Chapter 8

"This is rather unusual…"

"Something is bothering me so I figured I needed another set of eyes on this… don't even say it"

Toshi snickered as he wondered Tokyo was Sukuna. He had a feeling that Rook was in trouble and wanted to see for himself if that were true. But what fascinated Toshi was the fact that Sukuna knew where Rook was despite him not speaking his plans aloud. "So, why Tokyo?" he asked.

"Something is going on in Kyoto. I've been watched a few things quite closely, and just recently, the council has returned and began their construction of a new school in Kyoto. Muta has been watching everything from afar, nothing seems out of place yet. At the same time, curse activity has dropped."

Toshi nodded to this, it's strange that they are getting less attacks in recent months, at the same time, the main drive for the curses to grow stronger, or at least be more prevalent… well… that sorcerer is standing next to him. Normally him being out makes the curses go insane and increase in power. As of late, none of that happens.

"I am tempted to look into this council. Muta has explained that they are acting odd."

"What is considered odd to a sorcerer?"

"True, but, what's strange is the fact… the council has been going out and exorcising the curses…"

This, made him stop in his track. "That is odd." He said bluntly. But paused once more, something caught his attention. "What is that?" he muttered.

Toshi suddenly sensed something… in fact his body was reacting violently as he growled. "We need to go!"

Sukuna smirked. "Race you"

Despite the urgency, they did have a bit of a mock race through the city. Toshi won, but Sukuna was rather fast himself and nearly kept up. "Not bad, and you're not a dragon."

"Shut up" Sukuna muttered.

They were before an old factory. Toshi could smell the Orcs from within, but there was one scent he couldn't distinguish until… "Boar?" came out of his mouth.

Sukuna paused. "What do you mean boar? Is there a higher evolution for Orcs?"

He didn't know but it just escaped him, that smell he didn't know and yet somehow knew now. There was little time to waste. Sukuna kicked open the door, but paused. In fact, he didn't move from the door.

"Is Rook okay?!" Toshi pushed his way past but froze at the sight.

There was blood everywhere.

"If I didn't know any better, I would say this is YOUR handy work." Toshi muttered.

"Yeah… I'm rather touched."

The walls dripped with blood and gore, there were severed heads of Orc littered all around. Toshi was nervous to go in, Sukuna on the other hand. "Nice coat of pain you got on the place boy!"

CLANG!

In the far corner of the factory, someone was approaching them. Toshi was on alert since he still sensed the boar that was within the building, but those fears vanished when he saw Rook.

Covered in blood, and chewing on a blackened piece of meat.

Rook looked at them and smirked. "What?" he asked.

"Why does he look like you when he said that?" Toshi muttered.

Sukuna smirked at this as he approached. "What happened? You wouldn't DARE go hunting without me, right? I got a lot of bloodlust built up…"

Rook insisted this was the last thing he wanted to do today. "I was looking to take a break from the eating, training and orcs. But I've eaten nothing BUT orcs… as such… I reek of orc. My meat sweats are orc meat sweats!"

He got a snicker out of Sukuna on that one. "How else do you think we find you so easily?"

"SHUT UP!" Rook protested. "I knew it, you were pulling one on me…"

"Quite the opposite… but before we continue, the boar that was here…" said Toshi.

Rook paused. "You knew about that bastard?"

"No, but we sensed him, the thing is. The boar isn't and shouldn't be on or in the earthly realm." Toshi explained. "They are worst than an Orc."

"You know that, how?" Sukuna asked.

Toshi paused once more and sighed. "I don't…" he muttered. "It's just sometimes… knowledge pops into my head. I say it confidently but… I don't know how I know…"

"Not important." Sukuna said bluntly. He turned his attention back to Rook. He stared him down oddly before stating. "Weapon?"

He showed him two small blades, but they weren't blades at all. Taking one to examine, Sukuna peered it over before he smiled rather wickedly. "I taught you well"

He passed the dagger to Toshi who peered it over, it was well polished as well extremely sharp, however, it was rather bulky. "Is this a tusk?"

"The boar bastard had them… I just borrowed them. Sharpened them down… they are great for butchering"

Sukuna was trying to hide his proud smile at this point. He was giggling rather delightfully to the situation before him. Rook went back to chewing on the blackened meat he had in hand, he gave a difficult swallow. "Tough bastard I'll give him that… wanna bite?"

He didn't refuse.

Sukuna took a bite of the meat, Toshi did too for argument sakes, it was actually very soft, tender, sweet and juicy to him. "That's… rather remarkable meat!" Toshi said with great admiration.

Sukuna and Rook stared at him as they were chewing their bit. "Dragons…" they both muttered.

But there was one thing that stuck out to Toshi, something off. "Rook, were you wounded?" he asked.

He nodded, since after all, his clothing has been turned to shreds, his arms are covered in scars and healing wounds now. Sukuna took a closer look and appeared a little impressed. "Not bad boy, your healing is improving greatly too… anything else happen?"

"Anything else happen?" Toshi asked curiously. He peered back at Rook, and sensed it. His energy altered.

He's still human, but his energy is beyond that of a human, even the heavenly restricted!

Rook nodded to the question. "After I tore the tusks out of the boar and gutted him, I was on the brink of passing out since he was so damn tough to cut into! But… I… I think I went a little insane…"

"You did," Sukuna said bluntly. "It's your fight or flight instinct." He took a seat at the same time grabbed a leg of an orc and roasted it then and there for himself. He made two more, one for Toshi and one for Rook. "From now on, you need to mind your surroundings, for you have tapped into the primal aspect of your strength. Fight or flight, however due to the training I have done with you. You are not scared of shit!"

"You've also been trained by the King of Curses first hand… No one has been trained by him… not many survive encountering him either…"

"Truth," Sukuna said bluntly. "But things are different now, aren't they?"

"So, why do I need to be careful with this… then again, looking back I know the answer… I can't remember what I did."

"In due time that will pass, but be mindful of your allies. If this happens to you and you go mad in the fight, they will be caught up in it. You won't know friend from foe, for the moment, you were caught up in the thrall of battle… feels good doesn't it?"

"I don't think we are to be encouraging this with Yua's children…" warned Toshi.

"Spoiled sport…" Sukuna muttered. "It will take time to control, as well, your strength, speed and endurance will also increase as time goes on, but the more we get you to fight, the better in control you will be of yourself."

Rook nodded as he tore into the Orc leg. He paused oddly as he chewed it. "Why is this so tender?!"

Sukuna paused. "This is the tougher part of the orc. But it's tender to you?"

"I think he became that much stronger…" Toshi kept looking at Rook, when he then noticed something odd with his energy, the more Rook ate, the more his strength grew. "Rook… did you eat any of the orcs as you fought?"

He shook his head. "I don't remember… I do remember going back to the boar when everyone else was dead and started to cut up him to eat."

Sukuna peered at Toshi. "You are seeing something I'm not?"

"He has a talent. But it's in his metabolism." Said Toshi. "I think he is able to absorb the strength of those he consumes… He really does take after you despite him being only your nephew."

Rook paused, he nearly choked on the meat in his mouth. "What?! That's my strength? I eat someone stronger I get their strength?"

"Don't even think about it," Toshi warned as he saw Sukuna's lower arms working on something.

Despite the divine mask Sukuna wore, Toshi could see beyond it, and saw the movement under his clothing.

He stopped instantly.

Rook peered at them awkwardly. "Okay then… so… find the strongest Orc and eat them… can't be too hard to do…"

"Why stop at orcs?" Sukuna asked as that crazed look returned to his face. "Boy, there's a buffet out there for us!"

"Buffet?" asked Toshi.

"Orcs are the easiest to find, hunt and cook. There are plenty of them and more will follow. But, they are not the only ones that can be eaten, remember?"

Rook shuttered at the notion. "Just one the condition, we can make it taste good?"

"I'll let Eso know you would like cooking lessons." Said Toshi.