On the vast Douluo Continent, hidden deep within an uncharted valley, silence reigned.
Above, drifting clouds shimmered in shifting hues, while below, countless colossal skeletons stood like ancient monuments. Their towering remains radiated an aura of boundless antiquity—solemn, majestic, and overwhelming. Though their flesh had long since vanished, the nobility and dominance they once commanded still lingered in the air, as though their spirits refused to fade.
Suddenly!
"Waaah… Waaah!"
The wail of a newborn pierced the silence.
From the heart of the valley, a brilliant beam of nine-colored light shot skyward, instantly shattering the calm. The heavens themselves seemed to tremble as endless clouds surged toward the radiance, forming a torrent of colors—red, yellow, green, cyan, blue, black, gold, and more all converging in harmony.
The skeletal remains, which had stood still for countless ages, suddenly stirred as though awakened. A chorus of deep, ancient dragon roars rumbled across the valley, echoing with the weight of eternity.
And then, from the valley's deepest abyss, a second nine-colored brilliance flared, equally dazzling, as if answering the first.
Time seemed to blur. No one knew how long had passed when.
Buzz!
The very fabric of space quivered. Above the valley, the sky cracked open into a gaping, pitch-black rift. A silver radiance spilled forth, and from within emerged a lone figure.
She stepped lightly into the void, clad in a long silver gown. A delicate veil hid her face, but her silver-white hair cascaded like a waterfall to her waist. Her very presence exuded otherworldly grace, as though she did not belong to the mortal realm.
Her violet eyes swept over the chaotic valley, then stilled when they caught sight of the nine-colored light. For a moment, shock flickered across her gaze.
She raised her slender hand—pale and flawless, like the finest jade and with a gentle motion, the nine-colored brilliance flowed into her palm.
There, nestled within, was an infant not yet a month old.
Her beautiful eyes quivered as she sensed the familiar yet overwhelming power within the child. Beneath her veil, her face paled slightly, emotions warring between disbelief and uncontrollable joy.
Her gaze shifted sharply toward the depths of the valley, where the second multicolored radiance still pulsed. The sight stirred an ache in her chest. Sadness welled in her eyes, quickly hardening into hatred.
Clutching the baby tightly to her chest, she vanished into the rift in an instant.
As the space sealed once more, the valley slowly returned to its ancient stillness, as though nothing had ever happened.
---
Far away, within the Heavenly Soul Empire, near the sprawling Great Star Dou Forest, lay a quiet, remote town.
It was no bustling city, merely a humble settlement of commoners. In the northwest corner, a cluster of modest homes stood side by side.
"Huff… huff…"
Heavy breaths broke the stillness of an alley.
A boy, no older than six, staggered into view. His small frame trembled beneath the weight of a massive iron cauldron perched on his back. To anyone else, even grown men, such a burden would have been impossible to lift—yet the child carried it, his steps steady, his eyes determined.
With every step, deep footprints were pressed into the packed earth.
"Bang!"
The boy finally reached a courtyard gate. Without hesitation, he kicked it open, the wooden door slamming against the wall with a resounding crash. He staggered inside and carefully lowered the cauldron onto the ground.
Thud!
The earth quivered beneath its weight.
"I'm exhausted…" the boy muttered, his cheeks flushed crimson as sweat streamed down his face.
The cauldron weighed well over a thousand pounds. Even with his unnatural strength, running several laps while carrying it had left him gasping for air.
"Better wash up before Uncle Tian and Aunt Bi arrive," he said softly, his voice carrying the weary stubbornness of someone far older than his years.
He waddled into the house on his short legs. Despite his fatigue, he quickly heated a kettle of water and drew a warm bath. Steam rose as he rinsed away the sweat, then doused himself with a basin of cold water, the chill instantly refreshing his spirit.
Clean and dressed in fresh clothes, he found a piece of fruit in the kitchen, nibbling at it as he leaned lazily against the doorway. His large, dark eyes gleamed with an unusual calm and wisdom that did not belong to a mere child.
"Six years… it's already been six years since I came to the Douluo Continent," he thought with a sigh.
Yes—he was no native of this world. He was a traveler, reborn in this strange land.
The Douluo Continent was unlike anything he had known before. Here, strength was everything. The strong stood above all, while the weak could only bow their heads and crawl at the mercy of others. Without power, one could not even dream of controlling their own destiny.
"And worst of all… this isn't even the first era of Douluo, but the second," he murmured, his expression dim.
The Douluo II Era was even more perilous than the first. Monstrous beasts prowled unchecked, and the mighty Divine Kings dictated the fates of all beings. Evil Spirit Masters lurked in the shadows, making survival even harder.
During the earlier age, at least, the chaos was simpler. Now, without status or powerful backing, rising to prominence was nearly impossible. For commoners, it was harder than ever to nurture hope.
"Uncle Tian will be here soon to take me for my Martial Soul awakening… but what if I don't even have one?"
His small hands tightened. Anxiety flickered across his young face.
Every soul on the continent, regardless of talent, was born with a Martial Soul. But could he, a traveler from another world, really awaken one?
Without it, how could he survive in a land where Martial Souls defined existence itself?
True, he possessed frightening physical strength since birth. Even so, raw strength alone was not enough. Power did not equal combat skill. Against even a slightly stronger Soul Master, he would crumble instantly.
Being strong… did not mean being invincible.
And so, though his heart longed to challenge fate, unease gnawed at him. For without a Martial Soul, all his strength was but an empty shell.
(End of Chapter One)