Walking on a mountain road are 4 kids and an adult.
They are One, Two, Three, Four and their master, Hong.
Having packed for their special training, they are currently heading for a teleportation circle.
Each one of them has a weapon on their hip, or back and a special bag attached to their belt. This bag is called a spacial storage bag. It has a far larger space inside than it looks from outside. Making it the ideal bag for any situation.
Several groups similar in composition to theirs, head to the same place. A rather large octagonal building, with multiple magic circles inside it.
Once the destined amount of people have gathered there, all of them enter a magic circle. Which then starts to glow and makes a whoosh. Teleporting everyone away.
When Zeldris opens his eyes again, closed due to the bright light. He discovers himself in a forest. Along with the big group he teleported with.
This reminded him of the time he got randomly teleported with the insignia. He never did figure out why it threw him in the middle of some mountain range...
The big group moves to a clearing. After which the masters move out of the group and one of the masters addresses all of the disciples.
"Hello everyone. Today we have a special joint training inside this forest. You will be going inside in pairs. Pair up on your own choosing, it makes no difference to us. Inside the forest you will be hunting down, aka killing, demonic beasts. This forest has only low tier demonic beasts. Reaching up to high stage, tier 3.
The goal inside the forest is to hunt down as many demonic bests as you can and survive. Take something from the beast you have slayn as proof of slaughter. We will calculate everyone's results by the end of the exercise and the best will be rewarded as well... Any questions?"
"None. Then get ready."
After the explenation, every disciple hurriedly paired up.
From master Hong's disciples Two and Three, and One and Zeldris naturally paired up.
"Guess it's fate, huh..." One jokes, looking at Zeldris. It's a bit unsettling how One never takes anything seriously.
Zeldris himself is either angry, or indifferent to basically everything. But the same could be said for One. Just instead of always keeping a bored expression on his face, like Zeldris, One is always smiling or smirking.
"Don't get in my way if you don't want to get cut down." Zeldris, as friendly as ever, states without looking at his partner.
"I'll just hide behind your back and slack off... Lucky me." One speaks with irony.
All of master Hong's disciples are mentally unhinged, one way or the other.
Imagine beating a dog to a pulp, every day, since it was young. At the same time training it in combat and training it to kill. What would you end up with as it grows up?
Now imagine the same thing, but for a human... Master Hong is basically raising demons.
....
Soon enough, it was time to kick off the training exercise.
All of the disciples were unleashed into the forest, with a resounding 'good luck'.
Zeldris and One walk together, both looking very causal. As if they were on a healthy stroll inside a forest.
"Are you sure you're not a girl in disguise?" While walking, One makes sure to talk about whatever comes to his mind.
"Because I would totally understand if you were. A boy can't be this beautiful." He speaks without care.
Zeldris keeps his gaze forward, not paying any mind to One. Whether he's even listening is questionable.
One is completely unbothered by it though. Speaking only for his own amusement.
"...I mean your eyelashes are so long. How could they not belong to a girl... Oh! But don't worry, I'm not looking at you like that, or anything..." He continues.
"And even if you are a girl, your big brother will protect you." One points to his heart with a 'leave it to me' look.
"...We've got incoming." Zeldris interjects.
"But seriously... Are you a girl, or not? Atleast tell your big brother." As if One didn't hear him, he continues his monologue.
Zeldris takes out a sword from the seathe on his hip. Spotting a black mass moving towards them at high speed.
'Oh, nope. Three, four... there's ten of them...' Zeldris counts.
He's completely focused and ready to kill. Just waiting for those creatures to make the first move.
Meanwhile his partner is still waiting for Zeldris to answer him. Not even paying any attention to those beasts.
"They're coming..." Zeldris remarks and intercepts the first one who lunges at the two.
It's a kind of black, jaguar looking beast. However it's head is more streamlined and bug like and it has no hair. A kind of chitinous plate covering it's body.
The first one jumps at Zeldris, trying to rip him apart with it's teeth.
Zeldris responds by lowering himself and positioning his sword at it's neck. Letting the creature impale itself on his sword, while taking care to not touch it's claws.
*Thunk* Their collision creates a meaty sound and makes Zeldris slide back half a meter.
Standing strong, holding the dying and whimpering beast up. Then slicing his sword out of it's neck.
Zeldris has yet to use a drop of aura. Only relying on his physical strength to kill that thing...
*Sigh* "I understand if you're shy about it, but I insist. I just have to know..." One speaks.
A beast jumps at him, it's teeth bared. Ready to rip his throat out.
Before it can touch him, a silver flash cuts the beast in two, vertically. The two sides of the beast fly past One. His sword already back in it's scabbard. And his gaze on Zeldris, waiting for an answer.
*Sigh* "Aren't you being very cheeky? I'm obviously a man..." Zeldris responds, tired of hearing this shit.
"I'm just following our master's instructions... Caution above all else." Another one lunges at One. This time he turns to it and leisurely kicks it, like kicking a soccer ball. Crushing the creature's snout and stopping it's lunge completely. Then a silver flash seperates it's head from it's body, while the creature is still in the air.
*Thump* Another one falls to the ground, dead.
"I have heard more believable things from the pigs in our yard..." Zeldris comments, slashing off the heads of 3 beasts in quick succession. "...And those pink bastards are all assholes."
"Is that so..." One is a bit taken aback. In One's mind, he is still perplexed why Zeldris hates the pigs.
The two easily kill all the beasts. These things hardly count for a warmup. Being only tier 1 beasts.
With both the boys being at high stage tier 3. Only the strongest beasts in this forest can pose a threat to them.
"It does actually feel weird doesn't it..." Zeldris starts cryptically. Looking into the forest with a pondering expression.
"Care to elaborate." One asks, resting his sword on his shoulder. His gaze on Four.
"These beasts just now... They're too weak. This isn't at all like Hong. Knowing him, there should be a tier 4 beast trying to kill us right now." He explains, sitting down. Blood and corpses all around them.
"Hmm, you're right. This is too strange..." One responds.
Both of them feel like someone is trying to trick them. Master Hong always makes sure to punish his disciples when they let their guard down. Striking them when they least expect it.
So if this is what the forest offers in terms of resistance, this exercise will be like a vacation to them...
"Do you care about getting the first place reward?" One asks, suddenly changing the topic.
"Not necessarily... I'm more interested in exploring the forest." Zeldris answers after some thought.
The two start moving. Initially leisurely walking, while talking from time to time. They soon pick up the pace and run through the forest. As high stage, tier 3 aura experts, their speed is immense. Traversing 10 kilometers in just 5 minutes.
On the way they encountered some beasts, but those beasts died instantly. Overall in just a few hours they cover more than 500 km...
"I think we're lost..." One comments.
"We're not..." Zeldris comments.
"But we're not even in the forest anymore..." One highlights the obvious changes in their surroundings.
"Hmm... This is strange..." Zeldris muses.
"Is it?"
Zeldris and One gaze at the bustling market place. Buying, selling and yelling going on everywhere. Money passing hands like flowing water.
"Hmm... Yeah, I think we're lost..." Zeldris comments. Causing a rather rare look of exasperation to appear on One's face.
Without thought, the two start walking in a random direction.
"This is your fault. I was just following you." As quickly as he can formulate the words, One immediately pushes all the blame on Zeldris. If anyone asks, Zeldris is evil, Zeldris is cruel and Zeldris bullies him. A complete betrayal of his younger brother...
"Truly as they say: 'Don't fear the enemy that attacks you, but the fake friend that hugs you'. How can you blame this younger brother and still call yourself the older one?" Zeldris questions deeply. He is seemingly very disappointed in One.
Zeldris's words have managed to get through to One, as he has a contemplative expression on. As if wrestling between two desires deep within him.
"Oh such cute little boys!" Before they can walk further, an attractive looking older sister calls out, stopping in front of them. The two just stare at her wordlessly.
"Are you two lost?" She asks, bending down a bit to appear more empathetic.
"No we're n..." Zeldris is cut off by One. "Yes, we're lost. Can you help us, older sister?" One puts on an especially cute face and politely asks.
"Hyaaa!!" The girl squales and pinches One's cheeks. Then hugs the cute boy.
"My... you're so strong..." The woman says after feeling One's body, when hugging him. Then she puts on a bright expression and continues. "Of course this sister can help you! Leave it to me!" Confidently exclaiming.
Proceeding meeting the random attractive woman on the street, Zeldris and One follow her. The seemingly good natured woman leads them to her place and even gives them some food. After which, the two sneakily leave her place.
"Hey, Four. I think we're lost..." One comments. Commenting the obvious change in scenery.
"Shut the fuck up..." Zeldris manages out a tired response.
They currently stand somewhere inside a large brothel.