The two quickly ran towards the bone, taking it with them. They tucked it away swiftly and decided it was time to disappear.
A chaotic mess started. Howls of the Raging Buffalos were heard across the whole virtual forest. Red eyes in them all. One of them crashed into another. Then that one crashed into another. All of the buffalos were turning and kicking, bloody madness in their eyes.
It was absolute anarchy among the soul beast. Headbutting, ramming from the side, stomping on one another. Where one looked, there were injuries, bruises, crippling and many times, death.
The battle for a new Raging Buffalo Duke has started and it was a complete free for all. Last one standing would rule over the others.
In between this chaos, they couldn't give less of a shit about two human children that just killed their previous leader. If anything, to a degree, they might even be thankful.
The process to 'elect' a new leader was bloody and long. A dangerous time for any species closeby, but also a danger for all the buffalos, as their minds were most vulnerable.
If another horde would attack them, the buffalos would take extremely long to fight back. They would most likely be wiped out en masse. On the other hand, if a small group noticed them? They wouldn't even fight back. They wouldn't care if this small group was powerful and could slaughter them, since they were physically small, they were insignificant in boffalos' eyes.
This is why there is always a leader in such a group. With a duke, king or an emperor, they can have stability. Otherwise, as a species that is extremely aggressive and not highly intelligent, they might destroy themselves.
Humans were capable of governing themselves to a degree, especially in small groups, as long as people knew one another, and cared for one another, there didn't need to be a leader for them to function. Such phenomena even existed in small towns with only a few hundred people, everyone knew each other.
But this had to be supported with intelligence. Something that soul beast would get only once they reach high thousands if they're a smart species or when they reach the ten thousand mark.
Despite Siduo's and Karni's injuries, they didn't have trouble escaping from the group with a hidden reward. The two reached Li Tai and Yu Tian who have already begun to freely slaughter all of the soul beasts.
"We'll fall back to heal up. You two enjoy."
"We will. Thanks." Li Tai and Yu Tian were incredibly happy right now. This really was a great chance!
They didn't want to tell them about the Soul Bone. They weren't close enough as friends. Who knows what kind of enmity this could cause? They continued for another 30 minutes before finally stopping. They recuperated in peace and quiet for a short while.
"You should have the Soul Bone." Karni began. "It really isn't suitable for me."
Siduo was a bit surprised. "Even if it isn't, it's still a Soul Bone you know? It will enhance you no matter what."
"I know, but if I'd have one on the head, I'd rather it be something spiritually inclined."
"Sheesh, being picky about Soul Bones of all things. If I didn't know you were reincarnated, I'd think you were mad. Do you think Soul Bones are that easy to come by? Especially in this day and age?"
Karni kind of chuckled. "Yeah. I know, but… Well I guess my views of worth are a bit skewed. Still though. You should have it. It would serve both of your martial souls well. You can probably use it in the self-fusion too."
Siduo gave him a hug. "Thanks."
She took the soul bone and sat in meditation. The soul bone really resembled the horns, with complicated spirals adorning it. It was also blood red in colour. Both of them had a solid guess about the soul skill it possessed.
After adjusting her mind, she dripped some blood onto the bone before connecting herself with it. The fusion process started.
The soul bone floated onto Siduo's head. An abundance of soul power was projected outwards by Siduo. At this moment, she almost looked like a demon that's a half-cat person.
Karni was on watch this whole time, but it looked like the chaos caused by the buffalos emptied the larger area of soul beasts. Whether that be for fear or to take advantage of everything.
After about 20 minutes, he heard a sigh from Siduo. A sigh of relief. She was finished. This particular bone wasn't too hard to fuse with, but when she opened her eyes, a flash of madness went through her for a second, before disappearing.
"Mm. It's that effect after all. The bloody thing that the duke used. Honestly the strengthening itself should compare to the avatar when it comes to muscle and regeneration amplification, but…"
"It have an effect on the mind?" Karni asked.
"Yes. It's like a berserk state. I'll likely end up like the buffalo duke as well after it. Completely exhausted. Though to get a true feeling I would have to test it out."
"Well? What are we waiting for then?"
The two rushed back to the buffalos. They saw that Li Tai and Yu Tian had gotten rid of about a fifth of them by now. They didn't want to intrude on their slaughter, so they circled around.
If Siduo had her Hell White Tiger available right now, she'd use it in combination with the soul bone to test things out, but since the fusion has a recharge time of about a day, she couldn't.
She summoned her Hell Cat. Finally, she can have a strength amplification on this martial soul as well. It should help her a ton, as the skills from one martial soul didn't transfer to the other once switched, at least she hadn't learned how to do it yet.
If the martial souls weren't both beast types, she could have multiple skills active, even when switching, but she couldn't do that.
The giant ramming horns appeared on her head, as she sped up into one of the hundred year buffalos head first. Her second and third soul ring shone as well.
She could feel that even while charging, her broken arm was healing back up, putting itself together in the right way, but she couldn't actually use both yet, so she only attacked with the single arm right now.
Karni looked in astonishment. Even on normal days, he couldn't beat her when her fusion was active, it was basically impossible for him. His abilities just weren't a good match against her fusion.
But looking at this, what did he see? A giant gaping hole from one side to another of the buffalo! She went through it! Soul Bones really were amazing!
She switched to her White Tiger. First and Third Soul rings lit up. The usually beautiful porcelain blue diamond layer was red while her body was the most ferocious it has ever been until now.
Her second soul ring shone; she sent her Crystal Light Wave with her good hand instead of her mouth. Usually the mouth was the purest form of the skill, but right now, her strength was amplified. She needed to see the difference.
Then another came from the other hand. In a matter of the first minute since she began, her arm was in working order again, though not completely healed yet.
The Crystal Light Wave seemed to have a tinge of red on it as well. It went straight into one of the buffalo's heads, the strongest part of the buffalos, thanks to the horns and cleanly split its head into two. It didn't go too deep, but the brain was destroyed.
The other wave went toward the legs of another buffalo, clearly cutting them off without any trouble.
Finally, she approached the side of another buffalo. Her hands had a lustre of icy blue as well. Another minute had passed and her hand was completely healed. The regeneration power of this Soul Bone truly was immense!
Mysterious Jade Hands were active for better grip. She clutched her claws in and clearly tore open the side of another buffalo. While she couldn't completely tear it apart, it was more than enough to immediately kill it.
Karni watched in a bit of amazement, was she always so cruel? Was this also a side effect of the soul bone? The madness was inherited too, however Siduo was at least mentally strong enough to not be consumed by it.
Sherushed back towards Karni. She tested everything she really wanted. Her Hell Cat was still stronger at the moment, due to her usage of the techniques, but the overall increase in everything was absolutely absurd.
She forcefully deactivated the ability and almost collapsed. Karni had to catch her. He looked at her eyes and they were unfocused. Her consciousness was barely there. She was trying to say something. "Out."
Her body, for this immense healing, truly went into overdrive. She couldn't feel it thanks to the effect, but once it was over, her body was in a truly sorry state, even if completely healthy. Despite that, her arm looked like it was never broken in the first place. A high risk, high reward ability.
Karni pulled them out of the Spirit Ascension Platform by pressing the exit button.
… … …
Karni went over to Siduo.
"Ugh. No wonder it's so powerful. I didn't even let it fully last, I still had about 2 minutes left, but I still barely kept my wits." Siduo breathed out.
Karni had to help her out of the capsule.
… … …
"What? The Soul Bone was absorbed by a Soul Master? … Fine. We'll send another one."
The man put down the phone and sighed. Three years ago they had two great pillars of the pagoda undergo a great loss of energy during the rebellion period. Star Luo City and Eastsea City. Now one of the culprits even managed to defeat the supposedly unbeatable.
This put worry in the man. Did this mean that the group in Eastsea City will challenge the Duskgold Dreadclaw Bear there as well? Hopefully not.
… … …
"Wu Siduo gained a Soul Bone? This… " The headmaster sighed. "These children really can't be kept here by the academy. Fine. You may go Teacher Ye."
Teacher Ye nodded and left. She reported this as soon as the headmaster got them back to the academy. Now there was one person she still had to inform, but she was thinking if she should keep it a surprise.
A grin appeared on her face. Her uncle would've kept it a surprise, and so will she. He'll truly be shocked when they go to Shrek in a year.
… … …
A week has passed. It was the evening before the martial soul awakening ceremony. Right now, Karni was in a graveyard, a watchful guard around him. They were protecting him. Teacher Ye as well as the new vice-headmaster. A Soul Emperor and a Soul Sage. He needed the protection if he didn't want to be ambushed by a certain police chief.
Word got out that he killed her son. They, Karni and Siduo, both knew just how much danger they were in. But… for visits to this place, to the grave of the person that made him kill that bastard chief's son, the risk was worth it.
"This marks the third year, Grandma Ying." Karni said silently, no one answering him. Beside her grave, stood another. Her son's.
"I know I always say this, but if you two are together, tell him I'm sorry." In such moments, he almost wanted to believe in heaven, even though he knew that the universe worked on a basis of reincarnation now.
He put down flowers, one that were oftentimes drawn on Grandma Ying's favourite chocolate. "I've learned to live with myself. Sort of. I've accepted what I did at least." It was hard for him to say. He never wanted to say these words. It was like saying goodbye, as if he'll never visit her again.
That wasn't true. He'll always keep on visiting. "I'm going on a long journey for a year, so I might not be able to visit as often as I'd like." He made a small smile.
"I understand your son a little. I might've been just as reckless as him, but he's no role model. I'm strong enough where I don't need to be such a person and… well, most people that would turn me into your son are too strong anyway. I would be forced to find other ways."
He sighed and crouched. "I promise, unless I really reach such desperation, I won't ever be like that. I'll make you proud." It was more of a promise to himself than anything else. Such matters… It really wasn't all black and white. Thankfully, if it ever came to such desperate measures, he had many powerful connections now. The Tang Sect, Wu Family, the Star Luo City Academy.
He was but one guy, and he himself would not always be strong enough or be able to do the right thing, even if he wanted to. It was good to have friends; to have family.
… … …
The morning of the next day began lively, contrary to Karni's end of the night. It was now time for every six year old to go and get their martial souls awakened. The school year was over, and when that happened, the Spirit Pagoda sent their soul master's around to help in the awakening of children.
In a similar manner, an excited little boy was eagerly awaiting for his martial soul awakening. He was also constantly fiddling his fingers.
"Nervous?" Siduo asked.
The boy just nodded.
"No need to be, I'm sure you'll be a genius like me." She ruffled his hair.
She was sure. Maybe not in terms of him being a genius, but he should definitely awaken with soul power due to his bloodline.
Today, Karni and Siduo weren't afraid to walk the streets as themselves. Even the police chief wouldn't dare to make trouble on such a day. Not only would they hunt her down, but who knows what else they would've accused her off, and who else.
The happy little family was in the middle of the line. Perhaps ironically, Wu Jianguo and Ta Siyu were more nervous than Little Jianyu.
"Brings back memories." Karni commented.
"Oh? How did your awakening go back then?" Siduo asked.
"You know, normal stuff. Woke up in the forest naked, created some makeshift clothes, luckily found a town during awakening day, asked a kid about where this was-" He wanted to continue but Siduo interrupted.
"Tie Tiao?"
"Yep. Then curse in front of everybody and get weird looks, be the last in the line and finally get awakened with twin martial souls. The next week I arrived here, and you know the rest."
"Must've been hard." Jianyu said in a very wise manner.
"Mm. It was a foreign place and I was alone. So don't worry. You can't have it worse than me." Karni winked at the little boy to calm him down.
Finally, they arrived at the entrance of the Spirit Pagoda. Wu Jianyu was taken in alone by the staff. All that they could do was wait outside.
About ten minutes later, he came back, a weird look on his face. They weren't sure what this look exactly meant.
"How'd it go?" Wu Jianguo asked.
"I have rank 7 innate soul power."
"Oh! That's very impressive, the same as me." The father laughed.
"Mm."
"Little brother, what's going on?" Siduo asked.
"I didn't get a Hell Cat, but I didn't get a White Tiger either. It's a White Cat. Does that mean I got a worse version of the tiger?"
There were clearly some tears building up to fall from the little boy.
"No, no. Martial Souls are never that simple. You most likely got a mutation from between the two. We'll check when we get to the academy." Siduo patted his hair.
They went to the academy, because Karni and Siduo still had things to grab from there before they left and the family wanted to see things together.
The little boy summoned his martial soul. He grew little white cat ears among his bright red hair and clearly felt lighter. He described the feeling to the family.
"Well the good news is, that it looks like you got a body suitable for the Hell Cat, so this White Cat of yours should be similar to mine." Ta Siyu comforted him.
"Then why is it white?"
"You most likely inherited the White Tiger's elemental affinity of Light."
"So in other words," Siduo commented, "you'll be able to speed around like me with the Hell Cat, and shine in golden brightness like me in White Tiger. You got a combination of the two."
"Indeed. It's likely because the Yang energy is more suitable for you as a boy, but your body developed in the way of speed on its own. It's not lesser than the other two. It should be about the same level, just different." Jianguo nodded thoughtfully.
"Oh." The boy still seemed a little disappointed.
"Jianyu, think about it like this. No one knows how your martial soul will develop. You're the only person in the whole world with this martial soul. Isn't that amazing?" Karni gave him a bright smile.
"Yeah." The boy said, realising what Karni just said. "Yeah! I'll be as fast as light!"
Siduo nudged Karni on the shoulder, thanking him in silence. The two went to their rooms to grab the last of their stuff. They return five minutes later.
"Do you have everything packed?" Wu Jianguo asked Karni and Siduo.
"Yeah, we finished yesterday, so we just had to grab these. When do we go?"
"In the evening. We're taking an overnight train."
"Dad, dad! How exactly will we get there? Don't we have to cross the ocean?" Jianyu jumped up and down excited, completely forgetting his sour mood from before.
"Yes, Jianyu. We're going to Eastsea City, one of the largest ports besides Skysea City. We'll go with a semi-large whaling boat, though of course, we won't actually be whaling."
Eastsea City? Karni realised. But… He might bump into the protagonist. Tang Wulin was in Eastsea City. As were the other three. Gu Yue, Xie Xie and Xu Xiaoyan. Fate had a weird way of working out it seems. He'll meet the main character sooner than expected.
Then he shook his head. Forget it, it's a big city, they likely won't pass each other.
… … …
"Captain c'mon already, I want to test out the new techniques."
"Ugh. Xie Xie. Can't you just leave the captain alone? Do you really want to get on Gu Yue's nerves again?"
Xie Xie looked toward the dark-grey haired Gu Yue. She really was giving him an unfriendly look, still sitting on the opposite side of the aforementioned captain.
"Fine, fine. Sheesh. Why does he have such a big appetite?"
The captain then shouted. "Owner, can I get another package to go please?"
"Don't mind him Wulin, you can take your time." Gu Yue smiled at Tang Wulin.
"No, no, he's right. We should test out the new techniques we got from the sect." He looked at the sky. "It's also getting late."
The owner brought a bundle of food. The boy's eyes shined. Despite the continuous gorging, he was just too handsome. Beautiful black hair and a tall disposition, with big round eyes.
With one hand Tang Wulin carried the food, and with the other, he ate it. "Let's go."