Chapter 56 56: Wanna Talk?

Wiki Note: (Algol's verbal tic is "Al-chan is a super beauty!")

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The sudden appearance of Algol made Ryo's pupils contract—but oddly enough, he remained perfectly calm.

Algol, meanwhile, was busy adjusting her hair, checking her reflection in the mirror from every angle. Only after confirming that every curl was to her satisfaction did she place one hand on her hip and glance sideways.

"What's wrong? Cat got your tongue?"

Only then did she notice Ryo's face. She lifted her eyes and gave a casual look of appraisal. "Not bad-looking. If you get on your knees and beg, maybe—just maybe—Al-chan will let you live."

She was clearly in the mood to toy with her prey.

Hardly anyone ever dared to challenge the game field that bound her. Most of the time, she was alone in this space. Sure, she could summon a demon or two for amusement, but they didn't hold a candle to a real, breathing human.

Her plan? Play with him a little… and kill him right before he broke.

Cruelty, pure and simple—like a cat batting around a mouse.

But instead of reacting, Ryo just sat down. Left leg bent, right foot upright.

Calm as ever, he stared straight at Algol and said: "Wanna talk?"

Algol paused mid-pose, tilting her head. "Do you… not understand what's happening right now?"

"Al-chan doesn't talk to ugly ghosts."

And with that—RUMBLE—

The tiled floor beneath them began to tremble.

Starting from where Algol stood, the entire palace floor lit up with demonic energy.

Naturally, Ryo was caught within its range.

Whoosh—!

But in a flash of motion, Ryo used Sonido to silently evade the effect zones. Not a single trace of Algol's demonic energy could catch him.

For the next twenty seconds, he blinked from spot to spot like a phantom—until he reappeared in the exact same place he started.

Sitting down again.

Left leg bent. Right foot up.

He looked her in the eye.

"…First time."

Then, calmly: "Wanna talk?"

"…HUH?!"

Algol's pitch jumped. She finally tore her gaze away from the mirror and turned toward him, eyes narrowing.

"You've got a little spiritual power, sure—but you've got some nerve acting cocky in front of me."

"Didn't your elders teach you to respect your betters?"

Her gaze locked onto him now, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of her lips.

"Go on, try that stunt one more time."

Her eyes turned pitch black.

She activated her power again—this time, targeting Ryo directly.

The moment he sensed it, Ryo drew his Zanpakutō without hesitation and called out its Shikai:

"Rule over all —Byakuya!"

In a flash, he transformed—white hair, black horns, demonic aura radiating like a storm.

Zzzk—zzzzk!

The demonic energy and his Reiatsu clashed violently inside him, fighting for control over his spiritual core.

In that instant, Ryo's body was split down the middle—one side Demonic, the other Spirit. Even his human nature started to blur.

But then—within his soul—the Hōgyoku shimmered faintly.

And just like that, the transformation halted.

Ryo's form stabilized—his silver hair and black horns returned, his expression cool and composed. The demonified distortions in his body faded away as he sat back down, once again in the same pose.

"…Second time."

He sounded like a machine—cold and precise—as he asked once more: "Wanna talk?"

This time, Algol raised an eyebrow and studied him seriously.

"That aura… That form... What are you? Some bastard child of the Shiroyasha?"

Ryo didn't answer. His stare remained fixed on her, unwavering.

She got the message loud and clear—unless she agreed to "talk," she wouldn't be getting any answers out of him.

Instead of anger, Algol chuckled.

Was it that she had lost her touch?

Or had the world outside Little Garden gotten so ridiculous that even a mere five-digit dared to stand up to her?

Sure, this guy's abilities were a bit strange.

Sure, he might be tied to the Shiroyasha.

But even so— "Al-chan is angry now!"

"Disrespectful little pests like you deserve to be turned to stone and crushed under my heel!"

Her blackened eyes locked onto Ryo's face.

Medusa's Petrification—Activated!!

Zzzkk—

Ryo's skin immediately began to turn a pale, cement-like gray.

It was the Gift to petrify all things—a divine authority born from the Divinity she had inherited as Medusa.

But just then, Ryo pushed the Hōgyoku to its limit.

His eyes turned bottomless black, irises glowing with a gem-like mix of blue and violet.

The stone transformation slowed.

Weakened.

And then—completely reversed.

Algol watched in shock as her petrification lost all effect. It didn't just fail—it was overwritten.

"…He hijacked my Gift?"

Her voice was full of disbelief. Sure, she was partially sealed and hadn't used her full strength…

But even a weakened petrification should've been more than enough to overwhelm a typical four-digit.

So how did a five-digit like Ryo resist it?

Does he have a high-tier divine Gift—comparable to a top-tier four-digit?

She fell silent, staring at him.

And this time… she didn't find his gaze unpleasant.

Instead, she met it. Calmly. Like an equal.

Once the petrification faded, Ryo shifted his posture again and said quietly:

"…Third time."

"Wanna talk?"

At last, Algol lowered the mirror in her hand. She was taking him seriously now.

Anyone who could face her head-on—even a weakened attack—deserved at least that much.

"So… what is it you want to talk about?"

Ryo didn't speak right away. He slowly closed his eyes—then reopened them, expression as cold and unreadable as ever.

"…Freedom."

Algol scoffed.

She didn't believe for a second that someone like him could give her that.

"…Or maybe—beauty."

That made her pause.

She raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued.

As one of the oldest goddesses of beauty, she held impossibly high standards when it came to appearance—bordering on obsession.

So when Ryo mentioned that—Her curiosity was piqued.

"…You wanna talk about beauty?"

Ryo glanced at her and gave a slight nod.

"…Alright. Al-chan will give you a chance."

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