Arima Kishou had already discerned; The small, cloaked figure before them was none other than the SSS-rated One-Eyed Owl.
For that reason, he chose not to act rashly.
And the moment he sensed Yoshimura Eto activating her kakuja transformation, he and Uchiha Byakuya reacted in perfect sync.
Both immediately unlocked their Quinque cases.
Uchiha Byakuya firmly gripped his dual Quinques, Tsukikage and Fūrei.
But that wasn't all; He instantly distributed all of his remaining attribute points.
[Current Attribute Points: 248]
[Ding! Attribute points allocated successfully!]
[Physicality +10.0]
[RC Cell Value +148]
[Attribute Points -248]
With this, all the points he had earned from system quests and daily sign-ins were now completely used up.
As always, his distribution pattern remained the same:
Focusing primarily on RC Cells, and secondarily on Physicality.
[Updated Stats]
[Physicality: 40]
[RC Cell Value: 821]
With this upgrade; His physical abilities had now reached four times that of an average human.
However, his RC Cell Value was approaching a critical threshold.
This so-called 'Critical Threshold' was the point at which his body would cease to digest normal human food.
If he exceeded this limit, he would lose the ability to consume anything but human flesh.
For that reason, Byakuya made a decision:
His next goal was to save up attribute points to purchase an RC Cell Storage, ensuring that he could continue eating normal food.
Meanwhile, Arima prepared himself as well.
Against such a formidable enemy, he opted to wield dual Yukimura 1/3; His two B-rank Quinques.
Eto quickly analyzed the battlefield.
Of the two opponents, she knew Uchiha Byakuya was the greater threat which meant she needed to eliminate the other one first.
Thus, her first target was Arima Kishou.
However, the moment she lunged at him; Arima effortlessly evaded.
And in an instant, he counterattacked, both Yukimura 1/3's slashing toward her kakuja arms.
When facing a fully transformed kakuja, the best tactic was always the same, whether against Yoshimura Eto or Yoshimura Kuzen.
Both had exceptionally powerful kakuja arms, boasting offense, defense, and speed.
And thus the first priority was always to neutralize the arms.
Arima's weapons struck first though because Yukimura 1/3 were only B-rank Quinques, their attack power was limited.
His blades managed to injure Eto's kagune, but not sever them outright.
However, Byakuya immediately followed up.
With his dual blades, he delivered precise, consecutive strikes; Further worsening the damage inflicted by Arima.
"SHRIIIP-!!"
The sound of flesh tearing echoed as Eto's right kakuja arm was severed at the elbow.
However, this was far from a fatal injury.
Her RC core, the kakuhou at her shoulder remained unharmed.
Thus, her arm instantly began regenerating.
Now, Eto finally realized something.
The blue-haired man was just as much of a threat as that lolicon investigator.
Fighting against both of them simultaneously left her with an immense pressure unlike anything before.
But she couldn't afford to retreat, not yet.
Aogiri Tree's members still hadn't fully escaped.
She had to hold these two off until everyone had evacuated.
For Byakuya, this was now his third time battling a fully transformed Owl.
Once against Eto.
Once against Kuzen.
And now… Eto again.
Although the father and daughter were different people, their combat style and kakuja transformation were nearly identical.
Precisely because of that; he was far more comfortable this time.
With swift precision, he targeted Eto's right kakuja arm, landing a devastating strike directly on her kakuhou.
At the same time, Arima struck her left kakuhou.
Her kakuja arms immediately went limp, hanging uselessly at her sides.
At this point all it would take was one final slash to rip them off completely.
Given their current strength, both Uchiha Byakuya and Arima Kishou could have defeated her alone.
But with the two-on-one advantage, Eto's defeat was a foregone conclusion.
Byakuya did not stop there.
He reversed his grip on Tsukikage and Fūrei and then slashed through the Owl's kakuja armor.
Yet, with his precise control, he carefully avoided harming the true body within.
Then, with another move; He extracted Yoshimura Eto from her kakuja shell.
She did not struggle.
Instead, she let out a playful smile, her tone full of amusement:
"Well? Wasn't that a surprise, Uchiha-san~?"
Even at the moment of death, she still wanted to tease this lolicon investigator.
"Yeah, I'd say it was quite the surprise..."
But Byakuya's expression remained blank; His voice was flat and emotionless.
Arima Kishou who had originally been ready to deliver the final blow paused for a brief moment.
He could tell, Byakuya seemed to know the Owl personally.
Thus, he chose not to intervene, merely watching silently from the side.
Eto, however, felt her amusement drain away.
Byakuya did not react to her provocation.
He showed no anger, no shock, no hesitation; Only cold indifference.
And in that instant, she realized the truth.
All the sweet words this man had spoken before, the way he called her cute-It had all been a lie.
Now that he knew her identity, he was ready to kill her without the slightest hint of hesitation.
"This guy isn't a lolicon…"
She thought bitterly.
"He's just a liar."
"Lying Investigator," Eto sneered, her tone mocking.
"Just kill me already. That way, you'll get your promotion to Special Class, won't you?"
She offered no resistance.
Her final request was simply; A swift death.
Because she knew she would not escape this alive.
And being executed on the spot was far better than being locked away in Cochlea.
Her dreams, her revolution; Everything had barely begun.
Yet, here it would end.
Still-If her death meant her father could be spared...
Perhaps that was the only silver lining in this tragedy.
One thing, however, she did not regret.
Her path had been the opposite of her father's.
She had chosen to rebel against V and the Washuu Clan.
And she would never regret it.
Not even in death.
"Before you die-"
Byakuya's voice was calm and cold.
"Is there anything you want to say?"
Eto tilted her head slightly.
She thought for a moment, then-
"I suppose..."
She let out a bitter laugh.
"I regret not achieving my dream."
She leaned back against her kakuja shell,
Her eyes closing as she awaited execution.
"And what dream was that?"
Byakuya pressed further.
"Tch."
Eto's lips curled into a smirk.
"Isn't it obvious?"
Her voice carried a faint sense of mockery.
"To change this broken, rotten world."
She laughed at herself.
"But now, looking back… it was all so ridiculous."
"I was never strong enough."
"All I had were big dreams and nothing to back them up."
Byakuya smiled slightly.
That was exactly what he wanted to hear.
Because Yoshimura Eto had finally spoken her true thoughts aloud.
And Arima Kishou had heard every word.
His goal was complete.
"Kishou," Byakuya said casually.
"What do you think?"
Arima Kishou paused.
For a moment, his gaze wavered.
Then, a rare smile crossed his lips.
"I think...it's a pretty good dream."