When ghouls cannibalize their own kind, that is, after engaging in mutual consumption, the number of Rc cells in their body surges and may even undergo a qualitative change.
The number of kakuhou also increases accordingly, eventually reaching a state where the kagune covers the entire body, the Kakuja.
This time, the extermination target of the CCG, the SSS-rated ghoul Owl, possessed this kind of powerful form.
To counter it, the CCG also created full-body covering Kakuja Quinques.
This kind of equipment has extremely high requirements for the user; among the entire operation's side, only two Special Classes were qualified to equip it.
Wearing this kind of full-body black armor, the user's strength and defense can be greatly enhanced.
However, even so, in the battle against the Owl, several individuals gradually began to fall into disadvantage.
Shinohara already felt his stamina was insufficient, but when he glanced at Mado Akira who wanted to step forward, he still shouted sternly, "Mado, fall back! If you come here, it'll only be sending yourself to death!"
"But…" Mado's eyes swept over the battlefield, full of desolation.
Several Associate Special Classes who fought the Owl had already fallen, even Special Class Kuroiwa had lost an arm.
Seeing the enemy who killed her mother standing in front of her, Mado found it very difficult to suppress the anger in her heart.
Shinohara slightly turned his head, his face extremely serious.
"Mado, your mission is logistics, this is a superior's order!"
Mado Akira bit her silver teeth tightly, hung her head low, and said in a low voice, "I understand, if I go up there, it's just suicide. But if it goes on like this, everyone will die!"
Not only Shinohara, the stamina of every Investigator in battle was starting to give out.
Reinforcements still hadn't arrived.
According to the CCG's initial battle plan, the squads that cleared out surrounding ghouls were supposed to rush over and assist, supporting the First Squad to eliminate the Owl.
However, up to now, not to mention squads, not even a single shadow of a person had appeared.
Relying solely on their one squad, how could they possibly stand against the Owl!?
'Where on earth had the others gone!?' Mado suddenly looked up, face serious, her eyes full of resolve.
"Special Class Shinohara! Although you're my superior, special situations should be treated specially."
"If we keep dragging this out, you all will soon be completely defeated from exhaustion."
"Then we in the rear will also be in danger!"
She had already stepped forward with her Quinque in hand, and behind her were many logistics team members who thought the same way.
They held the same idea as her. Shinohara wanted to make them retreat, but seeing the unwavering determination in their eyes, those words were forcibly swallowed back down.
Mado Akira raised her voice to inspire morale, her voice was usually gentle, but now was icy and firm.
"Let us hold back the Owl! Buy time for the main fighting force to rest!"
"Yes!" The team members below shouted in response as well.
Watching this scene, Shinohara's fists clenched and released, finally, they completely dropped down.
He gave Kuroiwa, who was still fighting, a meaningful look. The latter instantly understood his intent.
A trace of sorrow flashed in his eyes, and then he shouted loudly, "All members fall back! Rest with all your strength! Recover your condition in the shortest time possible!"
"Mado…"
When Akira passed by his side, Shinohara wanted to stop her, but the moment her name left his mouth, he stopped himself.
Though this parting might very well be forever, he found he couldn't say anything at all.
"Take a good rest, First-Class Shinohara." Mado Akira didn't mind, just smiled slightly. "We will do our best to buy you a bit more time."
Her idea wasn't all that noble, but reality remained cruel.
Facing the powerful Owl, logistics Investigators basically had no ability to counterattack, before him, they were like bugs that could be crushed at will.
In just a few breaths, a large number of personnel had already fallen.
Mado Akira looked at the blood-covered bodies of her comrades, utterly disheartened.
Such a powerful ghoul, she had never seen in her life.
"Distance yourselves from him! Don't go in all at once!"
They could only adopt this method to buy more time.
Whether going in as a group or one by one, to the Owl, there was basically no difference.
The only difference was that the latter method made the Owl kill a little more slowly.
Mado Akira gripped her Quinque tightly, her companion's blood splashed onto her face.
'What kind of monster is this! Are First-Class Shinohara and the others always fighting this kind of monster?'
'No wonder even Arima-san hadn't managed to capture him!'
She was terrified, but when facing the enemy who killed her mother, the flames of hatred faintly overpowered the fear.
Even if she wasn't the Owl's match, she still wanted to leave marks on him. To create conditions for future CCG Investigators to slay the Owl.
Just as she steeled her resolve, the Owl attacked as well, with both arms wrapped in sharp kagune,
he swung directly at Mado Akira's legs.
Perhaps to others, his aura seemed weakened, but only he himself knew he too was gradually growing tired.
If he didn't quickly finish off these annoying Investigators, once those Special Classes recovered and returned to battle, his trouble would only grow.
Mado Akira was slightly stunned, she hadn't expected the Owl, who had always been passively defending, to suddenly launch an active attack.
She had just intended to block with her Quinque
when she realized the Owl's attack trajectory was strange.
'Why?'
Even though she noticed the direction of the Owl's attack, she had no chance to block it.
The Owl's attack speed wasn't even in the same tier as hers.
So she didn't care about her legs, instead, she raised her Quinque and slashed hard at the Owl's body.
A mouthful of blood was spat out, Mado's entire body nearly collapsed from pain.
"ORA!"
The first place she felt pain wasn't her legs, but half her face.
A massive force sent her flying.
In her daze, she caught a glimpse of Jotaro's indifferent face, and felt a familiar sensation on her face…
The one who struck her… wasn't the Owl, but that bastard Kujo.
The Owl's attack missed, his body slightly straightened, his kagune-covered face filled with shock.
The person who appeared… was actually that human who frequently came to the café for coffee.
But that wasn't what shocked him most, what truly shocked him was the timing of the other party's appearance.
It wasn't an exaggeration to say, when Jotaro got close, he hadn't sensed it at all. If the opponent's attack just now had been aimed at him instead of that Investigator…
A trace of solemnity appeared on Yoshimura Kuzen's face. This opponent was stronger than anyone present.
Not far away, the observing Shinohara and others were also shocked.
"Isn't that guy Kujo? When did he get here?"
Kuroiwa's expression was serious, "Could it be that reinforcements have arrived?"
Shinohara looked around, and let out a bitter laugh.
"From the looks of it, only he came."
Kuroiwa's body was newly covered in Kakuja Quinque.
"That's enough! Everyone, enter alert mode."
Shinohara took the same stance as Kuroiwa,
also ready to rejoin the battle.
"I know Kujo's strength clearly. His arrival is definitely enough."
He explained, "Kujo once captured two SS-rated ghouls by himself. Before this extermination operation, it was he who disabled the entire Mado Squad."
A sharp gleam flickered in Shinohara's eyes.
"Even though only he came, his combat power is equivalent to a whole squad!"
"First-Class Kujo! We'll assist you! Everyone, raise your morale and annihilate the Owl!"
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