Chapter 18: Meeting of Three Friends / Leaving for the Mission
Three days passed since the conclusion of the fierce competition. Inside the Bright Blade Sub-Sect's food court, Elton, Zoro, and Christy gathered in a private room separated by wooden sliding doors. The room carried the faint hum of the bustling hall beyond, yet within, it remained quiet and intimate. A rounded wooden table stood between them, covered with steaming dishes and fragrant teas.
Christy, now officially chosen to join the Bright Brilliant Blade Sect directly, radiated cheerfulness. Elton remained calm though his eyes betrayed a subtle excitement. Zoro, however, sat with chopsticks paused in his hand, his expression distant and withdrawn.
Elton broke the silence while pouring tea into Zoro's cup. "You have been quiet since the trial, Zoro. What weighs on your mind?"
Zoro's jaw tightened before he released a weary sigh. "It is nothing serious… I am just frustrated. I gave everything I had, but I am still not at your level—or hers," he admitted, nodding toward Christy.
Christy's expression softened as she studied him. "Zoro, strength is not measured only in raw power. You are growing quickly—perhaps too quickly for your mind to match. Do not lose sight of that balance."
Elton leaned back with a faint grin, folding his arms behind his head. "You think I was always strong? Not a chance. I scraped and fought for every inch of progress. Comparing the end of one journey to the beginning of another will only poison your resolve."
Zoro gave a short snort before finally cracking a small grin. "I understand. I just do not want to be left behind."
"You will not be," Christy replied firmly, her tone carrying quiet confidence. "We are growing together. That is the point."
The three enjoyed their food in comfortable silence for a while, their conversation wandering from martial techniques to humorous sect stories. Elton nearly choked when Christy recalled the stern elder who scolded a disciple for sneezing too loudly during the trial. Laughter broke through the tension more than once, easing Zoro's doubts.
As they rose to leave, Christy suddenly stepped in front of Elton.
"Hold still, you have sauce on your cheek," she said, pulling a napkin and gently wiping it away.
Elton blinked in surprise, his face reddening. "Y-You do not have to act like my mother!"
Zoro burst out laughing so hard he clutched his stomach. "That was absolutely motherly of you."
Christy smirked and winked at them both. "Somebody has to look after you two."
A few days later, the expedition began.
Twenty-seven disciples of the Bright Blade Sub-Sect gathered together, accompanied by four peak Silver-Tier Fifth Rank seniors, two Gold-Tier seniors, and a single Gold-Tier Third Rank elder. They were led by a Bright Brilliant Blade Sect elder along with three disciples who had originally arrived at the sub-sect with him—each of them peak Silver-Tier Fifth Rank cultivators.
The entire group mounted two massive Sword Birds, majestic avian spirit beasts with metallic feathers and sharp intelligence. Elton, Zoro, and Christy were fortunate to ride upon the elder's personal Sword Bird.
Zoro gripped the saddle tightly as the creature soared high into the clouds. "I will never get used to this!"
"Just imagine it is a giant sword carrying you," Elton said with a strained grin, carefully avoiding the view below.
Christy laughed, her long hair whipping in the rushing wind. "You two are hopeless landlubbers."
The four-day journey passed in a blur of training, chatter, and growing anticipation. On the final morning, gray mist rolled across the horizon. Below stretched a massive rocky forest, shrouded in layers of stone and ghostly fog.
The Sword Birds descended, talons cracking the rocky earth as the disciples dismounted. Waiting for them were Bright Brilliant Blade Sect members stationed in the area. Nearby, three other sect groups had already gathered.
"The Fighting Brawlman Cultivation Sect," whispered one disciple.
"The Iron Fang Sect," another muttered.
The third group bore unfamiliar robes, marked with a jagged symbol that looked less refined and far more brutal.
"That one seems new," Elton said quietly, his eyes narrowing.
As the Bright Blade contingent settled, tension simmered instantly. Glances sharpened into blades, a silent war beginning before the true mission had even started.
Zoro's eyes locked onto members of the unknown sect. Their stares carried something unnatural, as though their hostility was personal. Several of them glared back, their expressions radiating killing intent. A cold chill ran through Zoro's chest as his face darkened.
Elton noticed the change. "Zoro, what is wrong?"
Zoro shook his head stiffly. "…Nothing. Only a feeling I cannot explain."
Christy followed his gaze, then shifted her attention toward the Fighting Brawlman Sect. A veiled woman with long black hair caught her stare. The woman gave a subtle nod before turning her head toward the brutal-looking group that had targeted Zoro. Christy narrowed her red starry eyes, suspicion sparking within them.
The earth trembled suddenly as an oppressive aura descended like a storm. Disciples staggered while even the seasoned elders straightened with grim faces.
A figure tore down from the heavens like a thunderbolt, crashing into the rocky ground with force that split the stone beneath his feet. Dust and fragments exploded outward in violent waves.
The man appeared young—far too young for such power—yet his presence was suffocating. His gaze cut like sharpened steel, and his aura pressed heavily against every soul present, as though the forest itself bent beneath his will.
When he spoke, his words rolled like thunder through the misty expanse.
"I am Jolten. Rogue cultivator. Envoy of the Iron Dog Alliance."
The crowd froze. Not even a whisper dared to rise.
His eyes swept across disciples and elders alike, piercing them with the weight of blades.
"There will be no petty feuds here. No wars sparked by arrogance. I will break any who dare to test me. This mission is your trial—nothing more."
Silence clung to the clearing like frost. Then his voice sharpened, colder still.
"Your elders may have told you what this mission is. But I will explain again—this time, in detail."