"Interesting. So this is the power of Pumpkin?"
Uesugi Ryu fell through the air, admiring the deadly barrage as though it were fireworks.
The manor was completely empty now.
Gore had already withdrawn with the guards to a nearby location under orders.
The beautiful back garden had become a battlefield.
Before Uesugi Ryu even landed, Sheele was already waiting in the shadows with her scissors spread wide.
Purple cross-shaped light radiated from Extase, accompanied by an invisible pressure.
Uesugi Ryu had expected this.
His black hair scattered in the violent wind.
But this level of intense light was hardly enough to trouble him.
His eyes merely felt slightly dry.
"Light? I can do that too."
Uesugi Ryu chuckled.
A dazzling white radiance erupted from his body.
Sheele's attack paused for just an instant.
The blinding light turned the lenses on her nose completely white.
Mine looked down from above, her jaw nearly dropping.
Purple and white light intertwined across her face.
She cried out in disbelief.
"What is this guy? A Teigu user?"
A trace of resolve flashed across Sheele's face.
She closed her eyes and slashed viciously with Extase.
Uesugi Ryu sidestepped the strike.
His blade flashed, and the flat of it slammed heavily into Sheele's collarbone.
Crack.
Her right collarbone shattered instantly.
Sheele was right-handed.
That single blow greatly reduced her combat ability.
Realizing the danger, she immediately retreated.
Their brief exchange had already made one thing clear.
Uesugi Ryu's physical abilities far surpassed hers.
She had no chance in close combat.
Her only hope now was Mine.
Mine forced her eyes open against the intense light.
Tears streamed uncontrollably from the corners of her eyes.
Pumpkin lit up once more, aiming at Uesugi Ryu as he prepared to pursue.
"He's way too strong. Even Sheele can't beat him up close. We have to retreat."
Suddenly, Uesugi Ryu felt the sensation of being locked onto.
A hint of irritation crossed his face.
His speed exploded.
In an instant, he appeared directly in front of Sheele.
Gripping his blade with both hands, he flicked it upward.
A deep violet arc flashed through the air.
Metal clashed.
Extase was knocked from Sheele's hands, leaving her wide open.
Uesugi Ryu lunged forward.
His knee drove viciously toward Sheele's abdomen.
At that very moment, an orange laser shot toward his back.
He could already feel the scorching heat.
Uesugi Ryu displayed astonishing agility.
Twisting at the waist, the beam grazed his shirt and blasted into the ground.
Yet his attack did not stop.
Changing his knee strike into a kick, his shin slammed into Sheele's slender stomach.
Sheele doubled over and was sent flying.
She rolled several times across the grass before finally stopping.
Blood sprayed from her mouth, staining the emerald lawn crimson.
Extase now stood embedded in the grass behind Uesugi Ryu.
Unarmed, Sheele stood no chance against him.
Mine landed in a roll.
Clutching Pumpkin, she fired wildly at Uesugi Ryu.
Several massive energy spheres screamed toward him.
He easily sidestepped them.
Wrapping crimson energy around his hand, he grabbed Extase and hurled it at Mine with a burst of strength.
Teigu had compatibility issues.
Using one improperly could trigger backlash.
Better not to touch it directly.
The giant scissors cut through the air with a terrifying whistle.
Mine's face changed as she dove aside.
A cold glint flashed in Uesugi Ryu's eyes.
He exploded forward.
A sonic boom rang out.
Before the sound even reached Mine's ears, he was already at her side.
His blade slashed diagonally.
One of Mine's pink twin-tails was severed, strands of hair scattering wildly.
Mine raised Pumpkin.
The barrel was practically pressed against Uesugi Ryu's abdomen.
A powerful enemy stood before her.
Guards surrounded them.
Pumpkin's power surged dramatically.
Killing intent blazed in Mine's eyes.
"Die!"
Three finger-thick orange beams erupted forth at incredible speed.
The flames reflected in Uesugi Ryu's pupils.
A serious expression crossed his face.
Instant Step activated instantly.
He flashed to the side.
The edge of one laser barely scraped his flank.
Fortunately, his reactions were fast enough.
Black phantom dragon scales had already formed over his abdomen.
Uesugi Ryu slid backward four meters, the lawn torn apart beneath him like ripped flesh.
Looking down, he saw the charred hole in his shirt.
His side felt numb.
The phantom dragon scales there had dimmed slightly, but remained intact.
"At this distance... how is that possible?"
Mine stared at his completely unharmed abdomen, despair filling her eyes.
Missing would have been one thing.
But landing a direct hit and dealing no damage at all was utterly incomprehensible.
Uesugi Ryu touched his stomach.
He tore off the burned shirt with one hand.
Then he smiled mockingly.
"That was close. You actually hit me."
"Too bad the damage was pretty disappointing."
By now, Gore had already subdued the badly injured Sheele.
He held her up by the tattered collar of her qipao, shaking her lightly.
Sheele dangled like a broken puppet, her limbs swaying limply.
Gore's savage grin split through the smoke.
"Surrender, Night Raid!"
Dirt and blood covered Sheele's face.
Using every bit of strength she had left, she shouted,
"Mine, run..."
Mine stared at her, tears pouring freely.
Uesugi Ryu did not give her time to grieve.
Twenty-four clones emerged from the burning lawn.
Each bore identical dragon-scale markings.
They spoke in unison.
"Neither of you is escaping. Surrender, and I'll treat you gently. Times twenty-four."
Mine froze.
She had no idea which one to aim at.
All twenty-four Uesugi Ryus attacked simultaneously.
Mine was instantly surrounded.
The clones had no mass.
They made no sound and stirred no wind.
The real body was hidden among them.
Mine could not distinguish which was real.
She let out a sharp cry.
Pumpkin unleashed a torrent of orange-yellow energy.
The laser swept around her in a full circle.
Every afterimage vanished.
Grass suddenly bent without wind.
A blood-red blade whistled toward the back of her neck.
Mine's body reacted instinctively.
She threw herself forward.
But the blade had already bitten into her back.
The sharp snap of severed metal threads mixed with the wet sound of flesh being cut.
Lubbock, who had been preparing to support Mine and the others, noticed Pumpkin's massive blast.
Fortunately, he arrived in time.
Using Cross Tail's threads, he intercepted Uesugi Ryu's attack.
Six steel wires sparked violently against the blade.
They held for barely half a second before snapping apart.
The sword cut into Mine's flesh.
At the same time, crimson energy flowed from the blade into her body.
The pain was so intense her vision darkened.
Mine bit her tongue hard to stay conscious.
She spun and fired wildly, spraying bullets in a fan-shaped arc.
Using the recoil, she retreated backward.
More metal threads shot from the bushes.
They wrapped around her waist and yanked her away.
Uesugi Ryu tilted his head, avoiding the shots.
A serious expression crossed his face.
"Lubbock? I didn't expect him to be here. That's troublesome."
His thoughts raced.
If he couldn't capture Mine, then he would at least take Pumpkin.
Dragon-shaped tattoos across his body came alive.
Black phantom scales emerged across his skin.
The ground shattered beneath his feet.
He vanished instantly.
His blade chopped toward Mine's gun arm.
With a metallic ring, it struck a thick bundle of wires.
Lubbock leaped down from the treetops.
Veins bulged on his hands as he controlled the threads, though the immense force still dragged him stumbling forward.
Uesugi Ryu's left hand shot out like a claw, grabbing Mine's ankle.
Bones ground together with a sickening crunch.
Mine screamed in agony.
Her ankle had been crushed.
She flipped Pumpkin around, preparing to counterattack.
But Uesugi Ryu's right hand had already clamped down on the barrel like a steel vise.
With a savage yank, he tore Pumpkin from her grasp.
Lubbock immediately gathered a mass of threads into a spear and hurled it.
Uesugi Ryu had no choice but to release Mine.
Clutching his newly acquired Pumpkin, he retreated quickly.
Lubbock caught Mine and turned to flee.
As he ran, he shouted back provocatively.
"If you've got the guts, come chase us!"
Mine looked back reluctantly.
In her heart, she swore,
"Sheele, I'll save you."
But she understood.
Going back now was impossible.
Lubbock saving even one of them had already been pushing his limits.
Uesugi Ryu ignored the taunt.
Two Teigu and one Teigu user.
He had already gained enough.
Besides, all of Night Raid was currently in the Capital.
Lubbock's appearance here felt suspicious.
If he gave chase and Akame and Bulat were waiting, that would be troublesome.
His objective had already been achieved.
There was no need to pursue a cornered enemy.
If Lubbock had shown himself, then he had certainly prepared traps nearby.
Cross Tail's ordinary wires posed little threat to Uesugi Ryu.
But its strongest wire, World Cutter, was another matter entirely.
Uesugi Ryu glanced at the Jason katana in his hand, now covered in nicks.
He sighed helplessly.
This S-Rank Quinque simply wasn't top-tier in this world.
As for why he hadn't used the SSS-Rank Elegy?
He wanted them alive.
Using Elegy would likely have cut Mine and Sheele in half.
At that moment, Mephisto flew down beside him, carrying Extase in its talons.
"What a huge haul!"
Gore also arrived, still holding Sheele.
Looking at the dragon-like tattoos writhing across Uesugi Ryu's body, deep awe filled Gore's eyes.
He finally understood just how much Uesugi Ryu had held back during their spar.