The immense wingspan stretched for seven to eight meters.
The wings displayed layers upon layers of texture, their feathers composed of flame-shaped, blood-red crystals.
The moment the wings unfurled, a torrent of flames erupted, shooting out in all directions.
Boom, boom, boom!
Explosions echoed continuously as colossal fireballs detonated one after another. In a flash, Bai Ye was surrounded by a sea of fire.
Bai Ye tilted his head. This thing was quite effective, wasn't it?
Normally, a ghoul's kagune wouldn't be this potent. It must have reacted with his Phoenix ability, leading to this mutated form. It was certainly an unexpected boon.
Bai Ye mused as he vaguely clenched his hand.
Current flowed through the ground around him, and then, influenced by electromagnetic force, the quinque that had fallen to the ground began to float towards Bai Ye.
Having secured his spoils, Bai Ye leaped directly towards the overpass below. Then, the giant wings on his back unfurled again, unleashing a wave of flames, giving no one an opportunity to approach.
And in that instant…
"White hair?" Bai Ye stood on the overpass, looking down and remarking, "Looks like I've found him."
Kaneki Ken's two defining features, white hair and an eyepatch, were quite recognizable.
Bai Ye thought, then flipped his body, intending to descend further and catch up to Kaneki Ken.
But at that moment…
"To know the profound principles of atmospheric flow, blessed by the spirit of the wind, Phoenix Gale Dawn Break!"
A chanted incantation suddenly rang out, drawing Bai Ye's attention upwards. He then saw a massive cyan magic circle appear above him.
The next instant…
A deluge of wind blades rained down, fiercely cleaving downwards.
Bai Ye looked up, unfazed. The wind blades continued to descend, relentlessly shredding the wings spread across his back.
As the crystal wings shattered, they dissolved into countless blood-red crystalline fragments that scattered, creating a dazzling spectacle.
Bai Ye's own body was also sliced by the wind blades, dispersing into arcs of electricity before re-aggregating, reforming his body.
A moment later, the wind blades subsided, the magic circle dissipated, 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 slight impression. I think I saw you at a hotel," Bai Ye said, patting his forehead. "Sorry, I don't usually pay much 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 moved, a thunderous roar erupted from behind her, shattering a section of the wall.
Bai Ye looked at Lan Qing and said, "You were fleeing in a panic back then, how dare you show your face again?"
Lan Qing looked up, licking her lips, "Because, this time, I'm not alone!"
"Shadow Manipulation!"
Behind Bai Ye, accompanied by the voice, a black shadow streaked across the ground and quickly latched onto Bai Ye's body.
Bai Ye attempted to twist his body, only to find that after the shadow connected to him, it exerted a force to manipulate his body. His movements became extremely difficult.
With considerable effort, Bai Ye managed to turn his body slightly. He then saw a man forming hand seals, his shadow stretching out into a long strip on the ground.
Bai Ye remarked, "A Japanese ninja?"
As Bai Ye finished speaking, a rush of wind came 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.
WHAM!
Bai Ye's body was sent flying like a cannonball, directly off the overpass and crashing into the wall beside it, shattering a section of the masonry.
The shadow manipulator grumbled, "Hey, what gives? I had him under control, and you just disrupted my Shadow Manipulation technique."
The man with the spiked club shrugged indifferently, "Who cares? Just beat the guy to death, that's all that matters."
Lan Qing interjected, "Quiet. That guy is strong. Don't underestimate him."
Meanwhile, Bai Ye, plastered against the wall, twisted his body and looked further down.
Kaneki Ken had already vanished.
"Annoying."
Bai Ye exerted force, breaking free from the wall.
"Can't you guys stop causing trouble when I'm busy with important matters…" Bai Ye growled, "…interfering!"
ZZZT!
A surge of electricity erupted, spreading outwards.
Seeing this, the trio quickly leaped away.
BOOM!
The electrical current struck the overpass, emitting a deafening sound before a section of the overpass was forcefully blown apart.
The next instant, Bai Ye's body suddenly blurred, rapidly transforming into a bolt of lightning that shot forward, reaching the man wielding the spiked club in the blink of an eye.
The man's eyes widened in alarm, and he immediately swung his spiked club at Bai Ye. But…
CRACK!
Bai Ye opened his palm, caught the spiked club, and squeezed.
The spiked club shattered, and Bai Ye then pressed a finger against the man's forehead.
ZZZZT!
A torrent of electricity erupted, instantly engulfing the man's body.
"Ahhh!"
The man screamed in agony as electricity coursed through him, his body trembling uncontrollably. He soon collapsed to his knees, head thrown back, his eyes rolled back until only the whites were visible.
The other man quickly formed hand seals, his shadow rapidly extending forward, intending to control Bai Ye once more.
However, Bai Ye had already fallen for this trick once and would not be fooled a second time!
ZZZT!
Before the shadow could reach him, Bai Ye suddenly vanished, only to reappear moments later.
This time, he appeared behind his opponent.
"Your shadow's movement speed…" Bai Ye raised his Thunder Fang Beast and swept it out, "…can it be faster than lightning?"
SPLAT!
Blood spattered!
The Thunder Fang Beast sliced through the opponent's neck, and a head flew into the air, tumbling.
Seeing this, Lan Qing immediately turned to flee.
She knew Bai Ye was strong, having had a brief encounter with him before.
However, Lan Qing had never imagined Bai Ye was this powerful. The help she had brought was completely useless.
But…
As Lan Qing turned, a current of electricity flashed past her. Bai Ye then materialized in front of her.
Bai Ye always preferred to nip problems in the bud. Letting Lan Qing escape last time was already a miscalculation, so…
How could he let her escape a second time?
"Magic Missile…"
Lan Qing hastily raised her hand, attempting to cast a spell, but…
Bai Ye was faster!
Before the magic missile could form, a surge of electricity pierced Lan Qing's throat.
…