Chapter 25: The Blood Banner’s Domain (Part 2)

A frail disciple, barely more than a boy, staggered past him with a crudely forged dagger still clutched in trembling hands. The commander's voice, gruff and uncompromising, called out, "Strength is forged in battle! Prove your worth, or be consumed by your own weakness!" The words cut through the din like a blade, and for a moment, the courtyard fell into a heavy silence; a tacit challenge to all present.

Zhang Yan's dark shadow, ever faithful and restless, writhed at his feet. It pulsed with the remnants of the night's violence and the power he had siphoned from fallen foes. He felt that dark force, a part of him now, intertwining with his very essence; ready to be unleashed in the relentless conflict of the Blood Banner.

In that charged atmosphere, as the disciples were led to their respective training areas and assigned to squads; Zhang Yan's eyes, sharp and unyielding, locked with the veteran commander's for a brief, silent moment; his gaze seemingly noticing the raw potential and hidden ambition within them.

"Boy," the commander said, his voice gruff, "stand here for a moment." The call was both a test and an invitation. "We do not accept weakness among the Blood Banner. Here, every drop of your blood is a testament to your will to survive. Show us that you are more than just another scavenging mongrel."

Zhang Yan bowed his head briefly, then lifted his gaze with quiet determination. "I will prove it," he replied, his tone low and resolute.

A murmur of approval rippled among the older disciples who looked on, as the commander nodded curtly. With that, Zhang Yan knew that his journey with the Blood Banner had truly begun. He would embrace their ruthless ethos, harnessing his inner darkness to carve his destiny on the battlefield.

The clang of metal resumed as the disciples dispersed into the training grounds, each step echoing the promise of war. Amid the chaos of battle drills and the stark, unyielding spirit of the Blood Banner, Zhang Yan felt the weight of his choice; and the fire of ambition that would drive him to rise above all who dared oppose him.

In that moment, under the banner of blood and steel, his path was set. The hunt for power, the constant dance of violence and survival, had only just begun...