Those who ceaselessly hone their killing arts are known as "Masters."
After many generations, they have gained lethal abilities
called "Modified Bloodlines."
This is the story of one such Master, the Poison Master, Hikaru Gero,
and his attempts to get married.
I'm Mei Kinosaki.
Just your average, everyday marriage swindler.
Lately, I've been helping Gero look for a bride.
At least, that was the plan.
So what am I doing here?
This can't really be a job for a marriage advisor, can it?
This is Piichi.
We started out as enemies, but we both wanted to take down the Beast Clan,
so we teamed up.
Put simply, he's a freak.
His combat skills are off the charts,
and even after an explosion left him in bad shape,
he slept for ten hours and woke up good as new.
His dream is to open a café with his girlfriend,
and since their customers won't be able to relax with dangerous people around,
he's going to take down the Beast Clan.
Talk about a dangerous guy.
Looks like a back door.
He's not even a Master,
but he found the shortest route direct to the Beast Master's base.
Normal route
Shortcut
And he killed those tough guys called the "Five Beast Stars" in seconds.
I guess I've just kind of beat them?
And now...
It's that karate bear again?
Then, that guy over there must be...
The Beast Master?
Byakko. Buy me ten seconds.
Modified Bloodline++:
Modified Bloodline++
Pumped Up!
Pumped Up (Swollen Carcass)
Master Toshiro.
You may depend on me.
The criminal underworld is a den of fiends,
but some are shunned even by the Beast Clan. Outcasts.
They don't even forge bonds with their partners.
How are they in the Beast Clan?
I hear they used to be tough.
Now, though, they just play dress-up.
Mom?
I slipped up on the job.
How could they? They won't even treat you.
It's all right.
It's my fault for getting hurt.
That hospital is only for Beast Masters with partners.
Outcasts like us can't go there.
Even so...
Byakko.
I'm sorry.
At least give her medicine.
I promise I'll pay for it.
Please!
Mom?
Why?
It's too much.
I feel the same way.
I can't stand a single damn thing...
about this world that's so stuck in its shitty rules.
All the trash is prey.
We'll smash this crappy world together, just for us.
I was empty and Master Toshiro gave me something to fill myself with.
If he wishes it...
Maybe we should serve wild game in our café.
One strike.
I don't really think I'm fighting for justice or anything.
But if you're going to sacrifice people, Mr. Beast Master,
I'm going to need you to die.
Hey!
How long are you gonna lie there?
Forgive me, Master Toshiro.
I didn't mean it like that.
Look. It's complete.
Blood from 93 major and minor branches of the Beast Clan...
and blood from six Masters, including Gero blood, went into creating this.
I made it to order, just for you.
The Frankenbeast...
Frankenbeast: Hyakko
Hyakko.
Doesn't all that power feel incredible?
I regret to inform you that the moment you challenged me to a fight here,
you gave up any chance of victory.
Now, Mr. Gero, I suggest we get going.
I can't prep it for cooking with this.
What around here can I use as a weapon? Is there anything?
Something big.
And heavy.
And good for stabbing.
This is perfect.
A giant animal's bones?
I see.
It's faster and heavier than I thought.
It has incredibly light, incredibly tough muscles and bones.
And its nervous system lets it reshape the surface of its body at will.
He must have put a lot of work into making it.
So...
How about this?
If I blind you and get behind you,
I can deal you a fatal—
It predicted what I'd do?
No way.
It dodged? Will I block in time?
I might have to sacrifice an arm.
I hope it doesn't hurt.
"Why? Why can't I kill her?"
"Since the day I picked up a knife,
I've never had a problem killing anyone, Master or no."
Right...
Piichi?
There's no mystery here.
Hyakko's got my curated blend of Master bloodlines,
and your blood, too.
You're fighting...
an upgraded version of yourself.
Piichi!
Do you mind getting that?
Now?
It's my girlfriend.
Marin
Piichi? You won't believe what's happening!
Don't tell me Beast Clan assassins have...
Get this.
King Goose just announced...
their tenth anniversary tour!
Yay!
Aomori, Aichi, Fukuoka, and the Budokan.
The scramble for tickets is hell on earth.
So Piichi...
You'd better make room in your schedule.
It'd suck traveling all that way on my own.
See you.
That's it? I waited for you and everything.
That airhead can't read the room.
I'll dump her in the same grave as her psycho boyfriend later.
Kill him.
Marin...
knows everything.
She said all that because protecting my humdrum life with her...
is what gets me fired up.
Offering
Are you for real?
It's too late to start getting serious now!
I'll crush him.
Piichi!
How do I beat it?
Does it have a weak spot?
It can shapeshift? I bet they messed with its reflexes.
What kind of animal is that? How do I make up for height, weight, and toughness? Maybe the joints are weak? Did they mix a bunch of animals together? I guess that makes it a chimera. It needs Masters' blood to control it. Where's its heart? What if I burrow into it now? I'd probably get dissolved. If I had a durable weapon... I looked at the bones, but I don't know. Should I put it on our café's menu? No, there are better weapons I can use. Blind it and slow it down? It has lots of eyes, though. No, that might backfire. Animal senses are no joke. Do monsters have Achilles tendons? Oh, what about cruciate ligaments? You really can't walk without those. Would the pelt sell for a lot if I skinned it? But what kind of pelt would it be? I can't sell it without a name. Maybe its weak point is its tail? Should I try pulling it? It'd be a pain if it turns out it heals as soon as I hurt it. Should I try shouting special moves if I get desperate? I don't have any special moves, though. And it's not really my style. Could I maybe tame this thing somehow? An old survival show said, "Most things are edible if you put them on a fire." "Chimera mystery BBQ" sounds too wild for a café menu. Maybe if I get behind it... But what if it attacks with its tail? I think I'm as fast as it. If hitting it doesn't work, how about heat? Would it be good as steak? Could I make good soup stock out of it? What if we use the horns for decor? Should I list chimera as "cultured meat"? Minced chimera would basically just be mixed meats, right? I bet it could fit anything in that huge mouth. What do they feed it? A poster chimera, like a poster dog? It could work. How will Marin take it when I show it to her? I hope she gets those King Goose tickets.
A chimera lunch set?
My thoughts have...
always been a jumbled mess.
But now...
I can make that mess broader and deeper and freer than ever before.
This guy...
got one lousy phone call...
and changed completely?
Mind if I borrow your right arm?
He got a step ahead of my predictions.
I see. So this is how you move the arm.
But you know...
It could pack more of a punch.
How about this?
Yeah, that works.
I'm losing my grip on the nervous system.
I can't let this clown...
beat me.
We'll smash this crappy world together.
Sorry, but...
I've got to stop your boss.
Piichi?
A-Are you okay?
Let me just lie down for five minutes.
Huh?
Master Toshiro.
Please drain my blood to the very last drop.
It would be my honor to become your flesh and blood.
It really would.
Okay. We'd better get out of here for now.
Blood spray?
Okay, Byakko.
Let's bust up this crappy world full of trash together!
Piichi's in no shape to be moving around just yet.
At this distance...
Even I can get away—
Let's have some fun.
Sorry I kept you waiting, Kinosaki.
Gero!
And the Water Master! Thank you for coming!
I charge extra for that "Ushio Boost."
I'm not in top shape yet, but I can move a little.
Kinosaki.
I know you only agreed to be my marriage advisor. Sorry.
I'll make this quick...
so we can get back to dating practice.
The Beast Clan is one of the Five Great Families.
Our branch families tune their Modified Bloodlines
to only a single body part to help them communicate with their partners.
But the main family, the Dogo lineage, has no limits.
Our limbs, our organs, even our senses...
all come installed with and output the powers of beasts.
It turns us into monsters.
That's the origin of our Modified Bloodline: Beast Blood.
Sheep, goat, deer, camel, donkey, hippo, llama, buffalo, gnu, okapi,
bison, water buffalo, jackal, hyena, impala, serow, rhino, giraffe, caribou, oryx, kangaroo, giant anteater, tapir, fox, tanuki, boar, rabbit, weasel, marten, civet, stoat, otter, cuscus, flying squirrel, squirrel, koala, armadillo, porcupine, sloth, sealion, seal, fur seal, walrus, sea otter, capybara, beaver, coypu, lesser panda, mole, mongoose, orca, polar bear, platypus, narwhal, serpent, viper, crocodile, tortoise, snapping turtle, lizard, chameleon, iguana, frog, salamander, lamprey, eagle, hawk, kite, falcon, owl, crow, duck, pigeon, nightingale, sparrow, swallow, shrike, stork, ostrich, pelican, parrot, pheasant, emu, parakeet, cassowary, peacock, emperor penguin, king penguin, Humboldt penguin, gentoo penguin, squid, octopus, nautilus...
That's 93 species!
Plus six Masters makes a pelt with a cocktail of 99 bloodlines:
Hyakko!
Byakko unleashed her potential by wearing it.
But really, it's meant to be...
Prey!
It's an offering so that I, Toshiro Dogo, can become a monster.
Piichi!
Ushio!
Gero!
And after that heartwarming twist where you all teamed up to take me on...
Turns out, you're nothing special.
What's your problem?
Quit giving me that look if you wanna die painlessly.
If we all work together,
we can bust out of this place, no problem!
Forget it. We all feel it in our blood.
We feel the screams of our partners the Beast Master consumed.
Even if we did manage to break out, we could never escape that monster.
And you? You're the weakest of the branch families.
Ham!
It'll only hurt for a time. Soon, it'll all be over.
We've just got to clear our minds.
Gero? Three at once?
Toxin: Triple Dose!
Toxin: Triple Dose
He's already out cold.
A triple dose now?
You don't know when to quit.
That overdose has gotta hurt like hell!
I'll put you out of your misery...
using my life's work.
I'm glad I collected...
all that livestock blood!
Gero!
Making idle chitchat...
while you eat sure is great.
An overdose means death.
Surviving numerous attempts to find a bride has given you...
The eyesight of a falcon.
The jumping ability of a kangaroo.
The lethality of a cassowary.
I'll crush you before you awaken!
I wanna get married.
Translator: William Varteresian Timer: Andy Ellis Editor: SMR Quality Control: Salem Alabanza Final Quality Control: Michelle Tymon
One-on-one? I don't think so.
That overdose has gotta hurt like hell!
My bloodlust ran out ages ago.
I'll lap up every last drop!
You worthless nobodies!
It's eat or be eaten!
Blood is not a curse.
Heart and Soul
Next time: "Heart and Soul."