Scratching his beard in thought, the old man sighed.

"Very well. Show me a martial technique worthy of my blade, but be warned. If you don't satisfy me. You won't leave here alive!"

DUMMM

{Kukuku...Tier 3? He was only acting weak? Although I must admit, he's well out of his prime.} Laughing amusedly, the Deity studied the old man.

Smiling widely, Adonis gazed into the dull eyes of the swordsmith.

"You won't be disappointed."

Adonis stuck the blade back into the sand and pulled out his jet-black staff.

"Mind if I use this instead?"

"Use whatever." The old man said, sounding slightly offended.

"Show me what you've got, kid."

Adonis elevated the obsidian stick, hoisting it above his head, even as he continued to draw in and assimilate the surrounding air.

His pupils subtly dilated, and his canines extended, becoming sharper and more prominent.

The atmosphere in his proximity noticeably chilled, and his knuckles paled as he clutched the sword with determination in his small hands.

{You plan on using Demonic Aura? Is that wise?} Eos asked with an unfamiliar tone.

'He won't tell anyone, even if he does. What'll he say? That a young child in a bird mask used Wicked Aura. That's too unbelievable.'

{Very well. It's your life.}

Watching the boy curiously, Masamune raised his eyebrow.

'Supreme Devil Art...'

"Earth-splitting strike!" Whispering softly, Adonis applied a minute layer of red aura to the obsidian stick. This display showcased a heightened level of mastery and control compared to his abilities of the previous year.

Executing a fluid motion, Adonis swung the obsidian stick downward. As the stick sliced through the air, grains of sand scattered wildly, leaving a narrow, sand-free path in their wake.

{Sloppy. } Eos critiqued.

The effort left him sweating heavily and he collapsed to his knees due to exhaustion.

"S-so?" Out of breath, the boy raised his eyes transformed eyes to meet the old man's.

"Take the blade," Old man Masamune's words were straightforward, delivered with a seemingly nonchalant demeanour.

Yet, a discernible shift had taken place within him.

The previously vacant expression in his eyes was undergoing a nuanced transformation, as a spark of inspiration began to kindle within them.

'This new generation...Is simply terrifying.'

"What are you?" Masamune asked curiously.

"Hehe...Not sure yet."

***

After a few minutes, Adonis was able to regain his strength and finally stood up to proceed with the payment upstairs.

Using his dimension ring Adonis took out 1000 gold coins to pay for his new blade.

When the payment was processed and verified, Masamune gave him the sheath to the blade; a flat long onyx slab of wood with a single opening for the blade.

On his way out of the shop, Masamune called out to the boy curiously.

"Boy! At least, tell me your name. What is it?" The old man was desperate to know the identity of the prodigy.

"Perseus..." Without turning back, Adonis replied casually.

***

After he left Masamune's weapon store, Adonis walked along the path closer and closer to the plaza's centre.

'I spent so much money...' He complained, a large tear rolling down his cheek involuntarily.

He arrived at a much larger building, with a Latin sign reading "Magic Tools".

Adonis went into the store and bought the following items:

7m long Aura-reinforced steel chain (Mid Grade); 8 Healing potions (Low Grade); 4 Strength enhancing potions (Low Grade); 50m long Aura-reinforced steel wire (High Grade); 500ml of Pink Rank Viper's venom; Magic ball (Pink Rank); 3 Mana replenishing potions (Low Grade); 10 Stamina potion (Low Grade); 6 Flame ball magic scrolls (Novice); Aura reinforced steel dagger (Mid Grade)... Total: 10 000 Gold coins.

Adonis stored all his goods in his dimension ring and continued to his next destination, the information brokers.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

There he gave a single piece of information that every single military power craved...the identity of Percy, the 'Thunder Oni'.

He told them the correct name: Eurodos Hermes', and he gave the necessary evidence to prove his ridiculous claim.

Making his total wealth: 162 344 510 Gold coins, more than most Noble families and rivaling that of Dukedoms.

***

Continuing his calm stride, Adonis's contemplative thoughts were interrupted by the sight of a merchant's stand.

At the stall stood an elderly lady, her face concealed by an owl mask. Short in stature, her emerald green eyes contrasted with her long, misshapen nose. Hidden beneath a voluminous cowl, her dark and greasy hair was scarcely visible.

A substantial line of individuals, diverse in form and appearance, queued at the stand run by the seemingly unconventional woman. Positioned on the table was a sizable stone bowl filled with bones, while an adjacent large, sharp steel blade bore a grimy rag.

"A fortune teller, care to have a go?"

{You believe in that nonsense Oizys? You're supposed to be one of the smart mortals. Well, I guess no matter how large the brain, a mortal mind is a mortal mind.}

"We're all trapped in the webs of fate, Lord Eos. Maybe she can read those webs."

{Be the spider that weaves the webs, not a fly at the mercy of them.}

" Couldn't hurt to try." Adonis giggled childishly as he went to join the line.

The passage of time felt endless as Adonis waited his turn. When he was finally at the forefront of the line, the proximity revealed the woman's true visage—one that could only be described as ugly.

Her countenance was marked by deformities and warts, far from any semblance of conventional beauty. An unpleasant aroma wafted from her, while her face lacked any semblance of symmetry.

"Sit child..." The old lady gestured towards the chair as she looked at Adonis.

Adonis did as he was told as he looked at her wearily.

Extending her hand, the woman awaited Adonis's compliance. Obligingly, he placed his hand in hers, and as she clasped it, her gaze fixated on the patterns etched onto his pale palm.

"You've died once already boy." the witch said as she continued to examine the boy's hand.

{Kuku...It seems she is using some sort of magic. A special affinity, dare I even guess it might be a divine affinity.}

"But you couldn't accept your death, so you continued to wander the world of the living. And due to divine intervention, you received a second chance... but it seems, you will die once more; in eight years."

"...How?" Adonis was shocked to hear the words of the witch, he could barely push out the question.

"The person to end your life is no human nor beast... but a being who died long ago, with divine ancestry, and one born of intense emotions."

{Kukuku, seems like I'll be gaining control of the body pretty soon.} The deity ridiculed, its menacing laughter echoing through the boy's ears.

The old lady picked up the large blade on the table and dug it into Adonis' wrist, causing blood to flow from the boy's arm.

The witch observed as the boy's blood mingled with the bones within the spacious bowl. Once an adequate quantity had been collected, she retrieved a small vial containing a green liquid. Pouring the elixir onto his arm, the wound was promptly healed, its effects instantaneous.

"Ow..." he whispered as he waited for what the witch was going to say next.

Returning his arm to him, the witch lifted the substantial bowl, its contents of bones and Adonis's blood rattling within. With deft movements, she shook the bone-filled vessel, allowing it to intermingle with his blood.

The bones danced within the bowl, her keen gaze scrutinizing their interaction.

Eventually, she cast them upon the table, commencing the process of 'reading' their symbolic message.

"Seer Magic: Jaze imitation." The old lady's emerald eyes glowed mysteriously as she studied the bones in front of her.

Upon comprehending the message conveyed by the bones, a frown furrowed the witch's brow.

A rapid succession of eye movements followed, her expression growing increasingly agitated.

Suddenly, her mouth began foaming profusely, and her body convulsed before collapsing to the ground.

Witnessing this distressing scene, Adonis and those in his vicinity gazed upon her with a mixture of worry and concern.

"A being born from malice shall use its breath to burn the earth, its heart to freeze hell, and the weight of its hate to make the heavens fall."

{Kukuku...} Hearing the old lady's words, Eos laughed uncontrollably.

As the woman's seizure continued she looked at the boy with nothing but fear in her eyes she pointed at him with her crooked finger.

Her gaze didn't seem to be directed at the boy himself but rather something within him.

"H-he'll kill us all!"

Confusion etched across his features, Adonis swivelled to gaze behind him, attempting to discern the subject of the witch's revelation.

His uncertainty lingered until he came to a halt, and with a perplexed expression, he pointed toward himself, his eyebrows furrowing in puzzlement.

"Didn't she just say I'll die?"

***

Adonis left in a hurry after he paid the fee, he was worried that he might be held accountable for the seer's death.

Walking along the peer with a perplexed expression, Adonis mumbled inaudibly to himself.

"A being born from malice?"

{Stop thinking, you're not good at it.} Eos teased.

"..." Adonis carried on walking along the pier towards the water.

{Oizys.}

"Lord Eos?"

{How'd you know everything about this, Black market? From the entrance process all the way to the specific weapon store.}

"Lord Eos, you can look through my memories for yourself. Can't you?" Looking into the dark water, Adonis asked curiously.

{I'd rather not witness the memories of you bathing.} Eos said, sounding genuinely disturbed and disgusted.

"Hehe, okay. Well, as you know Papa was Percy the Thunder Oni, a general of the Wakoku; and well he told me everything about them. You see Papa loved being part of the Wakoku Nation way more than being a journalist, the way he spoke about it... " Recalling his father's expression, Adonis grinned softly.

"The look in his eyes... I wish I was that passionate about something."

{That still doesn't explain how you knew how to enter the plaza.}

"I come from a family of investigators...The black market was a huge topic, and my grandfather was the one in charge of investigating it. I helped on multiple occasions to fill in the gaps in the case."

"Actually, I was the one to crack the codes, all the entrances enter use backward speech as a security measure. Simple yet highly effective."

With composure and clarity, Adonis began to recount the details about the black market, his words flowing smoothly. A serene smile graced his lips as he reminisced about the time he spent collaborating with his grandfather, the memories evoking a sense of joy and nostalgia that he held dear.

{You're just full of surprises, Oizys Hermes.}

"Hehe..." Adonis chuckled and dived into the cold lake. He used all four of his limbs to navigate through murky water.

***

Extra Information:

Weapons and magic tools are ranked as follows: Divine, Apex, High, Mid, Low, and Unranked.