"Teacher, are there already new students?" Jodio asked casually, following behind Flandre.
"Hm? You seem surprised," Flandre replied, raising an eyebrow.
"It's nothing, teacher. I just like being first. First to arrive, first in ability, first in status—only 'first' suits my personality. It's how things should be," Jodio said, glancing toward the low building ahead.
After his recent ordeals, Jodio had learned a truth: one must be bold when the moment calls for it—like a puffed-up cream puff or a little panda spreading its arms to intimidate an enemy. The more bluster you show, the less daring your opponent becomes—and the easier it is to put them in their place. Of course, this only works if you genuinely have the strength to back it up. Otherwise, you'd be emulating some pathetic old man and simply get dragged off.
The more arrogant you appear, the fewer fools will dare provoke you—and you'll avoid a lot of trouble. If you tiptoe through life like a shy mouse, you'll still end up as roadside fodder for God King Tang San's cruelties. If not for King Crimson's power, he'd have been cut down on the spot. Compared to Kira Yoshikage or Diavolo's lifestyles, Dio's commanding style was what Jodio aspired to emulate!
"I, Jodio Joestar, will become the Douluo Continent's star!" he declared, striking Giorno's iconic confident pose.
"This kid… he's fine in every way, he just loves to be ridiculous," Flandre muttered under his breath.
"Old Zhao! Welcome the new students!" Flandre called to the sunbathing bear at the hut's entrance.
"And what treasure have you dug up this time? A golden-haired kid? You've collected all three colors now? Planning to learn painting from Lu Qibin?" Zhao Wuji laughed as he rose to greet them.
"Teacher Zhao, his martial soul is Great Ape Strength Bear—he's a Soul Saint, unrivaled in combat prowess," Flandre said cheerfully, tousling Jodio's golden curls.
"Greetings, Teacher Zhao," Jodio replied with perfect manners, bowing politely. Pride and confidence did not preclude courtesy—an emperor (former) must excel in every respect!
"I'll say one thing: I don't like this bravado. But the child is charming," Zhao Wuji admitted after scrutinizing Jodio.
In Jodio's memory, few stood taller than Zhao Wuji. All that muscle and that little mane of hair—it looked like he should be a bodybuilding champion on Blue Star. He hoped Zhao wasn't on some celebrity honor roll—he'd heard the bodybuilding world frequently suffered tragedies.
"Full innate soul power, and a martial soul that seems… like a weapon-type, though it looks beast-like," Flandre mused.
"Full innate soul power? Another one?" Zhao Wuji's curiosity peaked.
"My martial soul isn't Silver Chariot—it's the Stand Arrow," Jodio said, summoning the arrow-shaped spirit.
"A Stand?" Zhao Wuji stared blankly.
"A Stand is the materialization of spiritual ability and soul power—you can think of it as a soul skill I control. Others' soul skills are various techniques, but mine is this tangible Stand," Jodio explained, adapting his language for these ancient masters whose martial-soul theory was still rudimentary. In ten thousand years, Huo Yuhao would grasp it instantly.
"For example, someone's soul skill might be 'Entangle,' but mine turns 'Entangle' into a Stand that performs the Entangle—though it still consumes my soul power." Jodio recalled Silver Chariot in full.
"Ohhh—an owl! This kid should learn from Lu Qibin—he loves flashy techniques," Zhao Wuji chuckled, hands on hips.
"Ignore Teacher Zhao—he's been influenced by his own martial soul," Flandre sighed.
"But you have no soul rings—how can you still use soul skills? You invented them?" Flandre stroked his beard.
"A top-tier martial soul never leaves its user powerless. Silver Chariot is my innate technique—calling it self-created isn't far off," Jodio shrugged.
"True, its raw power is average, and its stamina and defense aren't great; only its speed shines. But I believe Silver Chariot will exceed everyone's expectations in the future," Jodio added confidently.
"Well, you can't ask for too much—a self-created soul skill alone marks genius," Flandre murmured.
"Did you bring money? Ten gold to register and a hundred per year tuition. If not, don't worry—just promise to pay the registration later, once you become a certified soul master," Flandre said, still stroking Jodio's hair.
Shrek Academy's high fees weren't about greed but survival. The Spirit Hall only funds soul masters below Level 40, and the higher you go, the less they give. Those Soul Emperors and Soul Saints who don't find other means end up working as bodyguards—and value money above all else.
(There's a rumor: at Level 40 you get only 10 coins; at Level 50 just 1.)
When he discovered a promising talent, Flandre seized him. Oscar and Ma Hongjun, from peasant families earning barely one gold spirit coin a year, were both whisked away by Flandre's generous hand. Truly impressive—far more so than that other sanctimonious teacher down the road.
"It's not that I have none," Jodio said, feeling in his pocket. His time-signal wristwatch—developed with Huo Yuhao—had survived the time conduit intact. His soul bones had been peeled away one by one, yet he'd kept this soul device.
The watch was a joint creation: Huo Yuhao designed the soul-engine components, and Jodio provided temporal soul power. Its case was made of gold—who would've thought it could still function now?
"All right, all right, children have it tough. You can owe me—for now. Pay me back later," Flandre relented the moment Jodio reached for his watch. If push came to shove, he could send Zhao to work at the club—after all, muscle men like him were in demand.
"Hey, Owl Teacher, this kid's something special, right?" Zhao Wuji whispered to Flandre. Top martial soul, top soul power, top aura—no one would believe he wasn't from a great clan. Yet why send such a child here?
"Who cares? Even if he is from the Seven Treasures Glazed Pavilion, I'll have him run ten laps first. If I can run, so can he," Flandre waved off the concern.
"Born—" Zhao Wuji shook his head at such shamelessness. Well, he'd always been shameless—selling a broken yellow crystal for 200 gold later in life proved it.
"Come, let's meet your two classmates," Flandre said, greeting Zhao and leading Jodio onward.
"I'll outline the graduation requirements: by age twenty, reach Soul Sect; or win a Silver Badge in the Grand Dou Soul Arena with at least Level 35; or become champion of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament—and you graduate. Fail all three, and you must find a way to pay off your debts and leave," Flandre explained.
"Understood," Jodio said calmly. Shrek's requirements in his memory were much harsher in the future—Huo Yuhao had endured endless torment to graduate. Had he known at the time that Level 40 sufficed, he'd have been ecstatic.
"If you achieve all three, can you stay on observation?" Jodio grinned mischievously.
"Stay here with us old folks and be poor? You have an older buddy teaching elsewhere—wouldn't that be better?" Flandre laughed.
"When I graduate, I'll make my name famous. Then I'll whisk you away to live in luxury. A genius's teacher should never be poor—genius teachers deserve the best!" Jodio declared, arms folded in confidence.
"I'll hold you to that," Flandre beamed. Jodio's sweet talk beat Oscar and Ma Hongjun's any day.
"Oscar! Hongjun! Come welcome our new classmates!" Flandre called.
A chubby boy and a slender boy emerged from the hut, curiosity on their faces. Jodio thought they looked cutely manga-like—though anime style wasn't far off either.
"I'm Jodio Joestar, male, six and a half years old. You may call me Boss Jodio or Dio-sama," he struck Giorno's classic pose again.
"You two, get acquainted. Tomorrow we'll go on a unified soul-hunting mission. And by the way, Jodio's actually six years and three months—don't be fooled," Flandre said with a wave, leaving Jodio to grumble about his teacher's lack of professionalism.
"I'm Oscar, eight years old—martial soul Sausage, soul power Level 14," Oscar beamed, shaking Jodio's hand.
"I'm Ma Hongjun, six years and five months—martial soul Phoenix, soul power Level 10," Hongjun said, frowning.
"What do you mean 'you're boss'? I won't accept that!"
"Don't fight it. Like Wang Tiansheng is destined to inherit the throne, and a phoenix is destined to perch in a phoenix tree, being boss suits me by nature. Objection overruled. Silver Chariot, show him your power!" Jodio summoned Silver Chariot without hesitation.
"You're really targeting me, aren't you? This is infuriating! Rise, Phoenix Chariot!" Hongjun spread his arms and called forth a flaming phoenix avatar.
Jodio blinked in confusion.
← To Be Continued