『Soul Skill』

"Not good..." A man composed himself.

"Hmm...? To think there would be a man that can somewhat resist the charm of a soul saint, this is a first."

In the middle of a vast plain, lies two people. With one struggling to control the sudden rush of awe at the other. A woman with emerald long hair was sipping tea in front of Naoki—wearing a blue-white dress that complemented it perfectly.

"You are... Naoki Ozawa. Wait... you've just unlocked your second soul node!?" The woman lost her composure.

"How did you even reach here? And my domain guardian? Even the top of the Lizea soul chart would need to band together to defeat it." The woman stood up, her face confused.

"Ahaha..." Naoki wryly laughed.

"Sit."

Without asking for a response, the woman snapped her fingers and teleported Naoki to the chair in front of her.

"Eh?"

"At first, I thought it was the supreme being's oracle messengers again. It seems you have just escaped my Void Rifter in one piece." The woman said, seemingly aware of what happened earlier.

"...That's so cool!" Naoki let out his thoughts.

"You!"

It seems that Naoki was more absorbed in the fact that he was suddenly teleported instantly, without even having time to react. The woman could not help but get irritated, with her being ignored.

*Sigh*

"So...? What do you want?" The woman sighed.

"Your name. Please."

"...? You may call me Leariz."

The woman had a confused look on her face, it seems she had not expected that answer.

"Lea it is, I'm really glad you're not hostile. I just had an ordeal back there."

"You mean with my domain monsters?"

"Eh?"

Leariz began explaining, it seems she was this domain's owner, and she controls pretty much everything inside it. It was a fairly new domain and she mentioned that Naoki was the first to ever reach this far, albeit through a shortcut. She further explains that she is a Soul Saint, it seems to be a higher form of being. As to the specific details, Naoki did not know.

"If you control everything here, why didn't you help me back there!?"

"Pfft, like you're worth my time. Though, I did enjoy seeing you struggle at the entrance."

Naoki was not naive enough to not know why she didn't help him, though he had still let his frustrations out nonetheless.

"Your soul is quite unique, while I can peek at it a bit, I cannot see further. I cannot predict what you're thinking and to think you've just unlocked your second node." Leariz continued.

"What can I say? I'm quite powerful." Naoki grinned.

"You wish."

Leariz had sent a shockwave toward Naoki, it had pushed him back out of his chair. She had found him too cheeky for his own good.

"Hey! that was just a joke!"

*Sigh*

"So... I'll ask again. What do you want?"

"What do you mean?"

"It's like this-"

Apparently, people who get past the last layer of a domain can visit the domain master. The domain master can then grant that person any one thing, provided they are able to comply. It seems that this still applies even if the person went through a shortcut, so long as they are a soul cultivator.

"This goes without saying, no personal requests. There are those foolish enough to borrow power from a Soul Saint and ended up getting nothing at all."

"Then this is simple."

"Hmm?"

"I want to be able to visit this place anytime."

"That's..."

Leariz was not expecting such a quick answer. It had surprised her to the point that she had stopped her tea midway.

"That won't get you more requests." She continued.

"I am aware."

"Are you sure? I have something here that can increase your soul rank by five, a pure crystal fragment of a monster equivalent to 100 Soul Nodes, and many more cultivation materials."

"While it is tempting, I think I'd rather get those on my own. I mean, that's probably one of the less valuable things you have, right?" Naoki knowingly nods.

"Heh, quite perceptive of you. Suit yourself." The woman threw something at Naoki.

"This is...?"

"My personal Domain Gate, you can store it in your soul. Activate it in the domain and it will lead you right back here."

What Naoki received seems to be some sort of token that can be stored inside the soul—but Naoki was more focused on one particular thing.

"You..."

"Do you have a problem? Then just give it back."

"No, it's just... looking at you. I didn't think you'd be into... cute stuff."

*Snap*

"You rascal!" She flared up, sending Naoki flying with a flick of her hand.

She had teleported Naoki outside of the domain. Although Naoki was not too far-fetched, It was indeed quite adorable, as it was a small furball plushie.

*Sigh*

"Honestly, the only reason I agreed is that I want to study and observe his unique soul. If he didn't ask, I would have done it nonetheless. What a weird man, It doesn't seem like he is affected by the Soul Saint's charm anymore." Leariz said, looking in the direction where he sent him flying.

<<----------->>

"Kaori help~ me!" Someone shouted.

"Isn't this your fault!?" She exclaimed.

Amidst the vast grassland inside a huge tower, on the first layer, two running figures could be seen. It seems they were running from a stampede, a Furball stampede. That's right, it was no other than Fujiyama Kaori and the princess of the Lizea Kingdom, Lydia.

"But! But! They appeared so adorable!" Lydia said with an apologetic look on her face.

"Ey! Fine!" Kaori stopped and faced the oncoming horde.

"...I'll finally use this. [Elheim]." Kaori said, using her Soul Skill.

As Kaori said that, her sword emitted a green glow, extending it. With this, she swung it onto the oncoming horde. As it touched the ground, It began to shake and rooted all the furballs with thick vines that seemingly entangled them.

Aside from Soul Armors, there are Soul Skills. It can be learned through special scrolls or by reaching a certain cultivation in a dedicated soul node.

"Ehehe, thank you." Lydia smiled.

"Really..."

The vines also tried to grab Lydia but were cut immediately as if it was butter. It seems her Soul Armor was quite powerful.

"The first day of actual combat and we're already attracting trouble." Kaori sighed, worried about her future.

"It'll be fine! Don't you have me Kaori?" Lydia giggled.

"Then why don't you fight another stampede?" Kaori said monotonously.

"Ehehe..."

This was their first day in real-life battles. Apparently, Kaori was requested to be summoned precisely because they needed another person to guard Lydia. Both of them were inside the sky tower, in the middle of the capital.

"I have to say... it's still weird seeing a sun and sky here." Kaori commented.

"Right? I've only seen it in picture books but this place is beautiful!" Lydia said in awe.

Contrary to what is seen outside, the Sky Tower seems to be a vast place. It is vast enough that one cannot see the edge. It's like another world. They began absorbing the Soul Fragments of the Furballs, though it barely had any effect as they had already been given plenty of pure soul fragments prior.

"That's right! We have to go to the Tower Altar today—or else the captain will scold me." Lydia panicked, suddenly remembering why she went here in the first place.

"I believe we'll beat the Floor Guardian if we go right now though..."

"You think?"

In the Sky Tower, unlike domains, you can get out anytime. If one wants to proceed to another floor, one must beat the Floor Guardian first then register their souls in the Tower Altar so that they may freely go to any floor they have access to. Currently, they are on the first floor, which mainly has Furballs.

"Wanna try?" Kaori grinned.

"Hmm... Alright. Let's go!" Lydia jovially declared, striding her way forward.

"This girl... you can't keep your eyes off her."

"I wonder how he is doing back in the old world." Kaori wistfully thought as she looked in the distance.

As the two strode forward, several figures hidden breathed a sigh of relief. It seems they needed not to intervene.

"That girl, to think I'd see her outside the palace. She's grown up now huh...?" A woman said, revealing herself from nothingness.

"That's right Captain Dahlia, it seems it was a good idea to pair her with Kaori-sama." Her subordinate responded.

"We've already given them both the best equipment there is. Seriously, my sister worries too much." She sighed.

Knight Captain Dahlia, the elder sister of the queen, was monitoring the princess just in case an anomaly happens. It seems that the queen really loved her daughter, she was the only child she had after all.

"I believe we'll be receiving more Strays in the weeks to come, Her highness informed us that she had received an Oracle from Anize-sama saying that she will send more." Another subordinate added.

"I certainly do hope they will all get along."

<<----------->>

"You idiot!" A hoarse man shouted.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't able to bring back any materials."

"That's not what I'm talking about! For a moment, I thought you had died!"

"Huh?"

"Look-"

Arriving back in the shop, Andrew had a devastated look on his face. It seems that Andrew had put a Soul Tracker on Naoki and accordingly, the signal was lost for a while. Usually, the Soul Tracker can even reach other continents. A sudden dead signal would mean that the soul had perished.

"It must have been when I entered Lea's place." Naoki thought, keeping it to himself.

"Ahaha..." Naoki apologetically laughed.

"Kid you... I heard from Robert you wanted to cultivate but... Have you ever thought of pursuing another profession?"

"It's not like I do not want to, I just want to be stronger."

If he were to live in this world and forge bonds like the stories he read, he needed to become strong. He couldn't let something like that happen again, after all.

"Ha... that's what all the youngsters say these days, even those fool-hardy guys who think they can be one day as strong as the women in the Soul Charts. Forget about the materials, come with me." Andrew said seriously.

"I got it."

As Naoki followed, he was led to a cellar. He had not known that this shop had a basement. It was quite shabby but had seemingly expensive valuables. Naoki could feel a faint pressure on each.

"This is..."

"It was the Soul Weapon that I used back in the day, I still keep it maintained even after all these years. I'll give it to you when you've reached your third node. It's quite a picky dagger after all."

"Here you go, a pure crystal fragment. It's the fragment of a 5th soul node abyss crawler." Andrew continued.

What Naoki had seen was the same fist-sized crystal fragment that he had gotten when he defeated the giant furball, only that it was green and shining radiantly. Andrew further explained that green-colored crystals were much better than colorless ones.

"That... shouldn't you have used this?"

"I have no use for it anymore. It's funny, this was given to me by our other sworn brother, flaunting his exploits after we had given up on cultivation. In the end, that fervent passion had killed him, the fool. Robert had given his own to his daughter and as for me... I'm giving it to you." Andrew wistfully laughed.

As Naoki received the pure crystal fragment, he can't help but wonder about his future. After all, he had almost died earlier. He knew that a pure crystal fragment was not easy to get, as it was significantly much better than a normal fragment.

"Incidentally, how far in cultivation did your late sworn brother reach?" Naoki asked out of curiosity.

"Haha, the last we spoke, he was bragging about how he was about to unlock his seventh soul node. I wonder if he had truly done it."

Andrew added that in Lizea, the highest that a man had reached was the ninth soul node. He was revered as a hero by some people but had ultimately perished, along with people who had strived to do the same.

"Now go on, absorb it," Andrew said.

"Here I go..."

Naoki felt different this time, as he began absorbing the pure soul fragment. Not only did he see memories, but he also began to hear voices.

"You vile creature! Do you not know that I am the man that will change this world!?" An entitled man shouted.

*Hiss*

"Take this!"

As he declared that, his sword flew towards the monster that Naoki was viewing. It seems this person was the one who killed the monster. Namely, Robert and Andrew's other sworn brother.

"Andrew-san..." Naoki explained what he saw.

"Haha! that's him alright. Always on his high horse."

Naoki was almost finished absorbing the fragment yet he could already feel great changes in his soul. One thing he noticed instantly though was that his hand had become transparent.

"Woah!" Naoki shocked, dropping the drained soul fragment.

"Hmm!? A Soul Skill?" Andrew said in surprise.

"A what?"

"There's no mistaking it, you just used a soul skill."

Andrew explained to Naoki. It seems that Naoki could absorb a Soul Skill out of a pure crystal fragment but he still couldn't understand why. Unfortunately, Naoki could not sense a dedicated soul node. It seems the creature was not strong enough and only formed a pure soul fragment by chance.

"It seems that this soul skill of yours can hide you and your soul signature." Andrew continued.

"Like invisibility?"

"In essence, yes. It is not effective if someone has a much higher soul cultivation than you though."

It seems that Andrew and Robert had a knack for reading souls, as Naoki could verify Andrew's words by checking his own soul. As he peeked through his soul...

"Third soul node!" Naoki exclaimed as he began to feel the surge of power within his body.

"It seems I was not wrong about you kid." Andrew grinned.

Andrew further said that if another male would absorb it, they would only unlock 10 percent of their 3rd soul node.

"Though you'll have a hard time moving forward from the 3rd soul node." Andrew continued

"Why is that?"

"This is where the soul begins to experience blockages and bottlenecks. Essentially some people will need pills to aid their cultivation, not just men. It is also much harder to unlock the fourth soul node as 4 soul nodes mark a star, this is where you usually get your first Soul Skill... but it seems this was not the case this time."

"Oh!"

Naoki was excited, he had still found these concepts fun after all. It seems that for every 4th soul node, one might receive a Soul Skill. Though there were instances where there were none.

"Heh, do not get cocky kid. You still aren't even close to being powerful in this world." Andrew reminded, though his eyes were proud of Naoki.

"Hehe, I understand."

"Why don't you go out and experience the first night of the Crystallite Soul Reunion? The town has many festivities at this hour." Andrew smiled.

"Andrew-san... you feel off today. You feel too... nice" Naoki commented.

"Ey! Just go before I work you to the bone again!"

"Haha, will do."

After Andrew gave him a few stuff, Naoki proceeds to leave. He was a bit excited as this was his first festival in another world.

"Seriously... that kid." Andrew sighed.

<<----------->>

Crystallite Soul Reunion

It seems it was a festival quite popular in the Lizea kingdom. People from other towns also come to visit but they usually come on the third night, when the heat of the festivities is at its peak.

It celebrated the union of two lovers, torn by war but persevered to the very end. It was at this time of the year that the two lovers had finally achieved peace and laid the foundation of Avery. It was sort of a honeymoon phase.

There were flowers everywhere. On the street, lights in various shades of red, pink, and orange could be seen. It seems it was the best time to go out with your loved ones and take them out on a date. Unfortunately for Naoki, he is all alone...

"Sh*t! It's quite sad walking in these streets."

It was not all lovers and couples though. Some had treated their friends, families, and relatives. Although, most "couples" were unique. A woman could be seen with 3 butlers being affectionate, a few had men on a leash, and so on. It seems that polyamory was accepted in this world and most men are treated below women. Naoki paid no mind as it seems that they were enjoying their time.

"Though I have to say, this dagger is quite powerful."

Aside from the pure soul fragment, since Naoki had reached his third node, Andrew had decided to give his dagger to him. Andrew was surprised that the dagger had accepted Naoki easily. It seems that most soul armor and weapons had a consciousness, albeit small.

Amidst the myriad of stalls in the central square, one stall caught the attention of many. It was a mini-arena, it was a small tournament that accepted anyone who wanted to try it.

"That girl... she will lose," Naoki said, watching the fight.

"Hmm...? how could you tell?" A hooded woman spectating beside him asked.

"I could feel her soul fatigue... I can tell that she'll not last long."

"...?"

Naoki was unsure as well but it seems that recently he could feel the souls of people, albeit subconsciously. It might be related to him being able to see the memories and emotions of soul fragments.

"You are...?" Naoki asked.

"Just another woman." She answered nonchalantly.

"Wait... you're! The city lord's sister!"

"!" Shocked, she began running.

"Wait!" Naoki followed after her.

They began running, Naoki was barely keeping up with his [Blitz] node. This woman was fast, he thought. As she turned towards a dark alley, Naoki followed suit...

"Stop." She said, her sword pointing at Naoki's neck.

"...I got it." Naoki gulped.

"How did you know? I even had my concealing cloak artifact." Her amber eyes glared.

"That's because... your soul is damaged and fragile."

"Eh?"

The woman was in shock, she did not know who this person was but he had already known the sickness that had ailed her. Unbeknownst to her, nor to Naoki, this would be the start of their story. Only time could tell how these stories are woven together.