On the outskirts of the Ancient White Tiger Clan, the prodigies gathered. Shin Rai and Torra Zhen stood with their chosen warriors, watching as the Phoenix Cry warriors arrived.
Xue Mor's personal guards moved to stand at her side, but Shin Rai intercepted them with a firm hand.
"These young ones shouldn't be sheltered," he declared. "Their first test should be reaching the Death Knights on their own. Learning to survive as the weak in a world of predators will forge them into true warriors."
Torra Zhen gave a nod of agreement. "The higher-ups will be too busy preparing for the greater war. The young ones must fight as a unit."
Seeing no room for argument, the Phoenix Cry guards reluctantly stepped back. With that, the journey was entrusted to the warriors themselves.
Command of the expedition fell to Xue Mor, with Hou Jian and Hou Liang leading the Phoenix Cry warriors. For the first time, Raikai and Shinryu would follow a chain of command—not as lone warriors, but as protectors of their allies. Their task: ensuring that no one fell before reaching the Death Knights' training ground.
The journey would take three months, a perilous road fraught with danger.
A Test of Survival
Shinryu unfolded a detailed map, its edges worn from time. He traced a path with his gloved finger, marking their route with the blunt edge of a dagger.
"The lands before the Death Knights' training grounds are a danger zone for a group this size," Shinryu warned, his tone sharp. His golden claw-marked jaw tightened as he assessed their options.
Before them lay a crucial land settlement, caught between three dominant powers:
Phoenix Cry Empire to the east, Xue Mor's homeland.
Obsidian Shadow Empire to the south, known for its assassins and mercenaries.
Emerald Forest Sovereignty to the west, a land of rogue warbands and beast clans.
Smaller factions littered the territory, all vying for dominance, eager to carve their names into history. Some sought alliances, others bloodshed.
Shinryu exhaled, his silver hair shifting as he looked over the group. "If we were smaller, slipping through undetected would be simple. But with eighteen of us? We'll be a walking target."
Raikai rolled his shoulders, crossing his muscular arms. "Three months in enemy territory. We're bound to run into trouble." His lips curled in anticipation, the lightning-like tattoos on his skin seeming to pulse with energy.
Xue Mor remained composed, hands resting on the hilts of her needle-like daggers. "Then we need to move wisely." She tapped the map. "If we take the main roads, mercenaries or opportunists will come for us. If we go too deep into uncharted lands, the beast clans might view us as invaders. Either way, conflict is inevitable."
Hou Jian frowned, exchanging glances with his brother, Hou Liang. "Then our best option is calculated misdirection. We create false trails, send out decoys, and move unpredictably. Let our enemies chase ghosts while we press forward."
Torra Zhen chuckled. "Smart, but let's not forget the first obstacle: we still need mounts."
Choosing Their Steeds
To avoid drawing unnecessary attention, they agreed not to use mounts issued by their respective clans. Each warrior would capture their own.
Xue Mor turned to the group, her piercing gaze sweeping over them. "We split into smaller teams. Choose a mount suited to your fighting style. Warhorses for endurance, hunting beasts for speed—whatever gives you the best advantage."
A flicker of excitement sparked in Raikai's dark serpent-like pupils. "Finally, something fun." He cracked his knuckles.
Hou Jian, seeing that familiar wild look in his eyes, quickly interjected, "Let's try to stick to land animals."
Shinryu smirked. "No sky beasts, then? What a shame." He adjusted his black headband, the paw insignia catching the light.
Splitting into teams, they ventured into the nearby wilderness. Some returned with powerful warhorses, others with sleek panther-like creatures bred for agility.
Raikai, of course, returned with a massive scaled beast, somewhere between a drake and a war-lion, its eyes crackling with latent energy.
Hou Liang sighed. "You had one rule…"
Raikai grinned, patting the creature's flank. "He's land-based. Just happens to breathe lightning."
A Heavy Burden
With their mounts secured, they regrouped around the map.
Shinryu tightened the straps on his Death Arms, his golden claw-like markings glowing faintly. "We have our path. We have our mounts. Now comes the real challenge."
Raikai let out a slow exhale, rolling his shoulders. "Three months of this, huh?" He surveyed the group, a rare flicker of seriousness crossing his features.
Xue Mor gave a curt nod. "We aren't just fighting for ourselves anymore. We carry the future of three great powers. If we fail here, we fail before the real war even begins."
A silence settled over them, the weight of responsibility sinking in.
Shinryu adjusted his earrings, his silver hair catching the wind. "Then we'll just have to deal with whatever comes our way."
Their journey had begun.