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40.65% Douluo Dalu 3: The Alpha and The Omega / Chapter 34: Shrek Trials ( Part 2 )

Chapter 34: Shrek Trials ( Part 2 )

After five minutes had passed, Shen Yi reappeared with three individuals in her company. Nero was surprised as the old hag who made the most trouble in the original book was not amongst the three people. Instead, there was a middle-aged man who seemed to radiate a relaxed and friendly aura. Once they were all seated, the middle-aged man addressed Shen Yi in a kind manner, "Little Yiyi, let them know that they can begin."

Nero left the decision of arranging the order to Tang Wulin and just like the original timeline Xie Xie was selected to go first. Xie Xie stood up from his seat and walked towards the center of the room. "Hello teachers," he said , addressing the examiners with a respectful bow. The middle-aged man nodded in acknowledgement. Xie Xie summoned both his martial spirits and then closed his eyes, seemingly lost in deep concentration.

After a brief pause, a radiant light enveloped Xie Xie's martial souls. When the light dimmed, a transformation became evident in Xie Xie's martial soul. The daggers he wielded were now slightly elongated, featuring Dragon heads engraved at the handle. Thanks to Nero's prior intervention, Wu Zhangkong was aware of the true nature of Xie Xie's martial soul. Thus, he made Xie Xie cultivate daily with Tang Wulin, alongside he also prompted Xie Xie to consume Dragon-related elixirs. While this didn't lead to a complete awakening of Xie Xie's martial soul, it did allow him to transition his martial soul into Space-time Dragon through deep concentration.

Xie Xie took a deep breath and thrusted his hand forward. Under the curious gazes of the examiners Xie Xie's hand disappeared like it was cut off and emerged some distance away. This was the innate ability of Xie Xie's Space-time Dragon martial spirit which allowed him to travel through void. In Nero's perspective, Xie Xie's martial spirit should be called Void Dragon considering its focus on travelling through space and Void rather than controlling space and time themselves.

" Your martial spirit is certainly unique and powerful as it allows you to travel through void but I would suggest you to focus on mental power as it would lessen the time you need to fuse both your martial spirits and enter the void " the middle-aged man acknowledged Xie Xie's martial soul potential and advised him on how to further utilize his power. Grateful for the guidance, Xie Xie respectfully bowed, recognizing the valuable insight the middle-aged man.

As the proceedings continued, it was time for Xu Xiaoyan, Tang Wulin and Gu Yue to demonstrate their individual specialties. Their performance were same as the original timeline, The middle aged man acknowledged their uniqueness and gave advice according to his insights. It was finally Nero's turn, Nero however was confused about what to showcase as there were too many things in his arsenal which were certainly unique. ' What should I show them Aria? ' Nero finally asked Aria as he couldn't finalize on a choice. [ I think your sword cultivation and Portal opening ability is enough to shock them ] Nero heeded Aria's suggestion and decided to demonstrate his sword cultivation and Portal opening ability.

As Nero stood in the center of hall, every examiner's gaze was filled with anticipation as they looked forward to what the monster who overwhelmed every trial till now would display. Taking on the stance of a classic sword draw, Nero's aura transformed, resembling that of a sharp sword out of its sheath. The sound of air being cleaved echoed through the whole room even without Nero even doing anything.

The middle-aged examiner uttered "Sword soul" with disbelief evident in his voice , while the other examiners were rendered speechless to say anything else. The sight before them was a spectacle unlike anything they had ever seen , a twelve-year-old soul master attaining a level of sword comprehension that even an experienced Titled Douluo might not be able to achieve.

With a resounding "clink," Nero unsheathed Yamato with a blinding speed, and the room erupted into a whirlwind of slashes which were imbued with Nero's sword intent and Yamato's law of separation. Sword marks materialized on every surface, from walls to floors and tables, However, neither class zero nor the examiners bore any signs of the sword mark which was a testament of Nero's precision and control over each and every slash. Just by observing the sharpness of these sword marks the middle-aged main examiner could discern the danger behind the technique– an attack like that could potentially gravely injure even a soul sage who dared to face it head-on without his soul avatar. { It was Judgement cut, Since it is real life then Judgement cut's range is not limited thus whole room was covered in it }.

Before anyone could fully process what they had just witnessed, Nero turned around and executed a precise slash through the air, opening a space rift. The middle-aged examiner, exclaimed "Astounding!" as he praised Nero's remarkable display of power, precision, and control. He continued with sincere admiration, "I'm at a loss for words to describe your performance. It was flawless in every aspect, from your extraordinary power control to the uniqueness of your martial soul. Your only limitation may be your spirit energy, but considering your age, even that surpasses your peers. I've encountered numerous geniuses, yet they all had one common flaw – their focus on spirit rank rather than their skill development. You, however, have mastered your abilities to near perfection. Keep following the path you've taken; that's the best advice I can offer ".

The middle-aged man rose from his seat, addressing Shen Yi with a warm smile. "Little Yiyi, I award full marks to all of them. They truly are a group of remarkable little monsters " He then turned his attention to Class Zero, his gaze holding a mix of admiration and amusement. "Since you're undergoing a series of tests, allow me to assist a little." Summoning his martial spirit, a silver specter inlaid with a vibrant green gemstone appeared. Radiant clusters of light emanated from the specter and merged with each member of Class Zero. Though Nero sensed only a subtle change, Tang Wulin and Xie Xie, who spent the most energy, felt revitalized both physically and mentally. With a gesture of his hand, the middle-aged man bid them farewell and exited the room. In gratitude, Class Zero respectfully bowed before he departed.

" Congratulations, Xie Xie and Xu Xiaoyan have 38 points while the three of you have 40 points; from the looks of it you all won't have any problem in passing the exam " Shen Yi came near and congratulated sincerely, she was also genuinely happy for them after all every one of them was like a student to Wu Zhangkong.

----

In a separate room, a virtual screen displayed Class Zero's performance. Inside the room, a white-haired elderly lady turned to a red-brown haired old man and declared, "In the final round, I've decided to take that elemental girl as my disciple."

The red-brown haired man warned, "You can try, but don't you dare exert your power to pressure them. Remember, I won't stand for it ". The elderly lady retorted, "Do I seem like someone who would resort to such tactics? And even if I did, what can you possibly do?"

The room was soon filled with their spirited argument, their voices echoing in a heated exchange.

----

In fifth trial which was a test of secondary profession, Xie Xie and Xu Xiaoyan scored 9 points while Tang Wulin, Gu yue and Nero scored 10 points. Although Nero didn't study a secondary profession, but guidance from Aria was more than enough to satisfy the requirements.

In the Sixth trial, Nero and everyone else dumped all their dumplings into Tang Wulin's plate whose stomach was like a bottomless hole. Shen Yi's lips twitched as she watched Tang Wulin devour everyone's food. At this point, Nero, Tang Wulin, and Gu Yue had already accumulated enough points to successfully pass the trial. Meanwhile, Xie Xie and Xu Xiaoyan needed only three more points to meet the requirement. The Seventh trial which was the three-part endurance test was more or less similar to the original timeline where Tang Wulin instructed Xu Xiaoyan and Gu yue to only score two points and preserve their combat power for later rounds. As for Nero, the tests didn't even make him sweat let alone affect his performance in later stage.

As Shen Yi led Class Zero towards the eighth trial, she began explaining its details, "The eighth trial is a comprehensive battle. You will face a current student of Shrek Academy as your opponent. The selection of opponents is random, so luck will play a role. You must last for at least ten minutes against your opponent to pass. If you defeat them, you will receive full points. Alternatively, your performance will be graded between six and ten marks based on how you fare."

Tang Wulin, noticing the gradual approach of night, raised a question, "Teacher Yi, can we choose the order in which we fight?" Shen Yi confirmed his inquiry with a nod and elaborated, "There will be ten opponents for you to choose from, adding an element of strategy to the test. Some opponents may naturally counter your strengths, while others could be countered by you. Your performance will largely depend on your choice of opponent " Xu Xiaoyan's mood instantly blossomed like a spring, knowing that her true power would shine during the night.

After five minutes, Class Zero found themselves within a spacious circular room, its center being an arena. Standing along the periphery were ten students wearing Shrek Academy uniforms, They were the students who joined Shrek last year. Shen Yi conveyed to Class Zero that they had ten-minutes to select their opponents and once a choice was made, then she herself can't change it.

"Nero, who do you think we should choose, and in what order? " Tang Wulin inquired as Nero was always able to assess opponent's danger levels just by looking at them. Nero used his demon eyes to scan the ten Shrek students. ' Huh! ' a certain student caught Nero's eye, he was a boy with fiery raid hair and lean build but Nero could tell it was a disguise and in reality that student was a beautiful girl with slim build and long rosy red hair. What specifically caught Nero's attention was the dark purple aura around her left hand. ' Interesting ' Nero smirked as he could tell that the aura was somehow related to Demons, { Nero didn't recognize her because he only remembers only major information }.

[ Want me to show her status ] Aria offered to reveal her status, but Nero declined. He had come to understand that relying on status information could potentially leave him vulnerable to enemies who are extremely capable at concealing their information wave.

"Xie Xie, choose number four. Tang Wulin and Gu Yue, you both can select anyone except number two. Xu Xiaoyan, go for number five when it's your turn," Nero directed Class Zero after assessing the auras of the opponents. Gu yue and Tang Wulin were first and second in order, they both easily defeated their opponents after wasting as much time as they could. Tang Wulin managed his victory without even using his Dragon Claw as unlike the original timeline he had three soul rings. Next was Xie Xie, he only evaded his opponent's attack for the first fifteen minutes and once the stars emerged in the night sky, he instantly used his double dragon storm to defeat his opponent.

Xu Xiaoyan's turn came next, her opponent was an agility type soul master. Xu Xiaoyan first summoned a spinning ice wheel behind her and encased it with icicles of ice. She then used her long range attacks to lure her opponent into a specific position, and once he was within that designated area, Xu Xiaoyan unleashed her starlight shackles to immobilize him. Simultaneously, she sent the ice wheel hurtling toward him effectively defeating her opponent.

Finally it was Nero's turn, as Nero approached the arena four black soul rings surrounded him and Yamato manifested in his hands. Shock rippled through the crowd, including Shen Yi. She thought maybe she had seen Nero's limits but once again she was proven wrong and realized that Nero was in a league of his own. Nero raised an eyebrow at his opponent, the disguised girl before him. Unlike the others who stared at him in shock, she looked at him with wide eyes and trembling clenched fists, as though she new him.

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next chapter

Chapter 35: Shrek Trials (Part 3) and Rage

"Is there a problem?" Nero questioned the disguised girl, who shook her head as she snapped out of her daze. Summoning her martial soul, her disguised form underwent a transformation. Brown hair spread across her body as she swelled with newfound strength. Although she still retained somewhat of a humanoid shape, she definitely didn't look human anymore. 'Ah, it's her, Yuanen Yehui. I somewhat forgot, because she was Xie Xie's opponent in the original timeline ' Nero thought as he finally recognized his opponent.

Yuanen Yehui activated her first spirit ability, unleashing a flurry of punches towards Nero. He evaded most of them, his movements resembling a blur. As her final punch approached, Nero cleverly used Yamato's sheath to alter its trajectory, causing her to lose her balance. Seizing the opportunity, Nero teleported behind Yuanen Yehui and executed a swift, Wing Chun-inspired golden finger attack, striking her back and forcing her to slide forward.

"You possess great strength, but your attacks lack versatility in trajectory," Nero who felt like Yuanen Yehui could do much better continued "Moreover, you seem to invest all your focus into your punches, leaving you vulnerable to unexpected changes in the course of battle. While this may work against less experienced opponents, it becomes a weakness when facing those with acute observation skills ".

Yuanen Yehui was momentarily surprised and taken aback as she didn't expect Nero to advise her weaknesses in the midst of battle. "Now, try attacking me again, but this time, pay attention to your surroundings and try to change your attacks according to the situation" Nero's voice brought her back to the senses. She heeded the words seriously as she could tell that Nero far surpassed her in combat experience. Yuanen Yehui instantly turned around and defended Nero's punch, Nero didn't stop as he continued attacking her at various angles while also instructing " Good, play to your advantages just like you are doing now. Instead of seeking your enemy, wait for them to approach your attack range ". As she sparred with Nero, Yuanen Yehui began to comprehend the importance of flexibility in battle and the significance of situational awareness. Class Zero and everyone else outside the arena had imaginary question marks on their foreheads, puzzled by the unexpected transformation of the competition into a mentoring session.

As distance emerged between them, Yuanen Yehui prepared to use her second ability, Air Cannon, launching it as a long-range attack. However, Nero instantly interjected " Don't use your Air compressed attack as long range because it would be difficult to aim against someone with high mobility. Your ability might sound like a long-range attack but its usage is dependent on you. For example, when you're close to your opponent, concentrate the compressed air on your fist and deliver a focused punch. Try it, it might surprise you ". Yuanen Yehui followed his instructions and concentrated the compressed air onto her fist, delivering a devastating punch to the ground. The resulting impact created a resounding explosion, leaving a sizable pit at the place. Yuanen Yehui herself was stunned as she never thought her second ability could be used like this.

Yuanen Yehui was about to glance at Nero when suddenly darkness surrounded her, making everything feel like it was moving slower. Amid her confusion about the sudden shift, Nero's voice echoed in her ear, " As much as I am enjoying this, but it's time to end it. I still have two more trials left ". Yuanen Yehui nodded, grateful for Nero's help. But what he said next made her eyes widen " And, stop hiding your real self. If you're scared of how you look after using your martial soul, just work on controlling it, nothing is impossible. If you keep hiding, there might come a day when you would come to hate your true self ".

Nero stepped down from the arena, leaving Yuanen Yehui deep in contemplation regarding her decisions. "Miss Yi, I'm done," Nero declared. Shen Yi nodded and announced the results for Class Zero—everyone had achieved perfect scores, shifting Xu Xiaoyan who was one point away from passing into a safe zone. Leading Class Zero out of the hall, Shen Yi guided them to a small room—the ninth trial site. Unlike the previous arena, this room was more intricate.

"Your aim for the ninth trial is survival. I don't think you'll face much trouble. It's similar to the Beast Arena, but the soul beasts here are real. If you defeat one and find yourself at a standstill, you'll gain a soul ring. Okay, get ready to enter," Shen Yi explained as she pressed a button, causing several metallic capsules to emerge from the walls.

Nero was about to step into the capsule when Shen Yi halted him. He, along with the rest of Class Zero, looked at Shen Yi with puzzled expressions. Shen Yi clarified, "I've just received instructions that, Nero, you won't participate in the ninth trial. Your results will be based on your teammates' scores." Nero simply shrugged and settled into a nearby chair, giving Tang Wulin's shoulder a friendly pat. Tang Wulin acknowledged Nero's gesture with a determined look, silently assuring him. Nero responded with a smile and positioned himself against a wall.

"Aren't you concerned?" Shen Yi inquired as Class Zero began their trial. "Not really. I'm well aware of their capabilities," Nero shook his head and replied. Half 'n' hour later Class Zero finally came out of the simulation pod. " Nero you won't believe...." Xie Xie quickly came near Nero and started reciting their experience in excitement. It was mostly similar to the original timeline where their friendship and trust was put in question to see if they would fight over the spirit bone.

Shen Yi also emerged from the side and started explaining the significance of the trial " The true focus of the trial was the examinees' character. Shrek Academy deemed kindness, honesty, and justice crucial in powerful soul masters to avoid endangering the Federation. The trial's stages included testing patience, recognizing beast power, demonstrating courage to enter a cave, and facing a pivotal choice regarding coveted soul rings and bones ". Shen Yi revealed the rarity of the Three-eyed Golden Lion and the fact that candidates were unable to bond with its soul bones. Shrek Academy opposed soul beast slaughter due to human greed, which led to their near extinction, cautioning future students against hunting in the Great Star Dou Forest .

Shen Yi's eyes briefly landed on Nero before she continued, "Nero wasn't allowed in this trial because Senior Brother had already informed the teacher that he could easily figure out the trial's purpose. So, your decisions not to harm the soul beast earned you all full marks, giving Nero and Tang Wulin ninety points each. Xie Xie, you scored eighty-five points. Xu Xiaoyan and Gu Yue achieved seventy-nine and eighty-two points respectively."

"Follow me now," Shen Yi instructed with a nod, opening the door leading out of the room. She guided them down a hallway and up another set of stairs to the rooftop, where three individuals awaited. Nero felt uneasy as he spotted the troublesome old lady from the original timeline among the elders. Shen Yi approached the elders, offering a bow before stepping aside. "The tenth trial, also called the Three Hall Review, involves these three elders evaluating your performance in the prior trials. Their assessment will yield a comprehensive score that will contribute to your overall total," Shen Yi explained.

"Tang Wulin," the central elder with reddish-brown hair addressed, his gaze focused on Tang Wulin. Sensing the draconic aura enveloping him, Nero grasped the elder's identity.

"In every trial, you've secured full marks. Your performance has been extraordinary and truly impressive. You exhibit courage, wisdom, and adept leadership. Despite your Blue Silver Grass martial soul, your bloodline compensates splendidly. Your score full marks. Keep up the diligent effort," the elder commended Tang Wulin, awarding him full marks. In gratitude, Tang Wulin bowed and thanked the elder.

"Xie Xie," the grey-haired elder called next.

Xie Xie hurried forward.

"Your aptitude slightly surpasses the average and your situational awareness is slightly better. However, you have the courage to charge head-first in the face of danger and you work hard. Your martial soul mutation gives you to the potential to be a top powerhouse. All in all, your performance stands as satisfactory. You receive eight points."

"Thank you, Elder," Xie Xie expressed his gratitude with a bow, understanding that the elder's assessment held truth and recognizing the room for his growth to enter the inner court.

"Xu Xiaoyan."

"Your innate talent ranks as average, yet your distinct prowess lies in the complete mastery of your variant martial soul's astrological attribute. In addition, your effective teamwork and astute mindset defy setbacks. Your latent potential holds a remarkable promise. Consequently, you earn seven points."

"Thank you, Elder," Xu Xiaoyan replied, a shy smile gracing her face as she rejoined her friends.

"Gu Yue."

Gu Yue stepped forward and bowed.

This time, the grey-haired elder remained silent, shifting his gaze to the Silver Moon Douluo beside him.

Elder Cai regarded Gu Yue with a smile. "Your elemental manipulation is exceptional, perhaps the first individual capable of commanding such an array of elements. I deem you suited to be my disciple." Internally, Nero shook his head, certain that there is no way Gu yue would agree to be a human's disciple. Even if Gu Yue agreed, no instructor within Shrek Academy could match her elemental mastery.

"No," as anticipated, Gu Yue straightforwardly declined. Elder Cai's temper flared instantly. "Are you aware that I hold the title of Titled Douluo?" Gu Yue persisted in refusal. At this point, Elder Cai's patience exploded like a volcano. She rose and was on the verge of reprimanding Gu Yue, but the reddish-brown haired elder's cold gaze silenced her.

Elder Cai clenched her teeth momentarily before resuming her seat. "Hmph! Only one point for you." Gu Yue returned to stand alongside Tang Wulin

Elder Cai's murmuring persisted, "These young women are persistently full of arrogance. That Aurora girl with space energy also declined Shrek's offer due to the same reason. And now, behold, she's dead." From a nearby room, Wu Zhangkong, having overheard the exchange, instantly rushed towards the assessment chamber already anticipating the worst situation.

[ Nero Listen...] However, before Aria complete her sentence, an overwhelming pressure burst forth from Nero, immediately capturing everyone's attention. "What did you just say, you old hag?" Nero's pupils had transformed into demon eyes, his words sending a shiver down the spines of both Class Zero and Shen Yi. Upon hearing Nero addressing her as an "old hag," Elder Cai, who was already restraining herself, stood up from her chair, seething with anger. " You impudent brat, Did You just called me an 'old hag'? "

As Nero's anger intensified with each passing moment, his response grew even more intense. "Yes, 'Old hag'. What did you just say about my mother?" The mere mention of his mother sent shivers down the spines of every Class Zero member, making them recall the events from the Skysea Alliance Tournament. On the other hand the other two elders beside Elder Cai were wide-eyed as they still remember Aurora's husband and if Nero is anything like that. Amidst the collective horror, Elder Cai continued to say " Am I wrong? she is dead..". However, her sentence was abruptly cut off as a towering pillar of blue demonic-spirit power erupted from Nero.

------

In another location, Ren, who was having a Pizza slice suddenly stopped and looked towards Shrek's direction, " Aria, What's happening ? " Ren urgently asked through the communication channel that Aria made as he could sense Nero's fury from their connection; [ During the final test that Elder Cai insulted your mom on her death..] Ren interrupted Aria " Did you just say she insulted Mom? ". [ Ren..Ren!, Calm down ] Ignoring Aria's plea, Ren swiftly activated a soul tool designed for teleportation between himself and his brother's location.

------

Leng Yaozhu and Zhou Hongbuo, deep in conversation, were interrupted by a message from Aria. They both knew Aria as Nero and Ren made up some reason about her origins. " Uncle, let's hurry. You know what kind of havoc those two would unleash after something like this " Upon reading the message, Leng Yaozhu signaled Zhou Hongbuo, who nodded in agreement. Activating their spirit avatars, they both headed towards Shrek city as fast as they could. They both knew that Arlo and Aurora were the reverse scale of both brothers and if someone insulted them then they both would turn everything upside down. While it might have seemed as though they intended to stop the brothers but the look of anger on their faces indicated otherwise.

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For those of you who are confused about Nero's anger, To Nero, Elder Cai's words felt like his mother death was in vain when in reality she died to protect Nero and Ren.

If someone has any doubt about something in the story then you can ask in comments I would happily explain. I am new so this happens sometimes.


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