Meanwhile in the Everlasting Continent. In a small room a humanoid dragon opens its eyes. A bright and eerie light shuns from within. The room was simple with a few small counches, and there were other several figures in the room.
" 1st Elder, how was your cultivating?"one of the attendes asked.
"It was good. I feel like my opportunity will come and I will break into the next minor realm. Has there been anything new that has happened?"
"No. Except for the Nine Dragon Empress is having a lot of meetings with the phoenix clan leaders. It seems like one of their elders had asks for Xenesis to join an upcoming operation in the near future."
A slight grin found on the 1st elder face when hearing this news. The dragons and the phoenixes have a long history of conflicts in the open and in the dark. Even with the cooperation in suppressing and placing restrictions on the economy to several nations and clans. Nothing brings more joy to the 1st elder heart is seeing the two of the strongest overlords in conflict.
"Since that is the case I will go back into seclusion to try and breakthrough this bottleneck. Let me know of the grand elder needs me or our Empress."
" Yes, 1st Elder."
The 1st Elder closes his eyes, fell back his into cultivation. Outside of the first elder's personal attendee, these young cultivators that were under the 1st Elder could only sneer. You could even see disdain at the 1st Elder and a certain level of loafness from them. It is known the dragons clan is a warring clan and the only way to be seen as equal is to have enough might. However, for this 1st Elder even if he had enough might. He was more of plots and schemes than using brute methods.
Refusing to get his hand dirty regardless how bloody it is. This was one reason for the disdain. The other reason is the lack of pride. Everyone knows the level of pride a dragon had in itself and their abilities. Sometimes it feels like this 1st elder was someone else and not a true dragon.
---
"Young master, are you leaving for another mission?"
"Unfortunately, yes."
"Do you know how this mission will be, young master?"
"I don't, Beyond Blue. Let see what kind of spatial bag this is? On my... This more like dimensional pouch then bag."
"Young master, do you think the patriarch gave you the wrong one?"
Sifir just shrug and look at Beyond Blue with mild indifferent.
"His bad. Beyond Blue, go and supplies from clan warehouse. The usually plus, essential containers, several pair of clothing."
Beyond Blue nodded and leave the room.
'I still have several spirit fruits and plants for the next breakthrough. Cultivating this body method is rough. Not only it demand large amount of resources but breaking into the next level is difficult as well. Let me get ready for this mission.'
-
There was one hour remaining before Sifir needs to report. Even if Sifir was not late. He was not early either. Some would think either this move was smart or insane. For the fact the Elder is not a benevolent type.
When Sifir arrived at the location where he was supposed to meet the Elder. Seeing the a very casual building that was 400sq feet wide, medium size fence around, with plenty of guards. Most of the guard's cultivation levels were at the initial stage of Earth Realm and one could guess their battle prowess in middle or late Flowing Water. That cultivation stage could suppress most normal cultivators except for the genius who are the expectations.
'Mhm... Let me prepare for battle just in case. Never know who might want to take my life. I took several hours to scout out the area for some escape route.'
The guards finally noticed Sifir walking up to the gate of the building. Knowing that this location was in the middle of nowhere.
"Halt! What business do you have here?"
"I, Sifir Midnight has been summoned here by the Elder."
Sifir toss a token to the guards at the gate. Once the guards examine the authenticity of the token and knowing it can't be fake by the sigil on the back of the token. They allow Sifir to enter.
Sifir never let his guard down for a moment. Noticing that all eyes were on him. Sifir quickly picked up the pace walking to the door. Just before Sifir got to the door. He sends out a small energy pulse to see if there are any traps or formations that could cause harm to himself.
Three figures looking at the floating screen of what is happening outside of casual mansion. Seeing Sifir being cautious and not overlooking minor details. One of the members of unit 04.
"Ain't he a caution one? Too bad being cautious won't save your life."
"Being safe is better than being sorry. Your reckless behavior will get someone killed or yourself."
"Haha. Never. You let me have a taste. I promise you won't regret it."
-
"Nothing seems wrong with the door or the entry way." As Sifir proceed into the building and sees a large hallway with a room at the end. Sifir moves carefully as he makes his way to the room. As soon as Sifir gets into the room a low husky voice rang out.
"Hello, Midnight clan member. The Elder will be with you in a moment. I am here to brief you on the unit you will be assigned to and items on the tables. "
Sifir says nothing with a indifferent on his face.
"You can pick any of these three masks for the unit. Once you pick a mask. You will use it all the time when you are assigned in Unit 04. "
"All the time or just on this mission?"
"Since you are assigned unit 04. You must wear the mask all the time. No can see your face when on the mission or not."
"Will the mask be fused to my face?" With a slight frown on Sifir's face.
"Hahaha, Why?"
"Why not?"
"Are you a little too cautious? They say A Midnight clan member are fearless? Very laughable"
Sifir said nothing and kept standing in the room looking at those three masks.
Those three masks were on the side wall. One mask was red and it looked like oni. The other mask was green with the face of dragon. The last mask was black, bearing two large fangs on the of the jaw of the mask. However, the more Sifir looked at the black mask the more he wanted to pick. In the lazy matter Sifir responded.
"I will pick the black mask."
"Sigh. You will learn it is better playing dumb and not smart. Either way it is your life."
"Since you pick your mask. Now I am going to brief you on your unit. It is a four man unit that includes yourself and three other cultivators.This unit's main task is to hit and run. Sometimes the length of mission varies."
Sifir nods but you can tell that he is not amused with these arrangements.
-
The messager approaches the Elder to give him the report.
"Elder, Sifir has arrived. The item and information of purpose of his new team was given to him. Do we need to do anything else?"
The elder eyes open up and a wicked smile appears on the face. The aura that leaking out came back in and the elder turned to that messager
"No, that is fine when Sifir is finished being brief on the items and purpose of the team. Bring unit 04 to me with Sifir. I will brief them on the mission at hand."
A cold and eerie flashed in the elder eyes as he spoke. Knowing that there will be only few chances to have this kind of opportunity. The Elder closes his eyes and waits patiently for the assigned unit to come.
-
The husky voice spoke again.
"The Elder is ready for you. You can process through the doorway into the next room with the Elder. The Elder will also give you your codename as well. "
Sifir said nothing and processed through the doorway. Even though it looks like Sifir let down his guard that was not the case. He had a feeling that other masks were more dangerous than the mask he just picked up.
Sifir walked to the next room and condensed a new mask that looked like the mask he just picked up and placed it on his face. The cultivators in the other room heard footsteps and they all turn to see their new member of the unit. However, the Elder narrowed his eyes when he saw the mask Sifir was wearing. The Elder didn't say anything about it. However, how could the other three not tell that something was off.
Soft clap of hands
"Good. Everyone is here and now the meeting can now start. This is unit 04 and its codename is Quiet Strom. You will be working with other unit. Their codename is Ghost 01."
"Time to introduce yourself to your new member of the unit."
A man covers in a crimson blood cloak with a simple attire. Black guards on his forarms. Two small bags hang from his thick bloody belt. The figure was at seven and half feet tall with a slim build. Two swords on his back and a very sharp aura. He was wearing a red scarlet mask with a demonic face.
"Hello, I am the leader of this unit and my name is Death Sword."
The next person wore a dark purple cloak. The mask that this figure wore were other demonic mask expected for it had a simple design on the forehead. You can tell this figure was a lady and from the outline of the curves. Her body was something fierce. A little more luxurious in her attire. Her top cover snowy peaks and show a little skin. The bottom was semi-loose fitting pant. Both were the color purple and with black and gold trims. Around her waist was a scarf with one medium size bag and smaller pouch on her leg.
"Hello, I am the captain of this unit. My name is Purple Night."
The next figure look wore a orange-ish black cloak. From the look of it the figure didn't get along with a lot of people. And always like shooting off at the mouth with no consequence of the action. The figure was more plump than muscluar, looking like six feet and eight inches. Carrying two machetes with complicated design.
"Hello. My name is Jagged Black. It is not nice to meet you little grunt."
As Sifir looking at his new unit and team members. Only thing that cross his mind. This is going to be trouble. There was no doubt about it especially from Jagged. It look like he cannot keep his comments to his self.
The Elder look at Sifir with a nonchalant air. Not caring what Sifir was thinking. The Elder had his own plans. No matter what it may look like at the end. As long the result he wanted happened the Elder didnt care what action needed to be taken.
"Usually I dont let new people pick their codename. However, since you are from the Midnight clan. You can pick your own codename."
"Oh I know! What about Dead Night?!?!" Jagged chuckled as he spoken. "You never know how ones dies in the dead of the night, right little nighty night?" The mockery in tone of Jagged was laced with killing intent."
"Who is this again? Cause I like a jokester." Sifir spoke in condescending matter that left little room argue how he currently felt about Jagged.
"You know Jagged as night fall, the dead inevitably follow. Even Black cannot evade the night, no matter how desperately one might plead for mercy."
At this point the room drop a few degree. The eldyer watched with asumement on his face. Until a message enter his head.
"Oh Elder. You better stop your little underling while he is ahead. I don't want something bad to happen to him on this mission of yours. Remember, master want Sifir alive and not dead. Take heed my first and last warning."
The message ended and the Elder had a ugly expression on his face now. How could he not forgot that person is watching. Was the Elder scary of that person with a emagitic voice? No, the Elder wasn't but, the Elder knew his master favor talent over people who scheme. The Elder turn around and look at Jagged.
"Stop! If you say one more word and I will refine your soul."
A cold shiver shot up Jagged spine and he immediately closes his mouth. The other two was not surprised by this. Since the Elder temper was known by his people.
Sifir, look at Jagged frostily. However, Sifir did not pursue the matter not because he didn't want to. Because he could not. When the Elder gave off a little bit of enegry. Sifir knew he could not fight against that. Retreat is a better course than valor and Sifir had time to make a gentlemen revenge.
"Now your mission target is Everlasting Continent. You will be going to neutral city called Twin Moons. It close to the boarder of humans and the dragons territory. What we are after is information on what dragons situation within their clan and to bring down this some keys area that belong to dragon clan in the city. You will have one year in Liger age. If you had forgotten, humans and monkey ages faster than us who have higher bloodlines. For every one year for us it is five years for them. Don't take the humans lightly. They do have amazing growth rates."
The Elder look at Sifir with more indifference than before.
"What is your codename?"
"Fall Night."
The Elder nodded. Then the Elder look at the rest of group. "Now, go and complete the mission I gave you."