56

Chapter 56: Gecko Fleed

[Ding! The host engages in combat with the S-rated ghoul "Gecko" for the first time — Reward: 10 Fusion Points!]

Ryoma rose from his seat, face calm and unreadable. With a flick of his wrist, his Quinque suitcase unfolded, transforming into the gray, jagged blade known as Thorn.

He had come here knowing this confrontation was inevitable. Fueguchi Asaki was still alive — this timeline had shifted in his favor, but Yamori had to be stopped.

A nearby human patient, panicked by the escalating tension, bolted for the door. Unfortunately, his escape route required him to pass dangerously close to Yamori.

But Yamori barely spared him a glance.

The ghoul's twisted grin widened — his focus was solely on Ryoma now.

"Pity you're not a ghoul," Yamori sneered. "I could've had some real fun with you..."

His fingers cracked loudly as he flexed his knuckles.

Then he lunged.

Yamori didn't even bother to activate his kagune — his raw physical strength was enough to overpower most humans. His fist rocketed toward Ryoma's skull like a hammer.

But Ryoma's Sharingan swirled to life.

The powerful punch, intended to crush his head, appeared to slow in his vision. Ryoma's enhanced perception revealed every movement — the angle of Yamori's shoulder, the tightening of his arm muscles, the shift in his footing.

Too slow.

Ryoma ducked to the side, Yamori's punch grazing past his hair. At the same instant, Ryoma twisted his wrist and drove Thorn into Yamori's abdomen.

Yamori staggered slightly.

"...Tch."

He glanced down at the blade impaled in his gut — and grinned.

"That's it?" Yamori sneered.

Ignoring the wound, Yamori swung both hands toward Ryoma's throat.

But Ryoma was already moving. He yanked Thorn free, the jagged blade tearing open Yamori's flesh as it exited. Blood splattered across the floor.

"You...!" Yamori snarled, clutching his side. His smile was gone, replaced by simmering rage.

"Is that all?" Ryoma quipped, his tone cold.

"You'll regret that..."

With a furious growl, Yamori's kagune burst forth — two jagged, thorn-covered koukaku tendrils shot from his waist. The purple, armor-like kagune bristled with lethal spikes.

Fueguchi Asaki's face went pale. He knew this was only a fraction of Yamori's true power.

"This isn't good..." Asaki muttered under his breath, nervously glancing toward the clinic's entrance. Where are Mado and Amon?

...

Yamori's kagune lashed out violently. One tendril stabbed forward like a spear, while the other swung wide, sweeping toward Ryoma's side.

Ryoma barely managed to deflect the first strike with Thorn. He twisted his body, narrowly dodging the second attack — but the razor-sharp spikes on the kagune caught his sleeve, shredding the fabric.

He winced. Close... too close.

Attempting to counter, Ryoma struck one of Yamori's kagune tendrils with Thorn, aiming to slice it off.

CLANG!

The blade barely left a scratch.

Damn...

His Quinque wasn't powerful enough. Thorn was a B-rank weapon, no match for Yamori's powerful koukaku — a kagune tough enough to rival S-rank Quinques.

Ryoma's fingers tingled from the impact, but he gritted his teeth and kept moving.

"I'm gonna enjoy breaking you," Yamori sneered, grinning viciously.

His attacks became faster, his kagune swiping and stabbing from multiple angles. Ryoma parried and dodged, but the pressure was mounting.

If Yamori activated his full "half-kakuja" state, Ryoma knew things would spiral out of control.

Then, at last —

"YAMORI!"

Mado Kureo and Amon Koutarou burst into the clinic while holding Quinques in their hands.

Mado wielded his signature umbrella-shaped Quinque, while Amon carried Dojima 1/2, a massive metal rod reinforced for durability.

"Tch..." Yamori grimaced. He knew this wasn't a fight he could win.

In an instant, Yamori whipped his kagune toward Mado and Amon. Mado responded immediately, his umbrella Quinque snapping open to intercept the attack.

But Yamori's brute strength tore through the reinforced Quinque, splitting the weapon in half.

"Dammit!" Mado cursed.

Yamori pressed forward, kicking Amon's Quinque aside before bulldozing past them both.

"GET BACK HERE!" Amon roared, regaining his balance and giving chase.

But Yamori was already gone — his powerful frame vanishing down the street.

---

Mado sighed heavily, clutching the broken remains of his Quinque.

"That bastard's more dangerous than we thought," he muttered.

Amon scowled. "I can't believe we let him escape..."

Ryoma, still gripping Thorn, didn't say a word.

He knew forcing Yamori into a corner risked triggering his kakuja transformation. Right now, letting him retreat was the better outcome.

---

"Are you okay?" Mado asked, eyeing Ryoma.

"Yeah," Ryoma replied. "Thanks for the backup."

"That was reckless," Mado muttered. "You're lucky you didn't get yourself killed."

Ryoma smirked faintly. "I knew you'd show up in time."

Mado snorted, then turned to Fueguchi Asaki.

"Dr. Fueguchi, are you alright?"

"I'm fine..." Asaki said shakily. "Thank you... for saving me."

"You should thank the rookie," Mado said, jerking his thumb toward Ryoma. "He's the one who bought you time."

Asaki gave Ryoma a grateful look. "Thank you."

Ryoma offered a small nod.

But inside, he knew this wasn't over.

Yamori's still out there... and now he's angry.

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