Chapter 7: Within You
The next morning, Riven and Tetsuro left their dorm room #1499 and made their way to the training hall. The sound of warriors sparring and training echoed throughout the large space as they entered.
A guard quickly approached them.
"Have you two got your rank names ready?"
"Yes, we do," Riven replied.
"General Godsmen is waiting in his office. Pay him a visit."
The two nodded and headed straight for the General's office. As they stepped inside, General Godsmen was standing near the wall, quietly observing a large piece of ancient art.
"Warriors, I'm guessing you have them ready," he said without turning around.
"Yes sir," they replied in unison.
Godsmen took a seat behind his desk. "Please, boys. Take a seat too."
Riven and Tetsuro sat down and handed him a letter containing their chosen rank names. The General opened it and inspected the contents carefully.
"Hmm… Red Knight and Golden Monk. Interesting names." He looked up at them. "You know why everyone needs a rank name, right?"
"To conceal our real names?" Tetsuro answered.
"Right on the dot, Monk," Godsmen said with a small nod. He then stood up. "I hope you learned what I told you about yesterday. I won't ask you to demonstrate it anymore."
"Why not?" Riven asked, surprised.
"Because I see the best potential within you two," the General replied. "Riven, you may be able to master Armament Chi the most, due to your weapon mastery from the files I read about you. And for you, Tetsuro, you may be able to master Flow Chi due to your background as a monk."
Godsmen walked toward the door. "You may train now and be ready until the next mission is posted on the notice board. Dismissed."
"Thank you, General," they both said in unison.
As they left the office, two guards — looking burned and exhausted — came running down the hallway and burst into the room.
"General! We've got a problem!"
"What could be the problem now?" Godsmen asked sharply.
"Molgathar is going crazy in the dining hall!"
"That reptile brat…" Godsmen muttered. He immediately left the office, the guards rushing after him. Riven and Tetsuro quickly followed.
When they entered the dining hall, chaos greeted them. Tables were flipped over, food was scattered everywhere, and parts of the hall were nearly in flames.
In the center of the mess, a green dino-humanoid demon was holding the head chef high in the air by his shirt.
"NEXT TIME, I NEED MY FOOD AVAILABLE AND NOT FINISHED!" Molgathar roared.
"MOLGATHAR!" General Godsmen shouted. "Drop the cook NOW, or I'll step on you!"
"Whatever, old geezer," Molgathar replied with a growl. "My favorite food is finished and I'm hungry."
Godsmen's eyes narrowed dangerously. "My office… NOW!"
Before General Godsmen could leave the dining hall, he stopped in front of Riven and Tetsuro.
"That's Molgathar," he said. "He's stronger than you think. Due to his bloodline — a mix of dino and demon — you've got a death machine right there."
Riven looked surprised. "What's someone that powerful doing here with the Elite Warriors?"
Godsmen gave a small sigh. "Well, that's because he is part of the Elite Warriors. He's still too young to be unlocking his full power."
"Anyway, I'll be in my office with Molgathar. You two continue with your day. I'll see you later."
Meanwhile, in the training hall, Riven and Tetsuro were watching the warriors train when they spotted Molgathar sitting in the corner, meditating peacefully.
"Dude, no way," Riven whispered to Tetsuro. "That guy who almost destroyed the dining hall is meditating?"
"Maybe he's meditating to stop himself from going berserk," Tetsuro replied.
A guard soon approached Molgathar. He stood up and followed the guard without a word.
"Wonder where he's going," Riven muttered.
Suddenly, a tap on the shoulder made them turn around.
"Tetsuro and Riven, Mukuroshibo Sir is requesting you two."
They followed the guard out of the training hall and into the Legend Rank building. The moment they entered, they felt the overwhelming pressure of powerful chi flowing through the air. Many elite warriors were clashing in intense sparring sessions.
They passed the main training area and entered Mukuroshibo's office. Inside, they saw Molgathar already sitting quietly in a chair.
"Warriors, take a seat," Mukuroshibo said. "Now that you're all here, I need you three for an extraction mission. Read the file on the table. You'll get an idea of what you'll be retrieving."
"That's a lot of metal," Riven said as they carefully read through the files.
"Indeed," Mukuroshibo replied. "The stealth ship will be ready in 12 hours to take you warriors. Until then, get ready."
He paused, looking at the three of them. "Now… any questions before you're dismissed?"
Tetsuro raised his hand. "Sir, why do we three have this task?"
"Good question, Warrior," Mukuroshibo said. "You three are currently the most powerful in this rank, and you will prove yourselves worthy for a higher rank. In this mission, you will experience unlocking some of your real potential."
He continued, "And not to mention, you three carry rare chi unlike any other. Now, dismissed."
Meanwhile, at an unknown planet…
Four cargo containers were dropped heavily onto the ground by a descending spaceship.
"Easy now, you don't want to damage the metals!" a mercenary shouted. "Boys, let the master know the package has arrived."