Kairos, Tommy, Edward, Alan, and Jim, explored the dungeon unhurriedly. They know the time they had is limited, but it is better for them to quickly go through the training in the Dark Hall before heading out to their mission without knowing a thing.
Besides that, they already guessed that the 300 odd soldiers they will be leading will be those from the Snowdrifts. The number is too coincidental to how many members they have.
The later they start, the more time their group to prepare, and more of them can survive. Now that they have sworn in their loyalty with the Dark Hall, there is no longer a need to restrict them.
However, even if they follow the rules of the place, they are still dead; it is only a matter of how and when.
When they receive a mission the day they joined the organisation and before any sort of training, it had already confirmed that someone up there wants to make an example out of them.
What the five had to do is to find a way of survival throughout all this.
At this time, a dragonling fly back into Kairos’ robes without anyone else realising.
It spoke in a squeaking roar to Aisa who then interpreted for Kairos.
It’s done~ The Soul Slips had all been replaced~
A smile like a radiant sun appeared on Kairos’ lips and it caused the brothers to lighten up as well.
Jim turned and beamed at him saying, “Is it done?”
Kairos wordlessly gave him a nod while putting a finger to his lips.
To speak of such thing, or even to nod and agree, is equal to an attempt to betray the Dark Hall. Link to their soul, there are no lies that could cover up but, remarkably, their Soul Slips did not show the slightly sign of activating as though they belonged to someone else.
“We are free from their control now,” Alan whispered with relief.
“We are,” Kairos repeated his words with a smile.
The others burst into cheer.
It had been difficult for them to tolerate all these so far. The plan for the members of Snowdrifts to be sent to the Dark Hall to be trained as Death Warriors were announced nearly 4 years ago.
Afterwards, anyone in their group that openly go against the Devilheart family were forced to join the Dark Hall.
Subsequently, those that rebelled in protest were forcefully recruited amass to give their loyalty to the Devilheart family and the Dark Hall. In this manner their families were also held hostage.
After a while, those from the Snowdrifts either left, or they joined the Dark Hall to become Death Warriors. Of course, only those with absolute loyalty or complete confidence with their leader, stayed.
During the four years, they are still students of the academy. After graduation, then they will be sent to the Dark Hall.
Kairos’ group were a few days late to reach the training hall because of the delay on the way, thanks to the fifty soldiers they incapacitated.
But in a fell swoop, everyone was freed.
Their opponent’s confidence in Jade Slips and Soul Slips were the source of weakness the boys exploited.
This item that cannot be activated without having a piece of one’s soul is thought to be fool proof, but none considered that the technology to create Artificial Soul exists!
Others might not be able to succeed but Kairos had certain advantages that others did not.
He reverse-engineered the prize he won from the Combat Tournament and through it he discovered the way to trick Jade Slips.
Using pre-prepared dummies as stand-in, the five of them spoke whatever loyalty binding words that the Dark Hall wished to enforce upon them. Unfortunately, soul fragment sent into the Jade Slips are five artificial souls that had no consciousness nor life.
In the same way, Kairos prepared over three hundred fake Soul Slips. One for each member of the Snowdrifts and he sent a tiny dragonling to exchange for the actual Soul Slips in the Jade Hall.
The infant dragon might be tiny, but as a divine beast, it is more than strong enough to carry something as light as a Time-space ring. Afterwards, was a simple matter.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
In the future, if any of their members betrayed the Dark Hall, the actual Soul Slip will activate but it will be in safe hands. At most, they have to suffer a soul feedback for the first time, but losing their lives could be avoided.
It was a sweet victory.
The Snowdrifts had been held hostage for too long and finally set free. Now is the time for the next phase of their plan.
Counterattack!
Unfortunately, they have to manoeuvre around their opponent’s every move because there are still others out there that are held hostage. Family members, friends, and loved ones, that are dear to those from the Snowdrifts.
For now, despite they are not going to die from disobeying orders, they still have to follow what the Dark Hall dictates.
The group intends to visit each hall with learning as their top priority. The first place they went is the Dance Hall.
A purple gate with ribbons and flowers stood before them. It was a strange sight in this otherwise gloomy dungeon. When they approached, the door swung open with a large number of welcoming party behind.
A row of beautiful girls in tight uniform on the left, and a row of handsome men in tailcoat on the right greeted them.
The boys entered uncertainly, and then a woman who is clearly in control of the place went forward with long strides to meet them.
In a voice sweet enough to attract bees and flies she said, “Finally, I get to meet the young heroes that created miracles after miracles in our empire. You boys sure look delicious.”
The woman gave them the creeps. The moment they saw her, the name of a certain creature surfaced in all their minds. Serpertine.
Majestic and beautiful but equally dangerous to behold.
If not because they are already a part of the Dark Hall, the boys would’ve retreated.
This is the first time that they ever met someone for the first time and wanted to run away.
The woman had majestic chests, a tiny waist, a small peach-shaped face, large alluring purple eyes and small cherry-red lips.
She looked gorgeous at a glance, but at the same time something seemed off. Hairs stand as she came close, and bells of alarm seemed to ring in their head.
“Her eyes, nose, mouth, ears, face, and body, are all a little disproportionate, yet when fitted together, it appears frighteningly beautiful.”
They suppressed their revulsion and gave her a smile.
It was the same expression they made, but the reasons were quite different.
Kairos smiled uncaringly, as though she could not affect his thoughts. Edward smiled knowingly, as if if he chose any other reaction he would regret it. Alan smiled as though it was the most natural thing to do. Jim smiled by instinct, giving off a pitiable aura and that anyone who harms him would be a terrible person. Tommy gave her a silly smile, unable to sense the strange atmosphere.
“You passed,” the woman said, and with her words, her expression turned amiable as she invited them into the hall.
They walked in with quite a few of them feeling cold sweat trickle down their backs. Only Tommy and Kairos were truly unaffected. The prior due to his lack of sensitivity while the latter was because of exceptional boldness.
“I am the purple ghost,” the woman continued saying, “the Ghost of the Dance Hall. If you had failed the entrance test, you will be removed from the organisation. Luckily you survived.”
She gave them a smile, and despite the warm lights and lively environment they had entered, their felt the sound drown out and a chill covered them.
If they had not smiled in the face of that overwhelming disliked and repulsion they felt, they would be dead in a second.
Of course, killing them this way will be more troublesome when the Devilheart had specifically issued an order for their deaths to be pathetic, miserable, and known throughout the lands.
But, if they had failed this exam it will only mean that they were unworthy in the first place.
It was a simple test to judge their ability to act against their true nature, therefore Edward had the greatest score, while Jim followed closely in second place.
The purple ghost could tell that these two had acted on purpose, one with careful thought beforehand and the other naturally reacting to the situation.
Tommy and Alan were a step behind.
She could tell from their body language, down to the tiniest details, that they had the most natural of reactions, as if they were too insensitive to the danger or were simply being true to themselves.
On the other hand, Kairos who also passed was an enigma to her. Like Tommy, this boy is the only other person that had no visible changes before, during, and after the test. At least Alan who had shown ease during the exam was shaking slightly afterwards.
But she couldn’t tell if his reaction was out of instinct or thought or character or insensitivity or perhaps he had flawless control over his own emotions.
Instead, she sensed disinterest from him and felt ashamed. Her actions suddenly seemed laughable to herself before him, then realisation dawned upon her and her body trembled before she retook control.
“He… he could affect my emotions!?”
The purple ghost mentally reassessed Kairos and placed the boy in first place – not just amongst the five, but also first in all the entrance exams taken in the Dance Hall since the beginning.
The purpose of this place is to complete their mission.
They had to learn how to pull information out, gain trust, and even make one’s target into their most intimate friends.
To affect the Ghost of the Dance Hall is a shocking talent.
It is something that can only be inherent because Kairos had not directed any plans towards her. Merely a glance was enough for her to trip over his aura.
“If this boy wanted to raise a rebellion force against the Dark Hall… no, even Saint Empire might tear herself apart if he had the intention.”
She shuddered involuntarily. Others might not notice, but as a master of her arts of deception and persuasion, she keenly felt his ability to rouse the people and knew the dangers.
Sometimes, a few words were all that was needed to destroy an empire. It just depends on the weight and influence of one who spoke.
“Looks like it wasn’t a fluke that so many followed after him despite his age. We’re fortunate to get his Soul Slip before he matured. Otherwise…”
She shook her head twice. The first time in shame that such a talent will be killed soon. The second time admonishing herself for being frightened of a child.
Afterwards, the purple ghost welcomed them into the Dance Hall.
Despite they were given an impossible mission that would end up in failure and death, she did not withhold any information from them.