Shuu woke up on the third day feeling rejuvenated and light as he walked to the mirror.

‘Woah, am I taller?’ Shuu said as he looked in the mirror. His cells worked overtime in restoring him to his new peak form. That was not the only change in his body as he noticed he had gained more mass and his body was looking chiselled.

‘Damn, I feel lighter again. This is incredible; Rc cells and a ghoul's regeneration are really something special. What a bodybuilder would achieve in six months or a track athlete would train so hard in six months or in a year to increase their output can be achieved in a month if they have a high amount of Rc cells like ghouls.’ Shuu looked at his arm in shock as he could quickly swing it as if nothing weighed him down.

Normally, most ghouls are complacent and ignore training themselves to increase their Rc cells, physicality, and their kagune output/mastery, but instead rely on feeding on human flesh or cannibalism, which is another method to increase one’s Rc level and get stronger, also known as the easy and effective way to attain strength as long as the ghoul isn’t killed in the process.

Shuu quickly summoned his system.

A black-bordered window with gold outlines appeared before his torso.

Title: Heir of Tsukiyama family, Captain of Iruka High Football team.

Race: Ghoul, (Human).

RC level: 4646.

Kagune type: Koukaku.

Kagune skill: Stab (39%), temporary shield (45%), temporary sword (38%),

Mana: Nil.

Divine Energy: Nil.

Chaos Energy: Nil.

Creation Energy: Currently limited to system creation.

Traits: Creation (15%), Assimilation (1%), Adaptability (69-73%^), Endurance (42-44%^), Stamina (45-48%^), Durability (5-26%*), Strength (20-24.3%^), Agility [Including reaction speed, reflexes, running speed, and movement.](22-25%^), Basic Regeneration (45-67%^) Basic charm (85%)*.

‘This is amazing; only my durability, endurance, stamina and possibly basic regeneration are higher than that of a ghoul in the peak of the S rank. I am at the peak of S rank at only sixteen! Soon I’ll catch up to the ghouls known as ‘Devil Ape’ and ‘Black Dog’.’ Shuu thought with excitement as he released a pressure unknown to him around his room.

Twenty seconds later, Shuu could sense three ghouls rushing to his door. His door was busted open as Matsumae, Mairo, and Kanae came rushing in as their ghoul's eyes (Kakugan) were activated. They stopped in their tracks when they felt where that pressure was coming from. The pressure Shuu released was bearable but strange since the ‘Shuu’ the group knew wasn’t at that level yet. But they had to acknowledge that their young master was now an S-class/S rank ghoul. They immediately knelt.

“Congratulations Shuu-sama on your status as an S rank ghoul!” They all said together. They, of course, know the pressure of an S rank ghoul since the family head is also an S rank ghoul.

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“Thank you all very much, soon this level of strength will only be a foundation in this family. Anyway, get out of here.” Shuu said waving them off as they nodded and left.

When they left the room, they all remembered what Shuu had told them about his dreams for the family. It was becoming more of a reality and just a matter of time. The future was looking bright with the way the heir of the Tsukiyama family became an S rank ghoul at sixteen.

Shuu finished his exercise and moved to the dining hall with a file in his hand, which he handed over to Matsumae. She looked at the file and shook her head while she sighed.

“Twenty-five weighted bracelets at 200kg each? Ten weighted bracelets at 500kg each? Seven weighted vests, 100kg each? One weighted vest at 300kg? Seven weighted poles, two metres long and 1000kg each? Shuu-sama, even for you isn’t that a bit too much? And it will take a while to produce them.” Matsumae said with hers wide, staring at Shuu who was eating.

“Who said it’s only for me? That reminds me, give the others another pair of bracelets as well. I can see that you have improved as well and the weights feel like nothing now, no?” Shuu said with his eyes focused on his food.

“That might be true for me, Mairo and Kanae. But the others are still adjusting themselves to the weights you gave them.” Matsumae spoke out of concern for Aliza. Shuu understood that she was referring to Aliza and Yumma but shook his head.

“That’s their problem. Do you think a ghoul investigator will be concerned about whether you can’t protect yourself in battle, or do you think they would excuse themselves and go their way and look for someone who can? Until my name exceeds that of that person (Arima Kishou), I am not strong enough to protect my loved ones with just the family name. There might come a time when I am not around, and Aliza would need to stand up for herself.” Shuu replied.

“What is this? Just because you are an S rank doesn’t mean I can’t fight you equally Shuu-sama. I am capable of protecting myself and the others if that time comes.” Matsumae said with her eyes closed.

“Matsumae, your kagune is truly exceptional and enviable indeed. But I think you need a demonstration to better understand. I wanted to do this after I attained SS rank and start training all of you, but for you, I’ll do this once before then. Meet me at the empty garage.” Shuu said as he finished his meal. He wiped his mouth with a clean napkin and took a sip of red wine and left for the garage.

Matsumae came out to meet Shuu at the garage ten minutes later in a black gym top and joggers. Mairo, on the other hand, was wondering where the young master was. Shuu will end up late at school if they don’t leave soon. He entered the mansion and asked Aliza for his whereabouts. He saw Aliza with Kanae having a conversation.

“Do you know that Miss Matsumae and Shuu-sama are going to spar right now?” Aliza asked Kanae.

“Wirklich (really)! Then let’s go and see it. Where are they?” Kanae asked excitedly.

Mairo had gotten what he needed from the conversation and waited for an answer from Aliza.

“Ok then let’s go, Yumma come along.” She turned to Yumma, who was doing the dishes and happily stopped to tag along.

“Shuu-sama, if you cancel now, it’s understandable. After all, you are still getting used to your S rank body; I don’t want to stunt your growth and hinder

“The Tsukiyama family’s rising heir.” Matsumae said with a straight face. She had every right to say what she said. Her kagune had long, mid, and short-ranged attacks. Her wall of thorns she used as a shield to aid escape or buy time is usually tactical for use in battle. She could also create a sword and a shield to fight with. She was also at the peak of the A rank and on the verge of breaking through to the S rank. Her potential if well nurtured is frightening.

“Vraiment (really), if I didn’t know any better it would seem that Matsumae is deflating any ego I might have left. As much as you are saying this, I won’t accept anything but your best attacks. You’d better enjoy having the chance to hit me while you still can before I become SS rank.” Shuu said as he put up his hands, squared his shoulders, his left foot forward, right foot back, and put some of his weight on his toes. The only fighting style he knew as an amateur was boxing. In fact, most ghouls don’t actually have good hand-to-hand and rely solely on their speed, power, and kagune; others on their instinct.

His opponent, however, was someone who Mirumo invested in and taught proper hand-to-hand and flexibility with her kagune. She is a seasoned fighter capable of taking on ghouls stronger than her, that’s why she isn’t too concerned about Shuu being stronger than most average S rank ghouls.

Mairo, Kanae, Aliza, and Yuuma arrived just outside the garage and were watching Shuu and Matsumae gauge each other as the air got heavier.

“Wow, they haven’t even started fighting yet but they seem scary already.” Aliza said offering her own piece of commentary.

“I hate to admit it but she is the strongest one here.” Kanae joined in the commentary.

“I don’t think Shuu-sama would lose too much; he would at least put up a decent fight. The two of us took out a rogue A rank ghoul together, and he fought starved, weakened, and weighed down as he kicked the rogue senseless. If he hadn’t stepped in at a decisive moment, I might have been forced to use my kagune in broad daylight.” Mairo said as he offered his own commentary too. Yumma simply watched the ghouls in the garage.

‘If there’s one thing I know, ghouls don’t like close combat.’ Shuu said as he shifted his body weight to his right foot and appeared before Matsumae. Matsumae saw his movement easily and prepared herself although in the eyes of Mairo, Aliza, and Yuuma, he simply vanished. Shuu jabbed at her continuously, and she evaded easily by bobbing her head left and right, and with some effort, she delivered a quick and powerful punch to Shuu’s sternum.

However, Shuu didn’t even move an inch and continued throwing his jabs. He saw the punch coming and had the time to block or evade and more time to counter it but let himself be open to check the integrity of his durability stat. After she landed the hit, he didn’t feel anything at all but continued jabbing. Matsumae knew that holding back now would not yield any positive result so heeded Shuu’s wishes and decided to give her best. She jumped back to distance herself a little but found Shuu in front of her immediately as planned. Her Kagune activated immediately, and a wall of dark thorny tentacles rose from the ground. Shuu had his S rank enhanced hearing to help him out here as he heard a little vibration on the ground under him and cartwheeled two times backward.

“Ho ho, look at how Shuu-sama evaded that sure hit from Matsumae-san!” Mairo said as his eyes shone brightly.

“Now that Matsumae-san has lost the initiative to win with that single move, I’m afraid that attack won’t work twice.” Kanae said pitching in her own commentary,

“Interesting, how did he know her attack was coming? We are not too far off from them, but I couldn’t hear anything in the ground.” Yuuma said with his hand on his chin as he brought a question to their commentary. Mairo and Kanae nodded in agreement, they also couldn’t hear anything.

Immediately Shuu landed in a balanced position from his cartwheel, Matsumae was in front of him with a kick that carried all her strength to Shuu’s liver. Shuu was fast but not experienced; that kick sent him flying a few meters. He couldn’t believe it; his stats should be higher than hers!

‘Wait, could it be that she has broken through the peak of the A rank and is at the early stages of the S rank? Impossible. She was only walking around with 200kg, she works a desk job mostly and hardly needs to stress herself. Could she just be that talented? I guess holding back and testing the waters would make me lose face in front of my retainers after all that big talk of taking over the 20th ward.’ Shuu thought as he was in mid-air but caught himself and landed gracefully with his hands spread out like angel wings.

“Tres bien (very good) Matsumae! Now why don’t get serious and come at me with your kagune?” Shuu said as he beckoned her.

To be continued.

Next chapter; DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH.