Chapter 3 The Turning Point
Touka, had already cleaned out her fridge. Just the scent of him had driven her hunger out of control. The thought of his flesh, it was too much for her. Concentration failed her at every turn. One thing bothered her than any other. Red didn't smell like a human.
At a distance Red's scent was masked by other smells. It was when she got too close, that there was a hint of something more. She devoured another human steak. The flavor that once gave her a sense of bliss, felt dull.
When they first started dating, three days ago, she thought they would have to break it off or Red would die. She wouldn't know what she was doing until the screams started. Touka wasn't sure of her self-control. Her track record wasn't what she wished it was.
That scent was getting stronger, yet the more they talked the more she could ignore it. Was getting nose blind to it? She could only hope it was her self-control. Just keep talking and you won't even notice it.
The microwave beeped and she ripped her food out. The blood had dried a bit but that was ok, she wasn't looking to bath in flavor. She bit into the steak and felt warm blood dribble down her bottom lip. Licking it off, she shoved the whole thing into her mouth. Her cheeks bulged unsightly.
Chewing and only thinking of eating, she swallowed it down. She felt the feeling in her stomach and lit a few candles. It was going to be a long night. Red wasn't the only one having trouble sleeping.
Her phone buzzed. It was Yoriko. Hitting the green telephone, she answered. "Hey Yoriko, it's a little late is something wrong?"
"Click on this link, you have to watch it, I will text you on messenger." Touka rolled her eyes but clicked on the link. She was surprised when the video that played showed her the park, more so when it showed her Red wearing a ski mask with his hood up. How could she tell it was him? Touka wasn't stupid. She was wondering what he was doing still there. The live feed read 00.12 hours. So, in Red's clunky scale 12:12 am. A black door appeared on the screen bathed in moonlight.
A sword appears in Red's hand that wasn't there before. "You saw it here folks. Before anywhere else I caught the supernatural on video. Channel BleachedBaller119 please subscribe. Yes, this is the proof that dungeons are real and we are all just bystanders in our world, NPCs if you will. I'm going to try and get closer to this gamer." Touka wanted to roll her eyes at the human's assumptions. If not for Red she would discount all of this to CGI. Technology has gotten to the point, where this wasn't anything.
The black door opened and white skeletal arms shot out only to be struck down. Touka had seen that style before. A scowl covered her face. Yomo had some explaining to do. She already had her jacket on. If this was really live, she had time to pull her maybe boyfriend, out of whatever fire he was in.
Back on screen the arms were defeated and Red walked through the door without hesitation. "Did you see that? That was some samurai assassin shit right there. We are going to sneak in and lay low. I hope the stream reaches wherever the door leads to.
The screen goes black. Then it opens to a white sky with shiny black speckles that shine down like stars. The ground was an obsidian black that borders on purple. Out in the distance, at least a hundred creepy looking children seem to be dancing. Red reaches his hand forward and the camera zooms in on him.
Red turns his hand over and lifts it up. All the monsters if that is what they are launch up. Red then charges forward blue blasts leave his fingertips, he twists, and unleashes a flurry of blasts. When the monsters reach the ground, Red moves like an avenging angel. He cuts throats and maims them. If it weakens them then he does it. Just like Yomo she realizes.
Suddenly, he is back peddling. Just as the first monster gets to its feet more beams of blue energy fly, from his left hand. He killed only the creatures that were still down. When they get too close he reacts with sword play. White bones failed to match steel. He cleaved through them at times bisecting his enemies. Touka could see a problem, his sword is doing less and less damage. Her boots were on now and the door swung open. Her white-haired uncle Yomo stood in the door way, her way.
Sweat covered his body. Had he run all the way here? "You can't go there right now Touka. If you do you both could die." That hit her like a wrecking ball. He had known.
"What do you know?" Yomo stared at her phone of Red cutting through his foes with more and more difficulty. Blasts shot from his hands but the creatures were getting faster. If they saw the blast goes their way, they dodged more often.
"He is quick. In one day, he has learned to almost perfectly mimic my style. I would see it in person, if the rules didn't forbid it." Touka looked at him questioningly. He often did that. Slip in the important details, lead her by the nose the best conclusion. Better yet, he led her to the right conclusion.
"I'm still pissed. So, wherever he is there is some rule preventing ghouls and humans from teaming up?" Yomo stared at the screen. As Red unleashed a solid wave of the blue energy. The creatures died quick enough when it touched them.
"Are you seeing this? What power how can anyone human, do such a thing. Is it that place, does it make humans stronger? If I were to kill those things, would I get experience points? Continue watching and subscribe to find the answer and support me on ." Yomo kept blocking the door.
"Touka, there are beings in that place faster and perhaps stronger than I. One of the rules, we discovered, is a limitation. The dungeon as he calls it, is home to sentient collections of negative emotions called daemons. One of the stronger daemons told us that Red cannot have a partner. If he did then the entire dungeon would turn on him. If you try to help him you will both die. But it's your decision, Touka. I don't think he will die tonight." Touka watched her uncle walk out of her room and close the door.
When her eyes returned to the screen, she saw Red glowing blue. The energy wrapped around him like a cloak. His eyes shined a deep blue even from so far away. This time he moved like a bullet. The obsidian ground crumbled beneath his footsteps.
The daemons died with single slashes. Their bodies tore apart more from force than anything. Ink that flowed like blood covered him and the ground. Yet still he shown blue to her eyes. When the last of the creatures died by his blade, she had thought it over.
Red's fast paced movements seemed too much for the creatures. He was getting faster with every kill, just like Yomo seemed to get.
Touka's eyes widened, the darkness swirled around, and a massive creature burst free. It looked like an armored knight from a video game. Only it had a rinkaku. "Is that a ghoul? Could this guy be a member of the CCG? Will my subscribers surpass 200k? Keep watching to find out." Touka rolled her eyes at the obvious promotion.
The camera moved to a series of chests, that popped up. "Well, it seems that killing so many of those monster causes these to appear. I'm going to open one to see what's inside." She narrowed her eyes. This guy's obvious greed should get him killed.
As hard as he tried he couldn't open even the bronze box. "It seems they must be keyed to the owner. Too bad, I would have like to see what's inside. Let's toon back in to the battle." The youtuber said.
Red was spinning and dodging swings of the hammer. She watched just as the knight over extended. He made his move. Swinging his blade he cut off the nine-foot knight's arm and leg at the knee. The knight rammed his shield into Red sending him flying. The blue glow vanished leaving a panting Red.
The monster attempted to reclaim its limbs with its tentacles, but Red wasn't having it. He blasted it with the blue laser once again. The limbs were reduced to ashes. Red blasted the leg too before the monster could reclaim it.
"Are you seeing this right now Touka, who do you think it is? Could it be a secret member of the CCG maybe he will get our area?" Yoriko said. Touka rolled her eyes. Red didn't feel like a member of the CCG. Even before she saw this, he seemed more like what he claimed to be than an investigator.
"No, I don't think this has anything to do with ghouls." Touka felt that the reply was lame but what else could she say. Red was not an investigator. If anything, he was an alien that wanted to get in her pants.
The camera couldn't zoom in on his face, not that there was anything to see. Touka wanted to consider his eyes, she wanted to get a feel for what he was thinking at that moment. Anything to put off the confrontation that was sure to come after school. She could take the day off if it was for this.
It happened in an instant. The creature was launched into the air. Red moved under it and launched himself. She blinked, Red was suddenly wrapped up by rinkaku tentacles. His hand was raised in defiance. Another blue laser formed, this one bigger than before, and it shot through the monster. As the beast was reduced to flowing shadows, Touka let out a breath.
"You heard it here before anywhere else. Maybe you have seen ghoul attacks and CCG investigators battling ghouls, but you have never seen a dungeon battle. Oh, shit he's coming back." The youtuber hid behind a pillar, while his camera followed Red.
Red went from chest to chest. Whenever he grabbed something it disappeared. Whether it was cash, books, weapon, and even a dead to an apartment complex it vanished. Touka blinked for a second. Did Red really have gamer powers?"
She heard Red mumble something but it wasn't very clear. He was holding up a sack full of black marbles. "This isn't unobtanium." She snorted, as if he would find that even in a dungeon.
He descended a set of stairs. The youtuber waited a few minutes then followed behind him. She looked down at the comments when the screen went black. There was a flood of people denouncing the video. The youtuber already had 150k subscribers and his numbers were climbing fast.
When everything came into focus, the world was a sunny with a crisp blue sky. Red was standing there at a distance clicking through invisible screens. "So, you were the one watching me. It seems the mask was a good idea after all." Red said in an echoing deep voice. It sounded a lot like Obito's Madara voice.
"I want to expose this to the world. What are you and why is this here?" Red stared at the camera. His eyes had changed. She saw it to be like the reverse of a ghoul's. The whites of his eyes had become gold and the blue sclera was mixed with the gold. It created a weird pattern of stars.
"What I am, is a moderator of sorts. This place, is a dungeon." Red, turned and walked away. She saw the hill they stood on and how it overlooked a maze. The sky above was blue there was even a sun. The dungeon didn't make any sense. Below the hill was the massive labyrinth, it was filled with red skinned demons. That was the only way to describe them demons, oni. They moved unnaturally swift.
"Wait a minute, what is a dungeon and a moderator of what?" Red sighed, she watched his shoulders slump.
"This place is a collection of souls chained by a dungeon heart. The heart mutates the souls, usually with torture and then fuses them with dead flesh. This is the result. I am here to ensure the heart doesn't devour this world. Though, I have no problem with the greedy fools who come here seeking power. I am a moderator, it isn't my job to save the idiots of the world." The camera, leaves Red and focuses on the demons. "It is the hate these daemons have for their killers that refines the corruption. That is what the heart feeds on, the hatred, agony, and desperation from these daemons. Don't get me wrong though. Come those who are greedy, march into the dungeon, and search for your heart's desire. Feed yourself to the dungeon and it will grow. Come, try your hand at defeating the heart and obtaining the ultimate prize." Red turned his back on the camera.
"Wait, how do I get out of here?" The youtuber said.
There was no way he was getting out of there Touka realized. The fool was using a live feed what did the dungeon need him for now. Red just chuckled as he leapt off the hill down into the labyrinth. "You can't leave a floor until it's cleared. There is no exit, until I beat this floor." Touka watched Red use Air Trick, and she saw him launch himself off walls. He killed everything in his path.
Red POV
LV 10 xp to next 2,200xp
HP 75
ST 120
MP 515
STR 43 Physical power
DEX 13 Physical precision
VIT 15 Physical health
END 24 Physical perseverance and ST
AGL 29 Physical speed and reaction time
INT 21 Learning rate
WIS 14 Mental Utility
MAG 100 Magic Power and MP
SPRT 61 Soul power and all forms of spiritual manipulation
Stat points 20 skill points 4
MAG CANNON lv25, Nurture lv5, Air Trick lv15, Fibrous Carbon lv10, Recycle lv20, Strength of Soul lv30, Badass Blade lv9, Restoration lv1
As a gamer, there were times, he felt his skills were lacking in power. He had an inventory filled with skill books. He had no desire to use them. Red was satisfied with what skills he had right now. If he were to equip anymore he would lose track of them. Did he really need to turn into some type of power irradiating monster?
Relatively slowly, he made his way through the maze spamming Air Trick he quickly dispatched daemons. He was fast and sometimes loud, but he got the job done. It was difficult, often the daemons never saw him. It was in effort to not to think about his little interview.
The guy had caught him flatfooted. This was not the right time to expose himself. What would Touka say to him? He hadn't gotten a message yet, maybe he was in the clear. She didn't seem like the type to stay on youtube 24/7.
The Daemon's blood no longer affected his sword. Heck, the blade seemed to soak up the blood, long before it was blunted. His sword whistled, as he cleared out another group of daemons. Skills were great, he didn't need to use a lot of them. When swinging his sword would do the job, he preferred to use his sword.
Speaking of his sword the thing had begun to change again. The whisper, at times he thought it was getting louder. Worse yet, it wouldn't shut up. If he could understand it that would be a thing, but he couldn't. It distracted him, sometimes his swipes that should be lethal missed, and others severed the spine but left him open. Crossing sword to axe, was a more daunting task. When the opponent was physically stronger speed and skill was needed to offset their advantage.
Still he loved his sword, it had a way of cutting through multiple spines in a single swing. Even backbones that were double layered were cut clean through. Redundancy, meant nothing to his sword.
Red was getting faster, as he leveled up badass blade and air trick the speed of his became inconsequential. He was getting closer to the end of the maze. As more daemons fell to his sword, he felt a change. The maze was giving him less dead ends.
There were traps all over the floor. Strange runes decorated the floor, he saw one of the daemon's land in one only to be burnt alive. Only flames didn't affect them. These daemons were fire or at least fire resistant.
When the final daemon died, he leapt up high in the air. Red stood on the platform of an air trick, he waited for the boss to emerge. The guy with the camera was still there and so was a rabbit hiding in the shadows.
He brought up his stat screen and placed the 20 points 10 to INT and 10 to WIS. Layers seemed to melt off his mind as his vision and other senses sharpened. Knowing he would need all the help he could get, he placed stat points in WIS and INT.
"You have been awarded the skill Third Eye lv1 – You see the world as none else can through the eye of a psychic. Low level telekinesis, clairvoyance, and telepathy are gained passively with this skill. Increased levels intensify this skill. Active practice increases this skill's lv. Uncommon duel skill INT+/Wis+ * lv." Red felt a pressure at his forehead. Another message popped up. "Mystical Eye lv1 – Your third eye is so saturated by the mana in your body that you can draw in mana. Passive mana regen + lv per second. Active pull in mana from the very air. mana regen % = lv. Dual uncommon skill WIS+/MAG+."
Red reveled in his new powers. Flashes of the monster as it slowly formed out of shadows flew through his mind. There were many possibilities even as the creature took form.
The creature finally revealed itself. Red was surprised. It was nothing like what he saw in his future visions. As he saw many visions his expectation were shattered. He saw the blade rise to strike at him, long before the creature's shoulder moved.
He was to the side, delivering a blast from MAG Cannon directly into the creature. It phased through the creature and kept going over the horizon. Red wiped his face of sweat.
He was drenched in the stuff the ski mask didn't help. Dressing out in that riot armor seemed the better option about now. Especially when fighting this thing.
It was three stories tall, a torso balanced on eight red and flowing spider legs. Was that a kagune? The creature had six arms two held torches, two held axes, and the top two held spears. It had three faces all depicting different facial expressions. This creature was different, more streamline refined. Red activated his scan ability.
"Asura the drunken HP 20,000/ MP 10,000 – This creature was sculpted by the maze, to destroy the gamer was its purpose. The labyrinth itself is sentient and recorded Red's progress. It consulted the heart and calibrated on this new creation. Unlike most daemons this one was outfitted with a skill set of some sort. Phasing out of the physical realm hints at a DPS style opponent." Red took off his hoody and tossed it to the maze. His temperature immediately lowered.
His bare chest was exposed to the wind, his Third Eye showed him various possible actions the daemon could take. That's why he dropped down, when the creature leapt forward. Like a machine gun MAG Cannon fired from his fingertips up at the creature's underbelly. The charge was only at 20%, it didn't do much damage. The kagune legs seemed to negate 50% of his damage.
The kagune shifted and struck down at him. He shot himself back into the wall of the maze. The wall hadn't been there before. The mental map in his head and his Third Eye both showed him a different scenario. The maze must have shifted, if it was truly sentient that was a possible.
There were few choices in the matter. He tried blocking. one of the torches, as it swung down at him. Red was tossed aside. Flipping in midair, he landed on one of the walls. One of the three faces of the creature saw him and went on the attack. A truly long spear just barely missed him, as he dodged to the left.
His sword binged off the shaft of the spear. He couldn't break it, so easily. Jumping in the air and using Air Trick he got above the creature and blasted it again. He saw the skill phase through the creature, even before he fired it.
Taking a deep breath, he fired himself back with Air Trick. He needed a plan. Whenever he thought about a plan scenarios went through his mind, and possible futures fought him for relevance. Red opened a menu and found the Power Play, Fortify, and Dark Star skill books, they were still options. The creature moved quickly, but it had no ranged attacks.
Dealing less than 200HP wasn't in his plans. He didn't want to lose but he didn't want to lose himself to temptation either. Too many skills at once could destroy his sense of self. Once a gamer got so powerful they got a big head and often fell to more cunning dungeons. Red hit learn on each skill tab.
"Power Play lv1 – Take the world by storm and continuously infuse your muscles with mana. This technique increases STR = STR * (%=lv). MP cost 1MP per sec. This is as uncommon dual skill STR+/MAG+." Red felt the slightest increase to his physical strength, it took next to nothing to hold the skill. The next skill hit. "Fortify lv1 – Increases DEF = DEF + (% = lv). This skill requires 1MP to use. This is an uncommon dual skill VIT+/MAG+." That was really lame his skin felt just a little tougher but nothing to write home about. Were the skills he received in the dungeon subpar?
"Dark Star lv1 – This skill was created from the very essence of the dark. From this skill, a spark of the primal darkness has hatched within you. Skills that are based upon the dark can now be copied with Mystical Eye. To level this skill copy skills forged in darkness. This is a Deca Secret Rare skill MAG+++++/SPRT+++++ *lv." Red read the skill, then closed the message. He felt the shard of dark rest in his soul. It was nothing more than a speck but its corruptive properties were potentially endless.
His face set in a frown. Restoration was working quickly, to fix his bruised body it would need time. The creature approached him slowly. Its multiple faces fixed in a solemn appearance. Many of the creature's eyes starred at him, they tracked his every breath. Focusing through his eyes, he fired a quick beam into one of the creature's large eyes. The creature wailed and balled itself up.
Red moved towards one of the arms holding a torch. At the elbow, he yelled and slashed down feeling his sword finally hit something. The joint made a loud popping sound, when he tore through it. As he moved at break neck speeds slashing at the elbow joint he heard cracking and popping sounds.
He could feel its pain. The little spark in his heart grew stronger and adrenaline rushed through him. Red shouted in happiness as the arm fell away. Moving quickly, he blasted it so it couldn't be reattached.
A grin began to spread over his face as he dodged incoming attacks. The face that starred at him was one full of hate. Red met the face with a grin. He tore at the fingers holding the weapons. It didn't matter how strong the creature swings, Red was finding weaknesses.
That arm he cut off left a wide hole in the creature's defenses. Its life was cut by a thousand after losing the limb. He could do it now all he had to do was take another. He blasted at another eye only for his attack to phase through. It wouldn't be so easy.
Sweat rained from his body, as he made use of Air Trick, every leap was calculated to put him in a better position. The stump of the creature's lower arm was beginning to grow a new limb. This creature was strong.
A grin had spread over the creature's face. Red was enjoying this, it was an exciting fight. Then he saw it one of his attacks getting through, if he attacked just at the right time it would be over. He let the spear get closer than it had before. This time he held his ground blocking it. The creature matched him in strength.
Twisting out of the way Red blasted another eye. The Asura lost its grip on its weapon. Red took the weapon and stabbed it into the creature's abdomen burying it into the maze. Jumping back up the angered face looked at him with one eye. Red chuckled as he powered up a MAG Cannon.
The blue spiral of the cannon turned a deep purple from the dense mana. 500MP powered the skill, he felt the tips of his fingers burn from the friction. Thrusting his hand forward he unleashed the skill.
Breathing heavy he watched as the blast ripped through the creature. It struck, in the chest ripping through armored flesh and bone. Air trick launched him forward behind his attack. The spear had been destroyed this was his last chance. He landed on the creature's chest just as his skill had eaten into it.
Taking his sword in both hands, he stabbed into where he knew the creature's heart lay. Another 2000 damage appeared on the creature's life bar. He twisted the blade another 2000 damage was issued. Finally, he yanked the blade free, with one final slash shadowy blood went everywhere. It covered his body and the creature's body faded. Belatedly, he felt the level ups but exited out the screens. Nearly every skill he possessed lv upped.
He was starting to feel exhausted. Though he couldn't physically sleep, he needed a break from all of this. If he didn't have a rest, the dungeon would kill him. As he started to walk up towards the hill, eyes appeared all over the maze.
The stone maze became a mass of writhing tentacles. He launched himself as high up as he could. Reserves hadn't recovered yet. They wouldn't for a minute or two. Red used scan.
"Dungeon maze mastermind HP 30,000/MP 30,000 – This creature is an observer and a greater daemon. It is the true boss of floor 2." Fire balls and lightning hit everywhere in waves. The creature wasn't playing around. The light of the sun disappeared revealing a dark world, except for the light from this monster's eyes.
He launched himself at the ball of tentacles. Sword in hand madness in his heart. Red was done with this he would kill this beast and leave the dungeon.
His sword scraped against the creature, Red ran cutting tentacles apart moving faster and faster. Every bisected tentacle counted as a kill and it increased his speed by half. With his movement speed, air pressure was becoming a real problem. His reaction time was only getting faster, there was no ceiling in sight.
The ball of rinkaku tentacles twisted and spun as he cut it to pieces. Air Trick kept him from leaving his foe. He knew if he gave it any respite, it could recover all its HP.
Every cut off tentacle was 50HP. Red cut off ten every second. Then twenty and forty before he was thrown off again. Was he getting xp for these kills and did he even care anymore? No, but that was ok, he needed to fight. Strength of Soul engaged and he moved with even more strength.
His efforts never seemed to be enough. Recycle replenished his lost stamina, but his MP was dropping like a stone. The creature's HP never dropped below 20,000. He blasted it with all the magical force he could muster and chopped it up. Nothing, hurt it.
That was when he saw it. A bladed tentacle, unlike the others. This one had a single kagugan, it watched him. When he drove his blade in the thing's eye it shrieked. That was when it opened.
A small pocket opened and a growth poked out of it. Moving quickly Red slashed and blasted the growth. The HP bar dropped and with a burst the thing exploded. Blood, red blood covered his body as the mass fell to the ground.
Red stumbled out of the wreckage. His body was sore and his head pounded. His MP bar was slowly returning.
Red the Gamer
LV 15 xp to next 8,100xp
HP 135
ST 245
MP 965
STR 59 Physical power
DEX 19 Physical precision
VIT 27 Physical health
END 49 Physical perseverance and ST
AGL 49 Physical speed and reaction time
INT 47 Learning rate
WIS 39 Mental Utility
MAG 193 Magic Power and MP
SPRT 76 Soul power and all forms of spiritual manipulation
Stat points 25 skill points 5
MAG CANNON lv40
Nurture lv5
Air Trick lv30
Fibrous Carbon lv20
Recycle lv45
Strength of Soul lv35
Badass Blade lv15
Restoration lv5
Mystical Eye lv5
Third Eye lv10
Dark Star lv1
Fortify lv3
Power Play lv5
He had won, hadn't he? With the death of the two bosses of floor two, he could leave. At the same time, he didn't want to. Red regretted being seen on video.
His jeans were torn. Black hair covered in sweat draped over his eyes. Cuts covered his body. What defenses he had were not quite enough. Blood dripped down filling his shoes.
Red felt his socks squish, as he made his way towards the hill. Restoration was working overtime to close his wounds. He was glad he survived, to dread his next meeting with Touka, and whatever confrontation he was about to have with Anteiku.
Back on the hill, there was only one chest. The youtube guy was still here, he must have bought Red's words. "Are they dead?" He glared at the boy. The Youtuber took a step back at his stare. Fear he could practically taste it.
"Point the camera at me boy." The guy stared at him. With the camera light on. Red stepped forward and began to speak. He had a plan to turn the Japanese society for the better. Many would die, it would be for the better.
Red held a black marble up to the camera. "This is an item given by the dungeon on the first floor. It is a packet of RC cells." The boy's eyes widened, Red smirked. "By consuming this eventually, a human will turn into a ghoul. There are many advantages to its consumption. All physical parameters are increased, the body heals faster, and physical damage is lessened. If consumed in moderation perhaps one a day. The user, more than likely, will not become a ghoul. Anymore and ghoulification will happen immediately. There is another use for this RC pill. If a ghoul consumes one then their hunger will be satisfied. If they consume many then they could become a kakuja. With these pills predation on humans will no longer be necessary. So, my fellow men. Invade the dungeons and collect these pills and sell them to the highest bidder. This bag is the first. I'm going to auction it starting at 100,000,000yen." Red tossed the little pill back in the bag then placed the bag in the inventory. His plan was simple supply the pills to Anteiku. That was all he had to do for this early phase.
Kicking the large black, gold, and ruby encrusted chest light began to pour out of the chest. A single black orb was revealed. He used scan on it. "Rei – This item is number zero of a seven-piece set. By touching it you are granted shadow wings. These wings increase damage by 50%. The wings can be upgraded by consuming RC pills." Red grabbed the orb and it vanished. From his back, a set of black wings emerged. They moved more like tentacles and flailed a lot. He could spread them into true wings or shrink them into deadly tendrils. "You have gained the skill Fly lv1 – This skill allows the user to fly with wings. AGL * LV = MPS or meters per second. This is a dual skill AGL+/DEX+ *lv."
Red brought his new wings down and closed the window. They would come in handy but would probably need practice.
The door to the outside opened and he left the dungeon. As soon as the natural sky was overhead, Red thrust his wings down and flew upward. He felt his body accelerate.
He traveled higher and higher, bursting from the clouds. There high above the city he saw the stars. Reaching out his hand, it felt as if they were within his grasp.
Back in the dungeon with the black rabbit.
The black rabbit walked towards the door, it led away from her home. Three days had been enough. The dungeon had fed her well with its victims. RC cells made up the entirety of her form. She could feel them, obeying her will, and keeping the shape of an attractive long haired Asian woman. Only the red kagugan eyes made her look any different from any other woman in Tokyo.
Finding the features, she favored had taken a very long time and many victims. She had been in the body of an amorphous rabbit for a very long time, for the sake of nostalgia she had found woman with large front teeth. The legs had to be a certain length in proportion to her upper body. Her chest had to be flat to lower drag. A larger bust could wait until she was ready to have kittens.
Her face was slender olive shaped. She let the crystal mirror she had created with mana disappear. Turning her head, she saw a child made of writhing red RC cells. It pained her to look at the child.
The child was the dungeon's consciousness or at least a projection of it. The child stared at her, its red eyes unblinking. "You are leaving me." It was not a question but he still expected an answer.
"Yes, my time here has come to an end. I need a greater food source. Urges have overtaken me, I must find a mate." That was total bull and she knew it. Though the urge to mate was there it was not with any from the outside. She wanted her freedom. There were resources out in the world, that weren't from a dungeon, and the dungeon couldn't take them away.
"None here could satisfy you. The moderator failed to prove a worthy match." There were many dungeon born that choose to mate with the moderator or gamer, as they are sometimes called. She did not want to mate with such a creature. What could he provide her that the dungeon could not? She was already leaving the dungeon, so what was the point? Why trade down when she could have an entire continent to herself. Perhaps, when she spread her wings the stars would be within her reach. Either way, she had no further plans to remain here.
"He does not interest me as a mate. I want to gain a larger range of potentials. While remaining here that is impossible." The child like image of the dungeon swayed for a moment. As it stared at her perhaps reading her very soul it nodded.
"Leave don't return. You have reached the end of your possibilities. Offspring were the only potential paths for a better version of your type. I have long since crafted stronger sentients." She turned tail and walked towards the door of the 9th floor.
In the shadows her eyes spotted on a single egg. The egg was a deep red with a black stone within it. Above the egg was a collection of multiple RC cell types dripping upon the egg. The egg sparked with energy.
She stepped through the door.
Red POV
Red stood upon the air looking down at a scene. Rize is walking down an alley with a college age boy. Then she bites into his shoulder. When he pushes away she laughs. "It's your fault Kaneki you taste so delicious. I couldn't resist. Why don't you just lie down and take it like a man. Come on Kaneki you seemed like such a white knight before." Red whistled to himself. That was some shit test. The only way kaneki could come out of this one would be to take a bite right back out of her. With human teeth that's not going to happen.
Kaneki continued running into a construction yard. Some guy up on the roof wore a clown mask. Red knew exactly what this was. Kaneki's big transformation into a ghoul to start everything off. Red looked down to see Rize with her Rinkaku out. She speared through Kaneki again and again. His stomach was ripped open. Even from high up, Red could see some gut hanging out.
The clown tossed own of the steel beams down. Red raised a finger and blasted the ghoul in the head. Flying to him Red stabbed his sword through the ghoul's neck and took his head. Throwing the head in the air, he blasted it again.
Spreading his wings, Red flew away from the building he was perched on. With black wings, he flew amongst the sky scrapers. He saw himself in the reflective glass. He looked like some tainted angel as he flew.
Circling back around he heard the ambulance. Soon Kaneki would become a ghoul. It didn't affect his plan one way or the other. It did add just the slightest predictability to the future. His third eye showed him the possibilities he merely had to choose. As his possible actions increased so too did the choices increase in volume. One thread of the future he wanted remained and he was happy to move towards it.
It wasn't difficult to find the apartment complex, he now owned. The complex was for students near Kamii university. He flew over the gated fence and walked into the manager's office. A night ago, the manager had been swallowed up by the dungeon. Merely dreaming for adventure was sometimes enough for a dungeon to draw you in.
Checking the computer, the passwords, and a new social security number. It seemed that Japan was moving to issuing social security numbers to increase tax revenue.
He took the master card key and found one of the rooms that were empty. His name was now filed as the owner of the place. Red was even filed as a Japanese citizen. Most everything to do with his file was encrypted but that was the dungeon's doing. If any administrator viewed it they would find whatever credentials they wanted to see.
Checking his current bank account with the added debt this complex added on him. The previous owner was still paying it off. He was left with around 200,000yen or 2000$ American. That was still a good amount, just not what he wanted. In a few months, he might be able to up his savings. Provided Japan's property tax doesn't rape him up the ass.
Walking up a few stairs he saw Kaneki's apartment. The kid was still in the hospital, getting a kakuhou put in instead of a liver. Did they implant a liver in him or did the RC cells just patch him up? Was that the secret to his acclimation? With so many parts missing, the RC cells remade parts of him, and he became acclimatized. Was that even a thing?
Maybe he would get lucky, the kagune might think he is Rize, and he will become a chick. Nope, that would be retarded. Red opened the door to his new room and sat on the bed.
The room was unbearably barre with white walls, white lamps, and beige floors the place was boring. There were no posters on the wall or anything to make it look like his. Once the sun rose he decided he would go after a few posters. He needed to get some crimson paint and give the walls a more home feel.
Since he didn't eat he could remove the dinner table and put in a desk. This was naturally a four-person apartment. Therefore, he had four rooms to either stuff with chicks or robot sex objects. The sex bots would honestly be cheaper.
Jumping on one of the beds he let his thoughts continue to ramble in their haze. All the new skills were messing with him. The insight into the future and the psychic senses weren't helping a bit. They made him feel paranoid.
If he was to survive, till morning. He had to have some good old TV or non-stop porn. He settled for some TV. A rerun of Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood was on.
As he sat in one of the dining room chairs and leaned it back, he missed a good recliner. He had two options for that either buy one and import it. With the free market at least going into America he could probably get one relatively cheap. Then again, he could just fly to the states, find a nice one, and take it. Unfortunately, that messed with his no stealing morality bullshit.
There were still thoughts implanted from his previous life that kept him from letting go of his morality. Red didn't really know if he wanted to give up on morality and become free or remain chained. Being chained allowed him to feel like he is fulfilling some abstract responsibility. Letting go made him happy. It was all bullshit anyway he just needed to relax.
As he watched Edward and Al bicker he let himself relax. It was a huge boon that he couldn't predict the TV's future in any way that made sense. The program wasn't going to change its mind only he could change the program.
When he watched the fifth episode in a row he turned it off just before Free came on. He would only watch 50% off, thank you very much. It was around 3am and at 8 he needed to go train with Yomo.
Jumping on the bed, he flexed feeling the difference in is body. His arms were more muscular in a refined way. Some of the muscles seemed to be made of many massive cords. Every action felt like he was holding himself back from shattering the world. This was the price of so many skills, he mused.
That was when he heard the door of his apartment open. Through his Third Eye he knew it was Touka. She came here in a flood of emotions. He could taste them on her psyche. Her ego and instinct were in conflict rage, compassion, relief, incredulity, and buried under desire all fought for control.
Touka POV
When she saw, him exit the door she rushed to the park. Instead of finding Red the guy she had only met 3 days ago. Red the mystery that asked her out in the presence of her friend. The goof that was Red that acted like her personal world ending white man. Or even Red the OP guy who casually killed daemon possessed RC cell monsters for shits and giggles was not present. She saw the youtuber looking dazed. Two members of the CCG were there putting hand cuffs on him and haling him off the be questioned. That was around the time she caught his scent. Her mouth watered. If it was strong before it was a bomb now.
She no longer needed to visualize the flavor she could taste it on her tongue the saturation was so high. It was like radiation. It lingered in an area. When a concentration is higher it lingers longer having an ever-greater affect.
Stealthily, she moved away from the park down an alleyway. Drool flowed from her mouth it was out of control. This had never happened before a need like this. Sweltering heat was rising from her body. Her mind was growing fuzzy.
Was she the only one who felt this. How was Irimi immune to this? Did it only affect her, was it her own personal crack? She banged her fist against a wall. Taking the lust and hunger she turned it off. Her eyes that were truly red returned to their normal blue.
The scent was still there in the wind. She could control it. It was far away as she walked towards the scent it became stronger. For over an hour she followed it.
She saw an ambulance pick up Rize and Kaneki. Too bad the guy got chomped she like him. He gave descent tips. His liver was gone. Half of it was still in Rize's mouth the other was laying on the wall. The paramedics didn't even bother to scrape it off.
The scent remained strong. Swallowing the last of Kaneki's liver, she licked her lips and continued moving towards the scent. The organ helped her keep her focus for a while. Most of the benefits of being a female was a low sex drive and control. Being a ghoul flipped the issue. Hunger often elicited a sexual urge. With her hunger being spiked her sexual drive was increasing. She had to adjust her resolve several times as she approached the apartment.
The scent was coming so strongly now. It was easy to find the source. He had a hell of a lot of explaining to do.
Red POV
As she turned the handle to his door he remained in bed. If she wanted to come to him then she would. At this moment, he gave her a chance to turn away. She was a young woman. Her whole life was ahead of her.
If she chose to enter his apartment. Then he was going to make her his. Honestly with his power he didn't know if she could say no. Ghouls were not humans as much as some might want to get along.
Ghouls could smell hormones, and apparently mana. They were all hunters of various success. The unsuccessful ones died out. They lived often solitary lives social Darwinism has played a heavy role in their development.
Female ghouls required a ton of RC cells to produce children. In their pregnant state, they don't heal as quickly because their child is constantly devouring the RC cells in their body. They seek the strongest possible mate to protect them in their time of weakness. That's why a female ghoul will never want a human male. A human male will never be able to kill his own kind to supply her.
Red wasn't human, he could feel his ties to humans slipping away. Touka could smell even that. He tipped his morality even more in her favor by feeding other humans to the dungeon. The male population was about to take a heavy dip. The dungeon could hear their aspirations. It would draw them in and devour them.
With the few survivors stepping above humanity they will suddenly be much more attractive to female ghouls. The dungeon will strip away their human morality and they will have to change their way of thinking to survive. The CCG will be destroyed in the next act. It was already put in motion when Red stood before the camera.
Men who have killed off their competition in the dungeon won't think twice about ensuring their future children remain safe. Human women will get jealous. They will opt to become ghouls as well. That does not change the gap of men to women. By this point ghoul women will outnumber dungeon survivors as much as 6 to 1.
All the power will then fall on to the men. A patriarchal society will rise from the ashes of Japan. The welfare system will vanish. For a few generations, they would live in a utopia. With powerful men as the pillars, this country will survive while others collapse. That will be the beginning of world war III. The war for the planet.
Looking up Touka had already crept through the apartment closed and locked the door and stood there. Her red eyes glared down at Red. They were filled with so many emotions.
Red stood up from his bed devoid of clothing. Everything he owned had been shredded. He had a shower earlier so he no longer smelled like daemon blood. Perhaps he should have kept the blood on it would have made an excellent perfume.
Her kagune spread out the red flare of her wings shined in the dark. She looked an intimidating sight. Her trench coat and mask were laying on his dresser. A pair of black laced panties and a sports bra lay on top of the pile.
For a time, they said nothing. She breathed in and out tasting the air only fueling her emotions. His own gold and blue eyes stared into her kagugan. The Ukaku flexed and stabbed forward.
Red back handed the kagune away and kicked Touka in the stomach. Touka charged in with a double axe kick to the head. He dodged the attacks in kind and lightly punched her repeatedly in the face. Her kagune scraped against his skin finding no purpose. Using his momentum, he kneed her in the stomach, and clapped her on the temples.
She was dazed for half a second. A small smile graced her lips as she returned his assault in kind. Red wasn't having it he grabbed her by the ankle and slung her on the bed. Her ukaku cut into the mattress he leapt atop her and held her down. Cushion material flew up into the air.
Touka bit and scratched at his flesh saliva pooled in her mouth and she bit with all her might trying to tear into his flesh. Red did the same biting her and showing that he would give just as much as she gave. He wrapped his own wings around hers and picked her up cupping a butt cheek. Red tightened around her and met her eyes. She only fought him harder with a grin plastered on her face.
She kicked him in the balls, clawed at his legs, and bit at his neck. Blood from Touka's woman hood dripped upon the ruined mattress. It dripped down his legs and hers as he held her tighter. She only fought harder as he aligned himself. Her teeth marks surely covered his skin and her drool soaked their chests.
When he entered, the thrashing ended. It was like he had been battling a hurricane. Now he had entered the eye. For a second all was calm. Their wings curled around each other making a black and red double helix. Her red eyes continued to stare into his never blinking.
It was at that moment that the eye ended and she thrashed in a whole other way. Touka was a hurricane and Red knew if he ever took the calm for granted she would chew him up and spit him out.
LV 15 xp to next 8,100xp
HP 135
ST 245
MP 965
STR 59 Physical power
DEX 29 Physical precision
VIT 27 Physical health
END 49 Physical perseverance and ST
AGL 59 Physical speed and reaction time
INT 47 Learning rate
WIS 39 Mental Utility
MAG 193 Magic Power and MP
SPRT 76 Soul power and all forms of spiritual manipulation
Stat points 25 skill points 5
MAG CANNON lv40
Nurture lv5
Air Trick lv30
Fibrous Carbon lv20
Recycle lv45
Strength of Soul lv35
Badass Blade lv15
Restoration lv5
Mystical Eye lv5
Third Eye lv10
Dark Star lv1
Fortify lv3
Power Play lv5
Fly lv10
Hey guy's thanks for reading. If you have any questions PM me, I will reply. This chapter is much larger than the ones before and I hope to make that a trend.
Please review
Disclaimer I don't own Tokyo ghoul