The path of the Soul Emperor

Chapter 5

Alex and Stella walked in silence, the tension between them palpable.

She followed him without question, which should have been reassuring, but it only made Alex more uneasy.

He wasn't used to this kind of silence from someone who once wanted to kill him.

In his past life, he wouldn't have hesitated to eliminate a threat like her, but now, she bounded by the Soul Contract, he didn't need to worry.

As they continued their journey, Alex still didn't have a clear destination.

He was simply following Stella's guidance, heading toward a place where she claimed humans could be found.

Part of him was relieved by the silence; controlling her through the contract was one thing, but earning her loyalty was far more challenging.

Finally, he broke the silence. "Why do you look different from other orcs?"

Stella's eyes flickered briefly, but she kept her mouth shut, her expression unreadable. Alex sighed, letting the question hang in the air before deciding to drop it.

The forest around them was unusually serene, bathed in sunlight that filtered through the dense canopy, while a cool breeze whispered through the leaves.

Yet, the peace felt unnatural. Alex noticed that there were fewer monsters now, and the last ones he'd sensed were stronger than him, their souls projecting overwhelming power.

He avoided them, and it seemed the monsters were content to ignore him too.

But now, as they trekked deeper, he sensed nothing—no movement, no presence.

Not a single creature was within 200 meters of his soul sense.

"Why is it so quiet?" he wondered, but he didn't dwell on it.

If the path ahead led to safety and out of the forest, he wasn't going to question it.

However, his gut told him that the absence of beasts might mean they were nearing territory controlled by something else—something powerful enough to make even the monsters wary.

"I just hope we're not heading into a mess."

As night fell, they made camp.

Alex prepared a simple meal, but the silence between them was suffocating.

He glanced at Stella, her face illuminated by the flickering flames.

'I get why she's like this… I killed her father,' he thought, a pang of guilt surfacing briefly. 'Maybe I should have just ended it.'

Shrugging off the oppressive quiet, Alex began cultivating, channeling his Soul essences, seeking to break through to the next stage.

Stella watched him, her thoughts a tangled mess. 'You've wandered into the wrong place,' she mused, a slight smile tugging at her lips.

She had initially thought her life was over, reduced to serving a human.

But as she realized the direction Alex was heading, a sense of vindictive hope began to grow.

The contract prevented her from directly harming him, but it said nothing about where she led him.

Unbeknownst to Alex, they were approaching the domain of a being feared by all who roamed the Dark Forest—a ruler who would not take kindly to trespassers.

It was Alex's own fault for not learning more about the world; by wandering aimlessly, he had led himself straight into the lion's den.

Stella glanced at him. 'I wonder if she'll even let me live if she shows up... or will we pass through unnoticed?'

At midnight, Alex's eyes snapped open, sweat beading on his forehead.

An ominous feeling gnawed at him, and without wasting a moment, he activated his skill.

[Soul Emperor Activated]

A silver aura enveloped him, a glowing mark appearing on his forehead, and his eyes burned with a golden light.

Grabbing the sleeping Stella, he dashed away, his heart pounding.

Stella awoke, startled by Alex's sudden movements, but quickly understood as a suffocating pressure descended upon them. 'So, she's come…'

"Where do you think you're going?" a soft, melodic voice echoed, sending chills down Alex's spine.

He turned, his senses screaming danger as he locked eyes with a pair of emerald orbs, glowing with an eerie light.

Before he could react, green flames erupted, threatening to engulf them both.

[Using all available Arcane Energy for protection.]

A massive explosion tore through the forest, obliterating everything within 500 meters. When the flames finally dissipated, a crater stretched out, 300 meters wide and 5 meters deep, scorched earth marking the epicenter.

Alex, shielded by an invisible barrier, clutched Stella close, his mind racing. 'What kind of overkill was that?'

"Seems I underestimated your strength," a calm voice said, cutting through the dust.

[System Alert: Backlash detected from forced Arcane Energy use. System entering sleep mode for 10 days. All skills can still be used except for cultivating Arcane energy.]

'Damn it, System!' Alex cursed internally.

The haze cleared, revealing a woman with short black hair and striking emerald eyes, her beauty almost ethereal.

She wore a sleek black outfit, her expression cold and detached.

"I could smell something dangerous about you from the moment you entered," she said, her eyes narrowing.

"What are you? You don't seem like an ordinary human."

Panic surged through Alex, but he forced himself to stay calm, activating a crucial skill.

{Emperor State} - Imbues the user with the unshakeable spirit of a supreme ruler, rendering them immune to mental debuffs and enhancing their authority in conversations.

As his heart steadied, Alex's expression changed, a calm smile replacing his earlier fear. "Quite the greeting. Why attack me out of nowhere?" he asked, his tone confident.

The woman, who hadn't introduced herself, noticed the shift, while Stella, who had been too afraid to move, looked on silently. 'I thought she'd see me as nothing and let me go, but it seems I was wrong,' Stella thought.

"It's an unspoken rule: no humans or other races are allowed this deep into the forest," the woman replied.

"I wasn't aware," Alex lied smoothly. "We were just passing through on our way to the nearest kingdom."

'This Emperor State is amazing,' he thought, relishing the composure it gave him.

The woman's eyes darkened as she activated a skill of her own, one meant to instill fear.

Alex felt the pressure, but it slid off him, blocked by his Emperor State. He chuckled inwardly as she frowned.

"I can't let you leave," she said, her voice cold, her hands transforming into claws as a powerful aura enveloped the area.

Alex's mind raced, time seemingly slowing as he analyzed his options. He needed a plan, and fast.

'I can't use my full power yet, but my soul skills might be enough…'

[Lv110] Ava

The ground trembled, and the air thickened with rampant mana as blazing green flames flickered around Ava. She smirked, her intent clear. "Give me a fight worth my time—"

Before she could finish, Alex raised his hand, and five ethereal spears materialized, launching toward her. The attack was swift, precise, and devastating, each spear piercing her soul directly.

Ava's scream echoed through the forest as blood spilled from her lips, her once-dominant aura evaporating. "Aaaaaaagh!" she cried, clutching at her chest as agony coursed through her.

[Forced Contract Activated]

'Please let this work,' Alex prayed silently.

[Successful.]

'YES!' he cheered inwardly as two crimson contracts appeared, then faded away.

[Forced Contract] - A binding agreement that can be imposed when the target's soul is weakened or their mental defenses are compromised. Duration varies based on the host's cultivation level, becoming permanent over time.

{Author's Note}

Unlock 10 EXTRA Chapters ahead of where we left off by joining my Patreon! 

Your support helps me create more exciting content and keeps the story going strong.

patreon.com/KingAlex738