Al was alone in his housing unit, meditating, cradling the stone Romann had given him.
The stone's surface bore a dim, grayish-blue rune. Having grown accustomed to interacting with his C-stone and Ever-life stones, Al felt confident using the rune stone.
After feeling his Stubborn Will leaking into the runestone, the world vanished before him and was replaced by a strange vision. Looking down, he saw someone else's hands. A commanding voice cut through the air, urging him to hurry.
He tossed a weighty, star-shaped metal contraption on his back. The contraption was heavy, but he summoned his strength to bear it. People hurried past him, their voices blending in urgency.
Compelled by the body he now inhabited, Al slowly followed the people who had passed him, determined to keep pace.
His body turned, casting a fleeting glance back at the corridor nestled against the base of a towering mountain. The distant echo of artillery boomed through the air, each detonation a reminder of the imminent danger.
"Martin, for the love of all that is sacred, what are you waiting for? We are all waiting on you!" a voice erupted, commanding obedience. The body Al inhabited responded, his voice laced with determination and indifference. "Yes, Captain, I'll ensure I get this blink portal into the enemy's side!"
Al's mind raced, processing the unfolding events. A realization crystalized within him — what he witnessed was not the present but a memory unfolding through the eyes of someone named Martin. Al was a mere observer of a recording within the runestone.
Stubborn and alone, Martin ventured into the surrounding forest's depths.
Five figures saw Martin disappear into the forest with impatient faces. Moments stretched into hours as Martin pressed forward, burdened by the weighty contraption on his back.
The rumble of artillery grew closer. Al's senses were on full alert, sensing distant trees collapsing under the powerful explosions.
Though Al knew he faced no real danger, every fiber of his being screamed to escape. However, Martin was calm as he abruptly altered his course; something seemed to guide him.
Moments later, a loud explosion erupted where Martin had stood just seconds ago, engulfing the surroundings in chaos. Martin continued to dodge death by successfully predicting where the artillery would land. However, the explosions became more frequent.
Al's senses became overwhelmed by a resounding ringing. The body he inhabited, once whole, now lay torn asunder. Martin's flesh and limbs were mangled, his neck dislocated, and he was missing both legs. Despite the horrifying state of his body, Martin clung to a thread of life, a gurgling sound growing louder.
Then, a remarkable transformation unfolded before Al's mind's eye. The A.R.C. within Martin's navel whirled rapidly, triggering a vibrating reaction in the dark bracelet adorning his left wrist.
In a matter of seconds, Martin's body reconstituted itself, mending every wound and restoring him to his former state. Without wasting a moment, he reached down to retrieve the metal portal unharmed by the explosion. Martin continued his march at the same determined pace as before.
Questions swirled in Al's mind. Did Martin possess immortality, or was this his etheric shell manifesting his Stubborn Will?
A day and night passed, and Martin marched without rest and arrived at the rear of a small military battalion. The men were dressed in outdated military uniforms and carried what looked like muskets. "We're probably somewhere around the 1,800s, America," Al mentally noted.
Staying concealed at the forest's edge, he ensured his presence went unnoticed as he placed the metal portal on the ground.
Martin directed his Stubborn Will into a five-pointed star-shaped portal that began unfolding into a pentagon. A clear crystal pulsated at its center, emitting a light that connected with the perimeter of the portal. Martin stood over the small platform of light and closed his eyes.
When he opened his eyes, the familiar sight of the mountain's base greeted him again. He had successfully teleported.
Standing on a similar metal contraption carefully arranged at the mountain's base where he had begun his journey. Martin was surrounded by the other five individuals who had been waiting for him. Among them, the figure he addressed as "Captain" assumed command, issuing precise instructions and directing the others in a specific order.
They teleported one by one. Martin, however, remained. His quick return to the mountain base was the only time he had to retrieve his weapon. Hastily, he raced back to the metal pentagon portal.
As Martin teleported back to the military battalion he infiltrated, he was disappointed. The others had finished the fight and were heading back towards the teleporter.
One of the five jeered at Martin: "Too late again, Martin. It seems you're nothing more than a donkey!" A sting of humiliation accompanied the words, but Martin remained unmoved, absorbing the verbal blow with unwavering determination.
His Captain, the last to depart, delivered instructions before teleporting: "Take the five-point Transportal back. We will proceed to the next battalion in three days. Make haste, Martin." Nodding in acknowledgment, Martin patiently waited for his Captain to teleport before dismantling the five-point transportal.
In the next instant, Al found himself back in his housing unit. He was back in his own body, with the runestone in his hands. The memories he had witnessed belonged to a cultivator with Stubborn Will.
Pondering the significance of the experience, Al couldn't help but wonder why that particular memory had been chosen to be passed down. Nonetheless, he now understood the power of his Stubborn Will a lot better. "I see. So, my Will is named after its effect on Stubbornly refusing damage incurred.
Yet, the visceral imagery of Martin's mutilation sent shivers down Al's spine.
After immersing himself in the memories of various individuals who possessed Stubborn Will, Al dressed himself in the gray robe given to him and his phantom seed by Romann.
He picked up the Red Book, an introduction to the Physical Domain of the Mortal Chasm. It was the cornerstone for all cultivators who were new to cultivating Will.
Al delved into the book's contents, finding solace in uninterrupted study. Unlike the other cultivators in his phantom seed, Al had no pending tasks, allowing him to explore his curiosities further.
Days passed in quiet seclusion until a knock at the door interrupted his reading. Startled, Al opened the door to find Louise standing before him. She was also wearing her gray robe.
Louise looked at Al with a silent intensity, causing him to step back. "You look so different without that clunky, rusted armor," Louise remarked.
Al's brow furrowed, interrupting her, "What do you want?"
Louise's demeanor shifted, adopting a seriousness befitting the weight of her position as second in command. "Cesar has informed us that we will be completing our team's assigned task now. Our rendezvous point lies just outside the mountain's base, next to exit 43. The task carries a substantial risk factor, with a 70% chance of fatal casualties. I hope you take this more seriously than you took the run."
Having relayed her message, Louise departed. As her presence faded from view, Al directed his gaze downward towards his strange knife chained to his ring.
Nestled in a small hollowed-out hill just outside the mountain where the 15th Blood Ring was located, Cesar paced back and forth.
He was draped in the distinctive gray robe Romann had bought for him. However, what set him apart was the crimson sash adorning his waist and the beautifully adorned spear he wielded. Though his presence exuded confidence and determination, he concealed a hidden anxiety deep within.
This was the first task for their phantom seed, and he bore the weight of leadership upon his shoulders.
Standing beside him was Ellie, a young woman with dark hair. Across from her was Jin, with a perplexed expression. They had prolonged discussions with Cesar, exchanging thoughts and concerns.
Ellie's voice alleviated their apprehensions. "There's no use in stressing, guys. Louise went to fetch Al and Yusuf, and once they join us, we can devise a better plan."
Jin, visibly uneasy, interjected, "But we don't know how much time we have before our targets shift their position." His words hung in the air.
Abruptly, Cesar halted his restless pacing, authoritatively addressing both Ellie and Jin: "Enough. We've circled this topic for far too long. Jin, you will not pursue them. We will move with caution, focusing precision in our actions. We will do this once, and we will do it the right way."
Ellie and Jin exchanged glances and then turned their attention to Cesar, silently acknowledging his command. They stood united, awaiting the rest of the team's arrival.
Without warning, knocking reverberated from a metallic hatch in the ground. Another phantom seed had arrived at 'Exit 47'. They quickly made their way toward the entrance to the 15th Blood Ring.
After half an hour, the hatch emitted another series of knocks, slowly revealing Al as he opened it.
Surprise flickered across his face upon finding three teammates waiting for him at the end of the tunnel he had entered. "Oh, I guess I'm not the first one," Al commented, joining the small group.
Al took note of the circular room he found himself in; its diameter was comparable to the size of a school bus. Cesar and the others sat around a wooden table near the chamber's exit. Al joined them, eagerly absorbing the briefing on the task they were about to attempt to complete.
Within fifteen minutes, another round of knocking echoed through the chamber, heralding the arrival of Yusuf, followed closely by Louise. At last, they were all together. Assuming his role as the Captain, Cesar commenced a detailed explanation of his intentions.
"As we all know, Romann presented our phantom seed with a high-level task, fetching a bounty of 650+ merits. All we have to do is kill three Hybrids. I have not brought this task up the last few days to give you some time to finish any personal affairs." Cesar disclosed.
"However, I recently encountered one of the hybrids while assisting Jin with his task. We trailed the hybrid without detection and observed it descend into a hole in the forest floor. Choosing not to follow further, Jin and I marked the spot and returned to the 15th blood ring.
Cesar paused and turned toward Ellie. "On our way back, Jin and I encountered Ellie. She had just completed her own task and joined us. We then looked for and found Louise and assembled the team. The best chance we have to complete our phantom seed's task is now."
After a short discussion on formations and designations, Al and his phantom seed departed from exit 47, sprinting through the dense forest with Cesar leading the charge.