Chapter 11 – The Path to Strength
A deep, ringing noise echoed in Ardyn's ears. His body felt heavy, his breath slow and ragged. His mind drifted between consciousness and darkness, struggling to make sense of where he was.
"Wake up, Ardyn!" a familiar voice called out, distant yet urgent.
His eyelids fluttered. The ringing gradually faded as another voice, softer this time, said, "He's waking up."
Ardyn slowly opened his eyes, his vision still blurry. As he blinked, he saw the faces of his companions gathered around him. Zion, Steel, and Kai stood near his bed, relief washing over their expressions.
"You almost died, man," Zion said, arms crossed. "Took you long enough to wake up."
Ardyn groaned as he tried to sit up, pain shooting through his body. He could still feel the battle's toll—the exhaustion, the wounds, the lingering burn from Darana's hellfire. He clenched his fists, trying to recall the moment everything went dark.
"What… happened?" he asked, his voice dry and hoarse.
Zion smirked. "Everything happened. You fought like hell, but Darana nearly got you. If it weren't for Lord Ezra…" He paused, looking toward the doorway.
Ardyn's gaze followed, and there stood Ezra, arms folded, watching silently. His piercing eyes held an unreadable expression—one that made Ardyn uneasy.
"Get up," Ezra finally said, his tone firm yet calm.
Ardyn took a deep breath and forced himself to stand. Every muscle in his body screamed in protest, but he refused to show weakness. He met Ezra's gaze with determination.
For a moment, silence filled the room. Then, Ezra's lips curled into a smirk.
"Are you ready to die?"
The question lingered in the air like a cold wind. Kai's eyes widened, while Steel and Zion tensed up. But Ardyn… he just grinned.
"Hah. You already know my answer."
Ezra let out a small chuckle. "Good." He turned away, walking toward the door. "Because from now on, for the next twenty days, I'm going to train you all."
Kai's excitement was immediate. "Hell yeah! Let's go! We're gonna be unstoppable after this."
Zion rubbed his chin. "So what's the catch?"
Ezra stopped at the doorway and glanced back at them. "March 20. The Tournament of Clans."
Ardyn's expression sharpened.
Ezra continued, "Assassins from all over the world will gather. The strongest killers, warriors, and hunters will be there. And the grand prize? Two billion yen."
Zion's eyes widened. "Two… billion?"
Steel smirked. "Now that's motivation."
Ardyn clenched his fists. "And what happens if we lose?"
Ezra's smirk faded. "Then you'll realize just how weak you truly are."
The weight of his words hit them all. This wasn't just a tournament. This was a battlefield where only the strongest survived.
Ardyn felt his heart pound. This was his chance—to push himself beyond his limits, to surpass everything he once thought was impossible.
From that moment on, this place was their home.
Their battlefield.
And their grave—if they weren't ready.
---
The Silent Night
That night, after the others had gone to sleep, Ezra stood alone on the rooftop, gazing at the full moon. A cool breeze swept through the air, rustling his long coat. His expression remained unreadable, lost in deep thought.
Memories of the past resurfaced—the wars, the betrayals, the blood that stained his hands. He had lived longer than most, seen more death than any man should. He had built his clan from nothing, watched his strongest warriors rise and fall.
He had been untouchable once. The pinnacle of assassins. A golden bloodline unmatched by any.
And now?
He was a shadow of his former self. His abilities were stolen, his strength weakened with age. He could still fight, still kill—but he was no longer invincible.
"Tch," he muttered to himself, shaking his head.
His gaze turned toward the night sky. Somewhere out there, Minamoto still lived.
The only man who had ever come close to defeating him.
Ezra sighed, rubbing his temple. He was getting too old for this. But there was one thing he still had left to do.
Train them. Make them strong. Prepare them for what's coming.
If Ardyn wanted to surpass his limits, he would have to break every weakness within himself.
Ezra smirked.
"This world… it's still far from peace."
His eyes narrowed as he thought about the tournament. About the monsters that would show up.
And about the ones lurking in the shadows—waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
He took one last glance at the moon before heading inside.
Tomorrow, their real training would begin.
And none of them would leave .