"…This power…"
Arthur's breath was shallow, chest rising with adrenaline as a spear of crackling blue lightning shimmered into existence in his open palm. The weapon pulsed with terrifying force—pure soul-forged energy, unstable and alive. Thin arcs of electricity danced along his arm, casting erratic shadows across the walls.
"…is going to change everything."
The spear hummed louder, as if resonating with some unseen will—but in just seconds, its light flickered. The thrum faded.
And then—it vanished.
Arthur's arm dropped limp. A sharp pang tore through his soul as the surge of power receded. The soul force within his body, so abundant just moments ago, had been completely devoured.
He collapsed onto the bed, his body trembling and drenched in sweat.
"The soul force consumption… it's too great," he whispered between ragged breaths. "Even with 400 soul force, I can't sustain it... Is this because the soul ring is gold rank?"
He clenched his fists weakly, frustrated at his own limitations. But there was no strength left to fight—not even to move.
His vision blurred. Muscles heavy. The world darkened around him.
And in that quiet, utterly spent, Arthur finally drifted into sleep.
---
Elsewhere…
In the sealed chamber deep within the Seok Mansion, voices still clashed, the air thick with old wounds and unresolved guilt.
"Old man Hung," Grandmaster Kim said sharply, pacing the polished floor, "If you refuse to teach him, I can live with that. But if you try to harm that child again—I will not stand by."
Seok Hung stood firm, eyes burning with shadows of a long-buried past. "You don't understand the danger. That boy isn't just powerful. He's the echo of a storm we barely survived once. You think you can raise him without consequence?"
His voice cracked—somewhere between rage and regret.
"I know exactly what that danger is," Kim replied quietly, his tone heavier now, burdened by memory. "But we created it. We owed them more than betrayal."
Silence fell for a long moment.
Then Grandmaster Kim straightened, eyes steeled with resolve.
"…We'll be leaving this city."
He turned away from his old friend—if one could still call him that—and walked to the door.
Seok Hung said nothing. He simply watched as Kim's silhouette faded into the dim light of the corridor, leaving behind only regret and the bitter weight of a promise long broken.
Kim's hand tightened around his staff.
This time, he vowed silently, I won't run from the past. I'll protect the future—even if it costs me everything.
"Motherrrrrrrrrr!"
Arthur jolted upright, a strangled cry tearing from his throat. His chest heaved as he gasped for breath, sweat pouring down his face like he had just escaped drowning. The sheets clung to his body, damp and twisted. His wide eyes stared into the dim morning light that filtered through the small cracks in the window.
His voice echoed faintly in the quiet room, but what lingered more than the sound… was the feeling. Grief. Loss. A pain that didn't belong to just the body—but to the soul.
*What… what was that?* he thought, heart pounding.
He clutched his head, fingers digging into his scalp as if trying to drag the dream back. But the images slipped away like mist through his fingers.
"I… I can't remember. Why can't I remember?"
There had been a woman. A soft voice. A pair of warm hands. Then fire—flames, screaming, silence.
Arthur clenched his jaw.
"Even though I know what happened to my parents, why can't I see their faces? Why can't I even remember their names?"
He remembered the stories told to him in the orphanage—that his parents died when he was very young, that no one knew who they were. But now… it all felt too strange. Too empty. When he tried to probe deeper into those memories, it was like hitting a wall of pain.
A migraine-like pressure throbbed behind his eyes, forcing him to stop.
"No use thinking about it now," he muttered, pushing himself to his feet. He wiped the sweat from his face, trying to shake off the lingering heaviness in his chest.
Arthur quickly washed and changed into fresh clothes, straightening his posture, adjusting his expression—masking what haunted him.
Just as he was about to leave his room, a knock echoed against the wooden door.
He opened it slowly.
Standing there was Grandmaster Kim, arms behind his back and his usual faint smile on his face.
"Arthur, it's time for us to leave," the old man said with calm, almost casual ease. "Since Seok Hung is unwilling to guide you, there's no reason for us to stay here any longer."
Arthur blinked, surprised, but nodded immediately. "Alright, Grandpa."
He turned back into the room and began gathering his things. The small wooden cabinet creaked as he opened it. He carefully packed his clothes and, tucked among them, his worn-out old laptop—a relic from his past life, perhaps the only thing that connected both worlds.
Grandmaster Kim quietly watched him from the doorway. His sharp eyes swept over Arthur, narrowing slightly.
"You look… stronger than you did yesterday," he said, trying to sound offhanded, but the edge of curiosity couldn't be hidden.
Arthur tensed, his back stiff for a moment. He forced a smile, turning halfway to face him. "Oh? I practiced my soul force and qi all night," he lied, his voice a touch strained.
Kim raised a brow but said nothing.
He's hiding something, But… I can't blame him.
Still, Grandmaster Kim's gaze grew distant. The strength in Arthur wasn't normal. No training could produce such a leap overnight. He knew now, more than ever—this boy wasn't ordinary. The blood running through his veins was heavy with a truth the world tried to bury.
So you really are… one of them.
Suppressing the tremor in his heart, Kim looked away, expression unreadable.
Once Arthur was packed, the two departed quietly, slipping through the estate without fanfare. The rising sun cast long shadows across the courtyards as they passed through the main gate. Their exit went unnoticed…
Except by one.
A figure appeared from around the corner, running to catch up.
"Arthur!" Seok Yung's voice called out.
Arthur and Kim stopped. The young man came to a halt before them, eyes flicking down to the pack slung over Arthur's shoulder.
"You're leaving already?" Seok Yung asked, a bit out of breath.
Arthur nodded. "I meant to tell you, but it happened fast. We're heading out to hunt a spirit beast—my Heavenly Dragon Spear still needs a soul ring. And… I have to keep training. The academy exams aren't far."
Seok Yung's face faltered for a moment. His usual pride gave way to something softer.
"I was hoping we could talk more about the soul path," he muttered, almost sheepish.
Arthur smiled gently, but before he could say anything, Seok Yung straightened and grinned wide.
"Fine then! Let's see who ends up at the top of Class 1-A in Sable Star Academy. I'll be waiting."
There was real fire in his eyes now—not arrogance, but purpose. The kind Arthur had seen only once before—during training. A fire sparked by rivalry.
Arthur returned the grin. "Alright then. Let's make it interesting. Whoever scores higher… gets one wish from the other. No matter what."
Seok Yung's eyes lit up, and without hesitation, he thrust out his hand.
Arthur met it with his own, the handshake firm, full of unspoken determination.
Both boys smiled, the heat of rivalry sparking in their eyes—until a dry cough from Grandmaster Kim cut through the tension like a blade.
"Ahem."
They awkwardly released their hands.
"Alright, alright, we're going," Arthur said, laughing as he scratched the back of his head.
Grandmaster Kim rolled his eyes. "Youth these days... All fire, no patience."
With a final wave, Arthur turned away, following the old man as they left the Seok family estate behind. Neither of them looked back.
Soon, they boarded a sleek flying taxi stationed at the outer platform of the city. It hummed softly beneath their feet, gently rising into the sky with a smooth lurch. The city below grew smaller as they soared past towers, courtyards, and walls that stretched like the spine of a great beast.
Unsurprisingly, Grandmaster Kim paid the fare.
"Grandpa, which soul ring do you think would be suitable for my Heavenly Dragon Spear?" Arthur asked as he looked out the window at the sprawling forestlands beyond the city's edge.
Kim raised a brow and grunted. "Brat, how would I know that? Didn't Seok Yung give you the Spirit Beast Encyclopedia? Use that brain of yours and figure it out."
Arthur pouted slightly but didn't argue. Instead, he pulled out the thick, leather-bound book that Seok Yung had given him. The cover was aged, with the emblem of the Seok family crest etched faintly in the center. Gold-tinted pages fluttered as he opened it, but instead of flipping through it manually, Arthur had a better idea.
He held the book open in one hand, then closed his eyes.
"System, show me a list of spirit beasts that are best suited for my Heavenly Dragon Spear soul spirit."
The book glowed faintly in his palm.
[Scanning... Analyzing compatibility based on weapon type, elemental resonance, user affinity, soul spirit nature...]
[Please wait...]
Arthur's heart beat faster as golden letters began forming in the air before him—only visible to him, a translucent interface projected by the system.
[Top Matches for Soul Ring – Heavenly Dragon Spear—]
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