Chapter 1

In a desolated land of Isea, there's a land where women were being raised for the sole purpose of reproduction.

All of them have good constitutions. Most of them are abducted and some are born from the reproduction site.

And as for the newborn males, they're either being auctioned or sold.

The one who handles this site is a secret organization which only a few groups or organizations have connection with.

And one them is the Zhen clan.

Zhen clan is one of the most secretive Sect like assassin clan in Moa Country or called ‘Virgin Moa’.

A country that has a long rich of history since ancient times. An unconquered country that has stayed strong from the invasions of the ‘3 Great Countries’ since it was stablished. And one of the main reasons is due to the Zhen Clan that stands to be one of the country's strongest pillars.

Their fame for clearing assassination missions despite of its difficulty is well know in the underworld scene. As long as the price is right, anyone can be eliminated. Even outside of Moa country they are feared and not just because of their assassination, but of their secrecy. Even its own country itself can't find one of its own pillars' location, how much more to the outside world.

The said clan only appears mainly on missions or wars. But in recent events, they've been in decline due to the missions they accepted in previous years and now was forced to buy and raise outsiders attempting to rebuild their strength.

For the last 5 years, they taught the the children how read and write and basic martial arts as well. And in year 6, the classes were divided from the kids who has the clan's last name ‘Zhen’ and those who don't.

The ones who don't have last names are compose of the sons and daughters of slaves or workers within the clan.

As for those who have different last names are families who work under the Zhen clan.

And for those who were bought.

They were named depending on the code when they were brought in starting from Z1(Zhen number 001) and so on without last names.

The classes that were separated from the Zhen class were moved to what they called ‘Collbir’.

It is a huge underground cave that can be considered as a city or a metropolis due to its vastness and structures residing in the place. It's like you have entered to a new dimension, a small world to say the least where the clan trains their disciples.

In Collbir

The children arrived in the ‘Main Hall’ of Collbir together with the guards that guided them.

The Main Hall is huge with the 6 massive pillars supporting it. There's also a large stage or platform. And on that, there's an old man in the middle, probably at the age of 70 or more that's seemingly waiting for children's arrival.

He has long white hair and long beard with sharp eyes like he's looking at the children from a really high place as they walk near. He's wearing an all black uniform like some top tier martial killer. All is covered except the head.

Unlike the guys who suddenly show up out of nothing who's all covered. They are all wearing the same uniform like the guards who guided the children, except they wear brown and didn't cover their faces that just vanished as the new guys appeared.

“I'm Elder Go! The Head Elder here in Collbir!”

Upon hearing the old man introduced himself, a heavy pressure came down.

Like the air just stopped flowing. Making the children gasp for breath and instinctively paid attention, stiffly to the Elder speaking.

Head Elder Go neutralized the pressure he released once he saw that he caught the children's attention

“I know you all are wondering why you are brought here! Well, I'll be straight. You brats are all here to train! To be a strong assassin! You are not here to play!" as he gave the children a sharp look which make them stiffly scared and continued to explain.

At the back of the line, there's Z9 (Zhen 009) who already has a grasp of the situation he's in.

Due to the fact that he has retained the memories of his past lives. His mentality was forced to be forged of an adult because of his experiences of dying young multiple times in a brutal and cruel way.

He already has the basic knowledge of this world and how it works. Even when he was born and to the time he was sold and raised in the Zhen clan, he was fully aware.

He also planned to escape many times but every time he's gonna execute it. The fear of dying or how he'll die overwhelms and freezes him like stone, thinking if he fails.

Adding his small and fragile body plus the guards watching them.

His plans... Remain a plan...

"Now! We'll assess your aptitude, body constitution and awake your innate ability"

Everyone followed Head Elder Go as he directed his face to his right side.

In that direction, there are 3 stones with the size of a grown watermelon that is emitting some sort of ‘Aura’ each and some kind of metal with weird symbols supporting them.

Beside that is a grown old man, bald with a long, long beard reaching his waist, wearing the same style of uniform but white, with a rectangular badge and 3 lines in it.

He's probably at the age of 100 plus.

His face is covered with wrinkles in lined to his neck and his eyes can't be seen due to his stretched like skin eye brows covering his eyes.

But even with his appearance, he seems healthy. Seeing his movements and how he introduce himself as our ‘Examiner’.

Then he grabs his list and explained what the children needs to do to the assessment. And after explaining, he begun to the call names on his lists and everyone followed.

In this world, there's only a small number of people who can manipulate the flow of spiritual energy. And mainly, they are the ones who rule the lands.

The ability they possess, has their own respective types, uses and masteries.

But majority of these people are the ones who can use nature elements like fire, earth, water and wind. They are known as ‘Elementals’.

The rare ones are those people who can summon creatures as ‘Summoners’, and people who can enhance their body, weapons and armors are called ‘Enhancers’.

And aside from the last 2, there's still a much fewer number of ‘Other Non Elemental Ability User’ that roams in the world to even been categorized.

Regardless, they are all ‘Ability Users’

Back to the Main Hall of Collbir

As the assessment continued, Elder Go seems fairly happy of the results he's getting.

There are many kids who has good aptitude, body constitutions and those that have innate abilities as well.

Mostly from the Z's(Zhen people that were bought and raised by the clan) and was considering on buying again.

So far, amongst to those that participated in the assessment, only 2 names flew who can be called ‘Rare Geniuses’, such as Red Chu and Kohan.

Even though their innate abilities hasn't been disclosed, everyone knew how powerful it is. Base only on the examiner's face that he showed.

But of course, if there's a good catch. There will be some defects as well.

Kids who didn't pass not even to one of the three tests were all taken and executed on the other side like nobody's business.

Even though the children were raised in a strict and harsh way.

They have never seen someone gets killed, specially in front of them. So after seeing an unsightly and gruesome sight for the first time. Almost all of the children felt shocked, nausea, but all of them absolutely felt fear.

The sight of taking away of ones life, even for someone who was raised hellishly would be horrific.

Because a 6 or 7 year old kid will still be a child in the end.

Some unconsciously cried and vomited. Some froze, frozen as an ice and a few ran to get out of this hellhole.

The guards attending were quick to move. They killed the few children who ran towards the exit for god knows how.

They just dropped dead, face down without any blood spilled.

Then slapping those that cry and whispered to their ears “You will be next if you don't stop”.

Children who've heard those words. Their pupils shrunk in terror and unable to move.

During the disturbance, a heavy pressure appeared once again and Head Elder Go's voice echoed to the whole Main Hall

“Let me just remind you brats! We are not here to babysit you. We don't need trashes and specially cowards. It'll only be a waste of our resources!”

He added “You're now here to be trained, to be a top notch assassin, an expert in killing as perfect as possible! Crying and once again COWARDICE!!!!! Are just the few things we hate the most!!! Didn't you brats hear me earlier?!!”.

“Remove that! So even if you are a girl nor boy. You will be executed if you show that kind of traits again! No exceptions! Understood?!!...” As he looks into the children's eyes.

“…..” No one answered

Head Elder Go released his pressure once more and asked “I said UNDERSTOOD?!!!”

The children stutteringly replied “U-uund-ders-tood”

“Good!!! Continue!...” As the heavy pressure dissipates, Head Elder Go heads back to his seat.

A sigh of relief were released to those who've passed. And the assessment continued no matter what.

Some passed and a few were taken to the other side.

Time begun to move slowly and slower as they wait their names to be called out. The atmosphere is getting heavier each second passed.

They remained still, afraid to move even an inch of their body, fearing they may displease the others while some still tries to comprehend what's happening.

As the assessment is nearing its end. The death of the kid who was just before Z9 cause his heart to stir, afraid and having thoughts to bail out even though he knew that it'll never gonna work.

At least to die trying... In his mind.

Because he knows it's a sure death once his name has been called. He knows he's not that talented and perfectly knows that he has a very bad body constitution.

Much less... To have an innate ability.

The word death looms in his mind…

“Uhmmm... Next is Z9! You're up”. As the Examiner called his name

"......" Z9 Froze....

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