When Akira Zenin opened his eyes, he found himself standing before the entrance to a cellar. He pushed open the door, still plastered with sealing talismans, and immediately sensed the cursed spirits lurking below.
This place was a training ground used by the Zenin Clan to temper sorcerers, as well as a forbidden area reserved for punishment.
Thanks to his abundant Cursed Energy, even using Max Elephant posed no strain for Akira Zenin.
With nothing better to do, he often experimented with different ways to apply his technique.
To activate the [Ten Shadows Technique], three components were required:
First, forming the complete hand signs.
Second, the shadow projected by the hands.
Third, speaking the name of the Shikigami.
If two sets of hand signs were completed in rapid succession, it was possible to force an expansion of the Shikigami summoning ritual. However, this kind of fused ritual structure was inherently incomplete, making it difficult to push the expansion any further.
Under normal circumstances, the hand signs and the shadows they cast matched perfectly. But what if the shadows were manipulated with shadow techniques to take the shape of a different Shikigami?
What would be summoned then was a Merged Beast.
After realizing that Shikigami could be fused, Akira Zenin often combined them in pairs, curious to see what kind of strange results he could produce.
Akira Zenin awakened his technique at the age of four. After two years of experimentation, he had already discovered several interesting combinations.
[Divine Dogs] could pursue and devour cursed spirits. After feeding, they stored a tiny amount of Cursed Energy, though under normal circumstances the increase was negligible.
However, using [Great Serpent] as the base and fusing it with [Divine Dogs] and [Toad], Akira Zenin created a burrowing tunnel worm he named [Bug Eater]. After consuming cursed spirits, it could store their Cursed Energy inside [Great Serpent].
While this did not increase his maximum Cursed Energy capacity, it could serve as a hidden reserve to be tapped when needed.
Akira Zenin swiftly formed the hand signs for Divine Dogs and Toad, then reshaped his shadow into the form of the Great Serpent.
"Merged Beast: [Bug Eater]."
A massive worm burst forth from the shadow, surging skyward. Its gaping maw, lined with serrated teeth, swallowed every cursed spirit along with the entire cellar in one gulp. After briefly savoring its meal, it slipped back into Akira Zenin's shadow.
At the sight of this, Jinichi Zenin trembled with excitement. This was it. This was the power that would support his continued ascent.
The surrounding guards swallowed hard as they stared at the empty space where only a lone doorway remained.
'Hm. There's a bit more Cursed Energy in [Great Serpent] now. Barely worth mentioning, but it'll do.'
Akira Zenin turned around and gave the nearest guard a pat on the outer thigh.
"I wasn't in great condition and lost control. Rebuild the training grounds. Call me again when you've got spare cursed spirits."
The guards nodded stiffly. Who knew how long it would take to gather another twenty-plus Grade 1 cursed spirits, anyway?
Akira Zenin summoned the Divine Dogs again, lay back against them, and headed toward his courtyard.
Halfway there, a boy around six or seven years old blocked the Divine Dogs' path. His face was filled with unrestrained admiration as he shouted loudly,
"That huge noise just now… were you training, Akira? You really are the strongest!"
The boy ran up to the Divine Dogs, jumping up to pat their lower legs.
"Every time I see your Shikigami, I can't help but be amazed. They're just too perfect!"
Akira Zenin looked down helplessly at the boy sprawled on the ground. By seniority, this child was actually his uncle.
Naoya Zenin, the son of Clan Head Naobito Zenin, had an almost fanatical obsession with strength. Ever since he witnessed Akira Zenin summon a [Max Elephant] larger than the entire training ground, he had begun to worship this nephew of his who was close to him in age.
To be honest, Akira Zenin didn't particularly like Naoya Zenin as a person, but no matter what, he was still his uncle.
"Where are your followers?"
Naoya Zenin curled his lip, disdain flashing in his eyes.
"Those guys are too weak and only know how to flatter people. You were right before. You can't keep growing or gain real strength by drowning in flattery."
Akira Zenin, his dead, fish-like eyes rimmed with dark circles, gave a small nod.
"Good. Then what exactly are you blocking my way for?"
Naoya Zenin scratched the back of his head, looking a little embarrassed.
"I was going to find some cursed spirits to train with, but now the training grounds are gone.
So I want to fight you. Sparring with a strong person is the only way to grow and make progress."
"Not interested. I overdid it just now. I'm going back to sleep."
Naoya Zenin didn't move, just lowered his head and stared at the ground.
Seeing him like that gave Akira Zenin a headache.
"Alright, alright. I'll point you toward a better path. Otherwise, I probably won't even be able to sleep properly. There are still plenty of strong people in our clan."
"Who else is there? Other than you and the old man, aren't all the remaining Grade 1 sorcerers in [The Hei]?
The people in Hei are responsible for the clan's security. They don't have time."
Akira Zenin shook his head.
"My second uncle. Toji Zenin."
"Hah? That useless trash who doesn't even have Cursed Energy?"
Naoya Zenin let out a scornful laugh. He might worship Akira Zenin, but he had inherited his father Naobito Zenin's Projection Sorcery. In the future, he was bound to become the Zenin Clan's second strongest. Asking him to spar with a mere ordinary person was nothing short of an insult.
Akira Zenin watched Naoya Zenin, whose expression was starting to show the telltale arrogance of a spoiled prodigy, and quietly laughed to himself. This guy probably had no idea how much he would one day worship the very "ordinary person" he was mocking now.
Still, Akira Zenin believed Naoya wasn't beyond saving yet.
"If someone has no Cursed Energy, but is extremely strong, would you respect them?"
Naoya Zenin answered without even thinking.
"Without Cursed Energy, it's impossible to become strong!
Those who are not Zenin are not sorcerers. Those who are not sorcerers are not human."
"You really remember those conservative, stubborn fallacies well. But I won't blame you. Everyone around you thinks the same way.
Now listen carefully to my question again.
If there were someone who possessed overwhelming strength, but couldn't use Cursed Energy at all, would you respect them?"
Naoya Zenin fell silent, sinking into thought.
Seeing him standing there with his head lowered, Akira Zenin had [Divine Dogs] circle around the boy and head back toward his courtyard, leaving Naoya Zenin with nothing but his gradually receding back.
"If you want to become strong, you'll have to change the way you think first, little uncle."