"Well then—thank you, oh great one," Tony said dramatically, sweeping into an exaggerated bow. The others followed, playfully mocking a royal court, bowing with grand gestures.
Dave blinked, then slowly stood up, chin tilted high, hands on his hips like a pompous noble. "Yes, bow before , mortals," he declared in an exaggerated, haughty tone.
There was a mont of silence... before they all broke into laughter.
Even Bucky cracked a grin. Natasha chuckled under her breath. Bruce shook his head, amused. Steve crossed his arms, smirking. Shuri covered her mouth, trying not to giggle. And Tony? He was already pretending to knight Dave with a stick like it was Excalibur.
"Arise, Lord Contract-Guy," he intoned.
Dave sighed but grinned anyway. For a group of adults trapped in kids’ bodies, in a completely different world... it felt good to laugh. Even if just for a mont.
Two days passed, and now the group followed the old man toward the ancient temple on the northern side of the village. It was here that the Spirit Master would awaken their Martial Spirits.
As they were nearing the temple, a man suddenly swooped down from the sky with large eagle-like wings on his back.
"Welco, Spirit Master Mo Chen!" the old man greeted as he handed the newcor a gourd.
Mo Chen took it with a grin and took a big gulp. "You never disappoint, old man. All my tiredness vanished in one sip!" he said cheerfully, clearly used to this ritual.
"Alright, old man, I still have a village to get to and awaken Martial Spirits for the kids," Mo Chen added, returning the empty gourd.
The old man nodded and opened the large doors to the temple.
Mo Chen turned to the group. "Okay, kids, my na is Mo Chen. I am a Level 29 Battle Soul Master. My Martial Spirit is—"
Suddenly, a burst of spiritual energy erupted from him, and behind him appeared a massive green eagle with radiant feathers.
"Green Feather Eagle. That’s my Martial Spirit," he said proudly as two yellow soul rings glowed beneath him.
Seeing this, Shuri, Bruce, and Tony’s eyes widened in awe.
"So that’s a Martial Spirit and spirit rings... what a powerful aura!" Bruce muttered.
"Alright then," Mo Chen said, clapping his hands, "co inside and step into the hexagram circle one by one."
Aside from Dave and his group, six local village kids were also present.
The first to go was a nervous village boy. Mo Chen took out six small stones and placed them around the boy to form a glowing hexagram.
"Okay, now relax. Focus your energy, and let your spirit awaken," Mo Chen instructed gently.
The boy nodded, took a breath, and stretched out his hand.
From his palm, a soft white light erged, and a delicate flower blood—a White Shore Lily.
"Hmm... a White Shore Lily. Pretty, but not very useful in combat," Mo Chen said kindly. He then had the boy place his hand on a crystal to test his spirit power.
But... no reaction ca from the crystal.
"No spirit power. Sorry, kid... you can’t beco a Spirit Master," Mo Chen said, his tone gentle but honest.
The boy lowered his head, trying not to cry, as the old man consoled him and led him aside.
Dave and the others watched silently.
Their turn was coming soon.
Mo Chen gestured to the next child. "Alright, you—step into the circle."
A timid-looking boy with ssy brown hair stepped forward and stood in the hexagram formation. As before, Mo Chen activated the circle, and glowing light surrounded the child.
"Focus... let your spirit awaken," Mo Chen instructed.
The boy clenched his fists and concentrated. A faint shimr surrounded his hand before a rusted sickle ford in his grasp.
Mo Chen tilted his head. "A sickle, huh? Farming-type Martial Spirit. Nothing fancy, but it’s sothing."
The spirit crystal lit up faintly as the boy placed his hand on it.
[ Spirit Power: Level 2 ]
"Level 2. Hmm. Below average, but at least you have so spirit power," Mo Chen said gently. "You might qualify as an assistant in a sect if you work hard."
The next child stepped up—this ti, a girl.
She looked nervous but determined as the light of the circle wrapped around her. She raised her palm and, from it, erged... a wooden shoehorn.
Tony couldn’t stop himself from whispering, "A shoehorn? That’s new."
Mo Chen kept a straight face. "Household-type Martial Spirit. Rare... but not in a good way."
The spirit crystal didn’t even flicker.
"No spirit power," he confird. "Sorry, little one."
The girl quietly nodded and walked back, her eyes misty.
Another child stepped in. This one seed more confident. The hexagram glowed again—this ti producing a simple, glowing shovel in his hand.
Mo Chen raised a brow. "Well... it’s a sturdy Martial Spirit, but still not combat-oriented."
He tested the boy’s spirit power.
[ Spirit Power: Level 1 ]
The boy’s shoulders slumped.
"Don’t be discouraged. With the right support, anything can happen," Mo Chen said with a pat on his shoulder.
Finally, the last of the village children stepped forward. A pale girl with bright green eyes and a quiet deanor. The light surged as she focused—and from her palm blood a soft white White Shore Lily, similar to the first child.
Mo Chen watched with a curious expression. "Again with the White Shore Lily... but let’s see the power."
The girl stepped forward and placed her hand on the crystal.
[ Spirit Power: Level 3 ]
Mo Chen nodded, mildly impressed. "Not bad. You’re the strongest among the village kids today. Level 3 ans you can begin cultivating, even if the spirit isn’t ideal. With training, you might find a niche."
The girl’s face lit up, eyes sparkling with hope. The villagers clapped gently for her as she stepped back.
Mo Chen then turned to the side, eyes narrowing at the next group.
Seven unusually well-dressed and strangely composed children stepped forward together — Dave and his group.
"...You’re not from around here, are you?" Mo Chen said, narrowing his eyes slightly. "Your bearing’s a bit... different."
Dave smiled with all the innocence of a six-year-old princeling. "We ca from far away. Can we go now?"
Mo Chen nodded, and gestured to the formation. "Fine. You—go first."
Steve stepped into the hexagram circle and calmly focused. The light of awakening wrapped around him.
A bright flash erupted — from his palm ford a long, silver dual-edged sword, carved with ancient runes.
Mo Chen’s eyes widened slightly. "A high-grade weapon spirit..."
Steve stepped forward, placing his hand on the spirit crystal.
[ Spirit Power: Level 10 — Full Innate Talent ]
Gasps ran through the onlookers.
Even Mo Chen took a step back. "Full innate spirit power? That’s unheard of... in a remote village like this."
Bucky followed next, white hair and red eyes gleaming with quiet calm. As he raised his hand, a beautiful curved wind katana ford, wrapped in swirling leaves and crimson accents.
Mo Chen stared. "Another exceptional Martial Spirit?"
Bucky pressed the crystal.
[ Spirit Power: Level 10 ]
Mo Chen blinked. "Impossible... another?"
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