24th Ward, Underground World.
Although, on the surface, the CCG had continuously dispatched investigation teams to explore the 24th Ward, in reality, it was nothing more than a formality.
No one understood the 24th Ward's situation and origins better than the Washuu Clan.
The Washuu members who had escaped from the CCG; Washuu Tsuneyoshi, Washuu Yoshitoki, and a group of high-ranking Washuu officials had fled to what they considered the safest location: the deepest part of the 24th Ward.
The deepest part of the 24th Ward was no longer a winding labyrinth but an underground world.
Most of "Aogiri Tree's" combat forces were out expanding their influence, and with the Washuu Clan's natural-born kakuja abilities, making their way through the labyrinth to this underground world was no challenge.
"We've finally arrived… Tokyo of the past..."
The first to set foot here was Washuu Tsuneyoshi. Looking at the vast city before him, he couldn't help but sigh.
However, this city had long since lost all signs of life, it was nothing but ruins.
Yet, the buildings still maintained a modern architectural style.
A massive, monstrous entity sprawled across the landscape, its snake-like segmented body covering large portions of the streets and buildings.
But the creature remained motionless, seemingly in a deep slumber. The entire city was deathly silent.
That's right, this was Tokyo.
Or rather, what had once been Tokyo.
When the Washuu Clan's first One-Eyed King underwent "Dragonization," it nearly destroyed the entire city. The Washuu Clan's solution was to drive the One-Eyed King underground.
In other words, they buried the entire city, turning it into a "ruin" concealed beneath the earth.
Before Amon Koutarou killed him, the "Priest," Donato Porpora, had once said that after becoming the Third-Generation Clown King, he committed countless atrocities and never cared how many people he killed.
That was because humanity possessed an astonishing ability to regenerate. No matter how many people died or how many cities were destroyed, given enough time, everything could be rebuilt.
The ruins of the former Tokyo, now lying deep within the 24th Ward, and the Tokyo that stood aboveground today, both served as living proof of the Priest's words.
"Uchiha Byakuya, Arima Kishou... they never showed any signs of betrayal all this time."
Beside him, Washuu Yoshitoki frowned and spoke in a low voice, "Especially Byakuya, his kakuja form bears an uncanny resemblance to Aogiri Tree's One-Eyed King. This is no mere coincidence..."
Back then, the first One-Eyed King had betrayed the Washuu Clan and nearly wiped them out.
And now, another "One-Eyed King" had completely shattered their rule.
In truth, the first One-Eyed King had been far too gentle. Even after losing control and undergoing "Dragonization," he had still hesitated to kill his own kin.
Otherwise, with the power of the "Dragon," he could have utterly annihilated the Washuu Clan.
But this new "One-Eyed King" was different; he had obliterated V, which they had nurtured for so long, in an instant.
With the tide completely turned against them, their only choice was to flee here.
"There's only one option left; to use the power of the One-Eyed King to defeat the One-Eyed King."
"The first One-Eyed King should have died long ago, but the Dragon's body wouldn't have decayed so quickly. The Dragon cells should still retain some level of activity."
"Let's hope this works... Otherwise, we'll never have a chance to rise again..."
"..."
The Washuu members behind Washuu Yoshitoki began murmuring among themselves.
Upon hearing this, Washuu Yoshitoki suddenly sensed that something was wrong.
"What do you mean by this? Are you suggesting… bringing the 'Dragon' back to the surface?"
He couldn't help but ask.
"That's right. After all, we share the same bloodline as the First One-Eyed King. As long as we possess the Washuu bloodline and kagune, we can awaken the 'Dragon'."
"This is the only countermeasure we can think of at the moment. Otherwise, are we supposed to hide here for the rest of our lives?"
"Yoshitoki, we understand that this might be difficult for you to accept given your personality, but you must consider the interests of the entire clan."
Hearing his fellow clansmen's words, Washuu Yoshitoki's expression became deeply conflicted.
They weren't wrong.
The enormous entity known as the "Dragon", a being large enough to engulf nearly all of Tokyo, was powered by the core of the First One-Eyed King.
Now that the First One-Eyed King was dead, the "Dragon" had lost its energy supply. However, it would still take at least two hundred years for it to naturally dissipate.
Yet, if someone carrying the Washuu bloodline provided it with energy once more, the "Dragon" could be reawakened.
But that would also mean Tokyo would once again face the same catastrophe as before. Countless humans and ghouls alike would perish in the disaster.
Among the Washuu Clan, Washuu Yoshitoki and his son, Washuu Matsuri, were among the few who could be considered somewhat normal.
Washuu Yoshitoki couldn't bear the thought of causing such devastation.
"The minority must obey the majority. There's no need for further discussion."
At that moment, Washuu Tsuneyoshi spoke.
"Understood..."
Since the most authoritative figure, Washuu Tsuneyoshi, had made the decision, Washuu Yoshitoki had no choice but to comply.
"First, we need to locate the 'Dragon's' core."
Since this underground world was once Tokyo, its size was nearly equivalent to the Tokyo above. Finding the "Dragon's" core within such a vast space would not be an easy task.
Just as the Washuu members were about to split up and search, they suddenly spotted a figure in the distance.
"There's actually someone here? Could they be a survivor from back then?"
Washuu Yoshitoki exclaimed in surprise.
He immediately gave chase.
As he drew closer, he saw that it was a young girl, no older than a child. She was dressed in simple, worn robes.
Upon sensing Washuu Yoshitoki's approach, the girl immediately became alert, treating him as a threat.
In the next instant, two scales-covered kagune shot out from her waist, lashing toward Washuu Yoshitoki.
However, Washuu Yoshitoki was a natural-born kakuja and was also armed with a quinque. Dealing with a young girl was effortless for him.
Within moments, he had captured her.
"I see… So she really is a human who survived back then. She must have inhaled the Dragon's toxic gas and turned into a ghoul..."
Holding the struggling girl firmly to prevent her from resisting, Washuu Yoshitoki muttered to himself.
One of the most terrifying aspects of the "Dragon" was that the gas it released could directly transform humans into ghouls.
Before the First One-Eyed King died, this underground world must have been filled with the toxic gas.
If there were people who had been buried underground along with the city back then, they would have all been transformed into ghouls.
At that moment, one of the Washuu members seemed ready to kill the young girl; after all, she had just attacked them with clear intent to kill.
The girl's face instantly turned deathly pale in fear, her eyes brimming with tears.
"Wait."
Washuu Yoshitoki stopped the man. "She might still be useful. She could lead us to where we need to go."