Azrael cleared the cluttered table with careful precision and spread out the three precious materials alongside the pristine blank cards. His fingers trembled slightly as he arranged them, anticipation and nervousness coursing through him in equal measure.
The world of Lore Cardians was vast and complex. Cards fell into distinct categories: creature cards that could summon living beings; prop cards that manifested tools and weapons; and more advanced variants, such as chain cards and legion cards, which most students could only dream of creating. These sophisticated techniques remained far beyond Azrael's reach, but today he had set his sights on something achievable yet ambitious: a creature card.
Taking a steadying breath, Azrael closed his eyes and let the image crystallize in his mind. When he opened them again, determination blazed in his gaze. "It's decided. It'll be you."
He picked up the standard-issue card-drawing pen provided by the academy; its familiar weight grounded him. With deliberate strokes, he began sketching on the pristine white surface. A young man with flowing black hair emerged under his careful guidance. The young man was distinguished by the striking reddish-brown markings that adorned his forehead like ancient war paint.
Minutes passed in focused silence. When Azrael finally set down the pen, exhaustion hit him like a physical blow. The mental energy required for card creation was more draining than he had anticipated, but this was only the beginning.
Now came the crucial moment—the step that separated successful Lore Cardians from mere artists.
Azrael stacked the four components with reverent care: the drawn card and the three materials that had cost him weeks of savings. Slowly, he extended his mental power, letting it flow over the assembled items like invisible fingers.
Reality dissolved around him.
Suddenly, he found himself suspended in an endless void of darkness stretching in all directions. Then, cutting through the silence, came a voice that seemed to emanate from the very fabric of existence itself.
"Please begin weaving your tale."
Azrael's voice echoed in the emptiness as he began the most important recitation of his young life:
"Yoriichi Tsugikuni lived during the brutal Warring States period. He was born alongside his twin brother, Michikatsu. From the moment of his birth, the strange crimson patterns marking his forehead earned him his father's contempt and fear."
The void listened, and Azrael continued, each word carefully chosen.
"Despite their father's prejudice, Yoriichi shared an unbreakable bond with Michikatsu. The brothers were inseparable, two halves of a whole in a world torn by constant warfare."
"When Yoriichi turned seven, his natural talent with the sword manifested in unbelievable ways. His father, recognizing this prodigious ability, prepared to name him heir—a decision that would strip Michikatsu of his birthright.
Unable to bear the thought of stealing his beloved brother's future, Yoriichi made the hardest choice of his young life. He said goodbye to Michikatsu under the cover of darkness and fled into the uncertain world beyond their family estate.
Azrael's voice grew softer and more melancholy as he spoke of love found and lost.
In his wanderings, Yoriichi encountered Uta, a woman whose gentle spirit complemented his own. They built a simple life together, finding peace in each other's company. At eighteen, they married, and their happiness seemed complete when Uta became pregnant with their first child.
The tale took a tragic turn, and Azrael felt the weight of the sorrow he was weaving.
"Fate proved cruel. While Yoriichi searched for a skilled midwife to assist with the birth, demons discovered their humble home. He returned to find Uta's lifeless body and their unborn child lost forever. For ten days and nights, he sat motionless beside her, consumed by grief so profound that it threatened to shatter his soul.
His vigil ended only when a member of the Demon Slayer Corps arrived to eliminate the responsible demons. In that moment, Yoriichi's purpose crystallized—he would join their ranks and teach them his breathing techniques, transforming human limitations into something capable of matching demonic power.
During a fateful mission, Yoriichi encountered Muzan Kibutsuji himself—the progenitor of all demons—and his subordinate, Tamayo, in a moonlit bamboo grove. Though Yoriichi's strength terrified the Demon King, Muzan's supernatural resilience allowed him to escape. Moved by Tamayo's tragic circumstances, Yoriichi chose mercy over vengeance and let her flee as well.
This act of compassion became his downfall within the Corps. Expelled for his mercy, Yoriichi discovered that his brother, Michikatsu, had fallen to the darkness of demonism, killing the Corps' leader and joining Muzan's ranks.
Cast out and betrayed, Yoriichi found unexpected solace with the Kamado family. Through his friendship with Tanjuro, he began to heal from his wounds. Before leaving, he entrusted the Sun Breathing technique to Tanjuro, who promised to preserve it for future generations.
"At eighty years old, Yoriichi faced his final trial. He encountered Michikatsu—now the demon Kokushibo—in battle. With reflexes honed by decades of combat, Yoriichi struck faster than his transformed brother could react, his blade finding Michikatsu's neck.
But as victory lay within his grasp, time claimed what demons could not. Yoriichi's mortal frame finally surrendered, and he died standing, his blade never completing its final cut.
Silence stretched through the void as judgment was rendered. Then, like dawn breaking after an endless night, acceptance came. The story had been deemed worthy.
Azrael's consciousness snapped back to his modest room, but the experience wasn't over. Suddenly, the air grew thick and oppressive. Terrifying shapes materialized from the shadows—demons with slavering jaws and eyes like burning coals. Their malevolent presence paralyzed him with primal fear.
Just as the terror threatened to overwhelm him completely, a figure stepped between Azrael and the nightmarish creatures. The young man from his drawing stood there, impossibly real, his scarlet eyes reflecting an inner fire. The blade in his hand ignited with flames that seemed to burn away the darkness. In a display of supernatural grace and power, he destroyed every demon in moments.
The vision faded, leaving Azrael staring at the card, which was now glowing softly in his trembling hands.
[Demon Slayer: Yoriichi Tsugikuni]
Rank: Black Iron
Quality: Purple (White < Green < Blue < Purple < Gold < Red)
Category: Creature
Abilities:
[Flame Blade]: Through a combination of focused grip strength and weapon friction, the blade's temperature can be dramatically increased to create a "Flame Blade" effect. This enhancement significantly increases damage against demonic entities while severely hampering their regenerative capabilities.
[Sun Breathing]: Advanced cardiovascular conditioning enables rapid oxygen absorption, instantly boosting physical capabilities to supernatural levels for brief periods.
[Transparent World]: Upon activation, the user's perception transcends normal limits, dramatically improving reaction time and evasion while revealing opponents' internal biological processes. Lung expansion, blood flow, and muscular contractions become visible.
Traits:
[Mark Manifestation]: Activating the demon slayer mark substantially enhances all physical attributes.
Description: A warrior driven by vengeance against demonkind whose existence is humanity's greatest weapon against the forces of darkness.
Bond Effect: When deployed alongside cards from the Michikatsu Tsugikuni series, the special ability "Brotherly Bond" becomes available.
Azrael held his breath, barely containing his elation as he cradled the completed card. "I actually did it," he whispered in amazement.
He understood the implications—identical stories could yield vastly different results depending on the materials used. High-grade components could elevate cards beyond their base potential, though some cards would reach their absolute ceiling regardless of investment. Clearly, his chosen materials were remarkably compatible with Yoriichi's legend.
The Yoriichi he'd created was weaker than the original, limited by his novice materials, but still an incredible achievement for someone with his level of experience.
Gently pressing the card against his forehead, Azrael channeled a thread of mental power into it. The card dissolved into particles of light that flowed into his consciousness and took residence in the sacred space where summoned beings dwelled.
Within his mindscape, Azrael tentatively reached out with his mental energy. The response was immediate—Yoriichi materialized beside him with fluid grace, his presence both comforting and formidable. The legendary swordsman surveyed their surroundings with calm assessment before offering Azrael a respectful nod. Without fanfare, he took a position against the wall and closed his eyes in patient meditation.
Azrael's heart raced with excitement as he quickly grabbed his phone and snapped a photo of the purple-quality card. His fingers flew across the screen as he composed a message to his homeroom teacher.
"Mr. Calvin, I successfully created a purple-quality card."
Miles away, Calvin nearly dropped his coffee when the message appeared on his screen. Purple quality was the threshold for entering Velkairos Silverbrook High School's elite program. Most students struggled to achieve even blue quality. Students capable of purple were groomed as potential champions and were given resources and training that could launch careers.
Azrael had always been thoroughly average, barely managing to keep up with basic card theory. The idea of him suddenly jumping to purple quality seemed impossible.
Calvin typed back with careful skepticism: "Azrael, are you absolutely certain? You understand that failing the official assessment means you will permanently lose your eligibility to become a Lore Cardian?"
"I'm sure. I can take the test first thing tomorrow morning."
Calvin stared at his phone, weighing the possibilities. The boy wouldn't risk his entire future on a lie—the test tomorrow would expose any deception immediately.
"Very well," he replied. "Report to me when classes begin tomorrow. I'll personally escort you to the testing facility. If you pass, you'll be transferred to the advanced track immediately."
Relief flooded through Azrael as he read the response. "Thank you, Mr. Calvin. I won't let you down."
Setting aside his phone, Azrael studied his newly summoned partner. Yoriichi was truly striking—his features possessed an otherworldly beauty, and the reddish-brown marks across his face gave him an aura of quiet power. There was something profoundly reassuring about his presence; having him near made the world's dangers seem surmountable.
Azrael exhaled slowly, feeling satisfied. This was it—his first real step toward becoming significant in this world.
His moment of triumph was shattered by urgent sirens blaring from his television. The regular programming cut away to an emergency broadcast, with red warning text flashing across the screen:
"EMERGENCY ALERT: An unknown anomaly has been detected within the Demon's Nest. All citizens must evacuate to designated shelters immediately."
The automated message repeated with mechanical insistence: "This is not a drill. An unknown anomaly has been detected within the Demon's Nest. Proceed to the nearest shelter facility without delay."
Azrael's blood turned to ice. The Demon's Nest was the heavily fortified containment zone that held back the most dangerous supernatural threats. If something had gone wrong there...
He looked at Yoriichi, whose eyes had opened at the sound of the alarm. The legendary demon slayer's expression remained calm, but there was subtle tension in his posture, that of a warrior ready for battle.
"Looks like we might be testing your abilities sooner than expected," Azrael murmured as he grabbed his emergency kit and the sirens continued their ominous wail.