Kazui took his first step into the lush forest, his sandals crunching against the glowing grass.
The air here was rich with spiritual energy, different from Reishi in Soul Society, wilder and less refined.
It prickled against his skin like static, but it felt invigorating.
He pulled out a small compass-like device, another of Mayuri's creations, and watched as the needle spun before settling on a direction.
"Nearest city that way, huh?" he muttered. "Guess I'll start there."
He tightened the straps of his cloak and began walking, careful not to release too much spiritual pressure.
His father's words echoed in his mind — do not interfere.
But to Kazui, looking around at the strange flowers glowing in twilight, the creatures watching him from the treetops, it was hard to imagine that just walking and observing counted as interference.
He heard a rustling behind him.
Without hesitation, Kazui turned, fingers brushing the hilt of his Zanpakuto.
A shadow leapt from the bushes — a beast, wolf-like, with bone plates covering its body and a single horn protruding from its forehead. Its eyes glowed with spirit energy.
"A Spirit Beast?" Kazui said, narrowing his eyes.
It lunged. Kazui sidestepped, drawing his blade halfway before deciding against cutting it down.
Instead, he raised two fingers and muttered, "Bakudo #4: Hainawa."
A rope of yellow energy shot out, binding the beast midair and slamming it into a tree.
"Sorry," Kazui said, walking up to it. "I just need to check something."
He placed his free hand on the beast, feeling its spiritual signature. It was strong — maybe equivalent to a Soul Elder if he compared it to the guidebook.
The beast snarled, thrashing against the rope, but Kazui simply released the kido and watched it run off.
"Guess that means I need to be careful at night," he muttered.
High above in the treetops, a pair of blue eyes watched him.
Bambietta crouched silently, arms crossed, observing the boy.
"Tch. He's treating this like a picnic," she whispered to herself. "Better keep him out of trouble before he blows his cover."
Kazui kept walking, unaware he was being followed, and soon the trees parted to reveal a dirt road.
A group of travelers approached, riding horse-like creatures with gleaming silver fur. Kazui quickly suppressed his reiatsu even further and pulled up his hood.
The group noticed him and slowed.
"Hey, kid," the man at the front said. He wore leather armor and carried a spear. "You lost? Sun's about to set, and this forest isn't safe at night."
Kazui hesitated, then smiled politely. "I'm traveling to the nearest city."
The man looked him over, skeptical but not hostile. "You alone?"
Kazui nodded.
"Huh. Brave little guy. Alright, we're heading to Suotuo City. You can tag along if you want."
Suotuo City? Isn't that the place where Rongrong said she was going?
Ning Rongrong, Kazui's childhood friend. She is the heiress to one of the top powers of the continent, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, which his father have some contact with.
When his father meet up with the sect master of the Seven Treasure Sect years ago, Kazui had met Rongrong then and the two became friends.
And just a few months ago, Rongrong came to visit him and said that she wanted to sneak out of the her family territory to explore the world.
It was actually in that moment that Kazui decided to explore the Douluo Continent.
Kazui's eyes brightened. "Thanks!"
As he climbed onto the back of one of the mounts, Bambietta sighed in relief from her hidden perch.
"Good. At least he's with people now," she murmured. "Still... Suotuo? If I remember correctly, it's part of a kingdom under Heaven Dou Empire."
She followed them from a distance, her own reiatsu perfectly hidden.
Kazui, meanwhile, grinned to himself.
This was it. The start of his first real adventure.
*
*
*
On the way, Kazui observed the mounts, his eyes bright with curiosity.
The group numbered five in total, each carrying weapons and from their spirit energy, Kazui can feel that they are around level 30 to 40.
They were rough-looking, scarred from years of fighting, yet they spoke with the easy tone of comrades used to trusting their lives to one another.
The leader, Jin Yu, rode at the front. He was a tall man with bronze skin, sharp eyes, and the calm confidence of a veteran.
From his spirit energy, Kazui can feel that his strength is around level 43 Spirit Ancestor.
"So, kid," Jin Yu asked, glancing at Kazui. "You said your name was Kurosaki Kazui, right? From the far east?"
Kazui nodded, keeping his tone light. "Yeah. Just a small village, nothing special. I came out to see the world."
The mercenaries chuckled. One of them, a stocky man carrying a heavy axe, grinned. "Brave for your age. Most kids your size don't dare step foot in Star Dou Forest unless they're spirit masters under a teacher's wing. And those who dared mostly ended up as food for the spirit beasts."
Kazui just smiled. "Guess I was lucky then."
He then tilted his head and asked, "So what are you guys doing in the forest?"
Jin Yu adjusted the spear on his back. "We're mercenaries. Basically hired blades. This time we went in to hunt a certain spirit beast for its blood. Can sell it for a good price."
"Spirit beast blood?" Kazui repeated, frowning. "What's it used for?"
The leader glanced back at him, surprised he didn't know. "You don't know? Your village must be quite secluded. A few years ago, Spirit Hall spread a method across the continent. If you soak in a certain spirit beast blood mixed with certain herbs, it strengthens your body. Makes you tougher, faster, and helps spirit masters absorb rings more smoothly. Everyone's after it now, so the demand's high."
The mercenaries behind him nodded in agreement.
"By the way, that Spirit Beast is called Swamp Locusts, they are a pests that cannot live older than a hundred years but breeds like crazy, and would devastate crops whenever they appear, always causing a massive food shortage. Before Spirit Hall releases this method, they are considered more useless than a Blue Silver Grass."
Kazui tapped his chin thoughtfully. Spirit Hall… he remembered that name.
His father had spoken of them once.
Ichigo Kurosaki had helped their Supreme Pontiff with something important, forging an alliance between Soul Society and the Hall.
The details were fuzzy—Kazui had been too young to pay attention—but the name stuck.
Also, he remembered playing with the the heiress of the Spirit Hall, and how the Supreme Pontiff would always ask him to call her mom.
"I see…" he said quietly. "That's quite dangerous."
He then went silent, thinking.
The mercenaries mistook his silence for awe. The woman among them, carrying twin daggers, laughed.
"Don't worry, kid. We'll sell this blood and split the pay. Enough for a few weeks' worth of food and drink. That's the mercenary life."
They continued chatting, Kazui asking small questions about their lives, their jobs, and the continent.
The mercenaries were amused by his curiosity, though they didn't pry too much into his origins.
By the time the sun dipped low, the forest thinned and the dirt road widened. In the distance, tall walls rose from the earth, lined with watchtowers.
The gates were crowded with travelers, traders, and soldiers.
Jin Yu raised his hand and pointed. "There it is. Suotuo City."
Kazui's eyes widened. Compared to the orderly streets of Soul Society, this place was chaotic and alive.
The shouts of merchants, the clatter of hooves, the scent of roasting meat from street stalls—it all hit him at once.
"This…" he whispered, excitement bubbling in his chest. "This is amazing."
This really feels like another world!
Compared to modern skyscrapers, he very much prefer this type of buildings!
The mercenaries grinned at his reaction, clearly entertained by the boy's wide-eyed wonder.
Kazui stepped through the gates alongside them, taking his first step into the living, breathing world of Douluo Continent.
*
*
*
Kazui waved goodbye to the mercenaries at the city gate.
"Thanks for letting me tag along," he said with a grin.
"No problem, kid," Jin Yu replied, slapping him lightly on the shoulder. "You've got guts. Stay out of trouble, though. Suotuo City isn't as safe as it looks."
Kazui nodded. "I'll keep that in mind."
He watched them leave before turning toward the bustling streets. The city was full of noise and color.
People hawked wares from wooden stalls. Spirit masters sparred in the plaza for coin and applause. Children ran through the streets laughing.
Kazui stopped at a food stall, pointing at a steaming skewer of roasted meat. "How much for this?"
"Two copper," the vendor said.
Kazui paid and took a bite. His eyes widened. "Mmm… this is really good!"
The vendor grinned. "First time in Suotuo, eh? You should try the sweet buns next door. Best in the city."
Kazui nodded, already walking toward the next stall. He bought more snacks, a bottle of fruit juice, and a small trinket shaped like a phoenix.
The sounds, smells, and chaos of the city thrilled him.
By the time night had fallen to the city, he was already full and felt his legs aching. So he stopped by a blacksmith shop to ask for directions.
"Excuse me," Kazui said politely. "Do you know where I can find a decent inn?"
The blacksmith wiped sweat from his brow. "Two streets over, turn left. There's the Moonlit Inn. Good price, clean rooms. Not too noisy."
Kazui thanked him and followed the directions.
The inn was a modest two-story building with lanterns hanging at the entrance. Inside, it was warm and smelled faintly of tea.
"I'd like a room for the night," Kazui told the innkeeper, placing a few coins on the counter.
The man counted them, nodded, and handed him a key. "Second floor, third door to the right."
Kazui accepted it with a smile. "Thanks."
With that, he climbed to the second floor and searched for the third door before he unlocked his room and stepped inside.
Inside the room, the bed was plain but clean, the window slightly open, letting in the night air.
He placed his storage bracelet on the table and flopped onto the bed.
"What a day," he said to himself with a satisfied grin. "Tomorrow, I'll see what kind of Soul Masters this city has."
He wondered if Rongrong was already here? He completely forgot to give her a phone so they can communicate when he finally snuck out.