The sun had only just breached the horizon when the trio—Yu Xiaogang, Tang San, and Kazuki—reached the edge of the Star Dou Great Forest. A vast expanse of ancient trees, dense foliage, and unseen predators loomed ahead, whispering the promise of danger and opportunity.
At the perimeter, a small checkpoint manned by Spirit Hall patrols halted their approach. Guards in silver-trimmed armor stepped forward, spears in hand.
"Purpose of entry?"
Yu Xiaogang stepped forward, unfurling a stamped scroll. "Official clearance. I'm here to guide two students for their first soul ring."
The guards examined the documents, casting curious glances at Kazuki and Tang San. One lingered on Kazuki for a moment, sensing something… odd. But with everything in order, they stood aside.
"You have three days. Don't stray too deep unless you're prepared to die."
Kazuki's gaze flickered toward the treetops. "Duly noted."
As they ventured down the forest trail, Tang San stuck close to the "Master," who began lecturing about optimal soul beast selections for a first ring.
"For your Blue Silver Grass, a 400-year Datura Snake would be ideal," Yu Xiaogang advised. "It offers agility, toxin immunity, and synergies with your innate talent."
He turned to Kazuki. "For someone like you—whose martial soul does not manifest visibly—perhaps something like the Wind Feather Swallow. Agile, minimal conflict required."
Kazuki shook his head lightly. "No. I've already decided."
Yu Xiaogang narrowed his eyes. "Decided? On what data? Do you understand how dangerous the forest is? Soul beast selection isn't a game."
Tang San stepped in. "Kazuki, you should listen to the Master. He's guided spirit masters for decades."
Yu Xiaogang's stern look softened. "You see, Tang San understands. He's willing to be taught."
Kazuki's voice remained polite, but distant. "With all respect, I understand my martial soul better than anyone else. Your suggestion would reduce its potential."
Yu Xiaogang scowled ever so slightly, lips thinning. "Stubbornness gets people killed."
Kazuki inclined his head. "Then I'll be sure not to die."
The tension passed in silence, broken only by the crunch of leaves underfoot as they moved deeper. Eventually, a sharp sound cut through the underbrush—a roar, violent and close. A Steelback Boar tore through the trees, pursued by a swarm of Wind Hornets.
Yu Xiaogang grabbed Tang San. "Get down!"
Kazuki didn't hesitate. In the chaos, while the master focused on shielding Tang San, Kazuki stepped into the mist, his form fading into the brush like a shadow.
[System Sync: Active Tracking] [Target Locked: Mistvine Serpent – 990 Years (On Verge of 1000-Year Breakthrough)]
He followed the pulse in his mind to a hollow deep within the forest where the light barely filtered through the canopy. A blanket of fog clung to the ground, and the air was damp with unseen tension.
Then he saw it—the Mistvine Serpent.
Coiled around the trunk of a massive stone-rooted tree, the serpent stretched nearly five meters long, its pale green scales laced with silver markings. Vines grew from its body like limbs, twitching even in stillness.
[Warning: Camouflage Active – Mist Manipulation Detected] [Recommendation: Initiate combat with preemptive suppression]
Kazuki stepped forward.
"I see you," he whispered.
The serpent hissed violently, mist thickening in an instant. Vines lashed outward, seeking to trap and strangle—but Kazuki's eye shimmered, threads of spatial energy flickering.
[Skill Activated: Vector Displacement]
Function: Vector Displacement is a spatial manipulation martial soul skill that allows Kazuki to alter the trajectory and position of objects, attacks, or even his own body by "displacing" their movement vectors in real time. This skill bends space on a small scale around the target, effectively redirecting or dodging attacks by shifting their course without the target necessarily perceiving the change.
In a heartbeat, the vines twisted to the side, redirected. Kazuki moved like a ghost, stepping sideways as though folding space around him.
The serpent surged forward, fangs bared.
[Skill Activated: Temporal Delay Field – 2 seconds]
Function: This skill creates a localised time distortion around a target or area, effectively slowing or pausing time briefly within that field. In Kazuki's case, activating the Temporal Delay Field for 2 seconds means he momentarily freezes or severely slows down the Mistvine Serpent's movements and reactions, giving him a crucial window to strike or reposition.
The serpent froze mid-strike—only for a moment, but it was enough.
Kazuki's palm, now aglow with silver energy, pressed to the beast's side.
"Collapse."
[Martial Soul Technique: Law Fragment – Disruption Thread]
Type: Martial Soul Technique specialising in manipulating fundamental laws of space and energy.
Function: This technique allows Kazuki to generate a concentrated thread or beam of spatial energy that disrupts, slices, or interferes with the target's physical and energy integrity. Think of it as a razor-sharp filament made from condensed law fragments that can cut through defenses and destabilise an enemy's form or energy flow.
A jagged beam of silver light erupted, slicing into the serpent's flank. The creature shrieked and thrashed, fog breaking apart as the forest shook.
Kazuki's face remained emotionless as he ducked another vine and hurled a sharpened branch into the serpent's mouth. It spasmed, crashed into the ground, and went still.
[Mistvine Serpent killed – 990 Years] [Soul Ring Compatible: Absorption Ready]
Kazuki knelt beside the serpent's massive corpse, placing his hand on its cooling body. A misty green ring began to rise—but this was no ordinary absorption.
The serpent's age, teetering on a millennium, meant its spirit force was powerful and wild. Pain tore through Kazuki's body as the serpent's instinctual sensory manipulation and fog-weaving control flooded his nervous system like a violent storm.
But this time, something deeper stirred.
[Dormant Martial Soul Awakening – Partial Sync]
Kazuki's second martial soul—still unknown and sealed deep within—reached out subtly, weaving its own genetic resonance into the absorption process. Its latent energy stabilized the overwhelming power surging through him.
He gritted his teeth, muscles trembling, veins glowing with silver and faint emerald light as the battle of spirits raged inside him.
When the process finally ended, he rose slowly, steam lifting from his skin, his silver eye now pulsing with a soft green and faint emerald gleam.
[Soul Skill Gained: Verdant Veil Ensare]
Effect: Kazuki can summon a swirling, dense veil of mist intertwined with thorny vines that rapidly spreads within a 10-meter radius. Enemies caught inside are not only blinded and disoriented by the thick mist but are physically restrained by the binding vines.
Duration: Up to 10 seconds
Effect: Targets are immobilized and suffer continuous minor damage from the piercing vines while inside the veil.
Disorientation: Vision is heavily obscured, and sound is muffled, impairing coordination and reaction speed.
Cooldown: 15 seconds
Additional: If Kazuki uses this skill combined with his spatial and temporal law techniques, he can reposition freely inside or around the veil, making it an excellent setup for ambushes or retreats.
A soft smile touched his lips.
This was the first step.
Now, with true battlefield control in his grasp, Kazuki turned toward the path back through the trees. Tang San and the others would be looking for him—but he had no desire to explain how he'd just rewritten his future.
Not yet.
Let them believe he's following behind.
Let them believe they lead.
Soon, they'd see who truly controlled the board.Chapter 5: The Serpent in the Mist
The sun had only just breached the horizon when the trio—Yu Xiaogang, Tang San, and Kazuki—reached the edge of the Star Dou Great Forest. A vast expanse of ancient trees, dense foliage, and unseen predators loomed ahead, whispering the promise of danger and opportunity.
At the perimeter, a small checkpoint manned by Spirit Hall patrols halted their approach. Guards in silver-trimmed armor stepped forward, spears in hand.
"Purpose of entry?"
Yu Xiaogang stepped forward, unfurling a stamped scroll. "Official clearance. I'm here to guide two students for their first soul ring."
The guards examined the documents, casting curious glances at Kazuki and Tang San. One lingered on Kazuki for a moment, sensing something… odd. But with everything in order, they stood aside.
"You have three days. Don't stray too deep unless you're prepared to die."
Kazuki's gaze flickered toward the treetops. "Duly noted."
As they ventured down the forest trail, Tang San stuck close to the "Master," who began lecturing about optimal soul beast selections for a first ring.
"For your Blue Silver Grass, a 400-year Datura Snake would be ideal," Yu Xiaogang advised. "It offers agility, toxin immunity, and synergies with your innate talent."
He turned to Kazuki. "For someone like you—whose martial soul does not manifest visibly—perhaps something like the Wind Feather Swallow. Agile, minimal conflict required."
Kazuki shook his head lightly. "No. I've already decided."
Yu Xiaogang narrowed his eyes. "Decided? On what data? Do you understand how dangerous the forest is? Soul beast selection isn't a game."
Tang San stepped in. "Kazuki, you should listen to the Master. He's guided spirit masters for decades."
Yu Xiaogang's stern look softened. "You see, Tang San understands. He's willing to be taught."
Kazuki's voice remained polite, but distant. "With all respect, I understand my martial soul better than anyone else. Your suggestion would reduce its potential."
Yu Xiaogang scowled ever so slightly, lips thinning. "Stubbornness gets people killed."
Kazuki inclined his head. "Then I'll be sure not to die."
The tension passed in silence, broken only by the crunch of leaves underfoot as they moved deeper. Eventually, a sharp sound cut through the underbrush—a roar, violent and close. A Steelback Boar tore through the trees, pursued by a swarm of Wind Hornets.
Yu Xiaogang grabbed Tang San. "Get down!"
Kazuki didn't hesitate. In the chaos, while the master focused on shielding Tang San, Kazuki stepped into the mist, his form fading into the brush like a shadow.
[System Sync: Active Tracking] [Target Locked: Mistvine Serpent – 990 Years (On Verge of 1000-Year Breakthrough)]
He followed the pulse in his mind to a hollow deep within the forest where the light barely filtered through the canopy. A blanket of fog clung to the ground, and the air was damp with unseen tension.
Then he saw it—the Mistvine Serpent.
Coiled around the trunk of a massive stone-rooted tree, the serpent stretched nearly five meters long, its pale green scales laced with silver markings. Vines grew from its body like limbs, twitching even in stillness.
[Warning: Camouflage Active – Mist Manipulation Detected] [Recommendation: Initiate combat with preemptive suppression]
Kazuki stepped forward.
"I see you," he whispered.
The serpent hissed violently, mist thickening in an instant. Vines lashed outward, seeking to trap and strangle—but Kazuki's eye shimmered, threads of spatial energy flickering.
[Skill Activated: Vector Displacement]
Function: Vector Displacement is a spatial manipulation martial soul skill that allows Kazuki to alter the trajectory and position of objects, attacks, or even his own body by "displacing" their movement vectors in real time. This skill bends space on a small scale around the target, effectively redirecting or dodging attacks by shifting their course without the target necessarily perceiving the change.
In a heartbeat, the vines twisted to the side, redirected. Kazuki moved like a ghost, stepping sideways as though folding space around him.
The serpent surged forward, fangs bared.
[Skill Activated: Temporal Delay Field – 2 seconds]
Function: This skill creates a localised time distortion around a target or area, effectively slowing or pausing time briefly within that field. In Kazuki's case, activating the Temporal Delay Field for 2 seconds means he momentarily freezes or severely slows down the Mistvine Serpent's movements and reactions, giving him a crucial window to strike or reposition.
The serpent froze mid-strike—only for a moment, but it was enough.
Kazuki's palm, now aglow with silver energy, pressed to the beast's side.
"Collapse."
[Martial Soul Technique: Law Fragment – Disruption Thread]
Type: Martial Soul Technique specialising in manipulating fundamental laws of space and energy.
Function: This technique allows Kazuki to generate a concentrated thread or beam of spatial energy that disrupts, slices, or interferes with the target's physical and energy integrity. Think of it as a razor-sharp filament made from condensed law fragments that can cut through defenses and destabilise an enemy's form or energy flow.
A jagged beam of silver light erupted, slicing into the serpent's flank. The creature shrieked and thrashed, fog breaking apart as the forest shook.
Kazuki's face remained emotionless as he ducked another vine and hurled a sharpened branch into the serpent's mouth. It spasmed, crashed into the ground, and went still.
[Mistvine Serpent killed – 990 Years] [Soul Ring Compatible: Absorption Ready]
Kazuki knelt beside the serpent's massive corpse, placing his hand on its cooling body. A misty green ring began to rise—but this was no ordinary absorption.
The serpent's age, teetering on a millennium, meant its spirit force was powerful and wild. Pain tore through Kazuki's body as the serpent's instinctual sensory manipulation and fog-weaving control flooded his nervous system like a violent storm.
But this time, something deeper stirred.
[Dormant Martial Soul Awakening – Partial Sync]
Kazuki's second martial soul—still unknown and sealed deep within—reached out subtly, weaving its own genetic resonance into the absorption process. Its latent energy stabilized the overwhelming power surging through him.
He gritted his teeth, muscles trembling, veins glowing with silver and faint emerald light as the battle of spirits raged inside him.
When the process finally ended, he rose slowly, steam lifting from his skin, his silver eye now pulsing with a soft green and faint emerald gleam.
[Soul Skill Gained: Verdant Veil Ensare]
Effect: Kazuki can summon a swirling, dense veil of mist intertwined with thorny vines that rapidly spreads within a 10-meter radius. Enemies caught inside are not only blinded and disoriented by the thick mist but are physically restrained by the binding vines.
Duration: Up to 10 seconds
Effect: Targets are immobilized and suffer continuous minor damage from the piercing vines while inside the veil.
Disorientation: Vision is heavily obscured, and sound is muffled, impairing coordination and reaction speed.
Cooldown: 15 seconds
Additional: If Kazuki uses this skill combined with his spatial and temporal law techniques, he can reposition freely inside or around the veil, making it an excellent setup for ambushes or retreats.
A soft smile touched his lips.
This was the first step.
Now, with true battlefield control in his grasp, Kazuki turned toward the path back through the trees. Tang San and the others would be looking for him—but he had no desire to explain how he'd just rewritten his future.
Not yet.
Let them believe he's following behind.
Let them believe they lead.
Soon, they'd see who truly controlled the board.
————————————————————
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