Chapter 3 – The Shadow Awakens
"Spirit, awaken!"
The Spirit Hall elder's voice thundered through the chamber as he poured his soul power into the circle. The six stones on the ground pulsed with golden light, forming a luminous ring that surrounded Ryuga.
Warmth — that was the first sensation he felt. His body relaxed as if wrapped in a comforting embrace. The golden aura was gentle yet powerful, flowing through his veins like sunlight under his skin.
Then suddenly, a sharp sensation rippled through him — something inside his body shattered. The warm current rushed downward, converging toward his shadow. It vanished in an instant, unnoticed by anyone else.
The elder's and his parents' eyes widened. Within the golden light, the number of glowing motes far exceeded anything normal — even more than what ten children would produce combined. The Spirit Hall elder's expression turned serious, his excitement rising.
"This energy… it's powerful. Perhaps this child will awaken something extraordinary," he thought, barely containing his anticipation.
"Stretch out your right hand," the elder instructed.
Ryuga obeyed. Seconds passed. Nothing happened. His parents exchanged anxious looks, worry creeping into their hearts.
Then—
From Ryuga's shadow, thick black mist began to pour out like smoke escaping from a broken seal. Gasps filled the room as the darkness spread, swirling violently before gathering together in front of him.
The mist condensed into form — a suit of armor, tall and imposing, standing silently with a sheathed katana at its side.
There was no body inside. The helm was hollow, the visor empty, and the plates were held together by writhing tendrils of shadow. It was a living suit of armor, animated entirely by darkness itself.
The entire room fell silent. No one dared to speak.
The Spirit Hall elder stared, stunned. "This… this is…" He turned toward Granvill and Eliza, awe and disbelief in his eyes. "Your son's martial spirit is mutated. Whether this is a blessing or a curse, only time will tell. We'll have to test his soul power to confirm."
Granvill and Eliza exchanged glances — half relieved, half worried. Mutations could lead to greatness… or ruin. Some weakened martial spirits beyond repair, while others evolved them into something unparalleled.
But looking at the spirit before them — its aura, its strength — both parents felt a spark of hope.
Ryuga, meanwhile, couldn't hold back his excitement.
The spirit was magnificent.
Before him stood Shadow Armour — a hollow, animated suit of jagged, obsidian-black plates wreathed in violet-black mist. The helm's visor was empty, and the pauldrons exhaled tendrils of shadow like living smoke. The design blended samurai contours with a demonic knight's silhouette, but no figure wore it; the armor itself was the spirit. A katana rested at its side, and the darkness that bound its plates together pulsed like a heartbeat.
A name echoed within Ryuga's mind — along with its nature and abilities.
"Shadow Armour."
It was a hybrid — part Tool Spirit, part Beast Spirit — something entirely new.
Ryuga couldn't help but grin.
"Cool… It's so damn cool."
"Child," the Spirit Hall elder's voice broke through his awe, "place your hand on the crystal ball. Let's see your soul power."
Ryuga nodded and placed his small hand on the crystal sphere.
A second later, the crystal erupted in light — glowing completely, without a single dim spot.
The elder froze.
Eliza gasped, tears welling in her eyes. "Look, honey! Our son… he has innate full soul power!"
Granvill's laughter boomed across the chamber. "Hahaha! My son, you've made your father proud! You'll surpass even me one day!"
The elder smiled and bowed respectfully. "Congratulations, City Lord. Your son's martial spirit and innate full soul power mark him as a top-tier genius — a potential Soul Douluo in the future!"
But while everyone celebrated, Ryuga stood still, eyes distant. His mind buzzed with information — a strange power awakening deep within him.
"So… it's finally here," he thought. "My cheat… has awakened."
He didn't reveal anything, simply smiled and accepted his parents' embrace. There would be time later to explore whatever had awakened inside him.
Meanwhile, the Spirit Hall elder quietly prepared the certification scroll and excused himself. He knew better than to ask the City Lord's son to join the Spirit Hall. Still, he planned to report this discovery to his superiors immediately — the birth of a mutated spirit genius with innate full soul power was not a small matter.
After the elder left, Granvill lifted Ryuga onto his shoulders.
"Hahaha! My son, tell me — what's your martial spirit called? How does it work?"
Eliza leaned closer, eyes gleaming with curiosity.
"It's called Shadow Armour," Ryuga said proudly. "Like both of your spirits, it's a mutation — and a good one at that. It belongs to both the tool and beast spirit systems."
He continued with excitement, "I can summon just the katana like a tool spirit, or wear the armour as a beast-style possession. I can even use both together if I want! And the best part? It barely drains any soul power, even if I keep them active all day."
Granvill's laughter filled the hall again. "Good! Good! Good!" he said three times, voice filled with joy and pride.
They spent a long time talking, their hearts light with happiness. Eventually, Granvill leaned back and asked the next important question.
"Son, have you thought about what kind of spirit beast you'll hunt for your first spirit ring?"
Ryuga blinked, then jumped down from his father's shoulders. "Hold on, Father. I just awakened my martial spirit! It's a mutation — I need to study it properly first. I have to understand its abilities and element before choosing a suitable spirit ring."
Granvill smiled, deeply impressed by his son's maturity.
"Well said. Take your time, Ryuga. This decision will shape your entire future. Walk the path that feels right to you — your instincts have always been sharp."
Eliza nodded with a proud smile, eyes full of warmth.
But Ryuga grinned mischievously. "Before that, Father, I need your help with something — something that might make me stronger."
"Oh?" Granvill leaned forward, intrigued. "Tell me, son. Whatever it is, your father will do it."
"Yes, baby," Eliza added gently. "Just tell us what you need."
Ryuga scratched his cheek, pretending to be shy.
"Well… I'm not sure if it'll really work. When I was playing in the mountains, I found a tattered old book hidden inside a hollow tree. It talks about ancient ways to strengthen the body and spirit — mysterious methods that could help one grow stronger."
Granvill's brows rose. "A mysterious book, you say? Interesting. Bring it to me, son. If it truly holds any value, we'll see what can be done."
"Okay! It's in my room!" Ryuga said quickly and ran off, excitement glinting in his eyes.
Written by :- Ashborn_
Edited by :- CHAT GPT