Ricardo Terror

Ricardo is surprisingly considerate for a professional criminal. He remains calm during dangerous situations, treats captives with a degree of courtesy, and can even apologize after using his disturbing ability against someone.

He also has a mischievous streak. Ricardo occasionally frightens people simply because he finds their reaction amusing, showing that his relationship with fear is not limited to practical combat.

His partnership with Ririka works partly because he is less aggressive than his appearance suggests. The two approach mercenary work professionally and are accustomed to operating as a coordinated pair.

As the Dread Choujin, Ricardo can exploit fear through his transformed appearance. Looking directly at him can subject a target to horrifying hallucinations that distort perception and make his body appear increasingly monstrous.

His ability can manifest a victim's fears in grotesque visual forms and produce intense psychological distress. Ricardo's own body possesses multiple eyes and tentacle-like facial structures associated with his Choujin form.

He is also physically formidable, with the durability and regenerative Raise expected of an experienced Choujin mercenary.

Ricardo enters the conflict after Nari's failed attempt to capture Tokio. Noh Mask hires Ricardo and Ririka to clean up the situation and continue pursuing the Choujin produced by the missing XEMBER injection.

Their intervention gives Tokio an early encounter with professional Choujin criminals whose powers are far more specialized than those of ordinary thugs.

Ricardo and Ririka continue operating in the criminal Choujin world after their initial assignment, remaining connected to Noh Mask while retaining the independence expected of mercenaries.

Ririka Umezawa is Ricardo's regular mercenary partner. Ricardo and Ririka Umezawa combine his psychologically overwhelming ability with her versatile paper constructs.

Noh Mask employs Ricardo for work involving Tokio and the missing XEMBER.

Nari Tsumiji's failure leads directly to Ricardo and Ririka receiving their assignment.

Tokio Kurohara becomes Ricardo's target, although Ricardo behaves with surprising civility toward him even while holding him captive.