2 Ch 1. Ryuujin.
(A/N: "" Will be used for talking, [] Will be used for Ryuujin, as there is no cursive available in webnovel.)
In a secret base somewhere in the Rain country, there were two men talking to each other. One was dressed in the common Shinobi wear. Flack jacket, multi-purpose tool bags and a steel head protector of Amegakure, cosisting of four vertical, parallel stripes. The other man wore a lab coat, obviously a researcher. His small glasses occasionally slipped down his nose, pushed back every so often as the man went over the documents in his hands.
"Have there been any results of the experiment?" the man wearing a lab coat asked the shinobi. His eyes never moved from the documents, as he silently wrote some notes on the side of a couple of paragraphs.
"Most subjects have perished, two are in critical condition with no visible improvement, while one other, subject 69 is in a coma." The shinobi replied, his face emotionless as he handed the scroll in his hands to the researcher.
"So there has been a bit of improvement in the experiment. Pay extra attention to those still alive. Especially Subject 69, try to stabilise his condition. We might have succeeded in the experiment. If it remains alive that is."
The shinobi nodded and disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
*
*
*
Deep in the darkness of his cell, Subject 69 was experiencing excruciating pain he had never felt before. His body quivered from the stress his muscles were going through. Sweat continued to drip down as the pain slowly increased.
It was like someone was poking searing hot needles directly into his head. The pain was so intense that he wanted to smash in his head and end it, just to make the pain stop. If it went on, he was sure he would go insane.
Even though he wanted to end it, his body didn't respond to him, as it remained unresponsive, he couldn't even scream out. As hard as he tried, not even one muscle listened to him as his body didn't feel like his own.
These past few years had been nothing but living hell to him. Day after day, strange substances were injected into his body with sharp needless and transparent tubes with colourful liquids.
After those substances entered his body, searing pain would spread through his body, causing it to spasm and tear the muscles in his body. Just one such an instance would leave his body on the verge of death. It was strange he hadn't already died.
After the pain was gone, which was usually only around a week later, he would notice that the people that were with him had diminished.
They had started with twenty other kids. One by one they would be taken, after which screams would follow. If they were fortunate, they wouldn't come back. The ones that did return didn't look like their previous selves, as they had become gruesomely inhuman in appearance.
He hadn't always felt like this, so desolate as he did. He once hoped to stay alive to live another day, just to see what it looked like outside. He had heard stories from those that were taken from the outside. He had yearned to see those sights for himself, as it all was too foreign to even imagine. That dream had already ended when the pain became a constant factor in his life.
He thought the pain would lessen, that he would get used to it as it went on, but every time he got slightly accustomed, the pain would increase in intensity.
Then the only friend he was closest with, a girl of his age, had also disappeared.
He could already guess what happened, yet he couldn't do anything about it.
He never felt as powerless as he did that day. At least he was glad she was released from this hell. He was sure she was dead. He would surely follow soon after.
[But this will change nothing, talking to yourself. It is useless. It won't help you with the pain you are currently experiencing.]
He didn't know what he was hearing, but it sounded like a voice. It was as if it was originating from within his head, rather than that it was coming from around him.
[Correct. Only you can hear me, human. You are not alone.]
He was hearing it again. This voice seemed to be able to hear what he was thinking.
Who is it?
He was uncertain if he had finally going mad.
[No, you are quite sane. Maybe I should ask you instead, who are you?]
Me? I am Subject 69.
He didn't know what else to say. The researchers only called him Subject 69, it was the only thing he could call himself by. When some tried to give each other names, they would immediately be taken, never to be seen again. It only heightened the sense that they should try such things again. Lest they ended up the same.
[That is not a name human. Let me give you one. Let me see. A young boy. Rather small and malnourished yet with great growth potential. I'll call you Izana, after a past friend of mine. Izana, my name is Ryuujin.]
Ryuujin spoke in a arrogant and confident way. Though he came across as a caring person. He spoke arrogantly, yet it sounded more gentle than anything Izana had experienced before.
Ryuujin-san, how come I'm not alone?
Izana didn't know what he meant with not being alone. He was alone in his cell, there was no one around him. All the others had already dissapeared.
[Izana, I can not be seen with the naked eye, for my soul has bonded with yours. We are one and the same, yet we are not. We are share one body, our deaths connected till the end of time.
I can be found inside of you, seen when you have the eyes to see.]
Izana didn't exactly know what Ryuujin meant, but when he imagined himself seeing Ryuujin, a massive white reptilian creature with claws as sharp as diamonds and wings as wide as the sky stood before him. Its neck was long, almost as long as its tail, as a line of white fur ran down its back up till its tail. It white scales seemed to radiate light, as they silently pulsed in a constant rithm. The head was fierce some as rows of sharp fangs stood out the most, aside from the fiery red eyes. The same white fur that was on its back was growing along the jaw of the beast, growing a mane-like beard. Its horns were like that of the antlers of a stag, reaching backwards. Its slim front legs were firmly clasped on a cliff, radiating the power those claws could exert as they dug deep into the stone. Red arcs of lightning would occasionally burst forth from the creatures chest, warming the area in front of it. It looked like a White European dragon.
(A/N: Don't question about how he knows how those things look. I won't bother with explaining it. Descriptions are there for the reader, not to make sense why the MC knows said creatures when he hasn't even gone outside.)
Ryuujin-san, what are you?
[Please call me Ryuujin, Izana. I am what you call a dragon, my appearance born from the collective thoughts of an alien population. I would be called a tailed beast among the current populace, as that is what you humans call creatures such as me. Due to some unfortunate accidents, my soul was used in the experiment of those involved in this research. Luckily our bodies were a good match for each other. If it was anyone but you, their body would have exploded and their soul shredded, just from my innate abilities.]
Izana was shocked at Ryuujin's words. He could already imagine his body exploding, unrecognisable to his current appearance. Though he had no clue what he looked like. He knew he had long black hair, but that was it.
[No worries, your body and soul are really compatible with mine. Exceptionally so.]
Ryuujin laughed out loud, a big smirk on his face. He happily hummed to himself, completely ignoring Izana.
Izana sighed in relief. It seems he had the devils luck, to have been compatible with Ryuujin.
Or maybe not, if his intention was to die peacefully.
Meanwhile, the pain in his body had lessened to a dull throbbing.
It felt almost pleasant compared to the previous pain.
[Stay focused Izana, someone is coming.]
Ryuujin warned Izana, who was too emerged in his thoughts.
Like Ryuujin said, a man with a forehead protector came inside his cell.
On the forehead protector was the mark of four vertical stripes.
The man's expresion was blank as he scanned the cell.
The man walked towards Izana with soundless steps and began to pull out syringes and strange bottles.
Izana was covered in cold sweat as he though back on all the pain that would come. A shiver ran down his spine as he unconciously prepared for yet more pain to ensue.
[Worry not. From what I can tell, these are medicinal herbs meant to replenish strength and Chakra. Can't you smell their aroma?]
Ryuujin chimed in, calming Izana down, though he had no idea what chakra was meant to be.
Izana sniffed silently and could indeed catch the faint whiff of plants. If they were medicinal or not, he couldn't tell.
Izana still couldn't move, but his eyes followed the movements of the shinobi closely.
When the needle pierced his arm, it quivered in response.
The shinobi, having finished his task, disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
Izana could already feel the effect of the medicine. The dull pain disappeared, while he could slowly move his body again.
Along with that, he felt a strange energy coursing through his veins.
"Ryuujin, what is this strange feeling I feel in my body? It's something I haven't ever felt before."
His voice came out slightly croaked, dry from the time he had been enduring in silence. Izana felt strange. The energy passed through his body, leaving it stronger than before.
[Ah, I forgot you haven't gone through any training. This is the energy called chakra. It makes the body stronger than that of the average human. Because you haven't had any training, you couldn't feel the chakra in your own body. But since I have been synergized with your soul, your body can't even be called human anymore. Its ability to harness chakra has reached another level all together.]
Ryuujin seemed proud of himself as he said it. Like a peacock showing it colourful feathers
[That's rude. I'm not a peacock. I am an almighty and powerful dragon. As soon as we get out of here, I will show you what it means to share my power.]
Ryuujin hummed happily, looking forward to the days to come.
