Slayer paused as the two hesitated to attack one another they circled each other never losing eye contact. They each said nothing. Then Moon Blade was gone in a flash, slashing at Slayer who blocked with the staff of his Lance and spun around to attack. He stabbed the spear at his legs. Moon Blade flipped backwards and after landing bolted forward for an attack. Slayer ducked and side stepped each slash of his sword. He parried another attack and then drove a knee into Moon Blade's side. He groaned in pain and fell backwards and regained his balance. Then the two were locked in a back and forth of slashes, punches, and kicks.
They then pulled back from one another both broken and bloodied. Cuts covered them both. Slayer then bolted forward in a flash the spear then skewered Moon Blade. His sword dropped from his hand as he started to suffer. Slayer moved fast grabbing his face and taking his chi as he burst into flames. The flames did not affect him soon his fist grasped ash. The warrior was no more.
Slayer fell back on his ass and the plague mask turned back to the Oni mask. Both the Lance disappeared in sparks. He began to stare at the pale silver blade. He then picked it up and then found the scabbard laying in the grass. He held the blade up marveling at it. 'You have beaten my master' a feminine metallic voice. Slayer stared at the blade when two eyes appeared on it staring back. 'Yes he died with honor' Slayer answered back. 'You will be my new master then. I submit my servitude to you. I am the Moon Ray. My brother is more picky, but I value strength and cunning' the blade spoke.
"Sun Shard is your brother?" he asked. 'Yes, we were born from the same creature. In those forms we were brother and sister. We were once together with our original master' Moon Ray explained. "Hmmm...so what creature was that?" he asked. 'Beings of light and darkness. We represented both elements at primordial level . Describing our original forms would take a long time. We were cosmic beasts that could travel the stars is the best description I can give' she explained. Slayer nodded at this "Thank you for your partnership. I look forward to wielding you in battle" Slayer said sheathing the blade.
He was then hit with a wave of energy inside his body. He fell forward. "You will now evolve. You have served me well. It's time you go to the next level before you continue your journey King Slayer" a voice echoed around his head as he began to sweat. His mask disappearing a shadow covered his face where his red eyes were the only visible thing. Power began to surge around him and then engulfed him. He then screamed and then lost consciousness.
Slayer opened his eyes to see a blue and orange nebulae. He was floating in the center of it. He looked upon a glowing being with spheres swirling around them. It was faceless, sexless, and had no defining features. Slayer stared at the being waiting for it to get closer. "You have done well my King Slayer. You have a stronger will than the ones that came before you. Besides Raijin, but you serve me with great distinction" the World told him.
"I have brought you to one of my planes of cultivation. All the colors you see are chi in solid form. So onto the next thing. I'm here to give you two gifts for your evolution into rank five level on all three power sources. Afterwards you are to absorb every speck of this chi that you can handle" four spheres circling them hovered in a front line. "There are four choices here. Each has a skill that will be branded to your soul core. Two are powerful spells that will either help you control chi to elevate your Soul core and Mind Palace. The other two are combat based spells. Check them over and make your decision. Your body is going through a metamorphosis so you have time to decide and then we can talk" the World told him. Slayer approached one sphere and placed a hand on it. A name came to his mind. "Chi Black Hole: an ability to absorb Chi and to help grow the soul through meditation. The soul will become a swirling hole that continues to grow even when not meditating. Not meditating will make the absorption slower. Meditation speeds up the process. With this the Chi refill is endless. The body will become harder and stronger each passing day, your mind will grow from the strain. Your Soul Core will become solid like dark metal" Slayer nodded at this, placing his hand on another. Same thing happened, "Sunburst Sphere: a Chi ability that absorbs Chi to help grow the soul. This help build energy attacks up and other spells. The body and mind improve with this Chi absorption technique making the soul core the consistency of sunburst" Slayer then approached the other two. He placed a hand on it. "Armor forge is another form of Forge power in making permanent weapons and armor. The ability is leveled up and each weapon and armor is reinforced by the chi abilities chosen to accompany this skill preferably the Chi Black Hole", then the last orb, "Life Forge: like the Winter King before with his ability Ice Forge this levels up the ability to make life forges that do their masters bidding. The ability will be harder to kill and take on attributes of the creature it's based off of. This will require more Chi used" Slayer stood staring at the spheres. "May I make a suggestion?" the World asked.
Slayer met the glowing beings gaze and gave him a nod. "You are more compatible with the Black Hole along with its partner the Armor Forge. Using an army to fight for you is nice, but you will not grow from this personally. Only your weakness to melee combat. That is merely my suggestion of course, but knowing who you are, darkness is an element that clings to you. So feed that element and when we met next we elevate Flame. Keep training with Flame though" the World explained.
Slayer nodded, "I want to make this my choice, but it's hard for me to disagree with you. Besides I already have the Winter King's ability at my disposal these are merely prizes to leveling up my combat abilities. More to come in the future" Slayer said, placing a hand on the Black Hole orb and the Armor Forge orb. The two then disappeared into light coating his hands in markings. Then his stomach and chest along with his forehead. He felt tremendous pressure in his mind and body. He then sat down and directed the nebulae sized chi cloud towards his body. He was then coated by a white aura. "Bare the pain warrior. Your task has only just begun. Endless kings, endless worlds to see and conquer. The new Reign must begin or the old must endure. That is the test" the World said disappearing leaving Slayer alone. His voice echoed, "When your done you will be back to your body. Rest for awhile so the transformation is stable. Raijin made a better mask from wood and metal. And I have left you some clothes and other items" the voice the faded away. Slayer sat cross legged and kept absorbing.
Hours passed and he opened his eyes Slayer laying upon the grass. He was naked and weapons sat next to him with new clothes made of white and black silk. With light armor etched on the front was a blue dragon ouroboros. On the clothes was a new half Oni mask. It was red and black and was shiny black metal with a wooden base with two rows of tusks on each side of the mouth. Inside the mask was etchings of inscriptions. He put the mask on grabbed the clothes and got dressed. He found a ring that was also made into a silver ouroboros with a gem in its mouth resting its head on its tail. A voice came from the ring, "I am an armor ring. Place any soul forged weapon within me for quick access to that weapon when using a crown. Inside are two enchanted earrings that boost stealth and speed" Slayer then manifested all masks and weapons. They then disappeared into the ring. He removed the two earrings and pierced one in each ear. He kept the Sun Shard and Moon Ray strapped to his dimensional belt. He put the old Oni mask in the ring. He then found a place to camp and rested going to sleep.