Douluo Dalu:Shards of Fate

The Soul Hunting Forest stretched endlessly under the pale moonlight. Shadows from the towering trees swayed faintly, painting the ground with a pattern of light and darkness. Deep within the forest's middle region, where the air grew heavy with the presence of stronger soul beasts, a faint metallic scent lingered in the breeze.

Ryo crouched on a thick tree branch, his crimson eyes watching the clearing below. The faint sound of rustling leaves and distant beast calls blended with the rhythmic dripping of blood. At the center of the clearing, the bodies of soul beasts lay scattered—fifteen of them. Most were barely over a hundred years old, but their corpses were arranged deliberately, their crimson blood pooling and spreading like bait.

Ryo leaned forward slightly, his expression calm. "Where are you, beast?" His voice, low and even, broke the forest's stillness.

He had learned many things from his grandpa,spiritual energy,soul energy,human body but he was here for a different thing something that was inspired by a certain steward in his past life.

A growl answered him, faint but guttural, rising from the tall grass at the edge of the clearing. Ryo's gaze shifted, sharpening as the sound grew louder. Heavy, deliberate steps followed, crushing the grass beneath them.

The creature emerged—a Komodo dragon, its scaled body glistening under the pale light. Three meters long, with dark leathery skin and powerful limbs, it moved with the confidence of a predator. Its cold, reptilian eyes swept over the clearing, pausing on the pile of corpses. The beast's tongue flicked out, tasting the air, before its gaze locked onto Ryo.

The lizard's throat rumbled, a growl that vibrated through the air. It shifted its weight forward, preparing to lunge.

Ryo stood, stepping lightly from the branch to the ground. The glass shards from his martial soul floated silently behind him, refracting faint streaks of moonlight. The Komodo dragon tensed as Ryo's calm gaze met its own.

"Let's begin," Ryo said quietly, raising a hand.

The shards of glass surged forward, pouring onto the clearing like a cascade of glittering light. The Komodo dragon growled, its body coiling as it prepared to attack. Then the illusion broke—the shimmering light scattered, revealing the truth. The piles of corpses blurred and vanished, leaving behind only the dragon and a few lingering beasts.

The lizard snarled, lowering itself into a crouch before charging forward. Its powerful limbs churned the earth as it rushed at Ryo, jaws wide open to strike.

Suddenly, the beast stopped mid-charge. With a sharp snap, wooden spikes shot out from the ground, piercing its side. The Komodo dragon roared, its body thrashing as the spikes dug into its flesh. Blood poured from the wound, pooling at its feet.

Before the beast could recover, a log swung down from the canopy above, slamming into its back with a sickening thud. The impact forced the lizard onto its side, its growls turning into pained screeches.

Ryo watched silently as the beast struggled, its movements growing more erratic with each passing second. He raised his hand again, and the shards of glass hovering behind him shot forward like arrows.

The Komodo dragon's screams echoed through the forest as the shards pierced its flesh. Some struck its legs, severing tendons and pinning it to the ground. Others pierced its throat, silencing its cries with brutal precision. Blood sprayed into the air as the shards tore through veins and muscles, leaving the beast writhing in its final moments.

The lizard's struggles slowed, its body collapsing onto the blood-soaked ground. The faint glow of a purple soul ring rose from its corpse, hovering above the fallen beast.

Ryo stepped forward, ignoring the soul ring. He knelt beside the lizard's body, closing his eyes as he began to meditate. The air around him grew heavy as his spiritual energy poured outward, spreading over the clearing. The blood pooling around the beast stirred faintly, then rose into the air in thin streams.

The streams twisted and spiraled, forming a dense, drill-like shape. The crimson drill hovered for a moment before surging toward Ryo, piercing into his forehead.

Pain tore through Ryo's mind like a jagged blade. The blood poured into his spiritual sea, staining the pristine waters red. The oppressive force of the beast's energy crashed against the walls of his consciousness, threatening to overwhelm him.

Ryo gritted his teeth, his breathing shallow but controlled. The pressure in his mind built steadily, sharp and unrelenting. Activating his fire attribute, he forced flames to surge through his body, burning away the impurities in the blood to prevent poisoning. The heat spread through him, adding to the pain, but he didn't stop.

The blood continued to pour into his spiritual sea, spreading through the red-stained waters like ink. The energy was violent, its malice pressing against Ryo's mind. He pushed forward, forcing his consciousness to take control.

Gritting his teeth, Ryo began splitting his spiritual sea, a process that sent sharp spikes of pain lancing through his skull. The blood resisted, thrashing violently as it fought against him. His muscles tensed, his body trembling as the strain pushed him to his limits.

Finally, the energy began to stabilize, merging into the newly formed space within his spiritual sea. The oppressive force faded slightly, its movements slowing. A faint glow appeared within the swirling mass of blood, and the energy began to condense.

The blood shifted, coalescing into a small, humanoid form. The figure stood, its crimson body pulsing faintly with life. Its features were crude and twisted, but its glowing red eyes locked onto Ryo with unflinching focus.

Ryo opened his eyes, his breathing ragged. Blood seeped from his pores, staining his clothes and skin, but his crimson gaze burned brighter than ever. His lips curled into a faint smile, and a low chuckle escaped him.

The laugh grew louder, harsher, echoing through the silent forest. His shoulders shook as the sound consumed him, a mix of triumph and madness spilling into the night.

The blood infant stood motionless beside him, silent and obedient, its form reflecting the violent process of its creation.

Ryo's laughter subsided, leaving only his steady breathing. He pushed himself to his feet, his body trembling slightly from the strain. Looking down at the lifeless Komodo dragon, he muttered softly, "Worth it."

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Should there be romance?

but I am not confident in writing it 

I think there should be no romance as I plan to kill some characters

Comment your thoughts