"In a world of monsters and men, only the ones who embrace both sides truly ascend."
(POV: Ryomen Sukuna)
I stood over Elara's bed, my gaze curious as I looked at her chest rising and falling slowly.
"Perfect," I muttered, my expression blank as I walked right next to her, standing to her side.
The pills I had given her were working their magic, and she won't get up for a few more hours.
I placed my hand on her chest, feeling the familiar sensation of her three souls.
Manipulating souls was something I was already accustomed to, but I realized something after experimenting on her for a few days.
Souls can be divided.
I'm not sure how helpful this skill will be, but why not know more?
I started to feel her souls again, and once more it was the same feeling.
I had figured out during the first test, the two souls... were not hers.
I closed my eyes, feeling my own soul pulsing, and slowly dividing into two, a small and a big portion.
I slowly moved the small portion to my hand, which rested on her chest.
This was quite hard, and required all my focus, since it was like being two people at once.
I tried to push my soul inside her, but something... no, the two souls prevented me from doing so, as if recognizing me as a threat.
This had happened a few times before, and it proves that the two souls have consciousness.
They might also be acting completely on instinct, but I would prefer it it was the former, since it is much more fun.
I turned away, a small smirk on my face as I glanced at her one final time, before stepping out into the hallway, shutting the door behind me.
I leisurely walked to the living room, my footsteps alerting the maids, respectfully bowing as I passed.
I poured a little cursed energy into my inventory, a few papers forming in my hands.
As I reached the living room, the dim light of the television found its way to my eyes.
My parents, Eiji Ryomen, and Amara, were sitting on the couch, watching the news with great interest.
The image on the news was horrific. Innocent people were running in all directions, their clothes stained with blood.
Chasing them were creatures... ones which looked eerily similar to humans... demons.
I walked and sat on a couch nonchalantly, their gazes turning to me.
My dad looked at me with a smirk, his eyes glinting with interest.
My mom turned to me with a blank expression, though her eyes, too, were filled with interest, and a calculating glint.
"How did you know?" She asked, her voice overlapping with the TV reporter.
I had told them to invest in mana stone 34 before there was even a hint of this invasion, it was only natural for them to be curious.
However, I don't think I should reveal my connections with Aiden, and definitely not his true nature.
"I know a lot of things," I replied, leaning back on the seat.
Before they could say anything, I decided to deviate the conversation. "I have a daughter, by the way."
It seemed as if my mom was trying to say something, but her words were stuck in her mouth, which was hanging agape.
My dad's reaction was no less, his eyes widening as he shot forward, his elbows on his knees.
"The fuck?" My dad whispered, his voice more confused than shocked.
"Oh I meant Elara, the girl with three souls I brought yesterday, I'm adopting her," I said, placing the papers in my hand on the table.
These were the adoption papers I had the orphanage woman make, ones with the date not specified.
They looked at the adoption papers, calming down a little.
My mom picked up the papers and read through them, while my father took a deep breath to calm down.
"You scared the shit outta me," me dad said, leaning back once more, relaxing.
He usually didn't swear like this, it was quite amusing seeing this new side to him.
My mom put the papers back on the table, her gaze turning to me, filled with interest, yet concerned.
"Are you pitying her?" She asked, hoping that I wasn't doing what she thought I was.
I knew that my parents were bigger scums than me, almost like I inherited my mind from them.
They would be against adopting someone useless, based on emotions of pity and such.
"Not at all," I said, a small smirk forming on my lips. "She has talent, and I want you to help her unleash it."
They looked at me with curiosity, their earlier worry extinguished.
"You want us to train her?" My father asked, a smirk forming on his face, mirroring my own.
"Yes," I simply replied, leaning forward. "Since I probably won't be available."
They both nodded, knowing what I meant.
With the threat of demons plaguing the world, it was inevitable that the Hunter Association would send everyone they could to fight these creatures, no matter if they were retired, or even just children.
"And what if we say no?" My dad asked, leaning forward.
"You won't, you trust my judgement," I replied confidently. "I'll be enjoying the chaos outside."
My dad's smirk only widened, while my mom sighed, leaning back on the couch.
"He's really your son," my mom said to my dad, getting a chuckle out of him.
"He merely inherited my coolness," my dad replied, turning to me as my mom sighed once more, exasperated.
His lips curled down, his expression growing serious. "Make sure you're safe, Sukuna."
I nodded, slowly getting up. "I will."
That seemed to be enough for the two to relax.
I walked towards my room, leaving the adoption papers on the table, waiting for the two to do their thing.
As I walked, a smirk formed on my face, slightly scaring a young maid, who hurriedly bowed.
"Well, Aiden..." I muttered, making the maid glance at me for a moment, before lowering her gaze to the ground once more. "...what's next?"
.
.
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(POV: Aiden Arceid)
I sat silently on the end of a rectangular table, my fingers tapping rhythmically on the polished wood.
Seated around it were the S+ Class hunters, the strongest people the association had to offer.
There was a conversation about the recent demon invasion, and the atmosphere was anything... but calm.
THUD!
A loud slam echoed through the room, cutting through the multiple voices as the Rank 6, Garon Dreis, smashed his fist into the table.
The force toppled the glass in front of him, spilling water onto the table, but no one seemed to mind.
Garon was a huge man, it would be more appropriate to call him a golem than a human.
His skin was filled with scars, a proof of his unwavering courage in battle.
"This is absurd!" He roared. "We need to strike when the iron is hot, waiting will allow them to organize!"
Opposite to him sat the Rank 5, Eleanor, her legs crossed elegantly.
But anyone who knew her was used to her inner self, which was no less brutish than Garon himself.
Her violet eyes glinted with challenge as she stared at Garon, the person who she had been friends with for quite a while.
Her short, silver hair swayed around as she leaned forward.
"Charging in will only lead to more casualties," she said, her voice cold. "We should act wisely, not like animals," she spit, her voice filled with playful mockery.
Garon's face twisted in anger. Before he could retort, a chuckle echoed in the room.
Their gazes turned to the Rank 3, Jaxon Voss, who was leaning back on his chair, his feet resting on the table.
There was a small smirk on his face, his deep black hair falling onto his face, slightly covering his eyes.
He was thin, his skin eerily pale, his demeanor almost too relaxed.
Even though he looked as such, his presence was no joke. One wouldn't notice him until he wanted them to.
He twirled a dagger between his fingers, which was glinting with a dim light.
"Let them argue, but we all know what we need to do," he said, the smirk still on his face. "And we know who has to make the decision," he said, glancing at me for a moment.
I looked around the table, observing everyone's reactions.
Ranks 5 and 6, Eleanor and Garon, were quite vocal in their views, openly arguing, while some were silent, observing the situation calmly.
One of them was the Rank 4, Kaira Dagon, a woman with a calm yet menacing aura who looked at everything with disinterest.
She sat in complete silence, her eyes unmoving as she focused on everyone with a cold, calculating gaze.
Beside her was the Rank 7, Ophes Vaile, who looked quite out of place among these hunters.
He was quite a small man, his disheveled hair and round glasses made him look more like a nerd than a hunter.
He sat with his fingers interlocked, observing the conversation with focus and waiting for the right moment to speak.
The arguments continued, each hunter presenting what they thought was the right thing to do.
There was one person, however, who had not spoken at all... Rank 1, Aegis Tempest.
Aegis was the strongest of them all, his body was not too big, compared to beasts like Garon, but his strength was undeniable.
He sat with his arms crossed, his eyes moving around the room, observing everyone with interest.
Finally, I leaned forward, ending the argument.
"We will send everyone we can find," I said, silencing them all with my authoritative voice. "We will make teams, led by you all, and others by S Rank hunters."
The Rank 2, Nero Levas, leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table as his eyes gleamed with interest.
"Weaker ones will support, while stronger ones will go to the frontlines," I said, to which almost everyone nodded in acknowledgement.
Their respect for me was evident in how they accepted my judgement without question.
The hunters exchanged glances, Garon was excited that the plan was close to what he wanted.
"I'll go wherever I'm needed," Kaira, the Rank 4, whispered, her voice naturally soothing.
Aegis finally spoke, his deep voice reverberating in the room... a little smirk, one that could be easily missed, on his face. "It's decided then, we'll follow Aiden's plan."
I looked around, watching as the hunters nodded in agreement.
I got up, slowly walking to the door. "I'll make the teams... and give you all the list as soon as possible."
I shut the door behind me with a silent thud, walking in the quiet hallway as my lips slowly curled up.
"It's coming together," I whispered. "The resistance."
My footsteps echoed in the silent hallway, which felt almost too long.
"Don't worry, Sukuna," I said, my smile widening, turning into a grin. "I'll keep my promise."
.
Around an hour passed as I finished making the teams.
I leaned back on the chair in my office, a small smile on my face. Papers were scattered all over the desk with scribbles on them.
A few were on the side on which I had drawn a few stick figures out of boredom.
I closed my eyes, clearly remembering the conversation I had with Sukuna a few hours ago.
(A few hours back...)
"Well, Sukuna, you have been calling me quite frequently, haven't you?" I asked, a smirk forming on my face.
I don't know why, but talking to him feels... fun. As if I'm talking to someone I have known for years.
"That's right, Aiden," his voice said from the other side, and it was as if I could hear his smirk through the call. "I need you to do something for me."
I raised an eyebrow. "And what would that be?"
He paused for a moment. "You said you were making teams, so can you change the composition as you wish?"
My smirk only widened at this... he will take every advantage he can get, won't he?
"I can," I replied simply, interested in what he had to say.
"Well, I want you to place Eva and Nect on the same team, and me in a different one."
I was intrigued by this, why this certain composition?
"Are you cooking something?" I asked, my voice laced with curiosity.
"Not much," he simply replied matter-of-factly.
I exhaled, leaning back.
He had taken Zekuth's details from me, and he was surely planning to do something with Eva Helion.
"Why keep them away from you?" I asked.
Wouldn't it be better to keep them close? To ensure their safety if he really cared for them?
He paused for a moment, before replying in a serious tone. "Character development."
I sighed, a little smile on my face. I think I was getting used to his personality. "I'll do what I can."
(Present)
"Team 1..." I muttered, my expression morphing into a grin... a devious, wicked grin. "Leader: Eleanor"
I leaned forward, pulling out a paper on which the names of ones in team 1 were written.
"Ryomen Sukuna, Ren Killes, Lucian Cross, Nyra Thorne," I mumbled the names of the team members.
"There you go, Sukuna," I said, closing my eyes. "Enjoy the chaos... feast, feast, feast."
I was alone in the office with the sunlight filtering in through the window, casting a warm glow contrasting with the situation of the world.
I slowly got up, walking to the window, gazing out into the beautiful sky, clouds floating gently on it.
I raised my hand, placing it on the glass of the window. "Sukuna... and Killes... let's see what happens."
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New people... I forgot their names already :P
cya next time!!!!
Gimme POWER STONES :>