The main clans, as well as Principal Murkel Dockthorn, were keeping an eye out on what was happening at the current assessment.
Although they weren't fully aware of what was happening underground, what they had been keeping note of was how many people were still alive in each underground area.
Once in a while, one of the teachers would proceed to head through their own network of tunnels and speak to those that were on the other side.
The situation would be explained, and in exchange for them knowing what had occurred, they would be rewarded with partial food.
Which was why they were quite aware that next to nothing had taken place in the first-year Red Headband group.
Even after the little visit, they found it strange that still no one was acting out.
"All the other areas have been progressing quite nicely," Murkel commented, sitting in his grand chair at the main building of the academy.
"The stage increases we have seen with the final students have been remarkable. This sort of progress can only be done this way, and while the students are at the initial stage.
"But what we need is the main disciples to increase more than anything. If they aren't able to reach the peak of the initial stage, then this whole thing will be pointless at the grand martial arts tournament."
Standing by the principal's side was the vice-principal, Amir, who had just reported the gathered information.
"I think we should be careful; the students could have a bad taste in their mouth if we continue to push them further, and if they reach the 6th stage, while this distaste is in their mouth, it could make them an even bigger enemy for us to go against," Amir commented.
Murkel was tapping his finger on the side before he answered.
"You have a strange view; these students belong to the clans. They joined, and when they joined, they knew the roles of the clans.
"They are ours. If they can't get through this, then they are just the ones that are unable to proceed. Don't tell me you have the perception that every life is worth the same."
"There are those that have the power to create great change, and in creating great change, we change the lives of many beneath us."
"Our clan is strong and able to gather resources and food, and protecting our land due to our strength. Those that aren't able to even help in the fight are worthless."
"Just like the animals that are slaughtered for food, at least they have their worth in growing out strength. So someone that can't even be worth food, we should happily get rid of them."
"We need to proceed. Proceed in making those that will be worth something."
Amir had given his warning, and since he wasn't principal, there wasn't much he could do but bow down and go ahead with the next phase.
In the underground facilities, the groups and people were more split up than ever, and that included the main disciples that were no longer standing next to each other after the death of one of their own.
That was when a click was heard. Dame and the others were in their seclusion rooms doing their normal training, but the sound of something heavy could be heard opening up.
And they had no doubt in their mind where it was coming from; it was the Dark Space.
"Did they open the doors from above again?" Safa asked. "That means, have the teachers entered once more?"
Dame decided that it was best for them to check it out and had entered into the hallway that would lead to the main room.
When entering the hallway, to his surprise, there were two others that were there as well.
Simyon nearly jumped right back into his seclusion room.
"It's a surprise to see that the two of you are brave enough to come down here after what happened last time," Dame commented.
"Do you think you own the area of the Dark Space or something?" Mada commented back.
To which Ricktor couldn't help but just smile at who was next to him.
Two of the main disciples had decided to check out just what was going on. None of the other Red Headband users, including the other main disciples, wanted to dare to venture further in after what had occurred last time.
Either way, the group felt like they didn't need to worry about each other. Once enemies in a way, now all of them were walking side by side as they went down the hallway into the Dark Space.
"Stop," Dame said as soon as they took a few steps in. "Can you hear that?"
All of them were silent, not making a single sound, and they could hear it; it was the sound of breathing.
"There's someone in here, but isn't Raze in here anyway?" Mada said.
Of course, the others knew that it wasn't Raze; he had already escaped from this place.
"No, can't you hear it," Safa said, closing her eyes. Leading a life with no voice, she had used her other senses to the fullest more so compared to others.
She could feel it. "There are several people in here, their breaths, there were at least twenty more people in here."
They could hear it, but for what reason would there be twenty more people inside, and why were all of them breathing so heavily?
Once more, even though the group were talking, none of them were speaking back.
"Where did you guys come from?" Liam eventually asked. "Come on, speak up, if you have the balls then answer us!"
There still wasn't a word, but all of them had an idea. Of where these people were from, and before they knew it, footsteps could be heard shuffling.
The first one to act to this was Dame, as he lifted his hand and threw out a Qi-filled fist. It had landed solidly on the person, sending them flying back.
They couldn't hear what had happened, only a thud and a shout of pain right after.
"ARHHH!"
Now held in Dame's hand, he looked down closely, focusing the Qi on his eyes to see a bit better. "This is another Red Headband," Dame commented.
"These guys, do you think all of them are from the other assessments that were going on? Do you think they've finally put us all in a room together?" Simyon commented and he was right.
There were only a few left in all of the second-year assessment rooms that were being done. In order to progress and make it so the Main Disciples could evolve even more.
They had decided it was best to place them all in the same underground facility as each other.
"We should get out of here, where there is some light!" Ricktor said, as he had moved back feeling a cut on his chest.
He had already been attacked while down here and was bleeding.
"We're at a disadvantage in the dark!" Ricktor claimed.
"I have a feeling that we might be surrounded right now," Liam commented, even though they could hardly see in front of them.
Liam had already tried to head back down the hallway, and similarly, he felt a strong, almost swipe, scratch against him. He had blocked the attack with his arm, but that was cut up badly as well.
"How about we call a little truce," Ricktor commented. "It seems the only way out right now is to fight ourselves out, and rather than trying to get at each other's throats.
"It will be more beneficial if we take these guys out."
