The First Soul Band
"Anos?" Celestia Ruth moved towards her son, her eyes narrowing with curiosity. "What occurred when you slew the panther?"
She stopped, her eyes fixed on the pale yellow light floating above the lifeless panther's form—a soul band.
Within Anos's mind, Zara's soothing robotic voice rang in.
[You have gained Iron Skin skill]
[Name: Iron Skin]
[Genre: Active
[Grade: Un
Description: Enables one to reinforce any part of their body or an item they come into contact with using the power of their Soul Energy. The more Soul Energy used, the harder they become.
"Hm. let's see," Anos muttered. He drew his katana, with a face serene but subtly excited.
While activating Iron Skin, a faint glimmer appeared on the blade, a dark gloss slithering over steel.
Flick
He tapped his finger on the weapon, and a muffled, metallic sound resonated.
"…It's tough," Anos stated with a small smile before looking over at his mother.
"Are you hurt anywhere?"
Celestia Ruth's voice was crisp, her eyes raking over every inch of her son's battered face.
"I'm fine. Just. a little confused." He sheathed his katana with a click. "That fight was easier than I expected."
"Too easy," Celestia thought, blinking slowly. "He's growing too fast… He's gotten accustomed to sparring with me. Of course, I should have known," she thought, her eyes narrowing in a quiet observation.
She let out a small sigh.
"Perhaps," she murmured softly, "we can find you a harder opponent?"
Anos smiled broadly. "Of course. That panther wasn't a challenge for me in any case."
He waved a hand, and the panther's body slipped into his 3rd dimension pocket.
The two of them pressed on into the Evil Mountain, with a thick canopy of trees blocking out the light above them.
"We have walked for an hour without saying a word," Anos growled after an hour of silence. "We have been walking all this time, and all I have seen are a few beasts a thousand years old when they are but ten years old."
Celestia chuckled at her son's impatience. "Do you know most soulmasters avoid strong beasts, Anos?"
"Mm. Because they're afraid," he sighed, with a harsh voice. "That's why soulmasters organize hunting parties—with a wide spread of danger."
He shook his head. "But not me,"
A small smile appeared on Celestia's lips. She touched his head with her hand. "No. You're not like them. And don't worry—we'll find you a true challenge."
"Good."
His eyes smoldered with a faint hunger, desire to unleash his Endless Hunger making him short of breath with anticipation.
Then, a blue screen with a blinking light appeared before his eyes.
[QUEST: First Soul Band]
[Objective: Absorb a 1000-year-old soul band]
[Reward: Random Skill ×1]
"Anos smirked.
They walked on until the trees gave way to a lake. The water sparkled crystalline bright, lying unnervingly calm on its surface.
"Celestia stopped. 'There's something in the water. Close. and strong.'"
The surface rippled. A transparent, gelatinous mass swelled up, sloshing towards the shore like a living wave.
"A water spirit…" Celestia murmured
'…A slime?' Anos's eyebrow flicked. The glob stood six feet high, with a circular body moving in an unnerving fluid motion.
[Name: Water Spirit (Slime
[Age: 1,111 years
[Special Abilities: Body Morphing, Fluidity
Anos' eyes sparkled with excitement. "Body Morphing. Now this is ideal for my white napkins martial spirit," he observed
"Mother. can I take this one?" He asked with a quiet intensity. "This water spirit is just what I need," he added.
Celestia cocked her head to one side, observing this monster. "…It's over a thousand years old. Most soul masters wouldn't dare face this as a first kill."
A small smile curved her lips. "But you're not most soulmasters. Go."
Anos nodded, his face hardening. "Closely watch this. I will surprise you
He stepped into thin air—ghost step—and reappeared before the slime.
"Abyssal Blossom Tempest Sword Art—Third Form: Scattering Thunder Pet
His sword flashed, slicing in quick succession, leaving a storm of afterimages in its path on the slime's body.
""Slap!
The blows rebounded harmlessly, creating ripples in its gelatinous flesh.
"…Bouncy," Anos muttered with a scowl
He sheathed his sword. "Alright. Let's go on."
His left arm starts to illuminate with a golden, scale dragon arm with lightning raging through it—the power of the Golden Good Dragon.
He punched.
Boom!
Golden lightning flashed through the slime, a shockwave rippling inside its water-filled flesh.
"Not enough," he muttered. His voice lowered. His muscles bulged with Gold Body technique—60%.
Another strike.
*BO
The slime went into convulsions, with its body quivering before expanding in size.
"Tch. so it's adapting," His red eyes narrowed. They twisted, spiraling into a formation of three black dots for his Imitation Spiral Eyes.
".There," His eyes focused on a white crystal embedded in the shifting mass of slime.
Endless Hunger stirred.
The hunger grew fiercer, and his power doubled.
"Gold Body—80%."
He smiled, took a quick breath. "Rock Punch: Mountain
His dragon fist descends like a mountain.
CRACK! BO
The core of the slime was broken, and it started collapsing.
Celestia's eyes widened slightly. "His strength. I underrated him." A momentary warmth flickered over her face. "But he still lacks polishing."
Anos offered a clawed hand. "It's over," he
He plunged into the core, destroying it utterly. The slime dripped into a puddle, leaving a purple soul band floating on top.
Endless Hunger activated.
[You have gained a fragment of Water Spirit's spiritual energy]
[You have gained a fragment of Water Spirit's Soul Energy]
[You have acquired Skill: Body Morphing]
".No Fluidity?" Anos narrowed his eyebrows
"Good work," Celestia whispered, moving to stand beside him.
Anos nodded in response. "I'll assimilate this soul band now,"
Celestia's eyes softened. "…No one has ever successfully taken a thousand-year-old soul band as their first, Anos. But you're not anyone else."
She touched her hand to his shoulder. "I'll protect you if anything goes wrong," she said.
Anos sat cross-legged and called forth the martial spirit of his white napkins. The fabric hovered before him, fluttering gently in mid-air.
Endless Hunger activated.
"Wh
The napkin pulsed with a deep crimson light, striking out at and consuming the purple soul band.
"…Huh?"
The soul band was gone.
"W-What just happened?!" Celestia gasped, her face
Anos gazed up at her with a awkward smile. "…Mother. Look, it appears. I have already absorbed it."
The white napkin remained in the palm of his hand, with a faint purple ring suspended around it.
"EHHH?!" Celestia's jaw went slack, her poised exterior cracking. "