Master Hikaru.
The origin of the Modified Bloodline passed down in the Gero family,
the Poison Blood,
grows in power the nearer you come to death.
In other words, it gains potency in proportion to your experience.
You will reach the next stage in 20 years at the soonest.
Your goal is that pinnacle.
An utterly lethal, incurable poison.
Until you achieve that,
you must never take risks beyond your ability.
You may be fit to inherit the Poison Clan...
He's already out cold.
A triple dose now?
You don't know when to quit.
That overdose has gotta hurt like hell!
...but an overdose will still kill you.
You must accustom yourself to toxins gradually.
Surviving numerous attempts to find a bride has given you a gift.
Hikaru Gero's Poison Blood.
It has gained decades of compressed experience
and mutated to reach that realm.
I wanna get married.
He has blossomed...
...to the next stage.
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.
He did it.
Hikaru Gero.
Your hits seriously bore me.
I've got a mountain of corpses piled up behind me.
This is the pride of the Five Great Families.
Poison won't do you any good.
I've got your blood in me.
Hikaru Gero.
You've increased your lethal dose.
You're moving far faster than you did back then.
But it's not enough.
You're the most gifted of our generation, no doubt about that.
I got this power through years of preparation,
and you've pulled something out of nowhere to match it.
That pisses me off.
It's a waste.
Hey, Gero! Yeah, you!
Why don't you turn your talent to killing?
You said you just want to protect your buddies, yeah?!
An assassin protecting people? Don't make me laugh.
You'll never take me out with that attitude.
I bet standing there looking cocky is taking all you've got.
From here on out, skill and talent don't matter.
A fight between assassins comes down to...
who's got the deeper, darker bloodlust!
Toshiro Dogo's ultimate ace in the hole:
Beast Blood—Unleashed The Hundred-Beast Stampede
Beast Blood—Unleashed! The Hundred-Beast Stampede!
The life force of all 93 animals I put into Hyakko...
manifested in parallel!
You're right.
It passed through him?
My bloodlust ran out ages ago.
Right now, I just want to get my hands on...
something like regular old happiness.
He's dodging at the last possible moment?
Where'd he find the strength for that?
While looking for a bride with Kinosaki, I realized something.
I'll never be able to grasp that on my own.
Lending someone else a hand is the only way...
I can see myself ever finding happiness.
Show's over, Beast Master.
Corporal Kodoku.
Over a long span of time, the numerous poisons stored in your body
devour each other and grow more refined.
Modified Bloodline Increments unleash the blood's potential. Its heart and soul.
Those etched into the blood of the Five Great Families are of another order.
Your toxin's effects...
will depend on the nature of the Corporal Kodoku you cultivate.
But once you master it, it will be incurable.
A poison that kills all it touches without fail.
And that is...
Poison Blood—Unleashed Single Radiant Burst
Poison Blood—Unleashed! Single Radiant Burst!
Nice job wasting your time.
I've got your immunity to—
The hell kind of poison is this?
I can't neutralize it fast enough.
Oh, I get it.
You finally got yourself the Mega Ultra SSR of blood.
He cut his arms off himself?
I'm loving this, Gero.
I can soar a hell of a lot higher.
Get outta here.
Get outta here. Get outta here.
A creature born only to fight to the death.
A pure beast!
Come at me with everything you've got!
I'll lap up every last drop!
All the bloodlust soup you can serve me!
How else is a killer supposed to live?
As if a Poison Master would ever come at you...
...head-on.
Hey!
I can't see shit.
Hey, Gero! What the hell?
I can't hear, either!
Not a thing!
It will be incurable.
A poison that kills all it touches without fail.
That is the quintessence of the Poison Master's art.
Heart and Soul
Am I seriously gonna die?
Me?
After the shit-ton of effort I've put in,
and all the prey I've eaten...
my fangs never reached them?
If that's how it's gonna be...
I'll at least squeeze out all the life I've got left in me...
and take you to hell with me!
Hey, Gero.
You'd rather die than let anything happen to these guys, yeah?
We fought one-on-one...
and you lose!
One-on-one? I don't think so.
Ham!
Looks like I kept you all waiting.
The Hamster Master?
I can't move.
Why not?
Why?
Why are you standing?
You're the weakest of us.
Listen to me!
I get how scared you all are.
We're up against beasts that have given in to rage,
and been absorbed by the king of beasts.
But...
I want you to remember.
We're Masters who each specialize in a single beast.
Who knows more about making friends with violent animals than us?
So...
They're not our enemies.
They're our irreplaceable partners.
Ham!
Pii, baby, what's the matter?
Y-You... livestock!
They called out to the beasts inside me and tamed them.
Beast Master.
This was never just me against you.
It was all of us fighting to break free of our shackles.
Shit. Shit!
You worthless nobodies!
I knew I could count on you, Hamster Master.
Ham!
The rite of the Beast Blood.
The Rite of the Beast Blood
On our 13th birthdays, members of the Beast Clan's main family
receive the partners we'll spend our lives with from the head of the clan.
Toshiro is diligent and sincere,
fit to inherit leadership of the clan. A tiger or a wolf would suit him best.
The head of the Beast Clan will now bestow...
on Toshiro Dogo the beast that will become his partner.
Why?
I respectfully accept this gift.
Those eyes had said it all.
"You don't have what it takes to lead."
"A bat's good enough for you."
I bet my skill scares you. You don't want me taking over.
Right?
Fine, then.
Have it your way.
I'll kill your ass and take over!
Just watch me!
Why am I still alive?
Hikaru Gero's the heir to the Poison Clan, and I got hit by his deadliest toxin.
Why am I not dead? Why?
Your toxin's effects...
will depend on the nature of the Corporal Kodoku you cultivate.
This toxin is my will.
I don't want to kill you, and I don't want to beat you.
I just want to help Arashiyama and the others.
The blood of the Five Great Families
is a curse.
For those born with it, it's eat or be eaten!
You know that as well as I do!
Blood isn't a curse.
I'll spend my life proving that.
I'm into DIY candy kits.
I vibe with things that take some work.
What are you, stupid?
Mr. Beast Master.
Are you hiding any other dangerous plans?
Unless you come clean—
Byakko, what the hell?
Master Toshiro.
I will stand by you again.
From zero.
You're not going anywhere.
And you are?
I see my brother has been bothering you.
I am the newly appointed head of our clan.
Beast Master, Tonako Dogo.
Translator: William Varteresian Timer: Andy Ellis Editor: SMR Quality Control: Salem Alabanza Final Quality Control: Michelle Tymon
Real talk. Arashiyama's into you.
Oh, for the love of... How are they this slow?
Training of a thousand torments?!
You mean she likes me? For real? You're not pulling my leg?
Leave it to me. I promise I'll make sure you have a happy marriage.
I nearly died and I've never been better!
I like you!
Thanks, Man
Next time: "Thanks, Man."