The training ground behind Shrek Academy was a dusty open field with stone pillars at the edges and an uneven ring marked faintly in the dirt. Beyond the ring, wooden dummies stood skewered with spearheads, their straw stuffing long since burned away by fire-typed soul masters.
Li Wei stood across from Dai Mubai, who cracked his neck lazily and rolled one shoulder. His golden-blond hair shimmered under the afternoon sun, and his feline-like pupils narrowed with intrigue.
"I don't know what kind of martial spirit that is," Mubai said, nodding to the metallic blue gun holstered at Li Wei's side. "But a Soul Elder at twelve… that's rare. I'm curious how strong you actually are."
Li Wei gave a small nod, stepping lightly into the ring. "Let's keep it to one round."
"Agreed. No holding back," Mubai said, a slow grin forming on his lips. "This is how we do things at Shrek."
He raised his right arm, and golden light exploded from his body. Stripes of white lit up along his skin as muscles swelled and his stature grew taller, broader. A low growl echoed from his throat as claws sprouted from his fingers and feline ears emerged above his temples.
"Martial Soul: White Tiger!" he announced.
Two yellow and one purple soul rings floated up around him in smooth arcs of power.
Li Wei watched without reaction. Internally, he was impressed.
Level 37. Just one step behind him. As expected of the future Shrek Captain.
Li Wei slowly pulled the Diend Driver from his side, the weight comforting in his hand. His fingers brushed over the cards clipped onto the holster.
He selected one.
[Kamen Ride: Diend.]
The mechanical voice echoed as he inserted the card into the top of the Driver. With a flick of the wrist, he raised the gun and fired into the sky.
A swirl of blue energy rained down in response. Circuits formed midair, flickering like holographic data, and coalesced around his body.
Armor plates snapped into existence—chest first, then shoulders, then helmet. The visor gleamed teal with black horizontal lines like a barcode. The sound of locking gears echoed as the transformation sequence completed.
The Diend Rider had entered the field.
Gasps echoed from behind the academy wall, where Oscar and Ma Hongjun had come to spectate.
"What in the… he's wearing armor?" Oscar murmured.
"Is that his spirit ability?" Ma Hongjun added, eyes wide. "That's not soul bone gear… right?"
Back in the arena, Dai Mubai took a step forward.
"Interesting armor. But let's see how well it holds up!"
He exploded forward, launching into a charge enhanced by his first soul ring ability—White Tiger Barrier.
Li Wei sidestepped without resistance. He moved like air.
Then he vanished.
Mubai's eyes widened a moment too late—Li Wei reappeared beside him, a flicker of blue and static crackling around his Tesla Bands.
He fired twice at point-blank range.
BANG! BANG!
The blasts hit Mubai's shoulder and thigh, knocking him off-balance but not breaking through his defense.
"Tch—those shots sting."
Mubai's second ring lit up. "White Tiger Light Wave!"
He unleashed a white-gold shockwave of energy forward in a cone. Li Wei jumped high—30 meters in a single bound—easily clearing the blast.
"Seriously?" Mubai muttered.
From above, Li Wei aimed again and fired once more. Mubai deflected the blast with crossed arms, teeth gritted.
As Li Wei landed, he slid back, using the Tesla Bands to reposition—his speed becoming a blur.
He didn't overpower Mubai. He outpaced him.
Mubai growled, a mix of frustration and thrill in his voice. "You're not using raw power… you're dancing around me."
Li Wei's voice echoed through the helmet. Calm. Clear. "You're strong. So I won't drag this out."
He pulled another card and slid it into the Diend Driver.
[Attack Ride- Burst Mode.]
The Diend Driver glowed as the gun transformed, barrel extending and splitting. Power gathered at the muzzle.
Li Wei leveled the gun at Mubai—not at his body, but near his feet.
BANG—!!
A pulse of concussive force exploded from the ground, knocking dust and rocks skyward and destabilizing Mubai's footing. Before he could recover, Li Wei was already in front of him.
A spinning side kick slammed into Mubai's ribs—8 tons of kinetic force smashing into his barrier.
CRACK—!
The barrier flickered and shattered.
Mubai skidded across the dirt before coming to a stop.
"…Hah."
He pushed himself up with a grunt, shaking dust from his wild blond hair.
"I yield," he said, voice low but respectful. "Your power's weird. Fast. Direct. And precise. That armor isn't just for show."
Li Wei didn't gloat. The armor dispersed with a pulse of blue light, vanishing piece by piece. He holstered the Diend Driver and bowed slightly.
"Thank you for the match."
Dai Mubai smirked, then extended a hand. "Welcome to Shrek Academy… Li Wei."
From behind the walls, Oscar whispered, "We might have just found our strongest freshman."