In the 20th Ward, at the intersection not far from the café, the area had already been completely sealed off by fully armed CCG combat personnel.
Yoshitoki Washuu stood with his hands clasped behind his back atop the command vehicle, his cold gaze sweeping over the deathly silent, empty street.
All investigators gripped their quinque tightly, gun barrels lowered. The air was filled with the scent of steel and gunpowder. Everyone held their breath, waiting for the order to attack.
Yoshitoki Washuu slowly raised one hand. His voice spread across the scene through a loudspeaker.
"The operation begins."
The order was given. The special task force surged toward the café entrance like a tide of black. In an instant, live ammunition and drawn weapons sealed off the small storefront completely.
With a sharp forward gesture from the squad leader, every gun barrel was raised in unison, locking firmly onto the wooden door.
Tension spread through the crowd. Even their breathing grew heavy without them noticing.
At that moment-
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Clear footsteps sounded from the stairs inside the café, approaching from far to near.
Every member's nerves tightened. They instinctively stepped back half a pace.
Then, with a snap, the light of the café's signboard suddenly flared on. Beneath the dim yellow glow, two figures appeared clearly.
One had a massive build and wore a ferocious ape mask. The other was slender and wore a deep black dog mask.
They calmly looked at the army before them as if facing a great enemy. In unison, they spoke the familiar greeting.
"Welcome."
"Fire."
Gunshots exploded the instant the words fell. Yet faced with near point-blank gunfire, the figures of Apes and Black Dog vanished from where they stood like phantoms.
Their speed left afterimages in the night. They did not even need to use their kagune. With only fists and feet, they launched a crushing assault on the combat personnel.
Devil Ape leapt like a true king of the mountains. Each landing was accompanied by the crisp sound of bones shattering and shrill screams. In the blink of an eye, several had already fallen.
Black Dog skimmed low across the ground, swift as lightning. Her elongated nails became deadly blades. With several elegant yet fatal strikes, the combat personnel before her fell like harvested wheat.
Watching the formation collapse instantly, the squad leader shouted hoarsely, "Don't panic. There are only two ghouls."
Devil Ape and Black Dog crossed through the crowd. A low voice carried a hint of mockery.
"They're really slow to react."
After speaking, the two of them leapt upward, landing lightly on the edge of the fourth-floor rooftop as if freed from gravity. With a crisp snap of Apes' fingers.
On the rooftop, dozens of killing auras appeared in an instant. They split into two teams. One team wore black robes and black dog masks. The other wore white robes and Apes masks.
The squad leader looked up. Cold sweat soaked his back.
"The enemy isn't just the Owl. That's Apes and Black Dog. Aren't they supposed to be hostile to each other. How is this possible."
Devil Ape swept his gaze over his loyal subordinates, his voice booming.
"Boys, you haven't gotten rusty, have you?"
His subordinates responded with thunderous roars, their fighting spirit surging.
Black Dog extended her tongue and licked her sharp nails, announcing death's arrival.
"Offer up your lives to me."
At their command, all the ghouls poured down from the rooftop like a broken dam, launching a one-sided slaughter against the combat personnel below.
Screams rose and fell endlessly across the street.
Inside the command vehicle, the communicator transmitted fragmented frontline reports mixed with static and cries.
"Squad One is in a tough fight. The enemy is the Devil Ape and Black Dog. AH-"
The report cut off in a scream.
A command officer turned angrily and in confusion.
"Black Dog. Isn't this supposed to be Aogiri Tree. Director Washuu."
Yoshitoki Washuu remained expressionless and issued calm orders.
"Squad One, hold your ground and disperse the enemy. Squad Two and Squad Three will break them apart. Field command of those two squads goes to Special-Class Investigator Marude."
Marude Itsuki had just responded "Received" when the voice of Special-Class Investigator Hachikawa from Squad Three came through the communicator. Marude immediately asked, "What is it."
Hachikawa's voice carried complete confidence.
"Mr. Marude, leave Black Dog to us. All right."
Marude did not hesitate. He switched channels at once and gave instructions to Special-Class Investigator Mougan Tanakamaru of Squad Two.
"Did you hear that. Apes is yours."
Special-Class Investigator Mougan Tanakamaru accepted the order and immediately led his squad like a sharp blade into the battlefield, charging straight toward Devil Ape, who was wreaking havoc in the crowd.
Devil Ape had just sent an investigator flying. Looking at the combat personnel retreating in fear around him, he spoke in a low voice.
"Next."
Before the word had fully fallen, a loud shout rang out.
"Higher Mind."
Along with the cry, a blazing pillar of energy tore through the air and struck Apes' position directly. The massive beam blasted a trench into the ground.
Apes sensed it instantly. His massive body displayed astonishing agility as he made a swift lateral leap, barely evading the strike.
However, several Apes members behind him were not so fortunate. In the blinding light, they let out shrill screams.
"Hey," Devil Ape landed steadily. His voice beneath the mask carried a chill. "That's dangerous."
Special-Class Investigator Mougan Tanakamaru stepped out of the smoke, two streams of white vapor leaving his nose as he spoke in a deep voice.
"Go back to the mountains, Mr. Monkey."
Apes' arm muscles bulged as he let out a disdainful snort.
"Unfortunate for you. This is my mountain."
At the same time, on another part of the battlefield.
Black Dog was leading her subordinates lightly across a rooftop when suddenly, a barrage of ukaku quinque attacks poured down like a torrential storm.
Though she evaded rapidly, one attack grazed the edge of her mask. It shattered instantly. The immense impact forced her to fall from midair.
A gloomy voice came from the shadows.
"Well well. Long time no see, Black Dog."
Black Dog steadied herself on one knee. Through the cracked mask, she glanced sideways toward the source of the voice and let out a mocking laugh.
"Woof."
On the command vehicle, Yoshitoki Washuu calmly observed the battle through the monitors and issued another order.
"Squad Four, immediately form a perimeter. Not a single ghoul is to escape."
The command had just reached the battlefield when a sudden change occurred.
At the very front of the main force, a figure in a wide cloak appeared without warning amid the drifting smoke.
With his arrival, dust suddenly swept across the entire street, as if even heaven and earth trembled at the presence of the one who had come.
Yoshitoki Washuu adjusted his glasses. Behind the lenses, his gaze grew incomparably sharp. He slowly spoke a few words.
"Our protagonist has entered."
The broad figure who slowly emerged from the smoke was Yoshimura Kuzen.