The air cracked with the force of clashing titans.
A shockwave erupted as Tang Hao's Clear Sky Hammer collided with the clenched fist of the Titan Giant Ape. The surrounding forest quaked, trees snapped like twigs, and debris flew in a storm around the battlefield. Tang Hao gritted his teeth, the impact nearly forcing him back, but he held his ground.
From the distance, the massive form of the Sky Azure Bull Python watched the duel silently. His deep, thoughtful eyes scanned the scene below. He sighed—a long, rumbling sound that echoed like thunder rolling across the mountains. "I merely wished to drive them away," he mused inwardly, "But Titan... you always act with your fists first."
The giant ape, unaware or uncaring, charged again. But this time, his fury wasn't just for Tang Hao.
Ah Yin, who had been shielding herself within the protective barrier of blue-gold vines, was the Titan Ape's next target. He had sensed something within her womb—something not entirely human, not entirely beast. A threat? An anomaly? He couldn't tell. So, his instincts drove him to eliminate it.
"NO!" Tang Hao roared, surging forward, intercepting the blow. The hammer in his hand spun like a tempest, knocking the Titan Ape's hand off course. Blood sprayed from his lips from the recoil, but he stood firm.
On the sidelines, Ah Yin's eyes trembled. Fear, guilt, and love tangled in her heart.
"It was supposed to be simple…" she thought, her hand gently resting on her slightly swollen belly. Her gaze flickered to Tang Hao, battered yet unyielding, and a lump formed in her throat.
At first, when she realized she was pregnant, she had been uncertain. She was a 100,000-year-old soul beast. Becoming pregnant with a human's child, especially during a time of war and pursuit, had seemed more curse than blessing. She had even considered erasing the forming life before it took shape.
But then...
Then, she'd felt the faint heartbeat—delicate, fluttering, yet filled with hope.
And now? Now she would die a thousand deaths to protect this child.
"He deserves to be born," she whispered to herself. "No matter what the world thinks of his origin... he is our miracle."
The fight raged on. Tang Hao, though exhausted from weeks of sleepless nights and constant battle, kept his form steady. Each clash with the Titan Giant Ape reverberated with pure power. Still, the tide was shifting, and Tang Hao was on the losing end.
Just as the giant ape raised both fists to deliver a crushing blow—
A shadow flashed.
A blade of light danced across the battlefield, forcing both combatants to retreat. In the next breath, a calm yet commanding voice rang out.
"That's enough, Er Ming."
The ground trembled as two figures appeared at the edge of the battlefield. One was a towering man with golden irises that seemed to see through souls—Di Tian, the Beast God. The other, a graceful woman with emerald wings that shimmered like light on water—Bi Ji, the Emerald Swan.
The Titan Giant Ape—Er Ming—paused mid-step. He glanced back at Di Tian, hesitation clear in his eyes. "But... the presence… it's unnatural."
"True," Di Tian said, his gaze sweeping over Ah Yin and her unborn child. "But you overstepped. This is no enemy." His eyes narrowed. "This might be our greatest hope."
Ah Yin bowed slightly. "Thank you, Lord Di Tian… for intervening."
Tang Hao stumbled, barely staying on his feet. His muscles quivered, his hammer lowered, but his body still stood as a wall between Ah Yin and any potential threat.
Seeing his state, Bi Ji stepped forward. Tang Hao's eyes instantly sharpened. His grip on the hammer tightened. He eyed her warily, despite the clear lack of hostility.
"I am not your enemy, human," Bi Ji said softly. "I came to heal, not to harm."
Light green energy flowed from her hand, and with a gentle touch, Tang Hao's wounds began to close. His eyes never left hers, but slowly, the tension bled from his frame.
"I owe you," he said gruffly.
Ah Yin smiled faintly. "This is Bi Ji. And this," she gestured to the tall man beside her, "is Di Tian. The soul beasts revere him as the Beast God."
Tang Hao's eyes widened slightly, recognizing the sheer pressure emanating from the man.
Di Tian didn't bask in it. He merely nodded and said, "Come. We will escort you to the inner sanctuary. The core region."
Within the womb, Shiv stirred.
He'd been observing everything silently—the battle, the rising tension, and now the strange celestial energy that tingled across his developing form.
The system interface hovered before his embryonic consciousness like a floating flame, its lines pulsing with life.
[System Notice: You have been marked as "Auspicious Beast" by the Will of Douluo Dalu.]
[Special Traits Recognized: Hybrid Form – High compatibility with soul beast and human bloodlines.]
[Current Luck Stat: +900% and increasing.]
"What... the hell is going on?" Shiv muttered mentally, blinking as his system kept pinging updates.
Even in this half-formed state, he could sense his body was growing... evolving.
His thoughts turned inward. "I need to make the most of this."
"A physique... if I want to thrive in this world, I need to tailor it. Not just human. I'm more beast now, and that's fine. That's good."
He began to construct ideas: the resilience of a Black Dragon's physique, able to tank mountains; the regenerative prowess of the Immortal Phoenix; even the sensitivity of a Spirit Cat's senses. He needed speed, durability, and more importantly—potential.
He marked out a blueprint in his mind.
[Requirement for Advancement: Selection of Base Hybrid Physique.]
The choices glowed.
Black Dragon Tyrant Physique (Defense and Strength-based)
Immortal Phoenix Physique (Regeneration and Endurance-based)
Celestial Spirit Tiger Physique (Agility and Precision-based)
Custom Hybrid Blueprint (Combine selected traits – High difficulty)
His lips curled in a mental smirk.
"Let's make a monster," he whispered.
As the soul beasts guided his parents deeper into the core forest, Shiv focused inward—refining, upgrading, and laying the foundation for something unprecedented.
The future wasn't just his to shape anymore—it was the world's.