The next morning arrived with the resonating toll of Shrek Academy's brass bells. A golden haze bathed the campus in warm, amber light as sleepy students trickled out of their dorms, some yawning, others bustling with energy. The air carried the scent of freshly baked bread and roasted meat, mingling with the crisp bite of morning dew.
I stood outside my wooden house at the forest's edge, already dressed in a sleek outfit I'd purchased from the system shop—a deep black and steel-gray robe that embodied elegance and battle-readiness. The jacket was form-fitting and crafted from durable, stretch-resistant soul cloth, allowing for swift movement in both physical and soul-powered combat. A high collar framed my neck, offering both protection and style, while two vertical white stripes ran down from the collar along the chest, creating a balanced, symmetrical appearance.
Light gray harness straps wrapped from shoulder to chest and across the back, designed to carry soul tools or utility packs. Slim white bands circled my upper sleeves, subtly emphasizing motion during fast-paced combat. My pants matched the upper design—tactical dark gray with a semi-fitted cut, featuring reflective white stripes along the thighs and knees. Utility pouches on either side of my hips were perfect for storing small equipment or crystals, all secured by a wide, reinforced tactical belt.
Fingerless black gloves covered my hands, offering dexterity for activating tools and performing martial techniques. Though mostly not cared, my boots were equally functional—black, durable, and reinforced for all-terrain traversal.
Over my shoulders draped the Voidshadow Mantle—a mid-calf-length spirit artifact cape tailored specifically for me. Its outer layer was a deep obsidian black, matte and light-absorbing, making me nearly invisible in dim lighting or rapid movement. Even at high speed, the cape fluttered silently, as if born of shadow itself.
The inner lining shimmered with soul-weave silk, a soft flowing blue that glowed faintly with soul energy. It resonated with my sword and martial spirit, shifting its hue slightly in response to my aura and power fluctuations.
Secured at my collarbone and shoulders by two spirit clasps shaped like twin crescent moons—symbols of balance between yin and yang—the cape attached through magnetic clasps that locked into place with perfect alignment. Designed for seamless detachment in emergencies yet firm enough to endure high-speed movement, the fastening ensured both form and function in battle. It was more than an accessory; it was a battlefield guardian.
Forged under moonlight and tempered in the mists of Heaven's Gate using rare soul beast materials, the Voidshadow Mantle granted me three key abilities:
First, Soul-Weave Silk, a passive defensive trait that resisted slashes, thrusts, and piercing damage. Weapons, claws, and arrows struggled to break its fibers.
Second, Aether Veil, a soul power-reactive defense that flares upon contact with projectiles like energy bullets or soul-based blasts, reduces damage by up to 40%. The effect scaled with my cultivation and spirit ring strength.
Lastly, Shadowmeld, a utility enchantment that allowed the cape to blend subtly into its surroundings in low-light conditions. When paired with my Shadow Dragon martial spirit, its stealth enhancements grew stronger—perfect for ambushes, reconnaissance, or rapid escape.
The Voidshadow Mantle wasn't just part of my attire. It was an extension of my spirit, forged for the road ahead.
This outfit wasn't just practical; it was a reflection of my path. A soul master of discipline, cultivation, and clarity. I wasn't just another student. I was the heir of two legacies—the Clear Sky and the Seven Kill Sword. And today marked the beginning of something far greater.
Unlike the others, I wasn't scheduled for general lessons. Elder Mu En had arranged a specialized training path tailored for me. For the past few years, it has focused on internal soul power cultivation and rigorous body refinement. But starting today, I would enter a new realm of study—Soul Tool Development, guided personally by Dean Xian Lin'er, one of the Academy's leading figures and the head of the Soul Tool Department.
At the dining hall, Tang Ya, Jiang Nannan, and Wu Feng joined me, each looking radiant and ready for battle. Tang Ya wore her new standard-issue academy robe, modified to accommodate the eight retractable spider legs from her spirit bone. Nannan's uniform emphasized her physical strength, sleeves rolled up as usual, revealing the muscular tone she'd earned from years of body cultivation. Wu Feng's crimson-red outfit hugged her athletic frame, dragon-themed embroidery matching the heat she naturally radiated.
All three had been placed into Class One under Teacher Zhou Yi. They'd already formed an official team for the semester's end competition and were regularly partnered together.
Tang Ya adjusted her belt with casual grace. "Ready for the first official day?"
"Of course!" she said with a gleam in her eyes. "Shrek Academy, here we come."
Jiang Nannan cracked her knuckles, her golden gaze glinting with excitement. "Let's see what kind of monsters this academy really has."
Wu Feng said little but wore a quiet smirk. Her Red Dragon martial spirit kept her blood running hot.
At precisely 7:30 AM, the academy's soul tool alarm system activated. From every lamp post lining the courtyards, a melodic chime rang out, followed by a holographic countdown. The lamp posts glowed with guidance lights, projecting colored paths across the ground to direct each student to their classroom.
"That's actually pretty convenient," Tang Ya mused.
Crystal speakers echoed across the grounds: "All first-year students, please report to your assigned classrooms within ten minutes. Tardiness will not be tolerated."
The girls headed off together, laughter and excitement accompanying their departure as they disappeared into the crowd.
I turned in the opposite direction, my steps carrying me toward the Soul Tool Department—a grand and specialized facility located deeper within the academy grounds.
The building towered before me like a citadel of brilliance and innovation—the Soul Tool Department, one of the core divisions of Shrek Academy. It was a stunning fusion of classical and futuristic architecture. Towering spires rose high into the sky, their edges gilded in intricate golden detailing that shimmered with soul energy. The central structure was crowned by a massive clockwork tower, its rotating gears and glowing emerald conduits symbolizing the endless cycle of invention and progress.
The walls were made of soul-alloy stone mixed with crystal glass, painted in rich gold and blue tones with subtle green highlights. Massive energy-tempered windows reflected the morning light like cascading mirrors. Twin statues of armored scholars flanked the main entrance—one holding a soul tool cannon, the other a refining hammer—emblems of intellect and engineering. Above it all glowed the sigil of the department: a gear encircled by soul rings and arcs of lightning.
It wasn't just a building. It was a sanctum for every soul engineer, a haven where magic and machinery intertwined.
Standing at the entrance was a figure of grace and brilliance—Dean Xian Lin'er, adorned in a ceremonial white combat uniform accented with regal gold and deep violet embroidery. Her long robes parted with elegant slits for movement, and a purple cape flowed behind her, symbolizing her commanding authority. Her black hair was tied into a refined high bun with a decorative pin, while a single armored sleeve—plated in ornate gold and navy—shimmered subtly, channeling her Azure Flame Dragon martial spirit. Calm and commanding, she radiated poise and overwhelming power, like a general dressed in the dignity of nobility and fire.
"You're early," she said, lips curving into a faint smile.
"Wouldn't miss it, Dean Xian."
She turned on her heel. "Come. We have much to do."
We stepped inside.
The interior unfolded like the sacred heart of a temple of invention. The main atrium, known as the Grand Clockwork Hall, was cathedral-like in scale—its ceiling vaulted with radiant glass panels that cast ethereal light over the polished marble floors. Golden engravings danced across towering columns, and massive spherical constructs floated at the hall's center, rotating with quiet majesty. These constructs pulsed with blue aetheric light, soul-energy conduits weaving in and out of their cores as if the building itself breathed innovation.
Arcane circles and gear motifs glowed faintly on the floor, part decoration, part functional soul arrays. Soul engineers, researchers, and students moved between floating schematic scrolls, crystal workstations, and hovering projection platforms. Everywhere, minds and machinery worked in harmony.
Dean Xian led me deeper through a gilded passage called the Precision Gearwalk—a corridor of spirit-infused crystal and elegant rotating mechanisms. Mechanical doors lined the hall like vaults, each one leading to specialized labs or restricted archives. Light streamed through tall, arched windows above, illuminating delicate gearwork rotating in wall-mounted frames.
Eventually, we reached a towering, gear-locked door framed in glowing blue soul circuits. A massive seal bearing the Soul Tool Department's emblem sat at its center. Dean Xian pressed her hand against a palm glyph. With a whir and a hiss, the door opened.
"Welcome to your lab," she said.
Inside, the private engineering chamber was both majestic and functional. Golden and blue design motifs shimmered from the walls and worktables. A central hexagonal table dominated the space, surrounded by floating energy spheres, calibration panels, and crafting arrays. Crystalline batteries, soul-conducting wires, and rare insulated alloys were arranged in labeled drawers and arcane drawers. Mechanical arms and floating tools hovered on standby, responding faintly to soul energy signatures. This wasn't just a workspace—it was a sanctum of invention.
"This is where you'll learn," she said, turning to me. "Soul Tool Development is more than just strapping weapons onto your arms. It's science, art, and instinct fused."
She activated a nearby lightboard, and holographic images appeared: energy cycles, rune matrices, and modular schematics.
"There are nine levels of soul tools. Level 1 to Level 9. Each level is more complex and power-intensive than the last. Level 1 tools are designed for Soul Masters below Rank 20, while Level 9 tools are reserved for Titled Douluo. The key to mastery? Mental control."
She walked over to a mental strength testing station—a crystalline orb flanked by focusing rings. "Sit. Let's see what you're working with."
I did as instructed. As the device powered up, images flashed across the orb: beasts, terrain, weapon targeting. I followed each visual with my mind.
The orb glowed.
Dean Xian's brows rose.
"Your perception is... exceptional. Comparable to Rank 40 Spirit Masters. Your mental power is extremely refined. That's rare. With this, battlefield awareness, coordination, and multi-weapon control are all viable."
She handed me a Type 1 Soul Launcher—a sleek, metal-braced wrist tool with a soul crystal core.
"Try it."
Channeling my soul power into it, the launcher responded immediately, forming a light bolt and launching it across the lab. It hit the floating target dead center.
"Direct neural response. Very few first-years can do that. Try the shoulder repeater."
I strapped on the next device—a larger, twin-barrel tool with rotation capability. I activated the spin function, allowing rapid-fire bolts to streak across multiple targets. My mental link controlled its spread.
"Even better," she said, walking over to record the data.
Then came the directional energy shield, a utility arm tool meant for quick defense. I activated it just in time to block a sudden energy pulse she fired at me.
"Reflexes, calibration, instinct. You have all three," she said with a rare grin. "Your martial spirit might be unique, but your mind is where your advantage lies."
She leaned against the table. "Now tell me about this... Heavens Gate."
I hesitated. "It's a living subspace. I bond with the soul beasts inside it, and their evolution fuels my own. When I add rings, I gain their skills and more as they grow."
"Fascinating..." she murmured. "You don't just need weapons. You're like a battle commander, directing powerful soldiers into combat. But when your soul power is drained from controlling so many mighty beasts, you'll need something else to survive and dominate. What you need are smart systems—drones, auto-targeting arrays, beast resonance amplifiers. Maybe even artificial cores to enhance beast interaction. And when your beasts can no longer fight, soul tools will be your shield and sword."
Her hands danced across the lightboard, designing blueprints. "Let's make modular tools that change forms based on your beast summoned. For the Crystal Armored Beast, high-density shields. For the Shadow Dragon, stealth launchers. I'll work with the Soul Guidance Hall to gather materials."
She paused, eyes gleaming with inspiration. "But before you step into simulations, you must first understand every part of what you're wielding. Knowledge precedes creation. You'll start by learning the full foundation of soul tools—how they're built, how they function, the materials they need, and how arrays and runes harmonize with soul energy. Only then can you create the tools you imagine."
I stood silently, absorbing everything.
"Soon," she said, "you'll forge your path—not just as a beastmaster or soul master, but as an inventor. Wear your cloak. Move like a beastmaster. Fight like a Soul Engineer."
And with that, my second path at Shrek Academy truly began.