TG: Starting with Mangekyo

These ghouls blocking the path were hardly worth mentioning, with only their leader barely reached S-.

Still, that wasn't weak by any means. After all, S-rated ghouls were rare, and such a level typically matched Associate Special Class or even Special Class investigators in terms of combat prowess.

Byakuya, not carrying his quinque, wasn't inclined to waste the RC cells and ocular power required for Kamui on these ghouls. He decided to leave them to Eto instead.

Eto wasted no time unleashing her kakuja form. Her petite form transformed instantly into a towering, monstrous figure that dwarfed the ghouls before her.

"A k-kakuja? Wait… is this… the Owl?!"

"The Owl? Why would it be here? Isn't it supposed to be locked in combat with the CCG in 2nd Ward?!"

The ghouls were paralyzed with terror.

A kakuja ghoul against ordinary ghouls was nothing short of absolute domination. Before they could even muster the will to flee, Eto impaled them with devastating precision using her ukaku projectiles, leaving them lifeless on the ground.

In mere moments, only the leader, barely clinging to life, remained.

Eto darted toward him with unsettling speed, letting out a strange, gleeful laugh.

Whenever she entered a fight or indulged in carnage, her excitement was palpable — almost uncontrollable.

She finished the leader with a swift, decisive blow using her kagune arm.

...

Once the battle was over, Eto remained in her One-Eyed Owl form. Without reverting, she consumed the kakuhou of the ghouls she had just slain.

This act of cannibalism, however, was selective — she only devoured their kakuhou, leaving their bodies untouched.

The injuries she had sustained during her previous confrontation with Byakuya and Arima were yet to fully heal. Through cannibalism, she could accelerate her recovery, sometimes even reaching full health.

Eto, well-versed in this gruesome practice, skillfully located and consumed the kakuhou of the fallen ghouls. It wasn't long before she completed the grim task.

Afterward, she reverted from her kakuja form. However, the transformation process — where kagune emerged from multiple kakuhou to envelop her body — had shredded most of the bandages tightly wrapped around her.

Now, only a few strips of white fabric clung to her, and underneath, she wore nothing else.

Though her vital areas remained modestly covered, the glimpses of her skin beneath the tattered bandages carried an alluring, almost teasing quality.

"What's the matter? Stunned, are we~?"

Eto was fully aware of her current appearance. Yet, there was no trace of embarrassment on her face. Instead, she smirked, playfully teasing Byakuya.

"…"

Byakuya said nothing. Silently, he removed his black trench coat and draped it over Eto.

His much larger frame meant the coat hung loosely on Eto, easily covering her from head to toe.

"What's this? Don't tell me you're worried about a ghoul catching a cold? Idiot lolicon~"

Eto's tone was rife with sarcasm as she mocked him.

"Let's go. We need to head deeper into the 24th Ward."

Byakuya ignored her jibes, his expression stoic as he resumed walking.

What seemed like a small act only deepened Eto's curiosity. The less he explained, the more intrigued she became.

She chased after him, pressing, "So, why did you do it? Just to be clear, I can't catch a cold, and you should know that, right?"

When Byakuya still refused to answer, Eto pouted slightly. She poked his side with her fingertips, attempting to provoke a reaction.

Effortlessly sidestepping her, Byakuya finally replied, "I instinctively see you as an ordinary human girl."

His tone was neutral, but the statement carried his honest thoughts.

"…"

Eto froze momentarily, caught off guard. Then she laughed mockingly. "What are you saying to a ghoul, you fool?"

"No. You're a half-ghoul. And there's a fundamental difference between half-ghouls and full ghouls."

Byakuya's correction was firm.

"Is that so…? Honestly, being a half-ghoul feels worse than being fully human or fully ghoul. At least then, there's no inner conflict."

Eto's tone grew reflective. If she were born purely human or ghoul, she could wholeheartedly destroy the enemy. But as a half-ghoul, she was trapped, forced to see the darkness and despair of both worlds. This duality made her struggle uniquely painful — a key reason behind her desire to reshape the world.

"As a half-human, I could at least share some of that pain with you."

Byakuya's voice was calm but genuine.

"Sweet talker, aren't you? You're really solidifying your status as the Lolicon King~"

Eto chuckled softly, though this time her laughter wasn't mocking. It was warm — genuine.

At least now, she wasn't walking alone toward her seemingly unattainable dream.

"I'm not a lolicon"

Byakuya's rebuttal was, as always, feeble.

"Sure thing, Loli King. Got it, Creepy King."

Unbothered by his denial, Eto happily added new titles to his growing list of nicknames.

"By the way, you can't show your true face to the rest of Aogiri Tree, right? Since you're also a Cleaner for the V, the more people know your identity, the greater the risk."

Eto finally shifted topics from her teasing.

"Correct. That's why I've prepared something."

Byakuya walked toward a nearby corner. With a thought, the crimson tiger-striped mask he had purchased from the system's store materialized in his hands.

He also summoned the accompanying Nine-Tailed Demon Fox's Attack outfit, instantly donning it via his Kamui dimension. His hairstyle also shifted to resemble Obito's — or perhaps Madara's.

The transformation was seamless, though Byakuya had deliberately hidden it from Eto's view to avoid unnecessary complications.

When he stepped back into view, Eto let out an impressed gasp.

"Whoa!"

She barely recognized him. The detestable lolicon was gone, replaced by a mysterious figure.

"This will do"

Byakuya spoke in a deliberately lower tone, vastly different from his usual voice.

"Looks good! This should definitely work. Honestly, that mask is pretty cool — kind of handsome, actually" Eto remarked, nodding approvingly.

The single-eye hole design of the mask perfectly complemented the identity of the One-Eyed King.