Broken and defeated, Kaneki lies at Arima’s mercy. But the Reaper stays his hand, intrigued by something he sees. Kaneki is dragged away instead of killed, and Anteiku’s survivors are left to wonder if he is dead or worse. Being taken alive might be a worse fate for Kaneki than death.
Kaneki walks away from the battlefield carrying more than wounds. He carries the truth about Arima, about the CCG, about everything. The lies are finished. What comes next is up to him. Kaneki walking away with the truth sets up a fascinating future.
Kaneki learns of the threat to Anteiku, and for the first time since leaving, his cold mask cracks. The people he walked away to protect are in danger because of him. He has a choice to make, and not much time to make it. Kaneki’s mask cracking, even briefly, speaks volumes about his true feelings.
Arima moves like death itself, cutting down ghouls without effort. Kaneki watches, realizing the gap between them. But he cannot run, not with his friends behind him. He steps forward to face the Reaper alone. You understand immediately why every ghoul fears the name Arima.
Word of Kaneki’s capture spreads, and his friends scramble for a way to find him. Touka is frantic, blaming herself. Somewhere in the dark, Kaneki counts the ways he has failed everyone, and something inside him begins to change. You really feel for Kaneki’s friends as they search for him in vain.
With Amon down, a new figure steps onto the battlefield, and the air itself seems to freeze. Kishou Arima, the CCG’s undefeated Reaper, has arrived. Every ghoul present knows his name, and every one of them is afraid. Arima’s arrival changes the entire atmosphere of the battlefield instantly.
Rumors of a violent ghoul organization called Aogiri Tree start spreading through the wards. Anteiku’s regulars grow uneasy. Kaneki senses that the fragile balance of his life is about to be shattered once more. A sense of dread hangs over this chapter from the very first page.