On Top of the Food Chain

The moon had appeared in the sky, the dark sky was visible over the bustling market street below. Kazuki, Rika, Endo, and Eiji stood on the rooftop, their eyes fixed on a single figure moving through the crowd.

The person wore dark clothes and a hood, blending seamlessly into the throng of people. This was Isao, an Active Ghoul who hunted alone unlike most Ghouls, devouring humans almost daily.

Kazuki broke the silence, his voice tentative. "I have a question."

Rika turned to look at him, her hair catching the evening light. "What is it?"

"Why did we come here to get Shoda? You guys could have killed a random thug here, or even back in Nantan."

Rika sighed, her gaze shifting back to the street. "Truth be told, I don't know. Ever since I can remember, my dad made sure we only killed the worst of humans with our hands." She took a deep breath, the wind playing with her hair.

"Even when I tried to become an Active Ghoul, I never actually enjoyed that meat. Killing someone powerful, someone rotten to the core, it gives you a different kind of euphoria."

She paused, her expression conflicted. "I don't always agree with my dad's ideology of being passive, but at the same time, I do. It's a conflict."

Endo chuckled softly. "I still remember when she was at the peak of her puberty, she was a die-hard Ghoulist."

"What's a Ghoulist?" Kazuki asked, curious. Rika trying to become an Active Ghoul also caught him by surprise.

Endo explained, "Just like Nationalists, LGBTQ Activists, or Religion Activists, Ghoulists are Ghouls or humans who believe in the Ghoul first ideology. They're fanatics who seek chaos, and most Ghoul gangs are built on this ideology."

Kazuki nodded, absorbing the information. The street below was a cacophony of sounds and sights, with vendors shouting their wares and people milling about. Despite the noise, the tension on the rooftop was palpable.

"He's making his move," Eiji said, his voice low but urgent.

They all turned their attention back to Isao. He was now walking next to a person, his arm wrapped around their neck. His other hand was under his jacket, likely showing a gun to intimidate the victim. They watched as Isao guided the person into a back alley, away from the bustling crowd.

"Are we gonna intervene?" Kazuki asked, his voice tense.

"Why would we do that?" Rika responded, her tone nonchalant. "We're here to give you some fighting experience. Getting some human meat would be a plus, no?"

Kazuki gulped, his eyes fixed on the Ghoul and his prey below. The realization of what Rika meant weighed heavily on him.

"Guys, wear your masks," Endo instructed, pulling out a black polyester face mask and a matching cap.

Eiji donned a white mask with a slit for his eyes, adorned with intricate flower designs in glittering gold.

Rika also wore a cyan-themed polyester mask with an oni imprint, pulling up her hood as well.

Kazuki followed suit, taking out his ski mask. "Endo, I thought you had a cool mask."

"Yeah, I did. I broke it when I was out with Eiji. I'll tell you later."

Their attention shifted back to their target. In the dim alley below, Isao shoved his victim against the wall, gripping their collar tightly. The victim's eyes were wide with fear, their body trembling. Isao leaned in, his expression predatory.

"Oh, I forgot, Kazuki, take this. It will help with the smell," Rika said, rummaging through her pockets. She pulled out a spherical pill in plastic packaging. "It will help you—" She abruptly stopped, her eyes widening.

The smell of Ghoul blood hit her nostrils. She looked down at the alley. The prey stood there with a glowing dagger in hand, while the Ghoul knelt on the ground, clutching his torso as blood splattered on the pavement.

The prey was no prey, it was a Poacher, into whose trap Isao had fallen.

"Shit, it's a Poacher," Rika whispered urgently. "We need to get out of here. Now."

Endo and Eiji nodded, but Kazuki remained at the edge of the roof, staring intently at the bleeding Ghoul and the Poacher.

"Kazuki!" Rika called out.

Kazuki turned to face her. With the wind blowing his hair and the ski mask in his hand, he exuded a primal aura of predatory power. His eyes glowed with a menacing red hue, the sclera of his eyes was turning black, and his face was a mask of sheer coldness. A small horn made out of his red Aura had also protruded on the side of his forehead. He looked like the devil incarnate.

The cold gaze in Kazuki’s eyes was new to Rika. The always empathic Kazuki, even at his lowest, had never looked like this. Today, even Rika felt a tingle of unease.

"Shit," she muttered, feeling a shiver run down her spine.

***

The moon hung high in the sky, casting a silvery glow over the quiet street. Junpei stood in front of Kazuki's parents' office, a modest building with an unassuming facade. The air was still, and the only sound was the soft rustling of leaves in the night breeze.

Junpei placed the tip of his finger on the door lock, feeling the cold metal beneath his skin. He focused, allowing his aura to flow into the lock, like water seeking an escape. His aura molded effortlessly into the shape of the key, and with a slight twist of his finger, the lock clicked open. He pushed the door open and slipped inside, the door closing silently behind him.

Inside, the office was dimly lit by the moonlight streaming through the windows. Junpei moved cautiously, his footsteps barely making a sound on the wooden floor. The space was small, and cluttered with papers and office supplies. Two cabins stood at the back, their doors closed.

Junpei entered the first cabin, scanning the room. A large almirah dominated one corner, its presence imposing. The air was thick with a faint, familiar scent—Ghoulish, just as Kazuki had told him.

Kazuki must have already sensed that his parents were somehow connected to Ghouls, having felt the bloodlust in this place for the first time. However, he was likely subconsciously denying it.

Junpei's eyes narrowed as he approached the almirah. The smell was strongest here. He opened the almirah, finding it filled with mundane objects—files, papers, and formal clothes. But the scent persisted, stronger now. Junpei took a deep breath, closing his eyes to focus on the source of the smell. It was coming from behind the almirah.

With one hand, Junpei easily moved the heavy almirah aside, revealing a hidden door. The scent of ghoul blood intensified, almost overwhelming in its intensity. He reached for the door, feeling the cold, smooth texture of the door knob beneath his fingers.