Kay sighed and sat on the floor, crossing her legs. She manifested her tentacles, attaching them to the sides of the plane to keep herself still.

“You just need to hold my hands,” he repeated, still smiling.

Raven, after snorting, sat in front of him and reluctantly extended her hands to him.

“It’s going to take a while to make him understand…” Kay commented, closing her eyes, now more serious.

Raven blushed slightly, surprised by the unexpected tone.

“Do I need to meditate too?” she asked, almost awkwardly.

“No need. It’s better that you stay conscious,” Kay replied, still with her eyes closed.

“Then hurry up!” Raven pressed, uncomfortably.

Kay took a deep breath, diving into concentration.

“You’re squeezing a little!” Raven said, looking at her own hands.

Kay didn’t answer. Her silence was soon interrupted by Rem, who approached and poked her cheek.

— It seems he's already focused.

— Is he pushing too hard? — Mira asked, worried.

— It's bearable. — Raven said, her voice trembling.

— That's not funny. It only took a second, and he was totally immersed in it! — Rem observed, fascinated.

— What are you trying to get at? — Sarah asked, curious.

— He's becoming more and more dominant over the ghouls. I think it's because he's trained the soldiers so much. — Rem replied.

— There have already been four divisions and more than four thousand soldiers trained. That may have made it easier for him. — Mira added.

— Isn't it interesting? And the training is getting easier and easier. Did you see that, in this division, not a single ghoul spoke up, but they all obeyed! — Rem said, excited.

— That's true! I can imagine what you're thinking. — Raven commented, thoughtful.

— I still don't get it. — Mira admitted, frowning.

— Maybe now he can command the living ghouls, just like he did with the mini-ghoul. Isn't that what you're thinking? — Raven asked, looking at Rem.

— Exactly. — Rem confirmed, with an enigmatic smile.

— Oh, that makes sense! — Mira said, finally understanding.

Suddenly, Kay opened her eyes and looked at Raven.

— Be careful, love. You'll break my hand!

Raven blinked, surprised, and quickly let go of his hands.

— Sorry! I hadn't noticed. — she replied, embarrassed.

Soon after, Kay's communicator vibrated. He answered and put it on speakerphone.

— Her ghoul seems to want to face Captain Renji and will support Raven by offering her more power! — Kay said immediately, as if she already knew the subject.

— How did you know I was going to talk about Raven? — Fernanda exclaimed, on the other end of the line.

— How much did her percentage increase? — Kay asked.

— Ninety-two percent. — Fernanda replied.

— Ninety?! — Raven exclaimed, surprised.

— What a big jump! — Rem joked, with a provocative smile.

— But how much was it before? — Mira asked, confused.

— Sixty-seven percent. It was an abnormal increase of twenty-five percent. Unlike the other time she manifested the tentacles. Everyone only received an increase of ten to twelve percent. — Fernanda explained.

— It's her and the ghoul's will to fight a captain coming together. That's what caused the effect. — Kay said.

— But the will of a ghoul and a human to want to face someone stronger must have happened several times before. Why has it never resulted in an increase like this in the suit? — Fernanda questioned.

— It was my doing. I ordered the ghoul to give her more power. — Raven replied, proudly.

— I figured he was involved. But that's not the only reason I called. It seems something happened to the mini-ghoul, leaving everyone at the institute euphoric. I'm going there now and then I'll call to tell you what happened. — Fernanda said urgently.

— Mini-ghoul... I understand. Let me know later. We're going to the second division now and we'll be back at base this week. — Kay replied.

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

— Wouldn't it take a month? — Fernanda asked, surprised.

— Things are moving faster than I imagined. — Kay explained.

— Okay. I'll report it to the captain. — Fernanda said goodbye.

— Thank you. See you later! — Kay said.

— See you later! — Fernanda replied, hanging up the call.

— What could have happened? — Sarah asked.

— We'll find out later. For now, let's continue the mission. — Kay replied, holding Raven's hands again.

— Isn't it over yet? — Raven asked, frowning.

— For now, it will be a temporary strength. But I believe you will be able to master it in a few days. — Kay said, analyzing her suit.

— You mean my suit is now at the level of a captain before getting the tentacles? — Raven asked, surprised.

— Eight percent difference seems small, but it is still a lot. I noticed this in captains. They cannot surpass one hundred percent. Takemichi, Yumi and the other two only reached one hundred percent. I discovered this by comparing the smell of their evolved suits. — Kay explained.

— You mean the maximum the soldiers can use is one hundred percent? — Sarah asked, intrigued.

— I think the captain of the first division may be different, since he already started with one hundred percent. But, since he does not want to participate in the training, there is no way to test it. — Kay concluded.

— You mean that, if each of us here reaches one hundred percent, we will be on the same level as the captains? — Sarah exclaimed, with a surprised expression.

— I wouldn't say the same level, since combat style and experience count, but... I believe that, with the same percentage of suit, the captains would have difficulty facing them in a one-on-one! — Kay said, with a confident smile.

— But, even if we get more power, we would still be far from 100%. — Mira said, with a sad tone.

— Another 25%... You would go to 69%. — Raven said, with an intrigued look.

— How do you know that? — Mira exclaimed, surprised.

— I saw the soldiers' percentages with Fernanda. — Raven explained, naturally.

— 69%... That would be a lot for me! — Mira said, impressed.

— It would be more than the percentage Raven had a few minutes ago! — Sarah commented, with a light laugh.

— That's right, it would be higher than everyone in our squad! — said Raven, with a proud smile.

— He was awakened by the thirst for victory against the captain. When I'm facing Raven, I'll let my aura out. Maybe that will awaken the will of your ghouls! — said Kay, with a determined look.

— But we've been feeling this aura in all the divisions and nothing happens. — said Mira, skeptically.

— It's different. I'm not in combat when you feel it, but maybe something changes in my aura when I'm fighting. But, if you want, I can try to talk to the ghoul like I did with Raven! — suggested Kay, with a mischievous smile.

— I'd better not risk it now! — replied Mira, visibly uncomfortable.

Kay looked at the others.

— I'll try later too! — Sarah said, with a determined glint in her eyes.

“It doesn't hurt to try!” Rem commented, poking his cheek with a mischievous smile.

Raven sat in her seat, and Rem sat in front of Kay. He took her hands and closed his eyes.

“Take it easy, Kay!” Rem joked, trying to ease the tension in the air.

“He's already immersed, so no jokes!” Mira said, with a more serious tone.

Rem was visibly saddened by Mira's answer.

“Take things seriously, mom!” Mira said, with a firm look.

“Okay!” Rem said, with a sigh.

“You're hopeless!” Mira retorted, with an irritated expression.

Inside Kay's mind, thoughts began to concentrate.

“So!” he said, addressing Rem's ghoul, with a defiant smile.

Rem's ghoul was lying down, but soon stood up, seeming to notice Kay's presence. Kay's ghoul was beside him.

"The human who has been with you for many years needs a little more power. How about helping her?" Kay exclaimed, with an imposing tone.

Rem's ghoul was watching, motionless.

"Don't you want to face ghouls stronger than you? She wants that too. How about helping by releasing more power for her?" Kay continued, with increasing intensity.

The ghoul remained motionless, but Kay sensed what was coming.

"That's a shame..." Kay said, with an expression of disdain.

The two ghouls manifested their tentacles, but Kay's ghoul held the other's tentacles, preventing them from growing.

Kay's ghoul knocked Rem's to the ground.

"It seems you understand, ghoul. I tried to ask politely, but since you want to go for the aggression, I don't mind letting you two fight to see who can eat the other... But it looks like you're going to lose. Think about it. I'm asking you to give more power to the human, so she can defeat stronger ghouls. You'll have something better to eat and you'll both be stronger! — Kay said, with a serious look, watching every move of the ghouls.

The ghoul remained still, as if pondering the proposal.

"Then we have a deal. I promise you'll eat the best meals! Just submit to your human!" — Kay concluded, with a satisfied smile.

Outside, the girls were visibly frightened by the intensity of the situation.

Kay opened her eyes, and the two were in the same position as the ghouls.

— Take it easy, Kay. I'm shy! — Rem joked, turning her face away, uncomfortable.

— I see... It seems that you two are not well connected, but you are both stubborn! — Kay said, with an understanding expression.

Both of their suits returned to normal at the same time. Kay helped Rem get up from the ground.

— Are you hurt? — Kay exclaimed, worried.

— I was surprised, but I'm fine! — Rem replied, smiling.

— You almost killed us all if you destroyed the plane, but it worked! — Kay laughed, relieved.

— That's not funny! — Raven said, slapping his shoulder.

— I see... It really does seem like my body has gotten lighter! — Rem commented, touching his shoulders.

— He wants stronger ghouls as payment. So, good luck! — Kay said, with an enigmatic smile.

— How much stronger? — Rem exclaimed, with a determined expression.

— I don't think it's as good as the mini-ghoul, but it has to be strong! — Kay replied, with a calculating look.

— Don't worry! — Rem said, with renewed confidence.

— I'll do it with you, but let's wait until we get off the plane first! — Kay said, with a mischievous smile.

— I don't know... Being pressured like that by someone is a bit... — Sarah said, uncomfortable.

— Don't worry. It's just Rem's ghoul who's stubborn! — Kay said, trying to reassure her.

— If he keeps pressuring the girls like that, I'll beat him up! So don't worry! — Mira said, with a threatening tone.

— Okay, I guess! — Sarah replied, hesitantly.

— I don't do it on purpose! — Kay hurried to explain.

— Then try to stop it before it happens! Lucky it was my mother this time... What if it was another girl? — Mira exclaimed, with a watchful look.

— My daughter doesn't see me as a threat, I'm not wanted like I used to be! — Rem said, feigning sadness, but with a mischievous smile.

— Anyway, let's start as soon as we get to the airport! — Kay said, sitting back down in her seat.

— Okay! — the girls replied, ready to continue the mission.

Kay closed her eyes and then fell asleep.

— Did that tire him out? — Sarah exclaimed, with a curious expression.

— It seems so! — Mira replied, watching Kay carefully.

Mira put Kay's seatbelt on and sat down in her seat.

— I thought this had gotten easier for him... I guess I was wrong! — Rem said, with a frustrated smile.

— It certainly got easier, but forcing a ghoul to give up more power is already too much! — Raven commented, with a critical look.

— I have some games here, shall we play? — Sarah exclaimed, rummaging through her suitcase, trying to ease the tension in the atmosphere.

A few minutes later, at the research institute...