The Awakening Ceremony
After their little combat session, Anos and his mother returned to their wooden house. The smell of freshly cooked rice and roasted vegetables filled the air as they sat down across from one another at a simple wooden table.
The boy was quiet at first, chewing slowly, while Celestia ccasionally sneaked glances at him. Finally, she set her chopsticks down and asked, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly,
"So… are you excited to awaken your martial spirit?"
Anos lifted his gaze, his crimson eyes steady on hers. "Mm, I'm excited to awaken my martial spirit." He paused, voice softening as if something weighed on his chest. "But… I hope I awaken a good one, and not the waste ones."
Celestia expression shifted—just barely, but enough for Anos to notice. A faint frown tugged at her lips.
'Let's see how she reacts to those words,' he thought, deliberately baiting her with the phrase waste ones.
"Anos…" Celestia exhaled a quiet breath, her eyes sharpening like the edge of a blade. "Remember this well. There is no waste martial spirit—only waste soulmasters."
Her tone carried a deep heaviness, the shadow of something unpleasant buried in her past. For a moment, her eyes clouded, then her voice turned colder.
"So if a soulmaster is weak, it isn't because their martial spirit is trash…" She leaned forward, her hand curling into a fist. "It's because they themselves are trash."
The venom in her voice lingered in the air, and then… a strange relief crossed her face, as though spitting out a poison she'd long carried.
"Is that so…" Anos muttered, blinking slowly.
Inside, he smirked. Looks like her relationship with that man really is broken beyond repair. That answers one of my questions.
'Good. That situation works in my favor,' he added silently, his gaze wandering over her beautiful features.
He had never once asked her about his father directly. But based on what he knew… and on the men who had been close to her in the Soulspire World's history… the possibilities were limited.
Celestia suddenly reached into her space ring and placed a small wooden box on the table, pushing it gently toward him.
Anos tilted his head. "This box…?"
"Your birthday gift," Celestia said, her smile finally softening.
He carefully opened it—and froze. Inside were two rings, faint symbols glowing faintly on their bands.
"Essence tools…" he whispered.
"Space rings, to be precise," Celestia corrected, watching his reaction closely.
Anos' eyes widened slightly.
"One can store non-living objects," Celestia explained patiently, "while the other… can hold a living entity. But only for a few hours." Her tone carried a subtle pride, as if daring anyone to question her ability to procure such treasures.
'Space rings, huh… These things are practically extinct. The method to craft them is long lost,' Anos thought, turning them in his hand.
'But she is the High Priestess of Soul Haven. If anyone has access to such relics, it's her.'
A faint chime interrupted his thoughts.
[Detecting a space tool...]
[Do you want to bind the space tool with the No.777 System…?]
[Y/N]
Anos blinked at the translucent screen floating before him. System, what happens if I agree?
[The system will unlock a new function: 3rd Dimension Pocket.]
And the ring itself? Will it be destroyed?
[No. The ring will remain. The system will only bind to the pocket space inside.]
Anos smirked faintly. Good enough. I agree.
The ring pulsed with a faint white glow.
[Processing...]
[Scanning...]
[1%... 42%... 69%... 100%]
[Success.]
[The No.777 System has gained the 3rd Dimension Pocket function.]
Celestia tilted her head curiously. "Do you like it?"
Anos looked up at her and grinned. "Mm. Thanks, Mother. I love it." He leaned forward and hugged her.
Isabella froze for half a second, then her lips curved into a warm smile. She returned his embrace, holding him for longer than she'd intended. I'm glad… that he likes it.
They remained like that for several minutes, until she finally pulled away, brushing a stray lock of his hair from his forehead.
"Come," Isabella said softly, though her tone carried authority. "It's time. Let's begin your awakening ceremony."
---------------------------
The Awakening
They entered Celestia's room. The air here was cool, heavy with a faint fragrance of rare herbs. From her space ring, she drew out a crystal the color of deep ocean—pure and flawless.
"Close your eyes, Anos," Celestia instructed gently. She placed her hand on his head. "Breathe… and feel the flow of my soul power."
Warmth spread through his body, filling every vein, every muscle, every inch of his being.
"Warm…" Anos murmured, his body relaxing under the current of energy.
Before him, a soft white glow began to take shape. A plain white napkin floated gently in the air.
"…A napkin?" Celestia frowned, tilting her head in confusion.
But then—Crack!
A rush of dark energy surged through Anos. His right arm twisted, scales of pure black covering his skin as a claw erupted from his hand. Above it, black flames burned with a sinister heat.
"Demonic Evil Dragon…" Celestia whispered in shock.
But her words had barely left her lips before the air cracked again.
Anos' left arm ignited, covered in golden scales as arcs of lightning danced wildly around him.
"Golden Good Dragon?!" Celestia gasped, her composure breaking.
The room trembled under the conflicting auras—the oppressive darkness of black fire against the radiant crackle of golden thunder.
Celestia's eyes widened, her hand trembling. "…Triplet martial spirits."
Her mind reeled. In all the annals of Soulspire World, not once had anyone awakened three martial spirits. Not once.
'If Anos reaches the realm of a Titled Soulmaster… he will surpass every genius in history. He will become… untouchable.'
The No.777 System's voice rang in his ears.
[Congratulations, Host.]
[You have awakened…]
[1. White Napkin]
[2. Demonic Evil Dragon]
[3. Golden Good Dragon]
Celestia's voice was soft now, reverent almost. "Anos… open your eyes."
He did—and his crimson pupils glowed faintly, mirroring the storm within him.
"How do you feel?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly despite her attempt to appear calm.
"…Great," Anos said simply, a small grin playing on his lips. He had expected much, but not this. Not three martial spirits.
"Touch this," Celestia said, passing him the blue crystal.
The moment his hand touched it, blinding light filled the room.
"Full soul power…" Celestia whispered, her expression flickering between awe and disbelief.
Her son was no ordinary genius. He was something far beyond that.