The recruits seemed to have forgotten the previous day's events, laughing and sharing experiences as if nothing had happened. Perhaps they simply didn't care; after all, they had known each other for less than a week. Kai spent the remainder of his day training intensely, noticing that even his stamina had significantly increased. When dinner arrived, the recruits gathered in the hall, though the group that had been robed before Kai's class was missing. In fact, they hadn't been seen for two days. Maybe they're on missions, the recruits whispered to one another. Kai sat in the dining hall, feeling clean and refreshed in his black robes. Lucien sat beside him, and they discussed their time in the Dominion of Blades. Suddenly, an instructor entered. The room fell silent as the man walked with a slow, deliberate pace. "I'm Beole," the man said, his rough features scanning the recruits coldly. "I'll be in charge of handing out missions and ranking you. I believe you all know that to work for the Dominion, you must train under your instructors for two years before you may earn money."
"But sir, we didn't know we'd be training for two years!" a recruit in green robes shouted. "So, you came here without knowing what you would be doing or how you would be doing it?" Beole asked, clearly displeased. "We came here for the opportunity to get stronger," Lucien said with conviction. "I guess that's enough, then. Tomorrow, you all set out for your first mission," Beole announced before sweeping out of the hall. By dawn the next day, the fifty recruits were gathered in the fortress courtyard. Morning fog clung to their new robes like damp ghosts. The six red-robed recruits including Lucien and the mirrored twins stood at the front with an air of untouchable grace. Kai stood among the nineteen other black-robed recruits, his hand resting on the pommel of his katana. He could feel Darius's burning gaze from a few paces away, but he didn't turn.
Beole stood on the raised stone dais, his white robes flickering like living smoke. "Your first mission is not a test of strength, but of utility," his voice boomed. "To the east lies the Whispering Gorge, a jagged wound in the earth where the mountain's Chi is most volatile. There is a shipment of Void-Iron there, essential for forging the Dominion's weapons. It is called the Dominion of Blades for a reason, after all. However, the iron is guarded by a pack of Gorge-Crawlers beasts mutated by the very pressure you faced on the bridge. "He gestured to maps being handed out by low-level guards. "The red robes will lead the assault on the main hive. The green robes will act as perimeter guards and porters. But you," he said, his eyes locking onto the black-robed group, "are the harvesters. You will enter the tunnels while the beasts are distracted. Retrieve the ore. Kill anything that tries to stop you. "The groups were organized: teams of six led by a red-robe, containing three black-robes and four green-robes. Naturally, everyone tried to group with those they knew. Kai and Lucien joined forces, with Lucien acting as the team leader.
Surprisingly, Darius joined them as well, shocking everyone. The final black-robe in their group was a boy named Will ."I only joined this team because Lucien is strong," Darius snickered, glancing at Kai. Kai ignored him completely. The four green-robes were Darius's lackeys: Fish, Blondie, Kevin, and Scooby. "These are your squads for your future missions. Move out, and good luck!" Beole shouted as the recruits departed the Dominion. The march to the gorge took hours. As they descended into the ravine, the air grew thick and heavy, reminiscent of the Trial of Atmosphere. The red-robed leaders moved ahead, their auras flaring Lucien's white light and the twins' mirrored red-and-black glows carved a path through the gloom. The teams split up, each taking a different tunnel. "Stay focused, trash," Darius hissed as they reached their cave entrance. "In the dark, robes won't protect you. Only Chi does."
Kai stepped into the damp, lightless tunnel. I wonder what part of Lombardia we are in, he thought. We've covered so much land, yet there isn't a soul in sight. He reached into his core, touching the massive, glowing orange-yellow sphere he had discovered during his evolution. He didn't project a shield; instead, he let the "abyss" in his palm settle into a low, hungry hum. Lucien and the green-robes remained at the mouth of the tunnel to guard the exit while the three black-robes progressed downward. Kai, Will, and Darius maneuvered through the dark, guided by the map in Will's hands. "The map says there are Gorge-Crawlers up ahead," Will whispered, slowing his pace. Deep in the tunnels, the first attack came. It wasn't a roar, but a wet, clicking sound. A Gorge-Crawler a multi-limbed monstrosity with skin like translucent rubber dropped from the ceiling. Its claws, laced with razor-sharp Chi shards, aimed for Kai's throat. Kai's reflexes were different now. He felt lighter, his mind processing the beast's movement before it even landed. "Ancient Technique: First Form," Kai whispered, his voice steady. "Cutting Edge. "He didn't just swing. He channeled a sliver of the "abyss" into the blade. The black katana moved in a blur, not just cutting the beast's flesh, but seemingly erasing the air in its path.
The Gorge-Crawler didn't even have time to shriek; its head slid from its shoulders in a perfectly clean line. Behind him, Darius and Will gasped. Darius stood frozen, his orange aura flickering." The ore is somewhere up ahead, right?" Kai asked, cleaning his blade with a sharp flick. He didn't look back. "Let's move." As they pushed further into the dark, Kai realized the "abyss" wasn't just hungry for pressure it was hungry for the very life force of the mountain. And for the first time, he wasn't afraid to let it feed.