The power of Deathdealing stemmed from the unique ability of Askin Le Vaar, the Sternritter bearing the initial letter 'D'.
It granted him control over the lethal dosage of any substance within a target's body—oxygen, blood, toxins, and even the very air around them. With it, he could make something as harmless as water a deadly poison or render a lethal venom completely ineffective.
However, this ability relied heavily on Reishi's manipulation. Unlike in his previous world, where altering oxygen levels could instantly cripple an opponent, this power had its limits. The environment wasn't something he could freely manipulate at will—at least, not in the way he once could.
Even so, Deathdealing remained one of the most powerful Schrifts within the Wandenreich, a power so unique that even Yhwach acknowledged its strength. But in the end, when Askin fell to the Soul Reapers, Yhwach stripped him of his power—his failure was deemed pathetic in his opinion.
It was a betrayal of his expectations.
Schrift awakening was a mystery, even for Huo Yuhao, who had inherited the soul of the Quincy King. This was his first experience with having his full arsenal of powers locked away deep within his soul, waiting to be awakened.
'Is it because the power of the Schrifts have gained their own sentience?' It wasn't improbable since the Soul King's powers turned into sentient beings like Pernida.
His gaze shifted to the black halo hovering before him. Then, his cold eyes flickered toward the two who had been watching in silence.
"You can have it." His voice was indifferent as he pointed at the black halo before lowering himself onto a boulder and resting his body.
"Eh? I would love to, but I can't! A spirit master at my level can't absorb a 10,000-year-old spirit beast!" Tang Ya's disbelief was evident in her voice.
"I've already erased the spirit beast's remnant soul and absorbed the excess energy. It's safe to take in now. If you don't want it, then leave it."
Huo Yuhao shut his eyes, ignoring their presence as he began absorbing the surrounding Reishi, focusing on repairing his damaged body.
Tang Ya hesitated before glancing at Bei Bei.
"Are you sure?"
"Of course. I trust Brother Huo Yuhao… and I don't want to feel useless ever again."
Tang Ya clenched her fists. Frustration flickered in her expression.
"Tang Ya… it isn't your fault. I—" Bei Bei started to comfort her, but Tang Ya cut him off with a sharp glare.
"Hmph! You don't have to lie to me! If the leader is incompetent, then the Tang Sect will never recover. Don't stop me, Bei Bei."
"Alright. I won't stop you." Bei Bei sighed, stepping back as his cheek twitched.
Tang Ya took a deep breath before sitting down in a meditative posture, allowing her body to absorb the energy of the 10,000-year-old Datura Snake.
Bei Bei leaned against a tree, confusion creeping into his mind. An unknown power was healing his injuries—even though he wasn't actively absorbing any spirit energy.
'Is this… because of Brother Yuhao?'
His gaze drifted toward the boy sitting motionless on the boulder, his eyes shut, completely apathetic to the world around him.
Huo Yuhao was… different. He was too mature for his age. The way he fought wasn't like a Spirit Master—it was brutal, calculated, and decisive. Similar to how a warrior from the past without access to Spirit Rings fought.
And then there was his power. The glimpse of something unnatural, something that spirit masters wouldn't possess.
A strange feeling crept into Bei Bei's chest—awe. It was like the wind that touched his body had a mind of its own. He could understand it, in his own way.
It was subtle, yet noticeable. A form of spiritual connection in his soul.
It felt as if… he was standing in the presence of his god.
'I must be tired.'
Shaking his head, Bei Bei turned his focus back to his surroundings. He would ensure no Spirit Beasts disturbed them. For now, all he could do was stand guard while Huo Yuhao and Tang Ya recovered.
.
.
.
Several minutes passed.
Huo Yuhao opened his eyes, his gaze settling on Bei Bei.
"Ah, Brother Yuhao, you're finally awake," Bei Bei said, his tone carrying a mix of relief and wariness.
Huo Yuhao didn't waste time to approach Bei Bei. He stepped forward, his eyes indifferent besides curiosity. "How is it?"
Bei Bei blinked. "That... Just what did you do?"
It was a natural reaction. The sensation lingering within his body was foreign, yet strangely familiar like Huo Yuhao's angelic form. Power—one that wasn't his—coursed through his veins like an unfamiliar current, yet it didn't reject him.
Huo Yuhao merely smiled. This was expected. His plan was already in motion. He needed his first subordinate in this world, and compared to Tang Ya, Bei Bei had at least some potential.
"I can grant a fraction of my soul to others," he explained in a stable voice. "Meaning, powers beyond your imagination can be granted. In return, they must uphold their loyalty to me."
Bei Bei's brows furrowed. "Then... does that mean...?"
Huo Yuhao nodded. "You now possess the Schrift of 'W'—the power of Wind. It allows you to manipulate the surrounding air at will. A gift far superior to your so-called Spirit Rings."
Bei Bei stiffened. His instincts warn him of danger. "Just who are you?" His voice was low, filled with disbelief, edged with fear.
His body shifted subtly, feet taking an instinctive step back. Lightning crackled from his palm, a subconscious response to the overwhelming presence before him.
Huo Yuhao said with an authoritative tone. "Kneel."
The single word carried weight. A command that his body couldn't refuse.
Bei Bei's breath hitched. A crushing force bore down on him, seeping into his bones, and dragging him to his knees. No matter how much he struggled, his body refused to resist.
Impossible.
Cold sweat dripped down his temples. His limbs trembled—not from fear, but from the sheer powerlessness that wrapped around him like invisible chains.
Huo Yuhao placed his hand on Bei Bei's head. "I will show you who I am since you asked," he said softly. "But if you ever betray me... remember, I can take your life just as easily as I granted you power and your life back."
Then, it happened.
Visions surged into Bei Bei's mind—memories of a God King who ruled over an empire of Quincies, his way of commanding the loyalty of thousands. A king who crushed worlds under his heel, defeating countless foes, and standing above transcendental beings themselves.
'The Almighty.' He saw a figure, it was Yhwach, who sat on a white throne, with darkness shrouding his body and many eyes peering through the shadows.
The memories felt endless like a void, he saw him walking through the corpses of enemies, beings capable of feats like the God Kings of the Divine Realm, all of them fell from the sheer might of the being before him.
The immeasurable magnitude of the memories left him gasping. It felt endless and terrifying to the beholder, yet it lasted only for a moment. When his consciousness snapped back, his body was drenched in sweat.
A god. That was the only way to describe him.
Huo Yuhao—no, the being before him—the Titled Doulos are nothing but ants to him. The power to alter fate, to toy with transcendental beings like Kurosaki Ichigo and Aizen Sōsuke.
How could such a monster exist in this world?
"Now," Huo Yuhao's voice snapped Bei Bei from his daze. "Has your curiosity been answered?"
Bei Bei gulped. His fists clenched, nails digging into his palm. Then, as if something inside him had shattered, he lowered his head further and kneeled completely.
"I... Please," his voice was barely above a whisper. "I will remain loyal. Just—please don't hurt Tang Ya."
Huo Yuhao scoffed. "Ha... I have no interest in harming her. As long as you remain loyal, I will not take your life."
He lifted his head, glancing at the sky as if contemplating something. Then, his gaze shifted back to Bei Bei.
"For now, act like we are merely friends. I don't want others to find out about my identity yet."
Bei Bei exhaled, nodding. "Understood."
With that, Huo Yuhao sat down, eyes glinting with something unreadable. He had questions—many of them. About this world, about Shrek Academy, about everything that could be of use to him.
Bei Bei, still recovering from the experience, listened as Huo Yuhao began his inquiries. But then—
"Right," Huo Yuhao interrupted his own line of questioning. "You can only use your power if you convert Spirit Energy into Reishi."
"Reishi?" Bei Bei's brows knit together. He had seen it before in the memories, but... he didn't know much about it in theory.
"Sit down," Huo Yuhao instructed. "I'll guide the Reishi into your body. Know that you can use the soul fragment I implanted within you as a generator to convert Spirit Energy into Reishi."
Bei Bei hesitated, but obeyed.
"Reishi is far superior to Spirit Energy," Huo Yuhao continued, his tone calm, matter-of-fact. "But they share similarities. I'll explain everything—so listen carefully."
...
Once he finished explaining, Huo Yuhao guided Bei Bei through the process of conversion, teaching him how to form Blut Vene or Blut Arterie.
"Which one will you choose?"
Bei Bei hesitated at the question. He could make a decision himself, but he knew it was better to ask an expert.
"...Which one do you think suits me better?"
"Blut Vene," Huo Yuhao answered without a moment's thought. "Your offense is decent, but your defense is weak. Against that snake, you could have lasted longer—maybe even survived without suffering a fatal injury—if you had Blut Vene reinforcing your body." His voice carried a faint tone of criticism, but it was objective as if merely stating a fact.
"Then I'll take that." Bei Bei nodded.
Huo Yuhao began guiding him through the technique. Unlike the Quincy King, ordinary Quincies couldn't wield both Blut Vene and Blut Arterie at the same time. They had to choose one.
"There are many other techniques within the Quincy Skill Tree, but first, you must master the fundamentals. The stronger your foundation, the more control you'll have over your Schrift." Huo Yuhao paused. "I'll write a book for you later."
"Yes, your Majesty." After receiving the memories of the past, Bei Bei learned how to address the Quincy King. He bowed his head slightly.
Huo Yuhao nodded satisfied with Bei Bei's progress and attitude.
He learned fast—far better than Huo Yuhao had expected. In fact, his talent was almost on par with the other Sternritters in his past life.
"Good." Huo Yuhao nodded in satisfaction.
Before he could say more, a familiar voice rang out.
"Brother Bei Bei! Brother Huo Yuhao! Hihihi! It's all done!"
Tang Ya came rushing toward them, her eyes brimming with excitement. Without thinking, she jumped forward in an attempt to hug them both.
Huo Yuhao, unfazed, took a step back, easily avoiding the overly enthusiastic embrace.
Bei Bei, however, was not as fortunate. A bitter smile appeared on his lips as Tang Ya clung to him, practically radiating joy.
"Thank you so much, Bei Bei! And Brother Huo Yuhao!"
Huo Yuhao observed the scene with an indifferent expression. Meanwhile, Tang Ya, realizing what she had just done, quickly pulled away, a light flush coloring her cheeks.
"Whoopsie~" she muttered playfully.
Bei Bei coughed into his fist, sneaking a glance at Huo Yuhao. For a moment, he thought he saw a look of scrutiny—perhaps even mild disgust—crossing Huo Yuhao's face.
Or was he just imagining things?
"Ahem." Bei Bei quickly changed the subject. "Brother Huo Yuhao, are you planning to go to Shrek Academy with us?"
"Yes," Huo Yuhao replied without hesitation. It was for his plans, which he talked to Bei Bei about.
"For real?! Brother Huo Yuhao, is that true? That's great!" Tang Ya beamed, grabbing his shoulders in excitement.
"Teacher Xiao Ya, please calm down..." Bei Bei intervened, fearing that her blatant display might annoy his liege.
However, Huo Yuhao remained composed, unbothered by her antics. He had no reason to disrupt his own plans over something so trivial.
"I'll go back with you two," he said plainly.
"That's great! Let's go then!" Tang Ya smiled, practically bouncing on her feet.
. . .
As the three of them left Star Dou Forest, a pair of silver eyes watched from the shadows.
A girl with long, flowing white hair stood amidst the trees, her presence concealed.
Behind her, a middle-aged man dressed in black robes with golden linings knelt respectfully. His long, dark hair swayed in the wind, and his sharp golden eyes remained locked onto the retreating figure of Huo Yuhao.
"My lady, do you want me to eliminate him?" The man's voice was deep, unwavering with a hint of hostility.
Gu Yuena remained silent for a moment. Her gaze lingered on the abnormality who had piqued her interest.
"No," she finally said, shifting her gaze to Di Tian. "I'll be watching him for now."
"As you command." Di Tian nodded before vanishing into the darkness.
. . .
'I found you.'
Gu Yuena never expected the 10,000-year-old Romanti Snake she had sent to be defeated so easily.
That form…
She couldn't identify what it was. It wasn't a beast form, nor was it anything that should exist in this world.
Huo Yuhao was an abnormality.
A being that could change the balance between spirit beasts and humans.
From the outside, he appeared human… but her instincts told her otherwise. He was something far more dangerous.
A mix between man and spirit.
***
'If I can bring him to our side… everything would change.'
Huo Yuhao would likely join them since they have a common enemy.
Gu Yuena's silver eyes narrowed as she considered the possibilities.
She needed to find a way to bring him to their side. But with his cold, detached nature from what she observed, it wouldn't be easy. He didn't seem like someone who would willingly fight for either side—his actions, his presence, everything about him was more of a self-interest, another faction in the making.
That alone made him dangerous.
'And if I can't…'
A flicker of resolve passed through her gaze.
'Then I'll eliminate him and absorb his power.'
Her instincts were telling her—Huo Yuhao was an anomaly, and a treasure trove, he was something beyond the known order of the world. His existence alone had already begun to change the balance of the world. The power within him was something unknown, something that could shake even the gods themselves.
She clenched her fists.
'I can't miss this chance.'
Her plans for the Spirit Beast Race had always been carefully calculated. She had intended to sleep for many more years, allowing her wounds to heal, and regaining the strength lost after the war against the gods.
But now…
Now, that plan had changed.
Huo Yuhao's mere existence had disrupted the control of the gods over Douluo Dalu. That alone was an opening she couldn't ignore.
The Spirit Beasts still had strength. And if she moved now—before the gods could react, before humanity could fully grasp the shift in power—she could infiltrate their society, plant the seeds of their eventual rise.
A cold smile formed on her lips.
Yes, she couldn't miss this opportunity.