Douluo Dalu:Shards of Fate

The morning sun cast its soft glow over Nuoding Academy, illuminating its well-worn paths and old stone buildings. Students bustled around the grounds, sparring, chatting, and moving between lessons, their voices carrying faintly in the crisp morning air. Ryo stepped out of the gates, his footsteps steady and deliberate, his crimson eyes briefly scanning the familiar sight of the academy one last time.

He paused just beyond the gates, standing motionless as the noise behind him faded into the distance. Closing his eyes, he drew in a slow breath, filling his lungs with the cold, fresh air. When he opened them, his expression remained as calm and unreadable as ever. Without a backward glance, Ryo adjusted the small satchel over his shoulder and made his way toward the city.

The streets of Nuoding were as lively as ever, bustling with merchants unloading goods, carts rattling over cobblestone roads, and townsfolk bartering for supplies. The air was filled with the smell of baked bread, livestock, and faint traces of incense from nearby stalls. Ryo's pace didn't falter as he weaved through the crowd, heading straight for the city's western gate.

Near the gate, a row of caravans was parked along the roadside, their wheels creaking under the weight of tightly packed crates. Guards and merchants shouted orders, their voices blending with the neighing of horses and the grunts of workers loading supplies. Ryo's gaze settled on one caravan in particular: a sturdy wagon with reinforced wheels and a handful of armed escorts lingering nearby. A middle-aged man in a broad-brimmed hat stood at its side, overseeing the loading process.

Ryo approached him directly. "Excuse me," he said, his tone level but loud enough to be heard over the surrounding noise.

The man turned, his sharp eyes narrowing briefly as he looked Ryo up and down. "What do you need, boy?"

"I need passage to the Star Dou Forest," Ryo replied, his crimson eyes steady. "Are you heading that way?"

The man raised an eyebrow. "Star Dou Forest, huh? Dangerous place. Most caravans avoid it unless they've got no other choice. What's a kid like you planning to do there?"

Ryo didn't respond, his expression unchanging.

After a moment, the man shrugged. "Well, lucky for you, we are headed to a town just outside the forest. Delivering supplies there. But it won't be free."

"How much?"

"Three gold coins," the man said, folding his arms. "Up front."

Ryo reached into his satchel, pulling out a small pouch of coins. He counted three gold coins and handed them over without hesitation.

The man inspected the coins briefly before nodding. "Fair enough," he said, slipping the payment into his pocket. "Name's Hu Lang. You'll ride in the back with the cargo. We leave in an hour."

Ryo nodded, ignoring the man's offered hand and turning toward the wagon. Hu Lang chuckled lightly as he called after him, "Suit yourself, kid. Just don't slow us down."

An hour later, the caravan rolled out of Nuoding City.

The wooden wheels creaked rhythmically as the wagons rumbled over the uneven dirt roads. The sound of hooves striking the ground and the occasional snap of reins blended with the rustling of leaves as the group moved away from the bustling city and into quieter terrain.

Ryo sat in the back of the wagon, surrounded by crates of dried goods and tools. He leaned back against the wooden frame, his eyes fixed on the passing scenery. Rolling hills and scattered patches of forest stretched into the distance, the sun casting long shadows across the road.

The journey was uneventful at first. Most of the day passed in silence, save for the occasional chatter of the guards or the faint call of birds overhead. Ryo spent his time quietly observing the surroundings, his expression unreadable as his sharp eyes tracked every detail.

As the caravan continued, he shifted his focus inward, closing his eyes as he began to refine his energy. His martial soul—the glass box—appeared briefly, floating silently in the air before vanishing as he drew his spiritual and soul power inward. His rank had already reached level 19, and he could feel the barrier of level 20 drawing closer. Each refinement brought him a step closer to breaking through.

One afternoon, as the caravan passed through a dense section of forest, Ryo decided to focus on another aspect of his training. Sitting cross-legged in the wagon, he closed his eyes and extended his spiritual energy.

The blood infant emerged a moment later, its small humanoid form materializing in the air before him. Its crimson body pulsed faintly, its movements smooth and deliberate as it floated silently. The blood infant was a part of Ryo—a semi-autonomous extension of his consciousness. Though it acted independently in certain ways, it existed solely to serve his will.

Ryo raised a hand, and the blood infant responded instantly, mimicking his movements. With a flick of his fingers, it stretched into a long, spear-like form, darting forward with speed and precision. He gestured again, and it coiled tightly into a sphere before unraveling like a whip.

The training continued for hours, the blood infant twisting and shifting into countless shapes as Ryo honed his control. Each movement became sharper, more refined, as his spiritual energy synchronized with the infant's actions. By the time the sun dipped below the horizon, bathing the forest in hues of orange and red, Ryo could feel the difference in his control. The blood infant's movements were faster, smoother, and more precise than ever before.

As night fell, Ryo felt the barrier of level 19 shatter. His soul power surged, rising steadily as he reached level 20. He opened his eyes, exhaling slowly as the blood infant hovered silently before him, its aura sharper than it had ever been.

The journey continued for another two weeks. The caravan wound its way through forests, hills, and small villages, stopping occasionally to resupply. The guards dealt with minor threats along the way, and Ryo rarely interacted with anyone, keeping to himself as he refined his energy further.

Finally, they arrived at a bustling town on the outskirts of the Star Dou Forest.

The streets were alive with activity. Merchants shouted from stalls selling everything from smoked meat to rare herbs, their voices blending into a chaotic symphony of bartering and laughter. Travelers moved through the narrow streets, preparing for their ventures into the forest, while children darted between the stalls, giggling as they played.

Ryo stepped off the wagon, his crimson eyes scanning the marketplace. The mingling scents of spices and fresh bread filled the air, but he paid them no mind. His gaze swept across the stalls until it landed on a familiar figure standing near one of the larger tents.

"Ryo!"

Li Anye waved, his crescent-shaped mustache twitching as he called out. Dressed in his usual traveling robes, the older man stood tall, his sharp eyes glowing with amusement as he spotted his grandson.

Ryo approached calmly, nodding in acknowledgment.

"About time you showed up," Li said with a grin, clapping a hand on Ryo's shoulder. "I've been waiting here for hours. Ran into trouble?"

"No," Ryo replied simply. "The caravan was slow."

Li chuckled, his eyes scanning Ryo briefly before nodding in approval. "Well, you're here now. That's what matters. Come on. We've got work to do."

Ryo followed without a word, the noise of the bustling marketplace fading behind them as they walked deeper into the town.