"Roar. Roar... Aaagh!"
A hoarse roar echoed through the night.
Some of the guards stationed at the outer perimeter of the manor heard the strange noise and immediately looked toward its source.
"That came from the garden, right? Should we go check it out?"
The captain's fingers, which were holding a cigarette, froze in midair. He shot the speaker a sideways glance.
Then he said disdainfully,
"Check what? Just stand your post."
"This isn't something small fry like us need to deal with."
In the garden, a grotesque mass of flesh stood at the center of the ritual circle.
Crimson kagune continuously burst forth from all over its body. The scar-faced man's eyes were wide open.
His left eye had already transformed into a black sclera and red iris Kakugan. Thick saliva dripped from the corners of his mouth.
At times, his skin became slightly translucent, revealing dark red, writhing patterns beneath.
A liquid-muscle-like kagune completely enveloped his head, and blood-red claws sank deep into the grass.
With a beastlike roar, the fleshy abomination dropped to all fours and charged straight at Uesugi Ryu.
The pungent stench rushed into Uesugi Ryu's nose on the cool night breeze. He looked thoughtful.
"It lost control? Is it because both components were humanoid?"
The abomination's massive, malformed claw was already reaching for his head, the fierce wind blowing his black hair backward.
Uesugi Ryu's shoes sank three centimeters into the ground.
The instant his five fingers clamped onto the kagune claw, sparks erupted from the friction, illuminating the shadows cast by his eyelashes.
The monster's tightly knotted kagune fibers writhed frantically, only to freeze the moment they touched that slender hand.
The deltoid muscles in Uesugi Ryu's arm bulged slightly as he exerted a little force.
The creature's huge body was swung overhead like a rag doll.
With a violent slam, he smashed it into the ground.
Blood-red fragments sprayed everywhere.
A thunderous boom rang out as a circular shockwave spread outward.
The monster screamed miserably, then immediately lashed out with its other claw, attacking Uesugi Ryu relentlessly.
A hint of surprise appeared in Uesugi Ryu's eyes. He had not expected it to be this tough.
With his current terrifying Strength of 19, surviving even one of his blows and still being able to move meant this thing was at least SSS-rated.
The scar-faced man had been the leader of a bandit group and was already fairly strong. His power had increased dramatically after the fusion.
Uesugi Ryu raised an eyebrow, grabbed the flesh monster by its claw, and began smashing it back and forth.
Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom.
The deafening impacts echoed through the area, drawing the attention of nearby residents.
The commotion was impossible to ignore. Before long, members of the Capital Guard noticed it as well.
Mud mixed with blood splattered like rain against the marble fence twenty meters away.
Uesugi Ryu flicked his wrist, scattering droplets of blood onto the soil.
The garden, already in terrible shape, now looked like a war zone.
Standing at the edge of the massive crater, Uesugi Ryu looked down.
At the bottom lay a shapeless mound of mangled flesh.
The shattered kagune exposed the man's head.
Deep terror flashed in the scar-faced man's Kakugan.
After being thoroughly beaten by Uesugi Ryu, the man's gaze had suddenly become crystal clear.
Seeing this, Uesugi Ryu nodded in satisfaction.
"Still has some sanity left. I'll observe him further."
He glanced around and thought to himself,
"Looks like I need a dedicated testing ground. Tearing up the house every day isn't sustainable."
At Jaegers Headquarters, the living facilities were excellent.
Members from out of town, or those with nowhere else to go, all lived there.
After work, the Jaegers usually had dinner together.
Tonight, however, Uesugi Ryu had left early to focus on his experiment.
Aside from him, everyone else was currently there.
Before long, a member of the Capital Guard burst through the door in a panic.
"Lady Esdeath, there appears to be fighting at Lord Uesugi's manor!"
Esdeath's eyes sharpened. She immediately grabbed her military coat and put it on.
Run and Wave, who had been playing a board game, quickly stood up as well.
A worried look appeared on Seryu's face.
"Is it Night Raid?"
Dr. Stylish adjusted his glasses with one hand, a gleam flashing in his eyes.
He suddenly remembered the two death row inmates Uesugi Ryu had taken from prison earlier.
Stylish himself often used criminals for experiments.
As a result, he was quite familiar with the prison guards, and one of them had mentioned the matter in passing.
Turning to Seryu, Stylish reassured her.
"Seryu, don't worry. The Vice-Captain may simply be conducting an experiment."
"Thank you, Doctor."
Seryu nodded, though she still looked uneasy.
"But we should still go check."
By then, Run had already equipped his Teigu, Mastema.
He looked toward Esdeath.
"Captain, I'll go ahead and scout."
Esdeath nodded.
With her permission granted, a pair of pure white wings unfolded behind Run.
He opened the window and flew straight out.
Once everyone had prepared for battle, Esdeath led the remaining Jaegers toward Uesugi Ryu's manor.
...
A large number of Capital Guard troops had gathered outside Uesugi Ryu's estate.
Most of them felt a strange sense of familiarity. Less than a month ago, they had assembled here in much the same way.
The captain of the guard stood obediently to one side, waiting.
Uesugi Ryu was now the Vice-Captain of the Jaegers. Though not his direct superior, crushing him would be effortless.
Naturally, the captain did not dare act presumptuously.
Besides, with such a commotion, he had no intention of entering.
If not for fear of being held responsible afterward, he would not have come at all. There were far better ways to spend his time.
Flying overhead, Run quickly grasped the situation.
"Perhaps the Doctor was right. Is this really an experiment?"
As he flew closer and peered inside, his superior vantage point allowed him to spot something unusual.
His pupils contracted slightly, and he muttered in surprise,
"That is... a ritual circle?"
Run's expression turned serious.
Judging by the scene, Uesugi Ryu was likely conducting some sort of alchemical experiment.
He did not rashly intrude.
Instead, he landed in a secluded alley nearby.
Since this was not Night Raid, there was no need to hurry.
He quietly waited for Esdeath and the others to arrive.