Two hours had passed since the grueling physical exam had ended, and the warm farewell of the sun was fading on the edge of the orange sky. As the mist slowly shifted, a reddish moon greeted the cadets with its cold light, penetrating their skin as they watched. In an instant, twilight turned into evening.
Each group of cadets lit bonfires that shone like torches in the dark, casting a warm glow in the surrounding area. The sound of sparks and the cadets' laughter accompanied their loneliness, bringing them together in solidarity. They chatted while enjoying the meat they had caught, and though there was no wine, the fresh water from the nearby river in the eastern forest was very refreshing, bringing back their lost energy.
Their hunger and thirst were quenched, but their minds could not rest, knowing that the rest period was short and followed by an all-night test later. Rumors had leaked from Aleister's mouth about a Spiritual Exam that had spread from rope to rope. No one knew if it was a hoax or not, but the explanation seemed reasonable: the location was in the graveyard at the foot of the mountain, and the test was to be taken freely either in groups or individually.
As the smoke from many bonfires joined the fog and rose to the top of the clouds, the atmosphere was filled with warmth. This was the night of the last feast that accompanied the cadets before their departure, and though there were no tears to greet them, their determination remained strong.
In front of a bonfire, Aleister lay lounging, puffing on a cigar, while listening to the veiled Monk, his comrade, who was still complaining. During their physical exam, they had agreed to venture further into the forest to investigate Mount Tartaros. However, halfway through their journey, Aleister abandoned him out of fear.
"Come on, Gantala...don't kick me out of your group. I'm only joking with you, you know that," Aleister pleaded.
Gantala scowled. "Why do you still talk to me like a friend? Loyalty is my number one priority. If you don't understand the meaning of loyalty, then perhaps you should consult a linguist."
Aleister chuckled. "Of course, I understand the concept of loyalty. I'm only here to report the facts and news. How about I offer you some free information to help mend our friendship?"
"What kind of information?" Gantala asked, slightly intrigued.
"I have all the cadet data you could ever want, stored right here," Aleister said, pointing to his head. "I only want to know one thing from you, Sumiya. Did you conspire with other cadets to kill the descendants of the Sun-Elves?" Gantala inquired.
"Which cadet are you referring to, Gantala?"
"Who else but the top cadets like Xia Zan and Han Luoyi?" Gantala replied.
Aleister, also known as Sumiya, burst out laughing. "Kill them? The prince from Hazara Province and Han Luoyi, the second-place finisher in the Triacademia World Tour just three months ago? Don't be ridiculous," he said, his laughter subsiding. "You've asked the wrong person, Gantala. Even though I'm a Moon-Elf, I've been blessed with more intelligence than I ever wanted, but it's not in my nature to engage in such heinous acts."
Gantala fell silent, unwilling to speak with Sumiya any further. It was difficult to trust an informant with their own hidden agenda, as he had learned firsthand earlier that day. Behind the scenes, Sumiya was probably playing a multitude of games.
Sumiya gazed at the stars, lost in thought. "Yes, I admit they are incredibly talented cadets. However, their only flaw lies in their overwhelming self-love, even toward their own kin. One of my girls, who was imprisoned alongside Han Luoyi, divulged everything to me."
*(Flashback)
In Block B of Manseto Prison, a wood-elf girl named Sarah the Hoodwink, who was one of Aleister's associates, was taken aback when a bearded Sun-Elf and a Bloodguard opened her prison cell. The cell also housed Han Luoyi, another cadet girl, and Sarah did not understand their intention and purpose for coming here. Initially, the two men didn't say anything and simply observed the girls. However, Sarah soon realized their intentions when they approached the only Han Luoyi, causing Han Luoyi to growl in response.
Han Luoyi, from Class B and Cadet Number 387, hailed from Blaze Desert in the Yuelan Region of Szechuan Province, in the Jiuzhai Valley. The valley used to be a beautiful national park with stunning views, including crystal-clear lakes, waterfalls, colorful forests, and snow-covered mountains. Now, Jiuzhai Valley was nothing but a sea of fire filled with destruction and disaster, magma from an active volcano, and hot geysers from the earth's crust.
Since Luoyi's home was destroyed due to the Kaliyuga Explosion, she was raised by Master Zhao Mingxue, a wealthy and powerful governor in Xinjing (Yuelan Region), and owner of the mysterious Dragonrise Jian sword, one of the Dawn Empire artifacts for over a thousand years. Master Zhao was an acquaintance of Swordmaster Theodin, and it was his idea in the first place to send Han Luoyi to the academy. Since he became aware of the harshness of the last exam given by the instructors, everything has changed drastically.
With a gesture, the Bloodguard allowed the Sun-Elf to speak directly to Han Luoyi—this was a matter between student and teacher. "Let's go home," said the Sun-Elf.
"Leave me alone," Han Luoyi interrupted, struggling to free her cuffed hands. "Why don't you believe me, Lord Zhao? I promised you I would rank first and earn that artifact from the Swordmaster."
"It's not about believing or not—nor about being first, but it's about life and death. All cadets are destined to die here, you have no hope of winning against Instructor Manseto!"
"No worse than being killed by Demolitionists! Becoming a Dawnstrike Assassin is my current dream. I'm sure they have the same determination as me, they are not as weak as you think! We will escape together."
"Without the Jian Sword that you stole from me, you're nothing. So how will you deal with Instructor Manseto?"
Han Luoyi gritted her teeth in frustration. She didn't like being underestimated—especially by someone who lacked knowledge, the cadets at the academy knew that about her. She tried to calm her mind, then replied, "As a cultivator, I have never encountered a fatal mistake—and besides, the exam is not about defeating the instructor but escaping through the ship. If there are some cadets who can hold off the instructor, I will make sure not to fight and only focus on passing the exam."
"No, it's too risky. You still don't know anything, Lady Han. Just because one crazy cadet broke the exam record, the Swordmaster decided to maximize the difficulty level for the first time in history. All of you have been raised by the academy and designed to die before your dreams come true - to become sacrifices for the Chthonians. Now, come with me and leave this suicide exam!"
Han Luoyi couldn't tolerate her teacher's invitation any longer and emitted a lapis lazuli aura from her body. Her wrist gave out a root-like crack that grazed her skin, and then she unleashed her normal Soul Charge to destroy the shackles, startling the Bloodguard. Lord Zhao sighed, realizing that convincing his strongest student wasn't as easy as bribing or threatening her; he would have to subdue her by force. Han Luoyi rushed toward Lord Zhao to attack him, but he unleashed his fiery Ascendant Soul Charge and easily fended off all of her attacks. With a gentle tap on her forehead, he put her to sleep.
Sarah and her cellmate looked on in disbelief as Han Luoyi easily broke the Aetherium shackles which bind the magical and spiritual energy, but was defeated by her own teacher just like that. Zhao Mingxue carried Luoyi's body on his shoulder, and another swordsman approached him from the cell door. Sarah averted her gaze, almost screaming. The swordsman with two swords carried Xia Zan's body, and Xia Zan was her classmate from Class A.
The swordsman asked Zhao, "Is your business done?"
"Yes, it seems we have no choice but to use the same method, right?" said Zhao. "Becoming a Dawnstrike Assassin or leaving this continent is just an empty dream, I feel sorry for them."
"Of course, they have a choice," said the swordsman. "To die or be sent to Paradise Island. Soon, these two will thank us and know the dark side of the assassin business."
Zhao nodded to the Bloodguard, and they left the cell and Block B. Due to this incident, Sarah obtained important information to sell to Aleister.
*(Present)
Gantala's expression turned to shock as he listened to Aleister's story, then he pulled his hood over his head to cover his eyes, trying to maintain his composure.
"That's what happened, Gantala. Are we even now? Will you forgive me?" Aleister asked.
"No, sometimes I listen to people's auras from the heart, and I know who is playing games and who is not. Your life as an informant has always been filled with switching sides and aligning with different teams just to fulfill your own agenda. The Courier said the same thing."
"Courier? He has never caught me in ninety-nine attempts. I can't wait to play with him again once we reach the land," Aleister replied.
"I swear to God, you'll regret it. Don't mess with the Courier anymore. He's on the same level as Fenrius and Khaledin. Insanity is sane for them - they're insane people who became something, not sane people like us," the Monk warned.
"Speaking of Fenrius, do you know how active he was this afternoon?" asked the Moon-Elf.
"Yeah, to be honest, I lost my appetite when I saw him dragging the Cyclops' corpse earlier. Let's not talk about him for now," Gantala said before falling silent, as Fenrius' name also bore a curse of impending disaster nowadays.
"I know, I know," said Aleister, while thinking, ("Tarnation, you're the one who brought him up.")
*
After Aleister provided a small amount of information, the cadets took advantage of the moment to discuss and make plans. The only group that had been consistently focused on studying was gathered around Karanzo's bonfire. He was there with his classmates Joel and Rin to discuss the upcoming exam.
Karanzo looked toward the mountain, which was completely shrouded in darkness. "If it's true that the next spiritual test is at the graveyard on the mountain, then we should use the cultivation technique that was taught long ago... This test is very disadvantageous for a low spiritual cadet like me," he said.
Joel questioned him, "How did you know about that, Karanzo? Who knows if Aleister was just bragging?"
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Karanzo reflected on his past experiences, ignoring Joel and trying to recall what he had learned from the academy. He knew there were several spiritual levels, but he didn't fully understand them all. He knew that he was still at the lowest level, which was turquoise. The truth is, Karanzo's stance hadn't changed since becoming a thousand-weapon martial artist. He believed that soul cultivation was not as important as his physical training. For some reason, he became unenthusiastic about taking the spiritual exam.
"Rin, could you explain the aura thing?" he asked.
"Alright, which one don't you understand?" Rin asked back.
"All of them," replied Karanzo.
Rin's face turned sour. She closed the monster knowledge book she had been reading and said, "Those Spiritual Levels have an aura that depends on the nature of each individual human being. The more spiritually cultivated one is, the more striking the true color of the aura will be."
She put the book back in her bag and handed Karanzo another book, warning him, "Read this."
Karanzo grabbed it, holding his thumb to the edge of the book and flipping through dozens of pages in a matter of seconds while reading them at lightning speed. His eyes moved automatically, scanning every word. Although the book contained knowledge about Soul Charge and how to use it, he was still new to cultivation. He turned back to the initial page of the index, and the thing that caught his eye the most was a table on the last page that showed all the aura results in the book. "On page thirty-second, there is knowledge about Karma Alignment Level, Affinities, and Constellation Gates," he said.
As a Cultivator, an individual's spiritual level is determined by their Affinities, which can be sharpened from dim to bright. There are hundreds of different colors and types of aura, each corresponding to one of the eleven Karma Alignment Levels. However, each aura consists of one to five circles that can only be honed by completing the Constellations through the Planes.
1. [Eternal Realm = Karma: +800 to +1000 (Max Affinity: Ascendant Soul Charge)]
* Absolute Good: +1000 Dominical Plane.
* Chaotic Good: +800 to +999 Celestial Plane.
Ascendant: Affinity that excels in dealing damage to foes with high health and strong defenses. It is often associated with divine or holy powers.
2. [Astral Realm = Karma: +400 to +799 (Max Affinity: Primordial Soul Charge)]
* Neutral Good: +600 to +799 Seraphical Plane.
* Lawful Good: +400 to +599 Mystical Plane.
Primordial: Affinity that channels the elemental forces of the world, such as fire, water, earth, and wind. It is often used by individuals who have a deep connection with nature.
3. [Mortal Realm = Karma: -399 to +399 (Max Affinity: Order Soul Charge)]
* Chaotic Neutral: +200 to +399 Corporeal Plane.
* True Neutral: -199 to +199 Elemental
* Lawful Neutral: -200 to -399 Ethereal Plane.
Order: Affinity that relies on discipline and structure to overcome chaos and disorder. It is often associated with martial arts and other forms of combat training.
4. [Spectral Realm = Karma: -799 to -400 (Max Affinity: Chaos Soul Charge)]
* Lawful Evil: -400 to -599 Hibernal Plane.
* Neutral Evil: -600 to -799 Infernal Plane.
Chaos: Affinity that harnesses the power of entropy and disorder to cause havoc and destruction. It is often used by individuals who seek to sow chaos and confusion.
5. [Abyssal Realm = -1000 to -800 (Max Affinity: Eldritch Soul Charge)]
* Chaotic Evil: -800 to -999 Nocturnal Plane.
* Absolute Evil: -1000 Diabolical Plane.
Eldritch: Affinity that taps into ancient and mysterious forces from beyond the known world. It is often used by individuals who have uncovered dark secrets and knowledge.
Karanzo pondered, "What in the world is this?" He looked like a novice who was encountering hieroglyphics for the first time. He found it difficult to recall the text instead of the technique, but with consistent cultivation practice, he was confident that he would become accustomed to feeling the soul charge for extended periods.
From the start, he believed that ten years in the academy with solely physical training would not be an issue as long as he remained alive. Although his aura was green, he had no knowledge of the Astral Realm or Ethereal Plane or how they related to someone like him, a ninja. Who created these perplexing realms? He found no answers and had the urge to slap the author of this superstitious book, Dai Bo Dong (as he saw the name on the cover). Although the book could save lives, Karanzo already loathed the idea of five years of mundane cultivation practice.
After closing the book, Karanzo was at a loss. His serious gaze turned even tenser and panicked as he had no recollection of the last time he had cultivated alone. He realized the benefits of spiritual lessons at times like this. It would be absurd if he failed the exam simply because he had never cultivated before. Furthermore, wasn't the turquoise aura the beginner level?
"So I am destined to have a low-level aura? It is the same as that of ordinary people," Karanzo exclaimed, thoroughly irritated.
"Joel added, "You are not alone. I am in the same boat. The gods play favorites, don't they?"
Karanzo looked at Joel with annoyance, thinking that if he were not his friend, he would punch him in the face. This was precisely what he meant by ‘ordinary people,’ and now his mood was deteriorating, like a machine overheating and on the brink of a breakdown. He didn't know much about all of this, but he was forced into it! Regardless, he had to start his cultivation practice from scratch. Before doing so, he asked Rin, “Can the color of our aura change if we continue to cultivate?"
"The chances are small. The color of the aura is unique and determined by each person's personality. Having a green aura doesn't mean you're common or not unique. If you can cultivate to a certain degree, then you can be considered one of the strongest people in the world," Rin explained.
"By the way, do you happen to know anyone who can teach us cultivation?" Karanzo asked, uncertain whether Rin could be of much assistance.
As Rin thought about her acquaintances, her mind turned to Han Luoyi, her best friend from Class B. Sis Luo (as Rin called her) had taught her many cultivation techniques, which enabled her to pass the spiritual exam. Rin wiped away her tears as she realized that she hadn't heard from Sis Luo since their escape from Manseto's Prison. It was hard to believe that someone as strong as her, with a third-circle aura, had ended up falling in the third instructor exam.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring up painful memories," Karanzo apologized.
"It's okay, it happens to all of us," Rin replied.
The group fell silent, lost in thought about many things, contemplating the challenges of cultivation and the enigmas of the aura. Rin couldn't help but wonder what had happened to her friend Han Luoyi and whether they would ever meet again. Meanwhile, Karanzo couldn't fully grasp Rin's words due to the loud noise coming from the neighbor's bonfire, ten meters away behind him. He looked over at Zain's group, which sounded like a rowdy ship being torn apart, as they discussed the Manticore he had defeated (Zain was narrating his own heroic version of the story). And it all got worse when Leif and Skadj started dancing around the bonfire while drunk, turning it into a hilarious spectacle between a Viking and a dwarf, prompting the three Lugos brothers to erupt in laughter.
"Do any of you know the color of Zain's aura?" asked Karanzo.
"Zain Wulmar? The last time I saw him at the fort, he had a brown aura if I'm not mistaken," responded Joel.
Karanzo stifled a laugh, then smiled knowingly that Zain's aura was lower than his. Rin, who didn't appreciate Karanzo's humor, reprimanded him, "Karanzo, this isn't something to joke about! Even though he had a brown aura, his physical strength was great, so it's no wonder he was able to defeat the Manticore. Remember, spiritual abilities are only useful for resisting magic attacks, not physical attacks."
"Sorry...I was just joking," Karanzo apologized. "Rin, which cadet do you think has the most terrifying aura?"
Rin tried to recall their time at Dawnstrike Fortress during the cultivation technique supplementary lesson. Not many cadets took the lesson seriously since the mandatory exams only tested physical, mental, and intellectual abilities, but spiritual abilities were often underestimated and considered boring. Therefore, these additional lessons were only for interested cadets who wished to hone their spiritual abilities further. At that time, senior assassins taught the cadets cultivation techniques while meditating, and there was one cadet who surprised everyone except for Sis Luo. "If I'm not mistaken...that person was nicknamed 'The Knight'," she murmured.
"What do you mean, Thani?" Karanzo asked, furrowing his brow.
"Yes...When we were in the front yard of the fortress, Thanistor's silver aura was already equivalent to the aura possessed by seniors. This incident shocked everyone. He is also someone who is often called a genius, so it's not surprising that he learns cultivation techniques quickly."
"What about Fenrius' aura?" asked Karanzo with curiosity.
Rin and Joel chuckled at the mention of his name, causing Karanzo to feel ridiculous as he had just been reprimanded for laughing at someone else. It was unusual for him to talk about others, as he preferred to focus on himself, but he was willing to bet that if Fenrius were present, Rin and Joel's tongues would be tied.
Joel giggled as he replied, "Fenrius' spiritual level is zero. He's always sleeping and lazing around, isn't that right, Rin?" His chuckle was warm and infectious, like a crackling fire on a winter's night.
Rin confirmed Joel's statement and added, "I've never seen him have a fighting spirit either, let alone take additional cultivation lessons. But I guess that guy uses the violent path more often, even though he looks calm."
Karanzo smirked, feeling like he had discovered Fenrius' weakness. He had been fooled into thinking that the crazy cadet had no weaknesses, but now he knew that Fenrius could only compete with physical strength alone. However, rumors had it that he was unbeatable in one-on-one fights. Nonetheless, as a ninja blessed with the Sign of Shinra, Karanzo didn't believe that there were humans who couldn't be defeated.
"Hey, Rin, do you know a guy named Lucius van Hellsing?" asked Joel. Rin's expression turned serious as she replied, "Oh yes! I almost forgot! That person called Lucius has the aura that everyone fears the most! Don't ever go near him!"
"What aura does he have?" asked Karanzo, surprised by Rin's reaction.
Rin leaned in closer and glanced around to make sure no one was eavesdropping before whispering, "That man's aura is a vermillion almost perfect. There was a mysterious incident on the castle grounds when he was fighting against a senior assassin. From the top level of the fort, I could see clearly that he had never cultivated, but he used his fighting spirit to increase his turbulent aura. When he defeated the senior, the people around him all ran away in fright!"
Karanzo furrowed his brow and muttered, "Fighting spirit? I always get pumped up when I fight, but why isn't my green aura growing significantly?!"
"Don't compare yourself to the likes of Lucius and that psychopathic girl from Class D, Karanzo," Joel cautioned, hoping to put Karanzo in his place. "They fight like eating breakfast, just as smart people read books all day."
"Besides," Rin chimed in, "ordinary cultivation is much faster than fighting to the brink of death. I've tried both, and I prefer to cultivate. It restores your energy by relaxing, whereas fighting drains your energy and makes you tired. But everyone's different I guess."
Rin just didn't want to encourage Karanzo to follow in the footsteps of bad people. For her, steadfastness was the smartest way. Karanzo hung his head dejectedly, thinking back on his time at Dawnstrike Fortress. He had scoffed at the importance of cultivation, rarely practicing it himself. Now he regretted his words and was considering starting over as penance for his sins. Karma had come back to bite him.
Concerned by Karanzo's prolonged silence, Rin assumed a meditative posture, sitting upright on the ground. The classmate she considered her own brother often ignored her invitations to attend cultivation lessons. Karanzo had helped Rin a lot with martial arts training, and now it was her turn to repay his kindness. Karanzo and Joel were taken aback by her sudden shift in demeanor.
"Hey Rin, are you serious?" Karanzo asked.
"Watch and listen," replied Rin, closing her eyelids tightly.
Rin felt nervous at first, but as she focused her concentration, her mind traveled down many paths like a puzzle. In her subconscious, she felt as if she were in the universe, observing various constellations with strange shapes: a crown, a broken sword, a wolf's fang, a serpent's tail, a crescent moon, a shattered mirror, a tree with twisted roots, a dragon's claw, a crystal orb, a burning torch, a misty veil, a phoenix quill, and countless more that eluded her perception.
In front of Rin was an infinite staircase, branching off and connecting to the gates of the constellations. She couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and wonder. Each step seemed to take her further away from the physical world and deeper into the mysteries of the universe. The constellations she had observed before now seemed to come to life, their shapes morphing and twisting before her very eyes.
Rin approached the only open gate, as the rest were locked. It was the same gate she had visited before, with the crystal orb constellation. After entering it, she made her way to the Seraphical Plane. The energy there pulsed through Rin, unlike anything she had ever experienced. A raw and powerful force seemed to flow through her veins.
As Rin explored the Seraphical Plane, she marveled at the beauty and grandeur of the place. The landscape was filled with vibrant colors and stunning vistas, and the air was thick with otherworldly energy that seemed to spark her senses. She could see other Cultivators training and honing their skills in various disciplines, their auras glowing with a fierce intensity.
Rin wandered for what felt like hours, taking in everything she could. She felt a sense of peace and tranquility in this place as if all her worries and fears had been left behind.
*(Back to Runeverse)
"Gold?!" exclaimed Karanzo and Joel simultaneously.
Around Rin's body, bits of golden light slowly appeared and floated upwards. The shards grew and merged into a stream of golden light that enveloped Rin's body. Karanzo yelled, "Rin! I never expected that you had a golden aura!"
"Huff, this girl!" added Joel in amazement.