Fushimi Kyo clutched Jason's kagune sac, unable to hold himself back any longer.
He slipped into a secluded, deserted corner and began devouring it ravenously.
"Ding! Consumed S-rank ghoul kagune Evolution Points +5."
"Ding! Consumed S-rank ghoul kagune Evolution Points +9."
"Ding! Consumed…"
By the time Fushimi Kyo finished eating Jason's entire kagune, his evolution points had increased by a staggering 90 points.
Adding the 15 points he had left from before, his total now stood at 105 evolution points.
Seeing that number, a grin spread across his face.
"Heh… now I can finally upgrade my sword art to Lv3."
"I wonder what changes it'll bring after the upgrade?"
Without hesitation, he summoned the virtual panel.
[Host: Fushimi Kyo
Age: 17
Skills: Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu Sword Art (Lv2+)
Body: Third-stage enhancement completed (Lv3)
Inventory: Katana (1)
Evolution Points: 105
Available Enhancements:
• Body: Not upgradable
• Skill: Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu Sword Art
(Upgrade to Lv3 requires 60 evolution points Confirm? Yes / No)]
"Begin skill enhancement," Fushimi Kyo commanded inwardly.
The virtual panel blurred for an instant.
The evolution points dropped from 105 to 45, and the skill level changed to Lv3.
At the same time, Fushimi Kyo felt his understanding of the sword deepen dramatically
as if an entirely new world had opened before him.
Names of unfamiliar techniques flooded his mind:
Phantom Dragon Flash,
Netherworld Flash,
Nine-Headed Heaven-Splitting Slash…
Phantom Dragon Flash was an evolved form of Dragon Cry Flash.
Dragon Cry Flash relied on ultra-fast draw speed to generate sonic waves, disrupting the opponent's mind and creating an opening. Fushimi Kyo had used it several times, but at most it was effective against S-rank ghouls. Against higher-ranked ones, its reliability was uncertain.
But Phantom Dragon Flash was different.
By drawing the blade, it formed a phantom dragon that directly assaulted the opponent's soul, delivering a powerful shock. Its potency was more than double that of its predecessor.
Netherworld Flash, on the other hand, was a movement-based sword technique.
Through rapid consecutive slashes, it cut through air resistance, achieving an effect akin to "crossing a thousand miles in an instant."
The phrase was exaggerated, but even so, it hinted at just how terrifying the technique truly was.
As for Nine-Headed Heaven-Splitting Slash, it was born from Nine-Headed Dragon Flash.
Nine-Headed Dragon Flash unleashed slashes in nine directions simultaneously, an attack that was virtually impossible to dodge.
The evolved version condensed those nine attacks into one.
Nine slashes merged into a single blade force, the momentum converging into a strike capable of splitting the heavens.
"I didn't expect the jump to Lv3 to bring such drastic changes," Fushimi Kyo murmured.
"With my current strength… even an SS-rank ghoul should be within fighting range."
The Next Day
The weather was grim.
From early morning, a cold drizzle had soaked the city.
Inside a lush, verdant cemetery, a funeral was underway.
As an urn of ashes was lowered into the grave, Mado Kureo, a man who had devoted his entire life to exterminating ghouls was finally laid to rest.
"Moment of silence!"
More than a hundred investigators, dressed in black suits with white flowers pinned to their chests, bowed their heads in unison.
Standing at the very front, Kōtarō Amon stared at the familiar photograph engraved on the tombstone.
Rain mixed with his tears, blurring his vision completely.
With a dull thud, he dropped to his knees.
"Senior Mado… I'm sorry!"
Guilt consumed him.
He believed with all his heart that if it weren't for him, Mado would never have been ambushed by Jason.
In the end, it was his weakness, his hesitation that had cost his mentor his life.
At that moment, a firm hand rested on his shoulder.
"Amon… my condolences."
Amon turned his head and froze.
It was Special Class Investigator Yukinori Shinohara.
"Shinohara-san…!"
"What brings you here?"
Shinohara Yukinori, one of the seven Special Class investigators of the CCG's First Division was renowned for his overwhelming strength.
Amon never imagined he would attend Mado's funeral.
"Mado was an outstanding investigator," Shinohara said solemnly.
"He gave everything to the CCG. Today, I came on behalf of headquarters to see him off one last time."
"Shinohara-san… it was my fault," Amon sobbed.
"I caused Senior Mado's death."
"Amon," Shinohara said firmly, "pull yourself together."
"Mado would never want the person he died protecting to become so weak."
"Now isn't the time for guilt and regret. You should be thinking about how to inherit his will how to eradicate more ghouls. That's the only way his teachings won't be wasted."
He paused, then added,
"Recently, we've noticed a sharp increase in predation incidents in the 20th Ward. Headquarters is considering dispatching more personnel here."
"You'll likely be assigned a new partner soon. Get your head straight, don't let people look down on you."
Elsewhere
"Don't you really want to stay a few more days, Touka?"
"I'll be so lonely by myself…"
Yoriko clung to Touka's arm, pleading.
"No, Yoriko," Touka replied gently.
"Sorry for troubling you these past few days. My relatives have already left, so I can go back home."
Last night, she had received word from the café's manager.
She was told to stop provoking Fushimi Kyo.
The manager also instructed her to treat him as an ordinary classmate no need to be overly sensitive.
As for what action to take in the future, it would depend entirely on his behavior going forward.
If Fushimi Kyo truly turned out to be a cruel, bloodthirsty madman who slaughtered ghouls indiscriminately…
then the manager himself would intervene.
After hearing that, Touka felt there was no longer any reason to stay at Yoriko's place.
Besides
The real reason she was leaving so urgently…
She was honestly afraid of Yoriko.
Especially when she remembered those "delicious" homemade meals.
Just thinking about them made a chill run down her spine.
Seeing Touka's determination, Yoriko could only let her go reluctantly.
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