Karni and Siduo were returning from the orphanage. They've just given the tasks to their students for the next week. Or Karni did, mostly. Siduo didn't teach as much since her "student" was Liu Liu, who was actually their peer. If anything, that relationship was more of a partnership.
It was the week after their special event in the orphanage, and that single event had widely raised their reputation in the orphanage, especially Karni's. This week they had another mission: to speak to their teachers about the trip they want to make before Karni would go to the Star Luo Continent.
The two crossed the Sea God's Lake and surprisingly, Yun Ming and Long Yeyue were already waiting for them.
"It's not often that you two seek us out when we do not have a prior appointment." Yun Ming started, before the two could ask any questions.
The two felt slightly embarrassed. Elder Long waved her hand. "Come, let's talk somewhere private."
They followed them to the pavilion where the four were alone and nodded to the two to not beat around the bush.
Siduo started before Karni. She seemed oddly more nervous about this. "I want to go to one short holiday with Kiki the week before he goes… During the meteor… shower… somewhere north." She turned quieter and quieter toward the end as her teacher stared at her. Despite Siduo having many years of experience, Long Yeyue was also more than 200 years old. Siduo genuinely considered her as her teacher.
But still, Karni had never seen Siduo like that. She used to be a god, but Elder Long had clearly gained her respect in these regards.
Long Yeyue suddenly beamed with a smile. "Sure! I don't mind." She looked questioningly at Yun Ming.
"Sure." He nodded. "I'll give you a pardon for that last week. Though you can't escape. In fact… Elder Long, what do you think of giving it to them as a reward for a task?"
Long Yeyue nodded. "Sure. If you guys complete your 1-Word Battle Armour designs by then you can go." She smiled.
Karni and Siduo fell silent. That… would be tight. At least they didn't need to create it. That would be impossible. They really wanted to squeeze out all of their potential.
"We can do it." Both of them nodded with determination.
… … …
Karni and Siduo were in the market. On the same weekend. Karni went over the checklist. "Okay, we have the route figured out, and we both agreed that the road trip is the most interesting if we go together with your vehicle and my mecha, or we go together in your motorbike and be a tad squished. This leaves us with camping supplies."
The two started brainstorming.
"A tent, is the first piece needed."
Siduo nodded. "But let's make our own. Buy high quality plastic cloth, ones we can just put over your mecha and my vehicle."
Karni wrote it down. "Your motorbike is the size of a small tent anyway, we're gonna need cloth the size of an apartment. We might have to buy a few big ones instead, if we don't find any big enough."
Siduo nodded. "Then it's the classic things. Food… Bedrolls, maybe blowable pillows and beds, some heating…" She stopped, thinking what else to get. They had to get these things now, as after this weekend, they would go into full work mode; otherwise, they would not be able to finish the designs and the few Battle Armour pieces they had planned.
"I saw some of those small chimneys, portable ones. One should be enough as long as we buy a good one. Oh, and we will need something to cover the ground, so that is one more piece of cloth." Karni wrote down his own thoughts.
"We'll be able to get the wood from there anyway."
"Though since the wood will be wet up north, in case we find no dry wood, maybe bring some along anyway?" Karni asked.
Siduo confirmed. "All the classic stuff we need for travel is something we probably won't forget but write it down anyway. Sometimes those obvious things are easy to miss."
"Speaking of things easy to forget," Karni snapped his fingers as he finished writing Siduo's words, "water. It's basic, but we definitely shouldn't forget it. If we want to cook our own stuff, we should take extra water. Right. If we want to cook, cooking utensils come even before that."
Siduo nodded furiously. "And cocoa. We should definitely not forget cocoa."
Karni wrote it down in the biggest letters so far. It was of the utmost importance.
"Since we're going the luxury route anyway," Siduo added, "we could get some travelling tables and chairs and stuff like that."
"We won't see each other for a year after that. We have to go the luxury route." Karni wrote down what she said, then immediately listed a few more luxurious things.
"Oh! Kiki! We're forgetting the most important thing!"
Karni looked at her questioningly, ready to write it down.
"Condoms!"
Karni started writing it down, before he stopped at the third letter and scratched it out. "No."
Siduo stepped to his face, analysing it.
"If we don't have them, we won't be tempted about crossing that line, so it's better we don't get them."
"Ohhh. So, you think we'd do it if we had them?"
Karni wrote something down. "We should buy some night lights that work on solar energy as well."
"You're changing the topic."
"And blankets."
"Kiki…"
"A lot of blankets."
… … …
A civillian turned to look at the two teens, eyes odd. Then another looked at them. Then another. What was so weird? The only thing they were doing was carrying a cloth 10m long and 20m wide, though those 20m could not be seen as it was put into a giant roll. It was more like they were carrying a wide, 10m long pillar. Nothing weird about it.
They got their large tent cloth. They hoped it would be enough to cover everything, as Karni's Mecha was quite big. Because of that, they bought reserve cloth as well, though they put that in their storage tools. This one they didn't, as it used up too much space. If everything went well, Karni would carry this with his Mecha to their little camping spot. Otherwise, they would have to get creative with the motorbikes.
They carried it all the way to Shrek by hand, which took a good 40 minutes of walking across the whole of Shrek City and put it inside Karni's room. Or well, they tried to. They failed.
Onto their next plan then, Tang Sect. Karni called Mo Qing and asked him to help them transport it in and keep it safe.
When they arrived at the Tang Sect building, Mo Qing was already waiting for them, eyeing the big roll of cloth with a raised eyebrow. "I was wondering what kind of camping tent you'd bring for you to need to store it here. What kind of camping are you two doing exactly?"
"The luxurious kind." Karni continued carrying the roll to the warehouse.
"It almost makes me want to come along and see how that'll look like."
""No."" The two said in unison.
Mo Qing raised his hands in defeat. "Alright, alright. I was only jesting. You kids enjoy your trip. Make sure not to do anything weird."
The two raised their middle finger to their teacher, who chuckled. If this wasn't Mo Qing, they would not have dared to make such jestures to their teachers.
Since they were finished with more or less everything to do with camping, they decided their best course of action was to just start with all of their work. They had a lot to catch up on.
The two entered their workshop within the sect. It turned out that they could use the Battle Hall rooms together as well, which was convenient. They could work on designs for extra twelve hours a week due to this.
Karni grabbed some of the notes he'd already made throughout this week. The chest piece had to be connected to the head piece... He should be finished with the design in three weeks. Then he would start with the rest of the pieces that were less complicated. And if he took all of his time to design Siduo's pieces as well… Yeah, it should be doable until their vacation. He might even be able to craft the head and chest pieces.
"Let's see…" Karni looked where he left off. The very top of the chest piece, the one that connected it with the head piece. He made some quick calculations, before he activated his Sonic Rhythm and started designing with a steady rhythm of harmony.
The harmony went up the music scale, and his design resembled that. He drew the waves of sound over the upper chest piece, Soul Arrays hidden within them, moving even further upward…
… … …
… which the Silver Crown received; light shining as the waves fused into the shape of an elegant crow. The surrounding chaos of spiritual energy stabilised in harmony, before the sound bounced, returning to the chest piece in golden waves, combining with those still floating around the rest of the piece.
Karni's Sonic Rhythm focused. He glanced at Siduo's claws, carving with speed the final little pieces… and the sound perfected itself along with her skill. The head piece, a crown with a crow design, was finished.
A slight glow. Blood. Karni was quick. He had to bind it at the right moment. Now. The glow of blood and golden waves combined, shining in chaos, before returning to calm. The blood binding was complete. Karni looked slightly pale.
Siduo looked up, her sharp claws—her manufacturing "tool"—retracted. She was satisfied. Her work was perfect.
With this, Karni had a total of five pieces. A complete right arm, which was two pieces, armguard and shoulder piece; one left arm piece, the armguard; a chest piece; and a head piece. At this very moment, he had the most Battle Armour pieces in the class, including Siduo, as she couldn't use her original armour pieces anymore since she switched to the alloyed version of the Battle Armour.
Tang Wulin would've likely had more pieces if Siduo were to cooperate with him, but she didn't, as she was far too busy with Karni regarding hers and Karni's pieces. Ye Xinglan, the only other 5-Star Manufacturer capable of crafting alloyed pieces in the 1st class, was not making them at the moment, as it was too dangerous with her cultivation level.
Karni equipped the piece and felt his energy increase, his control over Sound increase. It was all so much easier. Just a single piece changed the situation so much. He could hardly imagine how strong a full Battle Armour set was. Siduo beat someone in full armour? She really was amazing.
"Well, thank you." Siduo said.
"I said that out loud?"
"You're really tired huh? Wanna lay on my thighs?" Siduo beamed with a smile.
Karni lay down without complaint, and Siduo let him. Besides, they've done this a few times now when fusing Battle Armour pieces. She liked to lay on him as well. They were alone anyways; there was no need to feel shame.
"We made it just in the nick of time, huh." Karni said with his eyes closed, enjoying the soft pillow.
"Technically," Siduo played with his hair, "you still need to complete my head piece today."
It was ironic. One of Karni's first designs he completed was the head piece alongside the chest piece. Today Siduo even finished making the actual thing. But her own design still had about a third of it left to be designed.
"Give me an hour."
"Okay." She continued to play with his hair.
They stayed like this for that hour, and then Karni rose, stretching, feeling refreshed. "Alright. Let's finish that design so we can go on our vacation tomorrow." He looked at the time. Four hours remaining the Battle Hall room. That gave him a total of twelve hours to the end of the day.
Karni stepped to the Designer's table, and even pulled out his Battle Armour to help with his Spiritual Prowess. He continued designing. The small tiger shape on the front of the crown, and a small cat on the back. A beautiful, fierce design.
… … …
The two stood by the giant wooden table in the Shrek Pavilion. All the elders were gathered. Something they did not appreciate, as it was only giving them greater pressure.
But what could they do? When Yun Ming and Long Yeyue heard that Karni and Siduo finished the designs, they called for an emergency meeting of the Sea God's Pavilion.
The Elders all wore grave faces.
Well, all except one. Elder Feng, Feng Wuyu, was smiling widely. "Tang Wulin helped with the alloys, correct?"
Karni brought out his incomplete Battle Armour. "As you can see, yes."
"Good, good."
"I'm more impressed by how they took advantage of that. Gods, this really is a monstrous generation." Ya Li was the one voicing her "critique".
"The connection between the different pieces, flowing to one another… most people only start doing that at the 3-Word level. Talented ones start with 2-Word level and the wings. These two incorporated that into their whole armour." Yun Ming's eyes were shining. He never expected this. Not only did they complete the design in time, but they made an top tier design as well.
"You could've simply gone with normal Alloyed Armour or even normal Battle Armour…"
"That would be a waste of both effort and time." Siduo said with a straight face.
Long Yeyue chuckled. "Indeed. You would think like that."
"So, is everyone in agreement that they get official leave for a week as reward?"
The elders of the pavilion nodded. There was no complaint.
"Oh, and how are Tang Wulin and his group's Battle Armours coming along."
"They should have finished with most of their designs. At least Gu Yue and Tang Wulin." Karni answered. He was familiar with their progress as Gu Yue came to find him whenever he had free time. She respected Karni for being better than her in the field.
"In that case, please call in those two as well." Yun Ming looked at Karni. "You may leave."
The two left to search for Wulin and Gu Yue. It didn't take them very long.
"They want us in the pavilion? Why?"
Siduo shrugged. Karni answered. "My best guess is due to our Battle Armours. It feels like they're trying to confirm something."
Tang Wulin sighed and nodded to Gu Yue. "Let's not keep the elders waiting. Thanks, Karni, Siduo."
The four nodded to each other and parted.
"Now then," Karni stretched. The sun was starting to set. "We should go to sleep. We need to get up early tomorrow."
Siduo nodded. "I agree. Good night." She gave him a little peck on the cheek.
He returned the gesture, and the two went to sleep.
… … …
Gu Yue and Tang Wulin just left the pavilion and the elders were chatty. "I see what you're talking about now. Those two are a terrifying combination."
"Val Karni and Wu Siduo?" Feng Wuyu was still a bit confused about the whole thing. He only saw the excellent craftsmanship of his disciple in his eyes. Tang Wulin was the only one worth noting in his opinion.
Yun Ming shook his head. "Yes, they are terrifying as well, but not in terms of Battle Armour progress. Tang Wulin and Val Karni are terrifying together. Karni thrived purely on the fact Tang Wulin was able to refine so well, and Tang Wulin just told us how he was forced to push himself to keep up with some of Karni's ideas. Elder Feng, you yourself said you found it hard to push Tang Wulin, correct."
Feng Wuyu almost grumbled, getting the picture. "Yes."
Yun Ming was firm. "It's why I'm pushing for them to get even further acquainted. I am almost certain they will be future cornerstones of the academy. Val Karni is already decently close with that group, but not yet truly close, like with Wu Siduo. He can be the bridge between them as well. Wu Siduo is incredibly talented as well but is quite a loner outside of Val Karni himself. We need to force her to make connections with this class, and Val Karni can then be the glue to hold the two groups together."
"You're saying you're grooming him for the next team of Shrek Seven Devils?" Another elder asked.
The Pavilion Master nodded. "Yes. Though Karni will likely refuse to be part of the team. His ambitions lie elsewhere. He has them, yet even I do not know what those truly are. I will try to convince him, but knowing him… I will be honest, it feels like he already knows that he won't be on the team, despite me wanting him to be."
Yun Ming sighed, then cleared his mind. "But one thing is for certain: he is a Spiritual genius. Genius at comprehending, and one of his Martial Souls has yet to even be developed. Wu Siduo and Tang Wulin are both offensively stronger than him, both just as talented in their second professions as him, but they cannot serve as this glue. Tang Wulin should be groomed to be the next master of Shrek, but he takes care of his team first and foremost, as a leader should. Wu Siduo thrives on being free and independent, but she prefers to do things by force, even when leading. Val Karni however has that… aura and ease about him which lets your guard down."
"A future Vice-Pavilion Master then."
Yun Ming nodded. "Those are my hopes. He lacks the capabilities to be a leader and tries to avoid that responsibility. Those qualities aren't necessarily bad in a leader, as he does so to avoid responsibility, but... Perhaps someday, if he has to face these responsibilities, he can grow into something more, but we cannot nurture him appropriately right now. Tang Wulin is a natural born leader, who does not let his strength get to his head, and faces things head on. Wu Siduo on the other hand-"
"She is like me." The Silver Moon Douluo said. "Except she surpasses my talent at her age."
"If you want to give them another position which can have as much influence in the Sea God's Pavilion, give them mine." A person walked in. Shishi. She rarely showed her face around here.
"Director." All the elders stood up. Even Long Yeyue, Yun Ming, and Ya Li, though those three only nodded their heads in respect, and she nodded back to them. They were of the same rank and influence here.
"In fact, I would suggest Val Karni as my heir, not Wu Siduo. Of the three, she is least suitable to be the future Director. On the other hand, Karni as arguably the most suitable heir I've ever seen. Those responsibilities you talked about, I've seen them in action on how he takes them on."
Long Yeyue raised her eyebrow. "I seem to remember that both Val Karni and Wu Siduo's auras reacted to the Soul Computer."
"They what?" Elder Li stood up in shock.
Ya Li also confirmed. "Indeed, their blood was recognised… and it was above our security clearance. Both me and Yun Ming had tried after Shishi's and Long Yeyue's failed."
The room fell quiet. Shishi broke the silence a few seconds later. "One of them has to be the future Director, if only because of that, but one is also clearly more suitable. Now, someone might get to the same level of influence as Ya Li, but let us be honest, Ya Li is special not only because she is Yun Ming's wife, but more importantly due to her divine healing powers. I think putting them in a certain position of power is a better guarantee."
Ya Li nodded, not taking offence to the somewhat honest comments. Shishi was known to be direct.
Long Yeyue chuckled. "In that case, I vote for Wu Siduo to become the Vice-Pavilion Master. Besides, she is my direct disciple. No one else is more suitable." Long Yeyue said from the side. She was positively beaming.
Shishi nodded, the two exchanging silent congratulations. They were from the same generation. And now they schemed together. Shishi just put in the favour Long Yeyue owed her.
Yun Ming sighed, noticing the subtle exchange. "That's fine, the director has the main say in orphanages activities after all. Now we just have to make sure to lead them through a path of difficulties which won't threaten their lives." He already had an idea of what challenges to give them once the group returns.
He was hopeful. The next generation of leaders were always chosen decently early in Shrek. Originally, they were hoping to get Gu Yue on their side as well. That would guarantee Shrek five powerhouses in the future. Five likely Limit Douluos. They were almost sure about it. These kids were destined for greatness. The last of those five was his own disciple, his surrogate daughter. Na'er. Her potential was just as boundless as the rest of them, but she lacked any leadership qualities.
From three powerhouses inside Shrek, to four. If those other kids of Tang Wulin's group show further talent, then that's six more. That didn't even count the Tang Sect. The future was looking bright.
… … …
Bright. The sun was so damn bright in the early morning. What was it… five? Why did the sun have to rise so early during summer?
Karni waited for Siduo to arrive. He was already in his mecha. The giant plastic roll was tied tight to the Mecha's back. He got his licence a three weeks ago without many problems. He was free to fly over most of the federation. Apparently, Mo Qing and Yun Ming pulled some strings. The licence was only valid for a month. Mechas were strictly monitored over the federation.
He waited… he was actually early. About 5 minutes or so. It took another minute for Siduo to show up.
She drove in with her giant motorbike, the size of a car, her body fully protected from the outside forces. The motorbike opened and Siduo peeked out.
Her hair was tied in a ponytail, and she wore sunglasses. Gods was she attractive. Karni shook his head away from those thoughts. He'd have to hold back on this trip, control his hormones. With Soul Power if necessary.
Siduo beamed with a bright smile. "I see you're ready."
Karni nodded. "Shall we? We don't want to miss that meteor shower now do we."
"Of course we don't, but we can't not have fun on the way." She adapted the motorbike to a more civil position, transforming its posture to a less combat ready one. The glass which originally made a dome partially collapsed, leaving only the front to protect her from the wind. It was just like a regular motorbike, except twice the size.
"Let's go."
"Lead the way." Karni pointed with the Mecha's arms to the road.
She stepped on the gas, and Karni followed after. The road to their destination was going to be long and beautiful.