Chapter 9: Leaving the Bird's Nest (4)

Ryu froze in his place. The voice that had spoken suddenly had evidently come from the double scimitar. No mistaking that. It would've surprised him had he not expected it by now. Yet what really perplexed him the most was the tone of the voice.

It sounded like a mixture of things. It wasn't monotonous but it was so muddled up that it just felt unnatural.

"hmm... are you alive? Or have you been spirited away?" The weapon asked wondering of what the person in front of him was doing.

Ryu broke out of his initial shock and started asking questions. He didn't let his guard down particularly but had the double scimitar wanted to kill him, it could've already done so.

Unless it has some things it wants from Ryu. For someone used to the typical boring society from Japan, this was both refreshing and terrifying. 

Ryu had never experienced the fear of death or the unknown, or rather he had a desire to explore the dark splotches on the world. But morality and societal expectations had constrained him.

He was no psycho per se, but he did test the borders in his own mind. That is the reason why this situation was so strange. Ryu felt infected by the weapon, feeling multiple emotions in his body at once. Joy, fear, curiosity amongst others all appeared at once solely because of a talking weapon. 

"Who- no, what are you?" Ryu asked the weapon. Had someone else been observing his actions, they would called him crazy but he didn't care right now.

He finally found the thing he had sought after all his old life. Something outside the common sense that had been selfishly established by people of the older times. Laws were crucial to him, but there were unnecessary things that he wanted to subvert.

In the end, however, all he got in response was a sigh. "Don't you know its common manners to give your name before you ask who someone else is? I thought this was basic human expectation!" 

"It is....when we are talking to other humans. No-one in their right mind would address a weapon." Ryu corrected the blade but got no response. He could guess what it was that the weapon wanted.

"I'm Ryu Skyborne, who are you?" He introduced himself, noticing that the conversation wouldn't go anywhere otherwise.

It wasn't visible but it felt to Ryu that the weapon grinned for a moment before declaring, "Rejoice mortal! For this great existence has graced you. I am known as Pride, the great desire. I am one of the seven deadly sins." The spear spoke. For the first time in the conversation, there was a prominent tone or rather an emotion present. 

Arrogance.

Of course though. It had to be a deadly sin. No wonder. 

As a person who had read countless novels with a similar concept, Ryu couldn't help but scoff. It literally wasn't anything special to him, seeing that he had seen similar things his entire life. 

What did interest him though, was the fact that this was the sin of pride. One that usually didn't appear to the protagonist. It was considered the antithesis under normal circumstances.

Yet here they were.

"Ah, I see... So?" Ryu replied. A moment of silence passed.

"h-huh?" 

"You're known as pride, great. Why did you call me? I'm a busy person y'know?" 

If what the weapon said was true this would be one of the worst ways to deal with such an object. Yet Ryu internally grinned. After all, Pride is pride. An emotion that would not swallow an insult such as indifference easily.

"B-but I'm pride. You heard me right? I am one of the 7 deadly sins, objects of great power and strength. I can easily wipe out a nation." 

"yet here you are in a dusty basement, on a plaque and in front of someone like me. Whilst in the form of a weapon." 

This seemed to be the final tick for Pride, the atmosphere changed as the silence stretched on. The seemingly heavy mana became heavier, to the point that it would make a normal person's knees buckle.

Sure that wasn't much, but it was coming from a single weapon that didn't even have divine essence.

"You don't seem to understand what I am. If I can wipe out an entire nation, then a puny human like you is child's play." Pride threatened. The air became heavier, making it harder to breathe.

Ryu felt a bead form on his forehead from the intense rage that was being exuded from Pride.

Yet he felt a grin tug on his cheeks. "You need a wielder don't you?" he asked.

And in just a flash. The positions of the two beings were flipped. Pride once more returned to a confused state, as if wondering what could've led Ryu to think such a thing.

He was Pride! It was preposterous to think that he would need a wielder under normal circumstances. 

"wh-what?" It croaked out.

"that's the reason you were calling out to me. That's why you didn't kill me the second I entered the basement. Your behaviour, actions so far all lead to the conclusion that without a wielder you cannot efficiently manifest your power. You require a vessel of sorts." He concluded.

Pride POV

'What in the world is this human? How could he have guessed everything from just a few lines that have been said?' Pride's infinite knowledge couldn't help him to reach a conclusion.

No matter how he thought about it, it was physically impossible, for someone to  be in the world that could overtake his capabilities. 

This boy he had simply sensed a glimmer of power in, was here right now toying with his actions. As if he had been dancing in his palm the entire time.

Ryu seemingly read the weapon's mind, and his grin widened. "let me guess...you wanted me to become a host for you?"

"yes...as much as it make the bile rise into my mouth, I require a human host to wield me to exhibit my true potential." Pride admitted. Once more his voice being a mash-up of emotions.

'I want this one.'

"What are your goals though Pride?" Ryu asked sitting down on the ground, his confident smile never once wavered, "what do you as a weapon. As a being that exists for eternity desire?" 

'I want this being '

"Completeness." was the one word response he gave.

'I can achieve it with this one for sure.' 

"Completeness? Are you suggesting you are incomplete?"  Ryu retorted baffled. A weapon with such an intense aura, still incomplete? Not to mention, its origins are completely unknown! He has no clue where it came from nor what was the cause of its appearance. Who made it?

"I am Pride. I want... no, need perfection, no matter what. The only way for that to happen is for me to evolve through experience. Unlike the others like Gluttony who just eat everything, I need actual use. So I need a person who will be able to experience multiple things."

"Luckily I found you, a person who wants to leave this house to become an adventurer. If you think about it, it's perfect for something like me." Pride justified. And truly it did make sense. Although a bit coincidental, it wasn't something that can be described as anything but.

The part that freaked Ryu out a bit more though was the fact that this weapon had been listening in on everything that was discussed in the house.

"yeah but what do I get out of this?" Ryu responded. Whether it was simply confusing or rather surprising, pride took a bit of time to respond. It seems that he didn't expect a human, a lesser being compared to him, to be so...so... unafraid.

He was literally a weapon of mass destruction, sure rather unperfect right now, but the previous vestiges and users had made him very strong.

"Hello?" 

"h-huh? Oh, right...well, with me you can eventually kill or destroy anything you want." pride offered. To him, it seemed like the perfect offer. The overwhelming strength that no one can resist.

"I don't need it." 

No one can...resist?

"W-what?!" pride exclaimed shocked, its androgynous voice shrieking in surprise. 

"I don't need such destruction, I literally don't care about the state of this world. Killing anyone I want? No interest." Ryu replied.

"B-but..."

"none." 

Pride wasn't an existence used to being shut down. It was usually dominant. The one who shut others down. Yet it wasn't stupid, it learned extremely fast and because of this very fearsome ability, it could hypothesise that Ryu wasn't done.

And indeed it was correct.

"But..power is always nice to have I guess? You never know what might happen." Ryu shrugged uncaringly. It seemed nothing really phased this human, to pride this was the most peculiar being he had come into contact with in its entire time of existing.

"So? You agree?" Pride confirmed with Ryu. After receiving a prompt nod, its voice rose a few decibels, nothing major but it clearly was in joy.

"very well, let's get the assimilation process on with then. Pick me up." pride instructed, Ryu followed the instructions. Picking up the double scimitar, a wave washed over Ryu. 

It was indescribable, Ryu felt like his very being was being changed.

"As part of the assimilation, we make a contract. We each vow the things we want and offer the other, then we agree on the consequences if one were to break the promise. Is that clear?" Pride asked in a condescending way.

Ryu simple nodded once more but didn't bother replying, which seemed to make Pride feel like he was being ignored. Regardless they moved on.

"I am Pride, the embodiment of desire. I seek perfection, the ultimate status a sentient being can have. I want you to help me move forward or get to the end of the road to perfection. I will offer you power enough to raze your enemies down to the ground and even make the Gods kneel." Pride began, it sounded like a load of things were being promised, but he made the jist of it clear.

One thing was apparent from his words, most likely speaking, pride was on the cusp of achieving the perfect state. Otherwise it would've only been progress and not reaching the end. Perhaps he left off some chance that he wouldn't reach perfection in Ryu's lifetime, which suggested they would be stuck together for all of Ryu's life.

Still it didn't matter.

"I am Ryu Skyborne, I seek to live an uncaring life where I dictate my own life. I will accept your offers, and become your vessel and assist you on your path to perfection. I want you to help me achieve my desire of personal peace and other goals. Should one of us betray the other, or break our promises, may we be erased from existence." 

"hkk.." Pride made a noise. It had to be careful to not say anything as it could be seen as a sign of affirmation. Ryu only smirked.

Pride POV

'This human!' It exclaimed internally. It was livid. SO extremely livid.

It had fallen to the trap of a human. A mere human, tried to erase the existence of the great pride. 

Pride seemed to have become aware of underestimating Ryu a bit too much, as someone who knows nothing about the contractee, Ryu's call was the correct.

No one had stated that the punishment had to be dictated based on the agreements. By Ryu adding the factor of total destruction and no betrayal, Ryu had essentially secured Pride's loyalty.

It could do nothing against him. Since the term 'betray' was so subjective, essentially defying a simple request could also be seen as a betrayal. Yet it had no choice. 

If Pride didn't accept this contract, who knows how long it would take for a suitable host to appear. It was risky but well worth it.

"I...I agree." it let out with an imitation of gritting teeth. And so it was sealed, Pride had made a partnership with Ryu.

"kukukuku..." 

Contrasting to what Ryu believed, Pride let out a laugh. He felt utter confusion as to why Pride would laugh under these circumstances, but he realised it soon later. Or rather he felt it.

A boiling feeling in his core. Not his heart or lungs, it was as if something was directly etching itself onto his soul. A red blaze that seemed to tear his entire being apart and back into the levels it was at. 

He had felt this level of constant destruction and repair before, this feeling of something engraving itself into his very being. A blessing of sorts.

While he was thinking the pain couldn't get any worse, it doubled. His knees buckled and he fell onto the ground with a loud groan.

Conflicting powers....

"w-what? You were blessed by a deity?" Pride asked shocked. It was a sudden change, Ryu hadn't let out such an aura, but a closer glimpse could solve everything.

As two beings were held together in one, they got to see the truth of the other. Something people would reckon was an absolute trust, was something a heavy price is paid for. 

"No matter, she cannot defend you properly." Pride laughed maniacally, as he seemed to do something to Ryu. 

However,  Ryu lost his consciousness and whilst he faded, he could hear Pride roar loudly in the back of his conscience.

"you are the one. Such a gift, it must be heaven's will. Just you wait Gluttony, I will beat you!"