Chapter 56: The Eclipse Agent Exams Begins!

The ceremonial hall stood resplendent under the

early morning sun — a vast, beautifully constructed space, alive with

anticipation. The arrangements had been completed to perfection, with banners

and sigils of the Twin Pillars — Vishranta and Dravanta — fluttering in the

gentle wind. Inside the hall, the Urban

Nexus Directors (UNCs) had

already assembled, their presence a symbol of both power and unity across the

ten nations. Among them stood Veyvron

Krynn, his commanding aura unmistakable.

Guarding the high council were two of the most

formidable warriors — Syvaren

Krynn, Veyvron's most trusted right hand, and Syvren Kurogiri, the

prodigious elder brother of Syvian Kurogiri and an elite assassin of the

Kurogiri Shadou Clan. Their eyes were sharp, their hands never far from their

weapons, as they scanned the room for any hint of danger.

Meanwhile, deep within the forest, a Commanding Center had been established, a fortified base

of operations surrounded by layers of protective barriers and surveillance

systems. Inside the dimly lit control room, the air was thick with focus and

tension. The room was occupied by some of the most powerful A-rank assassins

and tacticians in Neo-Shinkoku — Zyher

Krueger, the head of strategic operations; Okiname Tarake, a

renowned combat specialist; Rael

Vossin, the chief of reconnaissance; and Vyren Krystin, the

strongest A-rank assassin in the Eclipse

Agent Division. Each of them had their eyes fixed on the monitors,

tracking every movement within the forest.

The team — Kyrin, Syvian, Rin, Blaze, and Senjuro

— had been stationed at the Southern

Command Block, an area designated for their patrol. It was no

coincidence; most of their previous encounters with Lord Z's forces had

happened here. They knew this terrain well — its dense foliage, hidden

pathways, and the ominous cavern where the Aurora

Blossom would bloom.

Outside the command center, a throng of assassins

gathered, each one preparing for the start of the Examination of the Aurora

Blossom. These were the best and brightest from across the ten

nations, eager to prove their worth and rise through the ranks. The air hummed

with anticipation and whispered strategies.

Stepping forward from the crowd was Vyren Krystin, his

silver hair catching the light and his sharp, cobalt eyes sweeping over the

gathered assassins. He held up a small, sleek device — a Transcript Keycard — and addressed the assembled teams.

"For this examination, each team has been

issued one of these," Vyren announced in his calm, authoritative voice.

"Your objective is simple — protect this keycard for five hours once the

exam begins. The forest will be flooded with Flux

Clones — entities

designed to infiltrate, attack, and steal these cards. Should any clone manage

to scan your keycard… you will be immediately

eliminated."

The weight of his words settled over the crowd,

and a ripple of determination passed through them.

"Trust your team," Vyren continued.

"Stay vigilant. And remember — this exam isn't just about survival. It's

about strategy, unity, and power. Prove that you deserve your place here."

As Vyren stepped back, a low, resonating chime

echoed through the forest — the signal that the exam was about to begin.

Kyrin adjusted his visor, his voice calm but

ready. "Alright, team. We know what we're up against. Syvian, you take

point — your tracking ability will help us detect any approaching threats.

Blaze, you're on defense — keep the keycard secured. Rin, keep your

teleportation ready for quick extractions. Senjuro and I will cover the

flanks."

Syvian's eyes gleamed as his Mythrian Spirit Flux activated, his visor flashing purple.

"Let's make sure they regret sending those clones."

As the countdown began, the team prepared for the

fight ahead. The forest was silent — but it wouldn't stay that way for long.

The Examinations

of the Aurora Blossom were

well underway, and the forest had erupted into a flurry of movement and

clashing steel. The competing assassins, each team with their own unique

strategies, held their ground against the relentless waves of Flux Clones. For the

first hour, everything seemed to go smoothly — coordinated attacks and

defensive formations kept the clones at bay. But the calm was short-lived.

Suddenly, alarms flared from the South and East Blocks.

The Abyssal Craven Flux had been detected — an energy

signature far darker and more unstable than the standard Flux Clones. Syvian's

visor glowed violet as his Mythrian

Spirit Flux synced with

the scanner. His eyes widened at what he saw.

"There are… multiple clones," he said,

his voice low and tense. "But this is different. The one leading them has

a perfect balance of energy. Its presence —" Syvian paused, his face grim.

"It's ominous. I've never felt anything like this."

Kyrin's communication device crackled to life as

he reached out to the command tower. "Sensei, we've got multiple clones

attacking the South Block — they're stronger and more

coordinated than anything we've faced so far. We'll hold the south. You and

your team should take care of the east."

In the Ceremonial

Hall, Veyvron Krynn listened intently, his sharp mind already piecing

together the bigger picture. "This isn't just part of the exam," he

murmured. "It's a test of our defenses."

Veyvron turned, his voice commanding.

"Syvren. Syvaren. Call Sariya and Kael.

We'll need their power."

The two warriors nodded and disappeared into the

hall's shadowed corridors. Moments later, Sariya

and Kael had entered the room. Their calm, battle-hardened expressions

revealed they already knew something serious was happening.

"Seal the hall," Veyvron ordered.

Syvren Kurogiri stepped forward, forming a complex

sequence of hand signs.

The air around the entrance shimmered with Mythrian

Spirit Flux, and a barrier of glowing sigils materialized over the

massive doors. "No one gets in," Syvren said. "Or out."

As the last sigil settled into place, a heavy

stillness fell over the hall — the kind that always comes just before a storm.

Back in the forest, the battle had begun in

earnest. The South Block erupted into chaos as the advanced Abyssal Craven Flux Clones poured through the trees, their forms

wreathed in dark, pulsing energy. They moved faster, hit harder, and radiated

an overwhelming sense of dread.

Syvian stood at the front, his Mythrian Spirit Flux coiling around him like an ethereal

aura. "We hold the line!" he shouted, drawing his Ninjatō. "Blaze,

cover me!"

Blaze grinned, his body igniting with the

golden-red flames of his Solarflare

Ember Flux. "You got it!"

The two charged into the fray, moving with a

deadly grace. Syvian's blade flashed in swift, precise strikes, cutting through

the clones' vital points. Blaze followed close behind, unleashing waves of

searing flame that consumed the enemy in bursts of fire.

"Kyrin!" Syvian called. "The lead

clone — it's still hanging back! It's watching us!"

Kyrin's eyes narrowed. "Not for long."

He drew his twin pistols, Reaver's

Cry, and fired. The rounds struck with pinpoint accuracy, but the lead

clone dodged effortlessly, its form dissolving into shadow and reforming

elsewhere.

"It's fast," Kyrin muttered. "We're

going to need a new approach."

"Leave that to me!" Rin's voice rang out

as he formed a dimensional

sigil. In an instant, he vanished — reappearing behind the lead clone

with a short dagger in hand. "Surprise!"

But before Rin could strike, the clone twisted

with inhuman speed, catching his wrist and slamming him into the ground.

"Rin!" Senjuro's roar split the air as

he surged forward, his Windpiercer

Lance glowing with green

energy. He struck hard, forcing the clone to release Rin and retreat several

paces.

"We can't keep this up forever!" Blaze

called, his flames flickering as his energy drained.

Syvian's mind raced. They needed a strategy — and

fast. "We take out the leader, the rest will fall," he said.

"Kyrin — cover fire. Blaze — burn any clone that gets close. Senjuro, keep

it off balance. Rin, be ready to teleport at a moment's notice."

"And you?" Kyrin asked.

Syvian's eyes gleamed. "I'm going in."

As the team moved into position, Syvian focused

his Mythrian Spirit Flux,

his power surging to new heights. He would end this — one way or another.

The air around them grew heavy and cold as the

figure emerged from the aftermath of the dark explosion. The swirling remnants

of Abyssal Craven Flux dissipated slowly, revealing a figure unlike any of the

clones they had fought before. Syvian's eyes narrowed behind his visor,

scanning the new enemy — and what he saw sent a shiver down his spine.

"This… this one's different," Syvian

said, his voice low and tense. "It's like a whole new enemy."

Kyrin turned toward him; his guns still raised.

"In what way?" he asked without taking his eyes off the figure.

"The ones we just fought — those were

lifeless creatures, nothing but empty shells filled with dark energy,"

Syvian explained. "But this one… it's like a human. Its energy flows

naturally, but its life force is entirely made of Abyssal Craven Flux." He

swallowed. "It's alive."

Before anyone could respond, the figure raised an

arm — and with terrifying speed, a Dark

Arrow formed, crackling

with black lightning. The arrow shot toward Syvian faster than he could react.

"Syvian, move!" Kyrin shouted.

But Syvian couldn't — his body felt like it was

being held in place by an unseen force. The arrow closed the distance —

And then, in a flash of blue light, Syvian was

gone. The arrow struck the ground where he had stood, erupting into a violent

explosion of dark energy.

Syvian reappeared a few meters away, breathing

heavily. He turned to see Rin grinning at him, his hands still glowing with the

aftereffects of his teleportation.

"I owe you one!" Syvian said, giving Rin

a nod of gratitude.

"Yeah, you do," Rin teased. "Try

not to get yourself skewered before the real fight starts, okay?"

The enemy stepped forward, his presence commanding

and filled with menace. His face was obscured by a dark mask, but his eyes

glowed with an unnatural crimson light. He spoke in a calm, almost amused tone.

"You fools can barely escape from me,"

the man said, his voice cold and sharp. "How do you expect to defeat

me?"

Senjuro stepped forward, his stance firm.

"Who are you?" he demanded.

The man tilted his head slightly before answering.

"I am Dre Ubureme — the loyal assassin of Lord Z."

The name sent a ripple of tension through the

team. They had heard whispers of Lord Z's most trusted agents, but none had

expected to meet one here — not like this.

Kyrin's eyes narrowed. "We're not going down

without a fight."

"Then you've already sealed your fate,"

Dre replied, his voice dripping with contempt.

There was no more time for words.

"Hybrid Mode — now!" Syvian commanded.

In an instant, their forms began to shift, their

bodies glowing with the power of their respective Fluxes.

Syvian's Mythrian

Spirit Flux wrapped

around him like ethereal armor, his eyes turning a brilliant violet as his

energy surged. Kyrin's body pulsed with shadow and lightning, his guns

crackling with power granted by Cryon Ocean Flux and Halycon Raven Flux.

Blaze's flames erupted around him, his Solarflare

Ember Flux transforming

him into a fiery force of destruction. Senjuro's Radiant Horizon Flux Flux swirled with winds strong enough to

tear through steel, and Rin's Lumin

Emberlight Flux caused

his form to flicker and distort like a mirage.

Dre Ubureme only smiled beneath his mask.

"Let's see how long you last."

The battle began.

Syvian was the first to move, his Ninjatō flashing

in the dim light as he closed the distance between them. Dre met his attack

with a dark blade,

blocking with ease and countering with a sweeping strike that forced Syvian

back.

Before Dre could press his advantage, Blaze

unleashed a torrent of flame. "How's this for heat?" he roared,

sending a massive wave of fire toward their enemy.

Dre raised one hand, and the fire split apart, swirling

around him harmlessly. He pointed at Blaze — and the flames turned against their master,

rushing back toward him.

"Rin!" Blaze shouted.

"On it!" Rin snapped his fingers, and

the fire disappeared into a void before it could reach Blaze.

Kyrin took the opening. "Eat this!" he

shouted, unleashing a hail of energy bullets from his twin pistols. The

projectiles zipped through the air, but Dre moved like a shadow, dodging every

shot with unnatural ease.

"You'll have to do better than that,"

Dre taunted.

"Don't worry — I plan to!" Senjuro

called from above, leaping high into the air and bringing his Windpiercer Lance

down with the force of a hurricane.

The ground cracked and splintered under the impact

— but Dre was already gone. He reappeared

behind Senjuro, his dark blade poised to strike.

But Syvian was faster.

Their blades met with a resounding clash,

sparks flying as they exchanged a flurry of strikes. Syvian's movements were

precise and relentless, his attacks aimed at Dre's vital points — but his

opponent parried every blow with terrifying ease.

"You fight well," Dre admitted.

"But not well enough."

He twisted, his hand glowing with dark energy, and

Syvian was blasted

backward by a wave of

Abyssal Craven Flux.

"Syvian!" Kyrin fired again, his bullets

glowing with enhanced Flux energy — but Dre deflected

them midair, the projectiles exploding harmlessly to the side.

"Is that all the great warriors of Neo-Kyoto

have to offer?" Dre mocked.

Syvian got to his feet, wiping blood from his

mouth. "We're just getting started."

The team regrouped; their eyes locked on their

enemy. They had faced powerful foes before — but this was unlike anything

they'd ever encountered.

"New plan," Syvian said, his voice calm

despite the storm raging around them. "We take him down together — and we

don't hold back."

"Agreed," Kyrin said, reloading his

pistols.

"Let's end this," Blaze added, his

flames flaring brighter.

Dre only smiled. "Come, then. Show me your

strength."

And with that, the battle truly began