Meanwhile in the Everlasting Continent. In a small room a humanoid opens its eyes. A bright and eerie light shuns within its eyes. The room was simple and there were only several figures in the room.
" 1st Elder, how was your cultivating?
"It was good. I feel like my opportunity will come to break into the next minor realm. Has there been anything new that has happened?"
"No. Except for the Nine Dragon Empress is having a lot of meetings with the phoenix clan leaders. It seems like one of their elders asks for Xenesis to join an upcoming operation in the near future."
A slight frown found on the 1st elder face when hearing this news. The dragons and the phoenixes have a long history of conflicts in the open and in the dark. Even with the cooperation in suppressing and placing restrictions on the economy to several nations and tribes. Nothing brings more joy to the 1st elder heart is seeing the two of the strongest overlords in conflict.
"Since that is the case I will go back into seclusion to try and breakthrough this bottleneck. Let me know of the grand elder needs me or our Empress."
" Yes, 1st Elder."
The 1st Elder closes his eyes falling back into cultivation. These young cultivators that were under the 1st Elder sneer. You could even see disdain at the 1st Elder and a certain level of loaf from them. It is known the dragons clan is a warring clan and the only way to be seen as equal is to have enough might. However, for this 1st Elder even if he had enough might. He was more cunning and scheming than using brute methods.
Refusing to get his hand dirty regardless how bloody it is. This was one reason for the disdain. The other reason is the lack of pride. Everyone knows the level of pride a dragons had in itself and their abilities. Sometimes it feels like this 1st elder was someone else and not a dragon.
---
One hour remaining before Sifir needs to report. Even if Sifir was not late. He was not early either. Some would think either this move was smart or insane. For the fact the Elder is not a benevolent type. Soon a slow pace of footsteps approaches the Elder to give his report.
Unknown cultivator "Elder, Sifir has arrived and is prep on the item and purpose of his new team. Do we need to do anything else?"
The elder eyes open up and a wicked smile appears on the face. The aura that leaked out came back in and the elder turned to that cultivator.
"No, that is fine when Sifir is finished being brief on the items and purpose of the team. Bring unit 04 to me with Sifir. I will brief them on the mission at hand."
A cold and eerie flashed in the elder eyes as he spoke. Knowing that there will be only few chances to have this kind of opportunity. The Elder closes his eyes and waits patiently for the assigned unit to come.
----
Sifir, arrived at the location where he was supposed to meet the elder. Seeing the building with plenty of guards. Most of the guard's cultivation levels were at the initial stage of Heaven Realm and one could guess their battle prowess in middle or late Flowing Water. That cultivation stage could suppress most normal cultivators except for the genius calibers level cultivators.
"Mhm... I cannot sense most of these guards. That means they have higher cultivation than me. Let me prepare for battle just in case. Never know who might want to take my life. I took several hours to look over this area for some escape route."
The guards finally noticed a spike in energy and that spike disappeared as quickly. The guards at the gate saw Sifir slowly walking up to the gate.
"Halt! What business do you have here?"
"I, Sifir Midnight has been summoned here by the Elder."
Sifir tosses a token to the guards at the gates . Once the gate guards saw the token and when they saw the symbol to be authentic. They allow Sifir to enter. However, Sifir never let his guard down for a moment. Noticing that all eyes were on him. Sifir quickly picked up the pace walking to the door. Just before Sifir got to the door. He sends out a small energy pulse to see if there are any traps or formations that could cause harm to himself.
Three figures looking at the floating screen of what is happening outside of mansion. Seeing Sifir being cautious and not overlooking minor details. One of the members of unit 04 "Ain't he a caution one? Too bad being cautious won't save your life." Another member of Unit 04 "Being safe is better than being sorry. Your reckless behavior will get someone killed or yourself"
One must know in the current time in Ligers nation there are no such things as familiar bonds. Since the 2nd Great War, the Ligers as a nation have been in decline. Most of the blame has been laid at the feet of Midnight clan. Putting them in a rather unfavorite-able position.
"Nothing seems wrong with the door or the entry way." As Sifir processes into the building and sees a large hallway with a room at the end. Sifir moves carefully as he makes his way to the room. As soon as Sifir gets into the room a low husky voice appears.
"Hello, Midnight clan member. The elder will be with you in a moment. I am here to brief you on the unit you will be assigned to and items on the tables. "
Sifir says nothing with a indifferent on his face.
"You can pick any of these three masks for the unit. Once you pick a mask. You will use it all the time when you are assigned in Unit 04. "
"All the time or just on this mission?"
"Since you are assigned unit 04. You must wear the mask all the time. No can see your face when on the mission or not."
"Will the mask be fused to my face?" With a slight frown on Sifir's face.
"Hahaha, Why?"
"Why not?"
"Are you a little too cautious? They say A Midnight clan member is fearless? Very laughable"
Sifir said nothing and kept standing in the room looking at those three masks.
Those three masks were on the side wall. One mask was red and it looked like oni. The other mask was green with the face of dragon The last mask was black, bearing two large fangs on the of the jaw of the mask. However, the more Sifir looked at the black mask the more he wanted to pick. In the lazy matter Sifir responded.
"Sigh. You will learn it is better playing dumb and not smart. Either way it is your life."
"I will pick the black mask."
The husky voice "Good. Now I am going to brief you on your unit. It is a four man unit that includes yourself and three other people. This unit's main task is to hit and run. Sometimes the length of mission varies."
Sifir nods but you can tell that he is not amused with these arrangements.
The husky voice didn't care what reaction Sifir had on his face. The husky voice spoke again.
"The elder is ready for you. You can process through the doorway into a room with the Elder. The Elder will also give you your codename as well. "
Sifir said nothing and processed through the doorway. Even though it looks like Sifir let down his guard that was not the case. He had a feeling that other masks were more dangerous than the mask he just picked up.
Sifir walked to the next room and condensed a new mask that looked like the mask he just picked up and placed it on his face. The people in the other room heard footsteps are coming and they all turn to see their new member of the unit. However, the Elder narrowed his eyes when he saw the mask Sifir was wearing. The Elder didn't say anything about it. However, how could the other three not tell that something was off.
Soft clap of hands
"Good. Everyone is here and the meeting can now start. This is unit 04 and its codename is Silent Night. You will be working with other unit. Their codename is Ghost."
"Time to introduce yourself to your new member of the unit."
A man covers in a crimson blood cloak with a simple attire. The figure was at seven and half feet tall with a slim build.
Two swords on his back and a very sharp aura. He was wearing a red scarlet mask with a demon face. "Hello, i am the leader of this unit and my name is Death Sword."
The next person wore a dark purple cloak. The mask that this figure wore was another demonic mask expected for it had a simple design on the forehead. You can tell this figure was a lady and from the outline of the curves. Her body was something fierce. "Hello, I am the captain of the unit. My name is Purple Night."
The next figure look wore a orange-ish black cloak. From the look of it the figure didn't get along with a lot of people. And always like shooting off at the mouth with no consequence of the action. The figure was more plump than muscluar, looking like six feet and eight inches. Carrying two machetes with complicated design. "Hello. My name is Jagged Blak. It is not nice to meet you."
As Sifir looking at his new unit and team members. Only thing that cross his mind. This is going to be troublesome. There was no doubt about it especially from Jagged. It look like he cannot keep his comments to his self."
The Elder look at Sifir with a nonchalant air. Not caring what Sifir was thinking. The Elder had his own plans. No matter what it may look like at the end. As long the result he wanted happened. The Elder didnt care what action needed to be taken.
"Usually I dont let new people pick their codename. However, since you are from the Midnight clan. You can pick your own codename."
"Oh i know! What about Dead Night?!?!" Jagged chuckled as he spoken. "You never know how ones dies in the dead of the night, right little nighty night?" The mockery in tone of Jagged was laced with killing intent.
"Who is this again? Cause I like a jokester." When Sifir spoke those words with a slight killing intent. A little chill could be felt in the room.
What makes the Midnight and Night special is their body give off small black particles that are very microscopic. What makes these black particles dangerous is they ooze out of body and it can help in many different ways in battle or scouting. Some cultivators think it is the purest form of the dark element.
"When the night falls so do the dead. Even Blac cannot escape from the night even if tried and beg for mercy. Elder my codename will be Fall Night."
At this point the room drop a few more degree. The Elder watched with asumement on his face. Until a telepath message enter his head.
"Oh Elder. You better stop him while he is ahead. I don't want something happen to him on this mission of yours. Remember, master want Sifir alive and not dead. Take heed of my first and last warning."
The message ended and the Elder had a ugly expression on his face now. How could he not forgot that person is watching. The elder turn around and look at Jagged.
"Stop! If you say one more word and I will refine your soul."
A cold shiver shot up Jagged spine and he immediately closes his mouth. The other two was not surprised by this. Since the Elder temper was known by his people.
Sifir, look at Jagged frostily. However, Sifir did not pursue the matter not because he didn't want to. Because he could not. When the Elder gave off a little bit of enegry. Sifir knew he could not fight against that. Retreat is a better course than valor and Sifir had time to make a gentlemen revenge.
"Now your mission target is in Everlasting Continent. Your unit will be going to city called Twin Moons. It close to the boarder of humans and the dragons territory. What we are after is information on what dragons situation within their clan and to bring down this neutral city. You will have one year in linger age. If you had forgotten, humans and monkey ages faster than us. For every one year for us it is five years for them. Don't take the humans or the monkey lightly. They have amazing growth rates you can't fathom. Now go!"