[MISSION COMPLETED]
[ITEM OBTAINED | MASK OF DETERMINATION]
The sound signaling the completion of the mission was incredibly pleasing to Lancer's ears—but perhaps precisely because of that, the strength previously propping him up suddenly vanished, leaving him dizzy and unsteady.
"Hey, hang in there!"
At that moment, a rather annoying voice rang in his ears.
"Amon? You really have no sense for mood, do you? Isn't this exactly when a beauty's supposed to catch me?"
"Did that knock on your head scramble your brains? Akira's the only girl on our team, and she can barely even walk right now. Or did you think one of those Ghouls would come catch you?"
Amon Koutarou, who was currently supporting Lancer with one hand and gripping Doujima with the other, felt his forehead twitching in irritation.
Thankfully, Lancer was just joking around. Due to Naki's death, the remaining White Suits had been thoroughly enraged and were currently being intercepted by the people from Anteiku.
However, on a battlefield, never entrust your safety entirely to others—especially when those others are people whose stance is still unclear.
Lancer was relatively at ease. He knew that Yoshimura's reason for assisting was because of his so-called 'future of Ghouls,' but the CCG members simply viewed it as an internal Ghoul conflict. Even with Anteiku in front, they maintained their highest vigilance.
But even though Anteiku's group continued holding back, the remaining Ghouls had lost their strongest combatant, Naki, becoming rootless weeds. Everyone knew they posed no real threat anymore.
Tap, tap, tap—
Just then, hurried footsteps suddenly echoed from the passage behind, instantly raising tension among everyone.
Aogiri Tree hoped desperately that reinforcements had arrived—because without help, they wouldn't last much longer. If these newcomers were from CCG, they might as well raise their hands from the keyboard. Lancer and the others felt similarly nervous: Lancer himself, the strongest fighter on site, was heavily injured, leaving only the suspicious, uncertain 'strange Ghouls.' And Anteiku's people? They least wanted newcomers since no matter which side arrived, they wouldn't be friendly. Aogiri Tree was an enemy; CCG was also an enemy, given their cooperation wasn't exactly public.
"Rank 1 Lancer!! First Class Amon!!"
With a shout, a young Investigator holding a crossbow-shaped Quinque rushed forward.
"Rank 2 Takizawa?"
Seeing the newcomer, Amon Koutarou froze in surprise. He never imagined the person coming would be Takizawa Seidou. Shouldn't reinforcements from the 19th Ward arrive first? How did headquarters' reinforcements get here before them?
"Rank 2 Takizawa!"
At this moment, an authoritative voice from behind Takizawa made him shiver involuntarily.
"H-Houji Kousuke, Associate Special Class..."
Takizawa, who had charged recklessly ahead due to worry about his 'idol's' safety, instantly trembled and obediently stepped behind Houji, lowering his head like a scolded puppy.
"The reinforcement squads from the 19th and 18th Wards were ambushed by Aogiri Tree Ghouls en route. Although casualties were minimal, considering we've arrived and that branches across Tokyo are also being harassed by Aogiri Tree, they've retreated, leaving us as reinforcements. However… Amon First Class, care to explain what's happening here?"
Houji Kousuke neatly summarized the situation, but Amon's expression grew awkward at the question.
"I... I'm not too sure myself. While engaging Aogiri Tree, these Ghouls suddenly appeared and attacked Aogiri Tree instead..."
Not only was Houji bewildered, even Amon himself looked completely lost.
"Associate Special Class Houji , I have some understanding of their identity. It's related to the 'Special Class Conference' Mado-san and I attended that night. You can treat them as a third-party force temporarily not in conflict with CCG..."
Although Lancer only explained halfway, Houji nodded in immediate understanding. Being Associate Special Class, he was familiar enough with the Special Class Conference—topics discussed there were either major strategic issues announced immediately or confidential matters never revealed unless absolutely necessary. Clearly, Lancer referred to the second type.
"Associate Special Class Houji! Suppression mission complete! What's our next move?"
Indeed, while Lancer and the others had been chatting, the remaining dozen or so Aogiri Tree Ghouls had already been exterminated. As for Anteiku's people, they'd vanished completely at the first sign of reinforcements. The massive 'door' beneath them was now the biggest problem.
For safety, this huge mechanical door could only be opened internally. The only external 'key' existed solely with the Director and the Special Class Investigator in charge of the 23rd Ward. However, the Special Class Investigator was missing—no one knew if he was already dead or locked in battle with Aogiri Tree's leader. The only certainty was that they couldn't count on him soon.
Although sealing Aogiri Tree members inside was an option, headquarters had reported minutes ago that combat was still ongoing below. The Ghoul prison had not been completely breached yet—there was still a chance. If left alone, who knew how much longer those below could hold out?
"Even though the Director is en route, there's no time left..."
Reaching the battlefield only to helplessly watch comrades killed before their eyes was even more painful than arriving too late.
"How about letting me 'try'?"
Just then, a somewhat muffled voice interrupted from the side, causing Houji's previously troubled expression to twist oddly.
"Rank 1... Lancer? You're..."
"Just looking a little pale, Houji-senpai. What do you think?"
Houji had clearly seen Lancer's condition earlier—unable to even stand without help. What was he planning now?
"Lancer, what exactly are you planning? Mado-san explicitly instructed me never to let you act recklessly."
It was practically common knowledge within the CCG that after every major battle, Lancer would inevitably land in the hospital. Right now, judging from appearances, hospitalization was inevitable again. Houji absolutely didn't want him acting recklessly again.
"It's fine. At worst... I'll just rest a bit longer afterward. But below, our 'comrades' are still fighting. If there were another way, I wouldn't push myself. But for now, please let me try!"
"...Fine! Then it's yours to handle. But no matter what happens, you retreat immediately afterward!"
"Yes!"
...
What condition was Lancer in now?
Broken bones, internal bleeding—calling him half-crippled would be kind. So why was he still pushing himself?
Simple: the newly-obtained equipment.
[MASK OF DETERMINATION | C ]
[EFFECTS]:
① RESIST MENTAL INTERFERENCE BELOW RANK D.
② BLOCK ONE PHYSICAL ATTACK BELOW RANK B. (FACE ONLY)
③ SKILL—DETERMINATION.
FOR ONE MINUTE RECOVER ALL ATTRIBUTES TO NORMAL LEVELS. AFTER ONE MINUTE SUFFER [WEAKNESS LV9] DEBUFF.
Honestly, Lancer had always wondered—why did every ability or item he got always come with 'side effects'?
Yet he couldn't deny it: maybe exactly because of those side effects, these powers had the potential to turn tides—like right now.
Sharp pain from fractured ribs kept reminding him that his temporarily restored strength was fleeting. He needed to seize that brief, transient peak. He had only one chance!
Though he had no idea if his full-powered strike could break open this door, he knew clearly: if he failed, all the Investigators below might end up dead.
He absolutely had to succeed!
Both hands gripping his spear tightened unconsciously, every muscle in his body coiled, urging him forward. His body slightly turned, like a spring stretched to its absolute limit—waiting only for that fleeting, perfect moment.
Everyone, even Houji Kousuke, who initially held little hope, sensed the strange shift in the air around them. Even though Lancer had maintained this posture unmoving for dozens of seconds, his intangible aura drew every single pair of eyes.
Right now, he seemed like a sculpture; beneath his tight uniform, muscles bulged clearly, piece by piece. Everyone knew he was gathering strength, but nobody knew what outcome awaited this single strike.
No one realized how much time had passed—until suddenly, while all eyes remained fixed on him, Lancer moved. His slightly turned body spun violently forward, his angled hands swiftly adjusted, and the spear in his hands thrust directly into the thin seam of the giant metal door beneath him!
Shrieek—!
Before anyone even saw clearly how his slow preparation transitioned into that explosive strike, they heard only the shrill screech of air tearing apart.
Did it succeed?
Everyone immediately looked down: Lancer's Kamishiro 1/4 had deeply penetrated into the seam—but that was all.
Had he failed?
Strength draining away… his muscles collapsing… fingers gripping the spear slowly loosening…
No! Not yet!!
His stamina was draining, his strength fading, his body refusing to obey him—
But—I'm still alive!
Beneath this spear lay the lives of dozens of comrades.
He absolutely could not allow it to fail!
The fingers that had nearly loosened clenched the spear again fiercely. Countless writhing, bloody-red Kagune tendrils burst forth from the crimson spear, wildly wrapping around Lancer's arms.
Thump-thump! Thump-thump!
If it needs a sacrifice to unleash its power—then take me, your master!
The eerie spear, greedily absorbing Lancer's blood, shone more brilliantly than ever before. Crimson radiance enveloped Lancer, who poured every remaining bit of strength downward.
Crack! Crack!
Had the door finally cracked open? No—it was Lancer's spear beginning to splinter!
"Everyone, together!!"
Just then, Amon shouted from behind Lancer, prompting several Quinques to strike at the exact point where Lancer's spear had pierced!
With everyone's combined effort, even this gate—strong enough to resist SS-rated Ghouls—was forcibly pried slightly open. Yet even now, they were still far from completely breaching it.
But at this critical moment, something simultaneously fortunate and unfortunate happened.
Sensing something abnormal with the Quinque in his hands, Lancer abruptly realized one terrible possibility—
"Quickly, get away!"
"What?!"
Pushed beyond its activation limits, the Quinque underwent an unpredictable change. The Kamishiro 1/4 embedded deep in the door shone brighter and brighter with an ominous red glow until—
BOOM—!!!
An enormous explosion erupted, hurling Lancer violently backward. But precisely due to this blast, the previously sealed gate finally blew wide open; from the gap, the utterly destroyed locking mechanism was clearly visible.
Utterly drained and weakened by the fading of his borrowed strength, Lancer no longer had any awareness of what had just happened. With consciousness slipping, his blurred vision caught only a flash of black—
On the other side, thanks to Lancer's warning, the Investigators who rushed to help managed to dodge the explosion. Even the most severely injured only slammed their back against the wall. Amon Koutarou immediately charged toward where Lancer was falling—but a black shadow flashed out first.
Bang!
Using Amatsu to pull Lancer toward her was merely Mado Akira's instinctive reaction. She hadn't thought about what to do after pulling him close, resulting in the two of them becoming tangled, rolling awkwardly across the ground.
Lancer, now sprawled limply atop Mado Akira like a dried, salted fish, lay in a terribly awkward position. But unconscious people don't exactly pick how they land. He wasn't even aware of his embarrassing pose right now. Amon hurriedly shifted Lancer's head away from Akira's thighs and checked his breathing. Only after confirming he was still alive did he breathe a sigh of relief and finally turn to Akira.
"Rank 2 Mado, are you alright?"
"I… I'm fine..."
"First Class Amon! Take the Investigators from the 20th Ward and immediately withdraw with Rank 1 Lancer and Rank 2 Mado! Leave the rescue operation to us!"
Amon wanted desperately to help below, but glancing at the collapsed, fish-like Lancer and the injured Akira, whose wounded leg prevented free movement, he could only nod seriously toward Houji Kousuke.
"Leave it to me! As long as I, Amon Koutarou, still breathe, I'll get Rank 1 Lancer and Rank 2 Mado safely out!"
"Good! Counting on you!"
Without further nonsense, Houji instructed his subordinates to toss down rappelling ropes, then jumped straight down without hesitation.
No doubt about it: from this point, the battle no longer involved Amon's team.
But after Lancer and his group withdrew, an unexpected situation arose. The previously vanished Anteiku group suddenly reappeared. When they approached the breached door, the Investigators left behind instantly tensed, holding their Quinques anxiously toward the gap. Unfortunately for these Investigators—though each held the rank of First Class—facing an overwhelming group of one SSS-rated, three SS-rated, and two S-rated Ghouls, their resistance lasted barely moments.
Originally, these Investigators would've been left abandoned there. But, considering the cooperation with CCG, Nishio Nishiki and Kirishima Touka ultimately relocated them closer to the CCG search teams, only leaving once they were certain the Investigators had been discovered…