The master hadn't joined them yet.
On the pristine white walls, fresh human blood spelled out a chilling message: "I'm ready, Hogen. This is what awaits you."
The uneven handwriting, hurriedly scrawled, was still wet, as some trainees noted. While some were visibly frightened, others tried to mask their fear with bravado.
"Master! Master! Come and see this!"
Alerted, Hogen rushed over. His eyes scanned the words with apparent indifference.
"What does it mean?" one trainee asked.
"I don't know," another replied hesitantly.
"Master?"
"Hmm... Perhaps a challenge?" Hogen speculated, stroking his bearded chin thoughtfully. "Someone I defeated in the past, perhaps?"
"Maybe they left another clue outside," one student suggested, dashing out of the dojo.
