Journey begins

Today is any other day for Akuma except for the fact that Wulin showed up looking very down. He ended up telling Akuma about how his adoptive sister left. Akuma couldn't understand the feelings of losing a sibling but a family member with whom he was all too similar.

"Listen, win even if she left. In the future, you might have an opportunity to meet her again. You never know what the future holds. So cheer up." Akuma said as he patted wu lin's shoulder, trying to cheer him up. By the look of wulins face, it didn't. Akuma then put in his earbuds and said, walking away. "Wulin. I know you have taken on responsibility for your family, and it's been tuff, but it's time to grow up and quit being a bitch looking all down and mopey; it's ruining the vibe of the place. So let it all out, then grow up."

Maintain, brother long, and Wulin stared at Akuma in shock. They've never heard him curse, but it's not like they know him that well except for maintenance. He barely talks, and when he does speak, it's always short. So this was something new. Wulin looked up in shock before he started to ball his eyes out.

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Akuma looked at the recommendation letter in his hand for an intermediate academy. This marked his last days of being in that boring ass novice academy.

He was going to go to East Sea city with a win. Frankly, he's the only friend he has, and it took a lot of effort to have him as a friend, so he doesn't want to go through that process again. And he doesn't care what intermediate academy he goes to. As long as he can get to Shrek, he's all for it.

Akuma watched as wulin forged his first thousand-strike metal, Mithril. It's a perfect metal for conducting spirit energy.

As wulin strikes with his hammers, The thousand-swing hammer in his hand, we're starting to become a part of the win. The sound of the hammer hitting the metal was like the notes of the song.

After a while, wulin finally finished his metal. He spilled some blood on it bonding it to him so no one else could use it; the metal was related to him.

One hundred refinements purify and enhance the metal, and 1,000 classes create a spirit that bestows life on the metal—based on its quality.

A few days later, wulin forged two hammers out of the metal and got a special effect, "stacked hammers," so each time he does one strike, it will do 3. Akuma had a remarkable impact on his hammers. It was stacked hammers as well, but because his refinement is perfect, it was better, so one stroke does 5 for him. Every blacksmith's first blood sacrifice metal usually has a good special effect. The blood sacrifice will connect the metal to your blood vessels and push the awakened extraordinary impact to the limit. So it will only be yours to use.

He then gave win some heavy silver storage rings. Akuma snorted at that. When he first did his thousand refinements, it only took him a week to get to that level. He didn't get any storage rings. He had to build them himself with the blueprints of how to make them.

"You didn't give me any silver storage rings when I did my first thousand refinements… showing favoritism much…." Akuma said and maintained glared at him.

"Shut it, brat! You built your own a week later! It took me a month to make these! I failed several times!" Maintain said

"Loser," Akuma mumbled, and maintain heard him, "you brat, your dead!" Maintain then started to chase Akuma and throw metals at him but sadly for him; he would never be able to catch Akuma.

From Akuma's perspective, maintenance was moving at a snail's pace. He could easily avoid him without trying, but it wasn't like the mountain was trying to hurt him. He didn't even release his soul rings. Honestly, Akuma has been craving a good fight. He has no idea how strong he has gotten with his constantly improving physique and soul energy. Thanks to the cultivation technique he created, he named it the 'Godly Divine ultimate Doom-bringer Technique' I know. Great name.

Akuma then went to his room and picked up a 1,000 refinements black cat mask with tiny red marks going throughout it. He then picked up a nice black button-down shirt with a red tie going throughout it. He put on black pants, a black belt, and black shoes. (Refer to the cover picture)

He felt pretty weird wearing such clothes; he always wore a hoodie. And once he finally wore something nice and looked at himself, he couldn't help but be proud of himself looking at the results of his hard training…

He put his earbuds in his pocket as he walked downstairs—Maintain and brother long were sitting on chairs eating. Akuma walked over, and both their eyes widened.

"Well, you look nice. What up with the mask?" Brother long asked, and Akuma took off his mask.

They both looked at him stunned and might have stared a bit too long, they both saw him with his hoodie off, but that was before he started his 'Godly Divine ultimate Doom-bringer Technique.'

"Well, I thought I could use a change; you can't have me always looking like some lazy run-down kid slouching about and sleeping in class. I needed a change. And the mask, well…. Let's say I don't want everyone staring at me when I walk by."

"Ha, you could say that again. Man, I'm jealous of your looks." Brother long said, and Akuma smiled slightly under his mask.

Maintain got up out of his seat and hugged Akuma. "I know you'll never call me dad or anything like that, but I want you to know you always have a place to stay if you're ever in trouble. Oh, and make sure to call your spirit communicator and visit every once in a while. I love watching you forge. It puts those so-called geniuses to shame."

Akuma smiled under his mask as he was just about to walk out of the door to meet up with wulin so they could begin their trip but stopped before walking out "thank you for everything you have done for me….Dad."

Maintains eyes widened before he smiled. Akuma left and went to the cemetery to visit his mom.

At his mom's grave, he held a single white flower. "Hey, mom…. I'm sorry I haven't visited in a while…. I was busy….. yea, you would probably nag me about not taking breaks to have fun or make friends like a normal kid…. but the joke is on you. I made a friend….. heh, yea; your little Devil made a friend so that you can be proud of me for at least something now, huh…. Don't worry, mom; I'm going to an intermediate academy, then I'll graduate and go to Shrek. I'm strong now, so you don't have to worry about me…. Bye, mom. I'll visit you as soon as possible. Love you." Akuma said as she cleaned off some leaves from her tombstone and left the white flower on it.

He left and went to meet with wulin to begin his new journey.

(A/N: I do not know blacksmithing, I've googled and tried to find anything on it for the Douluo world, but nothing comes up. She was using what I remembered from the story rn. If you have any information about it, comment here. It would be appreciated.)