The next morning, the pair woke up as usual. Er, no longer insistent on remaining separate—now that he could feel and taste what Yi ate and drank while merged, ever since the dreamscape trial—went through the morning routine while merged with Yi. They headed downstairs for breakfast and coffee, then relaxed on the balcony, enjoying the peaceful Academy grounds in comfortable, companionable silence.
They arrived at the sparring room with twenty minutes to spare, choosing to sit and finish their coffee while they waited for Teacher Moros, wondering what challenges awaited them today.
Moros arrived at five to nine, followed by ten pairs of people who filed into the room and sat down on the seats they had pulled out.
"Good morning, I trust you're well rested after yesterday's tests," Moros greeted the pair dryly. "Today, you'll be bringing others into your chaos and leading them through a Dungeon Mission simulation.
"We'll start with a simple task: a scouting mission. You'll lead your squad to scout a dungeon classified as Hostile. Your goal is to infiltrate, gather as much information as possible, and use it to destabilise the Outsiders present, preventing an invasion attempt for at least a month."
"Your squad members are mature Heavenly Clans members experienced in such missions and deemed capable. You will be the command team. Lead them well, return with minimal injuries, and complete your mission."
"You have half an hour to get to know each other. Use the time wisely. And by the way—as a precaution to avoid a repeat of the last arena issue—weapons are to be cold only." With that, Moros moved away and sat down.
Chaos stood up, separating into Yi and Er. Bane followed, shadowing them and looking over each person.
"Good morning, I'm Yi, this is Er, and our Mate Bane. Thank you for assisting us in this training simulation. Could you introduce yourselves so we know how to address you?" Yi began.
The first person to the right stood. "I'm Sol, and this is my Mate, Cloud."
Yi nodded. "Celestial Barrier Master, if I'm correct?" Sol answered with a gentle nod.
The second from the right stood. "I'm Sun, this is my Mate, Moon."
"Celestial Cartographer?" Yi confirmed, earning another nod.
The third from the right stood. "I'm Zen, this is my Mate, Buddha."
"Immortal Data Analyst?" Yi asked, receiving a curt nod.
The fourth from the right stood. "I'm Vale, this is my Mate, Sable."
"Immortal Engineer?" Another nod.
The fifth from the right stood. "I'm Marten, this is my Mate, Joan."
"Mortal Scout?" Yi said, earning a grin.
The fifth from the left stood. "I'm Pat, this is my Mate, Dean."
"Mortal Scout?" Again, a grin in reply.
The fourth from the left stood. "I'm Mike, this is my Mate, Jean."
"Mortal Scout?" Yi asked; he received a grin in return.
The third from the left stood. "Blade, my Mate, Grimm."
"Infernal Assassin?" A raised chin was the answer.
The second from the left stood. "Malus, my Mate, Xie."
"Infernal Shield Warrior?" Another raised chin.
The first from the left stood. "Invictus, my Mate, Forctis."
"Infernal Weapons Specialist?" Yi asked; again, a raised chin was the answer.
Bane had been taking notes on his holopad throughout the introductions. He stepped forward. "Could you describe the strengths of your Bloodlines, and whether you're capable of flight or subterranean movement?"
Sol replied first: "Mana focus and flight." Sun: "Topography control, flight." Zen: "Mental focus, subterranean." Vale: "Mechanical affinity, flight." Marten: "Earth control, subterranean." Pat: "Same as Marten." Mike: "Forest control, forest flitting." Blade: "Stealth and disguise, flight." Malus: "Shield fighting, running and jumping." Invictus: "Weapon mastery, flight."
Bane noted everything and nodded to Yi.
"Bane is a Legendary Infernal Slayer; his Oath Talent is Assassin. I'm a Legendary Twin Demon with Commander as my Oath Talent, and Er is also a Twin Demon with Brawler as his Oath Talent. All of us are capable of every form of movement."
Yi gestured for everyone to retake their seats and continued by asking the group about their usual scouting practices and other clarifying details. The others gladly shared their insights, fully aware that the commander needed as much intel as possible for accurate preparation.
—
Academy Official Livestream – Student Chat Overlay
Nia (14): And Moros hits them with the dry sarcasm again, love it!
Rav (19): Yi and Er working together without fighting? The dreamscape trial must have been wild.
MartenFan (10): Everyone talks about strengths—earth control and subterranean movement are underrated, y'all.
Kira (17): Can't wait for Bane's Assassin moves. Legendary rank hype!
SunWatcher (16): Sun and Moon are always such a team. Topography control is big brains for a scouting op.
DeanFan (15): Scouting teams rolling deep this round. Wonder if we'll get some proper tunnel action?
Jules (12): I wanna try forest flitting! Mike and Jean make it look easy every time.
BladeWatcher (24): Grimm and Blade. Stealth squad never disappoints—bets they vanish before the first check-in?
SolSupport (13): Sol's Mana Barriers never fail. Glad to see Sol and Cloud back.
ValeVibes (20): Why do Immortal Engineers always get left with the planning? Sable deserves to flex this time.
XieFan (11): Shield Warriors ftw! Malus is going to be epic defending the squad.
ForctisFan (21): Invictus out here like weapon master supreme! Can't wait to see his new form.
QuietOne (25): Lowkey love how everyone's just relaxed before the chaos. Coffee on the balcony = mood.
AcademyMod: Reminder: save mission details for after the briefing—no spoilers!
—
Moros stood up as the time ran out. "Time's up."
He waved his hand, the Runic circle flared to life, and the team entered it. The scene shifted to resemble the inside of a building that housed Dungeon Gates; they stood just outside the hall with the actual Gate.
They completed last-minute preps, such as checking the readings from the Gate to determine the expected environment.
"According to the readings, it's a ruin biome, full of overgrown ruins. It appears to be nighttime, and the Outsiders are patrolling close to the Gate, at regular intervals," Zen concluded, checking the readings with Bane.
"Perfect biome to create chaos from above, below, the shadows, and the trees," Er remarked.
Yi and Bane nodded, as their team members looked on in amusement, wondering just how badly the Outsiders would fare.
The squad entered the Gate as soon as Zen gave the all-clear.
They assembled just inside the Dungeon's shadowy threshold, the oppressive air prickling with tension and potential. Yi glanced at Er, who offered a rare grin—one shared in the quiet language of Twins who thrived in disorder.
Bane's eyes darted over the squad, then down the tunnel ahead. "Let's not just scout. Let's make them wonder if the darkness itself turned against them."
Yi nodded at Sol and Cloud. "Barrier up—mute our entry point. No light, no sound leaks." Wisps of shimmering Mana flared, wrapping the group in a cocoon of silence and invisibility.
"Sun, Moon, project a topography overlay so we're never blind, even in pitch darkness. Help the scouts find their marks," Er directed. Sun tapped a crystalline device, ghostly maps of tunnels patterning themselves inside their minds.
Zen and Buddha slipped off, melting into stone. "Report anything unusual from below. Shake up their comms if you can." Yi instructed.
Vale and Sable deployed mechanical drones, sending them skittering through vents, mapping traps and noting Outsider patrols. Data flickered onto Bane's holopad, growing into a tactical masterpiece.
Marten and Pat, with their Mates, tunnelled beneath corridors, raising silent mounds to eavesdrop on Outsider discussions. Mike and Jean ghosted along the walls, blending with roots and shadow, their senses stretching for changes in the living Dungeon.
Blade and Grimm dissolved into the gloom, vanishing as they circled for a pincer flank. Malus and Xie surged forward, silent juggernauts ready to intercept or shield against any sudden threat. Invictus and Forctis hovered quietly overhead, ready to drop in with precise, non-lethal force, bladed weapons gleaming coldly.
Bane summarised, "The Outsiders are jittery. Their patrol routes are already shifting—our chaos is working."
Yi, barely a whisper, directed, "Trigger quiet distractions. Marten, Pat, collapse a side tunnel. Sun and Moon, scramble their geomapping. Vale, make their machines short-circuit. Blade, snatch their latest reports. No one gets hurt, but no Outsider sleeps easy tonight."
Er's chuckle rumbled as, all around, the Dungeon itself seemed to turn traitor: lights flickered, walls shifted, Outsider comms fell silent. Squad members reported back, every strength woven into a tapestry of confusion and terror for their foes.
Moments later, the team slipped out as smoothly as they'd arrived, leaving the Outsiders reeling, their chain of command fractured and invasion plans crumbling. At the threshold, Yi exchanged a gleeful nod with Bane and Er. "One month of chaos, delivered on schedule."
Far behind them, alarms blared pointlessly in the empty, echoing corridors.
—
Moros stood as the countdown ended, resonant voice calling the meeting between the newly formed team to a close. He waved his hand, Runic circle blazing to life, and watched the squad vanish into its glowing heart. As the scene shifted to the familiar interior of the Dungeon Gate facility, Moros settled before the main viewing display.
The room was silent except for the gentle hum of ManaTech. Rows of smaller screens tracked every vital stat—squad positions, enemy patrols, subtle fluxes in the Dungeon's magic. He sipped his tea, impassive, expecting no surprises. Most teams botched this stage—too slow, or too brash—chaos in the wrong places.
But as the simulation unfolded, Moros' attention sharpened. Sol's barrier shrouded their entry in perfect silence; Sun and Moon projected a seamless topography overlay, each step guiding the scouts through gnawing dark.
He watched Zen and Buddha melt into stone, comms flickering out for the Outsiders moments later. Vale and Sable's drones wove a web of data, the Dungeon's shape updating live on Bane's holopad. Marten and Pat tunnelled under, relaying Outsider plans. Mike and Jean ghosted through overgrowth, invisible, unseen.
Blade and Grimm vanished, flanking unseen; Malus and Xie advanced, shields ready. Invictus and Forctis hovered above, bladed weapons muted but ready—all perfectly orchestrated.
Bane's summary flickered in his ear: "The Outsiders are jittery. Their patrols are already shifting—our chaos is working."
Moros made a brief note, eyebrow arching. "Not just a scout—a demonstration."
He watched quiet distractions ripple: a collapsed tunnel here, scrambled geomapping there, Vale's short-circuited machines and stolen Outsider reports. No casualties, but the patrol slept uneasily. The Dungeon itself seemed to rebel.
As the team faded out, Outsider strategy crumbled. The chain of command fractured, and alarms blared uselessly. Moros straightened as the simulation resolved and the squad reemerged. He set down his tea, reviewing green-lit objectives and flawless coordination, lips curling into the faintest of smiles.
When the squad gathered, he addressed them, allowing a sliver of pride to seep through his composed demeanour. "Well led. Next time, make it last two months."
—
Academy Official Livestream – Student Sim Chat
SunWatcher (16): The way they all lined up for the Gate… it's like watching a pro sports team get ready. Er hyping the chaos is 10/10.
Jules (12): LOL Marten and Pat tunnelling again? Outsiders are gonna have nightmares!
BladeWatcher (24): Blade and Grimm on the flank—gone before the cameras even catch them. Stealth MVPs!
MartenFan (10): Earth control underground, forest blending on the sides, silent barriers up top… this is squad synergy!
ValeVibes (20): Sable's drones have the whole field on lockdown. No way Outsiders don't freak out soon.
DeanFan (15): As soon as Bane said, "Let's make them wonder if the darkness itself turned against them"—CHILLS!!
XieFan (11): Malus & Xie = rolling wall. No one's getting through.
ForctisFan (21): Invictus up in the air looking cool as ever. Weapon Specialist in the shadows...
ZeeRocks (13): Zen and Buddha just blitzed their comms! Outsider panic.docx initiated
SolSupport (13): Sol and Cloud's barrier is so smooth you can't even tell it's up! They vanish like legends.
Rav (19): Yi & Er don't even need to talk, it's all glances and nods, wild coordination!
QuietOne (25): Dungeon reacting like it's alive—the squad makes it look easy, but that's high-level stuff.
Kira (17): Every single role used perfectly—the Outsiders didn't stand a chance!
AcademyMod: Sim watchers, hold your mission breakdowns for after the squad debrief! This chat is gold tonight!
—
Moros stood at the front of the Academy briefing room as the simulation dissolved, the squad reassembling under bright magical lights. He waited until all chatter settled before he spoke, posture strict and eyes alert.
"Well led," Moros began, voice dry but carrying the faintest note of approval. "You had one mandate: maximise destabilisation, gather information, and limit casualties. You achieved that—and turned the Dungeon itself into an ally. The Outsiders' patrol routes are in disarray, comms are silent, and their leadership has no reliable chain of command left. No serious injuries among you. The only critique: next time, aim for sustained chaos lasting two months, not just one." His lips almost twitched into a rare, subdued smile. "Debrief, experienced members first."
Sol, arms crossed but eyes confident, spoke first. "That was tighter than any op I've seen since five yera ago. Yi and Er's coordination is next-level—no wasted movement. Using all our talents, not just one, is what made the difference."
Sun nodded in agreement. "Map overlays made it easy for the scouts, especially in low light. But the MVP? The way our underground and aerial teams relayed changes—nobody got caught, and the Outsiders only realised the ground had shifted after we left."
Zen's tone was precise: "We disrupted their comms early and exploited it. Bluffing tunnel collapses and scrambling mapping ensured no one trusted the layout. Destabilisation held because the pieces moved when we needed."
Vale chimed in, a rare smile on their lips. "Drones let us track Outsiders and traps in real time, but integrating Bane's tactical relay was game-changing. Command was distributed perfectly, so nobody waited for orders—they just acted."
Blade, silent until now, nodded. "Having frontline tanks and shield support let us press quietly from both sides. Stealth doesn't work if the enemy's panicking and blockading every direction. We had freedom."
Malus flexed, grinning. "Hardest thing was not smashing through everything. The restraint made the result sweeter. Outsiders will be seeing us in their nightmares."
Invictus gave a crisp salute. "First op in a while where every specialty was used to the fullest. Next time: make it last."
Moros closed the debrief. "Feedback noted. Your teamwork turned the mission from simple recon into targeted upheaval. Tomorrow, we go again—with new variables. Dismissed."
—
Academy Official Livestream – Post-Mission Debrief Chat
Nia (14): Did Moros just SMILE?? This sim must have hit different!
SunWatcher (16): Sun calling out the overlays as MVP—big facts. Literally carried the vision for the whole op!
ZenIsGOAT (17): Zen acting like scrambler-in-chief as usual. No comms, no hope for Outsiders.
ValeVibes (20): Yesss, Vale finally getting recognised! Real-time drone feeds FTW
MartenFan (10): "Earth moves when we need it to"—mic drop. Can they teach that in the junior class, please??
MalusDevotee (12): CHILLS hearing Malus talk about restraint. I want to see a run with ZERO restraint now!
BladeWatcher (24): Blade barely says two words but the silence is ominous. Stealth squad ALWAYS delivers!
Rav (19): Yi & Er's teamwork is so tight now, it's wild remembering how much they bickered bofre the dreamscape trial…
SolSupport (13): Sol's confidence >>> Squad's trust shows in every move.
ForctisFan (21): "Make it last two months"—Moros is already theorycrafting impossible mode, haha.
Kira (17): Everyone acting like this was easy but that was peak coordination.
QuietOne (25): Tbh, even the feedback was a flex—next sim about to go nuclear.
AcademyMod: Reminder: debrief insights belong in the after-action thread! Thanks for all the thoughtful takes!