As Sozen approached the designated zone, a figure emerged from the mist with a weapon trained on him. The tension in the air was palpable.

“Freeze,” the figure commanded.

Sozen, barely able to stand due to his injuries, resigned himself to the possibility of his end. “I guess this is the end…” he murmured.

To his surprise, the figure lowered their weapon and spoke in a surprisingly calm and apologetic tone. “Sorry for killing some of your goons.”

The figure was none other than Toru, his new ally on the field. “Technically they were out to kill you before, so I guess that’s alright,” Sozen managed to say with a strained voice, just before his strength gave out.

The world around Sozen began to darken as he lost consciousness.

When Sozen regained his senses, he found himself lying near a campfire, surrounded by three figures. The flickering light of the fire cast eerie shadows on their faces. He was in a camp, far from the chaos he had been in moments before.

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Meanwhile, Toru watched Sozen intently, giving him time to recover but eager to extract valuable information. He was more interested in what Sozen could reveal about the enemy, their compound, their equipment, and the strategies they employed.

Elvis entered the scene, his presence marked by a quiet efficiency. “All clear,” he reported. “They’ve all gathered in their compound.” Elvis’s scouting skills were far superior to those of Toru and Hitomi, thanks to his unique assassin-like abilities that allowed him to gather intelligence with remarkable precision.

Toru, now equipped with the crucial information and assistance from his new allies, opened his UI. “Should be any moment now,” he said, ready to act on the data they had gathered. The plan was set into motion, and with the combined efforts of his team and the newly allied Sozen, they were prepared to tackle the challenges that lay ahead.

Satoshi was deep in thought at his hideout. He reflected on the times he and his family had been forced into compromises to appease wealthy patrons and the moments when they had to take the fall for powerful families involved in cognition cultivation. He was torn between his loyalty to his leader and friend, and his frustration with the system that had always seemed stacked against him. Yet, he resolved to make things right once he surpassed this exam. “Just this time… once I surpass this exam, I'll right all the wrongs,” he vowed to himself.