Panic surged through me as the sound of heavy footsteps echoed from the halls outside. I could feel my heartbeat thudding in my chest, but I forced myself to stay calm. This was exactly what he wanted—to corner us, to make us panic. We couldn't give him the satisfaction.
"We need to move," I said urgently, my voice low. "They've got us trapped. We need to get out of here."
Kaneki was already moving toward the door, his hands clenched into fists. "It's not just about escaping. We need to stop him. We need to find a way to take him down."
I turned to face the man, whose figure was now silhouetted by the emergency lights. "What did you do to us?"
"I told you," he said, his voice echoing around the room. "I'm not worried. The trap is already set. And you're all too late."
In a blur of motion, the walls around us shifted. There was a metallic screech as hidden panels slid open, revealing rows of armed guards—each one wearing the same eerie mask as the hunters we'd fought before.
"More of your toys?" Touka spat, her kagune bursting into life.
"They're not toys," the man replied. "They're soldiers. My soldiers. The ones who will ensure that you don't make it out of here alive."
The sound of weapons loading filled the air, and I could feel the pressure mounting. We were outnumbered and outgunned. But we had one thing they didn't—our will to fight. We weren't going to let them take us down without a fight.
"Get ready!" I shouted, my voice rising above the noise.
The battle erupted as the doors to the command room were breached, and a flood of guards poured in. Guns were raised, blades gleaming in the dim light, but we didn't hesitate.
Touka, her kagune slashing through the air with deadly precision, cut down the first wave of attackers. Kaneki, his eyes glowing with a dangerous hunger, tore through their ranks with brutal efficiency.
Rize grinned, her mask a sinister reflection of her bloodlust. "This is what we've been waiting for."
I charged forward, taking down the first few guards with quick, calculated moves. My body moved on instinct, my thoughts focused on survival. We couldn't afford to lose here. Not now.
But as we fought, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched—manipulated. The man's voice echoed in my mind, his words twisting into something darker.
This was no longer just a fight for survival.
This was war.