An underground fortress built from hardened kagune stood here, joined to the surrounding terrain above and below, with its back against the wall. Its surface was black and forbidding, and its few entrances were fiercely guarded by the ghouls inside, making it difficult to take.
Bloodstains already covered much of the ground nearby, but no bodies remained. Most had probably been "recovered" by either side.
Louis arrived beneath the fortress with the captains of the first through fifth squads.
"Where's Viper?"
A hoarse, imposing voice came from a dark window in the fortress. From outside, nothing was visible through the slit but darkness.
Before Louis could speak, a neat row of middle fingers went up.
"Why would Lord Viper need to bother with you? Come on! Get your ass down here and try taking this guy!" Aoki spoke first, raising his middle finger with one hand while jerking the thumb of his other toward Louis, who stood front and center.
Louis felt rather helpless himself. Rather than saying he had brought these people into battle, it would be more accurate to say they had brought him along as their designated muscle.
There was only one person he could command: Hinami, who stood beside him. She was wearing an Ice Mask specially made for her-Four Eyes. He had crafted it based on his memories of Hinami's mask, with only a slight difference in color.
"Ice Mask..." Ghoul Eater sounded a little puzzled.
Louis could even feel that cold gaze sweeping over their group, seemingly searching for Viper.
But hiding and ambushing were Viper's specialties. How could Ghoul Eater possibly find him?
Louis stepped forward, deliberately distancing himself from the ghouls behind him, and moved directly beneath the ink-black fortress, close to its wall. The total distance was no more than thirty