Evil Soul Master

Douluo Continent, southeastern Silves Kingdom, Maplewood Town.

The round moon had just poked its head above the horizon. The town was fairly lively at night, with brightly lit streets lined with shops, and the clamor of revelry drifting out from many inns.

To the south of town lay a road leading to the official highway, with several inns and taverns along it. At this hour, it was usually quite bustling as well.

Near the southern exit of town stood an inn. A two-story building and several low houses formed a spacious courtyard. It was far from the town center, with only a few homes nearby, making it seem rather secluded. The inn's first-floor hall served as a simple dining area, while both floors contained guest rooms.

Yet at this moment, though the hall was brightly lit, every diner and even the attendants had collapsed to the floor, as if they had been attacked. Meanwhile, bursts of commotion came from a guest room somewhere on the second floor.

Inside one of the inn's second-floor rooms, several figures were locked in combat. The scene in the room was strange: the half-open door had nearly been smashed apart, and the repeated sounds of impacts revealed the ferocity of the fight.

Several small figures lay sprawled in both the sitting room and bedroom. They appeared to be children of only six or seven, their faces twisted in pain. It was unclear who had struck them so viciously. An eerie soundwave echoed through the room, leaving anyone who heard it dizzy and disoriented.

A fierce battle raged in the sitting room. Four figures clashed continuously, while several differently colored rings spun around their bodies.

The combatants suddenly retreated at the same time, dividing into two camps. Three figures cautiously shielded the unconscious children behind them, staring warily at the person opposite them, who radiated an aura of darkness and ill omen.

The three consisted of one woman and two men. The two men were fairly old, around their early thirties. One held a curved blade, with three rings—one white, one yellow, and one pale purple—circling his body.

The other man was around the same age, but looked somewhat strange. His arms and legs were much shorter than those of an ordinary person, and his back bulged slightly like a huge shell. A yellowish-brown glow covered his body, while three rings—one white and two yellow—revolved around him. The second yellow ring even carried faint threads of purple light.

The only woman among them wore a white dress. She looked to be nearly twenty, with delicate features and a gentle, captivating bearing. A pair of snow-white wings spread from her back, and fine white down covered the exposed skin of her body. Her eyes were also somewhat birdlike, slightly narrow and elongated.

Three rings, two yellow and one purple, radiated an extraordinary aura from her body, while the two men vaguely positioned themselves to protect her.

Opposite the three of them stood a man in a trench coat who radiated an ominous aura. He wore a black trench coat over robes of the same color. He appeared to be only in his twenties, but his skin was abnormally pale—not the rosy fairness of health, but a sickly white.

Behind the man, a pair of bat wings could vaguely be seen, black with blood-red markings. His pupils were crimson, and sharp canine teeth protruded from the corners of his mouth, making him especially frightening. Whenever he opened his mouth, a heavy stench of blood spread through the air.

His blood-red eyes were terrifying to behold. A red glow covered his body, and even his nails were crimson. Around him, two yellow and two purple rings pulsed continuously, while waves that made people dizzy constantly emanated from his body.

"Who are you? Why are you attacking us? We are deacons of Nal City Spirit Hall."

The curved-blade wielder stared cautiously at the man opposite him. Though he knew the other party was most likely one of those Evil Soul Masters who committed all manner of atrocities, that man was a four-ring Soul Ancestor—far beyond his ability to fight. All he could do now was hope that the Spirit Hall's name would scare him away.

"Spirit Hall? I, Rassoul, came looking for Spirit Hall scum."

The low voice slowly rang out. When the man mentioned Spirit Hall, the man named Rassoul across from him slowly raised his head. The red light in his eyes flickered, becoming ever more vivid.

"Rassoul... You're Blood-Soaked Bat Lasol, the one who drinks human blood! Uncle Bart, Uncle Leyden, he's a wanted Evil Soul Master!"

After hearing his reply, the only woman among the three went pale and hurriedly blurted out everything she knew.

After hearing her introduction, the hearts of the two middle-aged men standing before her sank. Unlike the inexperienced girl behind them, who had only just graduated from the academy, they were veterans who had spent over a decade in Spirit Hall. They knew full well just how dangerous these wanted, fugitive Evil Soul Masters were.

The Evil Soul Master named Rassoul did not rush to attack. Instead, he leisurely savored the thrill of the hunt. His blood-colored eyes occasionally fell upon the girl's sensitive areas, while his tongue repeatedly licked between his fangs.

Naturally, the three people opposite him noticed Rassoul's actions. Disgust appeared in the girl's eyes, but her delicate body could not stop trembling, revealing her true feelings. The two middle-aged men secretly exchanged glances from the corners of their eyes, already having made their decision.

"Ding, ding, ding..."

The three rings around Bart, the middle-aged man hunched over like a turtle, erupted with brilliant light at once, and a powerful surge of energy burst forth.

First Soul Skill: Rock Turtle Shield! Second Soul Skill: Mysterious Earth Defense! Third Soul Skill: Earth Guardian!

Waves of yellowish-brown radiance bloomed from his body. An earthen shield appeared before him, followed by two currents of yellowish-brown energy that rapidly rippled outward, seemingly forming layers upon layers of defensive rock that swiftly blocked Rassoul's path.

Third Soul Skill: Primal Strike.

At the same time, Lycett, who wielded the curved blade, abruptly shoved the girl behind him toward the door. Then, his pale-purple ring quickly shone, and purple light flashed across his blade.

"Miss Liya, we'll hold him back. Hurry into town and find some mercenaries for help!"

As Lycett spoke, he finished gathering power and stepped forward. An unprecedentedly powerful surge of energy erupted from his curved blade, and a streak of light shot straight toward Rassoul.

Rassoul watched the two men's actions coldly. At the same time, his second soul ring flickered with yellow light. "Heh heh, it would be rather troublesome if you alerted those mercenaries. Second Soul Skill: Bloodthirsty Demon Claws!"

Blood light flared around him, and crimson radiance burst from his claws. Their razor-sharp aura carried an intense stench of blood as the pair of bloody claws tore through the air and slammed into the layers of yellowish-brown defenses.

A scorching smell spread through the air. The power of that claw strike far exceeded ordinary imagination. Had it landed on a body of flesh and blood, it would likely have pierced straight through it.