The ghoul's initial reaction was confusion.
For a moment, he mistook Ryoma's Sharingan for a Kakugan.
Ghouls could typically recognize their own kind by scent.
But this boy—he smelled completely human.
How could he have Kakugan?
There was only one possible explanation.
Some ghouls, especially those who spent too much time around humans, would eventually have their scent masked by the overwhelming presence of human odors. It made it difficult for other ghouls to identify them at a glance.
Is he one of those?
The man hesitated, abruptly stopping his attack.
"Tch. Just my luck," he muttered, spitting on the ground. "Thought I found an easy meal, but turns out you're one of us."
His tone was filled with frustration.
A ghoul's flesh was nearly inedible to other ghouls. Their unique biology made human meat the only truly appetizing and nutritious option.
While co-cannibalism—ghouls eating other ghouls—could provide some RC cell replenishment, it was a last resort. The taste was unbearable, and only the most desperate or power-hungry ghouls resorted to it.
That meant, from this ghoul's perspective, Ryoma was a waste of time.
"Get lost," the man spat. "This is my hunting ground. If I see you here again, I'll tear you apart!"
His tone was menacing, but Ryoma barely reacted.
A hunting ground, huh?
Ghouls often divided territory among themselves. The stronger the ghoul, the larger and more desirable their hunting grounds. Straying into another ghoul's territory without permission usually resulted in brutal fights.
But Ryoma wasn't a ghoul.
And those rules didn't apply to him.
If he backed down now, he might as well call himself a Ninja Turtle.
His response?
He vanished.
Without a word, Ryoma activated the Body Flicker Technique.
In an instant, he reappeared behind the ghoul.
Fast.
Too fast.
The Body Flicker wasn't true teleportation, but to an untrained eye, it might as well have been.
The ghoul barely had time to register what had happened.
Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique
Ryoma inhaled deeply, gathering chakra in his throat.
A massive sphere of fire erupted from his mouth, roaring to life as it expanded rapidly.
Heat waves rippled through the alleyway.
The flames illuminated the ghoul's face—eyes widening in sheer panic.
He barely had time to react.
The fire engulfed him.
A guttural scream tore through the night.
His body was consumed by the inferno, skin blistering under the intense heat.
Despite their enhanced durability, ghouls were still vulnerable to extreme temperatures. Their bodies could withstand blades, but they were not immune to fire.
Still, the problem remained.
Ghouls possessed incredible regenerative abilities.
Even if Great Fireball inflicted severe burns, it wasn't enough to kill him outright.
Ryoma needed to finish the job.
His eyes darted to the side.
A discarded crowbar lay on the ground.
A perfect weapon.
Ordinary weapons weren't ideal for fighting ghouls—but sometimes, blunt force was enough.
He grabbed the crowbar and swung it downward with all his strength.
The metal cracked against the ghoul's Kagune, already weakened from the fire.
The impact was enough to shatter it.
The ghoul roared in pain.
Ryoma didn't hesitate.
Another swing.
Another smash.
With a final, brutal strike, the Kagune was severed completely.
For a moment, the ghoul's breathing was ragged.
Then—
Silence.
Ryoma tossed the crowbar aside and picked up the severed Kagune.
If Quinques—CCG's specialized weapons—were made from ghoul Kagune, then there was no reason he couldn't use it himself.
A ghoul's own weapon—turned against them.
He gripped the detached Kagune and drove it straight into the ghoul's chest.
The sharp appendage pierced through flesh and bone with ease.
The ghoul gasped.
Blood spilled from his lips.
A final, dying breath—
And then he was gone.
[Ding! Host has defeated a B-Rank Ghoul. Reward: 5 Fusion Points!]
Ryoma's eyes flickered toward the system panel.
His fusion points had now reached 87.
Only 13 more until he hit Lv2.
And when that happened—
His Sharingan would no longer have just a single tomoe...