So now the SCO has surrounded Bakuteriya with their gadgets and guns. The agents formed a tight, professional perimeter around the creature, their tactical dark uniforms blending with the urban surroundings while specialized containment devices hummed with suppressed magical energy.
Heavy rifles and energy-based weapons were leveled steadily at the monster, red targeting lights dancing across its shifting black surface.
The monster under the bed was actually strong and difficult to capture due to his slimy form — even if attacked or shot, its body would just scatter like slimy water around and rearrange back to its normal form unless someone struck its core directly, then it could be killed.
The viscous black mass constantly flowed and reformed, tendrils stretching out experimentally before pulling back, testing the gaps between the agents while its surface shimmered with oily reflections from the surrounding buildings and overcast sky.
Rin (as Ryū) and his accomplices — Chris, Yuri, Inferna, and Muganda — stood still above them on the roofs of high buildings, their figures mostly hidden from below by the angle and distance, not noticed yet by the SCO agents, only by the monster.
Rin wasn't really happy because he really wanted to get to fight Bakuteriya but now there were these nuisances around.
His newly golden eyes narrowed with clear irritation, the red-and-gold hair swaying slightly in the coastal breeze as his taller, more muscular frame remained tense beneath the dark triad Chinese emperor-style clothes embroidered with coiling golden dragons.
The high-collared tunic and flowing robe shifted with his subtle movements, the intricate dragon designs seeming almost alive against the dark fabric.
His broad shoulders and defined chest rose and fell with restrained annoyance while his powerful arms stayed crossed, the burn of disappointment evident in the tight line of his jaw.
Then Rin looked below and sighted someone familiar.
He was Chiyo's friend — a young boy about Chiyo's age who did come at times (but not often) to visit Chiyo at home. Rin remembered he had seen him at the house before, and well Rin didn't really like him — probably because he thought this dude wanted to date his sister.
The boy stood among the SCO agents in a composed stance, his presence blending into the tactical group yet standing out to Rin's sharp gaze.
His youthful face carried a focused expression, posture straight and alert as he held some kind of specialized device in one hand.
Rin seeing him together with the SCO made him think, "Is he really a big deal?" He had thought the boy was just a normal boy chasing after his sister, yet here he was operating alongside one of the most powerful international supernatural organizations.
The realization settled heavily as Rin's golden eyes lingered on the scene below, the wind carrying faint salt scents from the nearby Sea of Japan across the rooftops.
So Rin did a magic spell on Yuri, Muganda, and Inferna, making them look like black mist so they wouldn't be recognized being around Ryū.
The transformation happened smoothly — their forms shimmered briefly before dissolving into swirling, shadowy black mist that hovered silently beside him on the rooftop, concealing their identities completely.
He knew the SCO was onto Chris and Ryū and they knew how Ryū looked like, so he wouldn't want them seeing the maids that normally walked with Rin being with Ryū — that would just blow his cover in an instant.
The dark mist curled and drifted subtly with the breeze, hiding every detail of the voluptuous maid uniforms, long red hair, golden horns, silky black hair, and distinctive features while remaining close enough to observe everything.
And then Rin (in Ryū form of course) jumped down into the commotion with a powerful, controlled descent, his taller muscular body cutting through the air gracefully before landing with a solid impact on the ground near the surrounded monster. The dragon-embroidered robe billowed dramatically around his frame as he straightened to his full imposing height, red-and-gold hair catching the light while his golden eyes scanned the agents with calm authority.
Then Rin said to them in a deep, commanding voice, "You humans can go, I'll handle this."
The SCO agents reacted with immediate surprise and tension. One of the senior operatives muttered loudly enough for everyone to hear, "What? Isn't this the guy in that author's book?… the criminal known as the Dragon Lord running loose around fighting monsters?" Recognition flashed across several faces as they connected the tall figure with fiery red-and-gold hair, piercing golden eyes, muscular build, and the distinctive dark triad Chinese emperor clothes adorned with coiling golden dragons to the descriptions they had studied in Chris's books.
Then they all pointed their guns towards Rin and said to him firmly, "You are under arrest."
Rin laughed, a low, confident sound that echoed across the street, his broad chest rumbling slightly as the golden dragons on his robe seemed to shift with the movement.
He then started walking towards Bakuteriya, jokingly greeting him like "Yoo, you remember me right…" His voice carried casual amusement while his powerful steps closed the distance steadily, boots sounding firmly against the pavement.
And well Bakuteriya was so scared and looking for a way to escape from Rin — despite Bakuteriya being a little bit strong, he was a real scaredy-cat. The slimy black venom creature trembled even more violently, its form scattering slightly at the edges before reforming, tendrils retracting desperately as it tried to find any gap in the SCO encirclement or a path away from the approaching Dragon Lord it clearly remembered from years ago.
So as Rin (Ryū) was walking towards Bakuteriya, suddenly a bright light with so much intensity and power struck Rin's hand, which really did have an impact on it, leaving his hand all burnt up with a hole in his hand.
The searing flash illuminated the entire area for a split second, the air crackling with raw energy as the attack connected solidly. Pain flared visibly across Rin's features for a moment, smoke rising from the charred wound where a clean hole now pierced through his previously uninjured hand, the skin blackened and raw around the edges while golden eyes widened in genuine surprise.
Rin was surprised to see it was the boy who came looking for Chiyo at his place (Chiyo's friend) who threw that attack on him. The young boy stood with his arm still extended, residual light fading from his palm as his expression remained focused and resolute.
And he was so shocked because he didn't even sense anything from him — even with how bright the light was, he still didn't sense anything, meaning this boy is really strong.
The realization hit Rin hard, his newly muscular frame tensing as the unexpected power level registered fully.
What he had dismissed as a harmless boy chasing after his sister now revealed itself as something far more dangerous, capable of landing a clean, powerful strike without any detectable buildup of magical signature.
So now Rin's focus isn't on Bakuteriya anymore but on the boy as he moves towards him ready to attack the boy, his golden eyes locking onto the young figure with intense concentration while the burnt hand flexed slightly despite the damage, the dragon-embroidered robe shifting with each purposeful step forward.