Chapter 32: Diversion...

The ghouls who'd revealed their kagune launched into a slaughter among the crowd, utterly without restraint. In just a few seconds, several people met a gruesome end. The sight of blood and severed limbs only intensified the panic, and the entire mall descended into chaos.

Bathing in blood, the ghouls licked it greedily from their hands, tasting the warm metallic tang. The commotion they were causing further incited their frenzy, adrenaline surging. Confronted with the screams of the humans, the gloom they once felt under constant pressure lifted. Their minds filled with the sense that "humans are trash—food".

"Humans were meant to be our prey!"

The ghouls rallied themselves. Whatever the Fallen Angels had ordered them to do, at least for now, they were having a good time. But then they ran into someone in their way.

"What the hell are you scumbags doing?!"

Standing before them, kagune unfurled and eyes glowing red, was a high-school girl in a Kuoh Academy uniform—Touka Kirishima. Witnessing this horrifying scene, she was furious. Not only were these criminals the same species as her, but now, with this brazen attack, they'd make life even harder for those ghouls who wanted to coexist peacefully. After all, devils could have them all driven out (or worse) with just a word.

"Heh heh, you're one of us, aren't you? Come join in—can't you hear how sweet their screams are?"

Seeing Touka block the way, they extended a warm "invitation."

She replied by unleashing her kagune, smashing one of them into a wall.

"Who'd join you?!"

Right now, she wished she could kill them all.

"You dare attack me?"

The ghoul she'd struck clambered back up, quickly healing his injuries.

"All that 'peaceful co-existence' talk is so damn annoying. Doesn't matter—before long, we'll have our own turf in this world. As for traitors like you who feed on ghoul-made junk food, you'll be the first ones we eat!"

Their senses were frenzied by the taste of blood, and they rushed her en masse. After a few exchanges, a sharp spike pierced Touka's shoulder. The intense pain nearly made her black out.

They were about to deliver a finishing blow when suddenly a sound tore through the air. Before any of them could react, watery spikes penetrated the ghouls' skulls. In the blink of an eye, their brains were destroyed, and they collapsed in a heap—their bodies and kagune, suddenly limp as jelly.

"Even on a weekend, you lot can't settle down?"

A calm voice drifted by. Touka reflexively glanced behind her and saw someone standing there—Hikaru, who'd appeared without her noticing. Her pupils shrank; as soon as she recognized him, she quickly withdrew her kagune, her eyes reverting to normal.

"Hi-Hikaru…"

She was at a loss for words. She and the café ghouls tried to live as ordinarily as humans, rarely using their kagune. But now this classmate of hers had witnessed everything.

"You did fine. Now, go call an ambulance. Those people who got attacked aren't dead yet—and you need first aid for your wound, too."

Having said that, Hikaru stepped past her toward the ghoul he'd intentionally left alive. Touka looked at him in astonishment, never imagining that the always-cool Hikaru would…show concern for her. And she was a ghoul. Even if she didn't consume human flesh, she was still an outsider. Yet, when she recalled his gaze from moments ago, it felt as though it probed the softest part of her heart.

She was snapped out of her reverie by the surviving ghoul's pained screams. Hastily, she pulled out her phone to call for emergency services, and did her best to help the injured.

Meanwhile, Hikaru used water spikes to pin the last remaining ghoul's limbs—and kagune—to the floor, pressing his foot upon the ghoul's head.

"Spill it. What's going on?"

Under extreme pain, the ghoul's eyes cleared, and he quickly explained everything he knew. It was fuzzy information, but at least it pointed to the Fallen Angels pulling the strings.

"I see…"

A contemplative light flashed in Hikaru's eyes. He'd more or less guessed as much. This was just a diversion by the Fallen Angels. These ghouls were nothing but cannon fodder, dragged out to draw attention. The real target was probably Rias and her group. In all likelihood, they'd be heading here soon.

He turned around to call out:

"Touka, fill Rias in for me, okay?"

"Huh—me?!"

Touka, who was busy dressing someone's wounds, looked over her shoulder in shock, only to find that Hikaru had vanished without a trace.

…

Late night in the mountains near Kuoh Town.

A derelict church lay at the summit, its battered structure steeped in the weight of history. Cracks in the old stone walls were entwined with vines, as though lamenting forgotten days. Under cover of darkness, the place was eerily still. Yet deep in its basement, a special ritual was taking place.

Raynare gazed at the unconscious Issei Hyoudou bound to a cross, smiling faintly.

"Let's get started."

Then she shot Tatara and his group a contemptuous look.

"All of you, out."

"Keep an eye on this place. Don't let anyone in until the ritual's done."

~~~

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