Kael Hound led them through the portal and into the training crypt. After the initial feeling of the ground yanking from under them and the sensation of being suspended over nothing, they finally stepped on solid ground.

They found themselves in a small room, lit up with burning crystals set into the wall. Azaroth turned slowly. The room was covered in glyphs, and there was a table and chair in one corner. The table was filled with papers and a map.

"This is the station. It was meant to be the watch station," Kael told them when he noticed the way they looked around wide-eyed.

"What do you mean by the station?" Alex asked.

"When I first built this training crypt, it was meant for training where I can intervene and give advice when needed. I can even come in when you are in danger. This is where I’m meant to watch you."

"But now?" Stallus asked.

"That’s not included in the new plan. In this plan, you will be on your own," Kael said, not sounding sad or worried about it.

"Entirely on our own for five years?" Alex looked around. Didn’t the others hear what he said? They would be alone with no teacher for five years!

"How will we learn then? How will we learn the different skills needed for our ranks?" That was the only thing that Azaroth was worried about. If they were to be the only ones in the training crypt, then how would they be able to learn the formations needed for their skills?

"Don’t you get it?" Kael pointed. "The whole crypt is your teacher. It will provide formations when you need them, but they will be based on your level. Also, it’s meant to build warriors, not fighters. So everything will be built slowly over time."

"Don’t think of instant success because you are meant to suffer, and you will suffer here. There’s no way around it. The training crypt will begin your training at the purely physical level."

"One last important piece of advice. Trust only your teammates because the crypt is designed to train you four together. It’s an imitation of the outside world. Don’t forget!"

Azaroth didn’t believe him about trusting your teammates stuff. There must be a hidden message there. Because there was no way he’s trusting them. Azaroth would have liked if the training crypt was made for individuals.

"Well then. That should cover most of it. See you in five years!"

A bright light flashed, and they disappeared before they even fully digested what he said.

Leaving Kael alone in the room. Alone? He wasn’t. A shadow moved, solidified, and became the commander. Apex was a massive man, but all his mass seemed to have been condensed into a solid, slim figure.

Kael Hound bowed low immediately.

Apex snorted. "You don’t have to put up with the facade when we are alone. It makes me uncomfortable. As if you too have turned into a Hound puppet."

Kael knew what Apex was talking about. The Hounds behaved like puppets. Well, they are puppets. They could be controlled with just a word.

Kael slowly removed his mask, and Apex smiled. "Why do you scare them that much?"

Kael shrugged. "They needed it. Even though they have seen so much suffering in so little time, they are still filled with innocence. We must rip that from them."

"You worry too much," Apex said. "I know you like them. Don’t deny it. They will be the winning team in East Haven."

"Of course they will be," Kael nearly snapped. "Even without this training crypt, they will overtake Zephyra’s team. I’m not worried about that. I’m worried about what comes after. That’s the most important thing. What comes after will determine if we both keep our lives."

Apex looked amused. "But there’s nothing we can do but leave it to them."

"That is if they even survive. I say we make more teams and more training crypts," Kael declared.

Apex sighed. "You know our patron can only make one, even they had to squeeze their resources thin."

"I know," Kael muttered.

"And it is based on the idea of a perfect warrior. We must see how this one turns out. In five years. Hope it turns out as we wanted."

Kael snorted. "Hoping won’t get us what we want though."

Apex shook his head. "You worry too much. Here, let’s share a drink. The first part of the plan has been executed perfectly. But maybe you should have warned them about the first part of the training?"

Meanwhile, in the training crypt, a light flashed in the near darkness and dumped four bodies on the floor.

Azaroth grimaced as he felt his head for wounds. Why can’t it transport them like the portal transportation? Why slam them on the ground in an unknown crypt?

Azaroth stood hurriedly as he heard that. An unknown crypt! His head swam, and he swayed, but he steadied himself. He looked around, but apart from it looking as if he was in a near-dark cave ground, there was nothing threatening.

He slowly crouched. Azaroth thought they would have been transported into the midst of monsters and would have to battle their way out in the next five years. That wouldn’t be so bad too.

The others groaned and picked themselves up from the ground. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

"Damn Kael Hound!" Alex hissed as he felt a bump on his head with his hand.

"Stop shouting, you buffoon," Stallus hissed, whisper-like. "You don’t know what we can attract here."

Azaroth agreed with her. But apparently, Alex didn’t, and he hissed and shouted even more, even standing up to do a dance. "See? This is a crypt. We are probably at the starting point. Don’t get yourself worked up."

"They’re right, Alex," Catena said, her voice rough and deep.

Alex rolled his eyes and opened his mouth to start complaining but shut it as they all felt it as one.

A monster was with them in this room.