NOVEL WEB Chapter 9: Real World Training.
After giving up the flame-patterned black iron because he already had the mortal blade, Number 800 sat down on the stands and listened to the words of the leader as he addressed everyone.
"You all have done well. Only a fraction of you survived, but it seems like we only have the real deals left. But, do you all know?"
A sinister smile appeared across his face as he said this.
"The Cave Of Latent Demons still has 6 months left. The last trial of the Cave is simple...real-world training!"
[Sometime later.]
A figure could be seen walking through a seemingly endless desert, wrapped in black clothing that shielded the sand from his body. On his back was a long black odachi and spear, both wrapped in black cloth. On his head he wore an old Kasa, a triangular straw woven hat that protected him from the elements.
This was of course, Number 800.
Half of the trainees had been sent to the Great Desert to subjugate rogue factions that had grown too powerful within the Cult's domain. Number 800 was one of them.
But, he had noticed that he received different orders from everyone else. The rest had received one personal mission and one group mission.
Number 800 had received two personal missions. One to wipe out a faction of orthodox martial artists that had trespassed too far into the Cults' domain, and the other, to hunt down the Blade Ogre Of The Green Mountain, a heretical martial artist who had been causing trouble recently.
He was about to tackle his first mission, taking down the orthodox faction.
'I haven't left the Cave since I was a child. It's interesting...seeing regular people again.'
Thoughts like this assailed his mind as he traveled across the desert, making his way to the ends of the Xinjiang region.
It wasn't until nightfall that he made it to the town of Yuna, a place that was in the domains of both the martial alliance and the Divine Cult.
There weren't a lot of people walking around at this time and those who were, were either homeless or up to no good.
Dusting the sand off his robes, Number 800 took to the shadows, merging with them as he made his way through town.
Being a town made up of two warring factions, disputes here were common. So for now, Number 800 wanted to stay out of trouble until he found his target.
'The order said that this faction is connected to the Mount Hua Sect. I'm guessing that they were installed here to guard this part of the border and keep our Cult at bay. But recently, they've grown bolder...pushing our members out of the town and claiming it as their own. They must be eliminated. '
Arriving at a certain building, Number 800 pulled out a piece of paper and muttered, "This is it...this is where the main faction of our Cult in this city is located."
Seeing the two guards standing in front of the gate, Number 800 revealed himself from the shadows, calmly walking up to the gate.
Drawing their weapons, one of the guards shouted, "Stop right there! Confirm your identity!"
Number 800 simple threw a plate at the guard, causing him to frantically catch it when he noticed what it was.
"Demonic General?! S-sir, you can come in! The captain will be with you in the morning! You can stay in any room you like, sir!"
Number 800 grabbed his plate and entered the building, quickly finding a room within to rest.
'Let's see what happens tomorrow...'
[The next day]
Waking up that morning, Number 800 walked outside the door to his room and was immediately greeted by two female servants standing on both sides of his door.
"Good morning, Master. How can we help you today?"
Making sure all his weapons were with him, Number 800 simply said, "Where is the one you call the captain, the owner of this branch?"
The girl who spoke hesitated a bit and replied, "Well, sir...he was injured in battle last night. The Divine Sword Sect ambushed and injured him grievously, leaving him bedridden."
Number 800 squinted his eyes, a bit disappointed by this news. Cultivators of the Cult shouldn't be this weak to be beaten, embarrassed and left alive by the enemy. The least the captain could do was die honorably in battle.
"Where is he?"
The girls hesitantly lead him to the room where the captain laid, quickly opening the door to the room as Number 800 approached.
When Number 800 entered the room,he saw a middle aged man laying on the bed with a missing arm, broken legs and scars so deep that it was a miracle he was still alive.
"Ah! S-sir..!"
The captain tried to get up from his bed to greet him, but Number 800 quickly laid his hand on his chest, stopping him from moving.
"Take it easy. The enemy humiliated you by leaving you alive as if you weren't a threat. So don't push yourself too much. By humiliating you, they humiliated the Cult. They will pay."
The captain was afraid to admit that he felt relieved even though Number 800's words were a bit scathing.
Outstretching his remaining arm, the captain said, "I...am Hwan Sa. Demonic Captain Of The Divine Cult. This crippled old man is at your service."
Remembering the name his mother gave him at birth, Number 800 grabbed the man's hand and responded, "Soh Jinhong, direct descendant of the Sword S...no, I guess that doesn't matter. As you know, I'm a Demonic General. So, let's not waste any more time. I'm itching to erase this so called Divine Sword Sect. What is the reason dof their sudden increase in power?"
Hwan Sa didn't hold anything back as he started to explain the story of the little border town. Before, the two factions were equal in strength and skirmishes never got too serious because of that.
Recently though, a new figure had shown up within the sect. An emissary of the Mount Hua Sect. His training methods and backing caused the Divine Sword Sect to become more bold.
Now, they were actively attacking and killing members of the Cult wantonly on the streets.
"And the reason they left you alive...is probably to draw whatever hidden strength we have out so that they can finish us off all at once."
Jinhong's red eyes glowed as he gripped the hilt of the mortal blade, itching to go slaughter the entire Sect.
"Sit tight, Hwan Sa. It's time for me to send a message to these fools. When I'm done, this town will completely belong to our cult!"