Douluo Dalu (Soul Land): Shadow Monarch

Douluo Continent, Fasno Province, Nuoding City.

"This... is this child's martial spirit a beast spirit?"

Inside the Spirit Hall of Nuoding City, a young man dressed in the attire of a Spirit Hall deacon looked at the boy standing before him, his face full of confusion.

"Su Yuntao, is this the last child left for the martial spirit awakening?" An elder entered, glancing around the nearly empty awakening room, with only one child remaining, and asked.

"Master Nuo," Su Yuntao greeted respectfully when he saw the man. He then said, "This child's martial spirit is one I've never seen before. Should we record it?"

"Oh? A martial spirit we've never seen before?" A glint of curiosity flashed in Matthew Nuo's eyes. "Yes, let's make a record. Since it's a never-before-seen martial spirit, we should definitely document it." After speaking, he walked into the office across the hall.

Upon hearing this, Su Yuntao nodded. After watching Master Nuo leave, he turned to the boy in front of him and asked gently, "Child, what's your name?"

"Master Su Yuntao, my name is Cheng Xiao."

"Cheng... Xiao, your parents must be very learned spirit masters," Su Yuntao praised.

Cheng Xiao nodded slightly but didn't respond further.

After all, as a transmigrator from Earth, being an orphan seemed almost a given. Since crossing over to the Douluo Continent, he had been raised by the village chief of Chengjia Village, next to the Holy Spirit Village.

"So, Cheng Xiao, what is your martial spirit? Is it a beast spirit?" Su Yuntao asked with curiosity.

Cheng Xiao scratched his nose and turned his head to glance at the figure behind him. Clad in a dark purple cloak, armored, and with eyes glowing through his helmet, the Shadow Monarch stood still. After a brief pause, Cheng Xiao replied, "Master Su Yuntao, my martial spirit is called 'Shadow Soldier,' and yes, it's a beast martial spirit."

"A beast spirit indeed!" Su Yuntao's eyes lit up with excitement. He immediately picked up the blue crystal ball beside him and smiled. "Cheng Xiao, let's test your spirit power!"

"Alright." Cheng Xiao nodded, extending his right hand and placing it on the crystal ball.

As soon as his palm touched the crystal, dark purple light filled the entire Spirit Hall.

"Heavens!" Su Yuntao exclaimed. "Innate full spirit power! This child has innate full spirit power!"

Looking at the boy in front of him, Su Yuntao was filled with joy. If he could recruit Cheng Xiao into the Spirit Hall, his own promotions and salary raises would be just around the corner! "Ahem, Cheng Xiao, would you be willing to join the Spirit Hall?" Su Yuntao asked, his voice filled with anticipation.

"Uh..." Cheng Xiao scratched his head. "Master Su Yuntao, I think I might disappoint you."

"Hm?" Su Yuntao was taken aback. "You don't want to join the Spirit Hall?"

"Master Su Yuntao, I wish to become a free spirit master, so..." Cheng Xiao hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"A free... spirit master." Hearing these words from a child, Su Yuntao's expression turned somewhat bitter. Once, he too had dreams of becoming a free spirit master, but harsh reality had made it impossible for him to live that dream.

In the Douluo Continent... strength reigns supreme.

"Hah... alright." Taking a deep breath, Su Yuntao gazed at Cheng Xiao's slightly immature face and couldn't help but smile. "I believe in you. With your innate full spirit power, you definitely have the potential to change this world. Since you wish to become a free spirit master, I won't force you to join the Spirit Hall. It's your choice."

"Thank you, Master Su Yuntao," Cheng Xiao smiled.

"No problem." Su Yuntao shook his head and then said with a smile, "Since you won't be joining the Spirit Hall, I'll give you a certificate for your martial spirit. With it, any primary academy will want to enroll you."

Upon hearing this, Cheng Xiao nodded. After Su Yuntao helped him obtain the certificate, the two of them walked out of the hall.

As soon as the door opened, Cheng Xiao's village chief grandfather anxiously approached.

"Deacon, how did it go? Can my little Xiao become a spirit master?"

Before the old man finished speaking, Su Yuntao smiled and said, "Village Chief Cheng, your grandson Cheng Xiao has indeed become a spirit master, and what's more, he has innate full spirit power!"

"Innate... full spirit power!" The village chief's eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at his grandson. His wrinkled face lit up with joy, and he laughed heartily. "That's wonderful! Wonderful! My grandson has innate full spirit power!"

"Grandpa, keep your voice down!" Cheng Xiao quickly ran to his grandfather's side, quietly reminding him.

"Cheng Xiao, although you didn't join the Spirit Hall, if you ever encounter trouble in the future, you can always come to me," Su Yuntao offered.

"Xiao, hurry and thank the deacon!" The village chief nudged his grandson's shoulder excitedly.

"No need for that," Su Yuntao waved his hand and smiled. "I have to head to Holy Spirit Village shortly, so I won't delay you any longer."

After offering a final smile to Cheng Xiao, Su Yuntao left.

Upon returning to the village, the news of Cheng Xiao's innate full spirit power spread quickly. The village chief couldn't stop telling everyone about it, his smile never leaving his face.

Cheng Xiao couldn't help but feel a little helpless about this, but he didn't want to spoil his grandfather's joy. After all, his pride in his grandson was only natural.

However, there was something Cheng Xiao needed to confirm: now that he had awakened the Shadow Monarch martial spirit, could he summon the dead as shadow soldiers, just like Sung Jin Woo?

The next morning, Cheng Xiao hurriedly bought a live chicken from his neighbors. He couldn't handle soul beasts yet, but domestic fowl would do just fine for now.

After preparing the chicken, Cheng Xiao summoned his martial spirit, took a deep breath, and coldly commanded,

"Arise!"

[...]

"Alright, I guess that failed," Cheng Xiao sighed.

Just then, a deep, calm, and commanding voice echoed in his mind.

"I am Ashborn, the Shadow Monarch. Successor of my power, are you ready to accept my strength?"

"Ashborn!" Cheng Xiao's eyes widened. He knew everything there was to know about the Shadow Monarch, after all. The reason he'd crossed into the Douluo Continent was because he had stayed up all night reading Solo Leveling. Exhausted, he hadn't noticed the stairs and fell, bringing him here.

"It seems my power arrived in this world due to an inseparable bond with you, my successor," said Ashborn.

"I suppose... that's the case," Cheng Xiao replied, scratching his head awkwardly.

"I suppose? The rules governing power in this world are quite interesting. There seems to be an even stronger force above this world," Ashborn mused.

"They are gods, the deities above this world," Cheng Xiao explained.

"Gods? It has been a long time since I last heard that term," Ashborn remarked. "Accept my power, future third-generation Shadow Monarch!"

As Ashborn's voice faded, Cheng Xiao suddenly felt his heart being pulled, pounding violently, and his chest tightening as if a great weight pressed down on him, making it hard to breathe.

The sudden pain caused Cheng Xiao to collapse to the ground, curling up in agony.

"You are different from Sung Jin Woo. He had a system created by a designer. Due to the different energy of this world, I cannot let you gradually upgrade and accept my power like he did."

"But the power I've left in you will grow stronger as you advance in levels. When you become strong enough, your shadow soldiers will multiply!"

"A one-man army, the true monarch. I hope that when we meet again, you will have become the real... Shadow Monarch!"