3rd Pov:
3 years later:
In the human world, inside a facility, Yuno Naon is currently curled up in the corner of her small holding cube, her eyes red from constant tears poring out, so that it appears she has run out of any.
She looked down at her hand which is entirely different from the soft, elegant hand she gazed at every day, she shivered as a wave of coldness hit her body which has also gone through a complete change.
Gone with her black hair and in its place is long lilac hair with a half crown of small horns on her head, she retains her blue eyes but her skin, all except some of her face has changed to complete black.
But even with these ugly changes, as she puts it, her body has been significantly strengthened to beyond human or demon defence force level.
If she had a mirror, she would destroy it in a heartbeat. The people she begged for help, the people she placed her hopes on have done nothing but bring her constant pain, poking and prodding her body with disregard for her refusals.
She hated them.
She loathed them.
She could hear others probably like her through the walls of this place but even those came to the same position she is in now.
She wanted to escape.
She wanted to get as far from this place as possible and find a way for these people to pay.
She sighed to herself for what felt like the millionth time since her stay here but suddenly, something inside her awakened like someone smacking her with a pillow, it was soft yet noticeable.
The information of her ability slowly trickled around her mind. The ability she awakened, Hidden Beauty, allows her to hide or pass through solid objects, both organic and inorganic.
With this ability in her hands, the first thought was immediate escape from this horrid place but she didn't know the layout of this place or even if this place had traps or something so for now she'll leave to memorise the layout of this facility to escape more efficiently, not just for her escape but for the others who have ended up in her place.
She has already memorised the time when those scientists come and check up on her or bring her to be experimented on.
The biggest problem is the cameras, like the scientists they too are on a timer, likely to save power as the number of humanoid Shuuki must be high if they have to save power for them.
She waited for the lights on the camera to fade away as she immediately slipped through her cell's barriers as she took in the slightest hint of freedom before carefully moving around the area close to her holding cell while timing how long she has until the scientists come to her area.
She repeated this process for several days, mentally mapping out the facility until she came to a strange room that was dimly lit.
The strong stench of iron filled her nose as she instinctively covered it. Curiosity got the best of her as she made her way further into the room, as she rounded a shelf she came across something no human would ever see in her life.
At the far end of the room were two bodies, one male and the other female, both of their hair was black and their eyes were hollow and black like their hair.
The most horrific thing about this wasn't their faces or the fact that she herself wouldn't imagine the amount of pain they were in as both of them were dead and fully naked.
Their torsos are wide open cleanly revealing the inside of their body but their insides weren't there, in fact, she can't even see their ribs. Their foreheads have strings going across them, meaning it was temporarily surgically pulled off.
Turning to her right she spots them, all of them pinned against a wall like a butterfly on display with letters A and B as well as numbers underneath them, even their brain is there, at the very top.
It was a horrible sight that almost made her vomit but she forced it away as doing so would alert the scientists that someone was here.
She forced her body to move away as she came up to a table filled with papers that practically called for her to look.
And looked she did.
On top of one of the papers there was a title in bold writing, 'Cursed Project'.
Reading through she came across the two victims' names. Paul Samiel or Subject Alpha to these people and Vivian Samiel or Subject Beta. The more she read the more compelled she became.
Apparently there were two others, two children. The youngest is called William Samiel or Subject Charlie and the oldest is called Xicor Samiel or Subject Delta.
She turned the page and found the current status they listed for each subject.
Subject Alpha - Deceased.
Subject Beta - Deceased.
Subject Charlie - Deceased.
Subject Delta - Alive. Current location - Mato.
She didn't get to read more as the sound of footsteps echoed from behind the room's door as she quickly dashed away and back towards her room, soon she'll be able to escape this place with the others.
In Mato in the 10th unit dorm, the room of the meeting room was tense as no one said a word, the loss of a chief still weighed on their minds, all except one.
"Do we have any sightings of this mysterious person" the commander said, she is in the appearance of a young schoolgirl with short black hair and golden eyes but despite her young appearance she is quite old.
"No, we have only their pet which has been harassing our members for quite some time now" an elderly woman reported, "The fact that this person is at the level of a chief is worrying for all of us"
"Indeed, from this moment forth anyone encountering the mysterious person must call in backup immediately" the commander ordered.
"Next on topic is the sudden disappearance of former members and current members, they have all but left without a trace" the commander stated as everyone voiced out their thoughts.
Yet none seemed to satisfy any of them, it was clear stress was etching on their bodies but one of them didn't have any, the person in question is a woman with long purple hair and purple eyes with an air of absolute confidence mixed with dominance.
Her ever-present smile grew slightly as she looked at the commander, "Could it be we are looking in the wrong areas?" She asked rhetorically.
One of the chiefs, a woman with blonde hair tied in braids over her shoulder and emerald green eyes looked at the purple-haired woman, "What do you mean"
"We've searched the surface of Mato but not its cavern system with small caves in the sides of mountains and cliffs they could use as a temporary base" the purpled haired woman said, "they've been taking things from our units dorms for a while and we've been neglecting it since we are distracted with the Shuuki's and Mato mishap's, they must have multiple hidden base scattered around Mato"
"And how would you know that?" The commander curiously asked.
"Because it's something I would do"
Deeper in the lower parts of Mato, Naruhime walked towards a large crack. As she walked further her mind would always drift back to the mortal who's become her consort, just saying it to herself would sound crazy for a person like her but she pushed that thought aside.
Soon she reached an open room with bright lights that lit up the entire room, she took in a deep breath as she took in the place she was raised by her mother and the place she is most fond of.
"Big sister Naruhime, welcome home" a voice brought her out of her thoughts.
Looking over she sees a tall and slender person dressed in an elaborate trench coat with a flared-up collar, they wear a black helmet. Underneath all those accessories is a young woman with green hair tied in bushy twin tails and periwinkle eyes.
"Jaku'un" she greeted her little sister.
"I'm so glad to see you" Jaku'un said as she took a step closer, inspecting Naruhime's face.
Naruhime raised a brow at her little sister's action, "What are you doing?"
Jaku'un ignored her question as she leaned back, "You're different"
Naruhime was even more confused as she tilted her head to the side, "What do you mean different?"
"You're happier than usual and there's a slight skip in your steps" Jaku'un pointed out.
Naruhime blinked several times before thinking back to her walk here and she did skip and hum a happy tune while making her way here.
Only one person could make her that way as the thought of her consort brought a graceful smile to her face, "I met someone interesting and incredible" she puffed her chest out with pride.
"Oh~ do tell?" Jaku'un asked.
Naruhime recounted everything she knows about Xicor, like she was on a stage for show and tell, Jaku'un stayed silent throughout the entire time she explained about Xicor.
She'd only seen her big sister like this on a few occasions but they were only temporary but now it seems to be something instinctive when the person she talks about is involved.
She too is interested since this person has a unique energy source he called cursed energy and would love to get a sample to see what it would do for her Shuuki and some of the faithful they've been gathering.
The faithful are former humans who have been given blessings by the gods of thunder, they have been kidnapping humans for this objective and rarely do some willingly join but their thoughts are as clear as day to the gods.
Some want to become a god themselves, some want to dominate, some want chaos, some out of vengeance and some out of the thought they could use the gods to become the strongest, a thought the gods laughed at in private.
"Is there a chance to meet this Xicor?" She asked, eagerness laced in her tone.
Naruhime sighed sadly a little, "Not right now but in the next gods meeting"
Jaku'un groaned as her body slumped in disappointment, "Oh well, guess I'll just wait for 7 years then"
In another part of Mato deep inside the base where Xicor is.
Xicor is now 18 years old and is currently standing in the middle of the training ground alone with his eyes closed, his mind occupied with various ideas and ways for different ways to combine his techniques in different attacks.
Soon he opens his eyes as he checks his system to remind himself of what techniques he has gained over the years.
―――――――――――――――――――――
[Megumi Fushiguro Template: 90% ]
[Cursed Technique: Ten Shadows]
[Speciality: None]
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[Ranta Zenin Template: 100% ]
[Cursed Technique: Paralysing Gaze]
[Speciality: None]
―――――――――――――――――――――
[Dagon Template: 100% ]
[Cursed Technique: Disaster Tides]
[Speciality: Breath under water]
―――――――――――――――――――――
[Larue Template: 100% ]
[Cursed Technique: Heart Catch]
[Speciality: None]
―――――――――――――――――――――
[Iori Template: 40% ]
[Cursed Technique: Explosive flesh]
[Speciality: RCT]
―――――――――――――――――――――
[Uraume Template: 26% ]
[Cursed Technique: Ice formation]
[Speciality: Ice resistance]
―――――――――――――――――――――
Xicor gazed down at his hand as white and black cursed flames flickered in his hand, after receiving the information about RCT from Iori's template as well as witnessing and interacting with it using round deer, it was a massive push he required to be able to now use RCT.
With RCT in his hands, his techniques have more diversity now and regeneration is a part of his arsenal. He let out a breath as he stared up at the hollowed cave's roof, he hasn't been silent against the demon defence forces, only sending Ryu out to just annoy them.
After Naruhime left it has only been Xicor, Rairen, Shikoku, Jouryuu and Kuusetsu. His training sessions have only been either by himself or with Jouryuu.
Xicor took one last look around him, remembering Naruhime's fights with him, all of which gave him experience in hand-to-hand combat more effectively as well as controlling his energy more efficiently.
'Now it's time for the 9th Shikigami" Xicor thought as he created 3 clones, one with paralysing gaze, one with heart catch and the last with missile fists.
Each of the clones spread out and awaited for their opponent to arrive, Xicor put his hands together to make a tiger, "Tiger Funeral"