Two months had passed since the events of "Heaven in Hell" transpired. Kenshin, Liz, and Zeke were now promoted to a ranked orange assassin after passing the trial. Back in the Valley of Order, Zeke was solo, leaving his slightly upgraded chamber.
He found himself on the way to his newly anointed Mage instructor, Den Mother Vivien.
Remembering that she had shown proficiency in flame magic once before. Zeke sought her tutelage as she was already a close acquaintance of the late Elizabeth and family. Displaying that he had awakened his first magical circle, she decided to take him in as her student. Taking several lessons since then, Zeke showcased that he had the makings of a prodigy.
It didn't hurt that he obtained the highly credential ability of chantless casting. A talent usually reserved for 7th-circled and higher. After receiving an "S" grade from the Immortal System for completing the last task.
Speaking of which, Zeke still vividly recalled how he had to pull out a degree of tricks at his disposal. Surviving the unsuspected trap laid out by Fox. He countered with a meticulous ploy of his own. After assassinating 320, he implanted his blood arts to make his body explode along with the bloody illusory mist, Clouded Reflection. A skill where the user could control things from the shadows. Supplying Qi to their allies, inducing the targets under a subtle trance that allowed them to mimic their opponents' appearance and initiate actions. However, this illusion required assistance.
Activating Blood Phantom, a technique that was a limited form of Blood Clone. He used his phantom to copy Fox. While he maintained Clouded Reflection. Still short an extra body, Zeke had to make do with someone he didn't trust. With Liz being too inadequate to fill in 444's spot, someone unexpected needed to be relied on.
The very young woman who previously failed to protect 701. That was made to assassinate the valued prospect. Due to Zeke's illusion placed upon her, 711. Harboring the intentions of assassinating him. Zeke had noticed her lurking around his presence when he initially sat at his table on the second floor of the restaurant. Surprised to see her still kicking, he always wondered why there was no news of her execution on that fateful night. Inclining, that she now hunted him for a chance of redemption from her master, Ono.
Planning to get rid of her at a later time, things took an unforeseen turn when 444 tried to poison Liz. This eventually led to the hidden Fox causing a complete uproar. Caught off guard, Zeke swiftly maneuvered back atop. Transporting Liz into a special grade spatial pouch that allowed a limited number of living beings to coexist inside. Something he refined himself while gathering resources in the Valley of Light, differing from the basic grade spatial pouch that could only sustain a certain number of items and corpses.
After the dust settled, Zeke discovered that 711 managed to survive. At Stage 2, Master Rank, she was stronger than the average assassin under black. Having the necessary cultivation base to succeed. Using voice transmission, he quickly brokered a truce between the two, with their interest in survival aligning.
Zeke explained to her that all she had to do was get into position and let him handle the rest. Being a puppeteer of sorts, operating the moving pieces caught under the illusion.
His ultimate goal wasn't to sow confusion or discord between 444 and Fox but to control the battle's pace and spacing. Separating them from the beginning with that plan in mind.
Using Clouded Reflection, he could better manipulate the flow of both fights, making it a drawn-out and routine affair. Looking to exploit any lapse of judgment, Zeke knew he would be stuck in a dire predicament if they combined forces.
Playing it by ear, after setting the stage inside the grey void. Zeke caught his first break when he forced 444 to activate Scaled Guardian. Familiar with the Qi-shaped venomous snake from his past life. It was capable of acting as a full-body shield by absorbing and melting down any physical assault. Below or on its level. Knowing that this technique remained inherently attached to the user's spiritual root.
He used this fact to his advantage, launching his blood scythe. Defending the initial attack, 444 couldn't avoid Zeke's blood unknowingly seeping into his Scaled Guardian, once broken down.
He was already firmly in Zeke's grasp. Now Zeke had to find a way for 444 to retract the snake back into his core. Breaking his fragile ego, he pushed him to go berserk, unleashing a latent talent that came from his Venomous Physique. The long-haired young male didn't have the wherewithal to maintain his previous shield. Cementing 444's impending doom, he was able to use the unique ability of his Blood Physique and arts from there. Causing the blood centipede to go haywire over a short period.
This also fell into the calculation of distracting Fox with 444 in distress. Zeke figured that Fox had to protect him at all costs from his previous overreaction. Hiding in his blood phantom shadow, taking the opportunity to deliver some just desserts thereafter. Zeke was able to kill off Fox with the same sneak attack attempted against him, before he leveled the place.
Soon, the Echo Chamber became no more as color returned to Heaven in Hell. Highlighting a gory scene that was best left muted.
Remaining as the lone victor, Zeke came across 711 lying poisoned and unconscious on the gruesome floor. Taking the brunt of 444 deadly poisons, it was a miracle that she even survived. Standing in silence for a moment, the thought of finishing her off crept into Zeke's mind. However, he withheld on this ideal.
Upholding one of the few naive principles that he still held onto, fulfilling his side of anything he swore by.
Yet this didn't stop him from taking some extra reassurance in this case. Infusing a drop of blood into her inner system while curing her, he could now influence the blood centipede to his whim.
Placing the young woman alongside Liz. Zeke made sure to reap all the benefits before leaving without a trace. Later on, word spread of the unsolved massacre that took place inside Heaven in Hell.
...
" Hey, what are you daydreaming about?"
Liz asked at the entrance of Den Mother Vivien's hut, located near an abyss-like cliff, known as the Pit of No Return.
Arriving before Zeke. Liz and Kenshin had already been chatting with Vivien inside, sitting by a fireplace, lighting the humble abode. After trial one, deliberately blocking the traumatic experience of her mother's death, Liz began warming back up to the two she considered her brothers. Fascinated by his innate talent for magic. Over the months, it had quickly become a habit of theirs to observe his lessons.
" Nothing much, just thinking about the next trial, for tomorrow."
Zeke mentioned, flicking Liz on the nose, making her pink eyes water.
" Ouch! Why do you keep treating me like the younger sister when I'm 3 years older!"
"Well, your behavior and level of strength say otherwise."
He bluntly put, not sparing her feelings. Zeke needed for Liz to become much stronger in the foreseeable future if she had any chance of surviving, independently.
"Ugh, just wait and see, jerk! One day, I'll make you call me big sister! Hmph!"
Liz pouted, looking eye to eye at the same height. She was determined to prove him wrong. Whereas Zeke saw this whole brother sister dynamic as somewhat strange, being an orphan in his original world. However, in his past life as Zeke, he had a sister named Julep who cherished him like a younger brother for some time. But whether it be back then or now, those two were nothing alike in his estimate. Soon enough, this prompted Kenshin to break up their heated staring contest.
" Now, now, guys, as the oldest child here..."
"Shut up!"
They both turned and shouted in unison, taking a seat afterwards.
"Sheesh, Okay. I'm glad you two can finally agree on something."
Kenshin could only shrug his shoulders in response, continuing on the subject mentioned by Zeke beforehand,
"Anyways, Den Mother Vivien, are you sure there's nothing more that can be disclosed in this matter?"
"I'm afraid not, unlike trial one, the second trial method differs every time. With the sole concept of testing one's mental fortitude always remaining unchanged."
The older woman with grey strands and wrinkles that displayed her wisdom spoke in a low tone.
"Bummer."
Kenshin sighed as Vivien sought to encourage them.
" Rid yourself of any needless doubt or worries. If I know Sister Elizabeth, she prepared you three with the proper tools to make it through."
These words of encouragement had various effects: Motivating Kenshin, Saddening Liz, and stoking the flames of vengeance inside Zeke. Taking a second for what she had just spoken to sink in, Vivien stood up, moving outside her home.
" Now, let's begin today's practical lesson, shall we?"
Following her lead, she gestured for Zeke to take his place at the cliff's edge. Knowing what to do from their past experiences together. Zeke gazed down over the seemingly endless abyss before lifting his vision straight ahead. He extended his right hand outward.
"Ignite."
Immediately, a large stream of flames burst forward from his hand. Even though he obtained chantless casting. Still, inexperienced Zeke had to rely on the crutch of saying the last incantation to perform the few spells learned thus far. Involved in Vivien's elemental specialty of fire magic.
It wasn't as simple as just spouting a name. Zeke had to know every component and sequence of order required in each spell. Going through many scrolls of runes, diagrams, stanzas, notes, and formulas practiced in her prime. Sustaining the intense flame that stretched over the Pit of No Return, Liz and Kenshin couldn't help but react in astonishment.
"Whoa!"
" Impressive."
"Not bad, let's move on."
Vivien said with a rare smirk, awe-inspired by Zeke's talent, no matter how many times she witnessed his pure skill and thirst for magical knowledge. Able to demonstrate a Mana output that far surpassed him, being only a 1st-circled mage. Not wanting to feed his ego too much, they proceeded on to the next spell.
...
A new day dawned inside the damp, dark, sunless Valley of Order. Without warning, a familiar horn beckoned loudly for Unit 1 to enter the training grounds. There, they would await their instructions for trial two.