Xuanwu Guga

Guga plunged straight down from high above. The swamp rushed up in her vision, and wind poured into her costume, puffing it into a little ball. Her little hammer aimed at the spatial tear in the turtle shell, its head leading and her round body following behind. Wind poured into her costume, puffing it into a little ball.

"Little Hammer Forty! Take my hammer, guga!"

Little Moon let go at the last instant. A flash of silver-white light flickered, but she did not take Guga back to the ground. She teleported to Lin Yuan's side, grabbed his wrist, and soared into the sky again.

"Your turn, guga!"

Lin Yuan appeared directly above Guga. Below him, Guga was still falling, her hammer less than thirty feet from the crack in the turtle shell. Lin Yuan's Black Iron Hammer was two sizes larger than hers, its head aimed at the back of her hammer.

"Big Hammer Eighty! Smash it!"

Little Moon let go. Lin Yuan accelerated downward, his Black Iron Hammer catching up to Guga's little hammer. Less than ten feet from the shell, it slammed into the back of her hammer.

Clang!

The crash of metal exploded outward, shaking a ring of ripples across the swamp water.

The two hammers stacked together, doubling their force. Guga's little hammer was driven deep into the crack, and the impact surged through the split into the shell. The turtle shell burst apart from its center, fragments flying in every direction and exposing a broad expanse of flesh beneath. The Black Tortoise abruptly drew in all four limbs, its entire body sinking. The pressure sent swamp water erupting ten feet high, and muddy water mixed with shell fragments pattered down everywhere.

The Black Tortoise's roar shook even the clumps of reeds.

Little Moon's silver-white light flashed twice in succession, bringing Lin Yuan and Guga back to the ground together.

Guga landed and kicked her stubby legs twice, her face flushed bright red and her stubby arms still flailing in the air.

"We hit it, guga! We hit it, guga!"

The Black Tortoise struggled desperately, thrusting its head out as blue light gathered frantically inside its mouth. A water cannon swelled rapidly, larger than any before it, its watery blue glow blindingly bright. The surrounding swamp water was drawn toward it. The water cannon grew larger and larger, the currents around its edges spinning at high speed with a piercing screech.

Heavenly Star Vines shot out from beneath the water and wound tightly around the tortoise's neck. Coil after coil tightened, wrenching its head sideways and throwing the water cannon off course.

"I've got it, guga!"

Dark Gold Guga charged forward, driving her Dark Gold Dreadclaw through the crack. Five dark-gold claw rays slashed straight into the flesh deep beneath the shell. Blood spurted from the crack and streamed down with the swamp water. The Black Tortoise's body suddenly stiffened, the water cannon lodged in its throat, and its light rapidly dimmed.

Little Moon teleported above the crack and aimed both palms at the opening again. Spatial power surged inside, and two invisible hands seized the edges of the crack and tore them savagely apart. The turtle shell cracked with a dull rumble, splitting in half down the middle. The halves crashed into the swamp, throwing up two enormous waves of mud.

Lin Yuan swung his Black Iron Hammer, bringing one final blow down on the tortoise's head.

The Black Tortoise's body shuddered violently. Its limbs slowly relaxed, and it stopped struggling. A black Soul Ring rose from its shell, gleaming black as it slowly revolved in the air like flowing ink.

The swamp fell quiet. The water still rocked, its ripples slowly settling one ring at a time.

Guga lowered her hammer and plopped onto the ground, her stubby hands braced on her knees as she panted.

"That was so much fun, guga!"

Dark Gold Guga stood leaning against her hammer without a word. Starry Guga's vines slowly withdrew, their pale green glow shining gently. Little Moon teleported beside Guga and poked her cheek.

"Happy, guga?"

"Happy, guga! I want to play again next time, guga!" Guga rubbed her hands. "My hands are still shaking, guga."

Lin Yuan sat down cross-legged.

The Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring entered his body, and Soul Shock struck. A phantom of the True Martial Mystic Turtle emerged in his mind, larger even than its real body, its shell blotting out the sky and sun. With his Soul King-level spiritual power, Lin Yuan neither dodged nor retreated, meeting it head-on. The two forces collided without a sound. Blood trickled from Lin Yuan's nostrils.

The four Gugas gathered around him.

The Soul Shock lasted half the time it took to drink a cup of tea.

Half a cup of tea later, Lin Yuan opened his eyes. His fourth Soul Ring was black, ten thousand years old. The soul power he had accumulated over the previous four years was released the instant he absorbed the Soul Ring. His soul power level climbed all the way from forty to forty-six before stopping. Four Soul Rings slowly revolved at his feet, three bands of ink and one of fresh ink, their reflections darkening even the swamp water.

He raised his hand, and his fourth Soul Ring flashed.

A Guga dropped out of the Soul Ring.

She hit the ground with a thud. Her costume was inky black, its surface patterned with pale blue flowing water, like ripples slowly drifting across ink-colored cloth. She sat on the ground, tilted her head, and looked at Lin Yuan, then at the four Gugas.

"...Where am I, guga?"

Her voice was dazed, as though she had just woken from a dream. After speaking, she blinked and stared blankly at Lin Yuan.

Little Moon teleported in front of her and poked her cheek with a stubby hand.

"Soft, guga."

After being poked, Xuanwu Guga lowered her head and looked at her belly.

"Why did you poke me, guga?"

"It's fun, guga."

"Oh." Xuanwu Guga nodded and began staring blankly at a nearby puddle.

Guga ran over, circled her once, and poked her shoulder.

"What's your name, guga?"

"Name, guga?" Xuanwu Guga tilted her head. A long while passed before she said, "Xuanwu Guga."

Dark Gold Guga walked over and studied her for a moment.

"...Can you fight, guga?"

"Fight?" Xuanwu Guga thought seriously. "I can stand in front, guga."

Little Moon let out a snort beside her.

"That's not fighting, guga."

"Then what is it, guga?"

"Taking a beating, guga."

Starry Guga bent down, pale green vines gently curling once around her fingertips.

"We're family from now on, guga."

"Family, guga." Xuanwu Guga repeated the words. The pale blue patterns on her costume brightened, then dimmed again.

Lin Yuan stood and walked over to the True Martial Mystic Turtle's corpse. Although its enormous shell had split in half, the inky-black patterns remained, pale blue watery light slowly flowing through them. He crouched and pressed his palm against the shell, his soul power surging. The entire True Martial Mystic Turtle was drawn into his Soul Tool.

He straightened, his fourth black Soul Ring slowly revolving at his feet. Three Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings and one new Soul Ring circled him in four ink-dark ripples, their reflections darkening even the swamp water.

"It's time to return to the Heaven Dou Empire."

He hoisted his hammer onto his shoulder.

"First, we'll settle the score with Nuoding City's city lord."

Guga bounced up and pointed at the sky with a stubby hand.

"Beat up the bad guy, guga!"

Dark Gold Guga's claws sprang out again, dark-gold light swirling around their tips as she gave a cold snort.

"...Beat him to death, guga."

Little Moon tilted her head, her silver-white figure flickering.

"Who are we beating up, guga?"

Xuanwu Guga dazedly echoed her.

"Who are we beating up, guga?"

Starry Guga said with a smile.

"The bad guy who bullied Master, guga."

Lin Yuan rested his hammer against his shoulder and smiled.

"Let's go."

Lin Yuan bent down and picked Xuanwu Guga up, seating her on his shoulder. Xuanwu Guga tilted her head, rested her stubby hands on Lin Yuan's head, and stared blankly at the road ahead.

"I'm hungry, guga."

Lin Yuan smiled.

"Come on. I'll take you to get something to eat."

Guga sprang up, her stubby legs pumping furiously.

"Food, guga!"

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