As time passed in the outer sector, one day, a noticed arrived calling for a gathering. The summon was abrupt, breaking the monotonous routine of the outer sector.
The boy stood among a small gathering of his peers, their tattered robes and weary faces a stark contrast to the grandeur of the inner sect.
Before them, an elder with a grizzled beard and a hardened expression spoke with clipped indifference.
"There have been disturbances near the city," the elder began, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. "Your task is to hunt and eliminate the beasts causing the trouble. It's an opportunity to earn merit and resources, if you return."
A low murmur rippled through the group. For outer sector students like them, this was a rare chance to prove themselves, but the danger was undeniable.
Excitement and dread flickered in their eyes as they exchanged uneasy glances.