I feel a penetrating gaze observing me fixedly from the shadows.
Of course, it's not the normal gaze a human can emit. It's an intense and dangerous gaze.
After a few seconds, the owner of that gaze jumps from atop the fifth floor of the only nearby tall building. She falls in free fall before landing softly a few meters away from me.
Her feet make no sound touching the ground despite wearing heeled boots.
The light of the full moon shines on her face revealing her beautiful features.
Mrs. Kiriko.
I see that in her right hand she holds an elongated pole. Or would it be more correct to call it a spear due to how elaborate it is? With engravings along the shaft, and a metal tip that looks quite intimidating.
'Ah, I remember Rei mentioned a few days ago that she wielded spears. And that her mother was the one who taught her.'
Mrs. Kiriko has a neutral expression on her beautiful face as she begins to speak in a calm voice.
"You're quite perceptive. I'm sure I erased my presence."
She walks toward me, stopping just one meter away.
From this close position I see how her red eyes glow crimson.
"I have a question for you, Mrs. Kiriko. And I hope you won't mind answering it. Why do you manipulate your own family's minds?"
I don't try to hide the disgust in my voice.
"As far as I know, there are no ghouls with powers capable of manipulating the minds of other beings. That must be a vampire's power, right? Which means you're one of them."
She responds in a flat tone.
"You've guessed correctly that I'm a vampire. But the other part... Would I go so far as to call it manipulation? Why not consider calling it a form of protection? Humans aren't made to know some truths. It's easier and safer for them to live in ignorance."
"One is your daughter. And the other is your husband. Both wanted to take me home because they're worried about my wellbeing. And you modify those wills?"
She slowly closes her eyes and sighs. When she opens them again a cold flash crosses her red pupils.
The next moment I see the sharp tip of her spear approaching my face at surprising speed.
'So she'll attack...'
I think as I react instantly.
'Well, since it turned out this way.'
At the same time I raise my right hand, my fingers transform into sharp blades. I put them directly in front of the spear tip, intercepting it.
—Clang!
Where the spear tip impacts against my Knife Fingers, bright sparks scatter.
—Buzzt! Bzzt!
As a consequence of the tremendous force of the being attacking me, my entire body is violently thrown through the air backward.
I roll several uncontrolled turns in the air. And in that moment while spinning I see I'm going to crash into a metal light post.
'If that happens the electricity will be cut in many places in the area.'
It mustn't happen. It'll attract the attention of curious people. I want to have a quiet and private moment with Mrs. Kiriko.
When I'm almost about to impact the light post, I flip my body in such a way that my foot makes contact first with the metal. I bend my knees absorbing the impact and cushion my weight so as not to damage or break the post.
This would have been impossible before.
My strength was growing nonstop and I didn't have complete control over it. But as I've fed on supernatural beings, my control over my strength and abilities has also increased significantly.
I look forward and fix my eyes on Mrs. Kiriko.
As I get down to the ground from the light post, I propel myself launching directly toward her.
I see how Mrs. Kiriko puts on a mocking expression. From the frequencies she emits I know the reason for her mockery and confidence.
After all, I'm unprotected launching myself head-on this way. And since I'm currently in the air without my feet touching the ground, I have no methods to dodge.
Knowing I can do nothing to protect myself or dodge, the vampire lady pushes her spear forward with all her strength aiming at my head.
When the sharp tip is barely a centimeter from piercing my face...
I laugh out loud.
—Splash! Squish!
A sound occurs like when the surface of water is violently struck by a hand. And at the same time behind my back appear dark and viscous tentacles covered with small hard scales.
Kiriko's eyes widen.
I manipulate one of my tentacles to appear before me. The tentacle quickly wraps around the spear along with Mrs. Kiriko's delicate hand and pulls it forcefully to one side.
The spear along with the coiled tentacle pass beneath my chest, avoiding the strike.
Then I manipulate the remaining tentacles and slam them against the hard ground.
—Whooom!
That makes my body propel over Mrs. Kiriko in an arc.
She still holds her spear because of the tentacle squeezing it. Being pulled so abruptly, she loses her balance.
But even in that unfavorable situation she maintains a flat expression without panic.
Observing all of that while flying over her, I twist my body in the air. While my tentacle releases Mrs. Kiriko's hand and spear, I use all my remaining tentacles simultaneously.
I slam them all together against her from above.
—Boooom!
A huge and thunderous explosion is heard. Gray smoke clouds rise from the struck ground and cover the place.
A silhouette is violently thrown, sweeping through the smoke curtain with her body.
Mrs. Kiriko is thrown over the entire road, traveling an impressive distance. Only dark blurs can be seen left behind by her speed.
—Crash! Crash! Crash!
Her body bounces several times against the pavement before stopping.
I land on the ground and look at my tentacles moving behind me.
"They're quite useful."
It's surprisingly easy to use the kagune.
I don't know if this happens to all ghouls who recently get their kagune, or if for them it'll be difficult to use and they have to train it arduously.
Mrs. Kiriko disappears from the ground and suddenly appears in front of me in a dark blur.