The chamber was dimly lit, the glow of holographic projections casting shifting shadows across the polished stone floor. Ash sat at the head of the war table, his expression unreadable as the planetary display of Raijū rotated before them. Beside him, Kaede remained quiet, her sharp gaze analyzing the data streams flickering in the air. Across from them, Kaito leaned against the wall, arms crossed, a smirk playing at the edges of his lips.


    Kenshiko''s voice, laced with artificial precision, resonated through the chamber. "Raijū. Classified as a Fortress World. Limited off-world access, heavily monitored orbital defenses, and an atmosphere hostile to prolonged non-native exposure. The ruling Raijū clans maintain complete military autonomy, and their warrior caste has never been successfully subdued."


    Ash exhaled slowly, his fingers drumming against the table. "Then the question remains—how do we infiltrate and confirm my father''s fate?"


    Kaede''s eyes flicked to him. "Storming the planet head-on is suicide. Even if we bring the Onin-Brigade, we''d be walking into a death trap. We need another way in. Something covert."


    Kaito chuckled, his smirk widening. "Subtlety has never been our strongest trait, has it?" He tapped the holographic interface, zooming in on the planetary schematics. "Raijū has multiple strongholds, but if your father was captured, there''s only one place they would take him—Torii Bastion. It''s their ancestral war hall, the heart of Raijū''s warrior caste. If he''s alive, that''s where he is. If he''s dead… well, that''s where we''ll find proof."


    Ash''s gaze darkened. "And how do we get into Torii Bastion undetected?"


    Kenshiko interjected, her form materializing as a shimmering AI projection. "Traditional infiltration is impossible. The Raijū warriors employ biometric scans at all major entry points, and their security systems are built upon decentralized neural encryptions, resistant to most hacking attempts. However—" she paused, her eyes flickering "—there may be an alternative."


    Kaede leaned forward. "Go on."


    Kenshiko expanded the display, revealing a network of underground tunnels. "Raijū''s surface may be a fortress, but beneath it runs an extensive system of ancient caverns. Some are active lava tubes, but others were once used as smuggling routes centuries ago. Most have collapsed or been sealed, but one passage remains intact, running dangerously close to Torii Bastion. If we can navigate it, we might gain access without alerting their defenses."


    Kaito scoffed. "You''re suggesting we crawl through the bowels of a dying planet, dodging lava flows and cave-ins, just to slip past a legion of warriors who can probably smell outsiders the second they set foot inside? Sounds fun."


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Ash ignored him, his mind already working through the possibilities. "What about exfiltration? If we find my father, how do we get out?"


    Kenshiko hesitated. "Extraction is the greater challenge. The Bastion is surrounded by high-altitude defense turrets, and the planetary fleet maintains strict no-fly zones. Once inside, our best option would be to commandeer one of their own transports and use it to slip past security. I can override their transponder signals, but only for a short window. Any prolonged deviation from their flight paths will result in immediate interception."


    Kaede''s brow furrowed. "And if he''s not there? If he''s already dead?"


    Ash''s jaw tightened. "Then we find proof. And if Raijū is responsible, we burn Torii Bastion to the ground."


    The room fell silent at the weight of his words. Even Kaito''s usual smirk faded.


    Kenshiko finally spoke. "Then we have a plan. I will begin mapping the underground approach and identifying weak points in their security grid. You will need a small team—no more than four—to avoid detection. Kaede, Kaito, and I will accompany you."


    Ash nodded. "We move at first light. Prepare everything we need. If my father is still alive, we will bring him home. And if not..."


    His voice hardened. "Then Raijū will answer for their betrayal."


    The hall fell into a heavy silence once more. But Ash wasn''t finished.


    Suddenly, he turned to Kenshiko and Kaito. "What if I join the warrior caste of Raijū?"


    The air in the chamber seemed to freeze. Kaito''s smirk vanished, his expression twisting into disbelief. Kenshiko''s processors whirred audibly, calculating probabilities at lightning speed. The implications were vast, unpredictable.


    Kaede''s gaze snapped to Ash, her expression unreadable. "You can''t be serious."


    Ash met her stare, his voice unwavering. "It''s the only way to get close without suspicion. If I take the warrior''s oath, I gain access to their ranks, their traditions… their strongholds."


    Kaito let out a sharp breath, shaking his head. "That''s not infiltration, Ash. That''s immersion. You''d be throwing yourself into their world, their code of honor. And if they find out who you really are—" He dragged a thumb across his throat. "You''re dead."


    Kenshiko''s holographic form flickered as she processed the strategy. "Gaining entry would require surviving their trials. Raijū warriors are forged through ritual combat. If you fail, they will not spare you."


    Ash''s jaw clenched. "Then I won''t fail."


    The Warrior Trials


    Kenshiko''s image flickered, her tone measured. "Raijū''s warrior caste is structured around an unyielding code of honor, discipline, and combat. Warriors are not simply born—they are forged. Every initiate undergoes the Trials, a series of lethal tests designed to eliminate the weak."


    Kaede frowned. "But Ash isn''t Raijū-born. Won''t that be a problem?"


    "Not necessarily," Kenshiko replied. "While rare, outsiders have been accepted. However, they must first prove themselves through a separate ordeal—The Gauntlet. Only after surviving it can they attempt the Warrior''s Trials."


    Kaito leaned in, intrigued. "And what exactly does The Gauntlet entail?"


    Kenshiko''s expression darkened. "Survival. Alone. No weapons. No allies. A single day and night in the Stormlands, hunted by Raijū''s elite. If he endures, only then will they allow him to face the true Trials."


    The silence was suffocating.


    Ash exhaled, steadying himself. "Then I''ll survive."