"Is it... over? Just like that? In the blink of an eye...?"
"Seems so. That 'Dragon' completely stopped moving. Looks like it's dead."
"Those mutant creatures still all over the streets, though... but CCG and the friendly ghouls should be able to handle them."
"Meanwhile, the army we deployed did absolutely nothing. And in the end, the ones who saved us humans... were ghouls?"
"..."
A strange, indescribable feeling washed over many.
Ghouls were supposed to be humanity's sworn enemies. And yet, today… they were the ones who saved them.
Of course, everyone assumed Byakuya was a ghoul.
But what they didn't know… was that he was neither ghoul nor human.
As a half-human, Byakuya's body had now evolved under the effects of the Dragon's toxin. His lifespan stabilized to match a normal human's, but his strength hadn't diminished in the slightest.
The same could be said for Arima.
High above the city, Eto had transformed midair into her kakuja form, clutching Byakuya safely.
Though it was cramped inside the massive beast's body, Byakuya wasn't uncomfortable—just not as cushy as being inside his own Susanoo.
Eto's current kakuja form stood around seven or eight meters tall—though this wasn't her limit. As long as she kept devouring or absorbing RC cells, she could grow even larger.
While her presence wasn't nearly as overwhelming as Byakuya's Susanoo, in the eyes of the Dragon Orphan, she was still a monstrous titan.
Well—Former Dragon Orphan now. With the original Dragon dead, these creatures were little more than abandoned and aimless.
"Eto," Byakuya said weakly, "those things are made entirely of RC cells. Try absorbing them."
His voice was hoarse, but he was recovering fast. His insanely high physical stats meant even without chakra, he bounced back far quicker than most.
If Furuta could evolve by devouring Dragon Orphans, then Eto might be able to do the same — or even more.
"Really? Worth a try."
Eto hadn't thought of that before, but now she didn't hesitate.
Against them, Eto was a reaper. Her kagune-arm sliced clean through one of the monsters' heads. She didn't pause—she shoved its entire body into her mouth and swallowed.
Crude. But effective.
And sure enough—she could feel her RC cell levels rising. It worked.
From that moment, Eto began devouring them wholesale, one after another. Her kakuja form steadily swelled in size.
In mere moments, she had cleared out an entire street. A few spawns managed to flee, but most were devoured.
Still, Eto didn't chase them. Instead, she turned and took flight—rushing back toward the 20th Ward.
She wasn't about to risk something happening back home.
Even with the Dragon slain, its spawns continued to wreak havoc. The ones near the 20th Ward were no exception.
Individually they weren't much of a threat—but there were so many. An endless horde. For every group that was cut down, another wave surged forward.
Some of them even seemed to possess fragments of intelligence. And now, sensing the death of their origin, they began to hesitate… to falter… to flee.
And that's when Eto descended from the heavens.
CRACK—!
The ground shattered beneath her landing. Two dragon orphans were crushed underfoot.
Having devoured dozens of them already, her form had now grown to nearly ten meters tall.
She reached down, grabbed the crushed monsters, and shoved them into her mouth like snacks.
Yoshimura was stunned by her transformation. He had once modeled his own kakuja after the original One-Eyed Owl — but now, her current form had evolved far beyond anything he could replicate.
Still, with the Washuu Clan eliminated, there was no longer any need to impersonate the old Owl.
And besides—he now believed Byakuya was far better suited to protecting Eto than he was.
Eto's presence turned the tide immediately. Her slaughter and consumption of the dragon orphans sent waves of panic through their ranks. The ones who had considered retreat… now broke and ran.
Eto didn't bother chasing them.
She made her way back to the defenders of the 20th Ward.
"Where's Byakuya?"
Yoshimura had already reverted from his ghoul form and asked as soon as she landed.
"He's with me" Eto replied.
She opened her massive, kagune-formed mouth—and from within emerged Eto's small frame, still cradling Byakuya in her arms.
"Looks like he's been through hell..."
Yoshimura could tell Byakuya was still drained.
"Yeah. Let's let him rest now."
Eto's tone carried an edge of worry—something rare for her.
"I'm okay now. You don't need to worry about me" Byakuya said, sitting up slightly.
In truth, he was already doing much better—at least well enough to move around normally. A solid night's sleep would have him back in top shape.
He scanned the gathered group. Everyone in the 20th Ward was safe. Some of the outsider ghouls had taken injuries, but nothing fatal—thanks to their rapid healing.
"Doesn't matter. You're resting. Now."
Eto didn't give him a choice. She helped him into Anteiku, gently laying him onto the couch.
Then she sat beside him and slid her thigh beneath his head—offering her lap as a pillow.