Chapter 10: The Birth of an Elite Force
Asher sat in his study, deep in thought. The mansion was filled with whispers of uncertainty—his ministers and advisors were too afraid, too hesitant, and too unreliable. He needed people he could trust. And there was only one person he had truly trusted from the beginning—Seren, his most loyal servant.
Seren had always been by his side, even back when he was just another clone in his father's twisted experiments. She had seen his struggles, his growth, and his rebellion. Unlike the nobles, she had no hidden agenda, no thirst for power—only loyalty.
That night, as the candles flickered in his dimly lit chamber, Asher called for Seren. She entered with a calm but curious expression, her long silver hair tied back neatly, her sharp eyes filled with understanding.
"What is it, Asher?" she asked, her voice steady.
"I can't trust the ministers. I can't trust the advisors. If I want to protect this territory, I need my own force—people trained under my own hands, people who will answer only to me."
Seren crossed her arms. "Then why not make an official recruitment? Announce it to the people."
"No," Asher shook his head. "That would only alert the nobles. They would send their spies, plant their men among my forces, and before I know it, my own army will be filled with people who serve others, not me."
Seren nodded, understanding. "So what's the plan?"
"We go to the market square. We find people who don't belong to any noble house, people who have no allegiance. I don't need numbers—I need quality."
Without hesitation, Seren followed Asher into the night.
---
The Market Square Selection
The next day, Asher and Seren walked through the busy marketplace, scanning the crowd. The people bustled about, merchants called out their wares, and children ran through the streets. Asher ignored the common soldiers looking for work—he wanted those who had no experience, people who could be molded from scratch.
He chose five individuals:
1. Darian – A farmer with incredible endurance, able to lift heavy sacks for hours without rest.
2. Elias – A former office scribe with sharp intellect and observation skills.
3. Talon – A butcher with strong arms and a history of dealing with dangerous wild animals.
4. Lyria – A librarian with quick reflexes and an analytical mind.
5. Garek – A street performer with remarkable agility and balance.
The five recruits stared at Asher with uncertainty.
"You want us to be soldiers?" Elias asked, adjusting his spectacles. "But we've never fought before."
Asher smirked. "That's exactly why I chose you. You are blank slates. You have no bad habits to unlearn. I will turn you into elite warriors."
They still looked doubtful. That was when Asher pulled out a small vial filled with a deep red liquid.
"This," he said, holding it up, "is a special pill. Once consumed, you won't feel pain for an hour. And if you're injured, your wounds will regenerate within that time."
The recruits' eyes widened in disbelief.
Seren furrowed her brows. "Asher… where did you get this?"
He turned to her with a knowing smile. "I made it. I learned how from one of my clones—the one who specialized in poisons and medicine.""why do you think am the only clone who doesn't have a scar"
Seren was speechless. The clone in question was one of the deadliest who suffered from serious face damage , and yet Asher had not only learned from him but had mastered the art himself.
Without hesitation, Asher swallowed a pill himself. "If you're serious about this training, take one. It will be painful, but it will also show me your resolve."
One by one, they hesitantly took the pills.
---
A Journey into Darkness
Lyria, the librarian, was the first to speak up. "If we are to be trained… where will we go?"
Asher turned, a grin forming on his face. "We are going to train in the most dangerous, most terrifying place I know. A place where I was trained myself."
The recruits exchanged nervous glances.
Seren sighed. "Let me guess… we're going to the Abyssal Forest?"
Asher's smirk widened.
"Exactly."