Ch. 7: Twin Martial Soul
"Let me help you with your martial soul awakening."
Lin Yue said, leading Lu Sheng inside, where the typical 6 stone array used for martial soul awakening was placed.
Lu Sheng took a deep breath, trying to calm his mind.
Although he knew what kind of martial soul he would awaken, he really couldn't help but be excited thinking of having some kind of superpowers himself.
Looking at her son trying to control his twitching smile and his rapid breathing, Lin Yue couldn't help but laugh.
"What's this? Are you finally getting nervous now?" Her teasing voice sounded in his ears.
Making his wandering thoughts return at present.
"Wha-what nervous? I am just thinking about today's dinner."
He said, letting out a big breath.
"Alright, whatever you say."
Lin Yue said, "Go stand in the middle of the array."
Lu Sheng stood there, but his thoughts couldn't help but wander again.
He once again opened the status and looked at the martial soul details.
[Floating Snake]
- Top-grade martial soul
- Unawakened Rayquaza, existing as a storm attribute snake with an innate domain, each spirit ring, if selected properly (Dragon type), will lead to the complete Rayquaza form by the 9th ring.
- Subsequent soul abilities will be Pokémon moves exclusive to or strongest for the Pokémon.
[Purple Stone]
- Top Grade martial soul
- Unawakened Deoxys in the form of the central core, if all soul ring selected properly (neutral bloodline/element, slight spiritual, humanoid), it is possible to become complete form Deoxys by the 9th ring.
- Subsequent soul abilities will be Pokémon moves exclusive to or strongest for the Pokémon.
Yes, it was the last line.
It was the thing that kept clicking on to him.
It had said what needed to be said.
With a trace of Rayquaza, it can become true Rayquaza, but can't go beyond that.
There will be no mega Rayquaza, only base Rayquaza with 9 dragon-type moves, where there is some probability for it to be skills like Dragon Pulse, Dragon Dance, and Extreme Speed.
Even abilities like pressure and delta stream can be obtained in the form of a domain, which is a question.
Though he knew that he didn't wish for special martial souls, rule-breaking abilities, but only getting 9 + 9 =18 Pokémon moves as spirit abilities, where others can get mechanics like Rinnegan's six abilities, Jujutsu Kaisen's domain expansion, etc., made him feel bitter inside.
As someone had said, comparison is the thief of joy.
As long as you compare yourself to others, you can't be truly happy.
But who told him to have dreams and ambitions as well?
After all, no one likes a fantasy and overpowered trope if they do not themselves yearn to be overpowered as well in their own imagination.
And who wouldn't want to be overpowered enough to sweep apart all obstacles, in case they can be?
Let alone Lu Sheng, a 6-year-old kid with memories of his 20-year-old counterpart/last life in another world.
Sometimes this yearning also gives birth to the recklessness of the human heart.
'There is a chance that the mutation will go wrong; twin martial soul could as well cause a combination reaction, becoming a single martial soul with no evolution potential, even falling in rank.'
He thought, but he didn't stop looking through the inventory for certain objects he had obtained since martial souls' awakening.
'But, I still want to do it, let me trust my luck once more.'
Looking at 20 objects lying in his inventory, he thought, 'Let's do it.'
...
Just then, he felt a tap on his forehead. "What are you doing? Go stand in the middle of the array, will you?" Lin Yue said wryly, looking at her son's furrowed brows.
"Ah, nothing." Lu Sheng said, standing in the middle of the formation as he put his hands in his pockets.
Taking out 20 glowing, berry-shaped orbs and put them in his mouth.
His mother watched that all but didn't say anything.
After all, it is one of the rare occasions when he acts silly like a child...
Let him have his episode.
"Don't be afraid." She said, inputting soul power in the formation.
Light flared.
The air shimmered as soul power pulsed through the awakening array.
Lines of faint blue light crawled along the stone floor, wrapping around Lu Sheng like veins of energy seeking a path.
His body trembled, not from fear, half from excitement and half from the instinctive shock of spirit energy flooding into him.
His small frame was nearly swallowed by the energy spiraling around him.
For a brief moment, everything was silent, no sound but the low hum of the formation.
Though surprised by the unusual reaction, Lin Yue didn't find it strange.
After all, she knew her own son was somewhat special, being different from others, what was to be expected, right?
Rather, she would find it strange if there was no commotion from what is to come.
"Now, bring your palm forward."
Lu Sheng blinked, letting out the breath he was holding.
'Now, let's see if the experiment was a success."
He thought, bringing his palm forward.
His eyes flicked to his hand, and then, in the next moment, an overwhelming aura erupted from him.
The hexagonal formation cracked, light pouring out like a flood.
Everyone's expression froze as the pressure of a divine-grade martial soul filled the surroundings.
Lu Sheng just stared down at his hand, still half in disbelief.
A hum, low and deep, vibrated through the air, followed by a golden radiance bursting from his palm.
A golden light surged upward, brilliant yet oppressive, coalescing into the shape of a humanoid figure floating above his palm.
Like a very lean, muscular humanoid figure wearing golden metallic full-body armor.
Its surface gleamed like molten metal, golden and bright, traced with streams of silver and deep black. Strange rune-like symbols flickered along its limbs, flowing in rhythm with its heartbeat.
The figure's limbs were sleek and flexible, but its torso carried a powerfully built frame; every line of its form radiated a silent, unbending dominance.
Lin Guowei and Zhao Meilin staggered backward a step, beads of sweat appearing on their forehead.
They had seen countless martial souls over the years, but none like this.
The figure's aura expanded violently, an invisible pressure erupting from its golden form.
The air thickened until ordinary Soul masters, outside the hall, had to stabilize their soul power to stand straight.
Some ordinary workers had even fallen to their knees, unable to stand at all.
That oppressive force came from the spirit itself—its innate ability.
Pressure.
It wasn't directed consciously.
It was instinctive, like the natural dominance of a predator, the kind that crushed weaker wills simply by existing.
Not spiritual pressure, not killing intent—something deeper. A will of domination.
Lin Yue's eyes widened slightly.
Even she could feel a twinge of resistance pressing against her soul.
"Innate ability… pressure field… A Domain?"
'So this is his martial soul...'
The boy's golden aura flared again before subsiding, disappearing as if it had never been there.
Only the lonely humanoid figure remained.
But then, something else stirred.
From his left hand, a shadow bloomed, dark, fluid, serpentine. The temperature around the array seemed to drop as a low, vibrating roar filled the hall.
A low roar tore through the air, shaking the stone floor.
Black light burst outward, spiraling into a massive serpent-shaped projection above Lu Sheng's head.
A 3-4 meter long dragon coiling around him.
Its jet-black scales gleamed like obsidian metal. Emerald Green runes coursed along its long body, connecting into patterns that seemed almost alive, like rivers of molten moonlight. Around its form, circular energy loops pulsed faintly, echoes of some higher evolution, the kind seen only in ancient records of divine-rank beasts.
The dragon's eyes opened—cold, intelligent, predatory.
The sky above the mansion darkened instantly.
Clouds churned out of nowhere. Wind howled through the open windows, rattling the pillars. A faint trace of lightning flickered behind the serpent's translucent form.
Zhao Meilin started in daze, looking at the second figure, which had now appeared.
"A… Dragon-type martial soul? And… that aura—this is a field! Again?"
For a brief instant, its head lowered toward the humanoid golden figure, the two spirits locking gazes. The pressure in the hall spiked again, fierce enough to crack the marble tiles beneath the formation.
"Twin martial souls!"
Looking at the chaos he had caused, Lu Sheng couldn't help but feel dazed, his lips curling upwards.
"This, it's even better than what I intended, isn't it?"