Rumors spread like wildfire through the Azure Dragon Province.
The investigation team from Heavenly Sky Clan—five Foundation Establishment disciples and a Golden Core elder—had vanished without a trace. No bodies, no signals from life-jade slips, nothing but frozen trails leading into the outer forest. Scouts reported the same eerie sculptures that had plagued merchants for months: demonic beasts encased in perfect ice, shattered mid-roar.
In the clan's grand assembly hall, elders gathered under the floating eagle emblem.
"The ice cultivator again," muttered an outer elder. "Whoever this rogue expert is, he's residing in our territory's forest. Our men must have offended him—perhaps intruded on his domain."
The third elder, Lin Zhan, stroked his beard. "Possible. But the timing... right after we sent them to confirm the boy's death. Coincidence?"
Another elder scoffed. "If it's him, he's bold. Freezing our people like beasts? We should mobilize inner sect geniuses. Nascent Soul ancestors if needed."
Whispers of fear mixed with anger. The clan had grown complacent; now an unknown ice master lurked at their doorstep.
Meanwhile, deep in the mist-shrouded forest...
Drake sat cross-legged on a boulder, qi circulating steadily. His body had hardened further—muscles corded from constant hunts, skin faintly shimmering with icy resilience from Aokiji's 1% share. Points kept piling: beast kills, Itachi's relentless purge of scum. The system panel glowed brighter each day.
[Summon Points: 45,800+]
He smirked, satisfied. "Good. Keep coming."
Aokiji lounged nearby, frost drifting from his coat. Itachi stood silent in the shadows, Sharingan dormant but watchful.
Word from mortal towns reached even here—via passing merchants Drake interrogated lightly.
"They call him a hero," Aokiji said lazily. "The 'Black Cloak Phantom.' Kills bandits, slavers, corrupt rogue cultivators. No survivors. People leave offerings at crossroads now."
Itachi's voice was quiet. "They see justice where there is only necessity."
Drake's smirk widened. "Hero? Fine. Points are points. The more bad blood he spills, the stronger we get."
He checked the system again.
[New Feature Unlocked at System Level 3 (via accumulated kills): Lucky Draw Summon Chance. Rank S guaranteed, with small probability for Rank S+ (higher realms, greater power). Luck factor increased by Host's actions.]
Drake's eyes gleamed. "I'm feeling lucky."
He activated the coupon.
Space ignited. Heat warped the air—crackling flames, oppressive reiatsu that made trees smolder.
A figure emerged: tall, elderly, bald head scarred, white haori over captain's coat. Eyes sharp as blades. Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto. Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13. Wielder of Ryūjin Jakka—the strongest fire-type Zanpakutō.
The forest trembled. Leaves ignited spontaneously.
Drake stared, pulse quickening. "Yamamoto... S+ rank."
[Summon successful! Rank S+: Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto (Bleach). Loyalty: 100% (System-bound).]
[Power Scaling: S+ = Peak Nascent Soul to early Soul Transformation equivalent (world-adjusted). Bankai: Zanka no Tachi grants city-erasing flames, 15 million°C heat, resurrection of the dead as ash soldiers. Currently nerfed—Host's cultivation limits full release. Equivalent to late Nascent Soul. Grows with Host. Passive: 1% share = enhanced fire affinity, extreme heat resistance, raw destructive boost.]
Yamamoto's gaze swept the clearing, then settled on Drake. "This is no Soul Society. Nor Hueco Mundo. You summoned me, boy. Speak your purpose."
Drake stood. "Power. Revenge. Building something unbreakable. Join Aokiji and Itachi. We're ending my old clan."
Yamamoto grunted. "Strength without purpose is hollow. But... I sense resolve. Very well.
Aokiji raised an eyebrow. "...Old man fire. Troublesome combo with my ice."
Itachi inclined his head. "Fire and shadow. Balanced."
Drake opened the shop with remaining points.
[Shop: Qi Condensation Pills (x50), Meridian Fortifying Elixir (x10), Basic Flying Sword (Low-grade), Body Tempering Manual, etc. Spent: 30,000 points. Remaining: 15,800.]
New items flooded in—pills swallowed immediately, qi surging. Then a special tab:
[Army Summon Bundle: 100 random low-mid tier soldiers (Qi Gathering to Foundation). Costs 10,000 points. Random due to low system level—upgrades later.]
Drake purchased without hesitation.
A rift opened. One hundred figures materialized: armored warriors, rogue cultivators, shadowy assassins—random but loyal, system-bound. Basic but numerous.
He looked at his growing force: admiral of ice, Uchiha prodigy, flame captain-commander, small army.
"Time to prepare," Drake said coldly. "The Heavenly Sky Clan ends soon."
Cut to the Heavenly Sky Clan main peak.
A delegation from the allied Jade Lotus Sect arrived—floating lotus platforms, graceful robes. Friendly visit for arranged marriage talks. The groom-to-be: Lin Hao, second brother, now positioned as the "talented" one after Drake's "death."
The bride candidate: Lian Xue, Jade Lotus young miss. Beautiful, Foundation Establishment peak, gentle demeanor.
In private chambers, Lian Xue's older sister teased her mercilessly.
"Marrying that crippled trash's brother? At least Hao's got talent. But imagine if the original fiancé was still alive—ha! The worthless one who fell off a cliff."
Lian Xue flushed. "Sister, don't speak ill of the dead."
The sister laughed. "Dead is dead. Weaklings don't deserve pity."
Alone later, Lian Xue knelt at a small altar, lighting incense.
She whispered softly, "Wherever you are, Lin Drake... may you find justice in the afterlife. No one should die forgotten."
Outside the window, unseen in the mist, a faint chill wind carried frost—and the distant crackle of unseen flames.
The clan had no idea what approached.
[To be continued...]