Chapter 12: Dungeon Training & Near Death Experience

(Sorry a little late. I have to attend court for a hearing at Tuesday and Wednesday. Then have to meet lawyer etc after that.)

Three days passed and I didn't encounter the agents anymore. As if they gave up hunting for me. This remained true as I returned to Tokyo after more than a week being on the run.

Akira turned out not to have bought a house because none of them met my criteria. Instead, he bought a plot of land where an old three storey high empty office building was. Of course, it will be renovated and hella expensive. But this way, he explained we can customize the interior to fit all my requirements. Which being a living space for everyone, a working space for our group mainly for Kagune training.

I see no issue with that since we have the finance to fund it. So, I give him my approval for his decision. However, that means our home is not yet available and we are renting temporarily.

The expected time to completion isn't long either, at most another week because we have plenty of money and more to earn at any moment. We paid fat stacks to the contractor to get the job done quicker. Since this is Japan, I wouldn't worry too much about bad quality work.

———

In Akira's warehouse.

"So, what are we gonna do with the ground floor? It's technically sitting in a commercial district, we can't just convert it into just a house."

"It's technically registered as a dorm house."

Akira corrected me.

"My point still stands. Also, how did you even get approval from the administrator?"

Ray asked with a baffled expression as he still couldn't comprehend how Akira managed to get this project approved.

"I bribed them."

Akira replied with a shrug.

"Anyway, now that you are back. When will we dive into the dungeon with the rest of our members?"

Akira looked a little too anxious and twirling his thumbs while waiting for my answer.

"What happened? You look anxious."

Akira sighed heavily and sagged his shoulder.

"It's becoming increasingly dangerous lately. I heard that trouble is coming our way and those who aren't prepared for the change will be swept up by it."

Akira played with words before he uttered a name.

"Aogiri Tree."

"The recent serial death of Ghouls, the increasing patrols and activities of the Hunters caused many Ghoul to be worried about the future as the water is getting murkier in Tokyo."

"Aogiri Tree is a pro Ghoul organization more like a cult than anything, created as the result of this unrest. Many had joined and just last night, I heard that Ghoul in Ota is openly skirmishing against the Hunters and won. Now they control that district and many Ghouls from other districts want to follow in their footsteps."

Hearing the news, I felt Akira's worry was justified. It's obvious a turmolous age is near. The Hunters wouldn't allow the Ghoul to conquer that region which means the Hunters will try to liberate Ota district but Ghouls wouldn't allow it either and inevitably means a war will break out. At least this is Ray's assessment.

"Alright. You can gather Kiko, Ryouko and Hinami. We will include the Fueguchis too because getting them started early will be more beneficial rather than waiting for them to adapt to battle. Times wait for no one after all."

"Okay."

Akira nodded and immediately went to fetch Ryouko and Hinami after giving Kiko a phone call.

In the meantime, Ray went to scout out for a dungeon with lower difficulty or preferably with less scary enemies like undead. It definitely won't bode well for Hinami. For Kiko, he doesn't think she will have that issue… He hopes, at least.

———

Three hours later, Ray lead the group to a hopefully easier dungeon, enemies and terrain wise. He had entered one and obtained gears in advance for the three newbies. As for Akira, he gives him the Orichalcum Armor instead because it's a direct upgrade to his previous one. Also his shield that Ray almost forgotten about.

"Okay. Just to remind you all once more. Stay behind Akira and me. Do not engage unless we allow it."

Ray reminded the three, especially Kiko, that somehow they look indignant that we are treating her like a child, being overly cautious or perhaps even more than that. This reaction from Ray and Akira isn't unwarranted as the dungeons are riddled with traps and who knows what trap could be hidden. Could be fire, poison dart, random teleportation, monster summon, etc.

The three nodded with Kiko giving an additional eye roll as Ray entered the corridor followed by everyone and Akira at the very back of the team.

"Waahh!!! What is that!"

Immediately, Kiko's piercing squeele can be heard when we encounter our first enemy. Conveniently the enemies were Slime.

The name of the dungeon were [Sewer]. Yes, just Sewer and nothing fancy attached.

"Those were Slimes, allowed to thrive in the sewer system because they kept the place clean."

"I am getting off topic…"

Ray sighed after realizing he was starting to unloading unnecessary information.

"Anyway, just break the core to kill it."

Ray explains while demonstrating by stabbing one with his singular Kagune that he partially released.

There were plenty of them in the sewer and thankfully didn't aggro until they were individually attacked. Perfect to get them started.

Kiko was easily able to do it, deploying her Bikaku and smashing a Slime along with its core into paste. Although, she is reluctant because the creature looks cute.

Hinami is the same and way worse that she wouldn't attack at all. Ray were helpless because he felt it is bad to force her to kill not out of her choice.

Ryouko were the best of the three. She do show reluctant but understand that Ray didn't told them to kill senselessly. This is for their benefits and especially for her goal to get stronger to give Hinami a peaceful life where she didn't need to fight to live another day.

With exception of Hinami, the two show great progress and adaptability to hunting monster, gaining few levels after clearing the entire stage.

For Kiko, she used her skill points on [Combo] and [Unarmed Combat Mastery]. Choosing the brawler style since she is quite proficient with her fist. She also equipped with a knuckleduster that we found.

For Ryouko, Ray have to take time and sit down to explain those skills to her one by one. In the end, she choose [Light Healing] and [Shield Mastery]. Intending to be a support and also a defender as fighting simply isn't her forte and Ray respect her choice even when he actually wanted her to take a more offensive role as Akira already filled in the Tank role.

———

"Hmn… it's boring. Same wall and hallway everywhere we go. The air stink and stale… Is this what you have to endure everytimes you enter a dungeon, Ray?"

Kiko said with both hands behind her head in a lax manner. Hinami couldn't help but nod as her nose scrunched when reminded about the environment. She also look back at Kiko with resentment for reminding her about the foul air.

"Is it? Felt normal to me. I mean, I had been crawling in sewer even back at Tokyo to bypass Hunters patrol to go to places."

Ray replied as he and Akira is thinning the Big Slimes numbers which is quite dangerous for the others in large number once they start dogpiling and suffocating someone. Akira's [Lightning Smite] is great at killing crowd of Big Slimes.

"Eww…" Kiko responded

Hinami however were enamored with magic showcased by Akira and somehow being the push she needed to start killing monster.

After the number thinned down, Ray and Akira let the three fight the Big Slimes. Limiting to one on one battle to reduce the danger.

For Ryouko, although she chosen the role of a support and tank. She refused using sword because she didn't have the knack for it. Instead given a mace paired with a wooden buckler. She easily smashed the core of the Big Slimes but made a mess while doing so, splashing slimes all around her and herself. Making quite a scene. Thankfully the fluid isn't corrosive…

Hinami being the most difficult one to get a suitable weapon. The weapon's weight isn't an issue as Ghoul were strong. But her small body make most weapon available, unwieldy for her size. She had been using a mace just like her mother from the start.

Looking at a little girl smashing slime into pulp with a mace almost her own height with a pair of glowing red eyes felt wrong in a wrong way.

At the peddler shop, Ray bought a weapon that would suit her, a javelin. Originally a throwing weapon, basically a short throwing spear but the size is perfect for her small build.

Anyway, after spending majority of their time at the second stage. Almost 3 hours alternating between fighting and resting, all three of them manage to reach LV 10.

Ray and Akira also gained a level or two because being at higher level didn't diminish the EXP gained. Just the amount needed will be greater with each level up and requires more time to level up in comparison to fighting enemies their own level.

Also, they found another Magic Pouch in the treasure chest after killing the Mini Boss which Ray give to Akira.

In the peddler shop, Kiko found a pair of Steel Gauntlet which she bought to replace the Knuckleduster.

They didn't continue to the third stage because of the steep difficulty curve as the third stage enemies now have variations. Some have corrosive fluid, wield element and disguising as terrain to ambush.

Besides, Ryouko and Hinami were exhausted as they aren't used to such strenuous activity and battles unlike Kiko who are experienced in battle while hunting for Human and territory dispute with other Ghouls.

———

Upon returning, everyone crashed at Akira's place.

Ray cooked a meal with ingredients acquired from dungeon which is simple steak glazed with honey and berry sauce. As strange as it sound, making savory food sweet, it worked and everyone happily devour it with dried crackers from the rations.

Everyone have a blissful expression as they eat with made Ray felt satisfied that his dish appeased everyone. Though, Kiko's face turn sour.

"You! How could you give Hinami, Ryouko and Akira these delicious food but not me?"

Instantly Ray remembered that he indeed gave everyone the Ration to taste except her.

Well, in his defence. Ray and Kiko isn't that close that they meet only when hunting. Outside of it, they never meet each other and kinda forgotten about her.

"Sorry… Too many things happening lately and it slipped my mind."

Ray apologized while laughing sheepishly and gave her a Dwarven pastry that are stuffed with meat stew inside. Her pouting face instantly turn into a smile as she accepted his apology. He also didn't fail to notice the slightly envious look Hinami is giving Kiko when she received the Dwarven pastry.

"Here, this for doing a great job today."

Ray gave Hinami a small bowl filled with berry.

When everyone is happy and satisfied, Ray brought up the matter of future dungeon diving.

"So, from today onwards. We will be entering dungeon daily to raise your levels, 6 hours a day at minimum."

"Also, if possible. We will try to get the three of you to LV 30 in a week."

Looking at their face of confidence, I can tell they probably think it's easy because they can get to LV 10 in just one day. There no use in crushing their confidence. So, Ray let it be and look to Akira.

"Hmn?"

Akira grunted when noticed Ray is looking at him.

"I need your help to buy some equipment."

"Sure."

Akira accepted readily. Then Ray list down the equipment he need to melting metal which he will need to melt the gold coins.

Ray find that selling melted gold is easier than coins which will garner attention from their uniqueness.

Akira left with Ryouko and Hinami, sending them home before going to find the equipment Ray needed. Kiko also return home after Ray told her to get some rest as tomorrow they will start their grind in the dungeon.

Now alone, he wonder if he should enter another dungeon or hunting Ghoul. He choose the latter one and decided he should go to Ota district. Being a warzone between Ghoul and Hunters, chaos bring opportunity for him to snag prey without rousing much suspicion which will be write off as toll of the battle.

Ray heard from Akira that the battle didn't happen only at night as it extends even into morning. The people had mostly been evacuated by the law enforcement under Washuu clan's payroll probably.

Boarding a train to the neighbouring district, Ray sneak through the barricades at the edge of the district using Invisibility potion and once he open the map, he instantly found not just hundred but thousands of Ghouls were in the area, fighting against Hunters. Though, at the surface. The place was peacefully and mostly deserted except CCG camp and tents nearing the edge which is the HQ for the Hunters.

This were not what was shown on his map which have Ghouls and Hunters actively encountering each other. Then, the only logical answer would be the battle taken place below ground.

Finding the nearest manhole, Ray slip into the underground tunnel system for sewage and storm drainage. Immediately, he can hear sound of gunfire and clashing echoing to his ears which mean the source of the sound isn't far from him.

Following the sound, Ray found three Hunters being ganged by five Ghouls but the Hunter is on the winning side as one of the Hunter is very strong that three Ghoul are needed to occupy him.

Wordlessly, Ray equipped his Assassin's Blade and activate the Cloak of Shadows to sneak up on the Ghouls and manage to decapitate one and cut one deep into his spine but the swing lost it's momentum to decapitate.

The confusion caused the Ghoul to fall into disarray and the Hunters retaliate once the chance is given and killed the remaining three.

The Hunters saw Ray using a weapon instead of Kagune and thought him as one of their own despite his clothes aren't similar.

"Thank you for your assist. But which team are you from?"

The captain of the team extended his hand for a handshake and asked. His subordinates to his left opened his mouth.

"Maybe he is from another division? I heard the division leader asked the border guard division to reinforce our rank."

"Really?"

The captain turned to Ray and asked. But Ray lowered his head and suddenly vanished into thin air before the captain suddenly had a blade sticking out above his heart.

"Agghh!!!"

"Captain!" x2

The subordinates both attacked where Ray reappeared but their Quinque blade seems to phase through his body that dissipates into a mist and one of them also gets stabbed and heart gouged by the same blade that killed their captain.

After Ray finished the last one with a clean slit to the neck, he cut open the corpse of the Ghoul and devoured their Kakuhou to replenish his RC cells that were almost fully depleted during the fight with the six agents. Then he picks up each Quinque to eat them.

*Crunch*

*Crunch*

*Crunch*

…

…

"Feels like biting through hard candy… didn't taste like one though."

Ray commented before taking the clothes of the Hunter that he purposely didn't damage or stain and put it on as his disguise.

His hunt continues as he wanders through the tunnels and simultaneously mapping the place out while devouring more Kakuhou and Quinque.

———

"Sir! We are losing contact with two more teams!"

"What?! That's like eight teams in less than an hour!"

The commanding officer of this operation was pulling his hair off seeing the casualties suddenly skyrocketed.

"Could it be that the Aogiri Tree is sending out their commander?"

An officer pitches in his guess as they see the commanders of Aogiri Tree during the start of the conflict, three powerful Ghoul coming out under the sun and declaring war before annexing the Ota district.

"It doesn't matter for now. Order everyone to act in groups of six. Merging two teams into one. We must hold the ground until reinforcements arrive. As long as we can field the Special Class Hunter squad, we can control the situation."

"Yes sir."

The officer nodded and relayed the commander's order to their Hunters battling underground.

———

"You find the corpses of our mens with their Kakuhou stripped?"

The scout nodded as he looked back at his commander who stared back at him oddly.

"What's unusual with that? We both know those Hunters will harvest our Kakuhou to manufacture their weapon."

"Not just that… What made me suspicious is that the Ghouls and Hunter's corpse were always found together. Ghouls have their Kakuhou dug out and the Hunters have their Quinque missing. I suspect…"

"A cannibal?"

"Yes."

"Hmn… Pass my order to Noro. Tell him to investigate and hunt down this interloper."

The girl in a cloak bandaged like mummies told the scout who immediately nodded and ran to deliver the order. The girl mused in the underground compound overlooking hundreds of Aogiri Tree soldiers in maroon cloak and a skull mask either treating injured soldiers or deploying into the tunnel.

"A Ghoul that knows how to achieve Kakuja… Interesting… Interesting indeed. Hehehe…"

———

"Thank y- bu. Guh…"

Ray killed the sole survivor of another Hunter squad after he dispatched the Ghouls and lowered the Hunter's guard. Quickly Ray dug out the Kakuhou and picked up the Quinque into his inventory before he fled.

Obviously, his action will not remain silent for long and both sides already noticed him. The Hunters now form a larger group and the Ghouls are actually hunting him down. But this hardly bothers him as it makes hunting quicker and easier for him.

What scared him is actually the icon similar to a Mini Boss appeared on the map and was actually roaming the tunnel right now. He didn't dare to get close at all and had been evading it, staying at least a hundred meters away from the icon on his Map.

Besides, Ray already gathered six dozen Kakuhou and 28 Quinque in his inventory. He stocked quite a lot and could leave this place anytime he wanted but decided to stay because this is a rare opportunity to gather Kakuhou and Quinque. But this will become his folly later.

Another twenty minutes of cat and mouse game in the tunnels, evading the Mini Boss icon. The icon suddenly stopped moving for a while before moving straight into the Hunter's territory of control in the east.

Ray took this chance to slip into the Aogiri Tree area on the west side. He swapped his disguise for Aogiri Tree members and followed until they encountered a group of Hunters. Ten against six, both sides fought earnestly while Ray pretended to fight before once again being surprised to attack both sides and reaping the rewards.

When he opened Map to check for enemies position, he saw the Mini Boss icon were just a dozen meters away from him, making Ray turn his head at breakneck speed only to find a thick red claw-like kagune slammed into his body like being run over by a train. His body smashed into the wall and smashed through another five.

"Kah! Haah…"

Ray coughed out blood from having his rib and sternum smashed into his lungs and caved in. He desperately tried to inhale but without a functioning lung and an unclogged airway, he couldn't breathe at all.

Everything happened so suddenly, he couldn't react at all. He hadn't even registered the pain as he was busy suffocating to death until his regeneration kicked in and started fixing that pile of mess that is his chest.

The Mini Boss marched closer with thirty subordinates behind him which dispersed and left only ten to carry the corpse of their fallen back along with the Hunters.

Noro silently stares at Ray behind his mask as if contemplating what he should do. His Kagune soon aimed at Ray before attacking again, this time to deliver the finisher. But Ray is also too stubborn to die, his Kagune becomes alive as if they have their own mind that attacked Noro and deflected his Kagune.

Ray managed to get his lungs pumping air again although his ribs and sternum were still smashed. But this is enough, he vomited out blood that blocked his throat and shoved a Healing Potion into his mouth before chugging it. His injury healed almost instantaneously and immediately sprung back up to fend himself against Noro and his ten subordinates that dropped the bodies for a fight.

Although his body was fully healed to a pristine state, Ray's mind was still in a confused haze and clouded by the thought of almost dying. He knew well he cannot stay here, 11 against 1 and one of them was incredibly strong.

Noro suddenly charged ahead and covered a distance of more than 20 meters in a split second. His arm extended out to swing a punch.

Ray quickly surrounded his kagune in front of him to block the incoming attack but was instead tricked when the punch didn't impact his makeshift shield and instead got kneaded by a rising punch into his gut, slamming into another wall again by his opponent's immense strength.

"Guh!"

*Crash*

Ray vomited his bile that burst out his mouth.

In a desperate attempt, he casted [Smoke Bomb] on Noro to blind him temporarily and followed by [Shadow Clone] before he made a run for it. He can feel the gap in strength and skill between him and Noro, there is no way he can win in such an unprepared state especially when there are ten more Ghouls coming after him.

"What? There are three of him!"

The three clones all run into different directions while Ray activates his Cloak of Shadow.

One of the Ghoul barked at the others. "After him quick! Don't let him escape!"

Ray made his escape, guided by the Map to the nearest exit.

———

Ten minutes later, Ray was carefully sneaking around the exits, looking for one that isn't guarded but almost all were guarded heavily. He was at his wits end.

The only few that aren't well guarded were directly in the heart of both sides. He took his bet and chose the Hunters base because, while he was invisible, his footsteps and smell etc. Can still be detected and Ghoul have superior senses while Hunters are still Human that are mostly trained to human limit.

When he entered the Hunter's base, he noticed very few people here except a few that were guarding this place. The exit is a maintenance shaft for these tunnels.

Ray waited for a few minutes for someone to exit or enter so he could tag along and a group did appear. The group were leaving and most of them had sustained injury, probably retreating to get medical treatment.

Ray followed close behind them and soon left the underground tunnels. He entered the Hunter's base of operations and then brought up his Map to navigate his way out of this place.

On his way out, his Cloak of Shadows ran out of charges and he had to switch to his limited supply of Invisibility potion.

Not to self, have to get more Invisibility potion.

Then he ran into a group of four Hunters that stood out from everyone else. Wearing a pure white trench coat, white hair, wearing glasses and carrying black briefcase. One of them in particular had a black briefcase that was lined with gold on the edges.

All of them look… like similar. Not quite to the clone level but close to siblings. Like all of them have the same characteristics. White hair and gray eyes. It's very uncanny.

They were walking toward his direction which made him shiver like a prey meeting a predator. Ray quickly stood close to the wall and let them pass.

The group walked with an unhurried stride, getting closer and closer to Ray when the lead suddenly stopped and his eyes glanced towards the invisible Ray.

Suddenly, the black briefcase lined with gold turned into a gunmetal gray rapier and stabbed the wall a few inches away from Ray's head.

"Hmn, I must be imagining…"

The Hunter said and returned his Quinque into the briefcase.

"Something wrong, Captain?"

His teammates asked. But the captain replied by shaking his head and continuing walking to the entrance to the underground tunnels.

Meanwhile, Ray almost had a heart attack and escaped as fast as he could the moment the group disappeared from his sight. He was holding back his breath in panic because the second the captain activated his Quinque, he got a ping from his Map and the icon that appeared was Mini Boss icon for not just the captain but every single one in the group. 4 Mini Boss level enemies.

Unlike the dungeon, the only Mini Boss from outside the dungeon he encountered is Noro and that Ghoul is a lot stronger than Mini Boss from the dungeon that easily handed him his own ass.

Needless to say, Ray ran like a bitch after he got out of the enemy's base and hid inside a dungeon corridor where he felt the safest for the remainder of the evening.

If there is anything that could cheer him up in this situation. It's his Kakuja almost fully formed. He ate through all the Quinque and Kakuhou he obtained when seeing the progress bar were almost full in PIP Menu.

The Kakuhou sac was behind his shoulder blade which made it a Koukaku type kagune. When it was activated, the first part became armor which looked like large rib bones covering from below his neck to his waist and the second part covered his arms with the left arm having thicker carapace as if it was meant for defending.

Unlike his Rinkaku Kagune, the Kakuja still look very fleshy on the underside of the arms. Clearly means it still needs more RC cells to get stronger and harder. Only the rib-like armor has a metallic look to it as if most of the RC cells were concentrated there.

Ray had a theory for this as Kagune is an extension of a Ghoul body and thus adheres to instinct. Perhaps having his rib and sternum smashed earlier make him unconsciously want a better protection, thus the rib-like armor.

This made him wonder too, could he influence or change the shape of his kagune then? If his thoughts and instincts can influence his Kakuja into focusing on the armor part based on the trauma he received.

Ray has time to kill and needs something to occupy his mind from his near death experience today. So, he stayed in the corridor and tested his hypothesis. He spent quite some time and managed to alter his Kagune slightly.

In the experiment he managed to inflate, deflate, extend and shorten his Rinkaku Kagune. It is apparently possible but the bigger the changes, the harder it is to change. For example, he wants to turn the kagune into spider-like limbs but only manages to deflate his kagune into a denser and harder limb.

After staying long enough, Ray returned to Akira's place and stayed for the night because tomorrow morning they will start training in the dungeon.

—————

(Is there anyone who know Tokyo Ghoul well? I need help explaining to me the relationship between V, CCG and Washuu Clan. The wiki and fandom didn't explain much. Reddit didn't have much information either.)