"A fusion with the soul's true form, is it..."
Seeing Seishu Akoya's appearance transform into such a bizarre and terrifying, beast-like form, Ye Xing shook his head and spoke with a light laugh.
"Your transformation is rather disgusting, far less pleasing to the eye than the members around me."
That was the truth.
Among the current members of the Supernatural Society, only three had mastered the ability to fuse with their soul's true form: Miko Yotsuya, Rio Futaba, and Mai Sakurajima.
If Yui Yuigahama's incomplete fusion was included, that made four.
Miko Yotsuya, needless to say, merely gained a few eye-like patterns on her body, not actual eyeballs.
Rio Futaba's fusion allowed her to create weapons of spiritual bone from her palms and joints, primarily enhancing her close-combat abilities, with no significant change to her appearance.
As for Mai Sakurajima...
When she fused, it was as if she hadn't fused at all; the only difference was the spiritual petals drifting around her, capable of interfering with evil spirits, slowing their movements or even halting them completely.
Although Yui Yuigahama's soul's true form wasn't humanoid, when fused, it appeared as an illusion covering her body. If it had a long snake tail...
That would actually be quite intriguing - exactly what one would want from a snake-tailed maiden.
In contrast, Seishu Akoya's soul true form fusion was downright monstrous - utterly unsightly and hideous beyond measure.
"Is this the true face of your so-called justice?"
Ye Xing stared directly at the Seishu Akoya before him, casually twirling Onimaru Kunitsuna in his hand before sheathing it.
"Indeed, it's something twisted and ugly."
Seishu Akoya clenched his fists, emitting an inhuman roar from his throat. His massive body left behind an afterimage as he shot toward Ye Xing like a cannonball.
"This... is my justice!"
Boom!
Ye Xing raised his left arm to block in front of himself. With a thunderous crash, the entire building shook.
Seishu Akoya's all-out charge was clearly not something easily withstood.
After crashing through several walls in succession, he actually managed to push Ye Xing's body straight through the building, both of them falling toward the ground simultaneously.
...
Meanwhile, on the street outside the Metropolitan Police Department headquarters building.
It was currently rush hour, with an endless stream of vehicles on the road and pedestrians walking in small groups - office workers after work, students after school, chatting casually as they walked.
When a tremendous crash sounded from above, everyone instinctively stopped and slowly looked up.
What met their eyes was two people and several large pieces of rubble rapidly falling toward the ground, growing larger in their vision.
All the pedestrians panicked and immediately scattered into the surrounding area. Only one girl with flaxen-pink long hair, wearing a Sobu High School uniform, stood still as if she hadn't heard anything, watching the fleeing people with confusion in her eyes.
And a piece of broken stone was falling straight toward the girl's head.
At this critical moment, a figure instantly appeared before the girl. One hand pressed on her shoulder, forcing her to crouch down, while the other hand and upper body became her shield.
Crash!
Amid the billowing dust, the ground visibly shook.
The girl covered her ears at the muffled sound beside her, then cautiously looked upward.
What met her eyes was a beautiful, cold face she knew quite well.
"If you're not injured, get away quickly."
Yui Yuigahama, standing over ten meters away, breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing this.
Fortunately, Kazusa Touma was present.
The moment she saw the building being smashed through, Yui Yuigahama couldn't help but freeze momentarily when faced with such a sudden incident.
From the giant rock falling to the ground, less than two seconds had passed in total.
For Kazusa Touma to react so quickly and choose the most appropriate method to save that girl demonstrated her remarkable mental fortitude in remaining calm during critical moments—she was practically a natural-born exorcist.
However, there was one thing...
Watching Kazusa Touma's slender, tall figure, a complex expression crossed Yui Yuigahama's face as she couldn't help but think:
She awakened her Soul Materialisation ability on Tuesday... today is Friday, only three days have passed...
How has her physical fitness already reached the same level as mine?
Could it be... that in just three nights, Kazusa Touma has obtained more... milk than I have in over two months!?
What kind of gifted succubus constitution is this?
Kazusa Touma, the War Goddess, truly lives up to her reputation—fighting the boss alone, yet still able to walk normally during the day, and persisting for three consecutive days!
Yui Yuigahama decided then: from now on, Kazusa Touma would serve as the team's main tank, striving to conquer the SSS-level super boss—Kyoto's number one eroge player—as soon as possible.
The girl wearing the Sobu High School uniform looked up at Kazusa Touma before her, parted her lips as if wanting to say something, but ultimately just gestured with her hands before struggling to her feet and running off into the distance.
"What was she comparing? Sign language?"
Kazusa Touma shook her head, turning her gaze toward the centre, where the dust was thickest and completely obscured what was happening. Gritting her teeth, though reluctant, she began retreating backwards.
Without transforming her Soul Materialisation power into defence, displaying such superhuman strength with her true appearance was far too risky.
Kazusa Touma and Yui Yuigahama's original mission was only to serve as a final insurance policy.
No matter how worried she was about Ye Xing's safety, seeing some among the recovering bystanders already pulling out their phones to record, she had no choice but to make this decision.
As the dust gradually settled, two figures standing on the cracked ground became visible.
When the crowd recognised the coat with its hem burning with black flames and the pure black Mask, cheers immediately erupted around them.
"Is that... Mask!?"
"Oh my god, it's Mask themself!"
"Is this another sudden dangerous incident?"
"With Mask here, there's nothing to worry about—everything will be fine!"
"Go, Mask!"
Like a superhero's entrance, enthusiastic cheers filled the surroundings.
But when the dust completely cleared, and everyone saw Seishu Akoya standing there, they suddenly fell silent.
Seishu Akoya had now returned to his previous normal human appearance. The symbol representing the Kyoto Metropolitan Police Department on his riot armour stood out glaringly.
"Is that... a member of the Metropolitan Police Department?"
"I think I've seen him a few times on the news... What was his name... Akoya something...?"
"Ah, I remember now! Seishu Akoya, known as the strongest officer in the Metropolitan Police Department!"
Normally, information about members of subordinate units, such as the mobile force within the Metropolitan Police Department, would be absolutely confidential, let alone details about high-ranking commanders like Seishu Akoya.
However, even before awakening his spiritual power, Seishu Akoya's mind hadn't been quite right.
He had appeared in news reports multiple times, revealing confidential information like his name, age, and home address without the slightest hesitation—almost as if he wanted everyone to know.
This was Seishu Akoya's way.
His twisted sense of justice could no longer derive even the slightest satisfaction from merely arresting criminals.
To him, it was pure torture to witness evil right before his eyes, yet be unable to eliminate it personally due to Metropolitan Police Department regulations.
But if he encountered an attack planned by criminals during off-duty hours, that was different.
Even if he killed them using brutal means, as long as no firearms were involved, it would be considered absolute self-defence, completely free from any complications.
Using himself as bait to lure criminals into retaliatory attacks, then carrying out cruel acts indistinguishable from vigilante justice to satisfy his distorted craving for righteousness—this was the solution Seishu Akoya had devised.
That's why, among the surrounding crowd, some could recognise this exceptionally built, distinctive-looking man hailed as the strongest in the Metropolitan Police Department.
"Officer Akoya... why is he fighting Mask...?"
"Could it be... that Mask is a criminal?"
"What are you saying!? No way, Mask is Kyoto's hero!"
"But... Officer Akoya is from the Metropolitan Police Department. The news reported he's accomplished many great deeds... So... which side represents justice?"
Hearing the crowd's murmurs, Seishu Akoya—though a trickle of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth—revealed a crazed, twisted expression in his eyes. He casually wiped the blood away with his hand, stared directly into Ye Xing's eyes, and slowly spoke.
"See? Even if they usually worship you as a hero, the Metropolitan Police Department—no, I, who represent the Metropolitan Police Department—am absolute justice!"
In Seishu Akoya's mind, he already envisioned Mask becoming flustered, vehemently denying the accusations, and ultimately revealing his true nature before everyone's eyes.
What was Mask's true nature?
In Seishu Akoya's eyes, he was no so-called hero—just a criminal who, relying on formidable power, acted lawlessly across Kyoto, basking in the praise of a hero while committing evil deeds. That was all.
What Seishu Akoya didn't expect, however, was that, faced with the crowd's doubts, Mask simply shook his head. His eyes showed none of the anticipated anxiety or rage of being exposed—no emotion at all, nothing. If anything...
There was only a sort of... pity from a superior being?
"Is that all?"
Ye Xing looked at Seishu Akoya standing opposite him, his tone carrying a relaxed laugh as he shrugged with complete indifference.
"Is this all you call methods?"
"Whether you see me as a hero, a criminal, or even a demon – it doesn't matter."
"I simply don't care."
Ye Xing slowly walked up to Seishu Akoya, his left fist cutting through the air with a whistling sound as it aimed for Akoya's face. His tone remained light with laughter, yet the words he spoke sent chills down Akoya's spine.
"Only those unbound by anything are truly free."
Boom!
Seishu Akoya immediately clenched his fist to meet the blow. Their fists collided mid-air, causing the surrounding air to tremble, while the ground beneath their feet cracked even more severely.
Crack.
Hearing this crisp sound and feeling the intense pain shooting through his arm, Akoya's expression changed involuntarily.
"How is this possible…"
What Akoya feared wasn't the pain.
But that he had been overpowered in terms of explosive punching force during their clash?
Impossible, absolutely impossible!
He had clearly obtained new power...
Originally the strongest in the Metropolitan Police Department, after gaining this power, he should have been able to publicly punish the furious Mask with the most cruel methods, just like the criminals he had killed before, revealing the Mask after delivering justice...
This was exactly how it should have been.
So why?
"Why... has it come to this!?"
"Huh?"
Seeing the look of utter disbelief on Seishu Akoya's face, Ye Xing appeared somewhat surprised as he retorted.
"You didn't actually think you could win, did you?"
After saying this, Ye Xing grabbed both of Akoya's wrists. His hands, now transformed into black and white ghost hands, slowly tightened their grip, gradually crushing the bones in the other's wrists as he continued with a laugh.
"If you don't start merging soon, you're going to die here."
"Heh... hahahaha..."
Hearing these words, Seishu Akoya suddenly burst into mad laughter, abruptly leaning close to Ye Xing's face. His originally firm and handsome features had now twisted into something barely human.
"You want me to die as a monster? To prove you're some kind of hero? Impossible..."
"Either kill me right here, or else..."
Before Akoya could finish, Ye Xing suddenly nodded with great seriousness.
"Alright then, mate, I'm all about taking advice."
The next moment, Ye Xing used his right hand to grip Seishu Akoya's neck while his left hand shot out, directly piercing through the other's chest and seizing the still-beating heart.
"Goodbye."
Thump.
With the dull sound of the heart being crushed, Seishu Akoya's hands dropped limply, his eyes filled with disbelief. Until the moment of death, he couldn't believe that the other had actually killed him so decisively, without hesitation, in full public view – despite him wearing the Metropolitan Police Department tactical operations uniform.
"Hmm?"
After crushing Seishu Akoya's heart and confirming that the other had lost his life aura, Ye Xing slightly furrowed his brows and murmured to himself.
"No soul... so that's how it is..."
Ye Xing casually tossed Seishu Akoya's corpse aside, then turned to look at the onlookers who were watching him with fearful eyes as they stared at the blood on his body. He chuckled lightly and spoke.
"Alright, work's done. See you."
With that, his figure vanished from the spot.
...
That evening, at Ye Xing's home.
"This incident has been successfully resolved, but..."
Rio Futaba swiped through her tablet, shook her head helplessly, placed it on the coffee table before her, and sighed to the members present.
"See for yourselves."
The members looked at the screen, where they saw the headline of a news report.
[Publicly killing the Metropolitan Police Department's mobile unit commander - is the person hidden beneath the mask a hero or a criminal?]
Mai Sakurajima slightly furrowed her brows and extended her pale index finger to swipe the screen again. Below were more news headlines, all about today's incident.
[Surviving a high-altitude fall? An act of silencing witnesses to conceal mysterious powers?]
[Metropolitan Police Department member killed - why has Chief Yagami and the Kyoto Metropolitan Police Department remained silent?]
[Undercurrents! Power struggles within the Metropolitan Police Department?]
[Has Mask become a tool for those in high positions to eliminate dissidents?]
"These people..."
Looking at these clearly malicious headlines written purely for sensationalism, Mai Sakurajima clenched her teeth, her pretty face unusually angry.
Having been an actress before, she particularly detested these unscrupulous media outlets.
"Ye Xing, don't take it to heart, they're just making things up..."
Mai Sakurajima turned her head, but halfway through her sentence, she saw Ye Xing looking completely unconcerned, even opening his mouth to eat snacks being fed to him by Kazusa Touma.
Seeing this scene, Mai Sakurajima couldn't help but roll her eyes, feeling both annoyed and amused.
She must have been out of her mind to think Ye Xing would be affected by these news reports.
In this world, there were probably only two things that could pressure this guy.
One was Yui Yuigahama's cooking, and the other was the so-called harem showdown.
Thinking a few baseless news articles could pressure Ye Xing?
Don't make her laugh.
"This news..."
After carefully reading the content of the news reports, Mai Sakurajima couldn't help but sigh.
Not only Mask, but even Criminal Affairs Director Soichiro Yagami had been implicated in this incident, since the deceased was the Metropolitan Police Department's mobile unit commander.
Some news outlets were already speculating that this was a bloody incident triggered by power struggles within the Metropolitan Police Department, even claiming with certainty that Seishu Akoya hadn't carried out any operations since Soichiro Yagami took office, which they said was strong evidence for this argument.
Just then, the phone in Ye Xing's pocket suddenly rang.
He glanced at the number displayed on the screen, directly activated speakerphone mode, and spoke with a smile.
"Hello."
"What do you mean, hello?!"
From the other end of the phone came Natsumi Suga's voice tinged with anxiety.
"What did you mean by the text message you sent me?"
Hearing this, the members present all straightened up, giving Ye Xing meaningful looks as he sat there.
The women thought to themselves - as expected, your relationship with that beautiful reporter, Natsumi Suga, isn't just purely professional.
Harem God, are you even targeting older women now?
However, Natsumi Suga's following words made the members present realise they had misunderstood.
"What do you mean by don't write reports supporting Mask!? Mask isn't at all what they're claiming! As a media professional, this is exactly when I should be fighting back hard! Otherwise, wouldn't I be ungrateful!?"