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No…better than good.

He had ascended.

Even the presence of I’xol’ukz seemed to have lessened somewhat after it occurred.

Even here on Earth.

But she knew it was still out there.

That demon-spawned zombie of Master Hong Feng especially.

But Max’s ascension gave her hope.

* * *

I arrived back at Du Gok Bhong in a burst of [Frenzied Lightning].

As I skidded to a halt in mid-air, stopping right before the barrier’s edge, I had to pause to take in what I was seeing. I had expected to find no one here at all, with everyone having evacuated to the Aetherite crystal in the tower, but instead I saw my platoon busily fending off a horde of demons while Dim Wei and her team extracted Brown crystals from a pit a few yards from the barrier.

Jei Su Long’s platoon was there as well but were sitting back and doing mostly nothing as they watched and jeered my team from afar.

“Iron Bull?”

I turned about to see Chief Yora approaching me. She flew through the barrier with a burst of Qi and then stopped before me.

“Thank the heavens,” she said. “I thought you might have died out there.”

I couldn’t blame her for thinking that. It was just before dawn now, the official end of the exam, and I had been MIA for a while. It had taken me the better part of an hour to find the duffle bags buried beneath the mile wide crater containing the Pythor guts and another to find both my Axe and Glaive.

“I came close,” I said with [Struggler’s Resolve]. “But today’s not the day, it seems.” I then outstretched my hand to show her the two blood-soaked duffel bags in my grasp. “Took me a little extra time to bring these back.”

Chief Yora glanced at the bags dubiously. “Are those your teams crystals?”

“Yeah, like I said, it took me a while to find them.”

“Find them?”

I chuckled. “Don’t ask.”

I then looked back to my platoon, still busy digging away and fighting off monsters. “Is everyone okay? Did Master Eiji check them all?”

“Only Blue Rose appeared to be deeply poisoned by Demonic Qi,” Yora said as she hovered next to me. “The rest refused to forfeit the exam and have stayed outside the barrier.” She then looked up at me and smiled. “As have you, fortunately.”

Yora then straightened herself, taking on a more professional demeanor.

“We can debrief about what you saw later,” she said. “You still have twenty minutes to complete your exam. I suggest you reassume command of your platoon and hold onto those bags until the official hand in.”

I smiled.

She didn’t have to tell me twice.

I jumped back into the fray, weapons swinging, taking out a dozen demons as I rejoined my team.

* * *

The battle to push back the final horde was a quick one. After what I’d just fought, taking out normal demons, even ones influenced by a Full Bloodmoon, was child’s play to me now. My platoon cheered for me when I rejoined them, which caused nothing but glares of disdain to come from Jei Su Long and his crew. As we finally cleared out the last horde of demons, my platoon mobbed me with questions.

“Was that you in the sky?”

“Did you ascend?”

“What happened with that gate? With that monster?”

“You seem ten times stronger now!”

Dim Wei, however, was more interested in the crystals. “Thank you for bringing these back,” she said, dropping the duffle bags at her feet. “There was nothing but low point clusters here. We feared we would be under Jei Su Long’s control for good.”

“Don’t worry,” I said, tapping the duffle bags with my foot. “I wasn’t going to leave you all hanging.”

More smiles and cheers came with that. My platoon gave me salutes of respect, but that paled compared to the lemonade now filling their hearts. They all gazed upon me awestruck, like I had just become someone else.

And I suppose I had, in a way.

Advancing to a new realm wasn’t just about gaining power.

Everything about me had changed.

How I viewed myself.

How I viewed the world.

But some things remained constant no matter what, and as much as I relished the praises of my team, there was something far more important I wanted to go do.

As the exam finally ended, we were let back inside the barrier and Dim Wei dropped the bags full of crystals at Chief Yora’s feet. Her assistants then rapidly began counting them as well as the bags from Jei Su Long’s team.

The bastard continued to glare at me with a mixture of envy and fear now, perhaps not quite knowing how to view me as the whispers of my ascension began floating through his own ranks.

But I paid him no mind, ignoring him with [Indifference].

President Tzu Li Zen then appeared, emerging from the direction of the Academy. We all fell into formation and then saluted as he took a place next to Chief Yora. He didn’t say anything, but he gave me an intense stare. I could feel he was sensing the strength of my Dantian and his eyes widened with a bit of surprise before he slowly gave me a nod.

“Congratulations,” Chief Yora said as she stepped forward to address us. “All of you here today have passed the final examination. While there were some unusual events, I believe it even more so confirms that you have been well prepared for what is yet to come. President Tzu Li Zen has come to address you on your success. President?”

Tzu Li Zen nodded while looking us over. “You have all been deemed fit to venture forth to defend the Empire from the scourge of the Cursed Stars. This is a great honor and you should be proud of your accomplishments today. Sadly, three who ventured out into the wild shall never return, having been lost to the desert this night.”

He paused then and the gravity that three tributes had died took hold. Knowing their deaths were primarily from Jei Su Long’s incompetence brought a heated anger to my stomach, but I quelled it knowing that I’d done what it would take to ensure that such would never happen again.

“Be that as it may,” Tzu Li Zen continued. “We are but soldiers in this conflict and casualties are to be expected. Even in training. And what you are about to face will be many times harder than what you faced tonight.”

He paused yet again perhaps to let it all sink in.

“But that day will come soon enough,” he said. “For now, you will celebrate your achievement. You will be granted one week to recuperate before your deployment. But on this day, I now grant you a new rank and title.” Yora’s assistants began handing us new sets of black robes, but these ones came with a white stripe. “With the bestowing of these robes, you are all hereby promoted to the rank of Graduate Legionnaire. Congratulations.”

A round of cheers and hollers went up as Chief Yora and the President himself both gave us a bow. It was an odd sort of feeling. I’d done it. I’d passed the academy and become a Legionnaire in record time. Well, a graduate one anyway, but still, I had true title now and was but a step away from fully reaching my final goal.

“Wear these new robes with pride,” Tzu Li Zen said. “Fewer than one percent within the entire Empire ever reach such a stage of advancement. You are indeed a select few.” He then turned to Yora. “I believe there is one other matter to consider tonight, Chief Yora?”

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

The president then stood to the side as Chief Yora took center stage again.

“We will now proceed to the matter of the leadership assessment,” Yora said. “Do we have a final tally of the two platoons?”

“Yes, Chief Instructor,” one of the aides said.

“What is the score?”

“For the Platoon of Jei Su Long, the total recovery was 32 Gold, 42 Silver, no Black and no Brown for a total of 5300 points.”

Jei Su Long threw his fist in the air. “No way you will beat that score.”

“And no way you should be leader with how you tried to earn your score either,” Dim Wei quipped from behind me.

The out of place comment threw him off and he glared at Dim Wei with disdain.

Chief Yora looked to Dim Wei imploringly. “What was that?”

She was just about to speak when I spoke ahead of her.

“I’ll apprise you in the debrief, Chief Instructor,” I said. “Please continue.”

There was no need to sully the exercise right now.

Especially as I was now most assured of the results.

“For the Platoon of the Iron Bull, the total recovery was 28 gold, 23 silver, 35 Black, 74 Brown for a total of 5390 points. The winner is the Iron Bull!”

Jei Su Long’s jaw fell to the floor as both platoons went wild.

It was a reminder that the competition was never between our platoons, but Jei Su Long and I alone. All but his Token Tribute cronies, left his side to join with mine and together they let out more cheers, chanting my name.

“Iron Bull!”

“Iron Bull!”

“That’s impossible!” Jei Su Long shouted. “There was no way he had that many crystals before. I saw—!”

“And when did you see?” Dim Wei said. “When you were trying to steal them from me?”

Ah shit, I thought. So much for keeping things cordial.

A mini argument broke out, but Chief Yora quickly brought it to a close.

“Enough of that,” she said. “I will review the details of the exercise in full after my debrief from the now substantive Platoon Commander.” She then turned to me. “Well done Iron Bull, you have proved once again your prudent ability to lead.”

As she gave me a bow I returned it graciously.

I was thankful then that I had spent the extra time to suss out a couple more Gold crystal stashes while I was looking for my sword. There was no way I was going to allow that bastard Jei Su Long to win and lead us all to a fiery death on the Hell Worlds.

“Congratulations to you all once again,” Yora said. “Legionnaires, you are dismissed.”

* * *

As we all dispersed, Chief Yora pulled me to the side along with the president.

“Now then,” she said. “Tell us what really went on out there. What did you encounter?”

Shit…What could I tell them?

Certainly not that I’xol’ukz had paid me a personal visit.

But I could start with something more mundane.

“Jei Su Long caused the death of those tributes,” I said. “They must have run into that Star Born demon earlier. The one I spoke of. Anyway, they were all Qi poisoned, just like Blue Rose, but a bit further gone. He left them there to fend for themselves and die.”

Tzu Li Zen let out a terse sigh. “The things we must tolerate to maintain our funding in this day and age.”

I raised a brow. “Funding?”

“Jei Su Long’s family is a major sponsor of the Academy,” Chief Yora said. “The Twin Rivers Sect make up over a quarter of our annual budget through their donations.”

“Which means from time to time we must acquiesce to accept one of their Young Masters to our accelerated program,” Tzu Li Zen said with a grimace. “Even one’s as destructive and irresponsible as Jei Su Long.” He then shook his head. “At times…we must all bow to someone.”

“You did well to win the competition,” Chief Yora said. “Not that I had any doubts.”

“I would have ensured your victory even if I did have doubts,” Tzu Li Zen said. “I trust the lives of these legionnaires in your hands, Iron Bull. Do your upmost to bring as many back with you as possible.”

I gave them both a bow. “Understood, President.”

“What happened to the demon?” Yora asked. “Did you kill it?”

I nodded. “It’s good and dead alright.”

“What type was it?” she asked.

I smiled. “Not sure, but I’ll draw it for you later.”

I then glanced at the newly rising sun.

“Will that be all for now?” I asked.

“Yes, of course,” Chief Yora said. “After tonight, you’ve earned a well-deserved rest.”

“Later for sure,” I said. “But right now, there’s one person I need to go see.”

* * *

I raced up the stairs with a mixture of apprehension and anxiety in my soul.

Blue Rose seemed on the mend when I had left her.

But that was hours ago and there was no telling what kind of permanent damage being exposed to Dark Frenzy for so long had done to her psyche. I prayed for the best as I hit the rooftop and saw Master Eiji half asleep and leaning against the tower door.

“Master Eiji,” I said, shaking his shoulder to wake him. “I need to see Blue Rose, is she okay?”

He stirred instantly and then his eyes snapped wide open as he looked up at me. “By the nine heavens. You’ve ascended!”

I smiled. “Guess nothing gets past those spiritual eagle eyes of yours.”

“Well done,” he said, rising from his stool to give me a bow. “And I suppose it is Legionnaire Iron Bull now.”

“Graduate Legionnaire,” I said correcting him. “I’m not claiming the real deal until I make it back from my first tour. But enough about me. Please tell me Blue Rose is okay.”

The smile on his face faded. “Her poisoning was quite severe. She’s been under therapy for some time now.”

“Can I go see her?”

“You can try,” he said. “I’ve tried to wake her a few times now.”

Shit… I thought. “She will be okay though, right? Eventually?”

“Spiritually yes,” he said. “But I have no idea how much her mind was forced to endure. As it mends, there is no telling what it might choose to forget to protect itself.”

“So she might not remember anything, like before?”

Master Eiji wobbled his head from side to side. “It depends on the strength of one’s mental fortitude and how much they saw.” He then paused. “You should prepare yourself. I have seen times like this where the mind chooses to remember nothing at all. Not even who they once were.”

My stomach fell through the floor.

“But she was alright, she was speaking to me.”

“As the mind heals, who knows what it will choose to forget.”

Master Eiji stepped to the side and held open the door. “I pray she is still the friend you remember.”

Nerves and anxiety built in my stomach as I gingerly eased open the door. The resonating hum of the Aetherite crystal instantly greeted me as I looked within and saw Blue Rose curled in a ball in the corner.

“I’ll give you some privacy,” Master Eiji said and then closed the door behind me.

As I passed by the crystal, I paused.

It seemed to resonate even stronger now.

Or perhaps it was my soul being more in tune with it.

I touched it briefly and in my mind’s eye, I embodied the form of the red-hued Struggler as the luminescent form of the crystals spirit emerged. She still looked the same, an elegant, celestial figure with skin and hair made of gold.

As she hovered towards me, I could sense hope in her heart. “Oh, Frenzied Flame,” she said, the words again forming within my mind. “Art thou returned to avenge us now?”

“I have and I will,” I said. “But I need your help now, Fhae I’ung.”

At the mention of her true name, a spark of recognition lit within her golden eyes. “Thou dost remember us?”

“Please if there’s anything you can do to restore my friend’s mind, do so.”

She looked off in the distance and into the darkness, perhaps towards where Blue Rose was in the real world. “The scourge is removed. We have done all we can. Please remember us. Avenge us.”

I flexed my core with [Strugglers Resolve]. “It’s alright, I can sense [Everyone’s Pain] inside of you. The [Frenzied Flame] will avenge you against the Cursed Stars.”

She smiled with relief and hope.

“Bless thee, oh righteous Flame.”

I felt the root of my twin Dao increase, but that wasn’t going to help Blue Rose. As I returned to the real world, I realized it was just as Master Eiji had said. The crystal could heal her spirit but not her mind.

It would be up to her to do that.

“Please still be you,” I whispered as I knelt down next to her.

I shook Blue Rose gently and after a few tries she eventually stirred and slowly opened her eyes to look at me.

“Blue,” I said. “It’s me, Max. Do you remember me? Are you okay?”

She didn’t respond, her eyes still shaky.

A long second passed as they focused.

But I didn’t see any recognition there—nothing but a hollow stare.

My heart sank.

Dear God… did she remember anything?

“Blue!” I shouted at her again. “Say something please! Blu—!”

My words cut short as Blue Rose suddenly leapt into my arms. She squeezed me tightly as a sob escaped her lips.

“Blue?”

“Shut up, Max,” she said as she squeezed me tighter. “Just let me thank you, while no one’s looking. Cause no way am hugging you like this in front of other people.”

I let out a laugh as I hugged her back, crushing her with relief and gratitude in my heart.

I still had my friend.

“Okay, okay!” she said, finally pulling away. “Enough of that.”

“How much do you remember?” I asked. “Please say everything.”

“Everything.”

“Seriously, no more jokes. What do you remember?”

She sighed. “I remember that you actually look kind of handsome with those bull horns in your Sacred Soul form. Not that I’m into you like that.”

I laughed again. “Shit this is great, Blue! It means you’ve advanced. Your spiritual and mental fortitude have grown stronger now. You’ll definitely be able to handle the Hell Worlds in time.”

“Yeah,” she said, sounding a little deflated. “In time. I’m assuming you made legionnaire right?”

I nodded. “But don’t worry. I’m going to keep my promise to you. I’m going to come back and join you for your deployment.”

She shook her head with a laugh. “Come on, Max. I know you were just saying that to keep me from going insane. I’m not going to hold you to that. How could I? That’d be like asking you to sign up to commit suicide twice.”

It probably was, but she didn’t know the change I’d just made to my path.

“Trust me,” I said. “I got a lot of trips to the Hell Worlds planned in my future. Just hang here until you’re ready. I’ll need to pop home to take care of some business but after that I’ll be back for sure.”

She looked back at me like I was crazy. “Are you serious, Max?”

“Like a heart attack.”

“Like a what?”

I laughed. “It means I mean it. I’m not going to let you go without me.”

Her eyes shifted back and forth rapidly and then began to tear.

She tackle-hugged me again just as a knock came from the door.

“Just checking to see if—”

Master Eiji cut his words short as he saw Blue Rose in my arms. “Ah, you’re awake!”

Blue quickly pulled away again, blushing embarrassed. “Yes, Master Eiji. I thank you for your help. I wouldn’t have been healed without you.”

Blue Rose then quickly performed a bow on her knees.

“I’m glad,” he said. “And all intact?”

He looked to me as if for confirmation and I nodded.

“She’s back and better than ever. I think she’s had a breakthrough.”

“Wonderful news,” he said. “And good timing. I have a few more visitors who would like to see you, Blue Rose.”

“Visitors?” Blue Rose said.

As Master Eiji stepped to the side, he opened the door to reveal Lo Ren and Chu Ren along with Tu’lok.

“Guys!” Blue Rose shouted as she sprang from the ground.

She then rushed to hug each of them in turn.

“Yo, what the hell?” I said. “You can hug them in front of other people but not me?”

“You’re not other people,” she said.

I could only laugh.

“Congratulations, Legionnaire.” Tu’lok greeted me with a salute and the brothers did the same. “I understand you ascended as well.”

“Something like that,” I said.

“Always the modest one,” Master Eiji said with a chuckle.

“We should all celebrate later,” Chu Ren whispered and then revealed the top of a bottle hidden in his robes.

“Ah, screw later,” I said grabbing the bottle from him. “This many wins in one night, calls for a celebration now. You don’t mind do you, Master Eiji?”

Eiji chuckled. “Well technically, you out rank me now, so it’s up to you.”

“Well only if you join in then.”

Eiji smiled as I opened the bottle.

“I’ll go lock the door,” he said.

* * *

We partied away with the homemade hooch, sitting around the edge of the glowing Aetherite crystal. It’d been a long night, but I didn’t mind losing out on some sleep to celebrate my victory with my newfound friends.

As we joked, talked and laughed I couldn’t help but feel it the perfect capstone to my Du Gok Bhong career. My school days were now over and I was a graduate legionnaire. The only thing stopping me from returning home was a week of R&R and then a quick tour to the Hell Worlds. Quick being the key word, because now, with my new path, I was bound to be coming back for more.

“To Max!” Blue Rose gave me a toast. “Legionnaire, Bull man, extraordinaire”

“Got a nice ring to it!” Eiji laughed, half toasted himself. “To Max!”

They all drank to me and I gave them a toast right back.

“To good friends,” I said. “May the bonds we create, keep us across the stars.”

As we raised our cups in salute, I raised one internally to the Frenzied Flame.

Today we conquered Du Gok Bhong…next stop, the Stars.