Darkness. Then, a faint, rhythmic thumping, like a distant drum. A soft, warm pressure enveloped him, and a gentle swaying motion lulled him. Xuan Yan's consciousness flickered, slowly returning from the abyss. He tried to open his eyes, but they felt heavy, glued shut. A strange, muffled sound escaped his lips, not the coherent words he intended, but a soft gurgle.
Gurgle?
Panic, a familiar companion, began to creep in. He tried to move his limbs, but they felt impossibly small, uncoordinated. His hands, when he finally managed to bring them into his blurry field of vision, were tiny, pudgy, and unmistakably… baby hands.
"No way," he thought, the realization hitting him like a spiritual hammer. "I'm a baby! Truck-kun really delivered!"
A soft, melodious voice cooed above him, followed by a gentle touch on his cheek. He instinctively turned towards the warmth, his tiny mouth opening slightly. A sweet, milky liquid filled his mouth, and he began to suckle, the instinct overriding his bewildered thoughts.
He was being breastfed.
The absurdity of the situation, coupled with the primal need for nourishment, left him speechless. As he fed, his senses slowly sharpened. He could hear the soft rustle of fabric, the faint scent of something floral, and the distinct, comforting warmth of a human body.
After a few minutes, the feeding stopped. He felt himself being gently lifted, and then a soft, warm cloth dabbed at his mouth. He blinked, his eyes slowly adjusting to the dim light. He saw a blurry face, a kind smile, and long, flowing hair. It was a woman, clearly his new mother.
He tried to speak, to ask questions, but only another gurgle came out. Frustration bubbled within him, but then a familiar Ding! resonated in his mind.
[Welcome, Host, to the Douluo Dalu Plane!]
[The 'Destruction King' System has been successfully integrated!]
[Initializing System… 1%... 10%... 50%... 99%... 100%!]
[System Initialization Complete!]
[Host: Xuan Yan]
[Age: 0]
[Race: Human (Currently)]
[Martial Spirit: Undetected (Requires Awakening)]
[Soul Power: Undetected (Requires Awakening)]
[Innate Skills: None (Requires Awakening)]
[Luck: 10/10]
[Charm: Error]
[Points: 0]
[Inventory: Empty]
[Note: All previous stats and items from 'Destruction King' fanfiction will be available upon Martial Spirit Awakening, as per your wish. The system will adapt to the current Douluo Dalu world's rules and integrate your fanfiction's abilities accordingly.]
Xuan Yan stared at the translucent blue panel floating before his eyes. It was real. All of it. The system, the reincarnation, the Douluo Dalu world. A wave of exhilaration washed over him, momentarily eclipsing the awkwardness of his infant state. He was truly here!
He tried to mentally interact with the system, to scroll down or access other menus, but nothing happened. It seemed his infant brain wasn't quite capable of complex mental commands yet. He sighed, a tiny, frustrated puff of air. This was going to be a long nine years until Martial Spirit Awakening.
Over the next few months, Xuan Yan slowly adapted to his new life. He learned to control his tiny limbs, to recognize his new parents, and to understand the basic sounds of their language. His new mother was a gentle, loving woman with a warm smile, and his father was a strong, quiet man who often hummed lullabies to him. They lived in a small, cozy house in what appeared to be a remote village, surrounded by lush forests.
He diligently observed his surroundings, trying to piece together his new identity and location within the vast Douluo Dalu world. There were no grand cities in sight, no bustling markets, just the quiet rhythm of rural life. He heard snippets of conversation about farming, hunting, and occasionally, about the Spirit Hall, which confirmed he was indeed in the right world.
One evening, as his father was carving a wooden toy for him, Xuan Yan heard him mention something about "Spirit Master" and "Soul Rings." His ears perked up. This was it! The core of the Douluo Dalu universe.
"Father, what is a Spirit Master?" he managed to gurgle, though it probably sounded like a string of nonsensical baby noises.
His father chuckled, ruffling his hair. "You'll understand when you're older, little one. It's a special power that some people have."
Xuan Yan internally rolled his eyes. 'I know, I wrote about it!' But he couldn't exactly explain that to his new parents. He had to play the part of a normal, curious child.
As the years passed, Xuan Yan grew. He learned to walk, then to run. His vocabulary expanded, and he began to ask more coherent questions about the world around him. His parents, simple villagers, were always patient and loving, though they didn't seem to possess any special powers themselves. This meant he wasn't born into a powerful Spirit Master clan, which was a slight deviation from his fanfiction where his character had a powerful background. But then again, his fanfiction was incomplete, so this was an opportunity for new plot developments.
He spent his days exploring the nearby forest, his keen senses, even without his innate skills, already sharper than those of other children his age. He noticed the subtle shifts in the wind, the rustle of leaves that indicated hidden creatures, and the unique scent of various plants. He often wondered if these were subconscious remnants of his 'Enhanced Sense' skill from his fanfiction.
He also started practicing basic movements, mimicking the martial arts forms he remembered from his previous life and from his fanfiction. He would stretch, punch, and kick, trying to build a foundation for his future powers. His parents would often watch him with amused smiles, thinking he was just playing.
By the time he was six, Xuan Yan was a remarkably agile and intelligent child. He had a thirst for knowledge, constantly pestering his parents and the village elders with questions about the world, its history, and especially, about Spirit Masters. He learned that the village was called Green Willow Village, a small, unremarkable settlement far from any major cities.
He also learned about the annual Martial Spirit Awakening ceremony. Every child, upon reaching the age of six, would undergo the ceremony to awaken their Martial Spirit and test their innate soul power. This was the moment he had been waiting for. This was when his true powers, the system, and all the abilities from "Destruction King" would finally unlock.
The day of the ceremony arrived. Xuan Yan, dressed in his best, albeit simple, clothes, walked with his parents towards the small, makeshift altar in the center of the village. Several other children, all around his age, stood with their families, a mixture of excitement and nervousness on their faces.
An elderly man, the village elder, stood before the altar. He was a kind-faced man with a long, white beard, and a calm aura. He was the one who would conduct the awakening ceremony.
"Children of Green Willow Village," the elder's voice resonated, "the time has come for your Martial Spirit Awakening. This is a sacred moment, a chance to discover the power that lies within you."
One by one, the children stepped forward. The elder would place his hand on their head, a faint glow emanating from his palm, and then a small, often mundane, object would appear beside the child. A hoe, a cooking pot, a small rock – these were the common Martial Spirits of the villagers, useful for their daily lives but lacking any combat potential. Most children had no innate soul power, or perhaps only a single, faint strand.
Xuan Yan watched, his heart pounding with anticipation. He knew his Martial Spirit wouldn't be a hoe. He knew his soul power wouldn't be zero. He was Xuan Yan, the protagonist of "Destruction King," and he was about to unleash something extraordinary.
Finally, it was his turn.
"Xuan Yan," the elder called, his voice gentle.
Xuan Yan stepped forward, a confident glint in his eyes. He stood before the elder, his small frame radiating an unusual sense of calm. The elder placed his hand on Xuan Yan's head, and a warm, tingling sensation spread through his body.
The world seemed to hold its breath.