"Come on," Hayashi said softly. "Let me see your peak strength."
The moment his words fell, Arima felt a warm sensation flowing through his entire body.
The suffocating feeling of death that had been clinging to him vanished instantly.
What followed was the gradual recovery of his bodily functions. His once-cold limbs regained sensation, warmth returning to his fingers and toes.
"…What is this?"
Sensing his body — once on the verge of collapse — being rapidly restored, Arima slowly opened his eyes, confusion flickering through his usually cold gaze.
Only moments later, he realized —
His body had completely recovered.
His blurred vision was crystal clear again. His sluggish movements were sharp and responsive.
The body that had once been like a candle flickering in the windhad returned entirely to its peak.
"What did you do?" Arima asked, quickly regaining his composure as he looked at Hayashi.
"As you can see," Hayashi shrugged, nodding casually. "I brought you back."
"With power like this…"Arima frowned slightly, confusion deepening in his eyes. "What exactly are you?"
Just moments ago, he had clearly felt death closing in.
The cold limbs. The fading consciousness. The loss of control over his own body.
That sensation couldn't be faked.
If it wasn't an illusion, then there was only one explanation.
"What do you think?" Hayashi replied instead of answering.
Arima recalled the golden light that had completely enveloped his body.
This kind of power was beyond humans. Beyond ghouls.
There was only one being capable of such a miracle—
A god.
Staring at the white-haired youth before him, Arima frowned slightly.
If Hayashi truly was a god, then everything that had happened made sense.
But in the end…
It didn't matter anymore.
Feeling the boundless strength surging within him, that long-lost sensation —
"Shall we continue?" Arima asked, gripping Narukami tightly as he looked at Hayashi.
"Of course," Hayashi nodded, a gentle smile on his face.
As a breeze swept through the arena,both figures vanished from sight.
Asuramaru swept through the air. Arima raised Narukami to block.
At the moment of impact, fragments of the Thousand Demon Daggers rained down from above.
Arima shifted Narukami's form, firing an electric current into the sky.
The electricity clung to the blade fragments — and detonated in a violent explosion.
Evading the blast, Narukami transformed into sword form and thrust forward.
Hayashi blocked horizontally with Asuramaru, borrowing the force to rebound backward.
Arima stepped back and fired several small lightning orbs in response.
After dodging them,Hayashi appeared instantly behind him.
Without turning his head, Arima discharged electricity into the ground.
Golden lightning spread across the entire floor.
Hayashi's speed slowed under the interference—
And in that instant, Narukami was pressed against Hayashi's head, unleashing a burst of lightning.
Golden electricity wrapped around his body, carrying lethal intent.
But—
In the blink of an eye, Hayashi's body dispersed into an afterimage.
In the very next breath, Arima felt death rush toward him from behind.
He turned Narukami to respond—
But before he could fire,
A blood-red blade rested gently against his neck.
"You've lost, Reaper," Hayashi whispered from behind him.
At the same time, several blood-red blades hovered in the air, all aimed at Arima's throat.
At this distance, even a White Reaper at his peak had no way out.
"…Defeated again?" Arima murmured softly, lowering Narukami.
This time, he felt no resistance.
The last traces of unwillingness faded completely.
Seeing this, Hayashi withdrew Asuramaru from Arima's neck.
"There's one thing I still don't understand," Arima said, turning back toward him. "Why did you save me?"
This was the only question that remained.
With power like his,what reason did he have to interfere?
"Because there are things that only you can do," Hayashi replied, a faintly playful smile flashing in his eyes. "Things that can't be entrusted to anyone else."
"…I see."
Arima nodded slowly, falling silent.
After a moment, he lifted his head.
"I lost this battle," he said calmly, lowering Narukami. "I acknowledge you."
"From today onward, you are officially a Special Class Investigator."
With that, he picked up the white coat from the ground, put it on,and walked straight toward the exit.
Originally, headquarters had ordered him to test Hayashi — to assess the limits of his strength.
But now, there was no need.
Because Hayashi's true identitywas something no one would dare imagine.
Adjusting his glasses, the lenses glinting faintly, Arima pushed open the door and left.
Outside, Hayashi spotted a familiar figure.
"Ihei" he said, clearly surprised. "What are you doing here?"
"She was once my subordinate," Arima explained calmly without stopping.
"From now on, she's yours."
"So you're Hayashi," Ihei said with a playful grin as she stood up and walked over. "I never thought the day would come when I'd be working under you."
"Neither did I," Hayashi replied honestly.
"You two talk," Arima said flatly. "I still have matters to attend to."
With that, he turned and left.
The moment he was gone,Hairu eagerly leaned closer.
"From now on, I'm at your disposal,"she said brightly.
"…Okay."
She was standing a bit too close. Hayashi felt slightly uncomfortable.
"You can order me to do anything," she whispered, warm breath brushing his ear, eyes half-lidded,"anything at all."
A sweet smile bloomed across her beautiful face.
"From now on," she said softly, "I'm belongs to you."
"Take good care of me, Hayashi."