Unyielding

"A bunch of trash."

Huiqi reached into his coat and swiftly drew several razor-sharp Quinque daggers that gleamed with cold light.

"Kill him!!!"

The move enraged the ghouls. They unfurled their kagune and lunged at Huiqi like ravenous tigers pouncing on prey.

The next second, a piercing whistle split the air. The daggers in Huiqi's hands became streaks of cold light, flashing through the air like lightning and plunging straight into several ghouls ahead. Their sheer force punched clean through the ghouls' bodies.

Blood sprayed amid agonized screams, but the ghouls behind them did not retreat. Instead, they charged even harder, trampling those in front underfoot.

Watching the ghouls draw closer, Huiqi took out his newest Kakuja-grade Quinque and went on the offensive.

The long blade crackled with electricity as it slashed straight at a ghoul. In an instant, it sliced through the ghoul's flesh as easily as tofu, scattering blood and entrails across the ground.

There was no time to mourn the ghoul's death. Those behind it were already attacking indiscriminately, showing no concern even for their own kind's corpses as kagune of every description struck at Huiqi.

Severed limbs and mangled remains flew into the air as blood gradually pooled on the ground... The carnage was staggering. From outside, all anyone could see was ghoul after ghoul charging in, followed by limbs flying out from the center.

Meanwhile, Yukinori Shinohara had also encountered formidable enemies.

Dozens of Ghoul Investigators faced off against the ghouls. Shinohara's opponents were the S-rate ukaku ghoul Ayato Kirishima, the SS-rate ghoul Noro, and the SS-rate Tatara.

"Tatara, the SS-rate ghoul-the younger brother of the leader of China's ghoul organization, the Red Tongue Chain."

Shinohara immediately spotted the white-haired ghoul in the red mask. His conspicuous height and hateful gaze were unmistakable, making the blue-haired boy and the ghoul with the high ponytail beside him seem unremarkable in comparison.

"Special Class Investigator Marute, I request support from Special Class Investigator Huiqi. There's a massive disparity in combat strength in sector C2."

Static crackled...

"Request denied. Huiqi has already dispatched his available forces to you. He's tied down by a swarm of ghouls and can't provide support himself."

"Understood."

Hearing the reply through his earpiece, Shinohara's expression turned grave. He gripped his large Quinque sword in both hands.

"Everyone, prepare to engage!"

The ukaku attacks arrived the instant he finished speaking. A dense barrage of ukaku kagune filled the air while koukaku ghouls charged ahead below to clear the way. The ghouls had suddenly adopted a tightly disciplined fighting formation.

Faced with the ghouls' coordination, the Ghoul Investigators gritted their teeth and held on. With the koukaku serving as shields at the front, they could not attack effectively. The only opening was the one Shinohara forced through with his powerful physique.

Within mere seconds, the other Ghoul Investigators had suffered injuries of varying severity. Above them, the S-rate ukaku ghoul Ayato Kirishima continued circling the battlefield, making the Ghoul Investigators' situation increasingly dire.

"Hey! Kawakami, hang in there!"

"Watch out!"

Crack!

A bloody hole was punched through Ghoul Investigator Kawakami's abdomen. The kagune piercing the Ghoul Investigator's body churned savagely inside the wound, blood dripping along it onto the ground.

"Don't get distracted!!"

Shinohara roared from the front line, urging the Ghoul Investigators behind him to stay focused while he fought the SS-rate ghoul Tatara.

Every blow from his opponent carried tremendous force, sending pain jolting through the webbing between Shinohara's thumbs and forefingers.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...

Ukaku projectiles targeted Shinohara's back. Tatara seized the opportunity at once, accelerating his kagune attacks to pile on the pressure.

Unable to handle both at once, Shinohara could only endure the ukaku barrage. Blood streamed down his back.

"That's all you've got? And you call yourself a CCG Special Class Investigator." Ayato Kirishima looked down at Yukinori Shinohara with contempt.

"It's almost time to withdraw."

Tatara ignored Ayato Kirishima's arrogant remark.

But in the next instant, Shinohara braced himself and swung his great sword at Tatara with both arms.

Boom!

Crack, crack, crack, crack...

Under the two ghouls' astonished gazes, Tatara's kagune shattered beneath the blade. The great sword carried its momentum onward toward its next target, Ayato Kirishima.

At such close range, even an ukaku ghoul could not dodge in time. In desperation, Ayato Kirishima could only defend.

Thud... screeeeech...

A harsh grinding sound erupted as the great sword clashed with the ukaku. But within seconds, the ukaku defense was torn apart, and the blade followed through to slash Ayato Kirishima across the chest.

"Don't underestimate me! I'm Shinohara the Unyielding!"

Shinohara gave neither ghoul a moment to breathe. The instant his attack landed, he launched a second assault, sweeping his Quinque sword horizontally toward their necks.

"Just die already." Tatara frowned, his eyes dark as he stared at Yukinori Shinohara. The kagune behind him spread over his body at tremendous speed, forming armor.

"A Kakuja?!"

The sight made Shinohara blurt it out instinctively.

"No, a Half-Kakuja."

The next second, Shinohara corrected himself. Tatara's current Kakuja form was incomplete, and the armor covered only half his body.

"It's enough to kill you."

Several enormous kagune extended from Tatara's back, each radiating an oppressive presence as they launched a frenzied assault on Shinohara.

In the distance, Ayato Kirishima slowly rose, clutching his chest. Fury burned in his kakugan. Ignoring his wound, he resumed attacking Yukinori Shinohara with his kagune.

Caught between their attacks, Shinohara accumulated more and more wounds. Pain throughout his body and his fraying concentration left him utterly exhausted, unable to focus on the fight.

"Special Class Investigator Shinohara!!!"

One Ghoul Investigator rushed out from the group and attacked Ayato Kirishima with a Quinque, forcibly disrupting his rhythm.

Freed from the ukaku's harassment, Shinohara suddenly felt the pressure ease.

As Yukinori Shinohara's resistance grew stronger, Tatara's expression darkened further. Without hesitation, he raised a hand and signaled for Noro beside him to attack.

Boom!

The order had barely been given before Noro moved. His neck tilted at an unnatural angle, and a thick kagune emerged from his back, ending in a vicious maw.

That maw was now swallowing a Ghoul Investigator—the very one who had just rushed forward.

"Damn it!!"

Frantic, Shinohara fought faster and faster, but he could not break through Tatara's relentless attacks. He could only watch as the Ghoul Investigator was chewed into mincemeat.

Without support, Shinohara fell into danger once more. The Ghoul Investigators behind him were still desperately resisting the Aogiri Tree ghouls. This time, the CCG had been utterly outplayed by the Aogiri Tree. No one had expected so many ghouls to appear in the 10th Ward.

"Die." Tatara's four kagune coiled together like pythons, forming a powerful weapon aimed straight at Yukinori Shinohara. This strike carried the resolve to kill.

As the kagune tore through the air, Shinohara stared at Tatara in defiance, still trying to raise his great Quinque sword to defend.

But the relentless fighting had exhausted Shinohara in both body and mind. His hands could no longer keep pace with his reactions, leaving him to watch helplessly as the kagune bore down on him.

Screech!

Crack!

The crisp sound echoed beside Yukinori Shinohara. The expected blow never landed; instead, it was severed midway. A figure had appeared before him without his noticing.