Far away, a few hundred kilometers towards the western part of the Hage village, there was an evergreen forest located about ten kilometers away from one of the big hub cities.
This city was called the Evergreen City, named after the evergreen forest, this city had a long history of a thousand years and it was called a hub city because it was one of the cities closest to the coast.
Nestled between the ancient evergreen forest and the shimmering coast, this hub city had grown into a marvel of commerce, innovation, and wonder. The whispers of its grandeur echoed through the land, drawing dreamers, cultivators, and adventurers to its vibrant streets.
As the city's roots delved deep into the earth, its branches reached for the sky, embracing the bounty of the forest and the sea.
The evergreen trees, wise and steadfast, stood guard over the city's secrets, while the coastal winds carried the whispers of distant lands and exotic treasures. The city's diverse inhabitants, a tapestry of cultures and crafts, wove a narrative of creativity and progress.
Through the ages, the Evergreen City had weathered the tempests of time, adapting and evolving like a living entity. Over time the city's rulers, wise and just, had cultivated an environment of stability and growth, where artistry and innovation flourished.
It was also due to this that the Evergreen City had become one of the most prosperous second rate power in the Cloud Plane Continent.
Due to its growing power and population, one could even say that it was soon to be a first rate power, breaking out of its subordination towards the Flaming Sun Sect.
But all these were only on the surface of the Continent. Little did anyone know that some certain persons had already deviated from the conducts of morality.
Deep within the evergreen forest there was an underground base located beneath an inauspicious hill.
In the depths of this underground base, a clandestine gathering unfolded beneath the earth, shrouded in secrecy and shadow.
The current City Lord of the Evergreen City, once a paragon of wisdom and leadership, now stood alongside two influential families of the Evergreen City, their loyalty clandestinely pledged to the enigmatic Eye of the Midnight Sun.
The air was heavy with anticipation as they convened in the underground base, their whispers echoing off the cold stone walls.
The news of the Exodus Order's triumph over the Tenebrous Taskforce's base near Hage village had reached them over the course of five days, casting a pall of urgency over the assembly.
The City Lord's eyes gleamed with a mixture of excitement and trepidation as they addressed the gathering. "The time of subtle manipulation is ending. This new force called the Exodus Order's bold move signals a shift in the balance of power.
"We must now openly declare our allegiance to the Eye of the Midnight Sun and unleash our collective might."
The two families, their faces illuminated only by flickering torches, nodded in unison, their commitment to the mysterious organization unwavering.
Together, they began to weave a plan to reveal their true allegiance, to shatter the illusion of their loyalty to the Evergreen City and unleash a maelstrom of chaos upon the Continent.
The Eye of the Midnight Sun, that enigmatic force, seemed to loom over them, its presence felt but unseen, as they embarked on a perilous path from which there was no return.
In the dimly lit underground chamber, the City Lord of the Evergreen City, flanked by the two influential families, stood before a large, ornate mirror. The glass surface rippled, like water disturbed by a stone, as the Eye of the Midnight Sun's presence manifested.
"Greetings, faithful servants," a low, hypnotic voice resonated from the mirror. "Your loyalty is rewarded. The time for secrecy is ending. The Exodus Order's destruction of one of the Tenebrous Taskforce's base signals the beginning of a new era."
The City Lord bowed, his eyes gleaming with fervor. "We are ready to serve, to unleash our might and bring the realm under your shadow."
"Your first task," the voice continued, "is to spread discord within the Evergreen City. Sow seeds of doubt and fear, that the people may turn against their protectors. The Flaming Sun Sect must be weakened, their resolve shaken."
One of the family patriarchs, the patriarch of the Nanlang family stepped forward. "We have already begun. Whispers of corruption and tyranny has spread like wildfire. The people are growing restless."
The mirror's surface rippled in approval. "Excellent. The second family, what of your preparations?"
The matriarch of the second family, the Feng family smiled, her eyes glinting with malice. "Our agents has infiltrated the city's infrastructure, waiting for the signal to strike. Chaos will erupt, and even the Exodus Order will be powerless to stop it."
The City Lord nodded, his voice dripping with anticipation. "And what of the final piece, the key to unlocking the city's true power?"
The mirror's surface seemed to darken, as if the Eye itself was pleased. "Patience, faithful servant. The time for revelation approaches. You will know when the moment arrives. Until then, continue to sow discord and await further instructions."
As the mirror's surface stilled, the gathering knew their fate was inextricably linked to the Eye's sinister design. They dispersed, each member carrying a piece of the plan, ready to unleash a maelstrom of chaos upon the Evergreen City.
*****
Above the evergreen forest, a violet flash of light, blinked for only the briefest of second. And in its place was a small forcefield condensed purely from violet colored runic symbols.
And within its embrace, dozens of figures stood.
"Is this the place?" Vin asked as he stared at the stretch of green forest that went as far as the eyes could see.
"It should be so, I've not actually been here, I'm just aware that there are lots of prominent vessels to become Dark Decides located here"
"Dark Deciples?" Vin asked as he tilted his head in confusion.
Archon turned around at the members of the Exodus Order as well as the other kids they had rescued before turning back to Vin.
"Those of them that had already passed the experiment and are considered successful are all referred to as vessels. These vessels after a bit of monitoring, to be sure they're alright, will then be sent to the Headquarters of the organization.
"I don't exactly know much about what they do to them, but all I'm aware of is that, they go through another process of experimentation which is even more worse than you can imagine.
"If they fail they die, and if they pass it, they'll be known as Dark Deciples, but the odds are really low." Archon explained.
"And what percentage is really low?" Vin asked, but Archon raised only one finger "Ten percent?" he asked again, this time in shock.
"One percent!" Archon shook his head as he replied.
"What???!!"
"The hell!!!!!"
"What in the world.....?"
"How can that be"
Everyone of them exclaimed in surprise. It was truly unbelievable seeing how many kids had been abducted over the years.
Archon's voice dropped to a whisper, as if the shadows themselves might be listening. "The Dark Disciples... few have seen them, and even fewer have spoken of their existence. They are the pinnacle of the organization's twisted ambitions."
In the depths of the Headquarters, a secret facility hummed with sinister energy. Vessels, once human, now stood at the threshold of transformation. The air reeked of antiseptic and ozone as they were led to the experimentation chamber.
Dr. Elwes, a scientist with sunken eyes, greeted them with a cold smile. "Welcome, Vessels. You have proven your worth. Now, you will be remade into something greater."
The process began, a maelstrom of agony and terror. Bodies contorted, minds shattered, and souls were torn asunder. The Vessels screamed, their voices echoing through the facility, as they were reshaped into instruments of darkness.
Those who survived the ordeal emerged changed. Their eyes burned with an otherworldly energy, their skin deathly pale, and their presence seemed to draw the light out of the air. They were no longer human, but Dark Disciples, forged in the crucible of madness.
Their purpose was singular: to serve the organization without question, to carry out tasks that would shatter the sanity of mortals. They moved unseen, their existence a rumor, a whispered terror.
Archon's voice barely rose above a whisper. "The Dark Disciples are the organization's deadliest tools. If you encounter one, pray for a swift death, for their mercy is a myth."
Vin took a deep breath at this, it seemed this so Dark Deciples were quite terrifying.
"Well that just mean we'll just have to get stronger right, so strong that the Dark Deciples wouldn't even be a problem for us" Vin stated with a faint smile.
"That's right, we will get stronger, so there's nothing that would stop us." Archon said.
"And the first step is getting them out of there right?" Vin asked as he pointed below them.
"Yeah that's the plan, we... Wait I never told you they were down there, can you actually see them?" Archon exclaimed.
*************