"Spider Sever"

"Moon Chant Style—Water Wheel!" Facing the incoming slash from "Spider Sever," Feng Lan calmly swung "Onikiri," easily blocking the attack.

Feng Lan stepped back and changed his grip on the sword. "Moon Chant Style—Iai: Water Ring Gear!" With a powerful kick off the ground, Feng Lan shot forward like an arrow, spinning through the air as he unleashed a draw slash.

"Moon Chant Style? I've never heard of it, but you're strong." "Spider Sever" raised its blade to block, only to be sent flying more than ten meters by the blow.

Feng Lan held his sword in his right hand, his left resting on the scabbard. "Just an unremarkable style I created myself. Sword techniques are important, but they aren't everything to a swordsman."

"Spider Sever" sneered and charged forward with its blade raised. "Naturally. The quality of one's blade is just as crucial... Absolute Charm Style—Blood Spiral."

"Spider Sever" rushed before Feng Lan and spun its body at high speed, ramming into him relentlessly like a top.

Feng Lan could only struggle to block with "Onikiri." "Moon Chant Style—Earth Vein Source!" Feng Lan drove his blade upward with all his strength, sending "Spider Sever" flying.

"Dark fire..." "Wait! Don't attack!" Mira had accepted Satan Soul and was about to help Feng Lan fight when he stopped her.

Mira looked puzzled. "What's wrong? You don't need help?"

Feng Lan nodded and gave a cold laugh. "Heh, that's right. I've decided to tame this blade!"

Looking at Feng Lan's serious expression, Mira hesitantly asked, "Tame it? What do you mean?"

Feng Lan gripped "Onikiri" tightly. The next moment, the dim blue glow on its blade gradually intensified until it clung to the sword like vapor. At a glance, it really did seem to carry a demonic aura.

"Simply put... I want this blade!" Feng Lan shouted excitedly at the crimson "Spider Sever."

"Tame me? Hahahahaha!" "Spider Sever" clutched its head and laughed. "Then let's see what you're capable of. I'm very picky about my wielder, so don't let my curse kill you~"

Feng Lan grinned as well. "Kill me with a curse? Then... that depends on what you can do!"

The two charged at each other. "Moon Chant Style—Stream Sever!" "Absolute Charm Style—Other Shore!"

One blue blade and one red blade flashed as they collided again and again, performing a symphony of steel against steel.

Suddenly, Feng Lan seized an opening and struck "Spider Sever" away with the back of his blade.

"Spider Sever" barely steadied itself, panting heavily. "Impossible! In terms of blade quality, we're evenly matched. And when it comes to swordsmanship, I don't think I'm inferior to you either! So why am I the one in such a sorry state?!"

Feng Lan slowly walked toward "Spider Sever." "Why are Demon Blades powerful? Is it because of their exceptional quality? No. Is it because of the sword techniques stored in their memories? No.

"The true power of a Demon Blade lies in its independent will. But that doesn't mean controlling others. It means the Demon Blade and its wielder becoming one in thought, sharing a mutual understanding and bringing forth their combined strength.

"At that moment, the blade is no longer a tool. It becomes a companion and partner who lives and dies alongside you! And the power of that bond is the ultimate force, capable of cutting through anything!"

After Feng Lan finished speaking, "Spider Sever" froze and sank into a deep memory. A blade is a tool for killing! No matter how you dress it up, that won't change! And naturally, once all the people have been killed... the blade is useless too. It should be sealed inside this lousy box!

"I won't deny that blades are tools for killing. That was the purpose for which I was forged. But why... why discard me once you're done using me?! To you, am I nothing more than a toy to pass the time polishing?"

Feng Lan had already arrived before "Spider Sever." "Moon Chant Style—Awakening Moment."

Clang! "Spider Sever" was sent flying and stabbed into the ground. Adou, who had been controlled the whole time, also came to his senses before fainting.

Feng Lan took "Spider Sever's" scabbard from Adou and slowly walked over to the blade, sheathing Onikiri.

Mira still asked worriedly, "Feng Lan, is this really going to be okay?"

Feng Lan nodded. "Don't worry! It'll be fine." Then he turned toward "Spider Sever" and solemnly drew its blade. "My name is Feng Lan Mistna, a practitioner of the blade. Today, I draw the Demon Blade 'Spider Sever' and wish to form a Soul Contract with it."

Then Feng Lan used "Spider Sever" to cut open his palm. Blood flowed out and dripped onto the blade, and "Spider Sever" flashed with a crimson bloody light that shot straight into Feng Lan's body.

"Ugh..." As the red light entered his body, Feng Lan let out a pained groan.

Mira's heart instantly leapt into her throat, but she did not dare rush forward to stop him.

"Ah!" Feng Lan stopped groaning and let out a cry of relief. Then he sheathed "Spider Sever." "From now on, please treat me well, Demon Blade 'Spider Sever'..."

Mira hurried forward to ask about Feng Lan's condition. "Feng Lan, how are you? Nothing happened, right?"

Feng Lan stored "Onikiri" and "Spider Sever" in his Equip Space, then said to Mira, "Hehe, don't worry! I'm fine." He then rubbed Mira's head. "Since when were you so good at caring about people, Mi-ra?"

Mira's face immediately turned red. She slapped Feng Lan's hand away and walked off in one direction. "Hurry up and find Lisanna and the others! Something might have happened!"

Watching Mira's reaction, Feng Lan followed after her with amusement. "Wait, we need to bring Mr. Adou with us!"

More than an hour later

Lisanna skipped around Mira and Feng Lan. "Big Sis Mira, Big Brother Feng Lan, it's such a shame you two weren't with us! Natsu was really strong! After suddenly bursting out, he took down a Demon Beast in just a few moves. He was way stronger than that fire-breathing big cat!"

Mira looked at Natsu and asked Feng Lan, "Could it have been Dragon Force?"

Feng Lan shook his head. "Impossible. He's still far from that. It was probably a Dragon Mark, the precursor to Dragon Force."

Elfman scratched his head. "He was strong, but... Natsu's Dark Flame made me feel a little uncomfortable."

Feng Lan froze upon hearing that. "Dark? Shouldn't Natsu's Dragon Flame be orange-red? Did he eat that Demon Beast's black fire or something?"

Lisanna thought back. "He did eat the Demon Beast's flames, but that Demon Beast's fire was bright red too. Still, for some reason, Natsu suddenly felt different, and his flames became almost black."

Feng Lan looked at Natsu, deep in thought. "An unsettling Dark Flame... awakening a Dragon Mark so early at this age... Indeed, if I sense carefully, I can feel another source of magic power inside Natsu. And it is one hundred and twenty percent not Dragon Flame, but another powerful, dark, unsettling magic power... What secret are you hiding, Natsu?"

Feng Lan nodded and said to Natsu, "Natsu, come to my house after we get back. I have something to tell you."

Natsu seemed to have roughly guessed what Feng Lan wanted to discuss, and he answered solemnly, "Yeah. I was planning to talk it over with you too, bro."

"Everyone, I can see the village!" Lisanna pointed at the village in the distance and shouted excitedly to Feng Lan and the others.