The path of the Soul Emperor

Chapter 4

The female orc approached Alex, her blood-red eyes glaring intently, a sharp contrast to his relaxed demeanor.

"Have you already accepted your death?" she asked, her voice low and threatening.

Alex glanced up at the sky and responded calmly, "Not yet."

He studied her with a subtle frown, his mind mulling over a revelation.

"She seems to have only half of her father's bloodline," he thought, noting that she wasn't a full-blooded orc but rather a half-orc—a blend of two worlds.

Despite the tension, Alex was still taken aback by how much his eyes could discern. Floating above her head, he saw her level clearly:

[Lv43] Orc Girl

He assessed her level, categorizing it as around (D-) rank, which eased his nerves a little. "If she's only (D-) rank, I can match her or maybe even overpower her," he reasoned, though he remained curious about the subtle differences in strength between D-, D, and D+ ranks.

The orc girl gripped her axe tightly and, with a sudden burst of speed, dashed towards him. Her movement was swift, almost blindingly fast, but Alex was ready.

{Soul Spear} - A spear forged from soul essence, capable of striking directly at the soul and essence of its target. The higher the caster's Soul Cultivation, the more damage it inflicts. Targets of the same level or lower cannot survive this spear's attack.

A luminous spear materialized, visible only to Alex, and shot forward at light speed.

Even if the orc girl could sense the spear's approach, she had no time to react.

The spear struck her without leaving a visible wound, yet she suddenly coughed up blood mid-dash, collapsing onto the ground.

Her level plummeted: Lv43 → Lv2.

"Damn, it can even drain levels," Alex thought,

his eyes wide with a mix of surprise and intrigue. "I also saw a strange energy when the soul spear formed."

As the orc girl lay on the ground, pale and weak, Alex mused, "The closer their soul is to mine, the higher the chance they can survive the spear."

The orc girl, visibly drained, tried to move, but Alex didn't lower his guard. Another spear materialized, hovering near him. Testing the limits of his skill, he realized, that because he used his Soul Emperor Skill not long ago he could only use three Soul spears.

As the second spear took shape, his cold, unyielding eyes fixed on her. "I... don't want to die, father," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Alex sighed inwardly. He didn't feel pity, but he understood the pain of losing the only person you had in the world.

"Letting her live could be dangerous if she grows stronger."

[You can use the Soul Contract skill.]

Alex skimmed through the details of the skill and then smiled, his eyes glinting. "If you want to live, then you'll have to serve under me," he stated.

The orc girl's weak, bloodshot eyes gazed up at him, a flicker of hope mingled with despair.

She hesitated as silvery flames danced around her, forming a contract written in a language she couldn't understand.

She looked at the man who had slain her father, torn between her will to live and her desire for vengeance.

Should she seek revenge and die, or submit to the man who took everything from her and survive?

Her father's final words echoed in her mind, "You must live, Stella."

Trembling, she reached out and touched the contract, signing it. The moment her fingers made contact, the contract vanished.

She passed out, exhausted, as Alex observed her limp form. "You tried to kill me first," he muttered.

"Life's unpredictable. It seems you've been given another chance, but don't waste it—or you won't get another."

Alex hoisted her unconscious body over his shoulder, as she wasn't heavy as his own stats were about E+ rank.

Later…

{Soul Contract} - A pact that binds souls, unbreakable unless the host reaches the Elder Soul Realm. For others, it is almost impossible to sever, as long as they lack skills that affect the soul. Violating the contract's terms will result in either death or severe damage to the violator's soul. Available contracts include [Normal Contract], [Lineage Contract], and [Forced Contract].

[Normal Contract: Master and Servant] [Terms: Stella must serve Alex, obeying his commands. Any intention of harming Alex will inflict pain on her soul. Alex has complete authority over her, though she retains free will unless directly ordered.]

Near a tranquil river where the water glistened under the moonlight, Alex had set up camp.

He could sense the movements of every creature nearby, though none dared approach.

His subtle release of soul pressure kept them at bay.

As he grilled a fresh catch over the fire, he mused, "Some salt would make this perfect."

The orc girl, Stella, lay motionless, still in a deep slumber.

The damage to her soul and essence was severe.

With little else to do, Alex began cultivating his Soul Cultivation and Arcane Energy, spending the night lost in meditation, pondering if pushing himself this hard would take a toll on his health.

Days passed, with Stella still unconscious, her recovery slow.

During this time, Alex hunted beasts that wandered too close, honing his skills. Finally, on the seventh day, she awoke.

Without a word, Alex handed her a chunk of roasted bear meat and some fruits he had gathered.

[Status]

[Name: Alex Sylvedy]

[Race: Human]

[Bloodline: Pure-blooded Human]

[Soul Realm: Infant Soul Stage - Late]

[Arcane Energy: 8]

[Stats] {Strength: E+}, {Agility: E}, {Endurance: E-}, {Sense: E+}, {Charm: B+}.

{Author's Note}

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