"Ugh. Ghosts." Luck said in a lackluster tone, his voice dripping with disdain, as he stood still, radiating an aura of pure contempt.
Three ghosts with twisted faces assaulted him with a barrage of attacks, but none could even make his clothes flutter.
As an expert in Space Manipulation, it was child's play to redirect their attacks, as ghosts couldn't use physical force and resorted to soul flames and illusions.
"Come here, Tamashi, and you'll die a peaceful death. Your ghosts are no match for me, and you can't escape either. Why not spare me the troubles and surrender your life?" Luck spoke arrogantly.
He gestured at the soul flame arrows that kept missing him by inches.
Despite the close shaves, Luck showed no concern and continued to taunt the bunch.
"You want a fight? That's what you'll get!" With a crazed glint, Tamashi crouched to the ground and slapped the earth a few times.
Several souls flew from him, and he began to chant while making hand signs.
Luck simply stood still as the ghosts helplessly pelted him with soul flame arrows, with no hope of scratching his clothes.
"Oh? You can create beasts? That's much better." Luck sighed out in relief.
He waved his hand, and the ghosts instantly disappeared, their ethereal forms posing no hindrance.
Moreover, he felt like he had reached a limit with this body. Using his spatial powers strained this body. Iguro's body was extremely weak, courtesy of his young age and lack of energy to temper his body. Rather, a large expanse of soul energy resided within the lad, causing even more strain to the already feeble body.
With a grunt, stardust flew between his fingertips, leaving a glowing trail. Controlled by himself, the stardust began to accumulate and form a shape.
"Starry Sky Blade." Luck quietly muttered and grasped the newly formed blade. Stars shone on its surface, depicting something akin to a universe stored within the weapon. The blade conjured from stardust shone with an ethereal light, its fluid form shifting like a living thing.
Its midnight blue surface absorbed and reflected light, leaving a trail of stardust-like motes.The twisted hilt pulsed with energy, fitting perfectly in Luck's hand.
With a light shout, Luck slashed at the distant Tamashi.
The razor-sharp edge sliced through space, unleashing a blast of energy that distorted the air.
Suddenly, several rock beasts emerged from the earth.
Their faces contorted in a myriad of negative emotions, causing one to feel unnerved.The energy blast easily sliced through them, turning them to dust. However, a moment later, they regenerated and shot at Luck with surprising speed.
"Oh? They're fast?" Luck grunted as he flipped backwards, evading a stone fist that crushed the ground.
In the air, he hacked again, sending a wave of energy that sliced the attacking beast in half.
Like before, it regenerated again, and its mates arrived, providing backup.
Luck nimbly weaved through the air, dodging a giant boulder shot at him. He hacked again, sending a wave of energy that sliced two of the beasts in half. Peeved at their regeneration, his arm slowly drew an arc.
"I'm probably going to break Iguro's arm, but I'm pretty sure he'll heal." Luck consoled himself.
"No! Let me help!" Lucid said in panic. Space was not something to be messed with, especially for a peon like Iguro.
"Speak less of his arm; we'll be lucky if you don't slice us into bits!" Dark added.
"Hmph. Darn weak body and repercussions..." Luck mumbled.
Iguro's appearance seemed to change, and from a semblance to Luck, his features began to become less apparent. Lucid had taken control, and he looked apathetically at the five beasts confusedly searching for him.
Sighing softly, he waved his hand in a vertical slash.
The rock beasts split open one by one.
"Poor souls." Lucid said with faint pity.
________
"So you want me to give you my soul energy in exchange for your bloodline?" Iguro asked.
"You know all beast stages are split into the first level, mid-level, small perfection, pinnacle, and peak, right?"
"The main stages are Normal grade, Earth grade, World grade, and Heaven grade."
"Yes." Iguro nodded patiently.
"Good. I was a dragon in the peak Heaven grade. I was betrayed by my tribe into the hands of humans...." The dragon spoke, a hint of resentment hidden in its tone.
However, its anger vanished in a flash.
"I have what you want, normalian. It's a win-win agreement. You possess a source of power you have no intention or capability of controlling."
"You get to live...while getting the bloodline of a True Dragon." The dragon's voice echoed in Iguro's mind.
"I've seen your memories. I know what you want."
Iguro's eyes narrowed.
"Uh huh. Didn't you say you were on the way to heaven? And besides, how much of your bloodline does your diminished soul possess?"
The dragon groaned in irritation.
"Ugh, you talk way too much."
With a sudden burst of energy, the dragon shot into Iguro's soul.
Unprepared, Iguro felt something well up within his chest.
His Soul Sea suddenly became turbulent.
His soul energy began to condense into even higher-grade energy. Motionlessly, it floated atop his head. From a drop, to two drops, to a small puddle, and soon, it reached the volume of a small lake.The energy was pure white, glowing in an alluring way.
However, the dragon shot out of him and seemed to lose a portion of itself within him.The lake began to coalesce. Soon, it gained solidity, forming a crystal dragon. Suddenly, chains flew out of the dragon. A symbol lit up around the crystal dragon, and the chains began to revolve around it.
The crystal dragon slowly floated towards Iguro. Silently, it assimilated itself within him.
"Thanks, Old Dragon!" Iguro exclaimed.
The crystal dragon was still merging with the Old Dragon's bloodline. But he could feel it had formed something he had always wanted.
A dantian!
A dantian was a source of cultivation, which possessed a fraction of Soul Energy, which made up the structure.The dantian contained extremely potent Soul Energy, and within his, a crystal dragon currently slept in it. Slowly, its features began to fully appear.
"By the time the merge is done, you should have the powers of a True Dragon. I suggest you learn Omnitransformation first, as I did not pass on my body to you. Lest you attempt to breathe out fire and destroy your body." Old Dragon spoke.
Iguro looked away, embarrassed.
Taking another look, Iguro noticed Old Dragon's features now looked faint, nearly as abstract as Lucid. He looked at the dragon in a new light, wanting to say something to console it. However, on remembering Lucid, his body jerked.
"The place is yours, Old Dragon. I'll be right back!"
With that, his spiritual presence vanished.
"Finally! A good retirement home if I say so myself." Old Dragon grinned.
It dove into the Soul Sea. Despite condensing many drops, the sea had not diminished. Its face looked relaxed, and it slowly absorbed the surrounding energy.