Chapter 21: Family Reunion
...
The Silver Sea of Huo Yuhao's inner world lay still. Its waves glimmered under a dark sky filled with constellations like Ursa Major and Minor, Leo, Cancer, and all the rest from his previous world. The calm of this sea was deceptive, fragile, like glass.
Yuhao's eyes flickered open. He staggered upright, the silver water rippling with every move he took. "Where… am I?" He muttered, his voice echoing faintly.
Then it hit him. He recognized this place. This was his mind. The sea of his soul. In the past, he'd visit this place to go under long meditation. It served to clear his mind, escape the noise, and keep his anger in check. It's one of the reasons why he was so calm and levelheaded.
But something felt different. For one, the air was heavier, filled with energy that he knew wasn't there before. Not far from him, he spotted ten dark golden symbols suspended in the air.
"It's been so long." He looked up. But instead of gazing at the constellations, his brows furrowed on the massive gray sphere that loomed above him.
"It has." A voice he was incredibly familiar with agreed.
Huo Yuhao's eyes widened in shock, and he spun around to meet the person who stood only a few feet away.
He was a tall, broad-shouldered man looking like he was in his thirties. Black hair spilled past his shoulders, and a neatly trimmed beard framed his sharp jawline. He wore a black toga lined in gold. Dark golden tattoos looking just like the symbols he saw were visible on his arms. A golden mark ran across his forehead, cutting over his left eye. Scorching golden eyes stared back at him, as if they were going to melt him alive.
The man sent him with a friendly smile, like he had no care in the world.
Huo Yuhao froze, shock flashing through him like ice water. His eyes lit up strongly at the sight of the man and his frustrating, carefree smirk.
It all came back to him. The brutal training. The lessons that were drilled into him. The mocking laughter that made him want to wring his neck from his shoulders. The constant mental torture that was used to toughen his mind.
This was the man who had ignited his rage against their family. Who had taught him to harness it and embody his rage and cruelty? To commit the same suffering against the people who had done the very same and bring their world to hell. The person who taught him everything he knew and guided him throughout his life like a devil on his shoulder. It was him...it was...
"Kronos..." He whispered, utterly speechless, but the rising anger in his voice and burning iris indicated that he was not happy to be back with Grandpa.
A smirk tugged at the Titan's face. "I'm baaaaaack." Kronos spread his arms wide like a showman stepping onto a stage. "Now I know I've been IMA for quite some time, but—
*PUNCH!*
*CRACK!*
The words were cut short by Huo Yuhao, who drove his fist straight into the Titan's jaw. Kronos flew back several feet, crashing into the water with a splash. "You son of a bitch!"
The Titan Lord dragged himself up, a hand rubbing his jaw. "Ow... not the money maker. Don't you think—"
*PUNCH!*
Another punch slammed into him, cutting the words short. He landed flat on his back before Yuhao hauled him up by the collar.
But that again was cut off when the Silver Demigod struck him again. The Titan was once more sent flying, skidding three times before landing on his back.
He then felt his collar get grabbed and hauled up. Silver water surged beside them, encasing his grandson's right arm. Kronos lazily stared back at the silver eyes peering at him in a blaze of rage he hadn't seen in years. His breathing was erratic. "Something on your mind, champ?"
Yuhao's voice ripped raw from his throat as he bellowed, "You LIAR!" He cocked his fist back.
*PUNCH!*
"You told me everything would be ok! You said everything would change! That I'd be fine! I'M NOT!" He shot his fist forward again in a devastating blow.
*PUNCH!*
The water surged at the impact, waves spilling outward. "NOTHING! Nothing changed!" Another punch ensued.
*PUNCH!*
You have no idea the shit I went through in this world!" He threw his fist again.
*PUNCH!*
"And you—" His voice choked. "You have the fucking balls to make stupid jokes, you shameless piece of garbage!"
He yanked Kronos up by the hair and slammed his head into the water, rage trembling through his arms. "It happened again… She's gone. Again!"
"HRAAAAAAAGGGGHHHHH!!!" For the next couple of hours, the Silver Demigod brutally beat the Titan of Time for all he was worth.
...
"Hah... hah..." Huo Yuhao released hot air from his mouth as he held the Titan by the neck in a death grip.
Kronos was beaten to a pulp, golden blood slipping out of his heavily wounded body. He didn't resist one bit the entire time. "You done?" His face stayed neutral as he simply watched his grandson with an odd, heavy pity. Slowly, he raised a hand and rested it on the boy's head. "There, there."
The touch was warm, fatherly in a way no one would expect from the person who ate his own children.
"You're right." Kronos said quietly. "At the end of the war I didn't care about the end result. I thought… if I disappeared from your life, if I stayed out of the picture, maybe you'd be freer. Maybe you wouldn't be such a bitter, depressed idiot. At least you got a couple years of fortune for your troubles before it ran out. That's good to know."
"Is that all you have to say for yourself?!" Huo Yuhao shouted, taking that hand and gripping it hard enough to break it.
Kronos sighed again, like the question was a drag. "I don't know what you want from me, child. We already went over this. I am not your father." The Silver Demigod's eye twitched at the mention of his father.
"The best I can possibly do is provide you knowledge and insight if you want to gain power. If emotional support was what you wanted, you should've attached yourself to Iapetus or some other goody-two-shoes, not me. You chose me when I offered my help, knowing full well I couldn't be trusted." He rolled his eyes, careful not to bring up his lovers. He needed to keep them out of the picture.
"Pff, honestly, what did you expect, a hug?" He arched his brow incredulously. "And here I thought I taught you better."
"Are you trying to piss me off?" Huo Yuhao snarled through clenched teeth. Silver-water blades sprang up from the water, dozens of thin shining edges pointing at Kronos from every side.
"I cannot fix your human problems, Perseus." Kronos stated, more vocal than before. "Whatever I say won't change what happened." He closed his eyes as if tired from the conversation. "It's a shame you had to go through that again, really it is, but you seem to forget that I am the Titan of Time, not a mortal. I was above these trivial things until a crazy demigod brought me to my knees. Because of that, I am forced to never leave your side." His voice was flat and factual.
The raw bluntness cut through something in Huo Yuhao. The blades sank back into the water. His grip loosened. He let Kronos fall back until the Titan hit the silver surface.
"You're right." Huo Yuhao exhaled a deep, tired sigh. "It was wrong to expect anything else from you." He clutched at his matted, wet hair. "You're heartless, insane, and utterly despicable." Kronos smiled like he'd heard a compliment.
"You know the worst part?" Huo Yuhao went on. "You're all I have now. The only family I have left, and he's the one I hate a lot, almost as much as him."
Kronos snorted. "I know, and I'm stuck having to be buddy-buddy with family out of convenience. Talk about fucking irony." He chuckled, earning an eye roll from his grandson.
Huo Yuhao let himself fall back into the silver water, landing on his butt. His fists shook at his sides, but the rage had cooled down, and his eyes went back to normal. "You're a fucking cockroach, you know that?"
Kronos snapped his fingers, and all the wounds vanished. "Not the worst thing I've been called." He mused, leaning back, stretching himself. "So, are you done with your little tantrum, Perseus?"
"It's Huo Yuhao now." He quickly corrected.
"I don't care." Kronos replied with a yawn, getting a faux glare from the demigod.
For a long moment, the two men sat in silence. If one thing was clear, then it was none other than that they were back. Grandfather and grandson finally reunited.
"How in Chaos did you survive the dimensional gap?" Huo Yuhao finally asked. "I assumed you perished alongside your power."
Kronos stood and stretched like a lazy cat. "I don't actually know how. At first, I woke up alone in the Gap, which was not pleasant at all." He shivered uncomfortably at the memory.
At that, the Silver Demigod's face tightened for a second. "Moving on," The Titan continued, "I can only assume that when you died, we were separated in the Dimensional Gap, and because you had no body, we got separated. I was inevitably devoured by it and spent all that time unknowingly slumbering without my notice. Going by that, I can only theorize that because of our past link and you gaining a new vessel via reincarnation in Soul Land, our connection returned along with my power."
His fragment of divine consciousness must've unconsciously returned to his grandson like two magnets. The Titan didn't have any recollection of that simply because he was asleep the entire time and only woke up when the Skydream Ice Silkworm became Huo Yuhao's Soul Ring. It sounded far-fetched, but it was the only thing that made sense right now.
"Odd." Huo Yuhao hummed, thinking it over. "Any reason why?" He asked further.
Kronos shrugged again. "I don't know. Theorizing when in the dark is messy, and my explanation has holes. I can only surmise that we got back together simply because it was..." He stopped midsentence before a smirk fell on his face. "Fate." He laughed. "Those bitches got us good. Hehe."
"No doubt about that." Huo Yuhao agreed. "That's what I get for building that stupid weapon." He groaned.
"Terrible life decisions aside, now that we're in magical China and you got a portion of your power back, is there anything you plan to do?" He asked, his voice carrying a dark edge. "
The Silver Demigod's face remained impassive. "I'm tired, Grandfather. I don't want to care anymore." His eyes then brightened in silent anger, the memories of his mother's death replaying along with the laughter of those terrible people. "…but I can't let this slide."
Kronos cocked an eyebrow. "Oho, and what are you going to do about it?"
Huo Yuhao spoke steadily and coldly, all calculation and restrained frost. "I'll cultivate my Martial Soul. Its initial ability almost matched my old visual prowess before I died. By cultivating, I'll also regain my former power. That is my top priority. After I regain a significant portion of my power back, I must annihilate the White Tiger Clan from the face of the earth. Every last one of them who have wronged me, who've taken from me! That includes this body's father and his line." His voice was low and venomous.
"I'm no more than a sitting duck right now. I need strength again—more than anyone, more than anything."
The Titan gave an approving nod. "Well, it wouldn't be too difficult to achieve even at a small portion of your abilities by the methods you are currently using. At the rate you're going, by the time you're nineteen, you'll be a Soul Emperor, but we can aim higher." He then stood up.
"Our enemies are merely human. There won't be as much chaos as what happened with Olympus, so you go berserk as much as you want, and no one will retaliate against you." He then pointed at the silver demigod. "But I only have one question for you, child. What will you do—"
"I'll kill them." Huo Yuhao finished midsentence. "They will die a slow and painless death. My soldiers will trample their lands and force them to watch their own execution."
Deep down, he didn't really know if he actually wanted to take their lives like how he described. He was tired of killing people indiscriminately. He only said that to secure Kronos's support. Not that he wouldn't do that to the duchess. She, her husband, and that son of hers were on his list. There was no doubt in his mind that he was going to burn that mansion to the ground as they watched helplessly. He'll allow the servants to flee to tell the story.
Kronos studied him a long moment, searching for lies. Ultimately, he seemed amused by the answer. 'That's my boy.' A grin threatened to split his face. "Well as it happened... I already started paving the way for you along with some bonuses."
Huo Yuhao narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?"
Kronos simply said, "Remember the worm."
Realization hitting, Huo Yuhao snapped to his feet. "Where is that bastard?" He demanded.
Kronos waved a lazy hand. "Relax. I handled it." His grandson blinked and calmed a notch. The Titan explained what happened. "It tried to make itself your Wisdom Soul Ring and live inside your vessel with the goal of making you stronger." He raised a hand where a glowing golden marking stuck to his skin. "But I hijacked its power in time. Everything it had is now mine and through me, yours." He gave a cheeky smile.
"How did you manage that?" Huo Yuhao asked, incredulous. A million-year Soul Beast was not something you took over easily. He didn't know how it compared to a deity but he was certain it wasn't that far off.
"I snuck up on it as it was placing its seals on you and ceased that moment to paralyze it. After that I used that divinity thief spell you used on me but modified to work on Soul Beast and since that thing was nearing the realms of the gods because of its cultivation it was enough of a loophole to work."
In the time it took for him to grasp the full situation he had already made the adjustment to that spell. Usually magic of that caliber needed way more time of testing and prep to work but he proved why his title of Titan of Time wasn't for show.
This divinity thief spell was not developed by the son of Poseidon but by the Witch of Betrayal Medea when she wouldn't join him on his war and tried to make him her slave. She failed spectacularly and was imprisoned by him by a spell he did make himself his Iron Maiden. After that he took her palace and all her spells for himself.
Thanks to all the in-depth research on it. That single spell paved the way for many similar yet functionally different spells that could help him become the strongest quickly even more than before. If utilized right, he would've won the war in a heartbeat He just didn't because there was no need.
"Only you would use my spell to usurp someone." Huo Yuhao retorted with a shake of his head.
What the Titan did was incredibly irresponsible. The spell was supposed to steal a gods divinity and transfer it to the caster. Thats how Medea made it. The silver demigod edited the spell to do the same thing but also transfer the last bits of divine consciousness into his mind to continue providing support. The way Kronos did it was risky and never heard of before.
"What can I say three's a crowd and I wasn't about to share." He smirked.
Rolling his eyes, he then asked, "So did you destroy it?"
"I wouldn't say destroyed more like... replaced or usurped...It still exists but only by power not by consciousness or soul if that's what you're thinking. It'll never come back." He assured then turned serious. "I replaced the worm Perseus, and as you already know it was no normal Soul Beast. Want the full story?"
"Sure, but first I'll tell you mine. You always take too long with exposition." Huo Yuhao muttered. ignoring the offended look on the Titan.
The Silver Demigod recounted everything that went down in his second life, minus the really embarrassing parts like bathing with his mother or accidently tripping on a rock. The Titan listened through out it all with a bored face, but it was a fake. Even though he already knew of his grandsons circumstances he still played close attention on the peaceful time he's had.
When Huo Yuhao finished, Kronos clapped once. "Alright. My turn."
"Oh brother This is going to be long."
"Not another word!" Kronos barked. "I'm your grandfather and you will sit down, listen, and enjoy! Theres no time in here so you better not interrupt or I will start again!" He warned getting a deadpan from Huo Yuhao.
"Now, let's take a seat on something more comfortable." Kronos snapped his fingers. Two coach chairs appeared. Between them, was a large plate with an assortment pastries and sandwiches, and tea.
The two took their respective seats. "Tea?" Kronos offered, but Huo Yuhao shook his head. Kronos shrugged and popped a macaron into his mouth and sipped his cup. "Now, where to begin..."
"How about where we are?" Huo Yuhao suggested. "I know this is my mind, but it feels different."
"Good question." Kronos set his cup down. "This isn't your normal mindscape. This is the Sea of Spirit or Sea of Consciousness. For simplicity, we'll call it Sea of Spirit because it rolls off the tongue better. It is your mindscape and my home no change there. Normally it's smaller but that only goes for ordinary meaningless humans and you're not like them. "He tissed, wagging his finger.
Huo Yuhao wanted to tell him that humans especially ones with Martial Souls were capable but not wanting to hear the beginning again opted not to.
"As you're two thirds divine your mind is incredibly spacious and powerful, but you already knew that too." His grandson nodded. "But because of your condition your full powers can't manifest in reality the way you want them to, and I don't suggest forcing it like you tried before. Doing that will damage your body. The only way to bring them all back is by intensive training and cultivating and absorbing more Soul Rings. Only by these two methods and any external normal consumption/use of resources can you regain your former might."
"What about my Martial Soul?" Huo Yuhao asked.
"Your Spirit Eyes are special. It is not a normal Beast Martial Soul. It's of the spiritual attribute. That's why we can speak here. Spirit Eyes are both your eyes and your Martial Soul. The Sea of Spirit holds your Spiritual Power. To use your Spirit Eyes how it should be, you must transform Soul Power into Spiritual Power, then release it through your eyes."
"So, I can shoot laser beams out of my eyes like Superman. Neat." He replied dryly. He could already do that before.
"No such a method would have to be learned later in some other form. I'm sure you'll figure it out." Kronos tapped his cup. "Your consciousness is here while your body is asleep in the real world."
His grandson whipped his head up. "So, my body is defenseless?" He asked but didn't exaggerate. If the Titan wasn't worried than he knew he was fine. He also knew time flowed differently here. They could be here for days and not a second would pass by. Taking a cup, he poured himself some tea and asked, "Back to what you were saying."
"Of course. Moving onto how I replaced the worm you should know its history.
I managed to learn quite a lot about my latest victim and I'm sure you'll find it very interesting. The worm did not lie it did have a million years of cultivation, and it wanted to become your Soul Ring but with a consciousness. The first Wisdom Soul Ring as it said. In order to do that he significantly compressed and sealed his true strength inside right before I took over."
"That explains why I didn't die but what does that mean for my first Soul Ring and why did it choose me. It said I had the spiritual attribute does that have anything to do with it?" He asked to which his grandfather grinned more than happy to answer.
"It certainly does. You now have a million-year Soul Ring sealed down to a ten-year level because your vessel is weak. In time, when you break past your current limits, more of that power will be available to you. As for why, it was about to die, and you were its only way out. Soul Beasts aren't immortal, and this one just capped out in life expectancy. It was left with no other choice than to rely on a human and look how that turned out." His tattoos shone.
"It made a terrible choice," Huo Yuhao said, earning a resounding smirk from his grandfather.
"Yup. Now let's go back to its history and how it became what it was. Soul Beast reaching a million years is impossibly rare you'd have better luck searching for a four-leaf clover than a million-year-old Soul Beast. Ironically the worm was incredibly weak in the beginning. After looking over its memories It's my opinion that it was nothing but luck that it reached the age it did." He began the tale.
The Skydream Ice Silkworm was originally just a very ordinary Ice Silkworm from the northern part of the continent called the Extreme North. Its species had the inherent dual spiritual and ice attributes. Unfortunately, their combat powers were next to nonexistent, making them no different than a source of boundless food supply for other stronger predators. It was very rare for any of them to cultivate beyond ten thousand years. But this one was very fortunate.
When it was thirteen years old, it was getting chased by a predator. As it was running away for its life, it accidentally fell into an icy crevice. That's where it stumbled upon a very valuable resource called the Ten-thousand-year Cold Marrow. Tired and hungry, it slept atop it for ten thousand years, all the while absorbing it.
Back then it was very small, barely three inches long, but when it awoke, the ten-thousand-year-old Cold Marrow was gone, having been absorbed by the once thirteen-year-old Ice Silkworm, which grew into a ten-thousand-year-old Soul Beast. Normally any Soul Beast would be overjoyed to reach that age. It meant more power, and for a member of the Ice Silkworm tribe, that was very welcomed.
But it wasn't yet strong enough to find a way out. It crawled around in hopes of looking for a path out. Instead, it only discovered even larger lumps of ten-thousand-year-old cold marrow, and since it was the only source of food it could find, it once again slept next to it, which lasted even longer for tens of thousands of years.
His grandson listened intently to the history of the Skydream Ice Silkworm and couldn't help but think that it probably named itself that because it dreamed all the time.
The Skydream Ice Silkworm kept looking for a way out while stopping to sleep and absorb more of that ten-thousand-year-old cold marrow whenever it appeared. It continued this cycle again and again until it became the first hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast of its species, indicated by the golden patterns across its body. By that point, it had enough strength to break the ice down and leave by force.
Normally whenever a Soul Beast crossed the threshold and reached a hundred thousand years, their existence would invite divine retribution, but nothing happened. Whether it was because of its species' weak constitution or sheer luck or both was up for debate.
In any case, the Ice Silkworm continued this trend of sleeping and eating, not bothering to leave out of laziness, traveling further into the cavern in search of more.
When its food supply eventually ran out, it burrowed out of the ice cave. It floated on the ocean surface, drifting along the continent's edge to the south. By then it already had nine golden patterns across its body. It was also during that point that it encountered its first enemy. Unlike what people would expect, because all it did was sleep and eat, it was not good at fighting and had to resort to scare tactics by using its vast amounts of spiritual energy to scare it off.
Being a Soul Beast of nine hundred thousand years did not equate to overwhelming strength. It had large reserves but lacked the combat power to use them properly. In fact, it wasn't even as strong as a fresh ten-thousand-year-old Soul Beast. Because it couldn't find its way back and the ocean was dangerous, it had the bright idea to go on land. It soon found out that it was a bad choice.
Because it had absorbed large quantities of cold marrow, its body released a unique scent that attracted the attention of all Soul Beasts, and it got itself captured by a powerful hundred-thousand-year-old Soul Beast in the Xingdou Forests. Instead of killing it then and there, it brought it to the heart of the forest. That's when it learned that it possessed an immense amount of Origin Energy and that any Soul Beast could become a hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast by absorbing and transforming the Ice Silkworm energy. It also benefited hundred-thousand-year Soul Beasts by breaking free of their restrictions of their cultivation years, but because its power was so immense, it would take a long time to absorb it all, which was why it was brought back to its lair first. It planned to hoard it all for itself.
Although it wasn't good in a fight, that hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast underestimated the Ice Silkworm. Using its pure amount of soul power, it made its presence stronger, attracting all the hundred-thousand-year Soul Beasts in the Xingdou forest.
A large battle ensued involving all of them ten thousand years and above in their attempt to seize hold of the McGuffin that was the big worm. The all-out grudge match was very bloody, and through the chaos it tried to flee, but the Soul Beasts stopped quarreling just in time to capture it. They then negotiated between themselves, and all agreed to absorb the nine hundred-thousand-year Ice Silkworm together, which was very bad news for it. They trapped it in the center of the Xingdou forest, forcing it to release its Origin Energy for them to absorb. The more powerful Soul Beast benefited a lot from it.
All it could do was let them exploit it while thinking of ways to escape. Its Soul Power was pure enough for them to absorb it for tens of thousands of years. After thousands of years of thinking and observing, it realized that to get out, it had to hide its aura and hide underground. It was during that time that it encountered several humans. Some of them were powerful and entered the Xingdou forest to hunt for powerful Soul Beasts.
They met their end at their hands. Because of its forced nourishment, the hundred-thousand-year Soul Beasts of the Xingdou forest attained a new level of power. Along with already being among the strongest on the Douluo Continent, they fended off their homes from the humans and the powerful weapons they wielded. It was then that the Ice Silkworm realized the resourcefulness of humans.
As it was a dual spiritual and ice property Soul Beast, it tried its hand at becoming a human's Soul Ring. Thanks to its high-grade spiritual property, it would maintain its consciousness and not vanish. It would become the first unprecedented Wisdom Soul Ring in human history, and with the help of that Soul Master, they would get back at those bastards for what they did. That was the plan, but it was easier said than done. The first person it chose to become their Soul Ring was a Titled Douluo, a supreme and highly respected existence among humans. That person died without even being able to see its true form. That's when the million-year-old Soul Beast realized that it needed a host with a spiritual attribute to become a Soul Ring.
It searched for thousands of years without success, and its time was running out. It was during that time that the tenth pattern appeared, and it broke through and became a one-million-year-old Soul Beast, naming itself the Skydream Ice Silkworm. But reaching that point had its downsides. Its lifespan would soon come to an end due to approaching divine punishment. It reached the very limit of Soul Beasts and would soon perish. Just before it could lose hope, it sensed the Silver Demigod's Martial Soul from underground.
It had plans for Huo Yuhao. To help him become a powerful Soul Master and get back at the bastards who imprisoned him and used him as a battery. And to also save the love of his life before she too suffered the same fate he did. That one was top priority.
That was the plan, but it all ended up in smoke as he ended up replaced by the Titan of Time and removed out of the picture, tragic.
In another life the Skydream Ice Silkworm, Tian Meng, would've been a good companion and dear friend for Huo Yuhao, as it helped him become one of the most powerful Soul Masters in Soul Land and rise to godhood while living alongside its host forever immortal if not for the intervention of the Crooked One.
When story time was over, the Silver Demigod stared down at his cup in deep thought. A small look of pity flashed across his face for the worm, but it was brief. He didn't care enough about its fate to go out of his way to avenge it or confront Kronos about it. That's just what happened when someone crossed his grandfather. The Titan Lord was merciless.
"You know… I really hate your long stories, grandfather." He retorted to mess with him, though nonetheless appreciating the information.
"Screw you, you ungrateful silver-haired little shit! If I were you, I'd show some gratitude." Kronos huffed, taking a savage bite out of a sandwich.
Rolling his eyes, Huo Yuhao then asked, "So who were those hundred-thousand-year Soul Beasts that kept it hostage? They sound like bad news." His eyes lit up with interest.
He was very intrigued by these powerful Soul Beasts and what a battle between him and them would be like. Normally it wasn't like him to seek battle in such a form that didn't involve survival, but it was fights with creatures of this caliber that got his blood boiling. In the past he's never battled with the intent of just fighting for the thrill of it. The only exceptions to that were with Hercules and Son Wukong, but aside from them, the rest were merely about one-sided domination.
Knowing what was on the demigod's mind, the Titan said, "That's not something you need to concern yourself with right now." Kronos cut him off without hesitation. His tone made it clear the subject was over.
Yuhao clicked his tongue and leaned back. "Fine. I'll just figure it out myself." He picked up a cookie. "But tell me this, what was its end game? Even if it did become someone's Soul Ring to avoid death, humans don't live long compared to Soul Beasts. So why bother?" He bit down on the treat as he eyed his grandfather assessingly.
Kronos's smirk faltered. Normally he would've liked to come up with a lie, especially when it came to this topic, but he couldn't do that. That would put Perseus on high alert for his machinations, so seeing no way out, he regretfully opted to tell the truth. "It wanted to live forever as a part of you by turning you into a god—"
"Not happening!" The Silver Demigod's voice was firm, leaving no room for debate. Just like before, he'd rather die than wear the chains of divinity, and that wasn't going to change. Ever.
Kronos's expression matched his, annoyed that his grandson wouldn't embrace the power. This wasn't the first time this discussion happened. Every time The Titan would try to convince him to discard his humanity fully to become a perfect being with nothing holding him back, yet the Silver Demigod continued to willingly burden himself with his human side all out of some sentimental value.
Needless to say, it always ended up with the two arguing. "How are those headaches of yours?" Kronos taunted.
"Kronos, I'm not becoming a god." Yuhao spoke through gritted teeth, silver eyes flashing as the silver water beneath them rippled upwards. "That's final."
The two stared in silence, neither uttering a single sound until, "Alright, alright!" The Titan gave in with a defeated sigh. How in the world did he have such a willful grandchild? He had no clue.
Too bad for the demigod because the Titan was already planning on ways to manipulate his grandson.
He was already doing it now by subtly erasing his emotions from the women he loved. It was slow going and would take months, but as long as no one mentioned their names, his heart would gradually forget.
Because his grandson didn't have all his power, it meant he had more room to work with and scheme. Perseus didn't know it, but since reincarnating, he was being affected by his child body. He already demonstrated that by behaving more rashly in his fight with the baboon. This made it easier for Kronos to influence him.
Slowly but surely, he was going to fix his perfect creation.
"You really know how to piss me off, grandfather." Yuhao refilled his tea, his glare sharp as he drank. "If it wasn't because of the unknown risks of you becoming my Soul Ring, I'd erase the last shred of your consciousness for that."
Kronos lazily laughed. "As if." He said smugly, and his grandson turned his head away in frustration, knowing the Titan was right. "Aside from picking the most rebellious person to become its host, its ideas for your future growth weren't without merit. Combined with my abilities, we should take full advantage of this opportunity. Soul Power is very interesting."
"On that we can agree." Yuhao said. His gaze then shifted as something caught his attention. In the distance he could see ten dark golden symbols suspended in the air. Each one was shaped like a vertical eye.
"I'm guessing those are the seals?" He turned back to the Titan, who nodded.
"Correct. After the first failure, the worm understood the benefits of making proper arrangements to secure your safety and not literally blow up his host like a total idiot." He mocked derisively before continuing, "So he set these seals. Most of its power was absorbed by those strong Soul Beasts. If not for that, even at the current, you and the seals you're together with wouldn't die, but you'd definitely be paralyzed.
"These ten layered seals he set will break every time you break through a bottleneck, allowing you to use more of its now-mine power. In a way these can all be considered your first Soul Ring. You just can't use it yet."
"So, what do I have currently at my disposal?" He asked, curious to know what his first Soul Ring was. Even if its power was sealed, it would no doubt be better than the variant Wind Baboon since it had compatibility with his Martial Soul.
Kronos grinned excitedly. "Your first Soul Ring is on the level of a one million-year Soul Ring, but it doesn't have the full weight of one yet. As your cultivation rises, the seals will gradually unseal, enhancing your Soul Ring. As a plus, it can even enhance the might of future Soul Rings you'll obtain in the future." He snapped his fingers, making a white ten-year Soul Ring.
He kept snapping his fingers back and forth as it changed color to yellow, purple, black, and finally red before snapping it back to white.
Yuhao leaned forward. "If that's how it is, then what's my Soul Ring situation, and how much can my body bear?"
"At the moment," Kronos said bluntly, "Your body can only endure the power of a four-hundred-year-old Soul Beast. So your first ring's active might is capped there. When you reach level twenty and gain a thousand-year ring, this one will jump as well. Every breakthrough strengthens it. This'll not only affect your first Soul Ring but also your next ones as well. There's a limit to what I can give you, but if we do this right, then at minimum all ten of your future Soul Rings will be at the hundred thousand years level."
"Did you just say ten?" The Silver Demigod blinked. "I thought Soul Master can only have nine."
Kronos snorted, arrogantly saying, "You shouldn't compare yourself with ordinary mongrels, Perseus. You are of my blood, an ultimate existence in this world, and with my station as a de facto million-year Soul Ring, you'll put these peasants who think they're hot shit to shame." He smiled as if his words were an undeniable fact.
This was how the Titan King viewed himself and, by extension, his grandson, an arrogant king with the power to treat others below him however he'd like. This was the mentor who taught his grandson to carry himself proudly and become as strong as he once was, and he sure as hell will do it again. These mongrels will know their place. It was only a matter of... time.
"Still doesn't answer my question. Why will I have ten rings?" He hurried, and Kronos nodded approvingly at his not-beating-around-the-bush attitude.
"Sure, sure. A single Martial Soul can indeed only have absorbed nine Soul Rings. But that is only for people with a single Martial Soul. You see, killing a hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast will inevitably grant you a Soul Bone and a hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring with two skills. A two-in-one type of deal, but you already know this, right?"
"The same doesn't apply to million-year Soul Rings. It is naturally unprecedented that finite lifeforms will never get the opportunity to witness it. Depending on the situation, it can evolve infinitely according to the condition of your body, but I digress. Sadly, I can't give you a Soul Bone, but I can grant you two things. One is four soul skills, and the other is a second Martial Soul." He put up two fingers.
Although the silver demigod guessed that the million-year Soul Ring would grant him a significant boon, he never expected it to be so good. A soul ring that can evolve infinitely was already a heaven-sent treasure. Anyone would be over the moon with that alone, but four Soul Rings and a second Martial Soul? Never in their wildest dreams would a Soul Master have this opportunity. A second Martial Soul, also known as a Twin Martial Soul, was rare, but if a person was born with it, with that second Martial Soul they could increase their power with double the amount of Soul Rings.
In the hands of Huo Yuhao, as long as he works himself to the bone in his cultivation, he'll no doubt become a powerhouse even more than he was before. Yeah, this definitely beats a hundred thousand Soul Rings.
Seeing the genuine curiosity almost lit up the same passion that rose in Kronos. Now that they were in this new world, they wanted to seize these new possibilities and bring them to life. A life without something to look forward to or not being engrossed in a hobby was nothing short of hell, and the titan wholeheartedly agreed with that. Being an immortal was boring sometimes.
"Don't get too excited." He cut in, getting a frown from his grandson at being pulled out of his excitement, and crossed his arms. "It's only a possibility at the moment. You don't actually have it. The second Martial Soul you have is ice, but it is currently soulless ice. It has no form and will only take shape once you absorb your first ice property. Soul Beast—depending on what it is, it will become your Martial Soul, just like those people with beast-type Martial Souls, like the white kitty cats." He joked, getting an eye roll from his grandson, but he laughed a bit in his head.
"So, once I reach level twenty, we'll need to find an ice attribute Soul Beast. Sounds troublesome." He hummed.
Right now, they were in the Xingdou forest. For them to find an ice attribute Soul Beast, they'd need to venture for days north.
"You don't need to worry about that. I got you covered on that part. Just focus on getting to level twenty. Once you're done with that, I'll take you there." The Titan assured him.
When he looked over the worms' memories, he learned about a very special ice attribute Soul Beast, a scorpion to be exact, and she was over one hundred thousand years old. He immediately knew she should be his grandson's Soul Ring. With her by their side, his grandson will surely grow in power.
"Now that you understand what we're working with, I need to tell you that you should be careful about how you pick the Soul Rings you want in the future. Earlier you attempted to absorb that baboon. That Soul Beast is not compatible with you, so you should strive to learn more about Soul Beasts. I have knowledge about them, but it's all from that worm, and all it did was sleep and eat all its life, so I can't provide as much support in that field as I'd like."
He knew a few that would suit him, but they weren't exactly easy targets for the moment, not when compared to the scorpion he had plans for. If only one of the powers his grandson had regained during the Martial Soul awakening was his Sha Naqba Imuru. That ability was like his Spirit Eyes but cranked up to eleven. It allowed him to discern heavily concealed truths with a single glance, along with any and all truths of the world. He could even see the future with it.
"I'll make sure to study up on Soul Beasts when I reach the next city. I'll settle down and make some money while I'm at it. Maybe I'll find a library or something when we get there." The silver demigod replied.
Though it seemed like he was taking it a day at a time, it was not his choice to. He hated being in the dark about things, but there wasn't much he could do on that front.
"Decent plan. I'll keep researching ways to make you stronger. Spiritual attribute Soul Masters are difficult to train because it's hard to find spiritual attribute Soul Beasts. When the opportunity arises, we'll leave to find some heavenly treasures for you to consume. Your Spirit Eyes are a mutation, and while it has decent potential, it has brought with it some significant effects on your body since childhood."
"And that's how I got stuck with a level one innate Martial Soul in the beginning." He sighed solemnly. If the White Tiger Clan had trained him with the same benefits as the other children of the Duchess, it would've been different, but because he didn't awaken the White Tiger Martial Soul, they could only see him as a lost cause.
"Correct." He confirmed. "While your demigod body is very optimal for combat, you're not at the point where your body is one hundred percent perfect, unlike before. You didn't notice, but your meridians at the moment are narrow and blocked, causing your cultivation to be almost forty percent slower, which is very bad, and we ought to fix very soon."
They'd need external help from another Soul Master to fix this issue. He'd do it himself, but he's not at the point where he can take over Huo Yuhao's body long enough to fix it. Even if he did and managed to fix it in time, that'd leave them defenseless for at most a year.
Huo Yuhao frowned, clenching his fist in frustration. "Shit, you're right. I didn't even notice!"
Since he awakened his Martial Soul, he went at it like a fool, working three to five times harder than everyone else to reach this point. If he had known how to fix his meridian problems earlier, he could've gotten a Soul Ring way earlier and unlocked more of his divine abilities. If he did, he could've saved her.
'No...' His rational mind moved a thousand miles a minute.
Even on the off chance the Silver Demigod did find a way to fix his meridians, he wouldn't have been able to make it in time to use his divine abilities to save his mother, and even if he did manage to get his first Soul Ring and bring out more of his power, it wasn't guaranteed that he would regain one of his healing abilities like water healing or chi. No matter how you slice it, you can't assume what could've happened would've been to his advantage.
Still, it made him very upset at himself for his weakness and the White Tiger Clan. Just the mere thought of his stepmother made his blood boil almost as much as that useless husband of hers. No matter what, those two would die by his hands as he took everything away from them.
Noticing the rage boiling up in the demigod, The Titan said, "Careful now. You're getting agitated." Kronos barked with some laughter. "Your emotions are all over the place."
The Silver Demigod frowned but closed his eyes and took a breath to clear his mind.
He recalled the teachings the Titan imparted onto him and focused his eyes on the end goal. If he wanted to regain his former power and dominate this Soul Power system, if he wanted to destroy the White Tiger Clan, he needed to play the game and discard any and all unnecessary emotions.
"Yes, grandfather." Huo Yuhao calmed down.
"Good, make sure to take this slowly. Cultivation is a long and arduous process. Rushing it like a madman will have adverse effects. Do not rush things." He warned. "And with that I'll send you on your way." He stood, and just before he was about to snap him out of the Sea of Spirit, Huo Yuhao stopped him.
"Wait," Yuhao said quickly. "One more thing. What's that gray orb?" He had noticed it since he arrived, but before he could question its existence, Kronos showed up. From what he could tell, it had nothing to do with him or the Titan.
At that Kronos let out an enraged look, which surprised Yuhao. His grandfather wasn't easily ticked off by anyone like he was now.
"Just an unwanted guest. It appeared after I replaced the worm. I do not know what it is, but whatever it is, it is not native to this world or ours. All I can tell is that even though it's a wisp of a soul, its potency is extremely high, and I can do nothing to destroy it. I've tried." He emphasized the last part.
"Is it dangerous?" He asked, receiving a head shake.
"No, I can sense no malice from it, and it seems to be in deep slumber. At the moment we can do nothing but let it live rent-free." He grumbled. "If we're lucky, it might not wake up at all, and even if it does, I'll make sure it doesn't do anything funny. You have my word on that."
"I'll take you at your word then, but just remember it's your ass if you fail to protect us." He sent a sharp nod to the Titan king, who smirked in response.
"Hmph, what do you take me for? I'd worry more about yourself in the physical world." He snorted. "So, anything else?"
"Actually, yeah. The four soul skills you mentioned. I'd like to know what they are."
Kronos gave a sly smile. "That's something you need to comprehend on your own."
"Seriously?" The demigod scowled.
"C'mon, you're smart. You'll figure it out. What kind of model grandfather would I be if I stripped you of this valuable learning opportunity?" He snickered as he went to tousle the boy's hair.
Swiping the hand away, he retorted with,. "I'm in my thirties, old man. I'm not new to this stuff anymore." But the swiggly smile on the titan said that he wasn't going to reveal it. "At least give me a hint so I don't use them wrong."
Kronos thought for a second. "A sound argument. Alright, I'll give you a hint and some more insight. For one, the Soul Skills you have are almost all auxiliary Soul Skills. They don't have many physical offensive abilities like your silver water or a good old sucker punch, but I know you'll manage until you reach the point for an upgrade. The million-year Soul Beast's power sealed inside you can only help you improve the age of your Soul Rings. It cannot help improving the soul power that you cultivate yourself, understand?"
"Got it." He nodded slowly.
"Good, now if you'll excuse me, I am very tired." He snapped his fingers, and his toga transformed into black pajamas, and behind him materialized a king-sized bed with one hundred thread count sheets.
Perseus resisted the urge to ask about the jammies. "Yawn, time for you to scram. Those two humans have been waiting for you to wake up for the past three seconds." He snapped the blindfold into his hand.
"Two humans?" He tilted his head.
Kronos snapped his fingers, and an image of Bei Bei and Tang Ya appeared. "These two have been protecting you while you were asleep. When you wake up, don't tell them anything about the million-year Soul Beast, and instead tell them that the Soul Ring you absorbed is from the monkey. It's what's called a variant, so it'll be a plausible story." The image of Bei Bei and Tang Ya disappeared with a snap. "Now if you don't have any questions, get the fuck out." He moved the eye blinds down to cover his eyes as he moved his finger, preparing to snap again.
Just before he was about to, Huo Yuhao called out. "Snapping your fingers doesn't make you cool, grandfather."
Kronos stopped briefly, staring flatly at the demigod from behind the blinds. "...Fuck you, Perseus." Before snapping his fingers.
Huo Yuhao's world blurred, and he was sent back into the outside.
Alone, Kronos sank into the bed with a chuckle. "What a good boy." The smile then faded. Though he was happy to have returned to Perseus's side and the prospect of his future, a nagging feeling pressed against his mind.
He didn't have any concrete evidence, but he had a hunch something was wrong. That someone else was pulling the strings. As a manipulator himself, he could tell when he was being played, and it pissed him off. "Great, now I'm pissed." He frowned before going to bed.
...
..
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(Kronos is up to his old schemes again. Also, I'll make other fics with Percy as the main character in the future. Right now, I'm torn between making a Death Mage Who Doesn't Want A Fourth Time or a Rebuild World. Decisions, decisions.)