Briar Wood
As Red Demon ran through the forest he could sense he was being followed. Two more birds appeared 'Damn!" He said as he formed two needles from chi and they shot out for their marks like bullets. One bird fell and the other was able to flap to the side at the last second. The needle then hit the trunk of the tree with many thorns on it. The tree then began to shake as arms came from the sides of the tree. It pushed itself out of the ground revealing long roots that weaved together to make feet. The tree giant then rose from the ground. Skeletons and half dead humans hung on the thorns upon its legs. Bugs crawled in and out of the bodies.
Two red eyes started to glow under the headdress of leaves and branches. 'So that's what he meant?' He thought of an unsheathing Moon Ray slashing through the Briar Giant. It groaned as its top half fell to the ground with a loud boom. Its legs were left standing upright for a few seconds before falling over.
'That was unexpected' he thought. He approached the legs examining the corpses. He looked at their clothes. 'Black Gi and what appears to be a mask' he said, taking off the wooden mask with a smile on it. He revealed the face of a corpse with a centipede crawling in its mouth. 'Seems this victim comes from somewhere organized. Chi is being absorbed from him through the roots. So he must be a cultivator?' He thought. He then threw the mask down.
He turned to leave scanning for the bird who was now long gone. 'Damnit!' He thought. He then sprinted looking for shelter. He found a rock formation that had an opening that kept him away from prying eyes. There was enough darkness so he cultivate without being seen. When he settled in he kept Moon Ray and Sun Shard out laying next to him. He then closed his eyes entering his Mind Palace. He looked up from his red sea to see a new orb glowing. 'Must of reached my requirements finally to open the the Automation?' He thought. Used his mind to bring the orb closer as he cupped it in his hands. In front of him formed a ethereal version of Corrosio. "Took you long enough?" The fake Corrosio said with a big smirk. "We'll you didn't make it easy as usual" Red Demon said with a plain tone. Corrosio shrugged, "Well you finally reached a level to unlock your Polymorph ability. Can't complain about that. So first things first are you a dragon or a demon?" He asked. "Huh? I'm half and half! You know that?" He said annoyed. "Ah, but it's your actions and thinking that make you one or the other. So far in my opinion you're no dragon. You're a demon. That's okay Polymorph allows you to take any form" Red Demon shook his head and couldn't argue. "Sadly I have taken up the mantle of demon to be a villain against villains. I guess I am what I am" Corrosio nodded. "I understand your disappointment. Maybe one day you will be a dragon. But for now play the role your in. The skill of Polymorphing is flexible. But extremely complex. You must see the thing you want to through detail. Knowing it's movements, make up of the body, function, abilities and most of all weaknesses. All forms have flaws. All living creatures have some sort of flaw and strength" he began to hover and then changed form into a ethereal dragon with four horns, bright eyes, and black scales. His belly scales were purple and he had to big wings on his back. Four giant appendages with long claws. "See this is my true form. I know this body ends and out. Now" he changed back to his human form. "This was something I had to learn. With making myself this form I was also able to improve upon it. Stronger bones, muscles, and my mind. All well keeping my true self intact" he touched down on the crimson sea. "So what form do you wish to take? Using your Mind Palace to manifest it and make the form is the best option before experimenting with your body. So feel free to play with a clone of ethereal self to make the Demon form you want. I'll be here to assist when you need it. Good luck grandson" he said with a bow before disappearing.
Red Demon sighed and focused on an after image to form in front of him. The clone wasn't perfect. So he started over and tried again. It took multiple times to get the clone perfect. Then he focused on his mental waves to change its form. The arms began to expand protruding spines from his elbows. His face turned beastly as his teeth became like his mask. With two bottom tusks protruding from the corner of his mouth. The eyes sunk in giving the oni mask flesh. His hair stayed the same as horns came from his forehead. His body became more lean and tattooed markings appeared on his shoulder, sternum, nape of the neck, and right peck. He became taller. "Hmmm…" he thought. After some time his mind began to ache as he held the image that started to slowly deplete his chi.
He waved the image away and opened his eyes. He grabbed a pill and took it. After an hour kept training with Polymorph.
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A crow flew towards the tallest tower of the Witch King's castle. It perched on a window and began to tap on it. Mistress Crow opened the window inviting the bird in. It hopped onto a table by the window. Mistress Crow sat down opposite the bird. "And what do you have to report to me?" The bird cawed. "Your brothers and sisters are dead?" She asked, frowning. "That's disappointing to hear. The bird cawed two more times. "Let me see if I'm hearing you right? The Red Demon is in fact here?" She asked, leaning forward. The bird cawed three more times. "Yes I will avenge your siblings. I need to let the King know. You did good work. Extra treat for you tonight" she said standing up. The bird soared to a chair and cawed, "Yes. That's very noble, but you deserve the treat anyway. Your siblings aren't gonna eat it!" She said leaving the bird alone in the room.
She stomped towards the throne room seeing the Witch King working at an alchemy station. She grinded up herbs into a boiling cauldron. Before extracting it and placing it in a glass jar with purple chemicals inside. A reaction took place turning the liquid into glowing red.
"What is it?" She said lifting the liquid up to examine it. "King Slayer has arrived ma'am? What would you like me to do?" She asked. "Nothing. Just prepare our castle for siege. No raids or anything else. Let loose all Briar Giants into the wood. I want it covered in red and black" she stated still keeping her gaze on the jar. She put a cork on it and then poured chi into the jar. Making the crimson swirl. "I have a special thing planned. Fruit from the Briar Wood helped make this little curse" she said satisfied. She then put her finger down on a bowl of blood and began drawing runes onto the glass. "You want to curse the land? Or the man?" Mistress Crow asked. "Both. See long before you were born I cursed this land long ago. The entire realm is a magic circle to help me cultivate. The last hundred years I've sucked chi from this cursed place. All inhabitants here are affected by it. Even you" she said turning to her subordinate who looked shocked. "What?" She asked, looking nervous. "Yes, see nothing goes right here? Using that negative energy for myself to expand my soul core is what makes me strong. And funny enough this Slayer or even the Smiling Demons won't be a problem?" She said nonchalantly. "How's that?" Mistress Crow asked. "Because in two days time I go onto the Celestial Step. Then I'll wipe them all from the realm!" She then chuckled madly. Mistress Crow was speechless. "What? You thinking being a witch is a blessing?" She clicked her tongue. "No. It was curse and deep down you knew that?" She said bluntly. Mistress Crow had a mix of emotions. From anger, to betrayal, and embarrassment. She gave up her very soul for this person. Blood stained her hands in her name. "What do you expect from the rest of us then? Are nothing but fodder to you?" Crow asked. The Witch King shrugged. "How do you think your army will react when they hear of this? You cursed us all? What will happen to everyone in this realm?" She said now scowling at the Witch King. She made ready to use Taive's scythe she had strapped to her back.
"It's simple. Every chi left in this place will be sucked dry. The chaos from the battle will feed me. See when I made it past rank five I was given an evolution to my ability. My ability grants me strength in chaotic settings. I'm able to move the force of luck to my favor, and take away luck from my enemies" she held up the jar. "This right here will set the realm back to order. I'm doing so chaotic energy and order energy will clash causing a chain reaction. It will rip everything living from the realm. Thus pushing me to rank six to begin my climb to god hood!" Mistress Crow kept staring. "You didn't answer my question though?" She asked again. "Believe I did. All chi will be sucked? That clear?" She asked, annoyed. Mistress Crow became angry and unsheathed the scythe attacking the Witch King.