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The white stripe signifying my Rank as a Graduate Legionnaire was accented by a small bronze pip, designating me as the platoon commander. I had no love for the empire, but I had to admit, I felt a bit of pride when I looked at myself in the mirror now.

Maybe it was the fact that despite it all, I was still a damn outcast in some sense when it came to true Yee society. We were all just prisoners and scum in Du Gok Bhong. Unless you were the likes of Jei Su Long and his Token Tribute crew.

I had to earn my stripe through the slaying of thousands of demons and enduring the madness of the Cursed Stars. And that was just the fun part. I wouldn’t have it any other way, though. I’d made it through on my own steam. Technically, when I returned to Earth, I could look the Warden straight in the eye, equal to her in rank.

Or superior even.

When I got my Jade Stripe that was.

But even now, I could feel the nature of my advancement kindling my Flame as it tapped into the root of my twin Dao. Surviving through the shit as a prisoner tribute and coming out a Legionnaire was the biggest middle finger to the Empire that I could think of.

And now all I had to do to make it permanent was to survive my first tour.

The thought brought a smile to my lips as I looked at myself in the mirror again.

Hell yeah, I thought. I’m almost home, baby.

And I’m ready to kick ass.

* * *

I entered the courtyard with my platoon of Graduate Legionnaires following in close profile behind me. We marched through the assembly of Brown, White and Black Robes like a well-tuned machine—a far cry from my very first assembly where I stumbled in from the desert wilds. I could sympathize with the wild-eyed stares I got from the newly joined Brown Robes as we passed by the ranks.

The fear and lemonade they produced was an extra treat. I cultivated it as I passed by the other robes, giving Chu Ren and Lo Ren a brief nod as they stood in the back ranks of the White Robes now.

Over the past week I had used my R&R time to help train the both of them, conditioning them to pass their first exam. It’d been brutal they’d said, but with the elixirs I had given them over the past few months, they had both cultivated enough inner strength to get to the deep of the desert and back again unharmed.

Chu Ren was now in charge of overseeing the new Brown Robes in the farming discipline and Lo Ren had joined Master Eiji to train exclusively in the lab after revealing his skilled brewing technique. They would probably never advance far enough to leave Du Gok Bhong, but they both seemed much happier now.

I hoped that I’d done both Kou Ren and Su Ren proud to get them where they were.

I spotted Tu’lok and Blue Rose next. Tu’lok was within the middle ranks of the Phalanx Crew, another stalwart who would perhaps never leave the academy. Blue Rose was another story. She gave me a warm smile as I maneuvered my platoon just in front of her own. She was next in line for advancement, her only impediment being passing the final exam again.

Over the past week we had trained together as well, in her off time, but not in a physical sense. With the breakthrough she’d had with her mental fortitude, she could now tolerate further glimpses into the unseen. I made a sketch of a Star-Born demon for her and she practiced enduring its maddening sight for just a few seconds each night before folding the picture closed again.

“Keep it up,” I’d told her. “By the time I get back to take you on your tour, you’ll be as strong as me in the psycho monster department.”

She had laughed and then gave me another one of her never-to-be-seen-by-anyone-else hugs again, thanking me for all I’d done. I couldn’t tell her exactly when I would return to keep my promise—rescuing Fia from her dilemma and saving my family came first, but Blue Rose seemed content to wait.

“I’ll look at your terrible drawing every day,” she’d said. “It will remind me that even a Chun can have talent.”

Just the memory of that moment made me smile as I passed by her and she gave me a slight nod and a burst of lemonade. The exact opposite came from Jei Su Long as I glimpsed him from within my ranks. The blue-haired cultivator was exuding nothing but anger and rage, but I didn’t care. He had technically failed his leadership assessment based on my report and those of others on his team. But being part of Yee high society had its privileges and he was passed through regardless. The prick would be accompanying me on my first tour as a subordinate, but now that I had both the authority and power to keep him in check, everything would probably be okay.

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Or so I hoped.

With a bastard like that though, you just never knew.

We all came to attention as Chief Yora appeared, followed closely by the Academy President Tzu Li Zen. The assembly began and like I had endured a dozen times already, the Imperial anthem played before President Tzu Li Zen gave his usual welcome speech to the new recruits.

I only half listened to it, but the sentiments rang home true now more than ever.

Our purpose and mission.

Our station within the Academy and how it would be up to us to grow to reach the rank of Legionnaire. The whole thing filled me with an anxiety and anticipation, especially when the Legionnaires from the last deployment were called forth.

“Legionnaires of the 27th Deployment of the 5,073rd campaign,” Tzu Li Zen shouted. “Give report!”

The platoon commander, a Dharmian guy I knew by face, but not name, stepped forward. “High Marshal, the 27th Deployment gives this report of our endeavors on the Hell World of Fhae I’ung. Zero gates destroyed, with 25,115 taels of Aetherite crystal recovered.”

“Excellent report, 27th Deployment,” Tzu Li Zen said. “Assembly! Congratulate them on their success!”

As the salutes and cheers went up, I couldn’t help but feel the Flame was yet again guiding my path. The fact that they’d not had to destroy any gates meant they’d all been taken out already. Which meant my tour should be a relative milk run.

Not that I was looking for an easy ride, but this was still a means to an end for now. Plus, Flame-willing, I would be returning to kick demon ass in earnest for many years to come.

“May the 28th Deployment step forward!”

At High Marshal Tzu Li Zen’s command, I gave the order for my platoon to advance, and we marched forward with a salute.

“Assembly!” Tzu Li Zen shouted. “Hail the 28th Deployment of the 5073rd Campaign. Give them your praise, respect and honor!”

We all braced ourselves at attention as the rest of the assembly raised their fists in salute.

“To those who now face the Hell Worlds of the Cursed Stars, we the assembly of Tributes salute you! May we too one day tread the path of death and sacrifice ourselves for the glory of the Empire. Go a mortal and return a god!”

The words poured a new sense of purpose and conviction into my soul.

Especially the last part.

The free Frenzy that came with it was like a tidal wave, the twin path of my new Dao kicking in. I cultivated it eagerly, reveling in my new expanse of power. I was still a fledgling Sacred Soul, with no idea of how to advance down my next cultivation path, but tons of Frenzy was a good start.

As we were given the order to dismiss, Chief Yora approached.

“You have thirty minutes to board the army transport skiff,” she said. “Commander, assemble your platoon ten minutes prior.”

“You heard the lady!” I said, dismissing my platoon. “20 minutes to grab your gear and go.”

As they departed, Jei Su Long gave me the stink eye. “Yes, Platoon Commander. May your reign in command be long.”

He said the words sardonically, edged with venom and it took all my wherewithal to not backhand him for insolence. The smirk of [Indifference] was far more effective, causing a burst of anger to come from within him.

“Ensure he does not leave the safety of the transport,” Tzu Li Zen said as he joined us. “Strict orders from the royal house.”

“Understood,” I said. “Will probably be safer for all of us as well.”

Yora laughed. “Never one to mince words. Here, these are for you.”

She handed me a small metal case the size of a notepad and when I examined it further, I found it opened to reveal an actual book inside along with a metal quill.

“For your artistry,” she said. “Ensure to capture us something new.”

“You can count on it,” I said, giving her a bow.

I then turned and gave the same to the president. “Thank you, High Marshal, for your support.”

“Good luck Legionnaire,” Tzu Li Zen said. “Bring them home safely.”

* * *

I spent my final moments in Du Gok Bhong prison gathering my belongings and saying goodbye to my friends. They gathered to see me off at the landing pad high atop the prison, next to the Aetherite crystal chamber.

Chu Ren and Lo Ren gave me bows of respect and a bottle of special hooch to take on my travels. Tu’lok gave me a firm forearm to forearm handshake and a royal salute with his Phalanx Glaive.

“Go a mortal and return a god, my friend,” he said. “Off to the stars with you now.”

I laughed. “Thanks, Tu’lok.”

I finally approached Blue Rose who gave me a snarky little smile. True to her nature she offered me a fist bump instead of a hug. “See you in two weeks, Bull Man.”

I ignored the fist and gave her a hug anyway, causing her to yell in protest as I pulled her off her feet. “Hey! Put me down, damn it!”

“See you in two weeks, Blue,” I said, dropping her back down.

She blushed and smiled, shaking her head. “I’ll get you back for that one.”

“I’m sure you will. See you guys soon.”

I gave them all a final wave and then turned to head towards the army transport skiff parked on the rooftop. I glanced upwards at the clear blue sky. Somewhere up there was a star ship waiting to transport me and my men to the Hell Worlds. As I approached the skiff, two army personnel in olive green and black-trimmed robes, came to attention and gave me a salute.

“Greetings Legionnaire Commander,” one of them said. “I am Infantryman Wei, Third Spear, 566th battalion, Imperial Army Infantry aboard the battleship Xing Long. I will be your liaison for this deployment. Your men have all assembled. Are you prepared for departure?”

I took a final glance over my shoulder and saw my friends waving to me in the distance. I then expanded my view to encompass the aetherite crystal chamber and imagined the spiritual entity that lay within. I had a whole lot of people rooting for me now and I wasn’t about to let them down.

“We’re ready,” I said to the soldier as I made my way inside. “Let’s get to the stars.”

* * *

In the outer darkness, It reeled—contemplating what had transpired.

The Cursed Flame had grown stronger.

Much stronger…the Husk now able to repel It from the very firmament.

And in a strengthened vessel no less.

Still, that vessel was not Its true champion.

Its champion was not yet formed.

Soon, It thought.

But the Husk grew yet stronger and bold in Its hubris.

The Husk had dared to even threaten It.

To dare to seek It out within Its own domain.

Folly.

Perhaps It would need not a champion if the Husk delivered itself to Its very gate.

The Husk would seek its own demise.

Yet still something within It lay unsettled.

The Husk grew rapidly in power.

Disturbingly so.

Its defeat upon the firmament was unexpected.

What would transpire if the Husk grew even more so?

The strength of the Cursed Flame within it, more than doubled before Its eyes.

How though?

The unsettling sensation came again, a sensation alien to it, but not unfamiliar.

It produced it easily within others, but for Itself, this was something new.

Something novel.

For the first time…

It felt Fear.