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Added 2025-02-01 00:16:03 +0000 UTCChapter 41: Hidan—What Does Peak Social Death Look Like?
"You, you, you… you!"
Hidan pointed at Kaneki, who had suddenly appeared, his mouth agape, unable to form a coherent sentence.
His gaze quickly shifted into one of doubt and scrutiny.
Kaneki slowly combed his wet hair back with both hands, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "What’s wrong, Hidan? Are you so excited to see me that your brain has short-circuited?"
Hearing this, Hidan finally confirmed that the person in front of him was indeed Kaneki!
The fleeting excitement on Hidan’s face was quickly replaced with a terrifying anger.
"You bastard! You tricked me! I’ll kill you!"
Grabbing his spear, Hidan lunged straight at Kaneki.
Just as the spear was about to pierce through him, a red flash zipped by. A moment later, Hidan’s head was in Kaneki’s hands, and his world spun uncontrollably.
A faint blush crept across Hidan’s pale face as he gasped slightly.
Yes, that’s the feeling!
Seeing Hidan’s flustered expression, Kaneki smiled slyly and teased, "Tsk, tsk, just moments ago, you were mourning my death so dramatically. Now you’re acting all shy."
There was no way Lord Hidan would accept such a melodramatic plotline, like "the grieving wife, blackened by despair over her husband’s death, vows to destroy the world." He immediately roared in protest:
"Hey, hey, hey! I didn’t wipe out that old geezer and the entire Cult of Jashin because of you! I’ve been wanting to deal with them for a long time!"
"Oh~~ is that so?"
Kaneki feigned an expression of sudden realization and then pinched his nose, mimicking a sorrowful, profound tone:
"Since that man is gone, you and the Cult of Jashin can join him in the afterlife."
"AAHHHHH!"
Hidan’s face turned crimson, and he lost his mind in rage.
For Lord Hidan, this was peak social death!
"I’m going to kill you!"
He screamed hysterically, attempting to use the parasitic spiders to retrieve his body, only to discover they were completely unresponsive.
It was then he remembered—those cursed spiders were also Kaneki’s creation!
Kaneki patted Hidan’s head in mock comfort. "Alright, alright, don’t get so worked up."
"Ken Kaneki ! I swear I’ll kill you someday!" Hidan growled through gritted teeth.
Kaneki chuckled and replied, "Don’t pull stunts like that again. Even if you die a million times, it won’t be enough to kill me."
He adjusted his glasses, the lenses gleaming with disdain.
"That kind of person—no matter how cunning—could never pose a real threat to me."
Stepping out of the blood pool, Kaneki glanced at Hidan’s dismembered body. "Compared to that, your abilities are still too weak. You’ll need some serious upgrades."
Without waiting for Hidan’s reaction, he kicked the body back into the blood pool and tossed the severed head in after it.
"Time for a proper makeover."
Hidan: "Glub, glub, glub…"
After ensuring Hidan was taken care of, Kaneki slowly walked out of the temple.
The headquarters of the Cult of Jashin now resembled a vision of hell—rivers of blood flowing amidst mountains of corpses, while countless ravens cawed ominously overhead.
Kaneki remained unfazed by the gruesome sight.
His mind was preoccupied with something else: the forbidden technique the cult leader had used to transfer their soul into another’s body.
If his memory served him correctly, it was called the Technique of Undead Reincarnation…
Kaneki’s lips curled into a faint smile as he adjusted his glasses.
"How long do you plan on hiding, sir?"
Amidst the sea of corpses, his words carried a chilling air, though his face radiated unwavering confidence, as if someone truly stood before him.
Sure enough, the next moment, a figure slowly emerged from the ground, likely using some kind of earth-release technique.
"Impressive, Kaneki-kun. How did you spot me? Was it because of the crows?"
The man glanced at the circling ravens with a hint of surprise.
Kaneki maintained his indifferent smile. "May I have the honor of your name?"
The figure before him had long black hair, unnaturally pale skin, faint purple eyeshadow around his golden snake-like pupils, and an air of cold menace—like a venomous serpent ready to strike.
Around his waist was a purple sash, resembling the shimenawa, sacred ropes in Japanese folklore, often symbolizing boundaries of divine realms and tied to yin deities.
Judging by the world’s lore, this man was no ordinary individual.
The stranger’s lips curved into a smile that bore a striking resemblance to Kaneki’s.
"Allow me to introduce myself, Kaneki-kun. My name is Orochimaru."
"Orochimaru?"
Kaneki scrutinized the man, finding the name fitting for this world’s peculiarities.
Orochimaru seemed slightly taken aback by Kaneki’s indifferent reaction.
It had been a long time since anyone failed to recognize the weight of his name.
"It seems Kaneki-kun doesn’t fully understand the significance of that name," Orochimaru hissed, his every word oozing a sinister aura.
But Kaneki, being what he was, felt nothing. He simply smiled faintly. "Orochimaru-san, I didn’t expect you to teach our cult leader such a powerful technique."
The ability to steal others’ bodies and abilities would be extraordinarily valuable, even in this world of supernatural powers.
Orochimaru shrugged nonchalantly, his voice cold. "It’s insignificant—a mere incomplete jutsu. Your leader was just an experiment. Whether it succeeded or failed, I intended to retrieve it anyway."
His words were laced with chilling indifference.
"An experiment, huh?"
Clearly, Orochimaru had used the cult leader’s attempts as a test to perfect his technique for stealing bodies.
This dehumanizing attitude struck a chord with Kaneki, as it carried the scent of a kindred spirit.
Orochimaru seemed to sense it too, his eyes lighting up with interest as he spoke.
"Had I known Kaneki-kun was so remarkable, I wouldn’t have bothered working with Takimizu."
Kaneki froze momentarily.
"Something wrong?" Orochimaru asked curiously.
"Not really. It’s just the first time I’ve heard our leader’s name," Kaneki replied earnestly.
"I see."
Orochimaru couldn’t help but feel a trace of pity for the cult leader.
Licking his dry lips with a tongue far longer than normal, Orochimaru’s face displayed a hint of greed. "I must say, Kaneki-kun, I find your body… fascinating."
"Uh…"
"While you certainly exude a certain femininity, Orochimaru-san, I’m afraid I don’t share those inclinations," Kaneki quipped.
Orochimaru’s tongue paused mid-motion, clearly unprepared for the conversation’s sudden twist.
But as a legendary figure of the ninja world, he quickly regained his composure.
"It seems Kaneki-kun is unwilling to offer up his body voluntarily."
Orochimaru’s tone turned icy, his aura like that of a snake baring its deadly fangs.
Kaneki remained calm and shook his head.
As the tension between them escalated, thousands of ravens suddenly descended, darkening the skies as they swooped toward Orochimaru like a living storm.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter 42: Orochimaru’s Desire for Kaneki
A massive swarm of crows descended like a dark storm cloud. Their cacophonous cries grated on the nerves, while the turbulence caused by their flapping wings disrupted the air violently.
“A body with such bizarre organs, along with the ability to control a murder of crows? What a delightful surprise, Kaneki-kun.”
Despite the overwhelming attack, Orochimaru’s expression remained calm.
He raised his hand slowly, forming seals with a speed that starkly contrasted his relaxed demeanor—it was astoundingly fast.
The shadow of the crows engulfed Orochimaru entirely. Countless beaks aimed to tear their target apart piece by piece.
Orochimaru completed his seals, opened his mouth, and unleashed a surge of chakra. From his mouth poured countless long brown serpents, tightly packed and writhing, cascading forth like a tidal wave.
“*Formation of Ten Thousand Snakes!*”
The horde of serpents bared their fangs and clashed with the descending crows in a chaotic melee.
The battle between the two forces was evenly matched.
Although Orochimaru’s serpents were individually stronger and capable of instantly killing the crows, the birds’ superior mobility and aerial agility often allowed them to counterattack effectively.
The stalemate clearly displeased Orochimaru. Only by demonstrating overwhelming strength would Kaneki willingly submit to becoming his experiment!
As for becoming Orochimaru’s next vessel, that decision could wait.
He shut his mouth, signaling the end of the snake assault.
Using the back of his hand, he wiped away the slimy residue from his lips. His sinister gaze, unnervingly intense, lingered on Kaneki.
Suddenly, Orochimaru’s figure vanished. With a *Body Flicker Technique*, he reappeared directly in front of Kaneki.
“Kaneki-kun, I’ll be taking your body now. Hiss~”
Orochimaru extended a hand, reaching toward Kaneki.
Kaneki’s eyes turned pitch black, a single red dot glowing at their center. Crimson threads spread outward like cracks on fired porcelain.
Eight scarlet kagune emerged from Kaneki’s back, unfurling like a blooming flower. At the critical moment, they intercepted Orochimaru’s hand.
Two kagune lashed out, forcing Orochimaru to retreat with a backflip to maintain distance.
Kaneki sighed. “Orochimaru-san, you should really watch how you phrase things. It’s too easy to give the wrong impression.”
Orochimaru licked his lips. “Oh? Does Kaneki-kun care about the opinions of the masses?”
Kaneki scratched his nose. “Not exactly, but I’m not too fond of getting too close to creatures of indeterminate species or gender.”
“Heh, I didn’t expect Kaneki-kun to have such a sharp tongue.”
With a wicked grin, Orochimaru raised both arms. His wide sleeves billowed, and countless brown snakes shot forth, writhing as they lunged to ensnare Kaneki.
“*Multiple Hidden Snake Hands!*”
Using snakes for an attack again? How utterly disgusting and depraved, Kaneki thought.
Still, his razor-sharp kagune slashed forward like blades, cutting down the approaching serpents with ease.
Unfazed, Orochimaru quickly formed more seals. Taking a deep breath, he puffed out his chest.
“*Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!*”
A powerful gust erupted from Orochimaru’s mouth, slamming into Kaneki with immense force.
Although Kaneki had braced himself as Orochimaru began forming seals, the sudden, violent windblast caught him off guard, sending him tumbling backward.
As he struggled against the chaotic air currents, his crimson kagune shot out and anchored themselves into the ground, stabilizing his stance.
“A wind-style jutsu I’ve never seen before…”
Kaneki’s expression shifted into one of curiosity.
After all, he had yet to acquire an experimental subject proficient in wind-style techniques.
However, it was evident that the sinister man before him was no ordinary opponent. Kaneki could sense that Orochimaru had yet to reveal his full strength.
Seeing Kaneki’s wary expression, Orochimaru chuckled.
“Kaneki-kun, my true power goes far beyond this.”
Once again, Orochimaru began forming seals. This time, chakra concentrated in his hands, creating a powerful current of wind.
As the chakra coalesced, the surrounding air accelerated, forming a high-speed wind blade that rushed toward Kaneki.
“*Wind Style: Wind Cutter Technique!*”
The wind blade was far more potent than any ordinary slash from a weapon.
Kaneki made a split-second judgment, but the wind blade’s speed left him with no time to evade.
In desperation, a thick black exoskeleton sprouted from Kaneki’s neck, quickly covering his upper body.
The raging wind struck the armor, sending sparks flying and creating a grating, high-pitched screech that threatened to rupture eardrums.
“That strange ability again…”
Orochimaru’s eyes narrowed as he observed the deep gash carved into Kaneki’s chest armor. Yet, despite its depth, the wind blade had failed to penetrate the exoskeleton or injure Kaneki’s flesh.
Kaneki adjusted his glasses, feeling a tingling sensation in his chest. “That was close, Orochimaru-san. You almost had me there.”
Moments later, dark red fluid oozed from the wound, filling the gash. In just two seconds, the ten-centimeter-deep cut vanished entirely.
“Such incredible regenerative abilities…”
Orochimaru’s gaze burned with fervor.
The secrets of Kaneki’s body might hold the key to Orochimaru’s pursuit of immortality!
Driven by his obsession, Orochimaru unleashed the *Multiple Hidden Snake Hands* again.
This time, the number of serpents was even greater than before, surging toward Kaneki like a tsunami.
Kaneki responded as he had earlier, slicing through the snakes with his kagune while encasing himself entirely in his protective exoskeleton to guard against any overlooked threats.
As expected, Orochimaru’s attack wasn’t so straightforward this time.
Amid the sea of writhing snakes, Orochimaru’s head emerged.
His entire body stretched unnaturally, transforming into a massive, human-headed serpent. He slithered past Kaneki’s defenses, coiling around him tightly.
The snake’s colossal strength bore down on Kaneki, straining his armor to its limits. The exoskeleton groaned under the pressure.
Orochimaru’s head slithered close to Kaneki’s ear, his forked tongue flicking with a menacing hiss.
“Kaneki-kun, why don’t you just come with me?”
Kaneki’s glasses glinted coldly as he politely declined. “Maybe next time.”
From his back, a pair of black, metallic wings unfurled, their surface shimmering like steel feathers. The wings swept forward like a massive onyx blade, severing the serpent’s body in two.
Orochimaru’s expression twisted in disbelief. Kaneki’s newly formed wings had effortlessly sliced through his snake form.
This was Kaneki’s latest creation:
*Feather Kagune: Sword Crow.*
(End of chapter)
Chapter 43: Awakening
“Kaneki-kun, I will come back for you.”
These were Orochimaru’s eerie last words before his death.
Kaneki retracted the two massive black wings behind him, resembling steel blades, and glanced at Orochimaru’s lifeless body, frowning slightly.
Although he could confirm that this corpse was indeed dead, he couldn’t sense Orochimaru’s soul within it.
Based on the information he had gathered about the ninja world, he deduced that this must be one of Orochimaru’s clones.
After all, in the ninja world, there were Earth Clones, Water Clones, and Shadow Clones. Adding a Snake Clone to the mix didn’t seem far-fetched.
The fact that just one clone could exhibit such strength suggested that Orochimaru was even more formidable than Kaneki had anticipated.
Kaneki narrowed his eyes.
Being targeted by someone like him was undoubtedly bad news.
But from another perspective, it wasn’t all bad.
After all, Kaneki was deeply intrigued by Orochimaru’s abilities, particularly his Living Corpse Reincarnation technique.
Kaneki adjusted his glasses slightly, and in an instant, a swarm of ravens dispersed. Black armored insects, lying dormant in various places, began rippling outward from him, methodically scanning the surroundings.
A few minutes later, Kaneki opened his eyes slowly.
No enemies had been detected within a 20-kilometer radius.
As for clues, there were still faint traces here and there.
“Well then, let’s make use of this thing for now,” Kaneki muttered.
He gave Orochimaru’s corpse a light kick, and countless black insects emerged from the shadows, swarming over the body like a tide.
In no time, Orochimaru’s clone had been completely transported to a blood pool for analysis.
---
Meanwhile, in a hidden valley on the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Earth, Orochimaru opened his eyes slowly, sensing the death of his clone.
His crimson tongue slid across his lips, and a strange hint of obsession flashed in his eyes.
“Kaneki-kun, I will have you.”
With that lingering obsession, Orochimaru picked up a scalpel and walked into the operating room.
Soon, horrifying screams echoed from within.
---
At the same time, in the village of Mizutani, Mori stirred awake.
His hair was now a stark white, like fallen snow, and his emaciated frame was little more than skin and bones.
If not for Kaneki injecting him with a specially formulated nutrient solution before leaving, this experimental subject would have long since perished.
Although his body and mind were far from ordinary, repeatedly pushing his life force to the brink with Kagune rampages had taken its toll.
Hearing movement in the room, someone guarding the door quickly opened it.
Gentle sunlight poured through the doorway, illuminating the entire room.
A cute little girl with long hair entered, pushing a wheelchair.
“Rin?”
Mori stared at the girl before him. Memories surged forth in a torrent but soon settled.
He was no longer the naive and clueless child he once was.
Even so, he was still only twelve years old.
The sunlight fell on the blanket draped over Rin’s knees, and her delicate face held a fragile beauty.
“Your legs…”
Rin smiled faintly. “They were crushed by a falling beam that day.”
Seeing the guilt flash across her brother’s face, she immediately pushed the wheelchair closer, gripping his hand tightly.
“We’re lucky to have survived, aren’t we?”
Feeling the warmth in his hand, Mori opened his mouth but couldn’t find the words to reply.
After a long pause, he asked hesitantly, “How long was I unconscious?”
Seeing the confusion in his eyes, Rin squeezed his hand reassuringly.
“Brother, you’ve been out for five days.”
“Five days…”
Mori sighed and continued, “Tell me what happened during that time.”
“Okay.”
Rin blinked her clear eyes and began recounting the events of the past few days in detail.
Through her narration, Mori finally understood the current situation.
After entering a berserk state and slaughtering the ninja from Yugakure, he had encountered his sister before collapsing.
Following that, the surviving villagers and the ghouls who had escaped from the Sakamoto Trading Company united, using the cruise ship as their base.
The surviving villagers of Mizutani, in particular, redirected all their hatred toward the ninjas and the aristocrats.
If not for the Yugakure ninjas and people like Sakamoto, Mizutani wouldn’t have faced such a devastating catastrophe, and their loved ones wouldn’t have perished in the flames.
Having killed both Sakamoto and the Yugakure ninjas, Mori was naturally hailed as a hero.
“Brother, you’re the village’s hero now,” Rin said, her sparkling eyes filled with admiration.
“A hero, huh…”
Mori let out a self-deprecating laugh.
Recalling the events of that night, he couldn’t bring himself to consider himself a hero.
“What kind of hero is he?”
A commotion erupted outside.
Rin’s expression faltered, and she fidgeted nervously with the hem of her clothes. “Brother, don’t misunderstand, it’s just…”
Mori raised a hand to stop her.
He could guess what it was about.
Although he had defeated the Yugakure ninjas, the destruction he caused in that state had dealt irreparable damage to the village. It was only natural for some to hold grievances against him.
Just as he tried to stand, a middle-aged man burst into the room.
The two younger men outside clearly couldn’t hold him back.
Seeing Mori already on his feet, the man sneered. “So, you’ve finally decided to get up?”
The younger men immediately frowned. “Uncle Ayakami, Mori risked his life for the village—”
“For the village, my ass!”
The man grew agitated.
“For the village? Then why did he destroy half of it? My child, he…”
Uncle Ayakami clutched his head, his eyes turning pitch black as bloodshot veins spread outward.
He, too, had become a ghoul.
“I’ll avenge him!”
A massive purple Kagune resembling a centipede’s tail erupted from Ayakami’s back and lunged at Mori.
“Brother, watch out!”
Without thinking, Rin pushed her wheelchair in front of her brother, but Mori effortlessly stopped her.
The Kagune swept forward, stirring a gust of air that ruffled Mori’s snow-white hair.
In the next instant, his ghoul mode activated.
His eyes turned black with crimson irises, and a single glare from him left Ayakami trembling and paralyzed.
Everyone in the room froze in shock, including the two younger men who had been supporting Mori.
Although they knew he was strong, they hadn’t expected him to subdue another ghoul with just a look.
“Take Uncle Ayakami with us. I have something to say.”
Mori strode toward the door, his words carrying an unquestionable authority.
(End of Chapter)
*Chapter 44: Let the World Feel Pain!*
Shiraishi Mori walked toward the door, his words carrying an undeniable aura of authority.
The two young men instinctively lowered their heads and responded respectfully, "Yes."
As he stepped out, everyone aboard the yacht was summoned to the deck by Shiraishi Mori.
The emblem of the Cult of the Evil God remained etched deeply there, and the scarlet stains of blood had yet to fade completely.
Out of curiosity about Shiraishi Mori, the strongest ghoul, everyone gathered on the deck.
Standing at the highest point and looking down at the crowd, Shiraishi Mori's jet-black eyes radiated a terrifying calm. His mere presence exerted immense pressure on the average ghouls.
"You all should know who I am. My name is Shiraishi Mori," he said.
"If nothing unexpected happens, I should be the strongest ghoul here."
In just two sentences, Shiraishi Mori exuded unparalleled confidence and dominance.
Sitting in her wheelchair, Shiraishi Rin watched the scene, her eyes glistening with tears.
No one dared to refute those words. After all, Shiraishi Mori's power on that fateful night was witnessed by all and was beyond challenge.
"This time, I’ve gathered you all here to unify our forces," Shiraishi Mori declared his purpose directly.
"Since we’ve already offended Tonin Village, they definitely won’t let this go. They’ll send ninja or hire other villages to hunt us down. Everyone must be prepared."
"Even if Tonin Village doesn’t come after us, I cannot let this blood feud go unanswered."
"However," he paused, "before that, there’s something I need to address."
With a wave of his hand, Uncle Ajo, who had recently attempted an assassination, was brought forward.
The crowd exchanged glances, their expressions uneasy.
Internal division had always existed within the group.
Among them were the escaped slaves from Sakamoto Trading Co. and the surviving villagers, who were split further into those who supported Shiraishi Mori, those who were hesitant, and a small faction, like Ajo, seeking revenge against him.
The group dynamic was undeniably complex.
The only thing preventing a complete split was the looming external threat of Tonin Village and the ghouls' own unease about their mutations.
After all, these were uncharted waters for them. Mutated and fearful, they instinctively sought solace in each other’s company.
Yet, this fragile unity was unlikely to last long.
"Could Shiraishi Mori be planning to make an example of someone?"
That was the thought running through most of the crowd’s minds.
Unifying the group would require establishing a leader and some degree of internal cleansing to maintain stability.
And the simplest, most direct, and effective way to establish authority was to make an example of someone.
Especially someone like Ajo, who had essentially offered himself up by attempting to assassinate Shiraishi Mori—a perfect target.
Indeed, Shiraishi Mori slowly began to speak.
"This is Uncle Ajo. Many of you probably know him. When I was a kid, I even stole oranges from his yard."
Starting with a nostalgic reference, he aimed to secure the villagers' trust before proceeding with his next steps—harsh punishment or gentle reconciliation.
It was a predictable yet effective approach for the politically unsophisticated villagers.
"However, during the chaos, I lost control of my strength while fighting against Tonin, and I ended up hurting many villagers in the process."
As these words left his lips, several villagers below audibly gasped, their breathing quickening.
It was clear that many had lost loved ones in that nightmarish chaos.
Shiraishi Mori surveyed the crowd, his gaze unwavering as he continued, "Although it wasn’t my intention, a mistake is a mistake. And mistakes must be punished."
Raising his hand slowly, crimson scales formed along his arm, coalescing into a sharp blade.
"No… Brother!"
Rin seemed to sense what was about to happen, gripping the armrests of her wheelchair anxiously.
Under the watchful gaze of hundreds, Shiraishi Mori placed the blade-clad arm gently on his left shoulder.
The sharp blade swept through, and a streak of blood bloomed under the sunlight as a severed arm fell lifelessly to the deck.
The excruciating pain made Shiraishi Mori flinch momentarily, but that was all.
His face remained calm as he nudged the severed arm toward Ajo with his foot.
The entire deck—and even the entire yacht—plunged into silence at Shiraishi Mori's actions.
Everyone was stunned. Even Ajo himself hadn’t anticipated this outcome.
Despite his overwhelming strength, Shiraishi Mori willingly sacrificed an arm to seek forgiveness and atone for his mistakes.
Staring at the blood-soaked arm before him, Ajo was left speechless.
Shiraishi Mori exhaled, lifted his head, and spoke in a cold tone, "This matter ends here."
"If anyone feels dissatisfied, speak up now or leave."
The silence was deafening. Even Ajo, clutching the severed arm, simply broke down in tears instead of leaving.
Shiraishi Mori's gaze turned sharper.
"From now on, if anyone attacks their comrades, I will kill them on the spot without hesitation."
"Furthermore, I will avenge myself on Tonin Village. I will not stop until those wretched nobles and ninjas are wiped from this world."
His voice was calm, but it stirred a fire within everyone.
"This path will be filled with thorns, and by the end, none of you may survive to see our goal achieved."
"If anyone wishes to leave, do so now."
A few ghouls hesitated and stepped back, choosing to leave.
Shiraishi Mori wasn’t surprised. The power of the ninja had long been an unshakable truth. To oppose them was far from a rational choice.
After a dozen or so had left, the remaining ghouls fixed their determined gazes on Shiraishi Mori.
Some sought vengeance, while others sensed an opportunity to carve their mark in history by following him.
Ajo, releasing his grip on the severed arm, turned to face Shiraishi Mori and dropped to his knees, his hoarse voice shouting, "Leader, lead us to purge all the sins of this world!"
Using every ounce of his strength, Ajo’s cry ignited the crowd's passion.
"Lead us to purge all sins from this world!"
Moved by their fervor, Shiraishi Mori raised his remaining arm and declared in a cold voice, "Purge them all!"
He bowed his head slightly and muttered in a voice only he could hear:
"Let the world…"
"Feel pain."
(End of Chapter)
Chapter 45: Summary of Achievements
"I think I might have created something extraordinary..."
Kaneki muttered to himself as he absorbed the data transmitted by the raven. His gaze rested on the various objects floating in the blood pool, including Hidan, with a hint of astonishment on his face.
Although this was supposed to be a research project, Kaneki’s unique condition of not being fully human, coupled with his exceptional mental capabilities, meant he worked barehanded without the need for conventional research materials.
After all, no data storage device could compare to his brain.
To be precise, calling it a "brain" might be a stretch. Kaneki, being a collection of blood, didn’t exactly have a brain in the human sense.
Over the past few months of analysis, Kaneki had indeed made significant progress.
[Jashin Lord’s Growth Game]
[Host]: A blood pool named Kamizuki Kaneki
[Level]: 2 (Next level requires 10,000 reputation points)
Note: Host’s mental power increases with level progression.
[Jashin Reputation]: 8,431
[Ability 1]:
[Primordial Creator’s Womb]
[Gene Pool]: Human genes, leafcutter mantis genes, giant centipede genes, and giant spider genes.
[Genes Under Analysis]:
Jashin genes (14.1% complete)
Ninja genes (12.1% complete)
Represents overall progress of ninja gene analysis.
Orochimaru’s genes (2.7% complete)
Derived from one of Orochimaru’s clones.
RC cell genes (99.7% complete)
Derived from Shiraishi Mori.
[Producible Races]:
Insectoid Kagune (all first-generation types)
RC Kagune (mutated second-generation Kagune derived from insectoids)
Earth, Water, Wind, Fire, and Lightning style ninjas
Black Beetles, Ravens, Evil-Faced Ghost Snakes, Explosive Beetles
[Ability 2]:
[Jashin’s Blessing]: Your body is blessed by Jashin. Until the deity’s fall, you possess immortality.
[Introduction]: “I will create a world ruled by Lord Jashin!”
Kaneki carefully examined his ability panel, noting the substantial additions.
First, all the ninja genes collected from the Sakamoto Trading Company, the Cult of Jashin, and the Hot Springs Ninjas had been successfully analyzed.
This analysis had led to the categorization of ninja genes into a major category, further subdivided into smaller categories such as Fire, Water, Lightning, Earth, and Wind styles. Future updates could even include Kekkei Genkai categories.
Through detailed analysis of these ninja remains, Kaneki had gained a comprehensive understanding of the ninja race. Reproducing their bodies and utilizing their techniques posed no challenge to him. In fact, Kaneki’s genetic abilities allowed him to create entirely new races by modifying existing ones.
And that’s precisely what he had done.
This explains why five elemental ninjas now appeared under the producible races.
Of these, Earth and Water techniques had been thoroughly studied, while research into Fire and Lightning techniques barely scratched the surface due to limited samples.
One unexpected development came from Wind techniques. Initially, Kaneki lacked any Wind-style ninja specimens.
Then Orochimaru presented himself.
The research on Orochimaru’s serpentine clone yielded results that surpassed the Fire and Lightning techniques combined, proving Orochimaru’s exceptional mastery and understanding of ninjutsu.
Furthermore, Kaneki harvested unique serpent genes from Orochimaru, adding to his genetic repository.
While the ninja-related research yielded predictable results, Kaneki’s discoveries regarding Kagune were far more surprising.
Through extensive analysis of gene samples from Shiraishi Mori, Sakamoto, and other ghouls, Kaneki acquired a wealth of data:
Ordinary Ghouls:
This represented the largest sample in his research, confirming Kaneki’s theory that first-generation Kagune were essentially parasitic organisms. These Kagune absorbed energy from their hosts to grow, fight, and secrete pheromones that influenced the host’s psyche, creating a symbiotic relationship.
Sakamoto’s Genes:
Sakamoto could no longer be classified as human. His body served as a shell containing numerous Kagune, essentially making him a multi-Kagune collective.
Shiraishi Mori’s Genes:
This was the most critical and groundbreaking aspect of Kaneki’s research. The key discovery? RC Cells.
RC cells are a special mutation of Kagune triggered by intense emotions and strong mental power. This mutation transforms Kagune from parasitic organisms into integral parts of the host’s body.
In Shiraishi Mori’s case, the Kagune became an inseparable component of his body, akin to organs.
“This mutation... fascinating,” Kaneki murmured, his eyes glinting with excitement.
It had been a long time since he felt this way. Peering into the mysteries of the universe was intoxicating.
Even with his [Primordial Creator’s Womb], a power bordering on divine, Kaneki could not predict this change.
After all, human spirit, soul, will, and choices were elements beyond rational calculation.
In this world, the influence of spirit and soul on reality and the body was undeniable, resulting in many metaphysical phenomena.
Kaneki wasn’t surprised by this.
After all, if things like traveling to another world, becoming Jashin’s lackey, being reincarnated as a blood pool, and resurrecting after encountering a masochist could happen, what couldn’t?
Kaneki’s once-firm materialist beliefs had shattered the moment that dark entity whispered, “I am Jashin. Pay me, and I’ll resurrect you.”
Adjusting his glasses, he smirked faintly.
"Today feels like a good day."
As he spoke, RC cells in his body rapidly gathered, forming Kagune sacs that replaced his previous Kagune in an upgraded transformation.
In the blink of an eye, his back erupted with massive, sword-like structures forged from steel-like feathers. These terrifying blades loomed like a beast baring its fangs.
“As expected, once Kagune fuse with RC cells, their shape reflects the desires of the human mind,” Kaneki observed.
The thought had barely crossed his mind when his RC cells assembled into a feather-like Kagune sac, manifesting the giant, iron-feathered swords.
