Chapter 17: Asura?

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Japan, Ozunu Orphanage House

Lucian lay on the tatami mat, his eyes closed, his breathing slow and measured.

'Seven times. I've fainted seven times.'

Lucian said to Cortana, his voice tinged with frustration.

He was furious. Even though his reflexes were better than those of any human his age, even older, he couldn't beat those trained as ninjas.

'I know you're pissed, but you need to calm down. We can't beat them, as you already know who they are.' Cortana said, her voice a soothing balm in his mind.

They already knew, from Lucian's past memories, that these people wouldn't hurt them. Ozunu ninjas kidnapped orphans from all over the world.

Lucian was an orphan and a genius in the eyes of others, yet he never formed close relationships. It was as if he were begging them to take him, since no one would care if he disappeared.

Lucian opened his eyes, taking in his surroundings.

He was in a small, japanese room, the only furniture a few tatami mats. He saw other children, kidnapped like him, lying around the room.

But then, his extraordinary senses tingled. He felt someone standing in the corner, concealed by the shadows. The shadows expanded, and the man no longer bothered to hide his face.

"Looks like they're right. You are special." the man said, his smile a chilling, almost predatory, expression.

He thought to himself, 'Looks like there's someone more special than you, little brother.' as he recalled the one who was groomed to replace Lord Ozunu but had betrayed them.

He would train this boy, Lucian, very well.

"Wake them up. It's time for dinner, and Lord Ozuru is waiting for you guys." the man said, leaving the room through a sliding door.

A sudden golden light that only he can see appeared, and Cortana mini version was seen. As she flew to his shoulder.

"I think he's up to something." Cortana whispered to Lucian, who was now looking at his fellow prisoners, all still asleep.

'Yeah, a murderous ninja smiling at me. Everything is going to be fine.' Lucian said sarcastically. He attempted to wake up the other kids.

"Hey, wake up." he said, gently shaking the little black girl awake.

The girl opened her eyes and immediately threw a punch at Lucian, who quickly stepped back, his expression unfazed.

"Didn't your parents teach you manners?" Lucian asked, his voice calm and steady.

The girl glared at him, her jaw clenched, her eyes filled with anger.

'This girl's got anger issues.' Lucian said to Cortana, as he continued waking up the other children.

"Give her a break. Maybe she's scared," Cortana said.

The girl looked around the room, her gaze searching for something familiar, a sense of security in the unknown. She saw a young boy still asleep. She crawled over and gently shook him.

"Garrett, wake up." she called out, her voice strained.

The boy yawned and rubbed his eyes, looking around in confusion.

"Violet, where are we?" Garrett asked, observing the room.

"I don't know." she said, shaking her head. She then pointed to Lucian, who was now kicking the other children's feet gently to wake them. "But he might," she said.

"Hey, do you know where we are?" Garrett asked Lucian, who had finished waking up the children.

Lucian raised an eyebrow at them.

"No, but that guy asked me to wake you up. You ask him." he said, gesturing toward the sliding door, which was now open.

"Oh, how did you know I was out here?" the man said, his voice smooth as he entered the room.

"I can hear you." Lucian said. His body was getting stronger, and his senses were becoming even more acute.

"Interesting." the man said, a smile playing on his lips. He looked at the children in the room, his eyes lingering on Lucian.

"Follow me." the man said, then walked out of the room. The children looked at each other, confusion and fear etched on their faces.

They saw Lucian following the man, and Violet and Garrett exchanged glances before following suit. The two other children, deciding it was better to be with the others than alone, joined the procession.

They were led into a large room, where they heard a man speaking, his voice booming and authoritative.

"Metsu, Zen, Wherever you are, Wherever you may go, you must never ever forget who you are, how you came to be. You are Ozunu. You are a part of me, as I am a part of you," the man said, his words resonating in the room, a hypnotic rhythm.

'God, damn, so this is what it feels like to be brainwashed. He should at least change some lines.' Lucian thought sarcastically with disgust and amusement.

"But it works though. Look at your ninja classmates. It's got their attention." Cortana said, pointing out the other orphans, who were watching with fascination and a hint of awe.

They were pushed to the front by the man who led them there.

Ozunu continued, his voice filling the room, his eyes locked on the children.

"This is the truth of your lives, and it will remain true after your death." he said, his voice laced with a chilling certainty.

He then pointed to each child, his gaze lingering on Lucian, who felt a cold shiver run down his spine. Ozunu knew he was different, yet he continued.

"They're my new sons and daughters. I have given them a name."

He pointed to each child, reciting a new name.

When he pointed to Lucian, he paused, his gaze intense.

"Asura. Welcome them as your brothers and sisters." he said, his voice firm, his command echoing in the room.

Children from all ages, dressed in black, stood and bowed.

"Welcome, Asura." they chanted in unison, their voices a chorus of reverence and awe.

Lucian stood there, his eyes narrowed, his mind churning.

They were being indoctrinated, their identities erased, replaced with the Ozunu creed a warped sense of loyalty and purpose.

He was being branded, his individuality stripped away, forced into a new role.

He was Asura.

He looked at the other children, seeing the same expressions of confusion and fear that he felt. He could see the seeds of doubt planted by Ozunu, the subtle manipulation of their minds, the blurring of their sense of self.

If his memories served him right, Lucian knew exactly what Ozunu wanted. Ozunu was creating monsters, weapons, tools in the hands of a ruthless master.

If he showed even the slightest disagreement, Ozunu would probably kill him right here.

So he would accept this role. He would study carefully, learning how these ninjas blended into the shadows, how they fought, and most importantly, how they healed. He needed to learn their secrets, their strength, their resilience.

He knew this world was dangerous, a world beyond Teen Wolf, a world where ninja assassins lurked in the shadows. The things he thought he knew had changed, and this was his chance to survive in a world full of uncertainty.

'Are you sure about this?' Cortana said in his mind, her voice laced with concern.

She knew this place would change him.

'I don't have a choice, and I've always wondered what I would do if I was given a chance to study, to learn about the extraordinary.' Lucian said to Cortana, his thoughts drifting back to his past life. He'd read countless books, watched countless action and fantasy movies about things he could never imagine happening. Now, he had the opportunity to learn those things for himself.

He thought about the ninjas' abilities. He thought about their superhuman reflexes, their mastery of stealth, their devastating fighting skills.

'This is my chance, a change' Asura said to Cortana, his voice now laced with a new confidence.

"Even this process will hurt, change you into a monstrous murderer?" Cortana asked, concerned for his well-being, for his future.

'Even if it hurts, I will learn. This was a chance that could never have happened to me in the past. This will make me stronger' Lucian said to Cortana, a smile growing on his face. 'I won't become a monstrous murderer. I have you with me.'

Cortana sighed, his words giving her a sliver of hope. 'Okay, but I hope you don't start killing innocent people.'

'I know who I am. I won't change, I will change because I want to. I will make these ninja abilities mine.' Lucian said, his voice filled with determination.

He must become Asura. But even as he accepted this new identity, a part of him, the core of Lucian, wouldn't let them break him. He had Cortana, a powerful partner who would stand by him, a beacon of hope in the darkness. He wouldn't become a monster, a mere tool. He would become a force to be reckoned with. He was Asura, but he was also Lucian, and he wouldn't let those who sought to control him win.

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Next Chapter 18: Training part 1

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(A/N:Give power stones so others can see my work)

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