Chapter 3

"Ryomen?"

He snapped back into reality, staring down the orb in his hands, before he put the necklace back on. "Just… thinking," he said offhandedly, yet his lower left hand was reaching to his chest where he felt that burning sensation. "What power was that?"

Lady Tiamat smiled to him. "It's a pure from of divine power." She explained.

He froze to this. "Divine? I didn't blow up!"

"No, this is different divine power. For you see, this is the power people have willfully given to you. Your name was on their minds as they had a moment of happiness… that is divine power. You brought joy to others, and it helps that the land has maintain your stance as a guardian. That helps a lot."

Divine power…

"Why is this so pure? Because humans had faith in me or what?" he demanded.

"Partly. It's similar to putting your energy into an object. You give it strength right? The humans, who partook in your festival, were fed, happy and celebrating you. There was nothing to fear, no one being killed… it was a good time all around. That is because YOU helped make this happen, and since you are associated to this land, you are seen as its deity… it is only natural for the energy to flow into you. It's about time that channel opened…"

"Of course you knew I had that channel…" he muttered to himself. "But now what?"

"What do you mean?"

"What do I do with this divine power? How do I know how much I have? How do I use it?"

Her smile only grew. "You will need to learn the hard way," she said and giggled at the notion. "But take into consideration what you are doing here and now, how you channel that energy into Tsumiki to maintain and help her soul. Also, you have TONS of divine energy. But, I won't tell you how to use it just yet, and just think. Every time there is a festival here, you have the same one again where you fed the people… you get more energy"

Humans really are walking batteries…

"I will be mindful."

"Very good! Now, I need to go check on the kids. Did you wish to speak of anything else with me?"

He shook his head. "I'm fine at the moment…"

She nodded. Lady Tiamat stood up to leave, but pause. "Oh, a favor to ask… if you see sorcerers from the past in your outings to the city… ignore them."

"What do you…" he peered up, but she was gone.

Sukuna was rather perplexed to her favor. "If I see any sorcerers from the past, ignore them?" he muttered to himself.

He will cross that bridge when he gets there…

With the maintenance done for the day, Sukuna wondered back out to investigate the domain. He knows he has to get back to Shin's training sooner than later, he has been giving him time to polish his technique but has seen little progress to it. Rook has been eating more, which is what Sukuna wanted him to do, but it appears that too is reaching a limit. Orc can only get you so far. Then there Mochi, who oddly enough has yet to approach him for more lessons…

He was rather curious to this to, but for the moment, since she hasn't sought him out he will focus on the brothers.

Victim number one just showed up.

"SHIN!" he called, his voice boomed and rattled the windows, it was enough to startle the boy. Much to Sukuna's pleasure.

"Hey Oji…"

"Your technique…"

Shin… shied away!

"I… I am not making much progress…" he said meekly. "I really can't seem to get it together…"

"With me, NOW" he ordered.

The children of Yua rarely ever refuse him. Shin followed but tried to explain that he doesn't understand what he is doing wrong.

Sukuna knew instantly.

They reached a spar pit, There he turned and stared down the Gojo boy. "Take off your shirt."

He bocked.

"What?!"

"Take… off… your… shirt" he said very slowly. "You are your mother's child. If you are turning into your father now, I won't bother with you anymore…"

The shirt came off.

"Turn around."

This was the cringe he was familiar with. Shin slowly turned around. Clear as day was the same marking Sukuna has on his back… but this has grown beyond the mark Sukuna has. If he didn't know any better the eyes were larger as well. "Open them."

"Oji…"

"Close your main eyes if you have to, but open one set from your back." He was firm but at the same time, he tried to be careful, Shin is still a child.

There came a twitch.

On his left side, one eye began to appear rather active, moving about every which way until… it opened. On his left side, two red eyes opened wide and stared back at Sukuna. "What do you see?" he asked.

"Nothing… I don't see… GAH! IT HURTS!"

The eyes closed instantly.

Shin stumbled back and appeared to be in tears. "It's too much!"

'Overwhelming power is flooding his senses, overwhelming the mind and causing the body to shut down and revert to a pain reaction…' already he broke down what caused such pain to Shin. But what was concerning was the fact he didn't see out of his eyes.

"Is there anything you saw when those eyes were open?"

Shin clear the tears from his face, he wasn't upset but this was the reaction he had when he opened the eyes on his back. "My head was killing me, as if someone tried to stab me from the back with an ice pick on the left side."

'Bold description'

"I don't think I see anything… it's too painful to!"

'The technique has now reached a point where it needs all six eye to work in unison, thus the six eyes ability, it is now in dormancy since he cannot control the eyes he has now…'

The solution was before him, but how to go about it. His old self would strap Shin down, force open his eyes and make him endure it.

Apparently that's frowned upon.

"Oji… I'm a failure, aren't I?"

He looked at Shin who appeared serious about his statement. "How? You are still learning your technique, at the same time, you are not suppose to be the age you are. Stop selling yourself short and man up"

The boy froze oddly, and then there appeared to be a fire in his eyes as a bold nod came from him. 'Huh, I guess I am good on pep talks…' he thought. "So, here is what we are going to do, we're going to speak with my wife, we will get other opinions on the matter. But we need to get you to use your eyes on your back."

"Why can't I use them naturally?!" Shin demanded. "This is so frustrating…"

"You can blame me for that… side effect for saving your life."

Shin sighed. "I would never fault you for that Oji, I wouldn't be here if you didn't save me then." He said honestly. "But, this just feels… like there are three of me, but only one can look out at a time."

This… changes things.

"Let's go speak with the Master."