The Rising Sun Sect was unusually quiet that night. The training grounds, normally bustling with activity even under the moonlight, were now deserted. A sense of tension hung in the air, thick and foreboding.
Yuto stood in the Elder's Hall alongside Elder Yu and a select group of senior disciples. A map of the surrounding regions was spread across the table, marked with red and black pins. Elder Yu, her expression grim, tapped one of the red-marked areas.
"This is where the last attack occurred," she said. "The rogue cultivators ambushed our resource-gathering team near the Forest of Echoes. Fortunately, no lives were lost, but the team was forced to abandon a shipment of rare spirit herbs."
Kaito, standing beside Yuto, frowned. "Bold of them to strike so close to sect territory. They must be getting desperate."
"Or confident," Elder Yu countered. "Their leader, the so-called Bloodshadow, is no ordinary rogue. He's a former inner disciple of the Crimson Wraith Sect. His techniques are brutal, and his ambitions are dangerous."
Yuto's eyes narrowed. "Why would a former inner disciple stoop to raiding sects? There has to be more to this."
Elder Yu nodded. "Indeed. Reports suggest he's been gathering a band of outcasts and deserters, forming a faction of his own. Their numbers grow with each passing week, and their movements have become increasingly aggressive. If we don't act soon, they could become a significant threat—not just to us, but to the entire region."
The room fell silent as the gravity of the situation sank in. Yuto clenched his fists, his Saiyan instincts stirring at the thought of a battle. He had faced many challenges since arriving in this world, but this was different. This wasn't just about him—it was about protecting the sect and the people who had become his family.
"What's the plan, Elder?" Yuto asked, his voice steady.
Elder Yu's gaze met his, her eyes sharp. "We will strike before they have a chance to consolidate their power. A small team will infiltrate their camp, gather intelligence, and disrupt their operations. Yuto, I want you to lead this mission."
The other disciples exchanged glances, murmuring among themselves. Yuto felt their eyes on him, some filled with admiration, others with doubt. He had proven his strength during the trials, but this mission would test his leadership and strategy.
"I'll do it," Yuto said without hesitation. "But I'll need a capable team."
Elder Yu gestured to the gathered disciples. "Choose wisely. Speed and stealth are paramount. You'll be venturing deep into enemy territory."
Yuto scanned the room, his eyes landing on Kaito first. His friend had a knack for quick thinking and unconventional tactics—qualities that would be invaluable on this mission.
"Kaito," Yuto said. "You're with me."
Kaito grinned, twirling his staff. "Thought you'd never ask."
Yuto continued, selecting Mei for her agility and wind-based techniques, and two senior disciples—Jun, a defensive specialist, and Lin, an expert in tracking and reconnaissance.
Elder Yu nodded approvingly. "A strong team. You leave at dawn. Remember, your objective is to gather information and disrupt their plans. Avoid unnecessary risks. The sect cannot afford to lose you."
Yuto bowed. "Understood, Elder. We won't fail."
The Mission Begins
The first rays of dawn painted the sky in hues of orange and pink as the team set out. Clad in lightweight robes designed for stealth, they moved swiftly through the dense forest, their footsteps silent against the moss-covered ground.
Lin led the way, her sharp eyes scanning for signs of the rogues' presence. She occasionally paused, crouching to examine broken branches or faint footprints.
"They've been through here recently," she whispered, pointing to a set of tracks. "Four, maybe five people. Heading northwest."
Yuto nodded, signaling for the team to follow. They moved as a unit, their ki suppressed to avoid detection.
As they ventured deeper into the forest, the atmosphere grew heavier. The towering trees seemed to close in around them, their gnarled branches casting twisted shadows on the ground. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves.
After several hours of tracking, Lin raised a hand, motioning for the team to stop. She crouched low, peering through a thicket.
"There," she whispered.
Yuto knelt beside her, following her gaze. In a clearing ahead, a group of rogue cultivators had set up a makeshift camp. Tents were scattered around a central fire pit, where a handful of men and women sat, their weapons within easy reach.
But what caught Yuto's attention was the figure standing at the edge of the camp. He was tall and broad-shouldered, his crimson robes tattered but imposing. His presence exuded an air of menace, and his aura was dark and oppressive.
"Bloodshadow," Kaito muttered, his grip tightening on his staff.
Yuto's eyes narrowed. The man radiated power, his ki pulsating like a storm waiting to be unleashed. This wasn't going to be an easy mission.
"Jun, Lin," Yuto whispered. "You two stay here and monitor the camp. Look for weaknesses—patrol routes, shifts, anything we can use. Mei, Kaito, and I will circle around and find a way to disrupt their supplies."
The team nodded, slipping into their assigned roles. Yuto led Mei and Kaito around the perimeter, careful to stay hidden among the underbrush. As they moved, he noticed crates stacked near one of the larger tents.
"Supplies," Yuto whispered. "If we take those out, it'll slow them down and force them to retreat."
Mei grinned, her hands glowing faintly with wind-based ki. "Leave it to me. I can create a small cyclone to scatter those crates before they even know what hit them."
"Not yet," Yuto said. "We need to time it with another distraction. Kaito, think you can create some noise on the opposite side of the camp?"
Kaito smirked. "Consider it done."
The plan was set. As Kaito moved into position, Yuto and Mei waited in the shadows, their eyes locked on the supply crates.
"Ready?" Yuto whispered.
Mei nodded, her expression serious.
The moment Kaito unleashed a loud crash—knocking over a stack of metal tools with his staff—the camp erupted into chaos. The rogues scrambled to investigate the noise, leaving the supply crates momentarily unguarded.
"Now," Yuto said.
Mei stepped forward, releasing a burst of wind that sent the crates flying. Boxes shattered, spilling their contents—food, weapons, and spirit stones—across the ground.
The rogues shouted in alarm, but Yuto and Mei were already retreating, their movements swift and silent.
As the camp descended into disarray, Yuto regrouped with Lin and Jun, who had been watching from a safe distance.
"Mission accomplished," Yuto said, a hint of satisfaction in his voice.
But as they prepared to withdraw, a chilling voice echoed through the forest.
"Leaving so soon?"
Yuto froze, his blood running cold. From the shadows, Bloodshadow emerged, his crimson aura flaring like a wildfire.
The real battle was about to begin.