The seventh month in the womb began with turbulence, not tranquility. Though Shiv continued refining his inner world, learning the rhythms of the Invincible Comprehension System, the outer world was in turmoil.
Tang Hao and Ah Yin had made a difficult decision—to leave the city.
Rumors of Ah Yin's identity had begun to swirl among hidden forces. Spirit Hall, always vigilant for anomalies, picked up whispers of a pregnant woman whose soul pressure carried hints of divine flora and whose aura pulsed with life energy far beyond the norm.
It didn't take long.
The moment Tang Hao and Ah Yin set foot on the outskirts of the city, cloaked figures began to shadow them. Spirit Hall assassins, disguised as travelers, mercenaries, even farmers—tried to corner them.
The battle erupted in the twilight streets.
Tang Hao, wielding only a fraction of his former strength to avoid shaking Ah Yin, still cut down his enemies like a roaring thunder god. His Clear Sky Hammer hummed in its spiritual sheath, craving release. Ah Yin stayed back, her body already deeply attuned to nurturing the unborn twins, though her soul energy danced protectively around them.
But Spirit Hall was relentless.
Tang Hao, sensing a growing tide of reinforcements, made a hard choice. He faked a retreat, lured the pursuing agents down a false path laced with soul traps, and doubled back with Ah Yin along a lesser-known detour that led to the borders of Star Dou Great Forest.
But the forest's edge welcomed no one.
The ambient soul power at the borders had stirred the ancient soul beasts into aggression. Over the course of days, the couple was attacked repeatedly. Packs of 10,000+ year beasts surged toward them with instinctive hostility. Flaming Roc Fiends, Bone Gnashing Apes, and Thornvine Manticores tested them night after night.
Ah Yin, even in her state, fought when she had to—her Blue Silver Domain unraveling into brilliant whips of flora-like soul energy. Tang Hao bore the brunt of the bloodshed. Days blended into nights. Weeks passed. Sleep became a rare luxury.
It took a month of sleepless struggle to reach the middle region of the forest.
And just as they thought safety was within reach… the real nightmare began.
Two figures stalked them in silence, beasts so ancient their names were whispered in fear by all who lived near the forest.
The Man-Faced Demon Spider Emperor. The Cryptic Demon Spider Emperor.
Both over 50,000 years old.
They didn't attack immediately. They stalked. Observed. Manipulated the forest to their will, bending trees and redirecting predators to wear the humans down.
For nearly another month, Tang Hao and Ah Yin were chased—harried like prey. Tang Hao grew leaner, his eyes darker, movements sharper. Ah Yin grew paler, burning spiritual energy to shield the womb at all costs.
And then, one day, as if some silent agreement had been reached, the spiders withdrew.
Tang Hao didn't wait.
They crossed into the inner region of the Star Dou Great Forest—a place even Titled Douluo feared to enter.
Unbeknownst to the world, their children were no longer simply human. Their fate stirred something ancient.
—
Within the womb, Shiv felt it all.
He had reached a level of comprehension where the border between his mother's senses and his own blurred. He felt the tremors of danger. Heard the echo of Tang Hao's suppressed battle cry. He felt Ah Yin's warmth like a shield—soft, desperate, and infinite.
Then the System stirred.
Host Environment Analysis: Complete Location: Star Dou Great Forest – Inner Region Epoch: Douluo Dalu Era – Pre-Spirit Hall Conquest
Parentage Analysis: Father: Tang Hao (Former Clear Sky Douluo) Mother: Ah Yin (Blue Silver Empress) Twin Detected: Tang San (Martial Soul: Unknown – Soul Awakening Pending)
Soul Status: Hybrid-Type Beast-Human Name: [ ? ] System Anchor: Secure
Alert: Core Beasts in Star Dou Forest have detected spatial fluctuations caused by System Integration. Caution advised.
Shiv was silent.
He read through the report again. Tang Hao. Ah Yin. Star Dou Great Forest. All of it matched.
He closed his spiritual eyes.
"Douluo Dalu."
He had watched the anime. Read the novels. Knew of the Tang Sect's legacy and the realm's absurd progression from soul rings to soul cores to gods. He knew of Spirit Hall's tyranny, the godhood struggles, and the downfall of many beloved figures.
And he knew of Tang San.
"The beloved genius. The protagonist. The righteous monster who killed without hesitation. The man who, in later generations, was glorified as a god but made a mess of other people's fates. Douluo Dalu 2… don't remind me," Shiv sneered inwardly.
He wasn't a Tang San fan. Not even close. The sequel novels had only cemented his distaste. Overbearing. Arrogant. Manipulative behind the veil of justice.
But here… things were different.
He wasn't reading about a legend.
He was his twin brother.
A deep breath. A long pause.
Then, calm.
"No. Not here. Not now. He hasn't done any of that yet. This is a clean slate… a chance. I have time to make him better. Maybe make him lovable, even."
He chuckled inwardly.
"Who would've thought I'd reincarnate into the shadow of the protagonist I hated? Oh, the irony."
And so, Shiv made a vow.
He would not change fate violently. He would not defy destiny like a sword in the dark. But he would gently bend the threads of the future—slowly, subtly. Tang San would not become the cold messiah of a broken world. Not this time.
But fate was never blind.
In the deepest core of the Star Dou Great Forest, where no human dared tread, ancient beings stirred.
Ferocious Beasts—those who had lived more than 200,000 years—felt a ripple in their instincts. Not a threat, but a tremor in reality itself. Something... unnatural had appeared.
The System was hidden from the eyes of gods. But not from them.
Eyes opened in dark dens. Trees leaned silently. Air currents stopped midflow.
A pulse had entered their sacred land.
And they would soon seek the source.