A months passed.
The world sat upon their throne. They were staring at an oculus hovering in front of him. He watched as Lad and Raijin sparred. Deimos appeared standing by his side. It handed the World a scroll. It read through it. "Seems the kings are going to resist with armies to slow down the new slayer. Spy says they are putting out a call to all banners and rounding up beasts of all life to help with this. Seems these Kings were worthy before for their titles. I expected this from War King but most of these kings I thought had grown lazy with their tyranny" the World sighed. "Well that is why this cycle continues. It's a test for each monarch with a challenge of a one man army. Even some slayers were given the title of king or guard. Moon Blade betrayed his role as Slayer to serve that smooth talking Moon King. I had high hopes for that little failure. Such a gifted warrior and philosopher he didn't need any training was on the path of being a god" he made a clicking sound with his mouth of irritation shaking his head . "And wasted it to serve a king" he scoffed. "Deimos, this boy has so much hate and anger in him that his focus is beyond unwavering. I've only had five slayers surpass my expectations. Sadly four died, but they did their duty. Raijin will mold this boy's anger into an iron blade. He will bring balance to the realms. End this civil war and I will place new worthy replacements. Things got off track too fast" the world sighed, staring at a nebulae behind his throne. Deimos standing silently. "Sadly I know better than anyone. That hope can be dangerous, Deimos" the world stated.
They looked back while watching Lad and Raijin train. "I have a good feeling about this one though, may even surpass Raijin" the world chuckled.
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Raijin sat carving on an oni mask from a special redwood. He chiseled away making the features jagged and prominent. Inside of the cheeks of the mask were magic circles carved into them. He knew the boy would need all the help he could get. Using elemental inscriptions he was able to design a magic circle that could aplify each element. Shadow and Flame would be boosted with power from the mask. The crimson wood used to carve it was like a battery. It was designed to take all crowns and bestowed upon the user. This worked on tandem with Chi Leech. Crimson trees were something Raijin discovered here. Carnivorous trees that ate to stay alive by absorbing someone's lifeforce with their roots. The wood would turn bright red with each new kill. Raijin saw this magical tree as perfect ingredient in this endeavor. His very mask was made from the same wood. This tree is almost indestructible and it's only weakness is to lightning. "I'll make him a better version later when he's reach a certain level. 'For now this mask will do' Raijin thought.
Each circle had an elemental symbol in its center. One had a flame in its center. The other had an eclipse. On the chin he made a magic circle with two swords crisscrossed in the center. This to was an inscription of boosting. Only it targeted attributes, or natural abilities of that individual. This boosted his Forge attribute.
He then cut his thumb, smearing his blood into each of the circle patterns. Hovering his hands he forced chi into the circles and the blood started to glow along with the circles. He stared down at his work with his Tengu mask. He nodded at the completion of the circles as they dimmed. They looked burnt to the red wooden mask.
He then pulled out a wooden box and inside were five pills. The farthest left was yellow, second orange, third red, fourth green, and the last was blue. He closed the box and placed it with the mask. He then manifested a rod with two rows of needles at rhe end. Along with blue ink. He then stood placing the wooden box, mask, ink, and rod inside a sack. He then walked over to Lad who was training.
Deep in the forest Lad used chi to create his blades. His chi was red color and the swords themselves were bright red. He was surrounded by multiple swords that were stuck in the ground all over the place like a graveyard.
Currently Lad was creating his soul weapon. Raijin informed him that out of all cultivators people with the Forge ability could make any soul weapon they wanted. Never relying on the others for their tools on the cultivation path. Forge had endless possibilities Lad just had to find it. The red odachi that formed from the air and shined solid red. It hovered between his two hands. As he had his red eyes closed. The blade then turned black and the edge started to glow from heat as it moved up the edge. This weapon looked more defined; you could see the fuller in the middle the patterns in the hilt. A dragon head pommel. He then grasped the blade and inspected its quality. "My finest work so far. This blade is a prototype of my soul weapon. When I picture it in my mind this the weapon I see bearing ties to my soul. It's perfectly visible to me from the tip to the pommel. It's the only weapon I can create without thinking about it. I call this one Fiery Shadow well that will be the combination meaning any way. Each blade doesn't need a name till I finally get the right one made. I've found a way to combine my elements somehow. Combining them they deal physical and soul damage" he stared checking the blade for flaws Lad never turned around as Raijin nodded behind him. "Glad to see you're improving. I have brought you some things that could be boons in your endeavor" Raijin then sat across from Lad.
"I have here some tools. I use that word carefully. Because in here are tools in a way understand that. These tools will increase your might, mind, body. These tools will also give you something you'll need more than all that. What tool do you think you need the most to succeed?"
Lad sat silently. "I do not know?" Lad answered. Raijin nodded, "Fear" he then pulled out the oni mask. Lad stared at it dumbfounded. "You need to become a devil" Raijin said plainly.