Douluo Dalu 2/ Soul Land 2: Wonderland

I tapped my fingers against the rough wooden table, my foot bouncing lightly against the dirt floor. Today was the day. The day we would awaken our spirits.

The orphanage's main hall was packed with kids, some my age, some older, all buzzing with nervous excitement. The air smelled of old parchment and the faint scent of incense from the morning prayers. The retired soul masters, the elders of our village, sat in a semi-circle at the front, their expressions unreadable. They were the ones who would assess our spirits and decide if we were worth training.

I shot a glance at Pao, who was sitting beside me, stuffing his face with a steamed bun he had snuck from breakfast. He grinned when he saw me looking. "Ready, Sheng?" he mumbled through a mouthful of food.

"Ready as I'll ever be."

I wasn't sure if I meant it.

"Huànshēng," a voice sneered from behind me. I groaned inwardly. Of course, he had to show up now.

Turning my head, I met the ever-arrogant gaze of Chen, the son of one of the village elders. He stood with his arms crossed, his sharp features twisted into a smirk. His perfectly combed hair and spotless robes made him look like he thought he was better than the rest of us—or maybe he just liked looking the part.

"Excited?" he asked, though the way he said it made it sound like he was expecting me to fail.

"More like impatient," I replied, matching his smirk. "Would rather get this over with."

Chen chuckled, shaking his head. "I'll be sure to save you a spot in the crowd after I'm chosen."

I rolled my eyes. "Appreciate it."

Pao clapped a hand on my shoulder. "Come on, let's focus. Maybe I'll awaken something strong and protect your scrawny self."

"Yeah, yeah," I muttered, shaking my head. "Let's just get this started."

Finally, Elder Xu, the head of the ceremony, rose from his seat, lifting a wooden staff and slamming it against the floor. The room fell silent immediately.

"The Awakening Ceremony shall begin," he announced, his voice carrying through the hall. "Step forward when your name is called."

The first few kids went up one by one, placing their hands on the Spirit Crystal, a large translucent orb pulsing with faint energy. Some awakened basic tools—farming equipment, wooden sticks, the kind of spirits that wouldn't get them chosen. A few got lucky, summoning small creatures or weapons that held promise. Each awakening was met with murmurs from the elders, nods of approval or barely hidden disappointment.

Then it was Chen's turn.

He stepped forward confidently, placing his hand against the crystal. The room darkened for a brief moment before a sharp silver light burst forth. A sleek, curved dagger materialized in his hand, its blade shimmering with a faint glow.

The elders nodded in approval.

"Innate Spirit Power: Six."

A respectable number. Not extraordinary, but enough to place him ahead of most.

Chen smiled, bowing slightly before stepping back, eyes glinting with satisfaction.

Then it was Pao's turn.

Unlike Chen, he approached the crystal nervously, wiping his palms against his clothes. He hesitated for a second before placing his hand down.

A deep rumble filled the room. The crystal flared brightly, golden energy swirling around him before condensing into the shape of a bear-like figure beside him. The moment it fully took shape, the entire hall was stunned into silence.

A panda.

But not just any panda—one that radiated strength, its fur glowing faintly with traces of spiritual energy.

"Innate Spirit Power: Ten."

Murmurs filled the hall. An innate ten? That was unheard of in our village. One of the elders stepped forward, his eyes wide. "Young man, would you like to become my disciple?"

Another elder spoke up. "No, come under my guidance. With your talent, you—"

Pao took a step back, swallowing hard. Then, to everyone's shock, he bowed deeply. "I appreciate the offer, but I must decline."

Gasps echoed through the hall. Declining an elder's guidance? That was insanity. But Pao had always been unpredictable.

I could feel Chen's gaze shift between Pao and me. For once, he didn't say anything. Maybe he was as surprised as everyone else.

And then… it was my turn.

I took a deep breath and stepped forward, placing my palm against the Spirit Crystal. It was cold at first, but warmth quickly spread through my fingers. For a moment, nothing happened.

Then, a gentle glow pulsed from the crystal. Faint, almost unnoticeable compared to Pao's brilliance. Before I could even see what it was, I heard the murmurs.

"A book?" someone whispered.

The glow coalesced into a floating, ancient-looking book before me. Its cover was deep brown, almost black, with golden inscriptions along its spine. It radiated an odd, unexplainable aura.

The elder inspecting me hesitated before speaking. "Innate Spirit Power: One."

The hall was silent for a moment. Then, as expected, the whispers started.

"A waste spirit."

"Pity."

"Such low spirit power."

I clenched my fists, staring at the book in front of me. It didn't look useless. It didn't feel useless. But with an innate spirit power of one, my chances of being chosen were non-existent.

Elder Xu sighed, rubbing his temple. "Huànshēng, your spirit…" He hesitated, then simply shook his head. "Return to your seat."

I bit back a sharp retort, swallowing the frustration bubbling in my throat. I turned around and walked back to my seat beside Pao. He gave me a sympathetic look but said nothing.

Chen, for once, didn't mock me. He simply watched; expression unreadable. "I won't say anything cruel," he said quietly. "Not today."

I scoffed. "Lucky me."

And just like that, the ceremony moved on, leaving me in my thoughts.

I didn't know what my spirit truly was. But I was damn sure it wasn't a waste.

The sun had set by the time the ceremony ended, leaving a warm glow on the horizon. I could still feel the weight of the day's events pressing down on me. The laughter and excitement of the other kids echoed in the village square, but my mind was elsewhere—fixed on the book of wonder now bound to my soul.

Pao and I walked side by side, our steps slow, almost reluctant. He hadn't spoken much since the ceremony, and I didn't know whether to bring it up or not. He had awakened a powerful spirit, something any kid in our village would kill for. Yet, he gave it up without hesitation. That kind of decision weighed heavy.

"Hey, you sure about this?" I finally asked, nudging his shoulder. "You could've been trained by a retired Titled Douluo, Pao. That's not a small thing."

He shrugged. "Yeah, well, it didn't feel right. I don't want to spend my life training under someone just because they expect me to. Besides—" He grinned, though it lacked his usual energy. "Who'd be here to keep you in check?"

I smirked. "You make it sound like I'm a troublemaker."

"You are."

I laughed but fell silent as we neared the orphanage gates. The wooden structure loomed in front of us, bathed in the soft light of lanterns. The smell of cooked rice and vegetables drifted out from inside, mingling with the cool night air.

Before I could step in, a voice cut through the evening quiet.

"So, how does it feel to be the weakest among us?"

I turned to see Chen standing nearby, arms crossed, his usual smirk absent. He didn't seem as hostile as before—no smugness, no insults loaded with mockery. Just curiosity. Or maybe pity.

I shrugged. "Can't say for sure yet. Haven't tested it out."

He studied me for a moment before nodding. "Well, don't let it get to you. Spirits don't define everything."

I raised an eyebrow. "That coming from someone with an innate power of six?"

He scoffed. "I'm just saying—don't give up before you even start." Then, without another word, he walked off, leaving me standing there, somewhat bewildered.

Pao let out a low whistle. "Huh. That's new."

"No kidding."

Inside, the orphanage was warm and familiar. The dining hall was filled with chatter, kids eagerly digging into their food. At the far end, Mother sat with some of the caretakers, her sharp eyes immediately landing on us as we entered.

"Huànshēng, Hua Pao," she called, her voice gentle but firm. "Come here."

We approached the table, and she gestured for us to sit. Her presence was commanding, but there was always a strange comfort in it.

"So," she began, folding her hands together. "I heard about today's results."

I hesitated. "And?"

She gave me a pointed look. "And I want to know how you feel."

I poked at the rice in my bowl. "I don't know yet."

"Don't know?" she repeated, raising an eyebrow. "You awakened one of the lowest innate power levels I've seen in years, yet you don't know how you feel?"

I sighed. "What do you want me to say?"

"The truth."

I glanced at Pao, who was watching quietly, then back at her. "Fine. It sucks. It feels unfair. Everyone else has spirits they can fight with, use in real combat. Meanwhile, I got a book."

Mother hummed in thought, her expression unreadable. Then she turned to Pao. "And you? Any regrets?"

He shook his head. "No. I made my choice."

She nodded approvingly. "Good." Then, she looked at me again. "Huànshēng, spirits are tools, nothing more. What matters is how you use them. A knife can be used to cut food or to kill a man. A hammer can build a home or break it. Your book—" she tapped the table for emphasis, "—is no different."

I wanted to argue, to tell her that a book wasn't exactly the same as a weapon, but I held my tongue. Instead, I just nodded.

After dinner, I retreated to my room, my thoughts spinning in circles. The book of wonder appeared in my hands with just a thought, its leather cover smooth beneath my fingertips. I flipped it open, not expecting anything, when suddenly—

Ink formed across the blank pages. Words appearing out of thin air.

Dear Successor,

I am Shepherd, the god of stories. It seems my spirit has landed in your hands, and worry not—it is no bad spirit.

Just as humans struggle to find worthy successors, we gods face the same difficulties, especially when passing down powers that do not abide by the world's normal laws.

Thus, I, the Shepherd, owner of the Akashic Records, left my inheritance in the form of a spirit, trusting that the Records would find me a worthy heir after my death.

Now, my successor, you will be briefed on the Authority of Stories.

If there is any limit to this power, it is only your imagination and creativity. I hope you will surpass me in that regard.

I stared at the letter, my heart pounding in my chest.

Jackpot.