Minutes later, Elara, Torin, Zephyr, and Caelan were on the ground, holding their stomachs.
Elara said, "I almost…pooped myself."
Torin pouted, "Elara hogged the bathroom using her girl rights…so I ended up doing it on myself.."
Caelan scoffed, "Tch. We're lucky they had an extra pair of outfits…"
Zephyr stated, "I was able to wait patiently for Miss Elara to finish."
Elara said to Zephyr, "Gross…you make me sound like i'm an old lady."
Joon just stood there, saying to Caelan, "Haha."
Caelan scoffed, "Damn you! How come you didn't vomit or shit all over the place?!"
Elara said, "Demonic qi, genius,"
Torin agreed, "Yeah, what she said. Ohh..my stomach."
Caelan stood up all the way, pointing at Joon, "You Think you're all that still? Hope you know I'm wanting a rematch from our first battle."
Joon smiled, "Hmm no you're not."
"I am!"
"You're not."
"I am!"
"I can't tell."
At that moment, a large group of teen assassin prospects walked over to them.
One of them said, "So we have to group up with this squad? The squad that's getting all of the attention?"
Joon and Caelan were the first ones to look over at them, then everyone else did.
Three of them stood out: Yuna, Yeonhee, and Kang.
Yuna, taller of the two females, carried herself with an unshakable confidence. Her long orange and dark gray hair was tied neatly in a high ponytail that swayed with each calculated step she took. Her dark thin orange eyes, sharp and assessing, flicked dismissively over Joon and his group. Her outfit, much like the rest of the prospects, was a traditional shinobi-like attire, but with intricate patterns that hinted at her agile fighting style.
Yeonhee, on the other hand, wasn't as tall but had an intensity in her gaze that matched her companion. Her light brown hair was shorter, cropped close to her head, which added to her edgy, aggressive appearance. The metallic hints woven into her outfit glimmered slightly, signifying her affinity for weapons that require precision and skill. She even had white flower in her head, her light blue eyes complimenting it.
Kang, trailing the dynamic duo, was broad-shouldered, his posture rigid, portraying an unspoken loyalty. His curly brown hair was shaved on the sides, and his hair covered his eyes altogether, setting him aside visually from his counterparts. His eyes constantly shifted towards Yuna and Yeonhee for approval or commands.
As this new group approached, Yuna's voice rang clear, laced with arrogance, "So these are the celebrated young prodigies…They're just children." Her tone dripped with disdain as she sized up Joon and his group.
Yeonhee chimed in, her smirk evident, "I can't believe they're the top group. What a joke!" She folded her arms, her posture challenging. "We're 17-18 years old, and have to follow the lead of 11-13 year olds?"
Kang nodded vigorously, adding, "Exactly! There's no way they're better than you two." His voice was fervent, his support unwavering.
Joon, maintaining his composure under their scornful eyes, simply nodded. "We're all here to train," he stated quietly, his voice carrying a calm that contrasted sharply with the palpable tension. "And if you know what's best form you, please shut up."
Yuna got in Joon's face, saying, "Watch your tone brat. You're like 11 years old, we're way older. Respect your elders."
Elara approached, saying, "What are you doing over here anyway?"
"Ahh. Elara of the Frost Lotus Sect. Gross. Don't step in between me when I'm talking to your so-called demon leader."
Yuna was about to touch Elara, thinking, 'I'll put this bitch in her place—,' but Joon grabbed Yuna by the wrist, smiling, "What were you gonna do?"
"Let me go, demon freak-."
SNAP!
Joon had broken Yuna's arm with a quick twist, and she screamed, dropping to the ground. Joon kneeled down to her, "Know my place? Respect my elders? Are you dumb?"
'They'll heal her arm anyway, I can snap it as many times as I want, and they'll run over and fix her arm.'
Kang scoffed, "How dare you!"
Yeonhee even jumped in, "You're dead!"
At that moment, Caelan ignited his flames on his body, and grabbed Kang by the shirt, saying, "You're not touching anyone."
"L-Let me go, now!"
Quickly, Torin twisted and placed his foot at Yeonhee's neck, his foot glowing with an ethereal dark green glow.
Torin smiled, "We had a pillow fight last night!"
"You're all deranged children!"
The other group members of Yuna's rushed in, but Zephyr said to them, "If you would not line up to be pummeled, please back away."
They all had a standoff, and Yuna on the ground clenching her teeth in pain, and Joon still staring at her.
Applauding from a distance, was Jiho, saying, "That is a warm welcome. Now no more hostility between you two"
'See how they instantly stopped when I arrived? Yeah they must think I'm scary now. I'm like you now, Vaelle.'
Before any more words could escalate the brewing standoff, Jiho intervened even more, his emotionless voice slicing through the murmurs. "We will begin joint training shortly. You will all go on your first assassination mission together. From now on, you will only use weapons embedded with qi-runes, and not your inherent abilities."
The announcement caught everyone's attention, drawing curious glances and murmurs among the groups. Everyone moved away from each other.
Elara said to Joon, "Thank you."
"What did I do?"
"Don't be slow."
"Ohhhhh. Yeah, no problem. I helped you, right?"
"You did, even though I could have stood up for myself, I'm glad you're my friend."
"These qi-rune weapons," continued Jiho, holding up a beautifully crafted dagger as an example, "contain affinity runes that complement your individual skills. I've handpicked each for you based on your abilities and potential. Usually, one doesn't have to use one that completely resonates with your own affinity, but having you all get used to your own power and adding more qi into a qi-rune weapon that's the same as your power, will help the amount of power and strength you dish out overall."
'Stolen from Krakus's domain, permission from the Head after Krakus was killed by Vaelle. That man had so many high ranking qi-rune weapons, it had to be at least 5,000 of them.'
Yeonhee raised an eyebrow, interest piqued despite her earlier derision. "And how do you propose we test these? Can we use them against Joon and his team? I hate them already."
Kang agreed, "Yeah! What she said! I agree!"
Jiho's lips twitched slightly in what could almost pass as a smirk. "The test will end when someone lands a hit on me using these weapons. And even if you were to fight Joon and his group, you'd lose."
Yuna's competitive nature flared up, her eyes gleaming with the unspoken promise of accepting the challenge. Yeonhee nodded, already strategizing, and even Kang seemed to adopt a more serious stance, his usual admiration shifting into focus.
"If you two are focused, I am too." Kang said.
Caelan remarked, "I don't remember us asking."
As Jiho distributed the selected weapons among them, the dynamic in the cave shifted from initial hostility to a charged readiness. Each individual held their weapon, feeling the weight and the faint hum of qi within it, their minds already racing with the possibilities. Joon didn't have one.
"And remember," Jiho added, his tone finally revealing a hint of something beyond his usual impassivity, "this is about learning to harmonize your own strength with that of the weapon. Think, adapt, and perhaps you'll manage to strike me."
As they dispersed to start the first phase of their joint training, Yuna turned towards Joon and his group, her earlier arrogance tempered slightly by the challenge ahead. "May the best assassin win," she said, a grudging respect now coloring her words.
Joon nodded, his eyes steady, "Indeed, may they win."
Before Joon could move forward, Jiho said to him, "Oh, Joon. You see, you don't have a qi-rune weapon. You won't be participating in this one, I'm saving you for last."
Joon thought, 'Is it because he doesn't have a qi-rune weapon that resonates with my affinity? My affinity would be darkness? Or something more sinister? Hell…yeah that would be it. If my affinity is literal Hell, then there wouldn't be a qi-rune weapon for it. But what about my system? There's a deity that governs every affinity..'
Caelan thought, 'Shit. As much as I despise Joon, we need him to end this worthless training fast. Ew what I am even thinking? We don't need him, I'm the most consistent fighter here. We got this. All we have to do is land a hit.'
After Yuna was healed by a nearby blood sect member, The large, shadowy confines of the cave were animated with the echo of clashing weapons and the muted whispers of qi-infused maneuvers.
Caelan, with combustive fervor, was first to strike. He darted forward, wielding his qi-rune weapon that spewed explosive flames in arcs of devastating heat. With each martial art kick and punch, he released a barrage of fiery blasts aimed at Jiho. His movements were graceful yet explosive, resembling a dance of fire. Jiho, calm amidst the inferno, sidestepped smoothly, his form a blur of motion. He deflected a close shot with ease using the flat of his blade, the air shimmering with heat around him.
"What the-?!"
'I missed?'
Next was Elara, channeling a serene yet deadly frost. She slid across the cave floor, her steps leaving a thin layer of frost. With a swift movement, she swung her frost qi-rune sword, casting a chilling mist of ice crystals designed to freeze her target upon contact. Jiho twisted away from the icy gust, his own breath visible in the cold air pumped by Elara's weapon. He parried a frozen spike with a swift flick of his wrist, his expression betraying a hint of admiration.
Jiho said, "You're not adding enough qi into your weapons, bond with them, and you'll be able to release more powerful attacks. Most of you are well above 4th gates, so this shouldn't be so hard."
Caelan scoffed, "Well look who we're going against?!"
Jiho snarled, "Am I scary?"
"Hell no, old man."
Jiho looked away, thinking, 'No! Dammit! My plan is failing for them to fear me..I for sure thought the poison test would've set the deal.'
Torin called forth spectral wolves, their dark green, spirit-like forms lunging towards Jiho from multiple directions. They moved in sync with Torin's martial finesse, bounding across the cave's rugged terrain. Jiho leapt high, flipping over the pack, and landed with poise. His evasion was so controlled it seemed almost otherworldly, yet Torin's synchronization kept him constantly on his toes.
"Aw man!"
Zephyr said to Torin, "Don't waver, do not give up."
"Got it!"
"We all need to calculate our attacks and work together. We need to create an opening."
Zephyr, using the volatile power of wind, created a small tornado around his body, propelling himself forward like a human missile. The cave echoed with the howling winds as he aimed a high-speed kick towards Jiho's head. Jiho, barely tilting his head, allowed the wind to ruffle his hair, but Zephyr passed harmlessly by, his attack missing by mere millimeters.
Zephyr exclaimed, "Someone follow up!"
Jiho thought, '…They're not bad. But Zephyr seems to act like the leader of this group. He's not focused on losing.'
Yeonhee, with eyes sparking as fiercely as her dagger, unleased a whip-like strand of black lightning towards Jiho. Each crackle of her weapon sliced the air, aiming to stun and incapacitate.
"Be still, old man!" Yeonhee exclaimed.
Jiho, with a fluid motion, grounded himself, dissipating the electricity with a touch to the earth, his agility highlight against her sharp, electrified assaults.
"I'm not old, brat."
With graceful lethality, Yuna conjured luminous, moon-like illusions that orbited around her as she attacked. Each swing of her weapon sent a crescent of light blushing white glowing moon energy slashing towards Jiho. He navigated the lunar terrain she created, his footwork precise, almost as if dancing under her moonlight, deflecting her luminous assaults with the back of his hand.
'Moon affinity…that's rare. That's around the 6th gate. So she's a 6th gate qi cultivator. Impressive.'
Kang exclaimed, "I'm going in! No one dodges Yuna and Yeonhee's abilities!"
Kang, harboring a lethal intent, waved his sword, which dripped with corrosive venom. Each strike aimed to weaken or paralyze. Jiho, foreseeing the trajectory, flipped backwards, his silhouette framed against the dim light as he avoided the deadly droplets, landing far from the reach of Kang's vicious slashes.
"You have to be quicker, brat."
"You just keep running! Come down here!"
Caelan said, "Fuck it. We have to combine our stuff. I hate all of you still, and I hate working with people, but we all need to do something."
Caelan rejoined the fray alongside Elara, creating a spectacle of fire and ice. They coordinated their attacks, Elara freezing the ground while Caelan cracked it with flaming strikes. Jiho, encircled by this elemental chaos, found himself momentarily on the defensive, his steps calculating as he evaded a steam explosion that came dangerously close.
'Oof, that was close.'
Torin smiled to Zephyr, "Our turn!"
"Yeah!"
Not to be outdone, Torin and Zephyr teamed up like always. Torin summoned more phantom wolves, enhanced by Zephyr's gales, increasing their speed and ferocity. Jiho was momentarily caught off guard, the fierce collaboration forcing him to deploy a series of rapid deflective strikes, his composure tested as he managed to dissipate the onslaught barely.
'They're manipulating their qi to interact with their teammates qi…they learn fast!'
Yuna said, "Everyone jump this guy at the same time!"
'If we all rush at him and do what we've been doing, there's no way he can just blatantly dodge it.
Gathering their resolve, all warriors launched a united assault. Blazing flames, chilling frost, spectral wolves, venom, black lightning, and strong winds converged on Jiho. The cave seemed to resonate with their combined power, the atmosphere charged with an explosive tension.
Jiho's eyes narrowed, and in a burst of unmatched speed, he leapt into the air, his silhouette a blur. With a powerful shout, he discharged a wave of raw energy, knocking each assailant back with such force that their weapons momentarily faltered.
"Awww, you had something going there, I won't lie." Jiho smirked. "I don't like to lose either."
In a final desperate bid, Yuna unleashed her full power. A gigantic moon illusion enveloped the cave, bathing everything in a surreal glow. Jiho, looking up, gave a rare smile of approval before his body shot through the illusion, dispersing the ethereal light with a shockwave of pure qi, and he landed, gently touching the cave floor.
"Not enough force."
FWIP!
At breakneck speed, Jiho hit everyone the stomach with a slight finger tap, knocking everyone on their knees, and they groaned and complained.
Standing amidst the scattered and recovering group, Jiho explained, "Using your own qi in harmony with these rune weapons enhances your natural abilities. Mastering this can lead to greater power and speed in your attacks. Today was just the beginning. You will grow and get stronger from this."
The group, though exhausted, nodded in understanding, their respect for Jiho mingling with their renewed determination to surpass their current limits. Each encounter had taught them more about their capabilities and the depth of their resolve. As they collected themselves, the echo of Jiho's words filled the cave, a reminder of the path that lay ahead in their journey as qi-rune warriors.
Caelan said, "It would've been different if we weren't using qi-rune weapons and just using our natural ability."
Yuna agreed, "I agree."
Jiho said, "Yes it would've, but then I'd have to go all out, and with the other prospects around, they could get caught in the fray."
As everyone was talking amongst each other, Elara was struggling to stand, brushing herself off, thinking, 'I'm not thinking a lot when I'm fighting…I need to break out of that habit..'
"Elara." Joon was helping Elara up, and Elara looked at him.
"Joon…thanks."
"You did good. You all did good actually."
"I messed up so much though. I fought without thinking about what to do next."
"Maybe that's what's wrong."
"Hm?"
"You blame yourself too much. Like last night when we were talking…how you kept blaming yourself. Have more confidence, you're strong I can tell."
Flustered, Elara looked away, "Why do you always know what to say? Maybe you're right then I guess. Habits are hard to break."
Zephyr overheard them, saying, "That's how we grow and develop. We are very young now, but we will continue to grow. Trust me. You all have potential, and we'll make it out of this alive."
Elara looked at Zephyr and Joon, thinking, 'This group…they're not so bad.'
At that moment, Joon stood poised, a flicker of anticipation shimmering in his eyes as he faced Jiho. Grinning confidently, he asked, "Is it my turn yet?" His casual demeanor sharply contrasted the charged atmosphere around them. A menacing aura surrounded him, making everyone have goosebumps.
Caelan thought, 'No way that loser is reading that aura…'
Jiho, feeling it too, emanating a grave aura enhanced by the faint glow of his battle axes that he had just manifested in his hand, nodded solemnly. "It is, but remember, your strength lies not just in brute force but in control." He raised his axes—forged in shadows and blood, their red qi-runes pulsating with dark energy—a tangible testament to their power. "Observe," he instructed, his voice a blend of mentorship and challenge.
With an intense focus, he began, "Demonic qi, Joon, is your lifeblood and weapon. Channel it effectively to amplify your physical prowess—speed, strength, and resilience. See how the energy flows." Jiho demonstrated, his own qi swirling visibly, a dance of dark hues around his muscled form, enhancing each movement with supernatural swiftness and power.
Then, Jiho's voice deepened as he began to chant not in rhyme but with a rhythmic cadence that pulsed through the cavern:
"From the depth of shadowed blood, the power born,
Xiahou Anara, through the veil torn,
Mark thy essence in these runes of old,
In the surge of battle, be our actions bold."
Joon's heart pounded, As Jiho invoked the scripture, the air thickened, and an ethereal form shimmered into existence above them—Xiahou Anara's spirit essence, adorned with a halo of seething blood, a direct reflection of Joon's recent and profound connection to the deity since he had devoured her essence.
Around them, the other warriors exchanged looks of awe and nervous intrigue, whispering fervently. "Did you see that? A spirit appeared!" one murmured, his voice laced with disbelief.
"Who is that?!" Torin smiled.
Zephyr gasped, "Some deity..?"
Caelan said to himself, "Why is it above Joon?
Yuna and Yeonhee and Kang said at the same time, "Whoa…"
Yuna then thought, 'That brat is only 11-13 years old. How does he have much more power than we do and we're 17-18?'
Unperturbed by the whispers, Jiho continued, his gaze fixed on Joon. "Today, use only your martial arts trained through the lens of your innate demonic qi. No other abilities. Master this, and your capacity to fight and grow will be unmatched."
Joon nodded, a serious expression steeling his usually playful features. He centered himself, drawing deep within to touch the fresh, untamed power of Xiahou Anara within him. His aura darkened, echoing the blood halo overhead.
'Since I devoured Xiahou Anara yesterday, it seems the scriptures of her blood still resonate with her, meaning there's a link. Is it the same with my system?' Joon thought.
Jiho said to Joon, "Since you are on a different caliber than everyone else here, and since I haven't found a qi-rune weapon that best suits your 'affinity', I'd have to try a little harder on you."
"Ohhh so that's why you pulled your weapons out?"
"Yes."
They approached each other with a slight walk, the tension palpable, their power a silent thunder in the still air. With mutual nods acknowledging their readiness and respect, they vanished in an instant, their movements too swift for the eyes to follow—a clash of invisible forces resonating through the cavern with a deafening roar.
Everyone got quiet, even teen assassin prospects from the other groups out there training took a peak over towards Joon and Jiho.
Their forms reappeared briefly in flashes of movement, their combat a blur of technique and raw power, testing the very limits of their control and strength. The others could only watch, spellbound by the spectacle, realizing the stakes of such power and the fine edge upon which it balanced.