Commander Ryouiki lost all joy in modifying Yuso's will for his life, glowering resentfully at the eighteen-year-old redhead. Become Lucifer's successor. Where in Ryouiki's directives did he instruct Yuso to be such? He was told to betray and forget his family rather than follow the beliefs of the bloodline's most infamous member.
The flames of multiple nearby candles wavered as an invisible force of magic was expelled in every direction, anger seeping out of the older man.
"Maybe… it's me." Ryouiki spoke cryptically, exhaling to relieve himself of the tension within his body. "But I will not let you ruin this for me!"
Yuso merely stared at his master with a bleak expression, his heterochromatic eyes angering the older man. Amidst his ire, Ryouiki reminded himself of the next step in his plan, tearing his gaze away from the restrained redhead before him.
"No matter—you've still conceded to the prospect of killing Lord Shuji. Kill anybody that interferes. Let nobody stop you, Yuso." Ryouiki spoke, his gruff voice bouncing off the walls of the facility.
Nodding, Yuso hastily replied, "Yes, Master."
Stretching out his right hand, Ryouiki flashed the second curse he had in his possession: the stone eyeball that had a pentagram for an iris. The older man's hand shook as he held it, inspecting the curse sphere's flawless form. Not a scratch or dent was on it.
"This is one of two curses: Shirugeto. When the user spins the curse clockwise, it opens portals in space that either allow the transportation of anything that enters or can be utilized as a shield; when spun counter clockwise, however, the portals swallow anything in its way." Ryouiki spoke carefully, his eyes flitting between the curse and the redhead.
Yuso remained silent throughout the explanation, paying the utmost attention to every word that escaped his master's mouth. Not many thoughts ran through Yuso's head, but he absorbed the information without difficulty. He was like an empty page—bleak, but will retain anything subsequently written on it.
"The Shirugeto can also expel particular objects, depending on what was previously swallowed. Or, perhaps, an item that happens to accompany the curse. It is said to vary depending on whoever wields it." The older man slowly described the abilities of the curse, walking slightly closer to Yuso.
Ryouiki paused, inhaling.
"The curse's brother—Torikesa Reta Tokken—has ended up missing. It had remotely similar capabilities that allowed the host to absorb magic and use it for themself. The curse could also enable the host to expel forces, much like how Shirugeto uses a force to take things in."
The older man reached closer, pressing the stone eyeball against Yuso's forehead. Yuso acknowledged the cold and smooth texture of the cursed item, but not a muscle within the redhead dared to react. Yuso could be compared to a mannequin in his current state, the only differing factor being his ability to speak.
"May your current eyes never resurface, for the power of the Shirugeto will boost your power indefinitely, granting you unparalleled abilities that will triumph even the greatest of warriors. From this moment on, you will be one step closer to being untouchable. Everything you used to be will vanish as a new light shines."
The stone eyeball began to shimmer with a crimson red light, the iris shining brighter with every second. Yuso could feel his temple burn agonizingly, every vein in his head bubbling with intense heat and magic that only spread the intense pain.
Reflexively, Yuso's jaw muscles tensed as the pain traveled to his eyes, blood slipping from his eyelids gruesomely. Despite being the puppet he now was due to the curse Seimei no Ishi, Yuso could not help but breathe heavily as the Shirugeto was being transferred to his body.
"The pain you feel is only a test, Yuso. Do not succumb to its ways. The Shirugeto will be all you need. Accept it."
Yuso, akin to a captured animal, was forced to helplessly bear the pain imposed on him, unable to oppose it in any manner. His eyes pulsed wildly, magic pouring within them. His heterochromatic eyes progressively lost their blue and green hues, turning crimson red instead.
The transfer of the Shirugeto went on for ostensibly forever, the feeling of lava traversing through his head at a rapid pace. Yuso clenched his eyes shut to hopefully quell the sensation, but nothing changed. He was locked into this new reality, whether he wanted to be or not.
Eventually, the pain that rushed through Yuso decreased, subsiding with every passing second. He could breathe without feeling his internal structure scorched. His eyes felt as if they had a weight to them—not physically, but the magic that they now harbored made it impossible to disregard the presence of the Shirugeto.
Once finished, Ryouiki tossed both of the cursed items behind him, his eyes trained on Yuso. The older man waited patiently for the redhead to open his eyes, curiosity lingering within him. Unfortunately, Yuso refrained from opening his eyes; the blood that escaped his eyes was still clinging to his skin.
"Yuso," Commander Ryouiki said suddenly, "open your eyes."
With a noticeable twitch, Yuso creaked his eyelids open, revealing his eyes to Ryouiki. The older man gasped, a grin etched onto his wrinkled face. Replacing Yuso's usual heterochromatic eyes of blue and green, his eyes now consisted of red pentagrams that covered his iris', resembling the cursed eyeball that the Shirugeto previously resided in.
'The Shirugeto in physical form… Yuso shall now wield the power to end the Takuetsu dynasty for good!' Ryouiki thought gleefully, his dull eyes narrowing.
"Yuso!" Ryouiki called out to the redhead, "escape your confines!"
*SHRRMMM!*
Immediately, Yuso's Shirugeto eyes whirled rampantly as his palms glowed shortly after. Without warning, the table that Yuso was restrained to vanished in the blink of an eye, freeing the redhead entirely. The curse alone made nearly every aspect of being a warrior infinitely easier, with physical objects having no threat to the Shirugeto's properties.
Swiftly, Ryouiki clasped Yuso's wrists and stared at his palms, noticing another feature that the Shirugeto supplied. Red pentagrams were embedded into Yuso's palms, stretching the curse's power throughout his body further than what the older man recounted.
"Portals in the hands… marvelous!" Ryouiki hollered, ecstatic. "How does it feel to utilize the Shirugeto? Any drawbacks from that measly use?"
Yuso shook his head, wordlessly answering his master's question. Ryouiki laughed, clapping his hands repeatedly. The chances of a curse rejecting a host were a possibility, and if Yuso was not rejected, another chance of the curse being self-destructive still existed.
"Your genetics must overpower any drawbacks! That is the only benefit your lineage has offered!" The older man declared contentedly.
The redhead tilted his head and asked, "Lineage, master?"
Ryouiki froze, his mind clicking with realization. Yuso does not remember his family, so mentioning his bloodline would cause some confusion.
It was a positive confusion, in Ryouiki's case.
"Your killing of Lord Shuji will be your first lesson with the use of the Shirugeto. Though, failure is not an option, Yuso. No matter what it takes—kill them all." Ryouiki spoke sternly, his voice deepening.
Yuso nodded obediently, absorbing his master's orders. Ryouiki knew that Yuso used to be a bit of a loud-mouthed individual, so the change in the redhead's personality was quite favorable. Having a conversationalist around would be more vexing than anything.
"Now, before I send you out on your own…" Ryouiki stared at the redhead's long hair pensively, rubbing his chin softly.
The older man lifted two fingers into the air, letting a red Aura Sense encompass the phalanges completely.
"Let's cut that hair of yours."
XXX
One chapter further into Yuso's origins and we finally get to see how Yuso procured the Shirugeto! Or, unwillingly procured, I guess. What will happen next? Stay tuned!
Have a Great Day!
Peace - Cr1ticalz_