"Ha? You want me to take her as a student?" Yuki Tsukumo looked at Riko Amanai, then back at Souma Gojo with a skeptical raise of her eyebrow.
Beside them, Satoru Gojo couldn't help but interject. "Brother, this woman does nothing but wander around foreign countries living a life of leisure. She's basically a Special Grade deadbeat. If we want to train Riko, you're more than qualified. Heck, even I could do it."
Yuki's face darkened as she shot a glare at Satoru. "Excuse me? Has my reputation collapsed that far in your eyes?"
"No," Souma countered calmly. "Your reputation hasn't collapsed because it was never built on being a conventional teacher. However, when it comes to the specific nature of Riko's situation, you are the only one suited for this task."
Yuki narrowed her eyes, sensing a deeper meaning in Souma's gaze. The silver haired twin didn't bother hiding the truth. He stepped forward, his voice dropping to a serious tone. "Yuki, I know the truth. You were once a Star Plasma Vessel yourself."
The air in the room suddenly felt heavy. Yuki let out a cold snort, her relaxed posture stiffening for a split second. "I suppose that old hag Tengen told you? I really don't understand why she feels the need to dig up the past."
Souma didn't confirm or deny it. Tengen hadn't breathed a word to him. His knowledge came from the fractured memories of his previous life, a strategic advantage he guarded closely.
"The point is," Souma continued, "Star Plasma Vessels are historically viewed as vessels with vast cursed energy but no innate technique. They are considered hollow. But you, Yuki, are the anomaly. You awakened Star Wrath, a technique of immense mass. It proves the vessel isn't empty: it is just sealed."
Riko Amanai looked up, her eyes wide with a mixture of fear and burgeoning hope. She had spent her life believing she was nothing more than a temporary battery for an ancient god. To hear that she might possess a power of her own was a revelation that shook her to the core.
Yuki rubbed her temples, looking genuinely stressed. "Fine. There is a way. But it isn't pleasant. The reason a Vessel doesn't manifest a technique is because the 'root' of their body is tied to the merger. To break that seal, you have to undergo a partial assimilation."
"What?" Satoru shouted, his blue eyes flashing with immediate hostility. "You want her to merge with that thing after everything we did to stop it?"
"Relax, brat. Listen to the whole explanation," Yuki snapped. "It isn't a full merger. It is a process where Tengen absorbs only the 'Vessel Root' without taking the soul or the body. Once that anchor is gone, the latent technique of the individual can finally manifest. That is how I ended up with my technique. It was a complete accident during my own failed cycle."
The three teenagers stood in a silent circle, the weight of the decision pressing down on them. Souma looked at Riko. "It is your choice, Riko. We won't force you back into that tomb if you don't want to go."
Riko clenched her fists until her knuckles turned white. She thought of the days spent hiding, the fear of the religious groups, and the feeling of being a burden. She wanted to stand on her own. "I'll do it. I'm going."
"I'm coming with you," Satoru said instantly.
Souma nodded. "Me too. If Tengen tries anything funny, or if the process goes sideways, my Domain and Reversed Cursed Technique will be the safety net. I don't trust that old sorcerer as far as I can throw her."
Yuki rolled her eyes and turned toward the exit. "Count me out of the field trip. I have no desire to see that face again. I'll be waiting at the school."
They traveled deep into the Tombs of the Star Corridor. The descent was quiet, the air growing colder and more saturated with ancient, stagnant cursed energy the deeper they went. Satoru looked unusually tense, his Six Eyes scanning every shadow.
"Brother," Satoru whispered as they approached the final gate. "We basically ruined Tengen's scheduled reset. You think she's holding a grudge? Will she actually help us?"
Souma gave a small, cynical smirk. "Satoru, what have I always told you? If you approach people with sincerity and politeness, you can move their hearts. We just need to be very... persuasive."
"Since when are you polite?" Satoru muttered.
They stepped into the heart of the Sunken Palace. The massive, gnarled tree that housed Tengen's presence loomed over them like a silent judge. Souma stepped to the front, cupped his hands around his mouth, and bellowed at the top of his lungs.
"Hey! Old hag! Get out here! We need a favor!"
Satoru and Riko both facepalmed simultaneously.
"Is this the 'sincerity' you were talking about?" Satoru asked, mortified.
Souma gave a thumbs up. "Exactly. If she doesn't want to help, I'll beat her until she does. That's what I call moving a heart."
A moment later, a strange, four eyed entity began to emerge from the trunk of the tree. It looked less like a human and more like a high level curse, a byproduct of her delayed evolution. Tengen looked at Souma with a weary expression.
"You could at least show some respect to a sorcerer who has maintained the barriers of this country for a millennium," Tengen rasped.
"I'll show respect when someone proves they're as reliable as the history books claim," Souma shot back. "I know about Kenjaku, Tengen. I know about the threats you've allowed to fester. Let's skip the pleasantries and get to work on the girl."
Tengen flinched at the mention of the name Kenjaku. She looked at Souma with newfound wariness, realizing the boy knew far more than a student should. "Very well. Helping her awaken is a small price to pay for the chaos your family has brought to my doorstep. Consider it an act of atonement."
The process began. Riko was enveloped in glowing, translucent vines that pulsed with the heartbeat of the earth. Satoru and Souma stood on either side, their Six Eyes active at full power, monitoring every flicker of cursed energy. They were like two hawks watching a snake, ready to tear the tree apart if Riko showed even a hint of pain.
The "Root" was extracted. It looked like a thread of pure white light being pulled from Riko's chest and absorbed into the tree.
Finally, the vines receded. Riko tumbled forward, catching herself on her knees. She looked at her hands, which were trembling.
"Riko! You okay?" Satoru rushed to her side, his usual arrogance replaced by genuine panic.
Riko looked up, a slow, mischievous grin spreading across her face. She stood up and dusted off her skirt, her aura suddenly shifting from a flicker to a steady, burning flame.
"Oh ho! I feel amazing! I've awakened something incredible, Satoru. Prepare to be stepped on!"
Satoru blinked. "I think the process damaged her brain."
"Shut up! It's a temperature based technique," Riko shouted, sparks of frost and steam rising from her skin. "I call it Star Sorrow."
They emerged from the tomb into the bright afternoon sun, meeting Yuki who was leaning against a pillar.
"Smooth sailing?" Yuki asked.
"Star Sorrow," Riko announced proudly. "I can control temperature within a specific range. It's high level stuff!"
Yuki grinned. "Star Wrath and Star Sorrow. We're going to be quite the pair. Welcome to the world of sorcery, kid."
Satoru leaned over to Souma. "Wrath and Sorrow? Why do their techniques sound so depressing? They don't fit their personalities at all. They should call them Star Happy and Star Excited."
Yuki and Riko both turned to glare at him. "And what about your technique, Satoru? The Limitless? It fits you perfectly because you truly have no limits to how annoying you can be."
Souma let out a quiet laugh, the tension of the day finally breaking. He looked at the group: his brother, his friend, and the girl they had saved from a dark fate. The future was unwritten, and for the first time, the shadows of the past felt a little less heavy.
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