Solar Blood Masters (193)

Chapter 193 - Dog Soup

A hush fell over the courtyard as Raphael stood before Den Den. A strange mix of excitement and dread was permeating.

Whispers of speculation rippled through the audience.

“That kid… he’s so small! How can he possibly defeat a beast like Den Den?”

“Don’t underestimate him! He defeated Bailof with a single punch! That’s no easy feat!”

“Bailof was caught off guard. That kid’s luck won’t last. Den Den will rip him to shreds.”

“I’m betting on the hound. Its fangs are sharper than any blade.”

“Yeah, and its speed is unmatched.”

“But that kid… he has a strange weapon. And that clam… It’s creepy.”

Raphael closed his eyes as Den Den circled him. ‘I’m sorry, but… I’ll make it quick.’

“AWOOO!”

Den Den pounced straight for Raphael with its claws ready to swipe a dreadful blow.

The crowd watched with bated breath. Why was the kid just standing there, eyes closed? Was he scared shitless? Had he given up? Yes, that must be it.

They were wrong.

Just as Den Den’s claws were about to reach Raphael, the world around him seemed to slow down.

He calmly turned, lifted his head, and opened his Lingshi Eye.

“Mental Discipline – Overload!”

A beam of pure, green energy shot forth and struck Den Den directly between the eyes.

Time resumed its normal flow and what the audience witnessed next stunned them into silence.

Raphael sidestepped Den Den’s attack with an effortless grace. And the hound…

It dropped to the ground, motionless. Its eyes were glazed over, its Solar Essence extinguished.

It was dead.

A wave of confusion washed over the courtyard.

“What… just happened?”

“How… did he do that?”

“Did he… kill it… with a… look?”

Enel Snow was baffled, Xavier Snow stunned, and above all, Yukiana was the most shocked.

Due to her beastly contract with Den Den, she knew exactly what had happened.

“I’ve just lost… one of my Soul Planets…” she whispered, clutching her chest.

“What?! Sister, you…!” Labeach was also stunned. This could only mean one thing…

“Dead?” Xavier was genuinely surprised. ‘How can a Saint Ruler die so suddenly?’

As the crowd stared in shock, Den Den’s Solar Consciousness materialized above its corpse. A fiery, crimson orb burning with residual energy.

Raphael snatched it with his Abyss Nylon, picked up Den Den’s lifeless form, then walked towards the bench area where Kudumei shivered in the snowdrift.

Everyone stared at him incredulously. No one dared to speak. No one dared to move, as if even the slightest sound, the slightest tremor might shatter the surreal stillness.

Raphael materialized the Four-Faced Blood Sapping Cauldron. It enlarged. He tossed Den Den’s body inside, lit the Flame Crystals beneath it, and commenced the cooking process.

He then settled himself beside Kudumei, cradled the hound’s Solar Consciousness in his hands, and began refining it.

Yukiana and the crowd watched this spectacle unfold with their hearts’ beating on the edge.

‘How brazen! How audacious! How brave is this golden-haired kid?’ they thought, stunned by Raphael’s actions. ‘He not only killed Yukiana’s beloved mount, but now he’s refining its soul… right before her eyes?’

Yukiana gritted her teeth. She was about to leap from the balcony and unleash her fury upon Raphael when Xavier grabbed her arm firmly.

“Calm down, Yuki. I’ll get you another mount, one even stronger than Den Den. Just… wait.”

Yukiana was heartbroken, and no amount of promises could mend those wounds. “But… Daddy… Den Den and I… We’ve known each other for one hundred and twenty-three years! How can you just… replace him?!” She almost cried.

Xavier sighed. “I know, my child. I know… But there’s nothing we can do. That boy… he’s… different.”

He hadn’t anticipated this turn of events.

On the stage, Flint Snow also looked puzzled.

“Now that Den Den is dead… How should we proceed, Your Majesty?” he looked up at Xavier Snow, seeking guidance.

Xavier cleared his throat, pondering their next move. There were still several contenders remaining.

“There aren’t that many suitors left anyway. Let them pass to the next round.”

A few of the men who had backed out of the challenge earlier grumbled their displeasure at Xavier’s decision. It seemed unfair. They should have at least been given a chance to fight Den Den in his weakened state.

Others, however, were relieved. That golden-haired kid… he’d inadvertently cleared a path for them. They were grateful, yet slightly wary.

Enel Snow observed Raphael with narrowed eyes, that strange green eye of his was still fresh in his mind. He had a frightening realization that settled in his soul like a shroud of ice.

‘That youngster… he’s full of surprises. To dispatch of a Saint Ruler Crimson Fang Hound without breaking a sweat… It’s no easy feat. He might just be my greatest obstacle. I can’t allow him to advance any further…’

He materialized a bunch of grapes in his hand.

“Since he’s so fond of food… this should do the trick…” he smiled sinisterly.

…

Within Raphael’s Cosmic Mind Sea, he flew upwards with the Crimson Fang Hound’s Solar Consciousness, now a small, crimson Soul Planet, nestled in his hand. He stopped before Silk Yune’s sun center and stared at her empty Astro Soul Orbital.

‘For some reason, I can’t access this power Qi Hawk bestowed upon me. Perhaps if I stimulate her Soul Orbital with this Soul Planet, I’ll gain access.’

He carefully installed the Soul Planet onto the Astro Soul Orbital, fitting it into place with meticulous care as if he were trying to connect with her through their shared soul, and the planet slotted in perfectly.

He waited.

But nothing happened.

‘Why isn’t it working? Could there be some kind of… blockage?’

Suddenly, the Astro Soul Orbital began to vibrate.

BOOM!

Silk Yune burst forth from her sun center! Her form was colossal, towering above Raphael like a mountain of snow and fury! Her nine tails thrashed wildly while sparkling menacingly.

She snatched the Soul Planet with a swift motion.

“You dare offer me this… filth?! This… dog?!”

CRACK!

She crushed the Soul Planet in her grasp! It shattered into a million fragments that scattered like crimson snowflakes.

And then, with a chilling precision, she used her tails to bite through the Astro Soul Orbital! It shattered and dissolved into nothingness!

She glared at Raphael.

“I am no mere dustbin for your scraps! I AM Silk Yune! Emperor of the Yunyin! And I’ll NOT be trifled with!”

With a final, defiant snort, she vanished back into her sun center, leaving Raphael hovering there bewildered.

‘What the hell just happened? She not only destroyed the Soul Planet, but she also obliterated the Soul Orbital?! This is… I don’t know… Can I even awaken another Soul Orbital after it’s been destroyed? Why is she so angry? Is she upset that the Crimson Fang Hound’s Solar Consciousness wasn’t… appetizing? Or is it something else entirely?’

His thoughts were interrupted by a powerful aroma from the outside.

‘The soup’s ready!’

He exited his Cosmic Mind Sea and opened his eyes.

The cauldron was bubbling merrily and its four faces were glowing with a satisfied green light.

He dashed over and extinguished the Flame Crystals beneath the cauldron. He then took out his large Sonic Bowl, scooped up a generous portion of the steaming broth, and sipped it cautiously.

“Wow! Amazing!”

He sat beside Kudumei and offered her a sip.

“Here, drink it. You’ve been shivering nonstop. This soup will warm you up.”

Kudumei hovered above the bowl, sniffing the broth curiously, then sipped it gently. The warmth spread through her, revitalizing her frozen form, and with a contented shudder, she absorbed the rest of the soup in a single gulp.

Raphael berated her. “Hey! Don’t be greedy! You’re lucky there’s more.” He dipped the bowl back into the cauldron and scooped up another portion.

They drank together.