Red Demon was on his knees as the water was boiling causing his brain to hurt along with his body, his forehead was on fire as two horns began to grow from them. They were crimson and were glowing fiery red.
Inside his Mind Palace a solid being made of swirling red chi rose from it. It resembled Red Demon and had the horns that were now growing out of his forehead. It was staring at the Red Demon with black eyes. "Finally!" The red clone of Red Demon sniffed the air spreading its arms out. I've been stuck watching you unable to assist. Or intervene and have some fun" it chuckled. From its hands formed two katanas. It spun them about and Red Demon nodded. He sighed and formed an odachi gripping it with both hands. "Your only goal is to take my body and wreak havoc. Once I tame you then you will see you are not in control here" he stared at this clone with cold eyes.
He sprinted forward and the two became locked in battle; they hacked and slashed using the same techniques as the other, making it a back and forth. It became a continuous lock as they knew each of their weaknesses. That was till Bedlam changed it up and then formed a big hammer slamming into Red Demon sending him towards the ruins hitting a wall. He slammed to the ground as his ethereal body regenerated. "What was all that big talk earlier?" It then slung the hammer upon his shoulders. It walked over slowly Red Demon then shot up as chains came from the walls of his Mind Palace wrapping around Bedlam. He drove fist after fist at the trapped Bedlam. He crashed across the water. He was immobilized and then broke free as the chains turned into particles. Blocking a fist from Red Demon and then driving a knee into his ribs.
He then grabbed Red Demon by the neck driving a fist into his gut. Then his face and finally kicking him across the water. He rolled across the surface coming to a splashing stop. His ethereal flickered, 'I need to stay focused' he then looked up at the elements. 'They can't help me with this. I have to finish him on my own…wait…' he then paused as he stood up. Bedlam was running across the water towards him at full speed. He came to a sliding stop throwing a punch.
Red Demon grabbed his arm and with all mental force he put his fist through Bedlam's chest driving it out the back of him. Then he started to absorb the body of Bedlam, merging the two together. "See you later. I'll be scratching at the walls" Bedlam laughed as he then disappeared into the ethereal Red Demon as horns were permanently extended from his forehead.
When he opened his eyes they had changed. They were bright crimson with two slits for pupils and the white of his eyes were now black as pitch. He looked around and saw Sister staring down at him. Hastor approached, "Looks like you made it. Well done" Red Demon's head then slumped to the side as he passed out.
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Smiling was working in the forge when Sister came to visit him. He plunged an oni mask made of dull grey metal into the oil. "See you have been busy? Are you making Red a new mask?" She asked. "Yeah I'll let him configure it himself. I also made a new one for myself. Each with a mythical beast hide. How is he?" Smiling set the mask down on the anvil. Started cleaning his hands.
"He is doing well. Now he's resting and being watched over by my healer. I figured this would be a good time to talk. I feel you have been neglected the most in all this" she said staring at the oni mask. "What do you want to discuss?" He said plainly. "I share your grief. I lost someone too" Smiling frowned. "Yeah. At least you had centuries with him. I merely had her for a short period of time" he didn't come off malicious just honest. She nodded at this, "Yes that is very cruel. I'm sorry for that. And you have been called to a higher calling. Isn't that what you always wanted in life?" Smiling shrugged. "I went back to Rabbit Hole. Land of Madness was miserable, everyone dreamed of escaping it. I wanted to be more than just prey and a coward hiding in a hole" he poured a drink of water and sat at a table. Sister followed sitting opposite him. "And yet you took up a persona and fought? What possessed you to do that?" He squinted at her in thought of her question. "Don't you already know that? You designed my destiny with your Thread of Necessity. You must have put the inspiration in my mind?" He drank his water. "Want to know a secret?" Smiling lifted his eyebrows. "What is that?" She smirked. "I never once put into your destinies to dawn masks and become symbols. Merely design your duties and let nature take its course. Only realm I chose for the four of you was Red. He was the key to unlock the other three. Red Demon is an actual demon and a dragon folk. He dawned that mask to mock his heritage and hide his real name. A name he refused to carry anymore because it carried too much pain. A past he wanted to shed" Smiling stared at the table. "I took up the demon persona because the Slayer was rumored to have one on his face. So I thought why not rebel. Take up the mantles of demons and become a nuisance to the king killing us. Seemed he saved my life but he couldn't save my world. It was done and gone by the time we stopped it" he shook his head in sadness. "You truly are starving for hope aren't you?" He looked at her with surprise and nodded. "Aren't we all? Isn't that what we four are to be? If we are then how do we have any hope left for ourselves?" Sister tilted her head. "I'm sure you'll find hope somehow. But know that hope you have that you can make things go back to what they were? That is not hope. It's delusional thinking that will be the end of you. Become something more Drake" Smiling seemed to flinch at the mention of his real name. "No. Drake is dead. He's been dead for a long time now. Names Smiling Demon now" he glared up at her with glowing blue eyes.
"That's good to hear. I expect great things from you. Smiling. May you find some hope. Oh and if you want I would make two more masks for Ghost and Sun. They will need them" she gave him a wave and left the forge.
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Inside the Mind Palace of Red Demon had changed dramatically. The ruins of a tower in his mind was not an actual tower. Hovering around it were his soul weapons and elements in star form. Still looming above all was his black sun and the glowing magic circle above it. He sat in his tower not as ethereal any more but as a replication of his real self. All Seeing floated by him. "I apologize for not assisting, but that all had to be done by yourself" she said with a sad tone. "Don't be sorry. I would have chastised you for interfering anyway" he gave her a serious look. "You look different?" She stated. "I reached Rank 6 at the bottom tier during this ordeal. Not sure how but I jumped the line so to speak. I'm now in the Celestial Step" he sounded just as surprised as her. "So you're now a Titan? What if Bedlam?" She asked with concern. "Seemed the element was also growing with my power during my journey. Also it seems the ability of forging drew from that power this whole time. Leaving only a window opened than the door" he stated with a chuckle. "What now?" She asked. "We get acquainted with these elements and then make our move" she shook her head. "No. The World is now the issue" Red Demon got to his feet. "Yes. I don't know what to do about that yet. I'm trying to take this all one step at a time. But time is the enemy here" he looked out at the mind palace from his tower. "But let's focus on gathering allies and killing three kings," he told her.
"Well whatever you decide make sure you don't lead these people's to their deaths" she said with a serious tone. "That is the goal All Seeing" he said looking at her with glowing red eyes.