Chapter 363: Combination
"Is this… my Pokémon!?"
Kaneki froze in place, paralyzed with fear as he stared at the colossal monster before him.
Its massive body, the abyssal maw, and the monstrous arms…
It was like a creature straight out of a horror movie. Cold sweat ran down his back as he struggled to process the sight.
But then…
"Luckily… this monster belongs to me!"
A sly, wicked smile crept across Kaneki's face, his fear replaced by a growing sense of power.
His gaze shifted upward to the peculiar figure nestled within the massive form of Guzzlord.
It was his second Pokémon—Blacephalon.
This Pokémon was bizarre, both in appearance and nature.
Its clown-like figure, combined with its spotted, unsettling head, gave it a grotesque and otherworldly vibe.
But what truly made it horrifying was not its appearance, but how it grew stronger—not through training or nourishment like regular Pokémon, but by absorbing the life force of terrified living beings through mysterious means.
One devoured everything in sight. The other drained vitality from fear itself.
These Pokémon were handpicked by Enel, chosen specifically to suit the twisted and chaotic ghoul world Kaneki found himself in.
Ghouls—creatures brimming with nutrients and energy.
Even the weakest ghoul's body was durable enough to withstand ordinary weapons.
Kaneki's plan was clear: he would make use of ghoul corpses.
In other words…
The bodies of slain ghouls would become sustenance for Guzzlord.
A Pokémon capable of converting even inorganic matter into energy would thrive on the nutrient-rich flesh of ghouls.
Its growth rate would be nothing short of terrifying.
And Blacephalon? A Pokémon that grew stronger by feeding on the life force of frightened prey.
What could be more fearsome than facing death itself?
As Kaneki prepared to continue down this bloody path, he knew both Pokémon would only grow stronger with time.
These two were hellish creatures, each more terrifying than the last. Yet, in this twisted world, they felt like a natural fit.
Kaneki quickly familiarized himself with the abilities of Guzzlord and Blacephalon.
Glancing at the surrounding arena, he felt a flicker of revulsion deep in his heart.
But those who prey on others will eventually become prey themselves.
With renewed resolve, he discarded his hesitation and gave a commanding order to Guzzlord:
"Guzzlord, as long as you stay within this arena, devour to your heart's content!"
"Guuuzzz~"
The massive, bloated form of Guzzlord let out a low, guttural roar as it sprang into action.
Its two serpent-like tentacles extended with incredible agility, digging a ghoul's corpse from the ground and tossing it into its gaping maw.
Despite its bulk, Guzzlord's movements were disturbingly fluid and precise.
Before long, the entire arena was unrecognizable.
The ground was riddled with holes, and the once-pristine venue had been reduced to ruins.
Guzzlord's feeding frenzy even tore a massive hole in Shuu's luxurious villa.
At this sight, Shuu Tsukiyama stood frozen in shock.
As the pampered young master of the Tsukiyama family, he had always lived a life of comfort and indulgence. But even he had never encountered anything as surreal as dimensional trading.
For a moment, he even forgot his hunger for Kaneki.
Meanwhile, Kaneki's eyes gleamed as he fully embraced the power of Armament Haki and Observation Haki.
Without warning, a massive scarlet tail materialized behind him, piercing through Shuu Tsukiyama's body and lifting him into the air. Slowly, it dragged Shuu closer to Kaneki's face.
"Hiss~"
From behind Kaneki, the grotesque, twisted form of Blacephalon emerged as if stepping out of a shadow.
The clown's eerie grin widened as it locked eyes with the terrified Shuu Tsukiyama.
Opening its oversized mouth, the clown began to siphon Tsukiyama's life force, greedily feeding on his energy.
"You… what are you doing?!"
Shuu coughed up blood but showed no signs of pain.
Instead, his eyes burned with an odd intensity as he stared directly at Kaneki.
Kaneki leaned in closer, his voice cold and resolute:
"I'll give you two choices."
"First, join us and obey my commands from now on."
"Second…"
Kaneki's gaze darkened, his eyes radiating murderous intent as he stared into Shuu's trembling eyes.
"Die here and become nourishment for Guzzlord."
Peng!
With a flick of the giant scarlet tail, Shuu was sent crashing into a nearby wall, leaving a spiderweb of cracks in its surface.
"Ugh!"
Before Shuu could recover, the sharp tip of the scarlet tail pressed against his forehead, holding him in place.
Kaneki's voice dropped to a menacing whisper:
"Now, tell me your choice."
"…"
Fear flickered in Shuu's eyes, but it was soon replaced by a strange, inexplicable admiration.
Breathing in the scent emanating from Kaneki's kagune, Shuu Tsukiyama's expression twisted, as if overcome by an addictive euphoria.
Reaching out with trembling hands, he clung to Kaneki's kagune as though it were a precious treasure.
Then, with a wide, deranged smile, he said:
"I don't think I have a choice, do I?"
"..."
Could this guy possibly have... peculiar hobbies?!
A dark thought flashed through Kaneki's mind.
However, the Tsukiyama family was one of the most influential families in the entire country. A living Tsukiyama clearly held far more value than a dead one.
The crimson 'kagune' shimmered, dispersing into ripples and vanishing into the wind.
Kaneki withdrew his 'kagune', nodded slightly, and warned with a sharp edge in his tone:
"I hope you remember the choice you made today. Otherwise..."
His gaze turned cold, his words laden with menace.
"I'll personally show you the inside of Guzzlord's stomach."
With that ominous threat delivered, Kaneki shifted his attention to Enel.
His demeanor underwent a complete transformation, now marked by deep respect.
"Sir Enel," Kaneki began, his voice steady yet humble, "may I request the same product that enhanced my ghoul body the last time?"
"Of course."
A glint of amusement danced in Enel's eyes as he studied Kaneki, Touka, and the recently subdued Shuu Tsukiyama.
Having seen Kaneki leave behind 10,000 unused points earlier, Enel had already anticipated his next move.
'Snap!'
With a flick of his fingers, the information displayed on the light screen shifted, showcasing the details of the "Essence of Life."
As it was a power derived from the essence of the Source, it could be freely traded.
Upon seeing the item he sought, Kaneki did not hesitate. Spending 1,000 points, he redeemed two portions of the "Essence of Life."
Without a word, and ignoring Touka's astonishment and Shuu Tsukiyama's confusion, he injected the glowing orbs of life essence into their bodies.
Tears welled up in Touka's eyes and flowed silently down her face.
"This... What is this...?"
Shuu, on the other hand, was less certain of what had just happened. But he could feel it—his body was undergoing an extraordinary transformation.
To his astonishment, the scent of Kaneki, which once intoxicated him, no longer held the same allure.
He couldn't explain it, but it was clear something fundamental had changed.
Meanwhile, Kaneki was preoccupied with plans to acquire more "Essence of Life" for the manager and others, while Touka was utterly consumed by the realization of her newfound humanity.
For her, this was destined to be a day she would never forget.
---
Later That Evening
After locating clean clothes within the ruins of the villa, Kaneki and Touka dressed and departed. They climbed into a car driven by Shuu and returned to the Anteiku café in the 20th Ward.
As the pair disappeared into the dimly lit café, Shuu sat motionless in the driver's seat, his hands trembling against the steering wheel.
"Is all of this... real?"
He whispered the words softly to himself, then glanced toward the back seat.
There, resting neatly, was a simple beef burger Kaneki had left for him.
It was incomprehensible. Moments ago, the ghoul Touka had consumed human food—real food.
Not only had her body not rejected it, but she'd also expressed genuine pleasure, sounds of delight escaping her as she ate.
Recalling Kaneki's parting words, Shuu's chest tightened with emotion.
After a moment of hesitation, he picked up the burger and unwrapped it.
Instantly, an unfamiliar yet captivating aroma filled the air.
"This... this smell..."
Shuu's eyes widened with disbelief. Slowly, cautiously, he bit into the burger and chewed.
A rush of tears streamed down his cheeks, falling freely as his hands trembled.
"So... this is..."
"The taste of human food."
His voice cracked, and he whispered as though in awe:
"It's truly... indescribably delicious!"
---
The Next Morning
Dawn's light broke through the shadows of night, spreading warmth and clarity across the world.
Inside the Anteiku café, in its rarely used meeting room, an unusual gathering had assembled.
Among the attendees were:
- Manager Quzin Yoshimura.
- Staff members: Koma Enji, Irimi Kaya, Roma Hoito, Renji Yomo, Kaneki, and Touka.
- Non-staff allies: Shuu Tsukiyama, Fueguchi Ryoko, and her daughter Fueguchi Hinami.
Ryoko and Hinami were present because Ryoko's husband, Dr. Fueguchi, had feared external threats from powerful ghouls. To protect his wife and daughter, he had sent them to Anteiku for refuge.
Both had since developed close bonds with Kaneki, as well as with the other members of Anteiku.
However, what caught everyone's attention today was an unexpected guest: none other than Shuu, the very man who had schemed against Kaneki just the day prior.
---
Kaneki stepped forward as the manager gave a subtle nod.
"Everyone," he began, his voice steady, "I believe you're all aware of the events that transpired at the Tsukiyama family estate yesterday."
'Swish!'
The moment he spoke, every eye turned sharply to Shuu.
Nearly a hundred ghouls had been slain overnight, many of whom were infamous figures in the underground ghoul network.
The news had sent shockwaves through the ghoul community, and Kaneki's name had risen as one to be feared.
Shuu, unfazed by the glares, casually brushed his hair aside and smirked.
"Why are you all staring at me like that?"
"..."
Silence filled the room.
The tension was palpable, and more than a few present entertained thoughts of rearranging Shuu's smug expression with their fists.
However, his presence here meant he had earned the trust of both Kaneki and the manager.
Recognizing this, everyone swallowed their anger and turned their attention back to Kaneki, waiting expectantly.
Kaneki met their gazes and smiled faintly.
"As you've likely guessed, I've successfully completed another transaction with Sir Enel."