"First let's discuss this" he held up the mask. Handing it to Lad. "Inside I have carved magic circles. Two for your elements each. And one for your forge attribute" he pointed to each circle as he talked. "They will boost all your abilities. The mask is made by Crimson wood. A tree in this dimension. Very strong, carnivorous, and full of chi. I'll prepare a more durable mask when you reach a certain point. And that brings me to this" he removed the rod and ink. "Use this mask to inflict the fear to the Realms" Raijin said with a nod.
"I will inscribe onto your body the magic circles from your mask on certain points of the body. Your chi circuits will feel like they are on fire if I do this, but you must use your mind to bear it. Can you do that?" Raijin asked. Lad nodded, "I'll be honest the only reason my Mind Palace is at the level it is stems from pain and struggle. Our minds evolve in those situations. So use your mind to focus out the pain for as long as you can" he showed him the box of pills. "Now onto the pills we will need for this endeavor. The yellow one will temper your body making it hard as steel and heal wounds faster. Orange will elevate your mind palace allowing your awareness and chi manipulation to rise. Red pill will strengthen muscle tissue. Green will strengthen your bones. The blue will elevate your two elements to be manipulated more freely" Lad nodded at this. "You will truly be the representation of this mask, my pupil , a pure Oni. Fear will seep into the Realms from your very name" Lad looked to be deep in thought going through what he was told. 'With this I can achieve rank three in no time' he thought. He met his masters face, "I will do this and I will bear every pain that comes with it" he looked pleased. 'I have been through worse. I have been poked and prodded since birth thanks to my father trying to make the perfect heir' Lad thought.
He lay flat on a table facing up. He was shirtless. Raijin looked down at him with his Tengu mask, "Take all pills. Afterwards begin flowing chi through out the body and focus on two meridians. Metal phase and Prime Vessel. I will put a circle on your right shoulder on the Metal Phase. And another above your soul core below your sternum on the Prime Vessel. I will warn you this will be painful like I said. We are manipulating chi circuits. So it will feel like flaying your soul. After those two next is the other two. Second set of meridians is Fire Phase Two on your left peck. Shadow will have to be written on the top of your spine by your trapezius.
Shadow is a rare ability. But it is an ability that can be made and given like all elements. But the elements of Shadow and Light are ones that require crafting a chi circuit artificially. One master perfected studying Shadow and Light users. The findings he discovered is that each of those meridians are on the top of the spin between the trapezius" Raijin sighed. "Enough of the lesson. So…expand your chi and focus out the pain while still flowing chi" Lad nodded. Raijin then pulled out the needle rod and dipped it into blue ink. He then snapped his finger close to it igniting it with electricity.
He then placed the needle down on the right shoulder and punctured the skin. Lad gave out a groan as he bore the pain. The blue ink flowed from the needles as he began to craft the circle into his skin. Lad focused on blocking out the pain. He was now in his mind palace sitting cross legged on a ruined tower surrounded by crimson water that began to bubble. Above him an eclipse hung overhead. Three spheres hovered in front of it. As the walls quaked from the strain. One sphere the forge power started to glow bright as the chi circuit was being modified. He kept his focus keeping the walls intact and his forge sphere from bursting. After awhile then came his Flame orb glowing as Raijin began to modify that.
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Lad had a pale look about him. He was drenched in sweat all over his body he remained still. His eyes strained shut and he looked to be in pain. Raijin was almost done with the Flame circuit. He removed the needle rod and turned to set it down on his work table. He wiped blood from his finger. He checked his work as Lad stabilized the circles. The circle upon his sternum was flowing bright with red energy. The second on his right shoulder was glowing bright pink. "Stabilize them Lad I'm done" he said out loud.
Inside Lad's mind palace he was cringing with pain as he finished flowing chi to stabilize the ink spell. He slumped forward, his inner self sighed with relief as the Mind Palace held itself together.
He opened his eyes staring up at the workshop ceiling. He felt weak and drained. "I would rest for two days" he handed him an orange pill and a yellow one. Lad did as he was told, going to his quarters in a daze.
Lad it the mattress and immediately passed out from exhaustion. He found himself in his Mind Palace seeing the crimson water as a demon mask stared back at him. "You betrayed your family!" The mask said. Lad scowled, "what family! Your nothing but a tyrant! Sociopath obsessed with his own lineage" Lad spite with anger. "I'll demolish you soon enough father. He turned his back heading to the broken tower.
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Dreymond approached Raijin who was in his workshop, "Master Raijin" the puppet said. Raijin turned, "Yes Dreymond?" He asked. "Master World wanted to know when the boy will be ready for this week's test?" Dreymond asked respectfully. Raijin nodded, "once he has the other set of inscriptions he'll be in top form for his weekly test he will need some time to stabilize" Raijin explained. Dreymond nodded, "I shall inform Master World sir" Dreymond gave a polite bow before leaving. Raijin sighed and went back to cleaning up.