Unlock Kamen Riders in Douluo's Way Ch 77

The news of Canghui Academy's arrival, seeking to provoke a confrontation, spread like wildfire among Shrek's students and teachers. The prospect of a challenge to Shrek's prestige, combined with the mystery surrounding the Kamen Riders, drew nearly every member of the academy to the sidelines, eager to witness the impending battle.

"Just a couple of level 30-something soul masters duking it out, what's the big deal? Why drag me into this?" a disgruntled student grumbled.

"What do you know?" another retorted, shoving him playfully. "The dean's betting our Soul Tower on this! It's hardly a trivial matter."

"WHAT?! He's putting the Soul Tower on the line? Is the old coot nuts?"

"Keep your voice down, idiot! This isn't just a random brawl. It's apparently connected to the Kamen Riders."

"Kamen Rider again? Why do I suddenly feel like we're playing second fiddle in our own academy?"

The murmurings rippled through the crowd, a mix of excitement, apprehension, and resentment at being drawn into a conflict they barely understood.

Given the sheer number of spectators, Flender decided to open Shrek's largest soul-fighting arena. As the host, Flender and Yu Xiaogang occupied the prime viewing platform, while Manla and his entourage were seated on a neighboring platform, close enough for barbed exchanges but separated by a clear boundary.

"Flender, I demand an explanation!" Yu Xiaogang's voice, tight with barely suppressed fury, exploded the moment he reached the viewing platform. He grabbed Flender by the collar, his scholarly demeanor completely abandoned. "Why would you make such an irrational decision? Are you truly willing to gamble away the Soul Tower for a year if we lose?"

Trailing behind Yu Xiaogang were five members of the Shrek Seven Monsters. With Su Xuan and Yin Xiaoya gone, Flender, spurred by the unrest caused by the evil soul masters, had issued an urgent recall to those undertaking guild missions. Two had returned so far.

Having only heard vague accounts of the Kamen Riders, they were struggling to grasp why Flender was seemingly cleaning up someone else's mess. They certainly couldn't fathom why he was willing to stake Shrek's pride – and its most valuable asset – on such a low-level soul fight.

Joining Yu Xiaogang, they voiced their concerns. "Master Dean," a girl's ethereal voice chimed in, "I have no idea what this Kamen Rider did while we were away, but we really shouldn't risk the Soul Tower for an outsider." Her clothes fluttered in the gentle breeze, making her seem almost weightless, as if she could float away at any moment. She was known as Miu Miao.

Another figure, diametrically opposed to Miu Miao's ethereal grace, chimed in. A slovenly young man, looking for all the world like a beggar, took a swig of wine from a gourd hanging at his waist, mimicking an old man's mannerisms. "Misty's right, and even if a fight's unavoidable, surely you could've let one of us handle it? Why put a junior with barely any cultivation on the line?"

He was about to take another swig when a hand shot out, halting the gourd's progress.

"Enough, Su Qilong," a stern voice rebuked. "How many times do I have to tell you? No drinking in confined spaces." Dai Yin, his expression severe, stood beside him.

Su Qilong deftly slipped out of Dai Yin's grasp, a drunken grin spreading across his face. "Oh, Dai Yin, I should be asking you that question. We have a new, powerful force emerging. With your personality, you should have challenged him immediately to understand his power. Has the newcomer's ability finally cowed you?"

Dai Yin's face darkened, his eyes flashing with golden and emerald light. Ferocious tiger stripes appeared on his face, a sign of his White Tiger martial soul stirring.

"Oh, are you picking a fight?" Su Qilong's tone turned gleeful. "Perfect! I haven't had a decent spar since coming back. My hands are itching for a fight."

"Enough, both of you!" A dragon's roar, laced with barely controlled fury, reverberated through the arena. Bibi Dong, wreathed in flickering flames, appeared between the two, effectively suppressing their budding conflict. The sheer intensity of her aura quelled not only them but even Yu Xiaogang, who released Flender's collar with a gulp. He even avoided Flender's gaze, swallowing nervously.

This was Liu Erlong's superficial personality, and no one dared to cross her.

Miu Miao and Su Qilong, having just returned two days prior, were especially stunned. The Bibi Dong before them was drastically different from the one they knew. The aura she exuded, though somehow wrong, was disturbingly reminiscent of a Title Douluo.

Dai Yin pulled them both aside, his voice low and urgent. "That's not actually Bibi Dong right now, so keep your heads. The specifics are complicated, but it has something to do with the Kamen Riders. Just suppress your questions for now; you'll understand later."

Suppressing her aura, the Liu Erlong-possessed Bibi Dong turned to Yu Xiaogang, her tone softening. "Calm down now?"

Yu Xiaogang sighed, running a hand through his thinning hair. "I am calm. I'm not against helping the Kamen Riders; after all, we owe them a debt. I'm simply frustrated that Flender made such a high-stakes decision without consulting us."

"Hey! Don't twist my words. I admit, betting the Soul Tower was rash, but if I hadn't, old man Manla wouldn't have taken the bait at all," Flender countered, spreading his hands in a gesture of innocence.

Liu Erlong tilted her head, her brow furrowed. "Was it Luo Pupu's decision to fight?"

Yu Xiaogang blinked, taken aback by her seeming omniscience. "How did you know...?"

Before Flender could respond, a roar erupted from the fighting arena, signaling the entry of the combatants.

Flender gestured toward Luo Pupu as she strode confidently into the arena. "See for yourself. Whether it's about the Kamen Riders or not, that girl has given me more than the Shrek Seven Monsters."

Miu Miao scrutinized Luo Pupu, her eyes widening. She tugged at Dai Yin's sleeve, her voice barely a whisper. "I know her, Luo Pupu. What happened to her?"

After Dai Yin briefly explained Luo Pupu's martial soul evolution and her second spirit ring acquisition, the two fell into stunned silence. A martial soul evolution and a millennium-level second spirit ring? That put her on par with their starting point, but Luo Pupu was only twelve!

What Yu Xiaogang said next, however, shocked them even more.

Having studied Luo Pupu, his brow furrowed. Releasing a soul power, he tried to sense any details of Luo Pupu. Although his soul power was not strong, with his great knowledge, he sensed some details of Luo Pupu that were hidden.

"What!? This is impossible, level 31? How could she have possibly done that?"

The words sent a jolt through Dai Yin. "Level 31? She only absorbed her second spirit ring a few days ago, right? Are you sure you haven't made a mistake?"

Yu Xiaogang, lost in thought, ignored the question. He had retreated into his scholar's mind, a state of intense analysis where he became oblivious to the outside world.

"She must have successfully absorbed the spirit bone. But even then, such a rapid ascent is impossible! There must be a factor I'm missing... The Kamen Riders? Could the power of the Kamen Riders truly do this? To this extent? This is a theory completely beyond my comprehension..."

Flender shrugged, settling into his seat. Sensing Liu Erlong move beside him, he asked in a low voice, "Did you know she'd change like this?"

Liu Erlong shook her head, her expression thoughtful. "Even I couldn't sense what transpired within the Soul Tower. I only noticed the change when she emerged. I don't know the specifics, but I did sense a powerful Rider energy from her, something that wasn't there before. As a soul master, that must be it, with also the successful absorption of the spirit bone."

Hearing her assessment, Flender grinned smugly. "Haha, no matter what, as long as we can outsmart old man Manla. He came seeking trouble with the Kamen Riders, but he doesn't know that Luo Pupu is one of them! Did he really think an ordinary soul master fight could take back our Soul Tower?"

Liu Erlong chuckled. "I knew you wouldn't make a bad deal. You laid the perfect trap for him to fall into. Well, I should get going now, or 'my sister' will get upset again."

Her voice faded as she lowered her head. In an instant, Bibi Dong's personality resurfaced, her brow furrowed in irritation. "How many times have I told you, sister? Can you at least announce your presence before taking ov— Huh? Switched?"

Flender winced, his gaze drifting towards Yu Xiaogang, still lost in his mental labyrinth. A wave of sympathy washed over him. "Oh, what's in store for you in the future?"

On the arena floor, Luo Pupu faced her opponent. A hulking figure, easily a head taller than her, with a cruel sneer etched on his face. "So, you're the replacement for the Kamen Rider? Seems like Shrek is scraping the barrel."

Luo Pupu ignored his taunt, her emerald eyes fixed on his martial soul, a wickedly barbed mace crackling with energy. A control-type master, specializing in binding and paralysis. Tricky, but manageable.

"You should be grateful. As I said, I have no grudge with Shrek Academy. My objective is the Kamen Rider. As long as you admit defeat, I will spare you and Shrek Academy.”

"Spare me? Spare Shrek Academy?" Luo Pupu tilted her head, a mocking smile playing on her lips. "With all due respect, you should first be capable of doing so."

The arena erupted in cheers. The underdog had issued a challenge. The crowd roared to see the battle begin.