Making a difficult decision can be easier said than done. It's like seeing a mountain on TV and wanting to climb it, only to realize that it's much harder in reality. Lazarus, a normal human thrown into this world, has never experienced this kind of pressure before. Unlike a protagonist with ultimate adaptability, he may struggle to follow through on his decisions.
As he looks at the corpses of Sabito and Makomo, Lazarus mutters to himself, "I should stop worrying about it. There's no turning back now. This is the path I've chosen." However, deep down, he knows that it won't be easy and that he'll have to face challenges and obstacles along the way. But he's determined to keep going, even if it means facing his fears and overcoming his limitations.
"Absorb!"
[Absorb two souls!] [Soul Points: 32]
The number of souls Lazarus could gain depended on the traits or characteristics of the souls, which were ranked according to the system in five categories.
Strength: Souls could be assigned a point value based on their inherent power or strength. For example, a weaker soul could be worth 1 point, while a stronger soul could be worth 5 points.
Virtue: Souls could be assigned a point value based on the character and morality of the person they belong to. A virtuous soul could be worth more points than an evil one. For instance, a virtuous soul could be worth 10 points, while an evil one could be worth only 1 point.
Experience: Souls could be assigned a point value based on the experiences and knowledge they contain. A soul that belonged to a skilled craftsman could be worth more points than one that belonged to a layperson. For example, a soul that contains a lot of valuable knowledge could be worth 20 points, while a less experienced soul could be worth only 5 points.
Rarity: Souls could be assigned a point value based on their rarity or uniqueness. A rare or exotic soul could be worth more points than a common one. For instance, a rare soul could be worth 50 points, while a common one could be worth only 10 points.
Compatibility: Souls could be assigned a point value based on how compatible they are with the necromancer's own magical abilities or needs. For example, a soul that provides a specific type of magical energy or has a particular trait that the necromancer requires could be worth more points than a soul that does not. In this case, the point values could vary greatly depending on the specific needs of the necromancer.
[Please assign a call-to-summon phrase]
"Hmmm… Rise? Seemed bad, Summon? Then… how about this, Ignite!"
At that moment, as the moon rose high in the sky, a sudden chill descended upon the forest.
A bony hand, long and skeletal, burst forth from the ground, clawing its way up into the night air. With a sickening crack, the rest of the body emerged, a fearsome sight to behold.
The bones clacked and rattled together as the creature rose up to its full height, its empty eye sockets staring out into the darkness with an eerie glow. One by one, more skeletal warriors clawed their way out from the earth, their movements slow and deliberate as they emerged from their long slumber.
The sound of rustling bones filled the air as a horde of undead warriors stood at attention, weapons at the ready. Their jaws hung slack, as if waiting for some unseen signal to begin their march. A shiver would run down the spine of anyone who witnessed the scene, for it was a sight that could only be described as terrifying.
The skeletal warriors stood tall, prepared to do the bidding of whatever dark force had summoned them back to life. As the moon shone down upon the forest, the army of the undead remained silent, waiting for their next command.
Ten skeletal warriors emerged from the darkness, their bony frames illuminated by flickering emerald fire in their eye sockets. Each one held a rusted sword in its grasp, the metal dulled by the passage of time.
Lazarus had summoned ten skeleton warriors, but these warriors had no armor, only a rusted sword. He now had only 12 soul points left and left them for future use.
"Now...what should I do?" he wondered.
Sakonji Urokodaki's eyes narrowed as he caught sight of the ten undead warriors standing before the boulder, their green-glowing eyes emanating an unsettling intensity. A wave of unease washed over him as he surveyed the bony figures, their rusted swords glinting in the dim light of the forest.
It was already midnight, and his disciple had not returned home. Worry set in as he went to the forest where they usually trained, but what he saw was a sight to behold - one he had never seen before. His eyes darted around for a possible demon that could summon such a thing, but his heart skipped a beat as he saw the unmistakable form of his fallen disciple among them.
Sakonji Urokodaki's eyes narrowed further as he studied the undead warriors. His mind raced, trying to find the demon responsible for summoning such creatures. His disciple's death had ignited a fierce anger within him, but he knew he needed to stay focused. With a deep breath, he stepped forward, his movements fluid and graceful.
"You fiends will pay dearly for what you've done," he said, his voice low and steady. As he neared his fallen disciple, he knelt down beside him and closed his eyes for a moment of silent prayer.
He then stood up, his sword at the ready. "You may have taken the life of my disciple, but you will not escape justice," he said, his voice laced with determination. "I will not rest until I find the demon responsible for this."
Sakonji Urokodaki's was a man of few words, but his presence alone was enough to command respect and admiration from those around him. He was a strict but fair teacher, always pushing his students to reach their full potential and holding them to the highest standards of excellence.
But even in the face of tragedy, Sakonji Urokodaki's remained steadfast and resolute. He drew his sword and stepped forward to face the undead warriors, determined to avenge his fallen disciple and bring honor to his name.
"Oh, shit," Lazarus suddenly cursed. He had just summoned his undead warriors, yet another strong person appeared. But Lazarus had no choice.
"Damn! You leave me no choice, and I want to know how strong this former Hashira is."
Sakonji Urokodaki's took a deep breath, filling his lungs with air as he saw the ten skeleton soldiers standing before him, their bony frames looming in the dim light of the forest. He exhaled slowly, centering himself and focusing his mind on the fight ahead.
As the skeletons advanced towards him with rusted swords in hand, Sakonji began to breathe with the "Water Breathing" technique, a specific form of breathing used by the Demon Slayers in the anime. Inhale, two beats. Exhale, four beats. He repeated the pattern, each breath filling him with renewed focus and energy.
Sakonji eyes narrowed as he observed the skeletons' movements. "These skeletons move in a predictable pattern," he said to himself. "Their strikes are slow and their movements are clumsy. I can easily evade them with the Water Breathing technique."
He focused on the first skeleton, watching as it raised its sword to strike. Sakonji exhaled sharply, lunging forward with a swift thrust of his own sword. The tip of his blade connected with the skeleton's sword, shattering it instantly.
As the other skeletons closed in around him, Sakonji continued to breathe with the Water Breathing technique. He moved with lightning-fast reflexes, dodging their attacks with ease. He countered with swift, precise slashes of his own, each strike hitting its mark and shattering bone.
"Water Breathing: Fourth Form - Striking Tide," he muttered under his breath as he unleashed a flurry of attacks on the skeletons. The technique allowed him to strike multiple enemies at once, sending them flying back in a shower of bone fragments.
Despite their numbers, the skeleton soldiers were no match for Sakonji skill and experience. He weaved between their attacks with incredible grace, striking with deadly accuracy and breaking their swords one by one.
Sakonji breathing became more intense as the fight wore on, his body working hard to maintain his stamina and focus. "Water Breathing: Fifth Form - Blessed Rain After the Drought," he called out, unleashing a powerful overhead strike that sent a shock wave through the clearing.
Finally, after what felt like hours, the last of the skeleton soldiers fell to the ground in a heap of shattered bones. Sakonji took a deep breath, sheathing his sword and taking a moment to catch his breath.
"That was a close call," he said to himself. "I must be more careful in the future. The demons' power is growing stronger every day."
As he looked around the clearing, Sakonji knew that this was only the beginning. The fight against the demons was far from over, and he would need all of his skill and experience, but unfortunately, he was already retired.