Aftermath

Only a small number of humans survived; they were ranked three cultivators. They did suffer life threatening wounds but as Red Demon walked through the battlefield he was able to heal some and put them in a wagon with the unconscious Smiling Demon. Drake was still passed out for a day now. Red Demon tended to his wounds when he found him. There was one domestic animal that he found still alive. I am a giant flightless bird that was used for manual labor. He hitched it to a wagon and put Drake in the back of it. Ten others now joined him. Six women and four men. Red Demon did find a few monsters that were still alive which he handled on their way to the Rabbit Hole. One cultivator female gave him directions. He pulled the bird along with the reins. They finally came to the familiar field where the cultivators helped carry Drake and his weapons. The girl leads Red Demon to the open hatch. Bloody hand prints were on the lid.

 They worked together to bring Drake down and lead him to the medical building. Red Demon looked around at the giant chandelier and the open cavern. He walked to a temple with a garden and found it all in shambles. He walked around seeing the evidence of a battle leading to the roof. He jumped to the roof finding an elderly cultivator with multiple stab wounds. 'Seems he was also not affected by the madness?' He thought seeing the man was a victim of the mad people of the city. He picked the man up, brought him down to the garden and laid him on a bed he found inside the temple.

 He looked around the temple and started snooping for cultivation supplies. He found a secret hatch filled with elixirs, scrolls, and soul weapons. Two of those weapons were missing. 'Probably the weapons Drake uses' looked around, finding three Flame spells, and two Shadow spells. 'I'll study these later. A few could upgrade my combat abilities. The rest goes to the others. Sure they won't mind me taking some elixirs and pills' he thought. Before he walked away he saw a spell with a gray wax symbol on it meaning Iron element. Each spell had a symbol on it. But the Iron element was used by Drake. So he grabbed it for him before leaving. He left the temple in peace and walked to a hut with the smoke stack going. Cultivators must have been cooking. He found them preparing a stew. "Found what we could. But hopefully this comes out good" one of the males said with a smile. "He settled in?" Red Demon asked. "Yes he's in the medical building. He's been cared for by a few of us with medical training" Red Demon nodded. "Bring two bowls that way when it's ready. I'll go visit him" he told them. "Sir! What we did to him…if he does wake up will he ever forgive us?" Red Demon shrugged, "Couldn't say. Can you forgive yourself?" He asked. The man was silent and the Red Demon left him that way.

 He headed to the medical building.

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Drake opened his eyes standing in a black room with a nebulae behind it. A floating sea of blue and red. Seated in front of him was a being made of light. It waved, "Welcome young man!" It said joyfully. Drake stood up walking over. "Who are you?" He asked. "Oh, I go by many, but I prefer the one. I am the World. You're here because you reached rank five in your evolution. I've come to you personally. See most of the time I just leave this chi cloud here behind him and some gifts. I only pick special cases to visit and speak with" it said standing up. "I reach rank five?" He softly chuckled. "My master will be pleased" he said. The World slouched its shoulders cupping its hands. "Sadly I hate to say this, but the Allfather is dead. Swept up in the madness of the Witch King. Sorry we couldn't intervene sooner" the World said apologetically. "I blame myself for not trying to stop it sooner. Too busy playing war like a child I see that now '' Drake said solemnly. "You still stood tall in the end though. Shows that you valued a lot more than just playing a role. But I have faith that the Smiling Demon will rise to the Celestial Step. Now onto prizes from the machine!" Two gray orbs appeared. He held up the one in his right hand. "This is an upgraded version of your Iron Skin. That seemed to work for you so this is a rank six. This next journey will be a slower one. Just the way it is. Be patient and diligent" holding up the one in his left hand, "this is a new ability I think you will excel at; Blood Iron" Drake scowled, "Blood Iron?" He asked. "See it's a form of blood art. You accept this ability your body will modify to use the blood in your body. It's a type of blood art for the Iron Element. Your imagination is the only thing that limits you. This will also boost a healing factor being a blood art. So…what do you think?" The World asked. Drake was speechless, "these are amazing gifts. Thank you" he bowed. The World gave him a nod and Drake took the orbs that were absorbed into his body forming runes on his Mind Palace. "Now go and absorb all that chi" he said encouragingly. "What do I do after this though? Rabbit Hole has no people. The Land of Madness is desolate now. I don't know what to do?" He said, sinking his head. "Well I can tell you that the Land of Madness is more vast than you know. You merely lived in an enclosed capital ruled by its protector. All those outside the Witch City paid fealty to her. You've known nothing, but the underground. Let's change that. See my King Slayer I've learned is about to face some real trials set forth by the kings. I have word from a few still loyal to the World that the Void Faction will be sending powerful warriors to kill my Slayer. If I do as they predict then I lose the upper hand. So propose taking a crazy plan from your book. Ideas of a mad man! What if I made you a personal guard to Red Demon. You swear an oath here and now walk the road with him and be his shield?" The World waited for his answer. "His shield? That doesn't sound so bad" Drake said smiling. "Yes, with this journey you'll walk the path towards the Celestial Step. With this oath I also ask you to refrain from interfering in the King's Test? King Slayer is the only one who battles Kings that way I keep the moral high ground keeping my word even if they don't. Red Demon may need friends on this journey. In return, what do you desire?" It asked. "To be honest, what I wanted is not possible anymore. So I choose power that is all" the World nodded. "As you wish" the World extended a hand. The brand burned into his left palm. 

"Deal is set" the World nodded in approval.