Dimensional Kaguya Ōtsutsuki

The night sky was hazy, dotted with scattered stars.

The evening had already deepened, and after the earlier commotion, the city had grown eerily quiet. The show Kaguya wanted to see didn't happen, and instead, she had wasted a good chunk of time. Now, the entire city felt hollow. The streets were almost deserted, with only a few scattered pedestrians and vehicles passing by. The lively neon lights were the only signs of vitality left in the urban sprawl.

"Recently, there have been multiple incidents of ghoul attacks in the 20th Ward," announced a news report on the large screen in the city square. "The CCG has launched an investigation into what they believe is a single perpetrator responsible for these feeding incidents. We urge all citizens to remain vigilant, especially at night, and avoid going out unnecessarily to reduce the risk of encountering a ghoul."

Kaguya glanced at the large screen, her lips curling into an amused smile. "It seems life here is vibrant and full of surprises," she remarked softly. "Maybe this world will turn out to be more entertaining than I thought. I'm looking forward to it."

Her sharp senses suddenly caught the faint metallic tang of blood wafting through the air from a nearby dark alley.

A seasoned warrior like Kaguya instantly recognized the unmistakable smell—it was human blood, rich and acrid. Clearly, some unfortunate soul had met a grisly end. Yet, she felt no obligation to interfere.

She strolled toward the source of the scent, her curiosity piqued.

As Kaguya entered the dim alleyway, the scent of blood intensified, sharp and nauseating. The sound of ravenous chewing and gulping echoed faintly against the brick walls.

At the alley's far end stood a tall, slender figure, hunched over with their back to her. Wet, guttural chewing noises emanated from the figure as they devoured something on the ground. From Kaguya's perspective, she could only see a pair of slender legs lying limply—a woman, most likely, judging by the black stockings she wore.

The pool of crimson blood on the ground and the overpowering stench left no doubt about what was happening here. This was a ghoul, feeding on a human corpse.

Kaguya didn't feel particularly disturbed by the sight. To her, this was nothing more than nature's way—survival of the fittest. Stronger creatures thrived while the weak perished. It was a natural law, no different from how humans feigned moral outrage while hypocritically slaughtering animals for meat. Even vegetarians consumed plants, another form of life.

Pretending to uphold morality while enforcing one's values onto others was nothing more than a shallow charade in Kaguya's eyes.

"Well, this is none of my concern," Kaguya muttered, shrugging as she turned to leave the alley. She still needed to find a place to sleep tonight. Babysitting random humans—or their predators—wasn't on her agenda.

But it seemed that trouble had a way of finding her.

Just as Kaguya was about to leave, three figures emerged from the alley's entrance, blocking her path.

Although they looked human at first glance, their crimson irises and black sclera revealed their true identities—ghouls.

"Well, well, what a stroke of luck," sneered a lanky young man with his hands stuffed in his pockets. His predatory gaze fixed on Kaguya. But as his eyes swept over her face, he froze for a moment. "She's… beautiful."

"What do you mean, beautiful?" scoffed a burly man with dyed green hair, stepping forward. He followed his companion's gaze and froze briefly before letting out a boisterous laugh. "Well, I'll be damned. Looks like we hit the jackpot tonight. Just look at her—smooth skin, delicate features—bet she'll taste fantastic. And before we eat…"

"Heh, heh, heh," cackled the third ghoul, his face lighting up with a lecherous grin.

"You bunch of fools," came a voice from deeper in the alley. The ghoul who had been feasting earlier stood up, his back still to Kaguya and the newcomers. "Have you never seen a woman before?"

When the man turned around, Kaguya's eyes narrowed in disgust.

The man—if he could still be called that—was a grotesque sight. Though he had short hair and a long face, his overly flamboyant appearance was jarring. He wore oversized sunglasses, bright red lipstick, fake eyelashes, and earrings. His gaudy purple outfit, embroidered with flowers, only added to his revolting aura.

"Nico… Nee-san Nico," one of the ghouls stammered, lowering his head as if in reverence. Clearly, this man held some authority among them.

"So, this is the woman you're talking about?" Nico sneered, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth with an exaggerated flourish. "She's yours. Just don't waste her. Save a portion for my dear Jason."

"Understood!" the ghouls replied in unison.

With a theatrical wave, Nico turned and sashayed out of the alley, his hips swaying unnaturally.

Kaguya suppressed the urge to retch. The sight of him was downright revolting.

"Well then, let's dig in," said the lanky ghoul, licking his lips as he and his companions closed in on Kaguya.

"Heh, heh, heh…"

The other two echoed his sinister chuckle, advancing with predatory intent.

"You seem to be unaware of your situation," Kaguya said, her voice soft yet laced with a chilling undertone.

"What did you just say?" barked the burly ghoul, his grin faltering slightly.

"You're nothing but stray dogs barking at the edge of society," Kaguya replied, her serene smile fading into a cold sneer. "If you dare bare your fangs at me, you've forfeited your right to live."

The ghouls froze for a moment before bursting into laughter.

"Did you hear that? She just called us stray dogs!"

"And now she's threatening to kill us? Oh, that's rich!"

"Too funny—I've never—ARGHHH!"

"Stay back! STAY BACK!"

"Help! HELP ME—"

Their mocking voices dissolved into panicked screams and the chaotic shuffle of footsteps. Moments later, the alley fell eerily silent once more.

In the dark and shadowy alley, several bodies lay scattered haphazardly on the ground. Their forms were drenched in blood, limbs torn apart, and flesh mangled. Their lifeless bodies collapsed limply, crimson blood slowly pooling around them, filling the air with a suffocating metallic stench.

"Disgusting, vile bloodsucking parasites. Absolutely revolting," Kaguya muttered disdainfully, flicking the blood off her sword with a swift motion. Her delicate brow furrowed in distaste as she turned and walked deeper into the alley.

Although Kaguya did not see ghouls as inherently evil or deserving of scorn, their actions often left her with a bitter sense of revulsion. At best, they were an annoyance; at worst, they were a blemish.

As she ventured further in, her eyes fell upon the mutilated body of a woman not far ahead. The victim's corpse was horrifyingly disfigured, her once-whole form now little more than a grotesque heap of torn flesh and shattered bones. The exposed parts of her limbs and torso revealed brutal injuries that made it clear she had suffered unimaginable torment before her death.

Among the carnage, something shiny on the ground caught Kaguya's attention. She crouched down, retrieving a small, glossy card.

The card depicted a girl of modest beauty, her delicate features framed by a cascade of flowing, jet-black hair. While not extraordinarily striking, she had a charm about her that was hard to ignore—particularly her waterfall-like tresses, which added an alluring quality.

Of course, her current state was far less appealing.

"Tsukiyomi," Kaguya read aloud, noting the name on the card. "What a graceful name. Shame you're already dead."

Gripping the girl's hair firmly, Kaguya lifted her entire body off the ground with one hand. Despite the limpness of the corpse, faint spasms rippled through her muscles, her fingers twitching slightly.

"Save… me…" The girl's lips parted weakly, releasing a strained and broken voice. Her vocal cords, partially devoured, made her speech sound hollow and wispy, like air escaping from a cracked bellows.

Kaguya tilted her head slightly, a glint of surprise flashing in her eyes. "Oh? You're still alive? Impressive. Your body's in tatters, and yet you're still clinging on. You're remarkably tenacious, aren't you?"

"Save… me…" the girl pleaded again, her dull eyes flickering with a faint glimmer of hope.

Kaguya scrutinized the girl's blood-soaked and mangled figure. In the past, she might have called this girl beautiful. But now? Her shredded and disfigured form barely warranted a second glance.

"Well, since you've asked so earnestly," Kaguya said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes, "I'll grant you your final request."

Her hand darted out like a striking viper, piercing the girl's abdomen with unerring precision.

Splat.

Fresh blood sprayed outward, painting the alley walls in crimson streaks.

"Guh… uh…" The girl's lifeless eyes rolled back, her legs convulsing violently in the air for a moment before her body went completely limp.

"Considering how much pain you were in, I thought I'd do you a favor and end your suffering," Kaguya said nonchalantly, lifting the corpse closer to her face. Her calm voice carried an eerie detachment. "No need to thank me."

She then casually swung her arm, flinging the body aside like a discarded doll. The girl's mangled form arced through the air before landing heavily on the blood-soaked ground. Her lifeless eyes remained wide open, frozen in an expression of disbelief.

"Tsukiyomi, huh?" Kaguya murmured, her fingers toying with the identification card she had found earlier. A faint, enigmatic smile played across her lips—ephemeral and dazzling, like fireworks in the night sky. "Such a lovely name."

A soft glow radiated from her palm, like starlight distilled into a single point.

Mirror Flower, Water Moon – Replica.

Kaguya's appearance began to shift. Her silvery hair darkened to a sleek, raven black, cascading over her shoulders like a midnight waterfall. Her striking features softened and morphed until they mirrored the girl's. Even her stature and build adjusted subtly, her clothing changing into the uniform of a CCG investigator.

If anyone had been present, they might have been astonished to find that the silver-haired girl had vanished, replaced by an exact replica of the fallen investigator, Tsukiyomi.

"Not bad," Kaguya remarked, inspecting her new form with satisfaction. She adjusted her uniform, her movements graceful. From head to toe, there wasn't a single detail out of place.

Turning to the lifeless body on the ground, she gave it a mock salute. "Thank you so much for your cooperation. Don't worry—I'll avenge you."

With a snap of her fingers, black flames erupted from the corpse, devouring it entirely. The flames blazed fiercely, reducing the body to nothingness. Not even ashes remained—such was the power of Amaterasu.

Unbeknownst to Kaguya, a pair of terrified eyes had been watching her every move from the shadows. The onlooker—a ghoul who had survived the earlier massacre by feigning death—trembled uncontrollably, their heart pounding wildly in their chest.

What they had just witnessed was nothing short of monstrous.

Unable to tear their gaze away from the black-haired girl's figure, the ghoul's mind raced with a single, horrifying thought: What the hell is this creature?

Sweat poured down their face as they cowered silently in the corner. They dared not breathe too loudly, lest they draw her attention.

For what felt like an eternity, the alley remained deathly quiet. The oppressive silence hung heavy in the air, amplifying the tension.

Finally, the ghoul mustered the courage to crawl away, desperate to escape this nightmare. But just as they turned to flee, a cold, sharp sensation pierced their neck.

Splat.

Blood gushed into the air as their severed head flew upward in an arc, landing with a sickening thud. The headless body staggered briefly before collapsing to the ground, pooling blood staining the pavement.

Kaguya lowered her hand, flicking away the blood that had splattered on her palm. Her gaze swept over the head lying at her feet, its face frozen in terror. "Foolish," she said, her tone dripping with contempt. "Did you really think your pitiful little tricks could deceive me?"

The air in the alley remained thick with the scent of blood as Kaguya walked toward the fallen girl's belongings. Among the scattered items, she found a small phone and picked it up.

Flipping through the phone's contents, Kaguya scrolled until her eyes landed on a contact labeled "G." Her lips curled into a smirk as she pressed the call button.

On the large screen of the CCG headquarters building, a news broadcast rolled continuously, featuring reports primarily about the recent string of ghoul-related incidents. Many of these reports focused on various ghoul attacks, with special emphasis on certain districts and the rising casualties among civilians and investigators. The grim updates underscored the challenges faced by CCG personnel in their ongoing battle against the ghoul menace.

Kaguya scanned her surroundings, her eyes taking in the sterile yet imposing atmosphere of the facility. This was indeed the kind of bastion one would expect from an organization tasked with combating ghouls on a national scale. The high ceilings, pristine corridors, and meticulous security gave it an air of unyielding vigilance.

Just as Kaguya had anticipated, her infiltration into the CCG had gone smoothly. Using her new identity as Tsukiyomi—a recently deceased investigator—she had successfully bypassed scrutiny. The current state of chaos in the 11th Ward, where the investigators were overwhelmed by the relentless attacks of Aogiri Tree, worked to her advantage. The investigators stationed in other districts were too preoccupied to investigate discrepancies.

And with the situation in the 11th Ward spiraling out of control, Kaguya knew it was only a matter of time before all personnel there were wiped out by Aogiri Tree. Once that happened, there would be no witnesses to contest her cover story. After all, the real Tsukiyomi was long gone, and the dead never complained.

"Relax during the meeting," said a middle-aged man walking beside her, his voice calm and reassuring. "Just think of it as a routine briefing. There's no need to be nervous."

"Thank you, Special Class Shinohara," Kaguya replied with a polite smile, her expression as poised as ever.

The man next to her was Kōsuke Shinohara, one of the CCG's seven Special Class Investigators and the commanding officer overseeing operations in the 20th Ward. Shinohara was known for his bravery and leadership, often leading his team into the fray himself. Unfortunately, his boldness came at a cost; during his fight against the One-Eyed Owl, he was critically injured, losing his right leg and suffering severe abdominal wounds that left him comatose.

As she followed Shinohara into the conference room, Kaguya noted the immediate attention her presence garnered. Whispers and murmurs rippled through the room, the investigators exchanging glances as they speculated about her identity.

"That must be Investigator Tsukiyomi," someone muttered.

"She's incredible! I heard she single-handedly took down eight ghouls!"

"Really? I also heard she's a fresh graduate from the academy. It's hard to believe, isn't it?"

"She came from the 11th Ward, didn't she?"

"Wait, what? Isn't the 11th Ward completely overrun by ghouls? How did she even survive?"

"It's true! That makes her even more amazing."

Ignoring the murmurs, Kaguya took her seat with a faint, confident smile, her demeanor exuding composure.

"Let's begin today's meeting," announced a tall, gaunt man with neatly parted hair who had just entered the room.

Kaguya recognized him immediately. His distinctive hairstyle and sharp features were hard to forget. This was Kiyoko Marude, another Special Class Investigator. Though his combat skills weren't particularly outstanding, his exceptional strategic mind and leadership abilities had earned him a prominent position within the CCG.

The meeting itself was straightforward, devoid of unnecessary preamble. It focused on the current state of the ghoul threat, recent developments in the 20th Ward, and updates from other districts. When it came time for Kaguya to report on the situation in the 11th Ward, she presented her carefully fabricated narrative, ensuring there were no gaps or inconsistencies that could raise suspicion.

What surprised her, however, was that no mention was made of assigning her a partner. Typically, CCG investigators were paired up to maximize efficiency in the field and to provide mutual support in case of unexpected ghoul attacks. After all, the nature of their work often involved high levels of danger, especially when facing hostile ghouls or ambushes.

As the meeting concluded, Shinohara approached Kaguya with a kind smile. "How are you feeling? Was everything alright? If there's anything you need clarified, don't hesitate to ask me."

"Thank you, Special Class Shinohara," Kaguya replied warmly. Despite her aloofness toward most people, she found herself slightly appreciative of Shinohara's genuinely kind and approachable demeanor.

"Oh, I nearly forgot!" Shinohara said, turning back toward her as if something had just come to mind. "Given your recent accomplishments against the ghouls, you've been granted a special item."

"A Quinque?" Kaguya's expression remained neutral, but her curiosity was piqued.

A Quinque was a weapon forged from the kagune of a defeated ghoul. They were highly effective against ghouls, capable of inflicting fatal damage even on stronger adversaries. While Kaguya didn't need a Quinque for her purposes, she couldn't deny her interest in the craftsmanship and design.

"It's a small reward for your outstanding performance," Shinohara explained, gesturing for her to follow.

He led her to the CCG's research and development laboratory, where the Quinques were forged and stored. As they stepped inside, Kaguya immediately noticed the room's other occupant.

A hunched figure with stark white hair stood by the workbench, his back to the entrance. Though his posture was stooped, there was a distinct sharpness to his presence that made him instantly recognizable.

Kaguya's gaze lingered briefly before she smirked slightly.

"Kureo Mado… or rather, the infamous Mad Mado," she murmured to herself, her interest further piqued.

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