Everyone filled the training ground stands. However, where nearly three hundred faces had once gathered, fewer than fifty remained.
Having survived the grueling Festival of Red Roses, the surviving fledglings now wore orange uniforms instead of yellow. The childish expressions and youthful exuberance that once defined them had long since vanished.
Noticing the vast difference, Zeke, Kenshin, and Liz took their seats among the silent and sparse crowd.
Awaiting further orders, they soon saw Instructor Silva appear at the center of the arena.
"Congratulations on making it this far, maggots! Now listen up and follow me to your next trial!"
The masked assassin barked, wasting no time.
Without question, everyone followed behind him.
They navigated through cramped corridors and winding limestone pathways before eventually reaching the peak of the Valley of Order.
Towering before them stood the imposing compound gates of Master Lee's estate.
Two armored guards stood watch beside the massive crimson gates, each carrying a spear.
"Instructor Silva reporting! I'm here to escort these orange fledglings to the second trial!"
Silva announced in his usual booming voice.
Soon, the gold-trimmed gates creaked open.
Receiving permission to proceed, Silva led the group inside.
A long white stone pathway stretched ahead, bordered by black pebbles and rows of blue flames.
Having visited this dreary place once before, Zeke was already familiar with the grand red-and-black temple that loomed over the entire compound.
Rather than entering the main building, Silva guided them down a side route.
Various structures were scattered throughout the estate before they finally arrived at the furthest building.
Darkness greeted them as they entered.
After several moments, fluorescent lights suddenly illuminated the vast chamber.
Rows upon rows of technologically advanced pods filled the spacious facility.
The machines were unlike anything Zeke had encountered in either of his previous lives.
Compared to everything he had seen within the Hidden Cave of Untold Shadows, these devices felt impossibly advanced.
For the first time, Zeke felt as if he was glimpsing a fragment of the outside world's many unexplored wonders.
Suddenly, the Immortal System appeared before Silva could begin his explanation.
[Immortal System]
---- The time has come to clean out a section of your littered closet. How long will it take for you to overcome one of your buried demons? ----
Difficulty: Silver
Reward:
S = The Great Immortal Ito's Fragment (2 of 3)
A = 2nd Circle Awakening
B = Health Advancement
C = N/A
D = N/A
F = Death
---- Sweet dreams! :) ----
While Zeke focused on the system message, Silva finished explaining the purpose of the pods and the details of Trial Two.
Zeke couldn't help but feel apprehensive.
The Silver difficulty bothered him.
After everything he had survived recently, he had expected the next challenge to be far more difficult.
Instead, the system ranked it lower than many of his previous tasks.
That fact alone made him uneasy.
After Silva finished speaking, he began assigning pods.
"No.00!"
Silva called.
Pointing toward one of the white pods, he motioned for Zeke to step forward.
"Good luck."
"See you on the other side."
Both Kenshin and Liz offered words of encouragement.
Zeke nodded.
"Same to you two."
Without looking back, he entered the assigned pod and reclined in the leather seat.
Before sitting down, he discreetly activated a mental failsafe he had developed.
He had also taught the same precautionary method to Kenshin and Liz beforehand.
Soon every fledgling received an assignment.
One by one, the pods sealed shut.
Transparent lids slid into place.
Moments later, a strange purple gas filled the chambers.
The world gradually faded as everyone drifted into an induced slumber.
....
Meanwhile, not far away, an eccentric man with long crimson hair tied into a bright red knot sat across from Master Lee inside the main conference hall.
His colorful silk attire stood out sharply against the temple's dark decor.
"That little pupil of yours sure dealt with our prospects quite handily, if I might add."
Ono chuckled while peering through his tinted bifocals.
Surprisingly, he didn't appear upset in the slightest about No.701's death.
"Hmph. You seem to be taking this incident unexpectedly well, Reaper Ono."
Lee observed while taking a sip of wine.
"How could I be anything less than impressed?"
Ono smiled.
"Even though the three of us have our petty squabbles from time to time, we're still part of the same organization. We all butter the same bread."
He leaned back casually.
"When all is said and done, I support No.00 as a potentially valuable asset to the Hidden Cave of Untold Shadows."
"Tsk. You always had a silver tongue."
"I'll take that as a compliment coming from you."
Ono grinned.
"Besides, I heard through the grapevine that No.00 also managed to kill Reaper Taki's subordinate, Fox, while climbing through the ranks as a youth."
His smile widened.
"That's something that would've been considered a tall task even for you, and you're regarded as the strongest Reaper in our history."
Lee remained silent for a moment before speaking.
"He's definitely exceeded my expectations thus far."
"My, my. Aren't you full of praise today?"
Ono teased.
Immediately, Lee's mood soured.
His bushy purple brows furrowed.
"Get out."
"Now there's the prickly bastard I know."
Ono laughed as he rose from his chair.
Stopping beside the doorway, he turned back.
"Oh, and don't forget to fulfill your side of the bargain."
His smile became more knowing.
"Also, a bit of advice from an old friend."
He adjusted his glasses.
"Make sure you keep a tight leash on that precious rising star of yours."
"Leave!"
Lee finally shouted.
Satisfied, Ono departed.
Standing guard nearby, Kado respectfully bowed as Ono passed.
Ono motioned for his attendant to follow.
Interestingly enough, that attendant was none other than No.711.
"Hmm. What's on your mind, No.711?"
Ono asked while they strolled through the estate grounds.
He had noticed her distracted expression.
"It's nothing that should trouble someone as important as you, Master Ono."
She nervously replied.
"I decide what troubles me."
His voice carried a subtle warning.
No.711 immediately lowered her head.
"Forgive me for speaking out of turn."
"You're forgiven."
Ono waved dismissively.
"Now speak."
"Yes, Master."
She hesitated.
"I was wondering why you kept me alive after my recent failure."
No.711 looked up at the much taller man.
Although Ono appeared to be in his late twenties, he was well over a century old.
Her thoughts had been chaotic ever since the Festival of Red Roses.
The source of those troubles was a single person.
No.00.
She still remembered pieces of what happened.
Being caught off guard.
Blacking out.
Then waking up naked and covered in blood beside No.701's corpse.
The murder weapon had been in her hand.
Confused and horrified, she had immediately cleaned the scene and disposed of the evidence.
Afterward, she convinced herself that killing No.00 was the only way to erase her failure.
For weeks she stalked him.
For weeks she found no opening.
She couldn't even get close enough to observe him without risking detection.
It was as though he possessed eyes in the back of his head.
The best she could do was follow from a distance.
Eventually she seized an opportunity when No.00 appeared vulnerable while watching over No.55 inside Heaven in Hell.
That decision nearly got her killed.
She had been forced to defend herself against a storm of shuriken while No.00 somehow controlled the battlefield.
Even worse, he manipulated her movements like a puppeteer.
All she could do was provide Qi to sustain his technique.
Eventually she succumbed to the deadly miasma.
The last thing she remembered was witnessing his miraculous victory.
When she finally woke up, she found herself outside the same brothel where No.701 had died.
Ever since then, No.711 had chosen to avoid him.
She knew she wasn't his match.
After reporting everything to Ono, she expected punishment.
Instead, he dismissed her without another word.
Until today.
Finally, Ono answered.
"It's simple."
He smiled.
"I still have use for you, No.711."
He paused.
"Besides, you remind me of a pet cat I adored as a child."
No.711 blinked.
"One day it bit my hand."
Ono's smile remained.
"So I strangled it."
A faint killing intent leaked from him.
No.711 immediately understood the message.
She quickly changed the subject.
"Understood, Master."
She swallowed nervously.
"May I ask where we're heading?"
"Heh."
Ono's grin returned.
"Where else but the best entertainment available today?"