------Ray 3rd POV--------
playing around with Sai for a couple of minutes while testing the ability of my wings
and i have to say it's awesome! speed, agility, and I hardly feel any consumption of soul power under high-speed flight—I am now standing in front of Sophia, ready to fight as a test of where I stand.
After preparing, as Sai gave the signal, Sophia appeared behind me, sweeping her tail down on my head. I dodged to the right, causing the ground I was standing on to turn crystal.
using a skill from the beginning? I opened the space between us, as this skill of Sophia's caused anything that came in contact with her tail to turn crystal (Crystal Wipe).
I started to activate the first and second skills of my Lung Material soul, using the Crystal Bullet to gain space between us, as for the mist generated from the first skill usedto hide me and interfere with her spiritual sense.
At that moment, I sensed Sophia gathering spiritual and soul energy in her mouth. She's trying to use a Sonic Scream! Probably thinking of spreading the gathering mist. I infused my crystal element into the mist close to me and activated my shield skill. After the attack hit, all the mist around me dispersed except the close one and the shield. Taking this chance, Sophia sprinted in my direction to catch me unprepared, but the moment her antenna touched my shield, I activated the Counter Shock Wave, sending the absorbed attack back at her and sending her flying.
Sophia stabilized herself using Air Step to stay floating. I deployed my wings and flew behind her, reinforcing my arms and legs with soul power, intending to fight in close combat to test my body.
-----------3rd POV--------
Sending Sophia flying and going after her, Ray started to use his Material Arts to fight.
In the heat of the fight, Sophia noticed that Ray was improving, with every punch, kick, and dodge becoming more refined and natural, his movements sharper and more dangerous. It caused Sophia to struggle even to land a hit on him. What a genius. The more we fight, the better he gets—not only in his attacks but in enemy reading and environmental use. Brilliant. Truly brilliant! Thinking so, a smile creased her face as she began to enjoy the fight.
The fight started to get heated. Out of nowhere, he deactivated his bloodline while defending, causing him to fly away. But in the process, he activated his Nature Fox Material Soul, kicking the air and leaving a yellow spark behind to appear right on top of Sophia, ready to punch her down.
Sophia got caught off guard, as the very activation of his martial soul caused the elements around him to destabilize. In desperation, she swung her tail at him, but it passed through his torso like cutting flames, ending with her slamming to the ground.
Ray looked smug. "Yes! That clean hit." Noticing later that Sophia didn't get up, he landed beside her. "You okay?"
Before he could notice, a tail wrapped around his leg, dragging him to the ground. "Now, where even—" Sophia said with a laugh. "That was your Element Body, right? That was cheating!? If someone doesn't have a way to infuse spiritual power in their attack or empower their soul power—which is basically only possible for Soul Douluo or higher—you're definitely a nightmare to your enemy."
Ray humbly said, "I know that this innate skill is strong, but probably anyone higher than me by two ranks could land an attack. Not much of a cheat."
Sophia looked at him as if seeing an idiot, then realized something. "Except your ancestor lady, and the hunting we did… Have you ever met a cultivator before?"
Ray tilted his head and shook it in denial. Sophia changed her position to face him. "Then you should make some time to look around the human settlement."
She continued with a serious face, "From what I've seen so far, someone with a pure soul like yours outside has to be at least a Soul Douluo, and that's without taking your ultimate element into consideration."
"Well, that's only outside," Sai said.
Ray was surprised and started to chuckle, causing Sophia to get confused. "Why are you laughing?"
Ray spread his hands and legs before looking at the giant tree in front of him. "You see, while my body was evolving, I was called by my master somehow, and I was learning under her." He stopped talking, noticing Sai coming and settling beside him after shrinking his size. "Big bro, pat! Pat!" Smiling, he did what Sai asked, then continued, "So, after I came back here, I know the true value of this place, and also the meaning of what I'm trying to pull up."
Sophia looked at him with a happy smile but didn't interrupt, just kept listening. She felt that after he woke up, his character had changed. He didn't lose his happy and sunny personality, but somehow he became more mature, not like he wasn't before, more like he was living in a dream until now. He was seeing everything from the outside without realizing he was taking things lightly, but now he gave the image of a man of responsibility.
Ray, not noticing, continued. "When I came here, I only had the idea to live my life away from problems and conflicts while exploring the world and its mysteries without care." He looked at Sophia. "The reason I even thought of the bond contract was to open a route for me to interact with soul beasts without fear for my life." He looked around again with a sad smile.
"But here we are. I have the resources, the ability, and the means to change the world for better or worse—all of it in my hands." Ray looked at the horizon, still sensing the whole new population in his detection. "And with the additional work you did…" He put his palms in front of him. "Instead of feeling happy and proud of my strength, and how Plana is now, I feel…"
Sophia cut him off with a smile. "Scared?"
Ray clenched his hands before nodding and putting his face into sleeping Sai's furry back. After a while, he felt a soft sensation on top of his head, looking up and finding Sophia patting him with the end of her tail.
"I honestly don't know how to help you, as I don't really know what you feel." Stopping her petting, she shrank in size and settled behind him. "But I know for sure that you have a rightful heart, and I assure you that whatever changes you cause, I will be there to back you up and answer anything I can. After all, we're bonded, and your fate is mine."
Closing her eyes, she said, "Just live the way you see right and leave the rest to the future. It's called the Future for a reason."
Ray lay at her side, closing his eyes. "I see."
"Also, don't forget them," Sophia said mischievously, and like a trigger, the air around the forest filled with dozens—maybe hundreds—of people. Some were using unique devices to fly, some had wings on their backs, but all were just floating outside the boundary as if waiting for something.
"Ray, this is the result of the last action you did," Sophia said, looking at him as he turned around, surprised. "Every person here was either saved or born here."
Looking around, he could feel connections to some of them and recognize some despite aging.
"Let's go," Sophia said, running into the sky along with Sai.
Ray stood there for a second, still feeling overwhelmed by the number of people around, which was still rising. He could clearly perceive the delight and joy they emitted.
Manifesting his wings, following Sophia, by the time he caught up to her, she was floating in front of a group of people who, by what he sensed, were the most powerful around. Surprisingly, two were actually soul beasts.
"Greetings, Young King." As Ray stepped in front of them, all five bowed their heads in respect.
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