NOVEL NEXT Chapter 8: Chapter 8
Chapter 8: Arrival at Shrek Academy
Six Years Later…
The wind was warm and gentle as Ayanokoji stood on the outskirts of Suotuo City, gazing at the distant gates of Shrek Academy.
The journey had been long, but the years had passed swiftly.
At twelve years old now, Ayanokoji had grown taller, leaner, and sharper — a boy who moved with quiet confidence, his gaze steady, unreadable. His once soft and detached demeanor had matured into something colder, more calculating, and yet… there was a dangerous elegance to it.
In these years, he had trained relentlessly — mastering his Spirit Eyes, learning to control the ever-dark presence of his Dark Phoenix, and quietly, steadily… growing stronger.
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The Road to Strength
Through countless battles in the Spirit Arena of Suotuo City, Ayanokoji had sharpened his skills.
His first spirit ring from the Fog Panther had evolved his mental techniques — granting him control over perception, creating illusions that could disorient and confuse even experienced soul masters.
His second ring — a Dark Feathered Raven, hunted three years ago — had deepened that ability, adding a powerful psychic suppression field that could paralyze weaker opponents with sheer mental pressure.
And his third ring…
The Shadow Serpent, a rare 900-year beast, had been a brutal, bloody fight, but the reward had been worth it — granting him a skill that could infiltrate an enemy's mind, predicting their next move with chilling precision.
With three spirit rings, his power had grown quietly, hidden beneath a composed exterior.
No one at the Junior Soul Master Academy had known his true strength.
And now… Shrek Academy awaited.
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The Gates of Shrek
As Ayanokoji approached the academy, he noted the rustic simplicity of it — the worn-down gate, the humble buildings.
For most, this would seem unimpressive.
But Ayanokoji knew better.
Shrek Academy wasn't about appearances.
It was about monsters.
And he was ready.
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The Entrance Test
At the academy's entrance, a long line of young soul masters had gathered, some nervous, some cocky, all waiting to take the famous entrance exam.
Ayanokoji joined the line silently, hands in his pockets, observing.
The examiner — a middle-aged man with a stern gaze — sat behind a wooden table, recording names and testing spirit levels.
One by one, the applicants stepped forward, summoning their spirits, displaying their rings.
Most were impressive for their age — one or two rings, some rare beast spirits, high innate soul power.
But none of them stood out.
And then… it was Ayanokoji's turn.
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Ayanokoji's Spirit Level
The examiner glanced up as Ayanokoji stepped forward.
"Name?"
"Ayanokoji."
"Spirit?"
Without hesitation, Ayanokoji activated his Spirit Eyes, the golden glow illuminating the area with an ethereal light.
A soft murmur passed through the crowd.
"A mental-type spirit…" someone whispered. "Rare…"
The examiner raised an eyebrow, impressed but unmoved. "Spirit power?"
Ayanokoji placed his hand on the crystal sphere set before him.
The moment his fingers made contact, the sphere exploded with brilliant light — blinding, overwhelming, filling the air with thick, golden energy.
The crowd gasped.
Even the examiner's expression shifted from professional detachment to open shock.
"Thirty… Thirty-six?" he stammered.
Gasps rippled through the line.
"Impossible!" someone whispered.
"He's… already at level 36?"
For a twelve-year-old… this wasn't just rare.
It was monstrous.
Ayanokoji said nothing, his face unreadable as he withdrew his hand, the crystal still glowing faintly with his residual energy.
The examiner, struggling to regain his composure, cleared his throat. "P-please… show your spirit rings."
Ayanokoji's eyes flickered slightly.
He hadn't planned to reveal this much.
But now, there was no avoiding it.
He summoned his rings.
One. Two. Three.
A perfect configuration — two yellow century rings, one purple millennial ring.
The crowd was silent now.
Awed.
Afraid.
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Familiar Faces
As Ayanokoji stepped away from the examination table, he noticed two figures watching him from a short distance.
Tang San and Xiao Wu.
It had been months since they'd last seen each other.
Tang San had changed — taller, stronger, his Blue Silver Grass aura more refined, his gaze sharper.
Xiao Wu, as lively as ever, gave him a wide grin, though there was a flicker of something more serious in her eyes.
"Ayanokoji…" Tang San murmured, stepping forward. "You've grown stronger."
Ayanokoji nodded slightly. "So have you."
Xiao Wu punched his shoulder playfully, though with enough force to suggest she wasn't joking around. "Tsk. You've been holding out on us! Three rings already?"
A faint smile touched Ayanokoji's lips. "I didn't see the need to show off."
Tang San studied him for a long moment, and Ayanokoji could feel the unspoken questions.
How did you grow so fast? What are you hiding?
But Tang San, as perceptive as ever, didn't ask.
Not yet.
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The Shrek Monsters
As the examination continued, the students who made it through were gathered together — a small group of elites.
Ayanokoji noted them quietly.
Dai Mubai, the tiger spirit user, exuding confidence and aggression.
Zhu Zhuqing, cold and distant, a panther-like grace in her every movement.
Oscar, the food spirit master, seemingly carefree but sharp beneath the surface.
And of course… Tang San and Xiao Wu.
The team was forming.
The game was beginning.
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The Grandmaster's Arrival
As the entrance test concluded, a familiar figure appeared at the far end of the courtyard.
Grandmaster.
Ayanokoji hadn't seen him in over a year, yet the man's sharp gaze still held that same unsettling depth — as though he could see more than anyone should.
Their eyes met across the courtyard.
And for just a heartbeat, Ayanokoji felt that same sense of… recognition.
Grandmaster knew.
Or at least, suspected.
And as Ayanokoji turned away, walking toward the dormitory with Tang San and Xiao Wu, he knew one thing for certain:
This was only the beginning.
Shrek Academy wasn't just a school.
It was a battlefield.
And Ayanokoji… was ready to play.
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