
Everything had happened too fast for Kurona to process.
One moment, she was mid-battle.
The next, she was being carried princess-style by Kanzaki.
Her pupils dilated in shock.
Her face turned bright red.
She finally realized what had happened—
—and lost it.
====
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