[center][h1]The 13th Hierarchical City of Kagutsuchi- [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIJvb_6fF2I]The Puppeteer[/url] and [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_ONrVHTPR8]the Corrupted[/url][/h1][/center]

The man glanced at Hibiki, shaking his head in disapproval at her attempt at trying to talk him and his partner down. Truly, a naive little girl she was; that was exactly the phenomenon he wished to observe, after all. The fact that his son was wrapped up in all this made little difference to him, but if these people were to interfere, then every bit of information he could have gleaned would be lost, possibly forever.

And he couldn't have that, could he?

"I'm sorry to say that I must reject that proposition. And seeing as how your... Friends... Seem as if they're about to fight anyhow, it seems like the time for talk is over. The sooner I finish here, the sooner I can return to my studies."

With a flourish, the man spread his arms, causing the puppet behind him to seemingly disappear into thin air.

"Oh, how boorish of me, I almost forgot to introduce myself. My name... Is Relius Clover. I shall be your opponent; I sincerely hope you are worth pulling my attention away from my research."

As he concluded his introduction, Relius quickly leaped forward towards the man in green, a large mechanical arm appearing from what seemed to be under his cape launching its fist in an uppercut.

"Arakune! Incapacitate the girls! You may injure, but do NOT kill! I shall handle these two!"

The blob seemed to heed Relius' commands and, after a momentary shiver, leaped into the air before disappearing into the ground.

It only took a second, however, for the thing to appear from right under the two and attempt to engulf them within its mass.