"To be marked in Gravepath Gorge is to walk with death at your side—and dare it to strike first."— Fang Duun, retired executioner
Gravepath Gorge lay miles beyond Verdane's walls. A chasm carved by ancient Ki storms, where rogue spirit beasts bred in nests of broken metal and bone. Even the strongest hunters avoided it unless paid in gold and favors.
For Kai and the other finalists… it was now home to the next test.
A kill-or-be-killed trial.
As dawn broke, the eight remaining candidates stood at the gorge's edge. A council attendant read the rules with all the warmth of a stone.
"Your objective is simple: reach the central pillar before sunset. The pillar will activate at dusk and record your presence. Survivors who arrive qualify for sect evaluation."
He paused, scanning the faces.
"There are no rules on combat."
Then he handed each of them a slip of red parchment.
[You have received: Death Mark Seal]— Assigned Target: Kai— Reason: "Unknown potential. Untrustworthy origin."— Reward for elimination: Early sponsorship and Inner Ring passage.
Note: "Marked candidates may eliminate their hunter for a bonus."
Kai crushed the paper in his fist.
So this was how the Council worked.
They didn't test strength.
They tested how far someone would go to win.
The gorge swallowed them in darkness within minutes.
Vines like iron cords choked the path. The ground hissed with poison roots. Strange shrieks echoed from the cliffs—beasts, or worse.
[System Alert: Zone Entered – Gravepath Gorge]
Environment Type: Death Class – Corrupted Spirit NestStatus: High Kill Zone
Bonuses Active:— Ki Adaptation: +5% Resistance Gain— Suppressed Combat Visibility
Hazard: 5 High-Spirit Entities Detected Nearby
Kai moved with precision, suppressing his presence, letting Fang Step take him through the narrow trails and broken arches of stone. His blade was drawn, but low.
A glimmer of movement caught his eye—then vanished.
[Perception Lv.4 Check: Passed]Ambush Detected – Left Ridge | Target: Kai
He jumped back just as a throwing needle clanged into the rock beside him.
From above dropped a shadow, face masked, twin curved daggers flashing.
[Scan Activated]Name: Selin VarnLevel: 11Affiliation: NoneSpecialization: Assassin's PathIntent: Eliminate Target – Kai
"Of course," Kai murmured.
Selin didn't speak. She was trained. Efficient.
But Kai had been hunted before.
[Ki Surge: Wolf Fang Draw – Unleashed][Technique Rank: Mid-Fang]
Speed x1.7. Strike delay negated. Blade flow optimized.
Kai struck just once.
Selin twisted to avoid it—but he wasn't aiming for the kill.
He slashed the rock ledge.
The ledge cracked—and dropped her thirty feet below into a poison net of vines.
[Enemy Injured. Elimination Deferred.]
He didn't waste time watching her scream.
He ran.
Hours passed. He dodged three more traps—twice from natural hazards, once from a masked warrior who had likely taken a bounty on him.
By the time the sun dipped low, he was limping, one arm bleeding, and his Ki reserve nearing half.
Then he found it:
The central pillar—a black monolith of runes standing in a ruined circle of stone.
But someone was already there.
Waiting.
Mako Rin.
His blades were drawn. His shirt torn. Blood caked one side of his face.
"About time," he said. "Didn't think you'd make it."
Kai's eyes narrowed. "You marked too?"
Mako flipped his hand.
No parchment.
"Wasn't told to kill you," he said. "But someone paid me to stall you."
He smiled darkly.
"I owe them the effort."
They didn't speak again.
They just moved.
Mako struck first, twin blades slicing in a cross.
Kai dodged left, deflected with the flat of his sword, then spun into a low sweep.
[Ki Clash – Ember Spark Detonated]
Sparks flew. A shallow cut opened on Kai's shoulder. Mako hissed as his foot twisted on a broken tile.
Both men backed away, breathing hard.
They weren't enemies.
But in this world, you didn't need to be enemies to be lethal.
Then a roar tore through the gorge.
From the shadows behind the pillar emerged a beast of shadow and fire. A twisted stag-like form with six red eyes and molten hooves.
[Spirit Beast Detected – Corrupted Ash Stag]Level: 13Status: Enraged
Reward: High Spirit Core + Flame Sect Favor
Kai didn't hesitate.
Neither did Mako.
They turned toward the beast—side by side.
"Truce?" Mako said.
"For now," Kai replied.
And they charged.