Douluo Dalu:Shards of Fate

The bustling marketplace of the town outside Star Dou Forest was alive with the calls of merchants and the chatter of travelers. Ryo stood at Li Anye's side, his crimson eyes scanning the stalls as vendors peddled wares ranging from dried meat to strange herbs in woven baskets.

"This one repels spirit beasts," a merchant called out, holding up a bundle of dried leaves that smelled faintly sour. Another man boasted of a flower that could lure herbivorous spirit beasts closer.

Li stopped at one of the stalls, his sharp eyes studying the assortment of herbs spread out on the rough wooden table. The vendor, a middle-aged man with sun-darkened skin and a wide grin, gestured eagerly to a bundle of dark, brittle stems.

"Spirit beasts won't come near you if you burn these," the vendor said confidently. "They hate the smell."

Li nodded thoughtfully. "How much for three bundles?"

"Two silver coins," the vendor replied.

Li handed over the coins without hesitation, stuffing the herbs into his bag before gesturing to Ryo. "Let's go."

As they left the crowded streets behind, the noise of the market faded, replaced by the quieter rustle of trees as they approached the outskirts of Star Dou Forest. The dense canopy stretched endlessly before them, the air growing heavier as they entered its shadowy depths.

Their goal was clear: a spirit beast between 5,000 and 9,999 years old. Li had suggested a Nightveil Darkbat—a rare, nocturnal spirit beast known for its speed and precision in the air. Its attributes would complement Ryo's glass-based martial soul perfectly.

Hours passed as they moved through the forest, their search proving fruitless. The darkened woods seemed endless, and while they occasionally sensed weaker spirit beasts lingering nearby, nothing remotely close to their target appeared.

"We'll try again tomorrow," Li said, his tone calm but decisive as the sun dipped below the horizon.

Ryo nodded silently, following him back toward the town.

The hotel room was modest but clean, with a single lantern casting a soft glow over the wooden furniture. Ryo sat cross-legged on the bed, his breathing steady as he descended into his spiritual sea.

The vast expanse of his mindscape stretched out before him, divided into nine distinct regions. Two of them pulsed faintly with activity—the bloodlines of the Fire Dragon and the Human. The remaining sections were dormant, their energy silent and untapped.

Ryo focused briefly on the two active regions, the Fire Dragon bloodline burning fiercely like molten lava, while the Human bloodline radiated stability and control. His gaze lingered on them for a moment before shifting his focus.

Within the center of the spiritual sea, the blood infant hovered, its crimson form pulsing faintly.

"Find it," Ryo commanded silently.

The blood infant responded instantly, surging forward and vanishing from his spiritual sea as it entered the physical world.

The blood infant soared silently through the dense forest, its crimson eyes scanning the shadows as it moved with unerring precision. Its body glowed faintly in the darkness, a streak of liquid red against the black backdrop of trees.

Far ahead, a faint noise broke the stillness—the distant screeches of bats. The blood infant quickened its pace, weaving between branches as it moved deeper into the forest.

Reaching the outer layers of the forest, it paused briefly, its sharp eyes locking onto a flock of Nightveil Darkbats rushing toward the forest's inner region. The bats moved as a single, chaotic swarm, their wings cutting through the air with sharp precision.

The blood infant followed them, its movements smooth and deliberate. As it approached the center of the commotion, a new scene unfolded before it.

Two bats circled each other in a tense, deadly dance. One was massive, its wingspan casting a long shadow across the clearing. The other was slightly smaller but just as fierce, its movements quick and precise.

The battle erupted without warning. The older bat, clearly stronger, attacked with brutal efficiency, its wings tearing through the air like blades. The younger bat fought back desperately, but its strength couldn't match the raw power of its opponent.

Within moments, the younger bat was sent hurtling out of the clearing, its body crashing through the trees before vanishing into the shadows.

The blood infant prepared to follow, but a sharp tug on its consciousness stopped it. Ryo's spiritual energy, stretched to its limit, called it back.

The blood infant turned its gaze briefly toward the general direction of the fallen bat, memorizing the location before retreating.

The next morning, Ryo and Li exited the inn, the faint chill of the morning air brushing against their skin. The streets were quieter than the day before, with fewer merchants hawking their wares.

As they walked through the market, Ryo's attention was drawn to a small stall tucked into the corner of the square. Among the trinkets and stones displayed on the vendor's table, one item stood out—a faintly glowing stone engraved with the symbol of a horse.

Ryo stopped abruptly, his gaze fixed on the stone.

"Interested, boy?" the vendor asked, noticing his attention. "That's no ordinary rock. It's a piece of a fallen star—a rare find. Lucky for you, I'm willing to part with it for… ten gold coins."

"Too much," Ryo replied flatly, his tone cold.

"Rare things cost money," the vendor said, his grin widening. "You won't find another like it."

"Five gold coins," Ryo countered.

The vendor hesitated, his smile faltering slightly. "Seven," he said after a moment.

Ryo pulled five gold coins from his pouch, placing them firmly on the table. "Take it or leave it."

The vendor sighed, muttering under his breath as he pocketed the coins. "Fine. Take it."

Ryo picked up the stone, his fingers brushing against its surface. The moment he touched it, a faint glow surrounded the stone before it dissolved into his body.

Li, who had been standing nearby, stepped forward immediately. "What just happened?" he asked, his tone sharp as he grabbed Ryo's wrist to check his pulse.

Ryo flexed his fingers, his expression calm. "The stone was absorbed. It feels… like it increased my vitality."

Li frowned, releasing his wrist after a moment. "No negative effects?"

"None," Ryo replied simply.

Li studied him for a moment longer before nodding. "If it's beneficial, we won't question it. Let's focus on finding the bat."

The two made their way deeper into the forest, their movements silent as they tracked the location the blood infant had scouted.

The cave was massive, its entrance partially hidden behind a tangle of vines and jagged rocks. From within came the faint sound of screeches, a chorus of high-pitched cries that echoed through the darkness.

Ryo and Li entered cautiously, their footsteps muffled against the uneven ground. The air grew colder as they moved deeper, the faint stench of decay becoming stronger with each step.

Bones littered the floor—small skeletons of children, larger ones of adults, all stripped clean of flesh. The remains formed a gruesome carpet leading toward the center of the cave, where a single Nightveil Darkbat feasted on the body of a freshly caught human.

The bat's leathery wings stretched wide as it tore into its prey, its sharp teeth glinting in the dim light.

Ryo's crimson eyes narrowed, a cold glint flashing across them. Without hesitation, he activated his first soul skill, Refraction.

The air shimmered as an illusion formed, distracting the bat as Ryo moved closer. Glass shards hovered silently behind him, their sharp edges glinting faintly.

The bat paused, its gaze flicking toward Ryo. Before it could react, the shards shot forward, piercing its wings, throat, and chest. Blood sprayed across the cave as the shards tore through its flesh with ruthless precision.

The bat screeched in agony, its body writhing as the glass tore through its heart and lungs. With one final scream, it collapsed, its lifeless body falling to the floor.

Ryo stepped forward, his gaze cold and unfeeling as he looked down at the corpse. The faint glow of a purple soul ring rose from the bat's body, hovering above it.

End of Chapter 13

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My exams have started and I won't be able to continuesly post chapter so please wait patiently