Douluo Dalu: The Abandoned Child

The first morning after they set sail, the salty air and the gentle rocking of the ship began to settle into a rhythm for Bei, Liu Erlong, and Dugu Xin. Just as Bei thought he was finally getting used to life aboard the ship, the Madam approached them with her characteristic smirk.

"So, this your first time sailing?" she asked, arms crossed, her keen eyes scanning them.

All three nodded. Liu Erlong tried to maintain her composure, but her hand gripped the railing tighter than she intended. Dugu Xin's face betrayed no emotion, but he stood with an unfamiliar stiffness that hinted at his discomfort. Bei, as always, tried to appear unbothered, though he had spent most of the morning looking more green than human.

The Madam burst into laughter. "Thought so! You've got that landlubber look about you. Stiff legs, wide eyes, and gripping onto everything as though the ship might toss you overboard at any moment." She waved her hand dismissively. "Don't worry, you'll get your sea legs soon enough. Or not." Her grin was mischievous.

Bei forced a smile, though the comment stung his pride.

Dugu Xin, clearly tired of the Madam's teasing, decided to shift the conversation. "Your crew, how strong are they?" His tone was serious, and the change in mood was immediate.

The Madam's smirk faded, replaced by a steely expression. "Fair question," she said, her voice lower now. "Considering what we're up against, you'll need to know who you're fighting alongside." She motioned for them to follow her to a quieter part of the deck. Once there, she continued, "I'll give you the rundown. We've got two Spirit Emperors, five Spirit Kings, and five more crew members who are Spirit Ancestors or weaker."

Dugu Xin frowned slightly. "That will have to do, I guess," he said bluntly.

The Madam's eyes glinted with amusement. "I expected that reaction," she said. "But perhaps this will put your mind at ease." With that, she released her Spirit Soul, a majestic Ice Turtle, and her eight spirit rings appeared: two yellow, two purple, and four black. The aura she exuded was chilling, both literally and figuratively.

"Spirit Douluo, Rank 82," she said with pride. "My Martial Soul is an Ice Turtle. Its defense abilities are unmatched, though I'll admit it's not much for offense. Still, it's served me well." She let her Spirit Soul fade, her expression now more serious. "That's enough about me. What about you three? If we're going to face a hundred-thousand-year spirit beast, I need to know what you bring to the table."

Dugu Xin was the first to step forward. He released his Spirit Soul, the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor, and his seven rings (2 yellow, 2 purple, 3 black) shone brightly. "Dugu Xin, Spirit Saint, Rank 77. Control system." His tone was matter-of-fact, his confidence unshakable.

Next was Liu Erlong. With a flick of her wrist, her Fire Dragon appeared, roaring with an intensity that matched her fiery personality. Her identical ring configuration to Dugu Xin's glowed ominously. "Liu Erlong, Spirit Saint, Rank 77. Attack system." Her voice was steady, but her eyes burned with determination.

The Madam nodded, clearly impressed. "Good. At least you won't be deadweight. Though I'll admit, I would have felt better with that Titled Douluo coming along. Still, maybe we'll make it out alive… with just a few missing limbs." She laughed, a hearty sound that held more than a hint of madness.

Liu Erlong frowned. "Why did you say this was your last chance to get to Sea God Island?" she asked, her voice quieter than usual.

The Madam's laughter faded, replaced by a somber expression. She took a moment before answering. "Three years ago, I became a Spirit Douluo. For most people, that's a great achievement. For me? It was a grim realization. I've hit my limit. I'll never become a Titled Douluo. This journey to Sea God Island is my final goal before I die."

The three of them were silent as the weight of her words sank in.

"I was going to set sail last year," the Madam continued. "But then I heard about a Titled Douluo asking around about the same destination. I decided to wait, hoping he'd join us. That… didn't exactly work out."

Bei had been quiet throughout the exchange, his mind turning over her words. The Madam wasn't mentioned in the original novel. Did she die during this journey? Or maybe… she made it to Sea God Island but didn't survive the trials there? The thought left him uneasy.

Noticing his silence, the Madam turned to him with a sly smile. "You've been awfully quiet, kid. Let me guess, you're the burden I've been expecting, aren't you?"

Bei's eyes narrowed. "Burden?" he repeated, his tone sharp. He stepped forward and released his Spirit Soul, the Poison Devouring Spider Emperor. Its monstrous form loomed behind him, exuding a menacing aura. Six spirit rings, 2 purple and 4 black, circled him, their power radiating across the deck. "Wanna guess again, Madam?" he asked, his voice cold.

The crew, who had been watching from a distance, froze in awe. Even the Madam's eyes widened, though her shock quickly turned into laughter. She laughed louder than ever, her voice echoing across the ship.

"Well, I'll be damned!" she exclaimed. "Maybe… just maybe, we'll make it out alive after all."