" Settle down, maggots! I'm Silva, and I'll be your instructor for these upcoming trials!"
The assassin in black, known as Instructor Silva, commanded the entire coliseum with his booming voice. Built like a tank, he had a bald head, showing only the white of his sclera with no pupils.
" When I call your number, you will come down to receive your specific assignment before I explain any further!"
Instructor Silva then proceeded to call each yellow fledgling number one by one, handing them a sealed envelope. Once finished, he instructed everybody on what to expect next.
" In this first trial, you'll be assigned a spatial pouch of the bare necessities and two separate assassination targets! Each belonging to the different valleys' Reaper Ono and Taki Unit 1 factions! Vice versa, you'll be targeted by them as well! "
In The Hidden Cave of Untold Shadows. Master Lee ruled the Valley of Order, Ono controlled the Valley of Darkness, while Taki saw over the Valley of Death. Leaving the Valley of Light as a neutral territory.
" Trial one will take place tomorrow for a month straight, in the Valley of Light! As you should all know, this valley is a neutral ground! Where no killing is allowed, even when permitted to kill, everyone will need to proceed with caution! If you're caught red-handed by the patrolling guards there, you'll be executed immediately!"
Instructor Silva sternly warned them while expounding on other details regarding retrieving the corpse badge as proof of kill. He added that they were allowed to enter any time of the day or night at their discretion, tomorrow.
However, they had to remain in the Valley of Light for the full duration. Even if they completed their task beforehand. With nothing else to say, he dismissed the unit.
Everybody soon scattered, having a serious look draped across their face. Zeke and Kenshin tried to approach Liz, but she quickly darted in the opposite direction.
"Sheesh, that girl. She should be aware that this isn't the time to have discord between us."
Kenshin sighed, walking alongside Zeke. They arrived at his chamber, tearing open their respective envelope. Receiving a sketch of their target's face, Zeke discovered a personal note from Lee included inside.
" 00, I expect great things for you in the future. Now, it's time for you to prove me right by eliminating the disciple candidates of Ono and Taki. You will be greatly rewarded once accomplished."
Zeke read, before burning the note to a crisp per its instructions. Suddenly, the Immortal System popped up with a new assignment after 3 months of silence.
[Immortal System]
---- You've become quite popular lately, in The Hidden Cave of Untold Shadows, that's not always a good thing. How will you handle Taki's special attention? ----
Difficulty: Gold
Reward:
S= Chantless Casting
A= Scouter
B= N/A
C=Death
D=Death
F= Death
---- I look forward to your performance! :) ----
' Just great, it looks like I can expect an extra dose of hell myself.'
Zeke groaned after looking at the Immortal Systems message.
...
Meanwhile, inside a grand temple based in the Valley of Death. Wearing a black silk robe, decorated in silver and green spider webs. An elderly man with sweeping grey hair and a handlebar moustache was having a private discussion in his lavish quarters.
" Did you complete what I asked?"
Master Taki questioned, taking a hit from his pipe, blowing circular clouds of smoke.
" Yes, I made sure that all your fledglings had 00 added as a bonus target, except for 444."
The bleached hair Instructor, Fox, confirmed, being the person who also saw over trial one. Excluding Taki's disciple in the making, 444, in the attempts to avoid a confrontation with a potential threat.
" Good, and I trust you know what to do if anyone sets their sights on 444."
" Yes, I will eliminate anyone who dares even sniff in his direction."
Instructor Fox said without delay. Keeping his head down in reverence as Taki continued to fill the room with a skunky aroma. Gazing through brown eyes outside, his window, overlooking his entire stoned valley from the peak.
" See to it that you do, or else..."
Taki stopped mid-sentence, letting his killing intent convey to Fox that failure wasn't an option. He immediately fell to his knees, unable to withstand the overbearing pressure being emitted.
"Yes, of course."
He reassured his master, sweating profusely, daring not to lift his head in fear. Withdrawing his show of force, he swiftly dismissed him. Wanting to be left alone to ponder.
' 444 is too valuable to wager carelessly. He requires more tutelage under my wing before being left to fly on his own.'
Taki had gone through a great deal of time, effort, and funds. Trying to obtain someone who was blessed with the Venomous Physique. A rare body that could naturally adapt to all known and unknown poisons, building immunity once properly absorbed.
The user would be able to unleash the deadliest infused toxins onto their enemies. It could even heavily affect cultivators on a higher Stage than themselves. Being an expert in the Poison Arts himself. He looked to invest and mold 444 into his number one direct disciple, over time.
' Anyways, I shouldn't have to worry about Ono, but that sneaky bastard Lee is another story entirely!'
His blood pressure rose just thinking about the man he wished a torturous death upon. Over time, the hatred between the two became mutual for differing reasons.
However, both were prohibited from attempting to take each other's life. Slowly chipping away at the opposing side's vested interest and resources, instead. He saw how Lee valued 00, being familiar with his family lineage as well. He didn't want the baby lizard to one day grow into a dragon right under his nose.
'I'll be damned if I let you have it your way.'
...
Soon, what was tomorrow became no more as Zeke was presently in the Valley of Light. Living up to its name, this neutral zone basked in sunlight midday. Beams of sun rays made a cameo appearance from outside. This anomaly was courtesy of a slim crevice that stretched across the valley, 80m ceiling, like a lightning bolt.
Surprisingly, the Valley of Light took after a normal civilization. Having a bustling town square, markets, housing districts, hotels, and inns. The architecture was a quaint Japanese-style environment, with the tallest of buildings being only 4 floors.
Differing from the Valley of Order damp cavern, Zeke came to realize The Hidden Cave of Untold Shadows was a true labyrinth of wonders. After studying a holographic map that he obtained from the Immortal System.
Finding himself completing a set purchase in an undisclosed clothing shop, tucked near an alley. From there, Zeke acquired several different items of attire. Changing into a straw hat and dark blue Gi before exiting, while storing the rest in his spatial pouch. He and Kenshin had decided to separate for the time being.
When both of them trailed Liz in the shadows without her knowing. Kenshin stayed behind to watch over their sister as Zeke went to get some supplies. Picking a location for them to reconvene later at night.
" Is that him?"
" Yah, that's the little brown noser who had to take the initiation test twice just to pass."
Two teenage boys, around 16, whispered while being invincible to the unassuming eye, using the technique Blend. Pressing their backs against a nearby sloped roof, they blended in like a chameleon with the black tiles. Targeting Zeke as an additional directive from the Valley of Death unit 1 squad. Being a bonus with promising benefits, initially reserved for those who took care of their assigned targets beforehand. These two decided to skip a step when they happened to spot 00.
" He doesn't look like anything special."
" Exactly, it'll be like taking candy from a baby. All I need from you is to keep a lookout for any potential guards. Then we can split the rewards once I collect his badge from his bloody corpse."
" Got it."
Ready to make their moves, they suddenly lost sight of 00 as he disappeared.
" Where, did he..."
They were about to ask each other. However, those words were cut short as their view rapidly swung from the alleyway. Staring lifelessly at the tiles, instead. Having both necks snapped into a 180-degree angle in an instant.
" You guys talk too much for assassins."
Zeke remarked as the bodies Blend technique deactivated upon their death. At just a Stage 1 Disciple Rank, these two were seen through immediately by the Stage 2 Master effortlessly. Soon, he stored their bodies away in his spatial pouch
'It's about time I do some hunting of my own before joining back up with Kenshin.'
Zeke thought, departing from the roof like a ghost.