Roy sat cross legged, his mind sunk deep into the shimmering void of his Soul Tree.
The pale white trunk pulsed with quiet life, its neon-pink blossoms glowing faintly like lanterns in the dark.
He already bore the weight of two leaves, Trickster and Threadstep. But now, Roy pressed a hand against the bark, whispering,
"I seek a life who understands the soul… one with absolute power."
At his words, a shiver ran through the branches.
A handful of blossoms trembled loose, their glow softening, as if acknowledging his request.
Only one drifted down to land upon his head.
Roy picked it up slowly.
'Does it always do this?'
He thought, faint amusement mixing with curiosity.
He closed his eyes and began to delve.
The world stretched thin, his awareness pulling somewhere in between.
And for a fleeting moment, just a flicker, he felt it, his own soul, like small whispers in the dark.
But before he could sink deeper-
CRASH!
The sound tore through his meditation.
His eyes snapped open.
Dust, wood, and plaster rained down around him, half his living room wall had been ripped apart.
And pouring through the opening, curses.
Dozens of them.
Their warped bodies hissed and snarled as they slithered into his home.
And at their center… a tall man with long dark hair, robes swaying casually, walked forward with calm steps.
Roy froze.
His stomach dropped.
He hadn't seen this man in this life… but in his past life, he knew him well.
"Hey there, Special Grade in training."
Roy's eyes went wide.
"…You!"
The man smiled, as if greeting an old friend.
"Ah yes. My name is Suguru Geto. And from today forward, I'll be your new guardian."
Confusion and dread battled in Roy's chest, but instinct screamed at him to run.
He charged cursed energy into Threadstep, Only for black, writhing curses to lash around him, binding his arms and legs before he could launch.
He struggled against them, but their grip tightened like iron.
"Sorry,"
Geto said smoothly, tilting his head.
"Can't let you leave. Besides… I made quite the entrance. Your neighbors have probably already noticed."
Roy grit his teeth, fury burning.
'Damn it…' For a brief moment, his palm flared.
His new blossom's gift flickering to life.
For the first time, he faintly felt the souls of the curses clutching him, faint lights trembling within them.
But the power was raw, unshaped.
He couldn't use it yet.
"Roy!"
The voice cut through the chaos.
From outside the ruin, Tsumiki stood frozen, eyes wide with horror.
Geto's expression twisted instantly.
His smile fell away, replaced by sheer disdain.
"…Filthy monkey."
Before Roy could cry out, the curses yanked him through the breach, his body dragged across the broken threshold.
He caught one last glimpse of Tsumiki's face as her voice broke—
"Roy!"
And then the night swallowed him whole.
Moments later, Megumi arrived breathless at Tsumiki's side.
The siblings searched desperately, but Roy was gone.
Megumi pulled out his phone, hands trembling as he dialed.
"Yoo~ This better be good, you're interrupting—"
Gojo's voice was light at first.
But as soon as Megumi gave the description, his tone dropped.
"…Suguru Geto?"
Silence.
"Damnit."