Rain pattered against the crumbling roof of the shrine, a soft hiss that mingled with the low growl outside. Chen Yu's heart thundered, his small body pressed against the stone wall, the hum in his chest a wild, frantic pulse. The cloaked figure's glowing eyes burned through the twilight, fixed on the shrine like a predator scenting blood. He knew it wasn't human—not fully. The novels hadn't prepared him for this, but Lin Xiao's warning about rogue soul masters stealing power rang in his ears. Whatever this thing was, it wanted his sphere, and he was trapped in a six-year-old's body with nowhere to run.
The growl deepened, and the figure moved, its cloak billowing as it glided closer, unnaturally silent despite the wet grass. Chen Yu's breath hitched, his mind racing through options that dwindled by the second. The shrine's narrow entrance was behind him, blocked by vines, and the front was where the figure loomed. Fighting was a joke—he had no soul ring, no combat skills, just a martial soul he barely controlled that barely controlled him. Hiding might buy him a few seconds, but the hum in his chest was too strong, betraying his presence like a beacon.
He glanced at the shrine's interior, eyes darting for anything—a weapon, a loose stone. Nothing but dirt and vines, and the cracked stone floor beneath his feet. The hum pulsed, sharp and urgent, and he felt the sphere's presence stir, almost angry, as if demanding he act. He hesitated, then summoned it, its iridescent glow casting eerie shadows on the walls. The growl outside faltered, and the figure paused, its eyes narrowing. The sphere's hum was loud now, vibrating through the air, and Chen Yu felt a surge of curiosity from it, mixed with defiance.
He channeled a burst of soul power, the pain in his chest sharp but bearable. The air rippled, a vibration spreading outward, and the vines around the entrance trembled, snapping like twigs. The figure staggered, its cloak fluttering as if caught in a gust, and Chen Yu's heart leapt. The sphere's power was working, pushing it back. He focused, trying to sharpen the ripple, and the air grew heavy, the stone floor creaking under the pressure. A loose rock rolled toward the sphere, and the figure growled again, louder, more menacing.
Chen Yu's vision blurred, his soul power draining fast. He couldn't keep this up—the sphere was too much for his untrained body. He cut off the flow, the sphere vanishing, and stumbled back, gasping. The figure recovered, its glowing eyes locking onto him through the shrine's entrance. It moved, faster than before, and Chen Yu's stomach dropped. He dove for the narrow gap at the back, squeezing through the vines, the sharp leaves scraping his arms.
He emerged into the rain, the cold drops stinging his face, and sprinted toward the village. The fields were slick with mud, slowing his small legs, and the growl came again, too close. He risked a glance back—the figure was pursuing, its cloak a dark blur in the storm, gaining ground with every step. Chen Yu's chest burned, the hum wild and chaotic, urging him to summon the sphere again, but he knew it would only drain him faster.
The village lights flickered ahead, faint through the rain, but they were too far. He veered toward the forest, hating the choice but knowing the open fields left him exposed. The trees loomed, their branches swaying in the wind, and he ducked into the underbrush, his breath ragged. The forest wasn't safe—soul beasts roamed here, even low-level ones—but it offered cover, a chance to lose the figure.
He crouched behind a gnarled tree, his heart pounding so loud he was sure it would give him away. The rain masked his tracks, but the figure's presence was still there, a pressure that weighed on his senses. The hum in his chest pulsed, and he clamped down on it, afraid the sphere's aura would draw it closer. He listened, straining through the patter of rain, and heard nothing—no growl, no footsteps. Had he lost it?
Minutes passed, his body shivering in the cold, and he dared to move, creeping deeper into the forest. The trees were dense, their roots tripping him as he navigated by touch, the moonlight barely piercing the canopy. He needed to circle back to the village, to find Gao Lin or even Liu Mei. They were Spirit Hall, but they were human, and right now, that was better than whatever was hunting him.
A sudden rustle made him freeze. He spun, expecting the cloaked figure, but it was Lin Xiao, her braid plastered to her neck by the rain. Her dagger martial soul glowed faintly in her hand, and her eyes were wide, scanning the darkness. "You idiot," she hissed, grabbing his arm. "What are you doing out here? I saw you running again, and then that… thing."
Chen Yu yanked his arm free, his voice low. "It's after me. The same thing from last night. It's not human."
Lin Xiao's face paled, but she tightened her grip on her dagger. "I told you, your soul's like a flare. We need to move—now. The village is safer, even with Spirit Hall."
He nodded, too shaken to argue. They crept through the forest, Lin Xiao leading the way, her steps surer than his. The rain was heavier now, turning the ground to mud, and the hum in Chen Yu's chest was restless, pulsing in time with his fear. Lin Xiao glanced back, her expression grim. "Whatever's after you, it's not just a rogue soul master. I felt its aura—it's… wrong. Like it's not from this world."
Chen Yu's blood ran cold. Not from this world? The novels hadn't mentioned anything like that, but his sphere wasn't normal either. The starry void, the voice, the gate in his vision—were they connected to this thing? He opened his mouth to ask, but a growl cut him off, low and guttural, echoing through the trees.
Lin Xiao cursed, pulling him behind a boulder. The figure emerged from the shadows, its cloak soaked but still billowing, its glowing eyes scanning the forest. Chen Yu's chest tightened, the hum screaming for him to act. Lin Xiao gripped her dagger, her soul power flaring faintly, but she was only level three—barely stronger than him.
"We can't fight it," she whispered. "We run, or we hide. Your call."
Chen Yu's mind raced. Running hadn't worked—the figure was too fast. Hiding was temporary, and the sphere's aura was a beacon. But fighting… he didn't know how, but the sphere had pushed it back before. Maybe he could do it again, just long enough to escape.
"Fight," he said, his voice shaking. "Buy time, then run."
Lin Xiao nodded, her jaw set. "You're crazy, but okay. Use your soul. I'll back you up."
Chen Yu summoned the sphere, its glow lighting up the forest, and channeled soul power, ignoring the pain in his chest. The air rippled, a vibration spreading outward, and the figure growled, staggering as the ripple hit. Lin Xiao darted forward, her dagger flashing as she slashed at the cloak, but it moved, dodging with inhuman speed. The blade grazed its arm, drawing a hiss, not of pain but of anger.
Chen Yu pushed harder, the sphere pulsing, the air warping around it. A tree branch snapped, falling toward the figure, and the ground trembled, mud sliding under its feet. The figure's eyes glowed brighter, and a wave of pressure hit Chen Yu, dark and cold, like a void swallowing light. He gasped, his soul power faltering, and the sphere flickered.
"Run!" Lin Xiao shouted, grabbing his arm. They bolted, the figure's growl echoing behind them. Chen Yu's vision blurred, his body screaming with exhaustion, but Lin Xiao pulled him along, weaving through the trees. The village lights were closer now, and he heard shouts—villagers, maybe Gao Lin, drawn by the noise.
They burst into the village, collapsing onto the cobblestone path. Gao Lin was there, his white robe stark in the rain, his soul power flaring as he scanned the forest. "What happened?" he demanded, his eyes narrowing at Chen Yu's pale face.
"Something… in the forest," Chen Yu gasped, the sphere's hum fading as he fought to stay conscious. "Not human."
Gao Lin's expression darkened, and he turned to the forest, where the growl had gone silent. "Stay here," he said, summoning a shimmering blade martial soul. "Liu Mei will hear of this."
Chen Yu nodded, his body trembling. Lin Xiao met his eyes, her face grim. The figure was gone—for now—but it would be back. The sphere's power, the voice, the gate—they were drawing something dark, and Spirit Hall's test was only the beginning. He needed answers, and he needed them before the shadows closed in.