The primeval forest pulsed with danger, its towering trees casting long shadows over the chaotic battlefield. Zhu Hao, the golden-furred pig bear, stood at the center of a deadly encirclement, his round body radiating defiance.
Moments ago, he had crushed a Three-tailed Rooster, its defeat fueling his Light of the Pig God system with a hefty boost: Energy +3, Experience +3, Divine Ability: Black Chicken Beak.
His big, sparkling eyes gleamed with triumph. "Lord Pig's hitting the jackpot!" he crowed, reveling in his newfound power.
But his celebration was cut short. Rustling leaves and heavy footsteps heralded the arrival of seven burly soul hunters, their eyes glinting with greed as they formed an inverted triangle around him. Zhu Hao's ears twitched, his heart racing. "Trouble's here," he muttered, sizing up his new foes.
The leader, a bald man with muscles bulging under his tight clothes, stepped forward, his gaze locked on Zhu Hao and the fallen rooster.
"This Three-tailed Rooster's got about 80 years of cultivation," he said, his voice gravelly. "But this pig-like mutated bear? It's likely a 100-year soul beast. Perfect for Old Seven's Overlord Spear!"
The scar-faced second-in-command nodded eagerly. "Even if it's not quite 100 years, it'll make a fine first soul ring for Old Seven!"
Zhu Hao's eyes widened. "100-year soul beast? Overlord Spear? Soul ring?" His mind raced, piecing together the puzzle. "Wait a minute—this is Douluo Continent! I'm in Douluo Dalu, and these guys are soul hunters after my soul ring!"
In this world, Soul Masters cultivated by slaying soul beasts to absorb their soul rings, which granted new abilities every ten levels.
Soul beasts ranged from 10-year to 100,000-year tiers, their soul rings marked by colors: white, yellow, purple, black, and red. Zhu Hao, barely a foot tall and looking like a plush toy, was now a prime target.
"Big Brother can talk!" Zhu Hao blurted, unable to resist a cheeky jab. The hunters froze, their faces paling as they staggered back. A soul beast that could speak? That was a hallmark of a ten thousand year soul beast—far beyond their low-rank team's capabilities.
The bald leader, suppressing his fear, barked, "Don't panic! Does this thing look like a ten thousand year beast? It's just a cub, probably an ancient mutant with a knack for talking. This is our chance!" His voice turned sly. "Capture it alive, and we'll sell it for a fortune. We'll be set for life!"
The scar-faced man chimed in, "He's right! It's just a cub—stronger than the rooster, sure, but we can handle it. Stay united!"
The team rallied, their fear replaced by greed. The bald man barked orders: "Seventh Brother, step back. Maintain formation. We take it alive!"
A surge of soul power erupted as the hunters activated their martial souls. The bald man's body swelled, his muscles rippling as a black panther materialized behind him. Two soul rings—one white, one yellow—rose from his feet, exuding a wave of pressure.
The scar-faced man summoned a white raccoon, also with two soul rings. The other four hunters had one soul ring each: Third Brother's yellow ring powered an iron chain martial soul; Fourth Brother wielded a large knife; Fifth Brother's was a… steamed bun?
Sixth Brother notched an arrow on a longbow martial soul. The seventh, unarmed, was likely a Soul Scholar, here to claim his first soul ring.
Zhu Hao's mind raced, recalling Douluo's rules. "Two Soul Grandmasters, four Soul Masters, and one Soul Scholar," he calculated. "Not great odds, but Lord Pig's no pushover!"
He focused on the Light of the Pig God and used his newfound energy and experience to unlock his divine abilities: Boundless Strength, Spider Web, and Twin Scythes.
Light of the Pig God
Name: Zhu Hao
Race: Little Pig Bear
Level: 1 (Energy 0/10, Experience 0/10)
Energy: 0.1053
Experience: 0.1021
Divine Abilities: Boundless Strength, Spider Web, Twin Scythes (Energy 0/10, Experience 0/10)
Backpack: Black Chicken Beak (Energy 0/1, Experience 0/1)
A surge of power coursed through him. Boundless Strength amplified his attributes tenfold—strength, speed, defense, everything. Spider Web let him cast venomous webs, their potency tied to his energy.
Twin Scythes transformed his claws into razor-sharp blades. "Time to show these hunters who's boss!" Zhu Hao growled, his golden fur bristling.
"Attack!" the bald man roared, charging with the scar-faced man. Their martial souls—panther and raccoon—made them lightning-fast. Third Brother's iron chain shot toward Zhu Hao like a venomous snake, while Sixth Brother's soul-powered arrow tracked him from afar.
"Come at me!" Zhu Hao bellowed, activating Boundless Strength. His body grew three feet taller, his golden fur standing on end like a fierce beast. His aura matched the bald man's, a Soul Grandmaster, and the forest seemed to tremble with his newfound might.
Boom! Zhu Hao's bear claws met the bald man's panther claws and the scar-faced man's raccoon swipe. The collision sent shockwaves through the clearing, forcing both sides back.
"So strong!" Zhu Hao grunted, feeling the impact in his paws. But the hunters were equally shocked—and excited. "He's not a ten thousand year beast!" the bald man shouted. "We can take him!"
Third Brother's chain lashed out again, aiming to bind Zhu Hao. Bang! Zhu Hao rolled, dodging with agility that belied his round form, then swatted the chain away with two quick strikes.
The hunters tightened their formation, forming a triangle with Zhu Hao at the center. "Let's see where you run now!" the bald man sneered, closing in.
Zhu Hao darted left and right, a golden blur slipping through the chain's grasp. But the encirclement shrank, and the hunters' coordination was relentless.
The bald man and scar-faced man flanked him, their attacks growing fiercer, while Third Brother's chain struck with precision. Clang! The chain finally snagged Zhu Hao's thigh, locking tight.
"Got him!" the bald man laughed, lunging with his panther claws. The team relaxed, victory within reach. Even if Zhu Hao broke free, he couldn't dodge the next strike.
But Zhu Hao's eyes glinted with mischief. "Think you've caught Lord Pig? Think again!" He'd been waiting for this moment. With a sly grin, he activated Spider Web.
A glowing, venomous web shot from his paws, aimed not at the bald man but at the chain binding him. Sizzle! The web corroded the chain, weakening its grip. Zhu Hao yanked free, rolling backward just as the bald man's claws swiped through empty air.
"Not bad, huh?" Zhu Hao taunted, bouncing to his feet. He activated Twin Scythes, his claws morphing into gleaming blades. "Let's dance!" He charged, aiming for the scar-faced man, who barely blocked with his raccoon claws. Clang! Sparks flew as Zhu Hao's scythes slashed, forcing the hunter back.
The bald man roared, rallying his team. "Tighten the formation! Don't let him escape!" Sixth Brother's arrow whizzed toward Zhu Hao, but he ducked, using a tree for cover.
Fifth Brother tossed a steamed bun to the bald man, restoring his soul power. "A bun? Really?" Zhu Hao snorted, amused despite the danger.
The battle intensified, Zhu Hao weaving through attacks with uncanny speed. But the hunters were relentless, their experience as a team giving them the edge.
Another chain strike grazed his side, and the bald man's panther claws nicked his fur. Zhu Hao gritted his teeth. "This isn't over yet!"
He had one more trick up his sleeve. The Black Chicken Beak in his backpack called to him, but he needed more energy to unlock it. For now, he'd rely on his wits and divine abilities to turn the tide.
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Can Zhu Hao outsmart the soul hunters and break their encirclement? Or will Lord Pig become their prize?