Chapter 72: The First Lightforged Champion
The eldest son of the Vinsmoke family, Vinsmoke Ichiji, his fiery red hair glinting, asked with a carefree smile.
Ichiji, along with his sister Reiju and younger brothers Niji and Yonji, had been summoned to a room by Judge. Although it was unusual for the meeting not to take place in the laboratory, they assumed Judge's summons had the same purpose as always. However, there was someone else present this time—someone they didn't recognize.
Judge stared at his children, lined up in front of him. For a moment, a flash of regret crossed his face before he quickly suppressed it—though not quickly enough for his eldest daughter to miss the uncharacteristic expression, leaving her both shocked and uneasy.
"What's gotten into Father…?" thought Vinsmoke Reiju, the first child to undergo Judge's genetic modifications. Unlike her younger siblings, Reiju's procedure had been incomplete, leaving her with an altered body but still retaining her emotions. This anomaly made her the key to helping Sanji escape later on.
"For him to show guilt of all things…" Reiju masked her surprise, her eyes flickering toward the unfamiliar figure in the room. "Could it be because of that person?"
Laying eyes on the infamous Vinsmoke siblings, Wright narrowed his gaze slightly, observing them carefully. His attention lingered a moment longer on Reiju, who was doing her best to maintain her composure.
So these were the siblings who, regardless of their intent, would one day become infamous. Wright's thoughts grew somber. While the siblings themselves were victims, the true villain here was Judge.
Even so, Wright mused, the Lightbinding Ritual might just be what they need—a chance to save them.
Still, his plan would need some adjustments.
"Children," Judge began, his voice steady, "today I've called you here not for another experiment but for something far more important."
"It is a ritual," he continued, "one that can change your destiny. Complete it, and you will gain new power, a new understanding of the world... and most importantly, it will address your greatest flaw."
"Flaw? But we're perfect," said Niji, the second son with striking blue hair. Ichiji and the green-haired Yonji also looked puzzled, while Reiju's expression remained neutral.
"There is no such thing as perfection, my children," Judge sighed with an air of scientific grandeur. "Science can refine and improve, but it cannot create true perfection. What comes next will be the next step in refinement."
"Reiju, you will go first," Judge directed, following the usual protocol of having his eldest child begin.
"Wait." Wright's voice broke through, calm but firm. "The boys should go first. The effects of the ritual haven't been tested on children before. The boys, with their more durable bodies, should start to minimize risk."
Judge hesitated but nodded in agreement. "Very well, Wright-sama." He turned to his sons. "Ichiji, you will go first, followed by Niji and Yonji. Reiju, you will go last."
"This is Wright-sama," Judge introduced. "He will perform the ritual."
The Vinsmoke brothers exchanged confused looks. However, programmed to obey Judge without question, they complied without resistance. Reiju, on the other hand, grew increasingly uneasy. Wright's earlier glance had felt significant, and Reiju couldn't shake the feeling that he knew something about her—about the emotions she had always hidden.
"All three of you, step forward together," Wright instructed, stepping closer. "Stand back-to-back and trust your instincts when the time comes."
The brothers followed his instructions, though they had little time to ponder his cryptic words. Blinding golden light poured from Wright's hands, enveloping the trio in its radiant glow.
"Infusion of Holy Light—Lightbinding Ritual!"
Ichiji, Niji, and Yonji felt as though they were dreaming—a long, intricate dream.
From before they were even born, their father had experimented on them, altering their lineage factors to grant them superhuman physiques and abilities: powerful exoskeletons, immense strength, and durability. But the cost of this transformation was the loss of their humanity—their emotions.
Of the four Vinsmoke brothers, Sanji alone had escaped this fate. His mother's intervention had left him with a normal human body and, most importantly, a heart capable of feeling.
Cold and unfeeling, the three modified brothers had mocked and tormented Sanji mercilessly, treating him as a failure and a disgrace. Yet, in truth, the three of them had become the real monsters—empty weapons of war. Only Sanji, with his mother's gentle spirit, remained fully human.
As consciousness returned to them, the brothers' thoughts settled.
"Thank you, Holy Light. Thank you, Wright-sama." Opening their eyes, golden light flickered in their gaze as glowing sigils appeared on their backs. Kneeling before Wright, the three brothers spoke in unison: "We feel... whole again."
Science may have tried to strip them of their humanity, but it could never completely extinguish their innate longing for light.
Wright nodded, sensing the seeds of Holy Light now within them. He motioned for Judge to take the brothers aside for further tests.
"You are Reiju, correct?" Wright said, turning to her.
Reiju froze, fear flashing in her eyes as she looked at her transformed brothers. Wright's voice was calm as he continued, "There's no need to fear. Your brothers were robbed of their emotions because of your father's crimes. But now, they have a chance to feel again. Going forward, they'll need your guidance."
"I…" Reiju hesitated, realizing that this man—powerful and mysterious—seemed to know her deepest secret: that she had retained her emotions all along.
"The emotions you possess are a gift," Wright reassured her. "Don't worry. I won't destroy them. My power exists to punish the wicked, not the innocent."
Bending down slightly, Wright placed his hand gently on her head. A soothing golden glow spread over Reiju, enveloping her completely.
"Infusion of Holy Light—Lightforging Trial!"
Reiju found herself in a vivid illusion.
Pain has always been the architect of memory.
"As the eldest daughter of the Vinsmoke family, Reiju, this experiment is your responsibility."
"Yes, Father…"
Memories resurfaced—her father's madness, her mother's desperate resistance, the cold experiments, and her hidden acts of rebellion.
Through the trial, she revisited every painful moment: her siblings' torment of Sanji, her father's relentless ambition, and her mother's tragic struggle to preserve her children's humanity.
"You're the kindest child in the world," her mother's voice echoed, filled with love and sorrow.
Finally, Reiju saw herself helping Sanji escape. She had done what little she could to protect him, urging him never to return.
"Live freely. Be kind. And never look back."
When Reiju emerged from the illusion, her forehead bore a brilliant golden sigil.
"This power… It's so warm," she whispered.
"Congratulations, Reiju," Wright said with a soft smile. "You've passed the trial. You are now the first Lightforged Champion."
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