The Ashen Dominion

Tap. Tap. Tap—

The sound of shoes echoed softly in the dim hallway.

It was still early— sunlight hadn't even stretched its fingers fully over the horizon yet. The morning mist clung low to the ground, and the faint scent of dew lingered in the air.

Inside the Silver Place where Kaiser and the others are, in one of the tables with benches around, there's a lamp already lit.

Kaiser sat in the middle of the long bench, his arms relaxed, gaze locked forward.

To his left sat Viktor, leaning back on the bench rest with both feet up on the table like he owned the place. He was twirling a stick with two fingers.

To his right was Edmar, eyes narrowed in thought, or maybe because he's a bit sleepy still.

Leo slouched in a bench closer to the edge, barely keeping his eyes open.

Niko was still rubbing sleep off his face, his hair still a mess, dressed casually.

And Yuwa? He's drinking a pure black coffee from a wooden cup.

All of them just ate their breakfast.

"..."

Kaiser looked at each of them silently for a second.

Then he opened his mouth and spoke—

"Thanks for showing up early. Sorry I called you all this time."

He said calmly.

Viktor raised a brow.

"You didn't give us a choice."

"I gave you a time."

"Same thing."

Kaiser ignored his remark and continued.

"Rai gave me the news yesterday. One week from now, we'll be competing in the new [Organization VS Organization] event."

He just casually declared that!

"What?!"

"Huh?!"

"...?! Keuk...!"

"The fuck...?!"

All of them straightened up after hearing that, their eyes widened. They woke up immediately at Kaiser's words.

Yuwa choked on his coffee and almost spat it out even.

Edmar now awake than ever, opened his mouth and asked a question—

"Do you know who we're up against?"

Kaiser shook his head.

"Not yet. Rai will give us the details later tonight. For now, we're preparing."

He replied.

Leo groaned.

"Ugh... I feel the breakfast I ate going back to my throat after hearing that."

"You could've given us a heads up before dropping such a news casually."

He said, his face frowning a bit.

Viktor leaned forward.

"Why were we even selected? Do you have an idea?"

"No. I just really think it's random, to be honest."

Kaiser looked at him in the eyes and said that.

Niko scratched his cheek.

"You think someone requested to fight us?"

Then he asked that.

"Ah, that's possible too."

Kaiser mumbled.

They all went silent after that.

The idea that someone had intentionally picked [Ashborn] as their opponent— it wasn't just strange, actually.

After all, they were being targeted by the other organizations.

"Alright."

Kaiser stood up.

"Training starts today. Just what we usually do everyday, but I want you all focused. Try being prepare for every kind of opponent—ranged, close combat, support, tanks."

"What are tanks?"

Edmar then asked him, curious.

"Ah, well... Fighters who specializes in taking damage."

Kaiser awkwardly explained as he turned to Edmar.

"Anyway, that's that— help me plan the drills. I'm not really knowledgeable nor experienced about this kind of group fighting sruff."

Then he immediately followed to shift the topic.

Edmar nodded.

"Oh, sure."

He said before turning his head to the others.

"Leo, Niko, Yuwa— coordinate with each other, you three can be a good group because you all get along so well."

The three nodded one after another after Edmar told them that, not asking any question.

"Anyway, that's it for now... We should go with our daily training."

Then, Kaiser said that.

And with that, their short meeting ended.

...

...

*****

Night came quickly.

After a long day of training and sparring, most of them had retired to rest. Viktor and Edmar were already done with dinner, and Kaiser was alone again in a bench near his room, just leaning on the backrest, watching the sparks coming out of the torches on the wall.

"..."

He's super tired at the moment. He's actually just spacing out, thinking about the incoming [Organization VS Organization] match that they have.

Then, at that moment—

"Kaiser! I'm back again!"

He heard a familiar voice coming outside the Silver Place.

Kaiser turned around...

And he saw Rai stood outside the gate.

He looked tired as well. Clothes slightly wrinkled. A brown paper bag in his hand.

Kaiser's eyes flicked down.

"You good?"

He asked him when he got to him.

Rai handed the bag over through the metal bars.

"Two chicken breasts. Roasted."

He said.

Kaiser took it with one hand, opening it slightly to peek.

He ignored the fact that Rai didn't answer his question just now, the answer is pretty obvious now.

'He's exhausted as well.'

"Thanks."

Kaiser muttered softly.

Then when he looked up at Rai again— he saw his serious expression. He opened his mouth—

"Also... I got the info. About the organization we're up against."

He declared that, confidence can be heard in his voice.

Kaiser's brows rose when he heard that.

"Fuuuuuu~"

Rai took a breath, then pulled out a list from his sling bag.

He then went through it. Slowly.

A single name was written on the front page.

[Iron Fang]

Kaiser narrowed his eyes.

Then at that moment, Rai began talking—

"They're not just strong. They're infamous. Ranked high among the Silver Organizations. All of their members are at least in Silver Rank for a year, they're all veterans."

Kaiser slowly chewed his chicken breast as he listened to Rai.

"Members?"

Rai flipped the pages.

"Thirty recorded members. Their head is a guy named Byron. Longsword user. Known for being vicious. Their vice head— Mira Vale. A whip user, her attacks are super fast."

He tapped on a few name written on his list.

"They have heavy melee types. Mid-range fighters, and of course— supports."

Kaiser finished the first chicken breast at that moment.

He wiped his finger on the paper bag.

"Any weaknesses?"

Rai shook his head.

"Not obvious ones. At least, not yet. But— I'll try to dig more."

Kaiser nodded slowly.

"Thank you. Good work, Rai."

Rai smiled as he looked up.

"Want me to give everyone a copy of my list?"

"No. Just Edmar for now. He'll use it to build the drills. Also, not everyone of us can read so... Yeah."

"Ah, right... Got it."

Rai awkwardly mumbled.

Anyway, the two of them talked shortly after that—just about over a minute long conversation.

Then after a while... After saying their goodbyes.

Rai was about to leave.

But then he paused his steps.

Kaiser glanced at him.

"What is it?"

"I forgot to mention it..."

Rai looked straight at Kaiser's eyes—

"They requested the owner to fight us."

Then he declared that.

"..."

Kaiser was speechless. He doesn't know what to say after hearing that.

He frowned and massaged the temple of his head with his empty left hand.

Then opening his mouth—

"Let them come. We can handle them."

Kaiser calmly said that. He sounds a bit annoyed though.

...

...

*****

Kaiser went back to his room after that meeting with Rai and thought about their opponent organization.

"[Iron Fang]"

He mumbled as he laid on his bed.

One arm behind his head.

Eyes staring at the ceiling.

"..."

The room was dimly lit, only the small lamp on his study table was lit on.

Kaiser's mind was in a bit of a mess.

Their opponents were strong apparently. He doesn't know if they're ready... If he was ready.

"...Tsk."

Kaiser clicked his tongue and turned his body to the side.

Facing the wall now.

But his thoughts kept racing, his heart beating a bit faster.

—Their Vice Head was a mid range control fighter. Fast, light attacks. High stamina. High defense. Usually the frontline.

—Their Head, was a mid-range fighter... Calm. Tactical. But only fought when necessary.

From what Rai brought back earlier... the organization had a balanced team. Heavy tanks, speed types.

Their enemy was too complete. Too versatile.

That was bad for them. [Ashborn]'s members aren't balance even a bit.

Kaiser knew this. Everyone in the group do

'This wouldn't be easy.'

"..."

Kaiser blinked once. Slowly.

Then he closed his eyes.

He wasn't going to panic.

He just needed to see them with his own eyes.

That was all.

...

...

*****

The next morning.

Tap— Tap— Tap—

"KAISER!!!"

Rai came rushing in the Silver Place to meet Kaiser early in the morning.

The sun hadn't fully risen yet.

"Ugh...? What the hell...?"

Kaiser opened the door of his room with half-lidded eyes. He was frowning, he still wants to sleep.

...

Anyway— he got to where Rai was not long.

"..."

Kaiser didn't say anything.

Rai blinked.

"You're up already?"

Kaiser glanced at him from inside the silver place, then he just silently closed his eyes.

Moving on, Rai just let him be, he knows he's listening—

"...What is it now?"

Kaiser then suddenly asked, eyes still closed.

Rai didn't speak immediately.

"...?"

Kaiser opened on of his eyes to check on him. Then—

"I overheard something earlier when I went back to spy on their leader, vice head, and members. When I was giving out breakfast just earlier."

Rai declared that.

And before Kaiser could even react—

"Disagreements between the Head and Vice Head. Possible conflict about leadership roles."

Rai followed, summarizing the news he have for the sleepy Kaiser.

"They're not on the same page, apparently."

Kaiser stared at Rai for a while after hearing that.

"..."

Then his lips slowly curved into a sly grin—.

"...Now that's good morning news."

He mumbled, still sleepy though.