Nikai
I finally have this curse under my control, even under a full moon. And there's no one left who can stand in my way. Now, all I need to do is grab Tyuyo and leave this place behind for good.
"Mifune, will you join the Hanakai with me? Or are you merely leaving the clan?"
"So, you were planning to align with the Hanakai, huh?" Mifune paused for a moment. "I'll consider it. Especially if it means I get to destroy clans like these. The ones that treat me like an object. My clan- the Tonura? They're nothing like that."
"Yes, well, I can't wait. I hope those Hanakai guys sense us and come running. I don't feel like searching around once we leave The Primary."
Don't even know how I can get in contact with them. Nazun and Orion.
Missiles and anti-curse ammunition bombarded us from every angle. None of it was effective at stopping me, though. Beneath the moon, and with the added benefits of Kozuna's lightning and Mifune's ice, I felt nigh unstoppable.
It was hard to describe my emotions. What I was feeling- watching the world wither and blow away in slow motion. There was something so freeing about seeing the torturous world around me burn to ash. And at my hands, no less. That only made it more satisfying.
All of these fools who keep getting in my way should consider themselves lucky I don't drag their deaths out.
During previous transformations, I'd always gotten the sense that something had been controlling me. Not senten, and not my curse seal. Rather, something else within the seal. Still, I couldn't figure out what. My body moved, and I was forced to watch, powerless to stop it. That was, until control suddenly returned to the palm of my hand. It was what I could only assume to be another living creature deep inside, happily handing the reins off to me.
Something clung to me beyond the sight of humanity. Crimson eyes shrouded in the darkness in my mind. But not an enemy- I never got that sense for a second. Every time I blinked, I caught slow-motion sight of a shadowy silhouette within. Something shaped like a human, with a few additional body parts. Something growing and stirring, but not something I wanted to stop. Not when the whole world was against me.
By the time I found myself blowing up choppers, I'd realized it was something born from the awakening of my curse. The thoughts left me wondering if the same had applied to other curse wielders. However, there was an undeniable itch in the back of my skull. I was fully aware of what it was, even if I hadn't wanted to accept it previously.
A demon. Through and through.
"Are you enjoying my power? Do you desire more?"
No one else could hear the thing inside of me speaking; I'd already learned that much. I could only respond with my thoughts. My curiosity wanted a name, but every time the voice echoed within my mind, it would never tell me. I half-wondered if I had just been going insane.
Who are you? What are you? Why are you inside my head?Where did you come from?
"You ask too many questions. All you need do is destroy everything that stands in your way. In our way. Burn it down to nothing. Everything will be explained in good time. The Hanakai know of my existence- they are searching for those like me- and they will help you to comprehend."
An unsatisfactory answer. These soldiers are no real threat; I can walk past them without so much as a scratch. But you, whoever you are, you will at least tell me why the Hanakai are so significant. Why are they searching for you? Who else are they pursuing?
The demon smirked at me as if I were also there, physically standing in the darkness of my subconscious. It was strange how I could see it. How I could see him.
"Slaughter everyone in our path, and I'll fill your mind with all the knowledge it could ever desire."
Fine.
I sighed quietly behind the shadows. A hushed tone unheard by the world, as well as the ex-prisoner standing on my transformation's shoulder. Anti-curse artillery continued firing, striking my bone armor and kicking up clouds of billowing smoke. I responded by whipping massive thunderbolts through the sky, catching many helicopters in vibrant, flesh-frying blues.
Their lives equate to nothing anyway.
A vortex of spinning shadows and flame swirled to life in my other palm. When I lifted it, I curled my popping claw inward, pulling nearby choppers to the center for a quick incineration. I eyed them down, one after the other. Each one melted to short-lived shrieks and ash within moments, but I'd quickly caught a glimpse of Anari and Yvira through a window.
My entire face twitched, and the power of my vortex waned to a halt. Anti-curse missiles and gunfire continued ineffectively raining down on me. The whole of my world slowed to a gray crawl as I paused internally.
"Don't let up. They are your enemies. They seek to destroy you. Your entire clan has done nothing but oppress you. You were born cursed, but that is not your fault, Nikai. If they cannot see that, then they mustn't be shown mercy either."
"They're my friends, demon. Family, even!"
"Then why are they standing with your enemies? Why are they armed to the teeth, ready to take your life? Why aren't they by your side, aiding in your escape?"
My teeth clenched behind that visage of shadows, struggling to keep myself under control. The whole of my consciousness began growing fuzzy. The demon whispered words of sweetness to every inch of my darkest desires. However, my heart rate suddenly dropped. My skin started to feel cold. It was all so clear.
Nothing really mattered anymore. Not the clan; not my so-called friends. There was only one soul within the clan I needed by my side.
You're right.
I couldn't tell if it was my desire to kill or the influence of the demon. I had to wonder- was it really my wish to cremate those two? Anari and Yvira were present in one of those attack helicopters, after all. Did that mean they truly supported those who wanted me dead?
It didn't matter. I couldn't allow myself to hesitate. Not when I was so close to escaping that accursed clan. It was quite clear where we stood.
Quick to turn on a childhood friend, all because of my curse. They're not the victims here. I am. They're not the ones at risk of losing everything they care about. I am. They don't have to adopt a whole new lifestyle, branded a criminal simply for being born. Living in their deluded worlds, just like Kozuna, where they all believe they're doing the right thing. A bunch of fucking worthless, empty-headed fools. There is no such thing as doing the right thing.
"You must kill Mifune as well. He will turn on you, like everyone else. You cannot trust him."
Mifune despises the Ozukashi Clan. He has no reason to fight me. Nor can he defeat me.
"No, Nikai. He has a motive. A debt yet to be repaid. He may hate the Ozukashi, but YOU, too, are an Ozukashi! You barely know him! What makes you think he won't betray you? Your lifelong friends made their decision, and Mifune will make his, too. Don't give him the chance to turn on you. Kill him before he has the chance to become a true threat."
I breathed slowly and deeply, turning my shadowy head to my shoulder. "Mifune. What do you really plan on doing?"
"Already told you. I'm gettin' the hell outta Ozukashi fuckland. Considering joining the Hanakai, too."
"He's lying to you. Just like all the others."
"Don't lie to me, Mifune. Not if you truly care about your life."
"The hell would I need to lie for? I was putting belt to ass on you earlier!"
"Listen to him, Nikai. He's already showing his true colors. Just waiting for the opportune moment to strike."
That doesn't matter anymore.
The crimson senten circles acting as the eyes of my transformation suddenly enlarged and pierced through Mifune's gaze. I watched his teeth grit, seconds before he dropped flat, paralyzed in place. With just two shadowy fingers, I plucked him away and flung Mifune's limp body through the winds. All the way toward Centra Highlands.
Even if you weren't planning on betraying me, I won't tolerate that disrespect. I'll see your splattered corpse when I arrive at Centra Highlands, Mifune.
By the time Mifune had vanished into the night, four helicopters had melted down to nothing in my hand. Two remained. I hadn't been paying much attention, but I snapped back to reality when I heard the screams and shouts of Yvira, Anari, and the others aboard their chopper. Their pilot desperately tried to escape the vortex.
"Stop holding back, Nikai. Eradicate those unworthy humans. They turned their backs on you. They deserve death! Worse than death!"
…yeah. They do.
Very soon, only a single helicopter remained. The one that I remained torn about. I watched closely as the chopper drew closer to the heated abyss of my transformation's enormous claw. Any remaining escape attempt they could muster was futile, and somehow, numbness overwhelmed me. It wasn't like when I killed Carmen. There was no satisfaction to be had in watching burns rapidly accumulate on Anari and Yvira.
But a familiar voice called out to me. And suddenly, the vortex dissipated within a fraction of a heartbeat. My friends and their allies buzzed away as fast as they could.
"Nikai! You've gotta stop this! Please!"
Wait, was that?
Inside the shadows, I whipped my head in every direction until I located the correct one. Through a veil of black-bordered crimson, my physical gaze locked on a lone boy.
I… I must not have been paying attention. When did Tyuyo get here!?
Tyuyo was up on a rooftop, chest puffing in and out, fists clenched, and clearly shaking in his boots as he stared me down. There was a mixture of tears and sweat covering his face, and a familiar, familial, pissed-off, piercing glare in his eyes. A perfect combination I'd recognized and understood all too well.
My voice resonated through the shadows. "Tyuyo?"
"N-Nikai! W-why are you murdering everyone?" Tyuyo shook his head, twisting his vision away from me. "This isn't you. If you wanna leave the clan, then just do it, already! But stop torturing everyone along the way! Are you really gonna kill Anari and Yvira? My sisters!?"
Sisters? He views them as family, too?
"Another brat to slow us down? Squash him like the insect he is."
He's my brother, demon. Don't assume I'll kill every soul I come across. This is my power. I'm in control, not you, demon.
"Oh, really? That's how it is? Wrong answer."
I brought my transformation to one knee, leaning further down until my face- covered in shadows- was on the same level as Tyuyo's.
"It's for the best, Ty. I need to eliminate anyone who would stand in our way, and I need you by my side. We're leaving together."
My birth was always the problem, Ty. I'm sorry you've had to suffer for it. I made sure to destroy all those blood samples on my way out, but that's not enough. If I leave you behind, those councilors will just try again.
"Don't even know who I'm talkin' to anymore." Tyuyo's balled fists began trembling in rage. His anger turned on me in full stride. "You think I'd go with you? After what you've done? Anari protected me underground with everything she had! And Yvira's always looked after me! Why would I ever side with someone who would kill them!? What kind of brother would burn his sisters to death!?"
"Ty-Tyuyo…"
I stammered as I tried to come up with a response. What I'd heard was beyond heartbreaking. A thousand voices echoed in my head. My own, the demon's, Tyuyo's, those of my friends, and so many more. My whole face twitched. What was I doing? Who had I become? Was there some sort of power behind the words of that demon inside? A spell?
"You used to be warm, Nikai. I know the curse changed you. I see that now. But that doesn't mean you need to be selfish and make all these life-changing decisions on your own!"
Always more mature than his age would suggest.
"If you're gonna kill everyone we care about, then why not kill me, too!? What's stopping you? What's the difference?"
My beastly shadow claw twitched. I reached out, but I couldn't make it all the way.
"Ty-"
"What a truly TOUCHING reunion. You and your DEAR little brother should've BOTH chosen your words wisely! THAT'S ALL I NEEDED TO HEAR!"
My throbbingheartbeat spiked out of nowhere. There was a sudden loss of feeling across my torso and every limb I possessed. I could no longer shut my eyes, either. Or drown out the noise. The arms of my transformation pointed straight ahead all on their own, charging a blast of levitating senten between the claws. Every form of power under my possession blended into a single orb.
Flames, electricity, ice, shadows, and raw, unfiltered, senten.
For the first time, truly, it felt as if I were paralyzed beyond measure. Only, that time, the helpless person in front of me was my little brother.
What do you think you're doing!? You're MY demon! You inhabit MY seal- you can't kill my brother!
"I'm your demon? Foolish human- you haven't even learned the name of this transformation! You're MY vessel! You listen to ME, human!"
I had to watch practically in slow motion, powerless to move even my physical body an inch, let alone my transformation. It was just like the first time I'd transformed beneath the moon. A loss of complete control to the demon.
My power was no longer my own, and it couldn't have happened at a worse time. Anari and Yvira had retreated. Mifune was probably dead. And Kozuna was frozen somewhere, miles away.
I need to resist! I need to regain control!
"Take this lesson to heart, Nikai. My will is absolute. You're nothing but a mere human, borrowing the power of demons. Kill that worthless ego of yours. None of this destruction could've been wrought by your pathetic human hands."
Tyuyo tripped backward, watching wide-eyed and unable to blink. Probably too scared to move. My body tensed up, and my muscles seized. I clenched my teeth, trying to hold back. But none of it worked.
The demon forced me to glare into Tyuyo's soul. Every bone in my body, every fiber in my muscles, and every vessel of blood bent to the will of another being. There was no worse feeling in the world.
And… I couldn't stop myself.
"Don't mistake the power of the Shadow Behemoth to be your own. You're nothing but the vessel I landed in. The same goes for your seal. Do you understand what I'm saying, Nikai?"
…I'm powerless.
"Yes. You are."
As the all-consuming blast of senten launched from my claws, the explosion blinded me beyond measure. The only sound that registered was the blood-curdling scream of my kid brother.
This was never supposed to happen. Why couldn't you have shown up to save him, like you did for Anari, Kozuna?