Immortal Ascension: From Martial to Myth

"Captain... Shadow reporting."

A young voice echoed from the hologram. The speaker, a 17-year-old boy, wore a black military shirt and pants. His expression was calm and focused—his sharp eyes revealing a man of few words, trained for precision.

Reo nodded. "So, what did you find?"

Shadow raised his hand, projecting a 3D map above the holo-table. It displayed East Verge—a dense slum district cluttered with small, boxy buildings. Narrow alleys twisted between them like veins, and though most structures were makeshift homes, a few large houses stood out in between.

"Captain, this is East Verge. It's a low-income zone with minimal law enforcement presence. The entire region is patrolled by just one police station."

He zoomed in, highlighting a red dot.

"According to official records, on 3rd June 3834, a man named Abdul Saleem filed the first report regarding a suspected ghost encounter. The police conducted a preliminary investigation but quickly dismissed it."

Shadow paused and tapped again. Red markers appeared—each labeled with names and dates.

"However, in the following two weeks, over thirty similar complaints were filed. The sudden spike forced the matter up the chain of command. Eventually, the mayor issued a directive to open a covert investigation."

Reo narrowed his eyes. "Who's leading the case?"

"Radhe," Shadow answered. "Head of District Special Operations. He was assigned to run the investigation as an undercover mission. Initially, his team suspected a fabricated conspiracy—possibly orchestrated by the slum dwellers, as has happened before."

He leaned forward slightly, his tone sharpening.

"But their fieldwork revealed anomalies—details that didn't align with human-made hoaxes."

Reo's eyes darkened. "Anomalies?"

"Yes, Captain," Shadow replied.

"According to the reports, we've identified four major patterns:

1) The entity—presumed to be a ghost—only targets families of three or four members.

2) In every reported case, the families had at least one child between the ages of 2 to 5.

3) All affected children began showing signs of lethargy, emotional dullness, and physical inactivity within 24 hours of the sighting.

4) Every child was found to have an invisible mark—only visible through thermal scanning—located at the back of the neck. Radhe discovered this during routine body scans."

Reo's expression tightened as he listened.

Shadow continued, "After compiling all available data, Radhe concluded the presence of an actual spiritual entity—possibly a ghost, though its behavior doesn't match traditional patterns."

Reo asked quietly, "And what happened next?"

"Upon confirming the authenticity of the sightings, Radhe initiated 'Operation Night Watch'. His team conducted two weeks of round-the-clock surveillance."

Shadow's voice lowered slightly.

"But the ghost never reappeared. No further incidents were recorded, and all civilian reports stopped. With no new leads and increasing public pressure, the higher-ups terminated the mission—officially declaring the matter resolved to avoid further panic."

Reo frowned.

"Too neat," he muttered. "Ghosts don't just vanish. And the Nether Cult? They're never merciful. Children with marks… that's never random."

"Any new developments?"

Shadow nodded. "Not directly in East Verge, Captain. But similar symptoms have been reported in neighboring towns—lethargic children, thermal-markings, no physical injuries. All local officials have escalated the findings to the Anti-Cult Department in Cane City."

He paused.

"At present, there's no official action, but early indicators suggest the department may soon dispatch a task force to investigate."

Reo's voice dropped into a cold certainty.

"Keep your eyes open. There's no way the Nether Cult is staying quiet. They're planning something."

"Yes, Captain."

Reo fell silent. The lack of new leads in the investigation gnawed at him. After a pause, he said,"Try to gather all ghost sighting cases from nearby towns. Compile them together and look for a pattern. There's no way the Nether Cult will just stop."

He leaned forward slightly, voice sharper."If possible, create a visual map of all the affected towns. Cross-reference the data:

Do the sightings align with specific dates? Full moons? Equinoxes? Anniversaries of past massacres?

Do they all occur at the same hour across locations?And finally, run a thermal path algorithm. We might be able to pinpoint their stronghold."

Shadow nodded. "Yes, Captain. Crypto's good at this kind of work. He can run pattern analyses. With the knowledge and tech he learned from the Cult, he should be able to trace something useful."

Reo gave a small nod. After giving a few more tactical instructions, he shifted the tone.

"How are the others?"

The formal tension broke. Shadow's expression softened, warmth and nostalgia flickering in his eyes.

"Brother Reo… all 32 of us are spread across the Federation now. We've split into groups of six, each assigned to a continent."

"It's been a year since we formed the organization—Silent Dawn. Everyone is safe. Hidden. We've blended in with the locals, building identities and status slowly."

"Light and I are overseeing the operations."

Reo nodded quietly. He didn't ask for details.

"Make sure everyone stays hidden. Never expose your original identities. Even though our hearts still burn with rage… it's not yet time to set the fire loose."

"We've already lost ten years of our lives to that cult. We can't lose our humanity too. Let the brothers stay vigilant—but let them live. Let them find peace. We can't become puppets of our vengeance."

Shadow's voice trembled slightly, moved."Yes, Brother. I'll make sure they hear this."

A silence passed before Reo asked, "Anything new about the Rebirth Technique?"

Shadow shook his head. "Nothing yet. Our organization is still young. It's hard to find any clues. The nobles and Federation guard that knowledge tightly."

"But… maybe you could ask your grandfather. With his status, he might be able to access the technique easily."

Reo went quiet. Hesitation flickered across his face.

Memories—blurred but warm—rushed back. His grandfather's laughter. His gentle hands. His pride. After ten years in hell… those emotions felt like a foreign language.

Even now, after being reunited, he didn't know how to express the bond. Didn't know if it was even real anymore.

"I'll… think about it," Reo murmured.

Shadow didn't press. He simply nodded.

They exchanged a few final words, and then Reo ended the call.

After ending the call with Shadow, Reo stepped out of the secure room. His face was unreadable, his thoughts buried beneath layers of memories and unanswered questions.

He walked straight toward his bedroom.

Just as he was about to sit down on the bed, his phone buzzed in his pocket.

He pulled it out.

"Grandpa – Incoming Call"

Reo froze.

For a moment, he just stared at the screen, conflicted.

Then, almost instinctively, he stood up and answered the call.

He brought the phone to his ear, hesitant.

A warm, emotional voice immediately flowed through the receiver. Gentle. Loving. The kind of voice that would've brought comfort to any child.

To Reo, it felt like a soft spring breeze after years of cold winters.

And yet… he didn't know how to receive it.

"Kid, how was school today?"

The warm, familiar voice flowed through the receiver—calm and affectionate, with a hint of authority beneath its softness.

Reo paused, caught off guard as always. Even though it had been half a year since he'd returned to Karakura and started receiving these regular calls, it still took time for him to process that voice. After ten years in hell, warmth took longer to accept than pain.

He opened his mouth slowly, the words awkward, like foreign currency in his mouth."It's… good, Grandpa."

On the other end of the line, General Kazuo Liang gave a faint chuckle.

"Hm... have you had dinner?"

Reo glanced at the clock. "No… Grandfather. I'll have it in about an hour."

Kazuo sighed. "You need to eat earlier, Reo. You're still mortal, not a cultivator yet. Late meals will slow digestion and disrupt your sleep. Good health begins with discipline."

"Yes, Grandfather," Reo said quickly. "I'll follow your advice."

There was a brief silence before Kazuo asked, "According to your school's timeline, it should've been about half a year since you enrolled. You're in ninth class now, right? Have they started teaching you the Longevity Technique yet?"

Reo nodded. "Yes, Grandpa. Just today, a new teacher was assigned. His name is Hendrikson. He began teaching the basics."

"Hendrikson, ah…" Kazuo's voice held a mix of interest and calculation. "I've heard of him. A military veteran—stationed near ruins in the Outer Sectors for a good part of his career. Even though Earth seems peaceful on the surface, many dangers still linger in the old zones."

"He's battle-hardened, for sure. But I've never seen him as a teacher. So—how does he teach?"

Reo thought for a moment. "He's good. Clear. He points out mistakes directly and doesn't waste time. I think… he actually cares about the results."

Kazuo gave a thoughtful hum. "Good. The basics matter more than people realize."

Another pause, then the general asked, more seriously, "Now that you've started cultivating the Longevity Technique, how do you feel? Any change?"

Reo hesitated. "It feels… alright. But honestly? It's not enough. Even if I mastered the advanced version, I don't think it can fix what's broken."

Kazuo's voice turned heavy. "Just as I thought."

There was silence again. On both ends of the call, the memories of injuries—physical and emotional—echoed like scars etched in iron.

Kazuo exhaled slowly, the sound weighed with guilt.

"I'll get you the Rebirth Technique," he said at last, voice resolute.

Reo's eyes widened. "But… Grandfather… the Rebirth Technique—"

Kazuo cut him off gently but firmly. "Reo, don't worry."

"Your grandfather is the Chief Commander of the Southern Region, the highest-ranking official this side of the Equator. The Federation owes me more than they'd ever admit."

"The Long Family—descendants of the Sword Emperor—may sit atop the Central Council, but even they uphold the laws they've sworn to protect. I've shed blood for the Federation, earned every merit with sweat and steel. And I've known the Longs personally."

His tone grew quiet—resolute, like distant thunder before a storm.

"If I want the Rebirth Technique, no one will dare stand in my way."

Reo was silent. The words reached him… and it was hard to accept them—not because he doubted their truth, but because for ten long years, everything he needed, he earned through blood, sweat, and sacrifice.

This was the first time he was receiving something without fighting for it. And maybe… this is what family truly means.

"…Thanks, Grandpa," he said at last.

Kazuo let out a deep, booming laugh. "Hahaha! Don't thank me, you brat. Until these old bones finally give in, I'll carry you forward if I have to. Whatever you choose to do, I'll stand behind you."

Reo's lips quirked slightly—something halfway between a smile and a silent tremble.

"Then I'll try not to disappoint you."

"You won't," Kazuo said firmly. "You're still breathing, happy and loved. That's more than enough for me."