Slayer woke up the next day or what felt like the next day. There was no sun here. Two moons were the only thing illuminating this place. The plains he walked upon seemed endless. He could see nothing but a horizon of tall hills. He headed there feeling a pull telling him to walk there. He would stop every once in the awhile and cultivated pulling out his chi stones he hadn't used yet till he finally reached rank four. He held the stones absorbing the stones chi cupping his hands together letting the stone rest in the middle. After the last cultivation break he found a stream and filled up his canteen. He then felt something moving in the tall grass. He ducked down and unsheathed a kunai knife. The thing was peaceful, but didn't give off a violent aura. It was a big bovine looking creature there were quite a few passing by paying him no mind. They approached the stream and drank waters. He relaxed and kept walking.
He reached the top of the hill and seated was a man with half his face covered by a cloth. He was in leather armor and puffy trousers. A sword with no hit sat upon his lap and he was deep in meditation. His skin was gray and he was bald. He opened his eyes to reveal silver irises. From his ears dangled rectangle earrings made from silver. Covering his shoulders was a white and black cloak wrapped around his shoulders flowing down his back. "I know who you are, Slayer?" the man spoke. Slayer said nothing as his eyes burned red staring at him. "Long ago the Demon King sired a son. This child grew to be a gifted warrior, a protege I hear. Mastered all forms of disciplines from philosophy to combat. Rumor has it this boy had an ability of a Weapon Forger. Tell me Slayer would that be accurate rumors? Or just talk?" the man asked.
"Rumors can be misleading. Are you who they call the Moon Blade? Single guard to the Moon King?" Slayer asked. The man nodded. "I am he. Warrior to Warrior your success thus far is impressive. I remember being you. A Slayer chosen by the World every hundred years to clean up the regimes to keep the realms spinning forward" Moon Blade explained. "Then I was given a position in the Moon King's service. My life for my blade. Even I met my match. He was cunning and I ended up at his mercy" Moon Blade stood up brushing the grass off his body. "Position came with power and influence. So let me ask you the same question he asked me" he slipped his sword on the sash around his waist. "What are you fighting for? Is your reason good enough to die for?" He asked seriously, his arms crossed behind his back. Slayer was silent, "Yes my reason is worth it. Warrior to Warrior you might be the only one who has my respect, but also disdain. Master Raijin spoke very highly of you and then bitterly. You're a slave to this regime. You gave away your most precious gift" Slayer stared at Moon Blade. "What gift is that?" He asked. "Freedom" Slayer spoke. "A true warrior would of let him die before surrendering. That is what I think" Slayer kept his words blunt.
Moon Blade chuckled, "Freedom is an illusion. We're slaves to something. Time. Hunger. Anger. Love. Violence. List is endless. I'm a slave to a King, yes. You're a slave to the World taking up the Slayer mantle. He give you the oath how is it that not chains. Looks like we both gave up freedom" Slayer manifested his soul weapon. Shadows danced around it like liquid then the edge ignited with heat. Moon Blade shifted and his hand quickly went to the hilt of his sword unsheathing it quickly.
He sprinted forward in a flash. Slayer met the block and the both slid back. Then ran at each other again.
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The Moon King sat upon his throne staring at the oculus above him bringing moonlight down on him. He sat bored, his Crescent Moon mask shining like bright silver. He sighed fixing his white military uniform adorned with metals and buttons. Around his shoulder hanging behind the throne was a white and silver cloak. An orb next to him began to glow, "You there?" the King asked. "Yes" a voice came from the orb. "He there?" the voice asked. "Yes my servant Moon Blade is meeting him in battle as we speak. I can feel the strong surge of chi in the distance mixed with bloodlust" the king stated. "Do not over estimate the slayer chosen. The world chose a good one this time. He may be of Divine birth, but we do not know who's bloodline it is. We have heard rumors" the voice stated. "I heard that rumor as well. If I'm lucky I wont have to meet him. Or I will have a fight on my hands" the Moon King said standing up walking over to a table. "Do you have any obstacles to help you? If Moon Blade should fail?" the voice asked. "Oh yes I am the man of tricks don't you remember. I have a lot of contingency plans all around me. My plain warriors trained by Moon Blade are out there as well waiting to intercept. I have traps leading here" the Moon King poured a drink into a goblet. "You think that will be enough?" the Moon King then paused. "Can only hope so. But I'm ready to personally fight him. Moon Blade was able to teach more on combat. I have not been idle. Just been greedy" he said with a chuckle. "I'll keep our channel open if you should need assistance" the voice stated. "Thank you old friend. Should we converse like old days? Or play a game?" the Moon King said with a delighted tone.
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Slayer and Moon Blade moved through the plains locked in a battle of skill and speed. They both were brutal with their attacks. Each time Slayer was cut Moon Blade got two to follow it. They fought through pain and fatigue as they punched, slashed, kicked, rolled, dodged, and shifted their bodies to fight. Slayer could feel the strain on his Mind Palace as it expanded his senses and reflexes. It was like a dance they were locked in.
The Demon's Wrath could not cut Moon Blade's sword in half no matter how hot the edges of his forge weapon would get. 'Its a soul forged weapon like the Sun Shard, Axis Lance, and the Mystic Bow' Slayer thought. Till finally he was able to engulf the two in a sphere of darkness. From their spikes came in the middle all aiming for Moon Blade. He was able to dodge and weave through the spikes that came at him in all directions till finally one pierced his leg. He let out a scream and then a spike pierced through his back. The sphere then disappeared and laying on the ground was Moon Blade with Slayer standing a few feet from him looking down. From the corpse blood pooling on the ground gave a ripple as two beings came from the pool forming into solid bodies of Moon Blade. He was now not one but two. Then three, and then four. He was multiplying as the blood pooled and expanded.
'Damnit! Why didn't I remember this would happen his ability Blood Duplication. I need to use Flame to finish this!'. One of his clones then picked up his sword and then all clones possessed a weapon like a mirror image. They all stood staring at Slayer. He was unphased as he shifted and then dashed forward. He was now being attacked on all sides. He had to keep shifting from opponent to opponent. All four were relentless. He had no time to think. Slayer then manifested the spear and Plague Mask.
The gravitational pull immediately increased as Moon Blade's clones became slower. Slayer slashed one across the chest making them so heavy they dropped to the ground. Another was slashed across the back they too were slammed to the ground. Two remained dodging each attack from the lance. Slayer danced about spinning the spear around him, keeping a 360 defense with the long weapon. Moon Blade was then knocked back and then his other clone was knocked off their feet. Slayer then threw a fire ball down lighting the clones ablaze as it moved from clone to clone. Only one remained standing back circling Slayer. "As expected by the Demon King's son. Perfect control over the shadow and flame?" Moon Blade stated. Slayer said nothing as he spun the lance around him.
He shot forward and rained down attacks with tremendous force and speed. Moon Blade's clone kept up till finally his body became sluggish. He fell to his knees. Slayer then grasped his face and then set him ablaze. Blue fire danced around his body. While doing so he absorbed the chi of Moon Blade as he turned to ash. One clone remained. Moon Blade stared at Slayer with a coldness. His sword grasped in two hands.