NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 20: Chapter 20
Kamen Rider Ghost, huh? A Rider who draws power from Eyecons to possess and battle, fueled by the souls of legendary figures. Each Eyecon grants unique fighting styles. The system's timing was impeccable, or perhaps, unsettlingly opportunistic.
Yin Xiaoya's mind raced. "Are you suggesting we turn Liu Erlong's soul into an Eyecon?"
[Strictly speaking, it's Liu Erlong's martial soul we'd be utilizing. The soul beast ecology of Douluo World differs from other realities. Human souls here seem to persist after death as martial souls, carrying echoes of their past lives. It appears that the inhabitants of this world haven't fully grasped this yet.]
"You figured this out during that month you were offline?"
[Correct. It's still largely theoretical, but the probability is high. In fact, this is the only explanation that fits a particular anomaly in this world.]
"What anomaly are you talking about?"
[The absence of reincarnation in Douluo World.]
Yin Xiaoya felt a chill run down his spine. A world without reincarnation? The implications were staggering. If souls didn't move on, then the concept of martial souls holding residual consciousness became chillingly plausible.
"We'll discuss this later, after we've had time to process this. But even if your theory holds true, I can't just turn Liu Erlong's martial soul into an Eyecon without her consent. She was Yu Xiaogang's wife, after all. I'd never be able to explain it."
The atmosphere was already strained; diving deeper into the specifics of Liu Erlong's potential afterlife felt inappropriate. Yin Xiaoya pivoted.
"Yin Xiaoya," Yu Xiaogang interjected, his gaze intense. "I'm profoundly intrigued by the power of your Kamen Riders. You may not know this, but I've dedicated my life to finding solutions for those with abandoned or negatively mutated martial souls. While I've achieved some results, my methods are often individualized and difficult to scale. Could the power of the Kamen Riders offer a more accessible path?"
Yu Xiaogang's quest stemmed from his own experience. His martial soul, a negatively mutated variant, had relegated him to the fringes of the soul master world. He empathized with those whose martial souls left them ostracized and powerless.
In this world, the vast majority of people—over 99%—weren't soul masters. For those with negatively mutated martial souls, even basic tasks became insurmountable. They faced expulsion from their families and societal abandonment. Yu Xiaogang had sought solutions relentlessly, researching spirit-planting soul beasts and consulting soul engineers from distant continents. But these avenues demanded talent and resources, remaining out of reach for most.
His efforts had earned him the reputation of a 'waste' recruiter, a man who took in the unwanted. In reality, he was offering personalized guidance, but even that only scratched the surface. After decades, he had only reached level 29, bound by two spirit rings, unable to progress further. He could never find a way to help everyone.
Yin Xiaoya felt a surge of understanding and respect for Yu Xiaogang. But he also knew that placing hope in the Kamen Riders would be a mistake. He had to temper Yu Xiaogang's expectations. Yin Xiaoya shook his head, a gentle denial.
"Master, I'm afraid I might disappoint you. The power of the Kamen Riders doesn't hinge on being a soul master or possessing inherent strength. Even an ordinary person can become a Rider. But that doesn't mean there aren't prerequisites."
"Pupu mentioned something about the 'heart.' Can you elaborate?" Yu Xiaogang pressed, his voice laced with hope.
"To put it plainly, I believe anyone can become a Kamen Rider, if I want them to. A person's ideals determine the strength of the Rider. The problem? I have techniques to mass-produce Riders, but those Riders are hollow copies, lacking the idealism that fuels true power. Think of them as soulless armor with predetermined abilities. Master, is that what you truly seek?"
Yu Xiaogang fell silent, his face etched with internal conflict. Flender placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "You've done admirable work, Xiaogang. There are no easy answers in this world. If you're weary, allow yourself to rest."
"No," Yu Xiaogang countered, his voice firm. "If I stop, I'll break my promise to Erlong."
Bibi Dong gently caressed his hand, offering silent support. "Master, don't worry. I'll always stand by you."
Yin Xiaoya felt a headache brewing. The Liu Erlong situation was becoming increasingly complicated. Witnessing Yu Xiaogang's struggle, he sighed.
"My goal is to plant a Rider's heart in this world, one that spreads and takes root. It's similar to your one-on-one guidance. If, someday, someone can achieve transformation without my intervention, solely through their own strength, then I'll have succeeded. At that point, even without your help, those with the will and heart can gain the power to become a Kamen Rider, a power born of their own unique personality. I believe those Riders will represent the rebirth of their abandoned martial souls."
[Yes, and with each new Rider, you'll gain Rider Cards, Rider Memories, Rider Medals, Rider Switches, Rider Rings, Lockseeds…] the system chimed in.
"Shut UP!" Yin Xiaoya mentally screamed, cutting the system off.
Yin Xiaoya's words rekindled a flicker of hope in Yu Xiaogang's eyes. He said, with newfound determination, "If you can achieve that, I'll offer my full cooperation."
"Master, you're serious? Honestly, I don't have a concrete plan. I can only guide those who are ready, like Pupu."
"Hee hee!" Luo Pupu proudly displayed her Kamen Rider Ryugen belt.
Flender set down his utensils, his expression serious. "Xiaogang's concerns are my concerns, but as Dean of Shrek Academy, I must maintain a high standard. I appreciate your philosophy, but I need proof of the Kamen Riders' capabilities. I need to see how much strength they can truly achieve. It's not just about your strength, Yin Xiaoya. Pupu, if you transform into this Kamen Rider, I need to see tangible results. If your strength diminishes, this is a non-starter."
Yin Xiaoya understood their skepticism. Luo Hong and Luo You, while grateful, still viewed him with reservation. Their faith lay in the power of martial souls.
"How will you verify this?" Yin Xiaoya asked.
"Nothing beats a good fight. I've seen your battle with Shi Zhi through soul skills, but that's not enough. You need to demonstrate that the power of the Kamen Riders can rival the Shrek Seven Monsters. I'm not asking you to surpass us, just to prove that your potential is on par."
Yin Xiaoya smirked. So Dai Yin's earlier hostility was orchestrated. Flender must have given him permission to test him. He glanced at Su Xuan and Jing Tieyang, realizing they were likely aware of this arrangement all along.
"Heh, I've heard one of Dean Flender's favorite sayings: 'A soul master who doesn't cause trouble isn't a true Shrek monster…'"
"Hey! That's not me. Don't put words in my mouth!" Flender protested, his ears reddening.
"..." Yin Xiaoya momentarily forgot he wasn't in his original world.
Flender stroked his chin. "Alright, I admit it sounds like me. I approve."
"So, you want me to prove the power of the Kamen Riders by fighting all seven of you at once?" Yin Xiaoya clarified.
"Hahahaha, hold your horses, young man! You're getting ahead of yourself. I didn't expect that level of arrogance. I'm not a sadist. I want you to cultivate six Kamen Riders first, then, with you included, I want to see seven Riders in action. You don't need to win. Just show me that this path has merit."
"And what if I do?" Yin Xiaoya challenged, his eyes gleaming.
Flender raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in his eye. "If you succeed, I'll not only fully endorse your vision, but I'll also dedicate a new area of Shrek Academy for your exclusive use. I'll even find ways for you to participate in large-scale events under Shrek's banner. How does that sound for spreading the word?"
Yin Xiaoya rose to his feet, his chair scraping against the floor. Flender was a shrewd businessman, targeting his deepest desires.
"Then we have a deal, Dean Flender! I'll prove that soul masters and Kamen Riders can create sparks!"
He grabbed his wine glass, draining it in one gulp.
"I hope you won't disappoint me. Choose anyone from the academy. Need recommendations?" Flender offered.
Yin Xiaoya shook his head. "As I said, a Kamen Rider's potential doesn't depend on their pre-transformation strength. Perhaps the struggling elementary students, or the students in the Master's remedial class, harbor untapped potential. If I only pick the strongest, wouldn't you be disappointed in the power of the Kamen Riders?"
"Hahahaha! Young man, regardless of the outcome, I admire your spirit."
Luo Pupu, who had been simmering in the background, finally exploded. She leaped to her feet. "Big brother, can I join your team? I already have Rider power! I promise I'll master it soon!"
Yin Xiaoya saw her father and grandfather's discomfort. Suppressing a chuckle, he responded, "Not this time, Pupu. You have a more important task. You just evolved your martial soul, gained a second spirit ring at the thousand two-hundred-year level, and jumped to level 24. You need to stabilize all that power. You also have a soul bone to integrate. Kamen Rider should enhance your soul master abilities, not replace them. You need to master your current strength before moving forward. Understand?"
"Hmm..." Luo Pupu pouted, unable to refute his logic. Yu Xiaogang had given her similar advice earlier. She needed to master her new power before it destabilized her future growth.
Luo Hong and Luo You visibly relaxed, their appreciation for Yin Xiaoya deepening. Luo Hong even began to look at Yin Xiaoya with newfound interest.
"This benefactor is only 20 years old. An eight-year difference… Hmmm."
Oblivious to the scrutiny, Yin Xiaoya turned to Fang Xin, who had remained quietly eating.
"Fang Xin, would you be willing to help me?"
***
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