'How did things develop like this?'
Dane remembered how just minutes ago Shen talked to him.
*Clink! Bang!*
Dane saw how Shen and the blood-like creature interlocked again. This had happened countless times since they entered this floor.
***
"Shen bro," Dane called. "How did you pass the previous stage with only martial arts? Didn't you say that you need to do a magic part too?" he asked.
Shen smirked and swung his index finger. "Dane, although it said that you need to finish both, did you really think anyone could finish in time? Thats why they did it as a note at the end and not with the rest of the requirements at the top.
"Other than that, do you really think everyone learns both magic and cultivation? Very few people are hybrids like me. And the inheritance creator obviously knows that fact, which is why he probably allowed either of the two paths needed to complete the test."
'Also, it's a good thing I memorized it.'
Instead of letting the technique get misplaced in time, it would be far better for him to learn it now and see if he could use it in the future. After all, this spell could possibly be as powerful as the foot martial arts he learned. If used correctly, this could be a game changing technique.
'It depends on if I can use it though. If not, I might have to teach it to someone I trust.'
The two spoke no further and walked down the stairs to the next floor.
Nothing happened as they walked and only when Dane stopped did Shen see what's wrong. Dane's eyes, fixed on the top of the golden-red gate, appeared horrified.
"What do you see?"
Dane turned to look at Shen and relayed what he read.
"You have arrived at the last floor. Through hardships you have passed, through life and death have you fought, now is the last test. If you pass, you can get it, the treasure of the conqueror. If you fail, your soul will cease and you shall become a devil that roams the Wylds. Tread carefully, for the Blood Demon means business!"
Hearing the words, Shen didn't seem fazed.
'So, this really is the last test.' he narrowed his eyes. 'This is the hardest test! Even he, the genuine inheritor, said it was the most gruelling test in his life.'
Shen bravely pushed the doors open. Red grass, red ground, and red air displayed itself in front of them. Everything around them was blood-red.
He felt as if the energy in his surroundings tried influencing him.
'So, one of those things is here…'
Shen frowned and circulated his energy to counter the atmosphere's energy. He turned to Dane and told him to do the same when he saw his eyes turning red.
"This floor might really be more dangerous than all the others. Although the dark room stifled the movement, it didn't influence the mind." Shen muttered to himself.
The red surrounding them congealed right in front of the duo's eyes. The scarlet color intertwined and a blood-like creature formed. Red eyes and a top humanoid shape with long hands that created claws, while at the end of its lower body it formed an arc-like standing form.
*Screech*
The Blood Demon looked at the duo, its eyes focused on Dane specifically. Its grotesque face split up, and a mouth appeared.
"Step up, inheritor!"
Its voice was like the scrape of a chalkboard, which made the duo's skin tingle in uncomfortableness while their hair stood on end.
"Your opponent is me, though."
Shen took a step forward, covering Dane and taking the Blood Demon's attention.
Blood Demon went silent, its eyes focused on Shen. It appeared to be examining him.
"You… seem more worthy," it concluded, its tone still hair rising but had a tinge of happiness in it.
Shen wasn't idle, he too examined the Blood Demon and what found shocked him. He couldn't determine its power, but it didn't exhibit the power suppression Terasu gave him.
Yet, as soon as Blood Demon deemed him worthy, in front of Shen's incredulous eyes, its level sharply rose as if on steroids.
'How is this possible? Even for a low-class devil, it's still not something it should be able to do.'
Blood Demon was a devil. It was a low-class devil, and that's what gave Shen the confidence to win it. But, he didn't prepare for this unplanned situation that made little sense to him.
A creature that had no cultivation or energy suddenly became at the same level of power as him. Shen's confusion cleared as he observed what happened, which cleared his puzzlement.
The energy from the atmosphere, the same thing that created Blood Demon, gave him power. Blood Demon appeared confined here and had to follow strict rules, which is why his energy looked the same as Shen.
"Defeat me and you will pass."
Shen ignored Blood Demon and drew his sword.
He pointed it at Blood Demon and in a flash disappeared. Seven Shen's appeared in the field and circled the Blood Demon. They moved at an incredibly fast pace.
"Isn't that…" Dane closed his mouth.
Shen was amazing. A technique that he mastered recently, where he created images of himself immediately used in battle. What was amazing, though, was the amount of after images.
Previously, he created five afterimages, yet two more have emerged. Shen's proficiency in the technique had already risen in that small timeframe.
Blood Demon calmly ignored the after images when…
Whoosh! Clang!
Seven Blood Demons had also appeared in front of each Shen. The real Blood Demon slashed his blood-like claws at one of the Shen's and the collision of weapons confirmed he attacked the real Shen.
Shen wasn't surprised and retreated. Blood Demon, knowing a technique that he learned in the same inheritance, was an obvious conclusion. Shen used the technique to prove his suspicion only.
The two, as if teleporting, clashed many times in front of Dane's eyes. He couldn't follow up with them at all, and the shock waves of each clash reached his position, almost flinging him away.
Minutes passed as the two fought, with no winner in sight.
'He's copying every move I am doing. It's like I am fighting another version of myself.'
Shen didn't complain. Instead, his lips curved into an enchanting smirk.
'This means, I can see what I am lacking and improve it. This isn't a test, it's an opportunity!'
Shen slashed one more time and stopped in place.