(Four days after Martial Soul Awakening Day –
Morning mist still clung to the rooftops of Holy Soul Village as Evan Cross crouched in the small clearing behind his home, arms trembling as he held a squat for the fortieth time. Sweat streamed down his temples. His legs felt like lead.
"Forty-one… forty-two…"
His breath came in short bursts. No cheat system. No overpowered cultivation manual. Just pure grind. But that was fine. After all, he had a goal.
He was going to Spirit Hall.
The offer had come swiftly after his awakening. Soul Master Jalen had left the next day, but not before writing a formal recommendation and promising to send a Spirit Hall escort within the week. Evan's journey would begin with training at a local Spirit Hall-run primary academy.
Until then, he had four days—and he wouldn't waste a second.
He stood up slowly, rubbing his legs. His clothes were soaked through, but his eyes shone with clarity. He could already feel subtle changes—not in power, but in control. His posture, balance, and breath were steadier.
"Time to try it again," he muttered.
Evan took a deep breath and extended his right hand forward.
A gust of wind whipped through the grass as glowing silver light surged from his palm. A halo of silver and violet condensed around his body, forming concentric ripples of spirit energy. The ground darkened under his feet as a black-and-silver silhouette leapt from his back, coiling in midair like a phantom.
The Duskwind Panther's eyes flashed violet as its body shimmered, then burst into particles—merging into Evan's form with a hiss of kinetic energy. Thin streaks of black fur traced up his arms like ghostly tattoos. His pupils narrowed to slits, and his senses exploded outward.
His hearing sharpened—each insect in the grass, each creak of the trees became vivid. His body felt lighter, charged with instinct.
He blinked, taking in the full activation.
"So that's my martial soul state…" he whispered.
No soul rings yet, but even the base form brought enhancements—agility, speed, and the beginnings of battle instinct. He could feel it, like a coiled spring in his muscles. One movement and he could burst forward like a whip.
But without a spirit ring, there was no soul skill. Just raw potential.
He deactivated the state with a breath, letting the glow fade. The slitted pupils rounded back to normal, and the fur-like patterns vanished from his arms.
"I'll need to hunt a soul beast soon," he murmured. "But only once I reach the minimum requirements… and I need help for that."
He wasn't reckless. He knew the risks of absorbing a soul ring that was too old. A six-year-old with only rank 6 soul power had no business going after a hundred-year soul beast alone.
Still, he had to prepare.
That evening, Old Jack called him over to his home.
The old man poured him a bowl of vegetable stew and studied him with squinting eyes. "You've been training like a madman. I see it in your walk."
Evan paused mid-bite. "I want to be ready."
Old Jack sighed. "I know you're not like the other kids. Always quiet, always focused. I saw that look in your eyes during the awakening—like you weren't surprised."
Evan said nothing. He'd prepared for years, hiding his knowledge behind a child's face. There was no benefit in standing out too soon.
"You've got a good martial soul," Old Jack continued. "And you've got Spirit Hall backing you now. Just remember—power attracts danger. Keep your head down, grow slowly. The strong ones who survive aren't always the flashiest."
Evan nodded. "I understand."
Three days later, the Spirit Hall carriage arrived.
It rolled into the village square just after sunrise, drawn by a pair of sturdy horned horses. A young woman in light silver armor stepped down, her hair tied in a warrior's braid. A single yellow spirit ring glowed faintly at her feet.
"I'm Sister Naia, Spirit Hall outer disciple and guide for new recruits," she said crisply. "I'm here for Evan Cross."
Evan bowed politely, clutching the small cloth sack that held his few belongings.
Naia studied him for a moment. "We'll be heading to the Spirit Hall branch academy in Greenbranch Town. It's a week's ride, with some foot travel. You'll be among others your age, training in basics, and preparing for your first soul ring."
Old Jack clasped Evan's shoulder. "Go make something of yourself. We'll be watching from here."
Evan nodded once, eyes steady.
He climbed into the carriage. As the wheels began to turn, he looked back at Holy Soul Village. The fields. The trees. The modest homes. It was a quiet goodbye—but he didn't cry.
He couldn't afford to.
---
Two Days into the Journey
The sun beat down gently over a winding trail through rolling hills. Evan jogged beside the carriage, drenched in sweat. Sister Naia had insisted on a traveling regimen.
"You want to be a soul master?" she had said. "Then move like one."
Every day, he ran beside the carriage for half the distance, did bodyweight drills at rest stops, and practiced martial soul activation under supervision.
By the fourth evening, Naia finally nodded in approval.
"You're stubborn. Good."
That night, as they camped beside a stream, she gestured for him to show his martial soul again.
Evan stood still, breathing slowly.
Then—whoosh—a swirl of violet light erupted around his back, the air shimmering with wind pressure. The Duskwind Panther materialized behind him with a silent growl, its silver-and-black form sleek and deadly.
Naia stepped back slightly.
"Definitely agility-type," she muttered. "Your spiritual affinity is quite pure too. You're already syncing well with it, even without a ring."
Evan let the panther merge with him. His limbs elongated slightly in proportion, muscles tightening, vision sharpening.
"You ever feel the urge to move fast?" she asked.
"All the time," Evan said.
Naia smirked. "Good. That's the martial soul speaking. Learn to listen to it, but don't be ruled by it."
She stood, her own martial soul flickering into view. A silver hawk appeared behind her, wings outstretched.
Her yellow spirit ring glowed brightly, and she vanished from sight—FWUMP!—only to reappear five meters behind Evan.
"That was my first soul skill: Gale Step. An instantaneous dash."
Evan stared, eyes wide.
"You'll be able to do things like that soon. If you survive your first ring hunt."
She let the hawk fade and sat again. "Rest. We arrive tomorrow."
---
Greenbranch Town – Spirit Hall Branch Academy
A modest city nestled at the forest's edge, Greenbranch was far larger than Holy Soul Village but tiny compared to the likes of Heaven Dou or Spirit City. Its Spirit Hall branch was modest—tall, white stone walls surrounding a central hall and a few dormitory-style buildings.
Evan was given a cot, plain robes, and a training schedule.
There were eleven other new students—six boys, five girls—all from nearby villages. Most had martial souls ranging from animal types like boars or hawks to tools like knives or hammers. Only two others had soul power above rank 4.
None had martial souls quite like Evan's.
The next few days were spent on foundational lectures: spirit ring theory, martial soul classifications, soul beast ecology, and cultivation methods. Evan listened closely, pretending to take notes—but he already knew these things.
He was biding time. Waiting for the moment when he would be allowed to pursue his first ring.
In the meantime, he trained every morning.
In the courtyard before sunrise, he would activate his martial soul, feeling its presence flow through his limbs.
Each time, the transformation was slightly faster.
Each time, he could move slightly quicker.
And each time, his instincts whispered to him—
Soon.
---
End of Chapter 2