The massive wingspan stretched out seven to eight meters.
The wings displayed a layered texture, their feathers composed of crimson crystalline structures shaped like flames.
The moment the wings unfurled, a torrent of fire erupted, shooting out in all directions.
Boom, boom, boom!
Explosions echoed continuously, large fireballs detonating one after another. In an instant, Bai Ye was engulfed in a sea of flames.
Bai Ye tilted his head. This thing is quite useful?
Generally, a ghoul's Kagune wouldn't be this powerful. It must have reacted with his phoenix ability and mutated; a truly unexpected boon.
Bai Ye mused as he extended a hand, making a grasping motion.
Current surged through the ground around him, and the dropped Quinque, influenced by the electromagnetic force, began to float towards Bai Ye.
Claiming his spoils, Bai Ye leaped towards the overpass below. Then, the colossal wings on his back unfurled, unleashing another wave of fire, giving no one a chance to get close.
And in that instant…
"White hair?" Bai Ye stood on the overpass, looking down. "Looks like I've found him."
Kaneki Ken's two defining features, white hair and the eyepatch, were easily recognizable.
Bai Ye thought, and then flipped his body, preparing to descend further to pursue Kaneki Ken.
But at this moment…
"Understanding the profound principles of atmospheric flow, blessed by the spirits of the wind, Phoenix Gale Dawn!"
A chanting voice suddenly rang out, drawing Bai Ye's attention upwards. He then saw a massive azure magic circle appear above him.
The next instant…
A deluge of wind blades poured down, slashing towards the ground with relentless fury.
Bai Ye tilted his head back, unmoved. The wind blades continued to strike, repeatedly shattering the wings unfurled behind him.
The crystalline wings fragmented, dissolving into countless crimson shards that scattered, creating a dazzling spectacle.
Bai Ye's body was also repeatedly cleaved by the wind blades, dissipating into arcs of electricity before re-aggregating, his form reforming.
A moment later, the wind blades subsided, the magic circle vanished, and a woman descended from the sky, landing about four to five meters in front of Bai Ye.
The woman sneered, "I didn't expect us to meet again so soon."
Bai Ye asked, "Who are you?"
Lan Qing was momentarily taken aback.
"Oh, I have a vague impression. Saw you at the hotel, perhaps." Bai Ye tapped his forehead. "Apologies, I don't usually pay attention to opponents who are too weak, and besides…"
Bai Ye suddenly waved his hand, sending a surge of electricity towards Lan Qing.
Lan Qing quickly bent to dodge, and as she did, a thunderous roar sounded from behind her, shattering a section of the wall.
Bai Ye looked at Lan Qing, "You were fleeing like a cornered rat back then, how dare you show yourself again?"
Lan Qing looked up, licking her lips. "Because, this time, I'm not alone!"
"Shadow Manipulation Technique!"
Behind Bai Ye, as the words were spoken, a dark shadow slithered swiftly across the ground, quickly connecting with Bai Ye's body.
Bai Ye attempted to twist his body, only to discover that once the shadow latched onto him, it exerted a forceful control over his movements, making any turn extremely difficult.
With considerable effort, Bai Ye managed to turn his body slightly, and then he saw a man, forming hand seals, his shadow stretching out into a long strip on the ground.
Bai Ye remarked, "A ninja from the Land of the Rising Sun?"
As soon as Bai Ye finished speaking, a rush of wind sounded from his side.
A burly man strode towards Bai Ye, wielding a short spiked club. He swung it with all his might, smashing it into Bai Ye's body.
*Boom!*
Bai Ye's body was launched like a cannonball, flying off the overpass and slamming into the adjacent wall, shattering a section of it.
The man manipulating the shadow grumbled, "Hey, are you kidding me? I had him controlled, and you just dispersed my Shadow Manipulation Technique along with him."
The man with the spiked club shrugged indifferently, "Who cares? As long as the guy's dead, that's all that matters."
Lan Qing interjected, "Don't argue. That guy is strong, don't be careless."
Meanwhile, Bai Ye, embedded in the wall like a decal, wiggled his body and then looked downwards.
Kaneki Ken had already vanished.
"Annoying."
Bai Ye exerted force, breaking free from the wall.
"Can't you stop… disturbing me when I'm trying to do something important…" Bai Ye growled, "and causing trouble!"
*Zzzzt!*
A surge of electricity erupted, spreading outwards.
Seeing this, the trio quickly leaped away.
*Boom!*
The electrical discharge struck the overpass, emitting a deafening roar before a section of it was brutally blown apart.
The next moment, Bai Ye's body suddenly flickered, rapidly transforming into a bolt of lightning that shot forward. In an instant, he was in front of the man wielding the spiked club.
The man's eyes widened in alarm, and he immediately swung his club towards Bai Ye. But…
*Clang!*
Bai Ye opened his palm, caught the spiked club, and squeezed.
The club shattered, and Bai Ye then pressed a finger to the man's forehead.
*Zzzzt!*
A massive surge of electricity erupted, instantly engulfing the man's body.
"Ah!"
The man screamed in agony as the current coursed through him, his body convulsing violently. Soon, he collapsed to his knees, his head thrown back, his eyes rolled up to reveal only the whites.
The other man quickly formed hand seals, his shadow rapidly extending forward, attempting to reassert control over Bai Ye.
However, Bai Ye had already learned his lesson once and would not fall for it a second time!
*Zzzzt!*
Before the shadow could reach him, Bai Ye suddenly vanished and then reappeared.
This time, he materialized behind his opponent.
"Your shadow's speed…" Bai Ye raised his Thunderfang Beast and swept it outwards, "can it outrun lightning?"
*Squelch!*
Blood splattered!
The Thunderfang Beast sliced through the opponent's neck, and a head flew through the air, tumbling erratically.
Upon seeing this, Lan Qing immediately turned and fled.
She knew Bai Ye was powerful, having clashed with him briefly before.
However, Lan Qing never imagined Bai Ye to be this strong, and the reinforcements she brought were utterly useless.
But…
As Lan Qing turned, a bolt of electricity zipped past her, and Bai Ye suddenly appeared in front of her.
Bai Ye always preferred to cut his losses, and letting Lan Qing escape last time was already a miscalculation. So…
How could he possibly let Lan Qing escape a second time?
"Magic Missile…"
Lan Qing quickly raised her hand, attempting to cast a spell, but…
Bai Ye was faster!
Before the Magic Missile could fully form, a surge of electricity had already pierced through Lan Qing's throat.
…