Ready

Few days passed and Lad was back at the workshop table. The circles healed fine. His test of the week was coming up and Raijin suggested they do the next set of circles upon him. Lad agreed and laid upon the table he laid face down this time with his head over the edge of the table. Raijin took a deep breath, "ready?" He asked. Lad took a deep breath to calm his mind pushing his breath out, "let's do it?" He said. Raijin nodded, picking up the rod of needles dipping it on blue ink. Igniting the tips with lightning and began tattooing his body. He placed the needles on his right shoulder blade and began inscribing.

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Lad was weak walking to his quarters. His shadow meridian gave him more pain than all the others. The cool air felt nice on his hot skin. Lad stopped in his tracks as he saw Dreymond standing with a hooded figure. Raijin exited his cabin staring at Dreymond and the being next to him. "Dreymond this isn't a good time. He needs to stabilize before the test" he explained. "Sorry master. I was instructed to keep the test on track. I have brought the golem he is to face this week" Dreymond stepped aside. The big being next to him removed it's hood revealing a demonic helmet. Lad's eyes widened 'that's the Demon King's armor used by the legions. What is going on?' Lad straightened his back his hands to his sides. Red particles danced around his hands as they formed two sabers. 

The armored guest pulled a broadsword and shield from his back. "I see. Lad do not push yourself too hard it could ruin the modifications before they stabilize '' Raijin warned. Lad nodded at this but shot forward like a bullet connecting a kick into the opponent's shield sending him sliding back. He swung the broadsword at Lad, missing him to only slam the shield into his chest, knocking him off balance. Lad regrouped and went on offense. It was thundering above as a storm started to come in. Lad stood barefoot in the mud as he circled his opponent with slashes. Demon armor kept up with his shield. Till he lost balance in the mud, his feet sinking into the mud with each step. Lad dashed across mud, jumped and threw his shoulder into the giant. He stumbled back Lad then wretched the shield away, dodged a broadsword slash and began to hit the golem with the shield. Blocked a sword swipe hit him again bull rushing him. He fell back with a boom. Lad mounted him driving the shield into the helmet with violent force. It began to get crushed. Lad seemed to lose himself in this moment seeing the armor triggered tremendous anger within him. 

The armor fell still from all the blows. Lad placed a hand on the chest driving a shadow spike through it. He stood and let shadows rip the armor to pieces sinking them into the blackness of the shadows disappearing. Lad wiped blood from his nose. He turned to look at Raijin and Dreymond. 

"I have passed the test master. I will rest now and then cultivate" he bowed and left the two. "I would let the World know he'll be ready on schedule. I wouldn't use another demon armored golem again. That seemed to make him lose all control" Raijin said. "I would agree, master. But wouldn't it be better to desensitize him when seeing the armor of his father's legion? We need him focused. If anything we proved he's still not ready" Dreymond added. "Oh no he's ready. He has the tools to be successful. But perhaps you're right. Next test brings another demonic armored golem. It's best he keep his composure when seeking the Demon King" Raijin left Dreymond who turned to report to the World. 

Raijin entered his cabin pulling off his mask. He stoked the fireplace adding two logs. He sat upon his chair. Next to it was an end table that he picked up a pipe and herb pouch. He lit the bowl and took a drag staring at the fire. He was quiet in contemplation. 'He gave himself away just now. Finally opened up by saying nothing. His actions showed who his divine lineage is from. He was the Demon King's son. Same son who was born powerful and experimented on with magic by his coven of witches who serve the Demon King' he shook his head. 'I've inherited a true monster for a student. He is very different from his father. Probably more like his mother' he thought of taking another drag of pipe. 

He stood up walking over to his bookshelf. He took a book with a green cover. He sat at his desk under the candle light reading the pages. The book was in a different language and had foreign runes upon it. He found a particular page.

He began tracing the words with his finger, 'Dragon Folk are one of the oldest and strongest of mythical beasts. They mastered magic and cultivation, able to even polymorph spells to evolve their power to be on par with humans, demons, angels, and other races' he read. 'Dragon Blood holds chi better than any organism able to wield chi in the Fire Realm. Their soul cores were endless seas of chi. These also made dragons an important resource for elevating one's chi. They were hunted by the Demon King's people. This caused a war. This war was then settled with a bond of marriage. The king of the Dragons; Corrosio the Black Dragon gave his only daughter the Shining Dragon. She was beautiful and powerful. A master martial artist and cultivated to rank six. The Demon King and Shining Dragon gave birth to a boy. His name is not known publicly. The Demon King held a banquet in celebration. During this dinner he seized all the Dragon Folk in attendance. Including the King Corrosio. Shining Dragon was executed. This ignited the war with Demons and Dragons' Raijin sighed from this. "Boy's past is worse than I thought, '' he said out loud. He poured wine into a cup. He took a sip and puffed in his pipe. "Wonder what tomorrow will bring?" Raijin chuckled at this. Smoking his pipe.