Animeverse Slayer!

It's been seven days since Leo returned. During this time he neither went out to hunt for demons nor did he seek them out. His days were spent relaxing and calming his tense nerves.

The air above the mountain was clean and full of vitality. Every day before sunrise Leo would climb to the highest peak and do his Breathing Technique and it's forms. As the sun slowly rose from the horizon Leo could feel his body heat up, like something was building up within him but he had no idea what it was.

Today was the eighth day after he had returned, finishing his routine Leo trekked down the mountain while gathering wood along the way. As he reached home a shadow could be seen coming from the distance.

Narrowing his eyes to focus he made out who it was. A person wearing a bamboo hat with bells hanging from its edge was walking in his direction, he had something covered in clothes behind him.

Leo placed down the firewood and shouted to Akira.

"Old man, my sword is here."

Akira came out and smiled at Leo.

"On time as usual. Hmm... ah, it's him."

Akira turned his head and frowned for a second before realization dawned on him. He kept that smile on his face and waited. When that person got close Akira said with a smirk.

"Old coot, you didn't die?"

"How can I die before you, you crazy dog."

"Hoho, all this time in the village must have made you cranky, you should find a woman to release all that stress or you might just relieve yourself to death."

"Hehe, says the man who stays up in a mountain with wild animals as company. Tell me, do you go down the mountain for some fun or do you seek your canine friends?"

"Hoho...

Leo looked between the two and found the atmosphere quite tense. The moment these two met they started to insult each other. However from their tone they seemed to be friends rather than long lost enemies. After bickering for some time Akira introduced the man with a pained expression.

"Leo, this is Awataguchi Sakon. Although this guy is rude, old and irritating he is still the best Swordsmith I have seen in my life."

"Hmph! I am the best Swordsmith there is! With your life experience consider it a blessing to have known me."

Leo carefully sized up the man infront of him. He wore standard clothing with rivers and mountains painted on it. The bamboo hat had white strips around its edge with bells and finally for some reason he was wearing a Japanese clown mask.

"Nice to meet you Leo. You chose quite an ore, it took this old man some effort to refine it. Well, let's have a nice chat inside."

Sakon pushed aside Akira and walked in to the house. Leo smiled a little and followed, Akira showed no visible emotion and walked in as well.

Putting the sword covered in cloth carefully on the table, Sakon poured himself some tea and started to explain.

"I must say Leo, you have good eyes to have selected the Seastorm ore."

Akira's mouth twitched upon seeing Sakon's unrestrained behaviour, however he went silent and asked for confirmation.

"He chose the Seastorm ore?"

This time Sakon didn't give out any rude comment and said calmly.

"Yeah."

Leo was confused why Akira had such a reaction.

"Old man, what's so special about that ore?"

Akira looked at Sakon, seeing him silent he went on to explain, "Nichirin swords are made using light absorbing metals found on high mountains where sun's light touch first. There are different types of ores and each Slayer will be drawn towards a particular kind when asked to choose one."

"Most think that the ore we choose is random, however, what type of ore we choose is because we are drawn to it by an attraction from the deepest part of our being. It may be due to our subconsciousness or maybe something else."

Leo pondered for a second and understood what Akira meant. When he was choosing he felt a kind of attraction towards this Seastorm ore from his spirit.

So our spirit is the deciding factor, huh.

He can say this with certainty since he has an ability to sense spirit, however, most people just instinctively pick up theirs because of the subtle influence from their soul.

"Then what's so special about Seastorm ore?"

Akira gathered his thoughts and explained, "Seastorm ore is special because of two reasons. One, where it's found. Two, it's difficulty to refine."

"Seastorm ore is found in a place where sea and land meets, with high chance of storms. Hence the name Seastorm. It's rather hard to excavate and even harder to refine. Throughout the history of Demon Slayer Corps no more than 28 people wielded Nichirin swords made of this ore."

Leo was both surprised and shocked to hear how special Seastorm ore was, he was looking forward to the kind of Sword was made from such a precious material.

Sakon finished his tea and pulled out a Sword. It's scabbard was black with a single red flower adorning it's black body. The hilt had patterns made of black and red. And it's guard was black hexagon.

Leo received the sword from Sakon and carefully pulled it out. The sword blade was gleaming with sharpness, as soon as it left the sheath it's colour started to change from the guard.

The blade turned pitch black however it didn't end there. Both sides of the blade started to glow, one filled with azure and the other with white. A second later the colours faded, an exquisite sword appeared before the three of them.

A pitch black blade!

One side was etched with a life like Azure Dragon, it's features were exquisitely carved, it's claws gleamed with sharpness, each scale on it shimmered with glory. It's body was curled within clouds, the majesty of a king that ruled over ten thousand beasts emanates from it.

The other was carved with a ferocious White Tiger, the mark of an Emperor was etched on it's forehead. The beast bore it's fangs and roared to the skies as a domineering aura materialised around it. It's body was was filled with cruelty that weighted down on whoever that laid their eyes on it.