Because Eto's action was so sudden, Byakuya almost instinctively activated his intangibility.
However, his reflexes were sharp. Sensing no hostility, he ultimately refrained from using it.
Even though her lips had only touched for the briefest moment, it still left Byakuya deeply shaken.
And everyone in the café — Yoshimura, Yomo, and the others—had witnessed it.
"Whoa!"
Roma exclaimed in surprise.
Yoshimura was stunned for a moment before he smiled in satisfaction.
However, he felt this was the limit—any further, and it would be too much.
Yomo glanced at Yoshimura, noticing that he showed no signs of displeasure. It was clear now—Byakuya was destined to be the son-in-law of the Yoshimura family.
Koma and Irimi exchanged knowing smiles.
Minami shyly covered her eyes with her hands, but her eyes were visible from the gap between her middle finger and ring finger.
"If only I could be like that with Arima" she thought to herself, her face turning even redder as she imagined the scene.
Byakuya and Eto's sudden display had momentarily eased the tense atmosphere in the café.
At that moment, Byakuya's pupils trembled slightly. "Why so suddenly…?"
"Maybe I'm overthinking things. But what if we never get another chance?"
Eto's sharp gaze met Byakuya's directly. "So, while we still have the time, I'll do what I want to do."
After what had happened last time—though it turned out to be a misunderstanding—the impact on her had been significant.
"You're overthinking it. I can guarantee you—I will never fall."
Byakuya's voice was firm, full of absolute confidence.
"Don't make bold claims. Either way, I'm coming with you this time. No more running off on your own."
Eto declared stubbornly.
Byakuya wasn't just boasting—his mastery of Kamui and access to the system's store made him nearly invincible in this world. And in the next world—Attack on Titan—his dominance would be even more unquestionable.
"Alright, I'll listen to you."
Byakuya's expression softened.
If things had gone differently last time, he wouldn't have wanted to see Eto hurt.
"By the way… was that your first?"
Eto suddenly asked out of nowhere.
"Of course it was…"
She was clearly asking if that had been his first time receiving such a gesture, making Byakuya feel a little awkward.
Not just in this world—he had never experienced anything like that even before reincarnating.
"It was my first too~"
Eto playfully touched her lips with her fingertip, a delighted smile spreading across her face.
But just then—
The ground suddenly shook violently, as if a massive earthquake had struck.
Inside the Anteiku café, tables and chairs trembled, chandeliers and ceiling fans swayed dangerously, and cracks even began appearing in the floor.
Byakuya immediately understood—
The Dragon of the Underground had awakened.
"The battle has begun!"
Byakuya said in a deep voice.
Eto reached out and grabbed his hand, as if reminding him of his promise.
Of course, Byakuya hadn't forgotten.
"Stay safe."
Yoshimura said to them.
Byakuya nodded.
"You all take care too."
Eto added.
Then, in an instant, they vanished.
Through Kamui, Byakuya transported himself and Eto to the very top of Tokyo Skytree, overlooking the entire city.
From this vantage point, and with his Mangekyō Sharingan, he could analyze the battlefield with maximum efficiency.
At the same time, it was time to allocate his stat points.
[Ding! Points successfully allocated!
Physique Strength +50
RC Cell Count +1000
Attribute Points -1500]
With a battle of this scale looming, Byakuya needed to be in peak condition.
Especially since he had to complete the task of awakening his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan — one requirement being to slay The Dragon using his Susanoo in its Tengu form.
Without enough RC Cells, he wouldn't even be able to summon that form, let alone sustain it.
But now… it was time to test it out.
Physique Strength: 170
RC Cells: 500 (Storage: +3000)
His stats were now at a level where he could go all out.
And just as he finished his preparations—
The Dragon emerged from underground.
The first to suffer its wrath was, of course, the 24th Ward's underground labyrinth.
Fortunately, Byakuya had already ordered all ghouls in the 24th Ward to evacuate to the surface.
Weaker ghouls had been allowed to retreat from Tokyo under the CCG's supervision.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
From beneath the earth, massive serpent-like tendrils burst forth, their sheer scale enough to leave anyone breathless.
These colossal serpents coiled around every structure in their path. If there were no buildings, they simply lay sprawled across the streets.
Even Tokyo Skytree was not spared.
The Dragon's tendrils coiled around the tower, slithering ever upward—its goal seemingly to constrict the entire structure.
The ground cracked and trembled like a devastating earthquake. If not for the 24th Ward's extensive kagune-reinforced walls, Tokyo might have collapsed entirely from the Dragon's emergence.
Standing atop Tokyo's tallest structure, Byakuya and Eto had the best possible vantage point to witness the overwhelming destruction firsthand.
It was just like Kaneki's dragon transformation in the original timeline.
After all, Kaneki had also been underground when he ascended to the throne of the One-Eyed King and lived deep within the 24th Ward.
But Byakuya wasn't here to spectate.
His Sharingan scanned the battlefield, trying to pinpoint The Dragon's core.
Its body was far too massive to find the core easily—this would take time.
Meanwhile, Dragon Toxin began spreading through the air, and soon enough—
The Dragon's spawn, the orphans, started to manifest.
These creatures were literally formed from The Dragon's own cells. As long as The Dragon remained alive, they would continue to multiply endlessly.
Finally—
Byakuya locked onto the suspected core.
"Time to move!"
He grabbed Eto's hand tightly—
And leaped straight into the chaos below.