Outside the village, everyone waits for Jio and Amir, with unwillingness showing their faces, thinking why they need to listen to someone they don't even know.

"Thank you for coming on short notice. Please line up for everyone's weapon," Amir lets out as he points where he wants everyone to start the line.

As soon as the villagers get their Soul weapon back, they are immediately taken aback and start to line up more organized, willing to listen and give Jio a chance to get their approval.

"Good morning; I hope the improvements are satisfactory," Jio expresses with pride in his work.

"..." Everyone is silent since they never expected the work he accomplished in a short period and wanted to know what he had to say.

What he did is impossible, but they're looking at it, so it's not a dream or fantasy.

"I'm glad that everyone like it, I assume..." Jio sees and continues, "The reason I want everyone to practice magic is because of the modifications I made to everyone's weapon, and get ready!"

*Get ready?* Every villager thought.

Jio jumps as he grows wings with the Sunstone in his hand, "Blank Stone is a magic stone that can store any energy or magic temporarily and will give you enough time to counter your opponent if you know what you're doing."

*Black Stone?* The villagers thought as they looked at their weapons but could not find any sign of the Black Stone, as they felt the magic surging around Jio's hand and watched him create a blanket of fire covering the blue sky.

"This is my introduction to all, and I hope you treat me well during our stay," Jio jokingly announces, "Find a partner to spar with and use my attack as your own!"

Villagers protest, but the fire starts to descend like replacing a new and clean bed sheet on a bed.

In Amir's head, Jio proved himself numerous times and was capable of helping the village from the beginning but failed the first impressions—his, will last forever in their minds. He wants to voice what he thinks of Jio to everyone, but it's too late.

*He's testing us...* Amir thought as he shouted like his life was in the line and jumped towards the fire, leading everyone by example.

Watching from above, Jio is happy and satisfied but notices everyone unable to utilize their weapon to the fullest. He waits until there's a winner and a loser.

"Bravo! Everybody here is sure talented but lacking. For the losers, there's room for improvement. Winners, don't forget that there's a bigger fish somewhere," Jio let out as he descended.

The villagers don't know what to say or comment.

"I'm pretty sure that most of you use the ability 'Soul Possession.' But afraid, not knowing your own weapon's new nature," Jio continues.

"Yes," a villager answers.

"I know it's hard to cast and control magic in the middle of the fight. Don't overthink it! I will teach and make sure everyone masters the art called 'Dance with Death.' It's a simple yet effective art," Jio declares with confidence.

Jio takes Jon out as a regular spear with a dragon design out of Black Stone. He stretches with the spear and performs basic spear movements like a new soldier recruit.

"Sia! Come here; help me show everyone something cool!" Jio shouts, waving his hand to Sia.

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Sia walks towards the group while Lala follows her from behind.

"Geo! Your forms are crooked," Lala lets out for everyone to hear.

"Lala, you don't need to call me out like that. I'm warming up!" Jio answers Lala and instructs Sia how to help him.

Surrounded by the villagers with their focus on Jio alone, Sia attack Jio with a fire breath. Jio charges without hesitation as he uses his spear and absorbs most of the attack. After the Black Stone gets its fill as the dragon design glows amber, Jio performs simple stabs, shooting fireballs. In the second act, Jio's spear blazes on fire, and every hit is followed by a fire that will leave anyone burnt to a crisp. Lastly, Jio throws the spear to a nearby dead tree as it releases all the stored energy and explodes.

"You must absorb the enemy's attack and destroy or repel it with your weapon. Never hesitate, or you'll get hurt. Shooting projectiles, empowering your weapon, and full release are simple forms of attack but highly effective," Jio announces and continues, "And with the 'Soul Possession,' the owner will gain the weapon's traits temporality but makes you tired. Yes, you must look into your stamina."

*Why can't I do 'Soul Possession' with Jon?* Jio though *Maybe in the future?*

"Is it safe?" A villager asks.

"Totally safe unless you're in a tight situation and be a ticking time bomb," Jio grinned and continued, "The secret of the 'Dance with Death' is that you don't need to cast the magic but to guide the magic back to the enemy. You don't need to absorb the enemy's attack. Do it when it's needed."

Day after day, everyone trains their new and improved weapon and, one by one, master the art "Dance with Death" and stay longer in a spar. Jio smiles like an old teacher watching his students with a bright future and knowing he did his best to teach everyone.

In the mountain, Jio personally trains Sia and helps her control her power. With Jio's rich experience, he can give her insights and recommendations. He plans to spar with her as a warrior and as a magician, eventually learning how to deal with enemies for future battles.

One day, Jio asks Sia about Dark magic, "How do you feel about people practicing Dark Magic?"

"Why you ask?" Sia curiously looks at Jio.

"Well, it's nothing; it just been passing through my mind since Maleficia was born in Fish village," Jio answers.

"Well, for me. No one should practice it 'cause it consumes people's minds and souls," Sia honestly answers.

Jio stands motionless, staring directly at the confused Sia as she feels the energy surging and swirling around Jio's body. Sia's senses improve after she obtains the Fire Spirit, and her instinct tells her of danger, but she doesn't know what to do as she trusts Jio with all her heart.

"But I must consume..." Jio let out, trembling and shaking like losing control and keeping his demon caged inside but failing to do so.

The energy circling Jio's body suddenly darkens and starts to produce black smoke. When the smoke stops coming out of Jio's body, it fastens to his skin, turning everything charcoal black, including his eyes but with a golden pupil. Every time he moves, he conjures black dust like ashes, and his dark transformation is complete.

"You... You," Sia tries to say something about Jio using Dark magic, but her body shivers, unable to utter a word.

"I'll save you for dessert," Jio ungodly declares as he appears in front of Sia and lands a punch.

Jio's transformation messes with Sia's senses, but she transforms on time and blocks Jio's attack. It sent her flying, but she absorbed most of the force and immediately got on her feet to counter as she charged the demon with everything she got. They exchange punches, which create shock waves, and eventually toss them apart like they're evenly matched.

"Is that all you can do?" Jio states while Jon, as a mask, morphs constantly.

They continue to fight, but Jio slowly gets stronger and faster while Sia starts to show signs of exhaustion. Sia tries her best, but the demon in front of her seems impossible to beat, and she's the only person stopping him from rampaging.

As Sia gets weaker and tired, her sense starts to distort, and she sees Jio as a demon with black smoke surrounding him that can't be touched like punching the air. On her knees, she sees the demon approaching and laughing simultaneously.

"You're too weak to defeat me. You. Can't. Save. Anyone." Jio whispers in Sia's ear and continues as he walks away, "And so the village is mine to DEVOUR!"

With a small ounce left on Sia's body, she grabs Jio's ankle only to be kicked in the face. Jio walked towards the village; he laughed wickedly for Sia to hear.

The sound of the demon's laugh echoes in Sia's head, and the fire around her body dims. She can't do anything right now, and the idea of giving up lingers, but she realizes what Jio said about her power. She closed her eyes and felt the magic around her. A blazing pulse from her heart louder than the demon's laugh to her surroundings created a tall magnificent castle made out of her fire, trapping Jio inside as she regained control over her body.

Sia finally obtained a new ability Jio promised.

To be continued,