Carnage stepped slowly forward into the sea of blood.
The thick, sticky liquid soaked his enormous claws as he walked across the corpses scattered throughout the control room.
The symbiote paused.
Still unsatisfied.
Its pale eyes scanned the slaughtered room before settling on a relatively clean section of wall opposite the control panels.
A cruel idea formed instantly.
Carnage extended one blood-soaked claw.
Then began to carve.
SCRRRT— SCRRRT—
The claw scraped harshly across the metal wall.
Fresh blood smeared across the surface as the blade traced jagged strokes.
Warm crimson liquid ran down the grooves.
Slowly forming distorted letters.
C A R N A G E
When the final letter E was completed—
Carnage stepped back.
Admiring the grotesque word carved into the wall.
Blood continued to drip slowly from the letters.
The symbiote growled with satisfaction.
Its personal signature.
Then the monster turned.
Stepping over broken corpses and pools of blood.
Its massive claws splashing through the thick crimson liquid.
At the doorway—
Scarlet tentacles extended outward again.
They wrapped around the stunned figure of Arata Kirishima.
Carnage burst through the destroyed doorway.
Then launched into the sky above Cochlea.
Disappearing into the night.
Minutes LaterCochlea — Temporary Control Room
Heavy footsteps echoed down the ruined corridor.
A squad of investigators approached cautiously.
At their front—
Yukinori Shinohara.
The veteran investigator's armor was scratched and damaged from earlier combat.
In his hand he still held the cracked blade of Oniyamada No.1.
The stench hit them before they even reached the doorway.
The smell of blood was overwhelming.
Ten times worse than anywhere else in the facility.
When they turned the final corner—
Everyone stopped.
"Alert formation."
Shinohara's voice was low.
Grave.
The squad spread out cautiously.
Weapons raised.
They stepped into the control room.
Then froze.
The scene inside completely shattered any definition of horror.
Electronic screens flickered with sparks.
Equipment lay shattered.
Human remains were scattered everywhere.
Some crushed.
Some torn apart.
Some smeared across the walls and consoles.
Blood covered nearly every surface.
The room looked like it had been submerged in a crimson ocean.
One young investigator gagged immediately.
"Ugh—!"
He doubled over.
Vomiting uncontrollably.
Even the experienced investigators turned pale.
Struggling to keep their composure.
Shinohara remained silent.
His gaze slowly scanned the slaughterhouse.
Carefully studying every detail.
Then his eyes stopped.
On the opposite wall.
A message written in blood.
CARNAGE
The grotesque letters dripped slowly down the metal surface.
Shinohara murmured quietly.
"Carnage…"
"Slaughter…"
He looked around the room again.
At the bodies.
At the destruction.
A cold chill ran through his spine.
For that crimson monster—
This had not been a battle.
It had been a massacre.
Shinohara clenched his fists tightly.
His knuckles turning white.
He stood there silently.
Staring at the blood-stained signature.
Far above the city—
Carnage flew through the darkness.
Its enormous crimson wings beat violently against the wind.
The smell of blood still clung heavily to its body.
Wrapped within the symbiote's tentacles—
Arata Kirishima struggled to breathe against the freezing air.
His body trembled from exhaustion.
And shock.
The massacre he had just witnessed still echoed in his mind.
Even as a powerful ghoul—
Even as someone who once wore a kakuja—
The brutality had shaken him deeply.
After a moment—
He spoke through the rushing wind.
"…Just now…"
"The one who took Ayato…"
"Was that…"
"The One-Eyed Owl?"
Ren's calm voice answered.
"Yes."
"It was the One-Eyed Owl."
Arata's expression darkened.
"Why… would the Owl take Ayato?"
Ren paused.
Considering how much to reveal.
Then he answered honestly.
"…Because Ayato works with them."
"With Eto Yoshimura."
"The Owl is the leader of Aogiri Tree."
"And Ayato is one of its members."
"What?!"
Arata's entire body shook violently.
The idea was almost impossible for him to accept.
In his memories—
Ayato was still a small boy.
Quiet.
Dependable.
Always staying close to his sister.
Yet now—
His son had joined the very organization that attacked Cochlea.
Silence followed.
Then Arata sighed deeply.
Children grow up.
They make their own choices.
Right now—
What mattered most was whether his son was safe.
"He'll be alright."
Ren said calmly.
"I promise."
"But right now…"
He looked ahead.
"Someone else has been waiting for you."
The name stopped Arata's thoughts instantly.
"Touka."
His daughter.
The massive crimson wings shifted direction.
Carnage accelerated through the night sky.
Anteiku Coffee Shop — Back Alley
The faintest light of dawn appeared on the horizon.
But the city was still covered in darkness.
Behind Anteiku, the narrow alley remained silent.
Except for one small window on the second floor.
Where light had burned all night.
Then—
A massive shadow descended.
BOOM
Carnage landed heavily in the alley.
Dust scattered everywhere.
The crimson mass rapidly shrank.
Flowing back into Ren's body.
His human form reappeared.
Still supporting Arata Kirishima.
He reached into his pocket.
Pulling out the key to the back door.
But before he could unlock it—
Click…
Creak—
The door opened from inside.
Standing in the doorway—
Touka Kirishima.
Her hair was messy.
She still wore thin loungewear.
Her face was pale from exhaustion.
Her eyes bloodshot.
She clearly hadn't slept all night.
The sound of Carnage's landing had been enough.
She had rushed downstairs immediately.
And now—
She stood frozen in the doorway.
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