It was warm and dark.
That was Wang Shóu's first thought.
Wang Shóu didn't know how long it lasted, but it was the only thing he was aware of.
Was it days? Perhaps months or even years?
Wang Shóu didn't know but all he knew was that it was strangely comforting. As if he was wandering for his entire life and finally returned home.
Then in this realm of darkness, Wang Shóu saw a pure white light, so bright it nearly blinded him.
Wang Shóu instinctively close his eyes, shielding them from that brilliant white light. It was a long time before he finally open his eyes.
When he opened his eyes, he find himself in a place with a field of tall grass, and towering, thick trees stretching up into the sky.
Blinking his eyes, Wang Shóu suddenly reacted. "Huh? Did I transform into a human?"
Wang Shóu look down and saw that his hand were small and soft, like those of a child. Thankfully, he was dressed, wearing a casual t-shirt and short pants, probably courtesy of the system.
Clenching his fists, Wang Shóu felt an odd sense of powerlessness that he hadn't felt in a long time.
To put it more accurately, Wang Shóu clearly felt energetic but the power contained inside this human body... is far too weak compared to his Pokémon form.
"Look like I need some time to adapt." Wang Shóu muttered, stretching his arms, testing the limits of his new body.
While in the middle of stretching, Wang Shóu noticed a puddle nearby. "Hm? Oh yeah, I want to see what I look like."
Stepping forward, Wang Shóu looked down at the puddle, seeing a clear image of his reflection.
Staring back at Wang Shóu was a six-year-old boy with snow-white hair and striking gold eyes that are bright, calm, and clear. His frame was slight, his features still soft with youth, yet there was something in his steady gaze that carried a faint but unmistakable sense of nobility.
"Is this me?"
Wang Shóu stared at the reflection, a hint of disbelief in his voice. He couldn't help but touch his own soft cheeks, watching as the reflection mirrored his own action.
"I look exactly just like myself in my previous life... But I clearly didn't have white hair or golden eyes back then." Wang Shóu subconsciously touched his own hair to confirm if it was really his own hair.
Wang Shóu, tugging slightly at the strands of his hair, lowered his hands down and squatted down, leaning closer to the puddle to get a better look. "Wait, no. There is a few differences..."
After a long good look, Wang Shóu spoke, genuinely surprised. "Wow, I look pretty good."
Wang Shóu wasn't being narcissistic. Though his face may not be strikingly handsome but there wasn't a single flaw on his face either, making it overall pleasant to look at.
After a while, Wang Shóu tore his gaze away from the puddle reluctantly.
Then looking around again, Wang Shóu had a nagging feeling that he forgot something. He paused, trying to recall... and then it hit him.
On this planet, humans possessed a unique power, which allow them to dominate the world and stand above soul beasts.
Martial Soul.
So, raising his right hand, Wang Shóu close his eyes as if searching for something.
Then Wang Shóu felt it. It was faint but it was undeniably there. So, he pulled it forth to reveal its true appearance.
Wang Shóu opened his eyes and see that his right hand was empty but he wasn't disappointed. Turning his head slightly to the side, he saw a yellow stone tablet hovering in the air.
And along with the yellow stone tablet, there is also a yellow ring floating in the air too.
"Is this... my martial soul?"
Examining his martial soul for a moment, Wang Shóu ask the system a question.
"System, what exactly is my martial soul?"
In truth, the moment Wang Shóu's martial soul appeared, he already understood what it was capable of. But he needs the system's answer for confirmation.
The system didn't answer but a translucent panel of text appeared in front of Wang Shóu.
[Martial Soul: Elemental Plate
Type: Tool Martial Soul
Quality: Divine Beast Martial Soul
Description: A unique Divine Beast martial soul that allows the user to control eighteen Pokémon types. The user must condense a plate corresponding to a specific type, which automatically generates a spirit ring attached to that plate. Only one plate can be equipped at a time, granting access to Pokémon moves of that type. To create a new plate, the user must comprehend the law of that type and condense it into a plate. The deeper the understanding, the stronger the resulting plate becomes.]
"I see... that looks about right." Wang Shóu said, nodding. The information matched what he knows about his martial soul.
But more importantly...
"Why is this... so similar to Arceus?" Wang Shóu had a subtle expression.
This is more than just similar, it is almost the exact replica except it is Douluo version of Arceus!
"System, what's the reason for this? Could it be I'm Arceus's illegitimate son?"
Wang Shóu asked, pressing the system for answers. He even said an outrageous guess such as being Arceus's illegitimate son.
[...]
The system didn't speak and after a while of silence, Wang Shóu finally gave up. Then he shifted his attention to his martial soul.
"So... I already understood the Law of Electric?"
Glancing at the yellow stone tablet behind him, Wang Shóu's mind move slightly to activate his power and at the same time, the yellow soul ring lit up.
[Thunder Shock]
A bolt of electricity burst forth and struck a nearby boulder, shattering it to countless tiny pieces.
"That's quite powerful." Wang Shóu nodded appreciatively and then he glanced at his soul ring.
If Wang Shóu recalled correctly, the color and the power of the soul rings is determined by age of the soul beast.
White for 10 years, Yellow for 100 years, Purple for 1,000 years, Black for 10,000 years, and Red for 100,000 years.
But although Wang Shóu's 1st spirit ring is only yellow, it is not inferior to an attack by a 1,000 years old soul beast!
But...
"The quality of my soul ring shouldn't be this low. Is there a reason for that, system?"
According to Wang Shóu's understanding, the power of the law is an extremely powerful that only Gods can wield. Even if his comprehension of Law of Electric was low, it should not be this low.
[It is due to your physique. The quality of a soul ring correlates not only with your comprehension of law, but also with your body's physique.]
"Okay, that makes sense." Wang Shóu nodded in agreement. The main factor to absorbing the spirit ring is the soul master's physique and with a sufficient strong body, soul masters can absorb spirit rings higher than they normally should.
And he was severely limited by his age, making his soul ring weaker than it should be.
"System, show me my status."
[Name: Wang Shóu]
[Race: Human]
[Soul Power: Rank 11]
[Martial Soul: Elemental Plate]
[1st Soul Ring: Electric Control
Effect: Increases the power of Electric-type move by 20%.
Age: 450 years (100,000 years old)]
[Pokémon: Gorochu (82), Charizard (81), Clefable (78), Corviknight (79), Basculegion (79), Tyranitar (76)]
(Gorochu: 120,000 years old, Charizard: 110,000 years old, Clefable: 95,500 years old, Corviknight and Basculegion: 99,000 years old, and Tyranitar: 88,500 years old.)
Looking at the effect of the 1st soul ring, Wang Shóu nodded in satisfaction. "The effect is very straightforward but I like it."
Then Wang Shóu continue looking through the information and when he saw the Pokémon's level, his gaze paused. "Wait... what the heck? System, how much time has passed?"
Though Wang Shóu didn't know how long he slept, but for the Pokémon to have grown this strong, it must have been several years, right?
[Approximately eight months.]
"Eight months... but how did they- oh, right. I forgot about Pokémon Safari." Wang Shóu had a sudden realization when he remembered that he unlocked this privilege when he reached level 80.
Pokémon Safari is an exclusive island, located in a separate space. In there, Pokémon can grow stronger at much faster rate and plus, the time in there flow twice as fast compared to Douluo Planet.
Given the time dilation and the training boost, eight months here would translate to several years.
"Still, I'm surprised. Especially with Charizard. He already passed level 80?"
"Then Charizard must have chosen to remain in his form after passing the heavenly tribulation, right?"
Wang Shóu thought so but the system corrected him.
[No. When Pokémon reach level 80, they do not need to face the heavenly tribulation and can continue to grow stronger without any bottleneck.]
Wang Shóu's eyes widen, upon hearing that. "What!? Then what was the point of me having to go through heavenly tribulation?!"
Just when Wang Shóu wanted to demand an answer from the system, his ears picked up a faint noise. At the same time, the system issued a reminder.
[Multiple people are approaching your way. They are very dangerous and even your Gorochu form cannot handle them.]
Wang Shóu instantly became tensed, and shift into a battle stance. At the same time, he mentally notified all Pokémon to come towards his location as quick as possible.
There was a faint rustling sounds and soon, a group of human beings with various, distinct appearance, appeared.
At the forefront of this group, stood a tall, beautiful silver-haired woman, who gazed down at Wang Shóu.
"Huh, just a mere human child?" Gu Yuena spoke, her violet amethyst eyes reflecting the appearance of a young white-hair, golden eyes boy who was looking at her nervously.
Glancing at Wang Shóu, Gu Yuena can't help but notice the peculiar feelings she felt from this boy. And interestingly, this feelings is similar to the blinding white light that she saw earlier ago.
Looking at Wang Shóu carefully, Gu Yuena spoke. "What is your relationship with that light earlier?"
Wang Shóu blinked. 'Huh? What is she talking about?'
Thinking for a moment, Wang Shóu suddenly reacted. 'Wait, was she referring to that light I saw back then? But how did she know that?'
But Wang Shóu didn't have time to wonder. His instinct told him that those group of human beings did not come here with friendly intentions.
So, Wang Shóu pretended to hesitated, trying to delay time. He couldn't risk saying yes as he is not sure what those human beings might do but at the same time, he couldn't risk saying no either too.
Xiong Jun, standing behind Gu Yuena, growled, his impatience growing. "Are you deaf, brat?! Answer the damn question!"
Wang Shóu still didn't speak, as if weighing his options.
Xiong Jun's impatience grew thin and he stepped forward to take action. "I said... answer the question!"
Gu Yuena frowned and she was about to command Xiong Jun to stand down. However, a soft voice spoke first.
"Stop."