one step away from reality to dream

After months of seclusion, Haruno finally emerged from her intense cultivation. She walked out of her secluded cave with a powerful aura, her eyes gleaming with confidence and pride. She had reached level 60 in soul cultivation, a remarkable achievement that filled her with excitement. Her growth had brought about a significant change in her abilities, and her martial soul had transformed into something formidable.

Ravihiro, having just completed his own cultivation, emerged as well. But his progress had been even more staggering—he had reached the pinnacle of soul cultivation, level 99, the Grandmaster level. Haruno was both proud and frustrated as she learned about her brother's immense growth. She wanted to reach his level, but the gap between them seemed to grow wider with each day. Yet, she admired him deeply for his strength and the hard work he had put in.

Unbeknownst to her, Ravihiro had gone through countless battles during her seclusion. Beasts from the depths of the forest had constantly attacked their secluded training ground, but Ravihiro protected her without ever letting her know. He fought tirelessly to ensure her safety while keeping her training undisturbed. Ravihiro smiled softly as Haruno showed him her new powers, glad to see her hard work had paid off.

Haruno proudly displayed her newly developed soul bone, a terrifying yet elegant addition to her body. Spider legs now protruded from her back, attached to her spinal cord, each leg razor-sharp and coated with an eerie venom. This soul bone made her agility and attacks deadly in combat.

"Brother, look at my progress!" Haruno said with a playful grin, her spider legs extending and retracting. "I've finally reached level 60! And check out my soul rings!"

She began to showcase the abilities granted by her soul rings:

Third Soul Ring – Net of Hypnosis: Haruno could now spin a massive web infused with a hypnotic aura. Anyone caught in the web would fall into a trance, their mind clouded by illusions, rendering them helpless before her next attack.

Fourth Soul Ring – Danger Detection: This ability allowed Haruno to sense any nearby threats or hostile intentions. Her mind would be alerted instantly to the presence of danger, giving her an advantage in anticipating attacks and setting up countermeasures.

Fifth Soul Ring – Army of Spiders: With this power, Haruno could summon hundreds of smaller spiders to her side. These spiders, though individually weak, could overwhelm enemies in large numbers, each possessing a portion of her venomous bite.

Sixth Soul Ring – 1000 in One Spider: A terrifying ability where Haruno could merge with her summoned spiders, amplifying her size and power. She would become a colossal spider-like entity, capable of crushing her foes with immense strength and unleashing venom on a large scale.

Ravihiro was amazed by her progress and couldn't help but smile proudly at his sister's accomplishments. Haruno, on the other hand, was overjoyed by her new abilities but still a bit mad that Ravihiro was so far ahead of her. Nevertheless, they both felt a sense of accomplishment.

That evening, they decided to celebrate together. Ravihiro had been preparing for this moment for a long time. Using his knowledge from the modern world, he had grown vegetables, extracted oils from trees, and gathered spices. Over the years, he had experimented with countless ingredients, determined to recreate the dishes he missed from his home world.

On this special day, Ravihiro cooked up a feast. He made chicken biryani, handmade gulab jamun, jalebi, and even modern dishes like pizza, burgers, and french fries. The difficulty in finding the right materials had been immense, but Ravihiro's determination had paid off. The aromas of spices and freshly cooked dishes filled the air, and Haruno's eyes sparkled with excitement.

As they sat together, enjoying the food, Haruno couldn't help but praise her brother. "Brother, I've never tasted anything like this in my life!" she said between bites, savoring the flavors of the biryani. "How do you even know how to make this?"

Ravihiro chuckled softly. "It's a secret from my past. I'm just glad you like it."

They laughed and talked through the night, reminiscing about their training and how far they had come. Time seemed to pass easily when they were together.

One Year Later

A full year had passed, and both Ravihiro and Haruno had grown even stronger. Haruno, now confident in her abilities, felt an urge to test herself against her brother. One day, she approached him and, with a serious expression, asked for a duel.

"Brother, I want to duel you!" she declared boldly. "I want to see how far I've come. Let's test our strength."

Ravihiro raised an eyebrow, amused by her challenge. He hadn't dueled Haruno in a long time, and the thought of it intrigued him. "You really want to fight me?" he asked, grinning. "Alright then, let's see what you've got."

The duel began, and Haruno immediately unleashed her martial soul, the Spider Demon Queen, a terrifying and majestic manifestation of her spider abilities. Her body transformed, her spider legs extended menacingly, and her soul rings glowed brightly as they surrounded her.

"Show me your martial soul, brother!" Haruno shouted.

For the first time, Ravihiro revealed his martial soul to Haruno. He raised his hand, and with a burst of energy, a brilliant sword appeared in his grip. Its blade shone with an ethereal glow, and the air around it seemed to hum with power.

Even the spirit within Ravihiro's ring was astonished. "This... this sword... It's unlike anything I've ever seen."

Ravihiro stood tall, his sword gleaming in the light. "This sword is called Kageha, the Shadow's Blade," he said softly, his eyes sharp with focus.

Haruno's eyes widened in awe. The power radiating from the sword was immense, and she could feel the weight of it even from a distance.

The duel was about to begin.