C18 Dark Weapon Cosmic Question

In late October of 2019 in the Common Era, the stars shifted, and the sun and moon took their new places in the sky. The fiery glow of autumn ceased, and a chill set in. At the Liu Yard, an ancient tree had fallen, but a new sapling had been planted in its stead. Liu Feng had returned home once more.

Upon discovering the clothes in Liu Feng's closet, still unwashed and bearing the marks of battle—cracks and dried blood—Liu Guo refrained from mentioning the ancient tree. Instead, he found his suspicions confirmed.

"Liu Feng, come to my shop," Liu Guo said over a brief phone call to his son before hanging up.

Liu Guo had come into his arcane abilities later in life, becoming a low-level fire arcanist. Formerly a regular craftsman, his awakening led him to open a shop specializing in dark weapons, the preferred arms of arcanists in combat.

Drip, drip. Rain began to fall soundlessly, so suddenly that the dark clouds had scarcely had time to form. With the rain's descent, the sunlight faded, and the world was slowly enveloped in shades of grey.

Liu Feng found the downpour oppressive, a far cry from the gentle rains of days past. It was as if the heavens themselves were furious. Yet, for an arcanist like him, the rain posed no issue.

Every use of arcane skills honed an arcanist's physique, making it stronger. While not on par with a demon's, an arcanist's body far surpassed that of an ordinary human.

Strolling through the town's streets under a small umbrella, Liu Feng felt the coolness of the autumn rain seep in, soothing his spirit. Lately, he had faced too much: giant rat demons, tentacle monsters, Shadow Bats... Each crisis left him weary and reflective. How tranquil his former world had been, he thought, missing the relative peace and safety it offered compared to this world's dangers.

But such thoughts were futile; he could not return. Here, surrounded by family and friends, he found contentment.

Before he knew it, Liu Feng had arrived at his father Liu Guo's shop, where an array of weapons—axes, swords, staffs, daggers—were displayed at the entrance.

Dark weapons are typically crafted from special materials, intricately etched with numerous runes. The quantity and complexity of these runes, along with the material used, largely determine the weapon's power.

Liu Feng exchanged greetings with Liu Guo, who nodded in response. After a quick scan of the surroundings to ensure privacy, Liu Guo ushered Liu Feng into the house and promptly closed up the shop.

As they made their way to the innermost room, Liu Guo began to speak in measured tones, "You've been taking on assignments from the Hunter Guild lately, haven't you?"

"Yes. It's a great place to learn, and there are plenty of beautiful ladies around," replied Liu Feng, his thoughts drifting to Wen Lu, which brought an unconscious smile to his face.

"Ha! You haven't changed, have you? I remember back in the day, your mother and I..." Liu Guo chuckled with Liu Feng as they entered the secret chamber.

The chamber was modest, no larger than a small bedroom, allowing its contents to be taken in at a glance.

Inside, a solitary sword dominated the space—a Demon Sword, sheathed and suspended in midair, its scabbard adorned with a pattern resembling golden dragons.

Approaching the sword, Liu Guo drew it slightly, releasing a chill that seemed to pierce the soul. When the sword was fully unsheathed, the room filled with a chilling demon aura, causing Liu Feng to shudder involuntarily.

Now, Liu Feng beheld the true essence of the Demon Sword. It radiated an ominous presence, its blade etched with intricate, mysterious runes that exuded an overwhelming demonic power.

The sword itself was not overly large, measuring one meter and three inches, its blade thin as a cicada's wing. The edge gleamed with a subtle cold light, as if it could eclipse the sun and moon, shining with a brilliance to rival the sun itself.

"This, what is this?" Liu Feng inquired gently.

Holding the sword, Liu Guo's mind wandered to days long past, filled with memories. After a brief pause, he shared his revelation. "This is a dark weapon, the culmination of my life's work, forged from Sky-Forged Iron."

"Sky-Forged Iron?"

"I've had it appraised, and it seems this material may not be of this world, but rather from another Plane."

Liu Feng nodded, seemingly grasping the concept.

"Given your current level of skill, you might not be able to wield this sword effectively, and it could attract unwanted attention. That's why I've inscribed runes on it. These aren't to amplify the sword's force, but rather to diminish it. When you're stronger, you can remove the runes and inscribe your own," Liu Guo explained.

"Okay." Liu Feng gazed at the sword with a sense of awe and excitement. A peerless dark weapon, indeed. Even with its power sealed, its presence was formidable. My own fire and shadow abilities are already fearsome. With this Demon Sword, would any low-level Mage stand a chance against me?

"If you encounter an enemy you can't defeat, use your psychic force to erase the runes and break the seal. Consider it your ace in the hole."

Liu Guo gave Liu Feng a meaningful look but refrained from mentioning the task of accepting missions from the Hunter Guild.

As a father, he would never hinder his son's pursuit of arcane knowledge.

Arcane, the most wondrous and powerful force in the world, is the cornerstone of human existence. Liu Feng's aspiration towards the arcane was something his father wanted to support, hoping to make his journey smoother and more secure.

Liu Feng felt moved, knowing the sword was crafted by Liu Guo specifically for his protection. Though Liu Guo remained silent on the matter, it was clear that a great deal of effort had gone into its creation.

His father had always been a silent pillar of support, his presence felt but never imposing.

"Bind it with your blood and give it a name," Liu Guo suggested.

"Alright." Without hesitation, Liu Feng bit his right thumb and pressed it against the sword.

A single drop of blood fell onto the blade, blossoming into a blood flower that spread, staining the runes red. The runes flickered like cracks on porcelain, glowing with a vibrant red. As the blood faded, the light dimmed, as though the Demon Sword had consumed it.

Suddenly, the once-dim runes flared to life, casting an evil light upon Liu Feng's face. In the next instant, the Demon Sword, along with its scabbard, vanished from Liu Guo's grasp.

Liu Feng closed his eyes, tearing open a rift in the spiritual world as a fierce gale rushed in.

A Demon Sword, complete with its sheath, arrived as if it were a gift from the heavens!

It had traversed the Endless Space!

An enlarged version of the Demon Sword, identical in every way, stood vertically in the Spiritual World with its tip pointing skyward, emanating a vast demon aura and shining with an incomparably brilliant holy light.

Liu Feng exited the Spiritual World, raising his arm. In an instant, the colossal sword that had been ravaged within the Spiritual World vanished, making a swift escape!

A sword materialized in Liu Feng's hand from nowhere. It was as thin as a cicada's wing, yet it felt somewhat heavy, as if he were grasping a slice of the sky.

Liu Feng carefully drew out half of the Demon Sword, and the blade mirrored his youthful face as if it were a mirror.

As he tenderly stroked the sword, he felt an icy chill throughout his body, and the blade was smooth and impeccable.

The sword quivered slightly, emitting a crisp ring, as though it were acknowledging Liu Feng.

"Sky-Forged Iron, is it? Then I shall name you Cosmic Question. I seek to understand why demons claim dominion as kings."

Unbeknownst to Liu Feng, as he bonded with the Demon Sword Cosmic Question through his blood, the rain outside intensified into a torrential downpour.

Thunder roared incessantly—

The world outside was alight with flashes of lightning and the sound of thunder, as if the heavens themselves were expressing their wrath!