"I have to admit, Yoshimura Eto is pretty clever, she even went and got herself a thermal imaging visor. But next time, wear two, would you?" Uesugi Ryu muttered inwardly, a faint sigh of admiration in his tone.
Sure enough, technology was the primary productive force.
If Eto had worn dual thermal visors, Uesugi Ryu might not have gained any advantage in their fight.
Thermal imagers not only countered flashbang effects, but could also distinguish between real bodies and phantoms based on heat signatures.
His Flash Technique was now completely nullified, and Phantom Clone was half-useless.
Of course, in high-speed combat, thermal imaging couldn't always render accurately, some frame delay was inevitable.
Uesugi Ryu recalled Shang into his inventory space and made his way back into the lab.
Jason (½) was still embedded in the wall, he needed to retrieve it.
He paused for a moment, then suddenly thought: "Maybe I should get a custom set of throwing knives or something. I really do enjoy tossing blades."
On the ground, Kamishiro Matasaka's upper half lay sprawled, eyes unfocused, gazing weakly at the cold ceiling above.
A waist-severing slash wasn't instantly fatal, and he was certainly tenacious, still clinging to life even now.
Not far from him, a mutant experimental creature, child-sized and emaciated, crouched on all fours.
It was greedily devouring the spilled intestines of the man.
Its withered belly slowly bloated as it feasted, but soon its gluttonous eyes shifted toward Kamishiro Matasaka's upper body.
Uesugi Ryu's footsteps echoed into the room. The mutant turned its blood-smeared face toward him, jagged teeth still flecked with flesh.
Upon sensing Uesugi Ryu's presence, a primal fear overtook the creature. It tried to flee—but alas, it had eaten too much and couldn't even stand properly.
Uesugi Ryu calmly walked up to it.
With a single casual kick, he sent the thing's head flying.
He approached Kamishiro Matasaka, blade loosely pointed at the dying man's head.
Matasaka's eyes stirred, a trace of calm acceptance flickering in them.
"You're strong..." he murmured faintly.
"I know," Uesugi Ryu replied. "Sayōnara."
With that, he swung down.
The long blade cleaved cleanly through Matasaka's neck, bringing his suffering to an end.
As for Kamishiro Rize's body, it wasn't here. Yomo Renji had taken it away during the chaos of Uesugi Ryu's fight with Matasaka.
But Uesugi Ryu didn't particularly care—he'd already heard the system notification. Rize was confirmed dead.
Opening his system panel, Uesugi Ryu casually glanced over it.
---
[You have killed SS-rated ghoul: Kamishiro Rize]
[You have killed SS+ rated ghoul: Kamishiro Matasaka]
[Unlocked Hidden Special Quest — "Father-Daughter Terminator"]
(Definition: Applies to direct blood relations or adopted parental bonds)
[Current Progress: 1/3]
– SSS-level: (Not Completed)
– SS-level: ✅ Kamishiro Matasaka, ✅ Kamishiro Rize
– S-level: (Not Completed)
Quest Reward:
+1 Attribute Point
+1 Lottery Spin
("A family should be together, shouldn't it? I'm just a passing 'Good Samaritan.'")
---
Uesugi Ryu smirked at the dark humor embedded in the system. Twisted? Sure. But he liked it.
With the SS tier finished, all that was left was to eliminate that father-daughter duo: Yoshimura Kuzen and Eto. Once done, the quest would be complete.
Slaughtering an S-tier father and daughter? That was practically free loot. A free attribute point and lottery chance? He was all smiles.
He'd slaughtered over twenty failed experimental subjects earlier, but they had yielded almost no reward. While they did possess Kakuhou, their energy output was pitiful.
Out of the twenty-odd kills, he only got 52 energy points, averaging under 2 per creature.
Taking out his phone, Uesugi Ryu sent Kaneki Ken the location of the Yasuhisa sisters.
Just as the message went through, Kamishiro Matasaka's corpse lit up with a crimson glow.
Mana surged within Uesugi Ryu's body, instinctively channeling toward his left hand.
A dark vortex appeared, swirling like a gaping maw, consuming the blood-red light in a single gulp.
Uesugi Ryu frowned as a feeling of fullness washed over him—like he'd just eaten a heavy meal.
Then realization dawned in his eyes. A notification appeared.
---
[Soul Devour Awakening!!!]
[Innate Talent Skill – Soul Devour]
[1. After killing a target, you may consume its soul to increase mana.]
[Current soul strength insufficient for mana increase (Temporarily unusable)]
[2. Soul Storage – Temporarily store devoured souls.]
[3. Soul Shatter – Consume mana to shatter stored souls. Soul fragments can be used to increase mental strength. There's a small chance of acquiring corresponding skills from the soul fragments.]
---
The path through which his mana had just flowed was now deeply etched into his memory.
Uesugi Ryu channeled mana to his hand again. The dark vortex reappeared. He studied it curiously.
Within his perception, it was a confined spatial pocket—at its center was a black, phantom grindstone.
The crimson soul-light cowered in a corner.
"Soul Shatter, huh... basically grinding them into dust?"
Uesugi Ryu's mouth twitched. He suddenly felt like he was becoming more and more... evil.
Ghouls devour flesh. I devour souls.
He chuckled to himself.
Just then, he remembered something and pulled out his phone.
A string of missed calls flashed on the screen.
All familiar names: Mado Akira, Mado Kureo, Amon Koutarou.
Seeing these names, Uesugi Ryu winced.
Rubbing his temples, he sighed. "Every time I go off solo, something bad happens on their end. The CCG's going to give me PTSD at this rate..."
Just as he was about to call back, Amon Koutarou called again.
He answered the phone while walking briskly out of the facility.
Amon's voice came through the receiver.
"Ryu, are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Uesugi Ryu quickly replied. "What's going on?"
Amon's tone turned grave.
"The 11th Ward was just attacked by remnants of Aogiri Tree."
"We're already en route with reinforcements. Where are you right now?"
Uesugi Ryu's expression darkened. An ominous feeling crept up on him.
He distinctly remembered—Juuzou and Shinohara-san were currently stationed in the 11th Ward.
"I'm in the 6th Ward. Amon... Juuzou and Shinohara-san are in the 11th, right?"
"If there are any casualties, please let me know. I'm counting on you."
There was a brief pause. Death reports were always heavy.
"...Alright. I understand. I'll contact you the moment I get news," Amon replied before ending the call.
At a distance, Father Donato, still wearing his clown mask, watched the scene unfold.
A glint of amusement sparkled in his eyes as the corners of his mouth curled up.
"Looks like leaving Cochlea was the right decision after all... So many interesting people out here."