Chapter 6: – The Sovereign's First Hunt (The Refined Soul)
The Spirit Hunting Forest
The carriage stopped at the iron-wrought gates. Bishop Matthewson had provided a squad of ten Iron-Armored Guards, led by a Rank 35 Spirit Elder. They looked at Lakan—bare-chested, tattooed, and six years old—with a mix of confusion and extreme nervousness.
Lakan hopped out of the carriage, stretching his arms over his head and letting out a relaxed yawn. He looked at the grim-faced guards and flashed a bright, easy-going grin.
"Wow, you guys look like you're heading to a funeral," Lakan said, his voice light and friendly. "Relax! It's a beautiful day for a walk in the woods, right?"
The squad leader blinked, taken aback by the boy's casualness. "Lord Lakan, the Storm-Echo Kingfisher is extremely dangerous for your age. We should form a defensive perimeter—"
"I appreciate the offer, truly," Lakan interrupted, patting the leader's armored shoulder. "But if you guys are standing right next to me, I'll be too busy worrying about stepping on your toes to focus. Just hang back, keep an eye out for any wandering ten-thousand-year-old 'uncles,' and enjoy the show. I'll be back before the tea gets cold."
He gave them a playful two-finger salute and strolled into the brush.
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Deep in the woods, the air grew still. Then, a sharp, metallic screech ripped through the silence. A blur of azure feathers dropped from the sky like a falling star. The Storm-Echo Kingfisher dove, its wings vibrating so fast they created a visible distortion in the air.
Lakan didn't move. He stood with his hands casually in his pockets, his breathing steady.
"Hakbang Tatsulok (Triangular Pivot)."
Just as the bird's beak was about to pierce his skull, Lakan took a light, effortless step to the left at a 45-degree angle. He moved with such fluid grace that it looked like he was dancing. The Kingfisher's beak slammed into the dirt, cratering the ground right where he had been standing a millisecond ago.
"Oof, close one!" Lakan chirped, his eyes sparkling with a mix of focus and genuine amusement. "You've got a lot of spirit, little bird, but your timing is a bit predictable."
The Severing Rhythm
The bird shrieked in frustration, flapping its wings to regain altitude. But Lakan was already moving.
He didn't use a soul skill, as he has none yet. He relied on the Iridescent Bone Forging that had turned his skeleton into "Batong-Pilak."(Silver Stone). He reinforced his arm with a focused stream of Soul Power cover with silver aura.
"Gunting (The Scissor Counter)."
As the bird tried to snap at him, Lakan's left arm casually deflected the beak upward while his right palm struck the base of the bird's wing.
CRACK.
Lakan didn't look angry; he looked almost apologetic. He followed up instantly before the beast could suffer.
"Panununtukan (Vibrational Pulse)."
He drove a short, explosive punch into the bird's chest. He pulsed his Soul Power at a high frequency, sending a vibration directly through the bird's sternum and into its heart.
The Kingfisher stiffened and went still. No mess, no unnecessary pain.
A deep, shimmering purple ring rose from the carcass. It was thick with energy, far exceeding the "safe" 423-year limit for a first ring.
The guards emerged from the trees, their mouths hanging open. They hadn't even seen him summon his Martial Soul.
"Lord Lakan... that ring," the Bishop stammered, his hands shaking. "It's... it's purple. You can't possibly absorb a thousand-year ring as your first! You'll be crippled!"
Lakan sat down cross-legged in front of the ring, looking perfectly at home. He looked at the Bishop and gave a soft, reassuring laugh.
"Don't worry so much, Bishop! Stress is bad for the skin," Lakan said, his tone grounded and confident. "My bones have been silver-stone for years. I've done the homework. This isn't arrogance; it's just physics. Just keep an eye out for me while I take a little nap, okay?"
He closed his eyes, his tattoos beginning to glow with a gentle prismatic light. As he began to draw the purple energy in, he looked remarkably like a kid just settling in for a comfortable daydream.