Lunzi Brooks walked into the arena grounds with a grim expression. The young child frowned as he glared at the strange youth opposite him. Brooks did not know where this peculiar ‘Rao Wu’ came from, but he had to admit that he underestimated the Jungle Boy. Rao Wu had exposed a level of power that Brooks never expected.

Intriguingly, despite his grim expression, there was no sense of loss or defeat in Brook’s eyes. It was a remarkable temperament for an eleven-year-old child.

“I must apologize, Jungle Boy,” Lunzi Brooks stated as he stopped at his designated spot. He drew his dagger, and his gaze narrowed as he added, “I underestimated you. You are strong enough to warrant my full attention.”

Rao Wu smiled as he leaned against his spear. “Aren’t you going to summon your soul pets?”

Shockingly, Lunzi Brooks shook his head. “My soul pets exist only to kill. I will not bring them out in such a trivial competition.”

“What did you say?” Rao Wu’s smile immediately dipped. “Soul pets are our companions and friends, in and out of battle. Are you saying you only let your soul pets out when it’s time to kill?”

“Soul pets are friends? What kind of drivel have you been fed in the wild?” Lunzi Brooks’ brow rose in ridicule. “Soul pets are tools. Humans utilize them to achieve our goals. Nothing more. Just like any good tool, we only bring them out when they have their uses, whether for entertainment or murder. And like any bad tool, we swap them out for better upgrades as we grow. Are you yet to realize this reality? You really are a jungle brat.”

“Soul monsters are not tools!” Rao Wu’s brows furrowed even deeper as a wave of deep-seated anger blazed in his chest. He brandished his spear and pointed it at Brooks. “I’ll have you take that back!”

Brooks grunted as he tied his hair in a high ponytail. “Not only are you a traitor to humanity, but you are also an ungrateful fool who hasn’t learned the royalty you were born into.” A dense, black aura burst out of the child as he raised his dagger. “Today, I will correct your erroneous path. Try not to die.”

“Again, with this nonsense.” Brooks’ words fully ignited Rao Wu’s battle intent. The child gritted his teeth in anger. “It’s always humans this, humans that.” Rao Wu had seen enough to know that the three species: humans, hybrids, and beastkin, had their issues and differences of opinion.

There were good and bad people on all sides, but humans had the largest camp of zealots in Rao Wu's little experience and were often the aggressors. He had always wanted to knock some sense into these people but often lacked the strength to do so.

Today, Rao Wu had strength. He would begin with fixing this child’s twisted mentality. “Ju Tu, Xian Da, stand back for a bit. I’ll handle this one.”

Xian Da hesitated. “Are you sure? He looks strong.”

Rao Wu, however, winked at Xian Da. “Don’t worry. I’m pretty strong too.”

“Alright, then.” Xian Da smirked and then took a few steps back.

“Be careful,” Ju Tu said as he also stepped back with his staff.

Brooks grinned as he noticed the strange movement. “Heh. So you do have some human pride in you after all.”

“Shut up.” Rao Wu could not be bothered to correct him. Instead, he turned to the referee and stated, “I’m ready.”

The referee, who had been listening to the children’s banter, smiled as he turned to Brooks. When Brooks nodded, he waved his hand and shouted, “Fight!”

Boom! Boom!

Rao Wu and Brooks exploded out of the blocks in tandem, displaying unbelievable speed as their weapons clashed at the center.

BAM! Brooks smirked as the impact sent him skidding back across the ground. “As I thought, your physical strength is crazy.”

“You haven’t seen anything yet.”

BANG! Brooks quickly sidestepped, barely dodging Rao Wu’s spear as it crashed into the ground, kicking up tons of dust in the process. Without missing, a beat, he spun in place and then drove the dagger in his left hand towards Rao Wu’s exposed neck. “No. You haven’t!”

Rao Wu’s eyes sparked as he quickly released the spear shaft and then grabbed Brooks’ hand. He made to throw the child, but Brook spun in place again, so he came behind the jungle boy and then jabbed at the nape of his neck with his right hand. Strange soul energy wrapped around Brook’s hand made it as sharp as a blade. If this pierced, Rao Wu would be lucky to escape with his life.

“Not so easy!” Rao Wu suddenly slid his right leg backward, kicking Brook off-balance. Brook’s strike missed, harmlessly passing by Rao Wu’s neck. Rao Wu quickly took advantage of his imbalance to fling Brook over his shoulder and then slammed his back against the hard earth.

BAM! The spectators visibly recoiled from the impact, but Brook’s eyes remained steady, even as Rao Wu raised his foot to stomp on Brook’s chest.

“Hmph!” Brook flung his dagger skyward at Rao Wu’s throat, forcing Rao Wu to take a step back. However, before Rao Wu could regain his footing, Brooks sharply rose in a helicopter kick, smacking Rao Wu’s stomach hard enough to send the jungle boy sliding across the ground.

“Ugh.” Rao Wu grabbed his spear as the impact launched him several meters backward, and then stabbed it into the earth to stop himself. He wiped a trickle of blood that leaked out of the corner of his lips as he looked at Brook. “You’re pretty strong.”

Brook licked the blood on his lips as he stood up and faced Rao Wu. “You’re not too bad yourself.” He then pulled out a second dagger and crossed his arms. “But that’s enough probing. The real thing starts now.”

A cold aura suddenly filled the stadium, making those within feel like they had been plunged within an ice-box. The stadium trembled as a black reaper appeared behind Brook, wielding two long swords crossed over its chest like the child.

“Heeh. We’re getting serious then?” Rao Wu crouched low as tremendous aura rapidly condensed into his spear. “Are you sure you can handle this?”

“Try this!” Brook sneered and then roared as he swung his dagger in an X-shape, “Shade Shredder!” Following his shout, the apparition behind Brook swung its swords, releasing a black, deadly X-shaped aura that oozed death and destruction.

Faced with this deadly attack, Rao Wu did not back down, but instead, stabbed his spear at the center. “Annihilation!”

Boom! Dust and smoke exploded as a tremendous explosion erupted. The stadium nervously stared at the center of the maelstrom for signs of Rao Wu, but surprisingly, Brook was the first to react.

“You think that’ll work!?” Brook suddenly looked and then stabbed his daggers toward the sky.

Clang! Initially, everyone wondered if he had gone insane, but Rao Wu shockingly appeared above, his spear crashing into Brook’s daggers.

“Tch. You noticed.” Rao Wu clucked his tongue as he used the clash as leverage to vault over, and then land a few feet away from Brook. “You’ve got sharp eyes.”

Brook snorted as he glanced at a small clump of blue flames floating in the sky. “What a weird soul technique. So you can teleport to it at will? It must use up quite a bit of soul energy.”

“Maybe,” replied Rao Wu with a small smile, but his heart went topsy-turvy as he inwardly cursed Brook’s ancestors. That annoying child just exposed that skill’s biggest weakness. Rao Wu saved the teleportation for key moments precisely because it cost so much soul energy. He still had one more match after this, so he could not afford to waste all his soul energy here.

“Hmph.” Brooks snorted and then charged at Rao Wu. “Only one way to find out!”

Not one to surrender momentum, Rao Wu shouted as he charged to meet Brooks, “Have it your way!”

Bang! Clang!

The children clashed and quickly exchanged countless blows, as both sought out opportunities to outclass and corner the other. In particular, Brooks was too ruthless in his approach, content to trade minor injuries for any chance at striking vital blows. Fortunately, Rao Wu reacted in time, barely avoiding those fatal blows, however thin lines across his neck, chest, and just above his eye revealed just how close he had been to death or maiming during their clashes.

As the battle reached the later stages, both children began to unleash their hidden techniques. While in the air, Brooks released several strikes that created a dense soul energy net that rapidly descended on Rao Wu.

Faced with the attack, Rao Wu drew back and then stabbed his spear to the sky at blinding speed, causing a geyser of ki shaped like spears to fly toward the sky. The ki shattered the net, revealing Brooks’ stunned face.

A tired Rao Wu grinned as he then unleashed Annihilation at the airborne child. This time, he aimed dead center. Somehow, Rao Wu doubted this was enough to kill the tenacious Brooks.

Indeed, Brooks’ eyes narrowed, and he gritted his teeth as his aura rapidly climbed. He then unleashed Shade Shredder and groaned as the explosion sent him crashing to the ground.

*cough* *cough* Brooks coughed out clumps of blood as he slowly rose to his feet and then glared at Rao Wu. “Damn it. I guess you are stronger than I thought.” He wiped the blood from his mouth and then raised his hand. “I suppose there’s no shame in losing to a strong human.” Brooks paused to catch his breath and then added with a snort, “Even if they’re filthy traitors.”

Rao Wu’s gaze narrowed with anger as he firmly grasped his spear. He was bloody and weak, both mentally and physically fatigued by Brooks’ constant fatal attacks. Rao Wu had to admit that Brooks was strong. The Lunzi brat was probably the strongest person Rao Wu had ever fought. Rao Wu would have died a thousand times over if he was not entirely up to speed.

Usually, Rao Wu would have thoroughly enjoyed this fight, but Brooks kept leaving a bad taste in his mouth. “Again, with this human crap. Do you really think humans are so much better than the rest of the world?”

“Undoubtedly,” stated Brooks with a fervent gaze as he spread his hands and looked around at the stadium. “Just look at what we have accomplished while beastkin stagnated in their rural forests and caves. We’re the destined rulers of this planet. Beastkin are forgotten relics of time, and soul monsters are tools to achieve our goals.”

Rao Wu’s breathing became increasingly labored as he struggled to hold his boiling rage, “And hybrids? What do you think of hybrids?”

“What about hybrids?” Brooks' eyes held utter disdain as he proclaimed, “Biology already determined their roles in this world. We can contract hybrids, so it's obvious they’re our slaves. Hybrids are glorified monster purses. We breed them for this reason alone.”

“Is that so? You think humans are such hot stuff?” Rao Wu’s pupils began to narrow as he sneered, “What would you do if a hybrid younger than you trashed all your human Elites?”

“Pfft.” Brooks paused for a moment and then sneered. “A hybrid, beat us? Those glorified mutts that celebrate living past ten-years-old?”

“Don’t talk nonsense.” Bang! Rao Wu’s voice began to strangely calm down as he stabbed his spear into the ground. “I asked what you would do.”

“What’s the matter? Did you fall in love with some jungle bitch?” Brooks frowned as he licked his blade. “Fine. If your lover can beat me, I will serve her for ten years. How’s that?”

Rao Wu sneered, “I don’t need your servitude. Just apologize to the beastkin, hybrids, and soul monsters. They’re not your toys to do with as you please. They deserve respect.”

“Yeah. Yeah. I’ll apologi—” Brooks offhandedly began his apology, but his brows suddenly furrowed as he stared at Rao Wu. “Wait. Did you say, You don’t need my servitude?”

Boom!

Rao Wu’s aura exploded as gray soul energy broke out and shrouded his form. Seconds later, the gray energy dissipated, revealing the youth with a pair of fluffy gray ears, a bushy tail, and pronounced canines.

Rao Wu’s gray eyes snapped open, releasing a terrible pressure that forced Brooks back one step. The child then raised his hand and pointed at his face, “This is who I am. What’re you going to do about it?”

“You—” Brooks’ eyes turned cold as he took in Rao Wu’s new appearance. “You’re a hybrid?”

Rao Wu’s lips curled upward in an angry smirk. “What’s the matter, Brook? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“You’re a hybrid!?” Within the stands, Aeriole Von Basten trembled as she stared at Rao Wu. Astonished by the revelation, she gripped her chair with white knuckles as she whispered under her breath, “You should not have shown yourself.” She quickly glanced at the overhead podium with fear. “What will they do?”

Up in the podium, Bu Lu’s eyes widened in shock as he stared at Rao Wu. Shortly after, he burst out laughing as he looked at Midnight and Twilight. “Looks like I’ll be taking another son of yours.” His eyes then lit up as he recalled an important fact. “Wait. I’ll be taking two more sons for the price of one. Haha, perhaps I should begin calling you in-laws with how many children you keep sending my way.”

“GRR!” Midnight nearly tore Bu Lu to shreds, but Twilight and Killer blocked her path, the latter baring its fangs in warning as it adopted a defensive stance.

[Wait just a little longer. We have to believe in Rao Wu]. Twilight calmed Midnight down and then looked at the Star Dusklight Wolf by his side. [You would bare your fangs to your mother? Just how thoroughly did they brainwash you?]

[You are already halfway dead. Do not speak like you know me, or I will hasten your end]. Killer spoke for the first time that day, shocking the aging Twilight, but before Twilight could reply, Killer returned to his spot by Bu Lu’s side, his gaze fixed on the Nightwind Wolf sitting behind Rao Wu. It was unknown just what thoughts were passing through its mind.

[Rebellious Punk]. Twilight snorted but then exposed a weak smile as he turned his attention to the arena. [Don’t worry. I’ll get you back where you belong even if it’s the last thing I do].

Meanwhile, within the arena, Lunzi Brooks growled as he glared at the hybrid. “No hybrid may besmirch humanity’s pride.” He then raised his dagger and pointed it at Rao Wu. “I Lunzi Brooks, Deathdealer trainee, hereby sentence you to death.” Before Rao Wu could respond, Brook twirled his dagger and stabbed his palm. He then let the blood drop to the ground as he called, “Come out, King Wraith, Undead Knight.”

For the second time that day, a piercing cold chilled the stadium as two summoning circles appeared in front of Brooks.

Rao Wu’s brows furrowed as a ghastly, shapeless dark shadow jumped out of the first circle. The black mass positioned itself behind Brooks, taking the form of a hooded humanoid hidden behind a vast dark cloak.

Bam!

The second monster rose from the summoning circle, revealing a three-meter-tall knight clad in heavy, metal armor. The knight’s monstrous tower shield struck the ground, sending tremors through the earth. With a challenging grunt, it drew a sword and then pointed it at Rao Wu.

“That’s—” Rao Wu’s brows furrowed as he looked at the formidable lineup.

King Wraith

Attribute

Dark/Other

Species Rank

Noble

Stage

3rd Phase, 2nd Stage

Undead Knight

Attribute

Monster/Dark

Species Rank

General

Stage

3rd Phase, 1st Stage

A noble-ranked monster! Rao Wu never imagined he would see this kind of terror in a children’s competition. It seemed the Lunzi family was something else. It had to be understood that ninety-nine percent of children could not contract any monster higher than general-rank. If they forcefully tried, the soul monster would most likely destroy the soul space and escape, severely injuring, crippling, or even killing the soul trainer.

Rao Wu could not begin to imagine why this King Wraith willingly followed Lunzi Brooks, but the real shock had yet to start.

“It’s too late for regrets.” Brooks’ eyes turned black as he coldly stated, “I will show you the humanity’s true heights. King Wraith, Assimilate!”

To Rao Wu and the crowd’s horror, the King Wraith let out a shrill cry and then flew into Brook’s back.

The youth’s aura sharply climbed as his soul strength rapidly rose. At the same time, Brook’s appearance rapidly changed as he transformed into a handsome but deadly seventeen-eighteen young man. A dark cloak wrapped around his body and face, shielding all but his eyes from view as he raised his daggers.

A voice as deep and cold as oceanic depths escaped the young man’s lips as he gazed at Rao Wu. “Any last words?”