Ken, Liz, and around 18 kids had passed trial two as this test was coming to a close. There was only a single person who remained, while the others flatlined inside the pod, consumed by their inner demons.
" What do you think is taking him so long? Zeke should've been one of the first people to make it out."
Liz anxiously asked Kenshin, who couldn't hide his worried expression as he stared in silence at the pod that Zeke still occupied. Suddenly, a beeping sound was heard as Zeke's pod gradually opened. Immediately, Liz and Kenshin rushed over to his side.
"Zeke!"
They both shouted in relief and joy while Zeke stepped out with nothing but a blank look.
"Are you alright?"
Liz questioned, feeling that something was off. Lost in thought, the imprints of his past with Akari, along with their unborn child and a future that never came to pass, lingered.
" Yah, it's nothing, just shaking off the cobwebs."
He buried his emotions yet again, stretching his arms as Silva walked through the metal door. Catching the attention of every orange fledgling. Especially Kenshin, clenching his jaw in frustration and anger like he always did whenever they met. This was something that Silva would purposely ignore, even when killing intent would sometimes leak from Kenshin. The pupilless assassin who was the root cause of Kenshin's deep trauma and heartache basked in his hatred. He welcomed the day when that boy from a memorable night massacre would point his fangs back towards him.
"Congrats, Maggots! Now, follow me! Once outside these premises, you're free to roam about until further notice!"
Silva barked, escorting everybody out of the facility and his master's compound like he was chaperoning a class field trip. While another assassin was left to dispose of the bodies still encased. Crossing the red and gold threshold as a group, Zeke heard an unfamiliar voice ring in his head.
' Meet me at the Tomb of Whispers, where your Den Mother was laid to rest.'
'Who is this?'
Zeke questioned with hostility.
' Who am I? How bold you are for a mere fledgling... We never met, but I'm sure that the title of Reaper, Ono doesn't elude you.'
Ono, remarked. Catching Zeke off guard.
'...Understood, I'll be there.'
Zeke responded as Ono ended the transmission thereafter. Harboring doubts about their meeting. In the end. He decided it would be best to face the problem head-on, rather than being blindsided, from the shadows. If things turned for the worse, Zeke was confident enough that he could at least escape this hellhole with his life intact. Studying the holographic map gifted by the Immortal System over these last months. He now knew the ins and outs of the Hidden Cave of Untold Shadows like it was second nature.
However, making a premature getaway would throw his plans into a tailspin. Weighing the potential pros and cons, Zeke turned to Liz and Kenshin after they separated from Silva.
"I'll catch up with you guys another time. I need to be left alone for a moment."
" Okay, no problem... We'll meet tomorrow at Den Mother Vivien's, same time as usual, right?"
Kenshin asked with a faint smile, trying to hide his concern for his little brother.
"Yah."
Zeke reassured the two as he bid his farewells, going in the opposite direction from them. Liz could only wave goodbye in silence as she wondered what tribulations he experienced inside the pod.
Soon, Zeke arrived outside Elizabeth's tomb. There, he met Ono and an unexpected individual at his side.
" 00! It's a pleasure to meet the rising star, face to face, at long last."
Ono smirked, sizing up the low-cut, golden-eyed, short, bronze child whom he considered a potential prodigy. Witnessing many talented prospects rise and then quickly fall by the wayside. He was intrigued to see if this boy would prove any different.
"You honor me with your high praise, Reaper Ono. The pleasure is all mine."
" Yes, indeed. Anyways, I assume you're acquainted with 711, right?"
Ono asked, gesturing towards the nearby young woman who had a petite figure and black bangs that partially covered her red eyes. 711 stood awkwardly, trying to maintain some composure, pondering why he let her be privy to a discussion that seemed private. Still assessing the situation, Zeke answered,
" Indeed, we crossed paths a couple of times in the Valley of Light..."
" No need to fret, I don't intend to reprimand you for your involvement in 701's deaths."
Ono laughed, noticing that he was uneasy about disclosing their past encounter. This crimson-haired, bifocaled man harbored no hard feelings or ill will about losing someone he had once valued. In this world, he knew that setbacks were common and to be expected. What mattered most was how someone adapted and learn from their past failures. Remaining defensive, Zeke quietly waited for the main topic of discussion as Ono went on,
"Without mincing any more words. I want you, 00... or should I say Zeke."
Taken aback, he didn't know what to say at first. Of course, Zeke didn't have any loyalty to Reaper Lee, as he was placed high on his kill list. Yet, switching masters was akin to seeking one's own grave in this environment. Able to break through onto Stage 3 Disciple Rank shortly after the " Festival of Red Roses".
Despite his power growing rapidly in less than a year since transmigrating. Whatever Ono's motives were, Zeke was still too weak to rebuke the ironclad system set in place.
"I immensely appreciate your recognition of me, Reaper Ono, but..."
"Stop. I already know what you're thinking. However, allow me to clarify. What I want isn't for you to serve under me. Instead, I would like us to form an undisclosed partnership."
Ono interrupted Zeke with a mischievous grin.
....
Meanwhile, inside a luxurious room located inside a daunting grand temple in the Valley of Death. Wearing a black silk robe, decorated in silver and green spider webs. An elderly man with sweeping grey hair and a handlebar moustache blew pillars of skunk aroma smoke from his lit pipe. Gazing outside his window in deep thought, as he tended to do. Master Taki found himself reflecting on a person he once considered a brother. Named Rui Lee, this man was a former Reaper who ruled over the Valley of Order.
Part of the Unit 1 class of '48. Even when being in different factions, they formed an instant bond when facing the three trials as children. Climbing up the ranks together, Taki eventually became the 15th Reaper of the Valley of Death while Rui Lee became the 2nd for his respective valley. In the past, it was well known for Reapers to be dethroned by force and underhanded means. This came to an end when a certain passing impacted the bottom line for those who controlled the Hidden Cave of Untold Shadows behind closed doors.
Ironically, it was the natural death of Rui Lee's father that implemented this change, promoting stability.
Dying of old age, Bru Lee was one of the three founders, while his counterparts dropped like flies, he remained as a longstanding pillar. Living up to his valley's namesake, nobody dared trifle with him due to his strength and iron-fisted rule. On Bru's deathbed, he passed the title of Reaper to his youngest son, Rui. To the dismay of his oldest child, Ryu. His wrath wouldn't be fully felt until decades later.
Taki recalled the last conversation he had with Rui.
....
'Are you a fool! Why do you insist on placing your trust in that twisted brother of yours?'
'Twisted? You're one to talk.'
Communicating through voice transmission. Located in the sunny outside world. Rui smirked as he and Taki sat side by side, blending into a crowded stadium at their leisure, which hosted a tournament of young mages.
'That's beside the point, and you know it!'
Taki groaned, staring daggers at the purple-haired man casually wearing a yellow jumpsuit. Witnessing him at this moment, those who feared and respected Rui wouldn't even recognize this seemingly carefree version of himself. Whether these two watched on in envy or pure curiosity for these young stars who were allowed to shine in the light. They both came accustomed to spectating events like this as a shared hobby.
'I know, Taki... But don't you ever get sick of killing constantly as a means of living?'
Rui's once playful tone echoed in Taki's mind, taking a turn in the opposite direction.
' Huh, what kind of thought is that, for a Reaper to have?'
'Hmph, it definitely isn't a thought afforded or befitting of our title and the responsibility that it entails. However, it's something that often comes to mind, ever since I became a father.'
Hearing this, Taki couldn't believe the words that came from his closet friend,
' Tsk, what a joke! As I consider you like a brother, I'll strongly advise that you put aside such foolish and naive ideology if you are to maintain your reign!'
Pausing for a second, taking in Taki's advice, Rui posed a seemingly random question,
' Say, I never spoke about my father's last words to me after he named me his successor? Have I?'
Unable to see how this correlated with their discussion, Taki was still interested in where he was going with this.
' No...'
'I'm sorry.'
' Excuse me?'
Taki remarked in disbelief as Rui expounded on what he just said,
' Those were his last words he left to me. "I'm sorry."... Hard to comprehend, huh? Well, imagine my surprise to hear a man whom I had never heard a kind word let alone an apology, say so in his final moments with no explanation behind its meaning.'
Gazing at the youth on stage, giving it their all in a heated competition, Rui continued,
'However, after many decades of ruling in the same position he once held. It didn't dawn on me until I finally became a dad myself. To realize what he really meant.'
'That being?'
'Meaning, he may have succeeded in ruling, but he failed as a father. A feeling that I'm afraid will soon come to pass with my newborn son, Kei.'
The purple-haired man gave off a bleak smile. Pondering on the requirements that could make someone a successful parent. Rui came to realize that whatever it may encompass, he honestly didn't want his child to be brought up in an environment where death was more revered than life itself. Leading back to the initial discussion held between them about his brother Ryu,
' I guess that's the bigger picture I'm trying to paint. It's becoming clear to me that I'm no longer fit to rule as one of the three pillars. So, after today, I plan on stepping down as the Valley of Order Reaper, leaving my older brother Ryu to take up my position.'
' What are you insane?'
'Maybe... but I believe it's a decision that I can truly live with.'
Taking a moment to digest this shocking news expressed by Rui, Taki finally gave in. Well aware that it was nearly impossible to dissuade him otherwise once he had made up his mind.
' Ugh, I get it, already, so there's no need to bring out any more small violins as well.'
" You asshole, but when you're right, you're right! There's no need to bring the mood down. When we came here to enjoy a spectacle!"
Rui laughed aloud, ending their conversation, which was only known to them. They dropped the subject, reverting their attention to the young mages. The next day, inside the Hidden Cave of Untold Shadows, an uproar took place that sent shockwaves throughout the four valleys. Something which Taki expected, already privy to Rui's decision. However, unexpectedly, the news that followed culminated in Rui's untimely death instead.
.....
Blowing his troubles away in a cloud of smoke. In the present day, Taki could only relive those memories in regret and anguish. Blaming himself for not persuading his sworn brother onto a different path. He eventually called forth one of his subordinates,
" Send for Aka and Akane, immediately!"
"Yes, Master."
The black cloaked assassin responded, exiting afterwards. Eventually, a dainty male and female pair of siblings entered. Similar in appearance despite being a year apart, at 20 and 19 years of age. Wearing a red ninja uniform, a black bobbed cut, and orange eyes, both bowed.
" In this year's final trial, your two sole tasks will be eliminating 00 at all costs! Once done, I'll officially accept you pair as my direct disciples."
He quickly explained, still having an unquenched hatred for 00 killing off 444 in the "Festival of Red Roses". Heavily investing in his future development. In his own demented, selfish little way, Taki considered the child with the rare Venomous Physique like his own son. Needless to say, that 00 death became one of his top priorities for vengeance alongside Reaper Lee.
"Understood, we will succeed without fail."
"Good, now go and train in the meantime."
"Yes, Master Taki."
They soon left in unison, doing as instructed, as Taki was left alone in his room once more,
" Wait and see, Ryu. I will have my long-awaited revenge. Your pet's death will only be the start of your eventual demise!"
.....