Time Skip 2 year
The forest was a symphony of shadows and whispers, the dim light filtering through ancient trees that stretched their gnarled limbs toward the cloudy sky. Eight-year-old Kazuki crouched low, his breath steady but his heart pounding fiercely beneath his chest. He could almost feel the weight of the eyes that watched him — elusive, unseen, but ever present.
Before him moved a creature of legend: the Voidclaw Phantom Panther. Its sleek black fur shimmered faintly, like smoke caught in a moonbeam. Amethyst eyes glowed coldly from its muscular frame as it prowled silently, blending perfectly into the gloom.
Kazuki's mind was razor sharp. This was more than a hunt — it was the test that would awaken his hidden power, the second martial soul buried within his spirit.
A soft rustle in the underbrush. The panther's eyes locked on Kazuki, muscles coiling like springs. Without hesitation, the beast lunged.
Kazuki rolled, narrowly avoiding the slash of razor-sharp claws that seemed to slice through the very air. His skin prickled as the panther's spatial essence warped the battlefield, twisting space in fleeting ripples.
The system's cold voice rang in his mind:
[System Notice]
Hostile Soul Beast Detected: Voidclaw Phantom Panther
Estimated Soul Ring Age: 3,500 Years
Recommended Strategy: Utilize speed and displacement skills to counter spatial manipulation.
Kazuki summoned his will, channeling energy into his first martial soul's skill—Verdant Veil Ensnare—calling forth a thick fog that blurred the edges of reality around the beast.
The panther hissed, momentarily disoriented.
With a burst of speed, Kazuki struck, guiding his strikes with precision honed by countless hours of training. The panther's movements grew sluggish, its snarls turning to growls of frustration.
Finally, as the beast prepared for a final desperate attack, Kazuki's palm met its flank with a crackling pulse of spirit energy. The panther crumpled, defeated.
The fading creature's life force coalesced into a swirling orb of dark violet light — ancient, powerful, and utterly mesmerizing. Kazuki lowered himself to the forest floor, sitting cross-legged with perfect stillness. His hands hovered just above the soul ring as the energy pulsed and beckoned.
With a deep breath, he allowed the power to flow into him, feeling it merge seamlessly with his soul core. His body tingled as the spatial veil wrapped around him like a second skin — subtle, elusive, deadly.
[System Update]
Soul Ring Acquired: Voidclaw Phantom Panther, 3,500 Years
Soul Skill: Voidstep Claw
Passive Skill Gained: Spatial Veil — enables brief displacement and partial invisibility
Attribute Boost: +5 Agility, +4 Endurance, +3 Perception
Soul Skill: Voidstep Claw
Type: Control / Mobility / Offensive
Description: Kazuki channels the spatial energy of the Voidclaw Phantom Panther through his claws, allowing him to manipulate space around his attacks. Each strike can tear miniature spatial rifts, temporarily warping the battlefield and restricting enemy movement. After attacking, Kazuki can instantly teleport a short distance, repositioning himself with perfect control. The spatial rifts created also distort enemy perception, causing disorientation and delayed reactions.
Effects:
* Spatial Rift Slash: Each claw strike tears a rift in space that lasts 6 seconds within a 3-meter radius, slowing enemies' movement and attack speed by 20%.
* Voidstep Teleport: Instantly teleport up to 8 meters in any direction immediately after attacking.
* Spatial Disorientation: Enemies inside the rift suffer blurred vision and delayed reflexes, reducing their accuracy by 15% and increasing skill cooldowns by 10%.
* Control Chain: The skill can be chained up to 4 times within 12 seconds, with a 20-second cooldown after the last activation.
[System Notification]
Second Martial Soul Activation Detected
Martial Soul: Voidclaw Phantom Panther
Attribute: Space
Control Path: Engaged
Soul Ring Age: 3,500 Years
Current Stats (Second Martial Soul):
* Soul Power Contribution: +6
* Agility: +5
* Endurance: +4
* Perception: +3
* Spatial Control Efficiency: 12%
* Teleportation Range: 8 meters
* Skill Slots Unlocked: Voidstep Claw
* Passive Ability: Spatial Veil (partial invisibility)
Kazuki's senses sharpened; the forest seemed clearer, every leaf's rustle and distant call crystal clear. Yet beneath this triumph lurked a darker feeling. He had sensed eyes watching him even during the battle, a growing presence tied to his rising power.
Three years later, at age eleven, Kazuki stood beneath the swirling clouds atop a jagged mountain range. The cold wind whipped at his dark, spiky hair streaked with two sharp golden lines on the left side, framing a face marked by determination and nascent power.
Before him coiled a magnificent beast — the Golden Dracowyrm, a rare sub-dragon species whose scales shimmered like molten gold, each movement radiating ancient, fiery majesty.
Its roar thundered across the peaks, the ground trembling beneath its massive form. Kazuki's soul power had risen to 30, but this fight would test everything he had.
The beast lashed out, fiery breath scorching the air, claws tearing at stone and flesh alike.
Kazuki dodged with practiced agility, weaving between blasts of flame and bone-crushing strikes. His body burned with effort and spirit energy, each attack synchronized with his second martial soul's latent power.
At the critical moment, he unleashed a torrent of spirit force, piercing the dracowyrm's thick scales. The beast faltered, then collapsed in a blaze of golden light.
The radiant soul ring hovered before Kazuki on the snowy peak, pulsing with the fiery heartbeat of dragon genes and ancient might. He settled cross-legged on the cold stone, closing his eyes to focus.
Hands steady, he accepted the overwhelming energy, feeling it flood his body with renewed strength and vitality. Beneath his skin, golden scales began to form, and the fire of the dracowyrm surged within him, awakening a deep resilience.
[System Update]
Soul Ring Acquired: Golden Dracowyrm, 8,400 Years (Sub-Dragon) Soul Skill: Golden Gravitas Roar
Passive Skill Gained: Dragon's Resilience — enhanced regeneration and defense
Attribute Boost: +9 Strength, +7 Endurance, +4 Willpower
Soul Skill: Golden Gravitas Roar
Type: Control / Offensive / Defensive Attribute: Gold (Metal) + Space (Control Path)
Description: Kazuki channels the majestic power of the Golden Dracowyrm, fusing the unyielding strength of gold with spatial distortion. His roar reverberates with metallic resonance, warping gravity and manifesting shimmering golden metal fragments in the air. This skill compresses space and hardens metal particles to crush enemies and shield Kazuki with a radiant metallic aura.
Effects:
* Golden Gravity Crush: Within a 10-meter radius, a gravitational field pulls enemies inward while golden metal shards spin rapidly, slicing and damaging enemies for 8% of max health over 6 seconds. Movement speed and attack speed reduced by 30%.
* Metallic Spatial Shield: Kazuki is surrounded by a golden metallic aura that absorbs damage equal to 20% of his max HP and reduces incoming damage by 25%. The shield gleams like molten gold, shimmering with spatial energy.
* Roar of Resonance: The metallic roar distorts space briefly, granting Kazuki a 50% chance to evade ranged attacks and increasing his spatial control efficiency by 15% for 10 seconds.
* Cooldown: 30 seconds
Kazuki's muscles surged with power, his skin tingling as a faint layer of golden scales began forming beneath the surface — the first physical mark of dragon heritage.
One year later, the sprawling city bustled around Kazuki as he walked the crowded streets, his thoughts weighed down by memories of past battles and the stirring power within him. The roar of the city faded beneath the steady beat of his heartbeat, a reminder that his journey was far from over.
His hair was spiky and black, streaked with two sharp golden lines on the left and right side — a signature mark that caught sunlight with every step. His piercing grey eyes scanned the crowd, calm but alert. He wore a sleek black jacket layered over a crisp white shirt, his presence radiating a cool, confident aura that made passersby glance twice.
Despite the noise and life around him, that eerie feeling persisted — that he was being watched. Each soul ring absorbed had only intensified the unseen gaze, a shadow that trailed him like a predator stalking its prey.
Ahead, the Rose Hotel stood proudly. Its polished wooden doors opened onto a lavish lobby bustling with travelers and spirit masters alike.
Kazuki's gaze shifted toward two familiar figures waiting to check in.
Tang San stood out with his spiky black hair, his hair bore a striking fusion of deep blue and black, adding an otherworldly depth. His high-collared jacket and circular pendant gave him an elegant, regal presence. Deep blue eyes—sharp, intelligent, and calm—surveyed the surroundings with quiet confidence.
Beside him stood Xiao Wu, her dark brown hair tied neatly into a single pigtail. Her soft pink outfit was embroidered with delicate floral patterns, and a small orange flower nestled at her neckline added a sweet charm. Her deep red eyes sparkled with fierce warmth and grace.
Before Kazuki could approach, a new presence asserted itself.
Dai Mubai stepped forward with effortless arrogance, his blond hair falling to his shoulders, framing an equally confident face. Piercing blue eyes surveyed the lobby. He wore a pristine white suit that only heightened his imposing demeanor.
Two twin sisters flanked him, his arms locked possessively around their waist.
Dai Mubai's voice sliced through the murmurs, firm and unyielding,
"The room belongs to me."
Tang San's eyes narrowed sharply. "No way. We arrived first. That room is ours."
Dai Mubai smirked, unaware of who Tang San was. "I don't know who you are. But, that room belongs to me."
Xiao Wu stepped forward with a fierce gleam in her deep red eyes.
"We got here first. That room is ours."
Tang San's spirit power flared, his Blue Silver Grass sprouting rapidly.
"Blue Silver Coil!" he commanded, thick blue vines writhing to ensnare Dai Mubai.
Parasite activated silently — seeds embedding into Dai's defenses for remote control.
Dai Mubai responded with his White Tiger martial soul.
"White Tiger Shield Body Barrier!" A white light shield enveloped him, boosting his defense.
Tang San's vines tightened, but Dai Mubai countered with a fierce blast:
"White Tiger Intense Light Wave!" The energy wave shattered the grass.
With a roar, Dai Mubai entered his Vajra Transformation, muscles bulging, power doubling.
The two clashed with overwhelming force, earth trembling beneath their feet. Kazuki watched silently, eyes sharp and calculating, measuring their strength and style.
The fight ended with tension thick in the air. Tang San and Xiao Wu's eyes turned to Kazuki as he calmly approached the front desk.
"I want a room," Kazuki said evenly.
The clerk hesitated but eventually nodded.
Tang San and Xiao Wu exchanged a glance.
"Why are you here?" Tang San asked cautiously.
Kazuki's gaze met theirs without a flicker of emotion.
"I only came here to see what's so good about Shrek Academy — to find out if it's even worth my time. Since the "Grandmaster" kept insisting I go there, but if it doesn't meet my expectations, I won't hesitate to leave. I'm not here to play nice or make friends. Just to see the truth for myself."
Kazuki turned away from the front desk without waiting for a reply, his footsteps echoing softly through the quiet hallways of the Rose Hotel. The heavy door to his room slid open smoothly at his touch, and he stepped inside. The room was modest but comfortable, a perfect space for focused cultivation and strategizing.
He closed the door behind him and immediately settled into a cross-legged position in the center of the room. The familiar hum of his system flared within his mind, syncing with his spirit energy as he began to draw in the ambient spiritual essence.
As his soul power swelled steadily, Kazuki's thoughts sharpened, turning over the vast web of possibilities that lay ahead.
"The path forward isn't just about raw power," he mused silently. "I need precision. Control. Every new soul ring, every transformation, must be a step toward mastery."
He recalled the faint but persistent sensation during his last soul ring absorption—the growing sense of being watched. Whoever had been observing him before was still out there, lurking in the shadows of his progress. That fact alone meant he needed to stay vigilant.
"There are opportunities coming soon... trials, Spirit Beast Hunting grounds, and possibly conflicts between academies,"he thought. "I'll use them. Every mission, every battle, every alliance will be a chance to advance — to test this power, to refine my second martial soul and prepare for its hybrid transformation."
The quiet flicker of his system interface offered him data: his current soul power, energy regeneration rates, elemental resonance with space and gold attributes, and potential boosts from his unique genetic enhancements. The synergy was promising but fragile.
"No distractions," he reminded himself. "Not from petty rivalries or those who think power is given, not earned. I'll keep my eyes open. Learn their weaknesses, exploit their arrogance."
His fingers twitched slightly as his soul energy coiled within, a growing storm beneath calm waters.
The future wasn't something to wait for — it was something to take.