"A public one? Lion Heart, you still aren't willing to let things go."
The grudge between the Soul Dragon Clan and the Were-Tiger, Were-Lion, Were-Leopard, and Were-Jaguar Tribes had been ongoing for countless years.
During those endless clashes, countless members of the four tribes had perished at Grandmaster Ruu's hands. The most prominent among them were the sons of various Third Transformation Transcendents; many of whom had since become Saints, all thanks to His Majesty's grace.
Leaving the public teleportation square, Grandmaster Ruu made his way toward the local branch of the Soul Palace.
"Ahh…"
Just as he stepped out of the square, a sudden surge of pain wracked his body.
"Was it Lion Heart?" That was Grandmaster Ruu's first thought; perhaps a delayed effect from his brief clash with Saint Lion Heart.
But as he took another step forward, the pain only grew stronger.
Scanning every part of his body, Grandmaster Ruu found nothing unusual. The pain wasn't physical; it was coming from his soul.
"No… [Secret Art: Blood Projection]!" Just as one of the chains suppressing his soul shattered, Grandmaster Ruu cried out in panic.
__________
"Uncles… don't you think this is enough?"
Truu, his body already destroyed, asked in a defeated tone as he looked at Yuu and Auu.
"Only if you had stayed a Dragon-Kin weakling," Yuu said coldly, continuing his assault.
"Boy, the choice is yours," Auu said with a mocking smile. "Either step into the Gate of Reincarnation, or be refined into pure soul energy by me… I mean, by us."
While speaking, Auu activated the [Back Box] in his hands. An ancient weapon forged by their great-grandfather, the First Soul Dragon of the Verse.
The [Black Box] was capable of refining any captured soul into pure Soul Energy.
It was this very device that had allowed the First Soul Dragon to slay all the other mighty Soul Creatures born alongside him, and dominate the entire world of Frokuin.
"I dare you!"
Realizing that the leaders of the Y and A branches had no intention of letting him live, Truu finally lost his temper.
[Secret Art: Star Fury]
Truu's soul, which looked humanoid with wings and horns, ignited in raging flames. The temperature soared to millions of degrees in an instant, climbing higher with each passing moment.
"It's rare to see you lose your temper. [Secret Art: Immortal Bind]."
Just as Truu was about to lunge at Auu and snatch the [Black Box], a figure emerged behind him and bound him using a secret art.
"Even you… Uncle Luu?"
Seeing the newcomer's face, Truu's voice trembled with a mix of disbelief and despair.
He couldn't understand why those who had always been kind to him, who treated him like family, would now be after his life.
"Nothing personal, kid. But ever since your father came to power, he's been making life difficult for everyone."
Luu's voice was heavy as he poured more Soul Power into the ribbon binding Truu's soul body, tightening its grip.
"Boy, have you decided?" Auu asked coldly. The [Black Box] finally activated, and a terrifying suction force burst forth, devouring Truu's soul inch by inch.
"Ahhhhhhh!" Truu screamed in agony as the pain of his soul being torn apart was unbearable.
"Just… a little longer," he muttered through the torment. The distress signal had already been sent, his father would be here any second now.
"Still refusing to reincarnate?" Seeing that Truu still had some fight left in him, Auu's expression darkened.
In the end, he intensified the suction force of the [Black Box], increasing Truu's suffering many times over.
Little by little, the [Black Box] continued devouring Truu.
Half a year later, most of his soul body was gone — only his head remained.
"Kid, your father isn't coming. It's better if you enter the Gate of Reincarnation," Luu said suddenly, his voice carrying a hint of pity.
By now, Truu had grown numb to the pain of his soul being torn apart. So, he could hear Luu's words clearly.
"Alcoria… take care."
Realizing that no help would come, Truu stopped resisting and let go.
In the blink of an eye, a dark, ancient gate appeared before him, and both Truu's remaining soul and the [Black Box] were pulled into it.
"What… No, no, no, no!" Auu shouted in horror as the [Black Box] was swallowed by the Gate of Reincarnation.
"A… Auu… I think my eyes are playing tricks on me." Luu rubbed his eyes frantically, refusing to believe what he had seen.
Moments later, both lost all color in their eyes, and their bodies froze completely.
"What's wrong?" Yuu, who had been maintaining the barrier, finally relaxed as Truu entered the Gate of Reincarnation and came to celebrate with everyone.
However, he noticed that both Luu and Auu seemed lifeless.
"[Black Box]… [Black Box]…" Auu, in a semi-conscious state, kept mumbling.
Luu's situation wasn't any better; his face had drained of color, and the look of horror was quite apparent.
"What IS going on?!" Yuu shouted, knowing the barrier was gone and that Ruu could arrive any second.
"[Black Box]… it's gone!" Luu exclaimed, as if waking from a nightmare.
"Let's get out of here first." Yuu wasn't willing to listen to Luu's nonsense. Losing the [Black Box]? Even a young Dragon-Kin wouldn't fall for such a trick.
Grabbing both Luu and Auu, Yuu activated a precious long-distance teleportation talisman and vanished from the crime scene.
__________
Using [Secret Art: Blood Projection], Grandmaster Ruu projected a portion of his Soul to the location of his descendants.
"Truu!!" Seeing his son's body drifting lifelessly through space, Blood Projection's heart ached, and tears began to form in his eyes without him realizing.
"It's just a shell… his soul isn't here." The moment Blood Projection touched his son's cold body, he knew instantly that Truu had abandoned it and escaped.
"Truu… I am going to find you."
[Secret Art: Descend]
[Secret Art: Heaven's Eye]
[Secret Art: Divine Soul]
[Secret Art: Limit Break]
[Secret Art: Soul Print]