More than twenty days passed in the blink of an eye. The Xianzhou Yaoqing sailed into the starfield where the Siluos might be lurking.
Following analysis by the Abominations Research Department of the Alchemy Commission, the Department of Craftsmanship had developed a device capable of interfering with their unique abilities.
After confirming that the Siluos possessed low intelligence, the Cloud Knights were tasked with carrying out this extermination mission.
It was worth noting that Jingliu, who had only recently been promoted from the reserves, would be joining the Troop for this operation. This would be her first time stepping onto a real battlefield.
On the eve of departure, she received the usual half-day leave to bid farewell to her family.
Jingliu no longer had any family left.
She only had her Master.
Before leaving, she reached into her robes and took something out.
"Master, this is for you."
Kanzaki accepted the item Jingliu offered and took a closer look. It was a jade pendant.
The center of the jade piece had been hollowed out, carved into the shape of a crescent moon partially veiled by flowing clouds. A tassel hung from the bottom, its color shifting naturally from deep crimson to a soft scarlet.
The style and size were remarkably similar to the Silver Moon Jade Pendant he had once given his mother—the very one Jingliu now wore. Yet the orientation and patterns of the moon and clouds were perfectly opposite.
When placed together, the two jade pendants looked like twin moons reflecting each other, forming a flawless pair.
"This is... something your disciple made in her spare time while you were away on the expedition..." Jingliu's voice grew softer as she spoke.
As Kanzaki ran his fingers across the slightly rough surface of the jade, an image came to mind: Jingliu carefully holding a carving knife, polishing the pendant with clumsy but earnest effort.
Most new recruits would leave something behind for the person they cared about before heading into their first battle. In case they never returned, it would serve as their final memento.
Kanzaki tied the jade pendant to his sleeve and gave a small nod.
"Remember, never get separated from your comrades."
"Your disciple will keep that in mind."
Jingliu held back the complex emotions swirling in her heart. She turned and boarded the star skiff, heading toward the Cloud Knights' military camp in the grotto-heaven.
Kanzaki watched the star skiff vanish into the sky. Moments later, Xueyi stepped out from inside and noticed him still gazing into the distance.
"Lord Kanzaki, does this subordinate need to request a temporary transfer to the Troop?" she asked softly.
"..."
Kanzaki remained silent for a moment. The events from before his return suddenly came to mind. He had meant to refuse, but in the end he gave a slight, almost imperceptible nod.
Xueyi understood immediately. After exchanging a glance with Hanya, she bowed and withdrew.
Both of them remembered that when they had gone to the battlefield for the first time, their parents had looked at them with the exact same eyes Kanzaki had now. Worried, yet unable to say it out loud.
After all, once one joined the Cloud Knights, this day would inevitably come.
The older generation had walked this path themselves and understood the harsh reality of the battlefield all too well.
While it was rare for Cloud Knights to lose their lives in their very first battle, it was not unheard of.
"Jingliu is very diligent, and her assessment scores are excellent. With enough real combat experience, I believe she will undergo a complete transformation," Hanya said softly.
Feeling a strange sensation beneath his skin, Kanzaki pulled his gaze away and headed toward his secret laboratory.
"I hope so."
The Xianzhou Alliance named this Abominations eradication operation the Named Abomination Campaign.
Although the immediate danger level was not high, the Alliance placed great importance on the potential long-term risks. They were determined to eliminate all Abominations of this particular species.
At the very least, they had to reduce them to the same level of threat as the Shirou.
However, no one expected the campaign to proceed so smoothly.
The Cloud Knights discovered many Siluos across multiple worlds in the star system, but none of them posed any real threat.
In less than ten days, the entire Troop returned victorious with zero casualties.
Only around a hundred inexperienced new recruits sustained minor injuries due to their unfamiliarity with Siluo's abilities.
In her battle report, Xueyi mentioned that the Siluos had behaved somewhat strangely, almost like headless flies. However, because of their extremely low intelligence and their inability to connect to the Synesthetic Beacon like the Stingbugs, the exact reason remained unclear.
When Jingliu returned to her residence from the military camp, her heart stirred uneasily the moment she saw Kanzaki.
Although they had only been apart for less than ten days, she finally understood why her Master had placed so much emphasis on coordinated combat. She also understood the reason behind the cruel, hellish training he had designed for her.
On the eighth day of the patrol, the new recruits had to team up without veteran guidance to eliminate a group of low-threat Siluos. There were only around thirty thousand of them.
That was the final battle before returning to the Xianzhou.
Faced with the surging tide of Abominations, many new recruits who normally performed well in assessments were intimidated by the overwhelming assault. Some even froze for a brief moment.
Fortunately, the Cloud Knights Reserve Army had always emphasized mental fortitude. Most of them quickly regained their composure, gripped their weapons, and carried out their roles.
Some held the front line to prevent the Abominations from breaking through the formation, while others provided emergency support to fill any gaps left by injuries. There were also those responsible for long-range precision strikes, sniping the enemy from afar. The division of labor was clear.
The inexperience of the new recruits showed in many ways. The most obvious issue was overexerting themselves, failing to manage their stamina properly, and tiring out quickly. Some also struggled with coordination when paired with unfamiliar comrades.
Yet Jingliu discovered that no matter which of the four collaborating soldiers fell slightly out of sync, she could instantly sense it and seamlessly fill the gap.
As a frontline fighter, she was one of the few soldiers who was never rotated out during the entire battle. Even as her partners kept changing, she adapted quickly and matched their attack rhythm perfectly.
After the post-battle review, Jingliu clearly saw how wide the gap was between herself and the others. The intensity of their training simply could not compare to the hellish special regimen she had endured.
These differences were hard to reveal in the military camp's simulated exercises, because simulations lacked the true pressure of life and death.
The battlefield was different. A single moment of distraction could cost someone their life.
Jingliu recalled what Kanzaki had once told her. The weak cannot adapt to the domain of the strong, but the strong can fully adapt to the domain of the weak.
She felt incredibly grateful that, after being scolded in that crowded hospital room, she had found the courage to seize control of her own future.
Without her Master, she would not be who she was today.
She was still young and had plenty of time to grow stronger. As long as she continued to work hard, even if she could not yet catch up to her Master's level or enter his domain, she at least wanted to follow closely behind him. She wanted to become a sharp blade in his hand and cut down every Abomination that entered her sight.
"Master, I'm back."
Thousands of words rose in her heart, yet only these few remained on her lips.
"Hmm. Your first battle went as expected. Do not grow arrogant, and do not slacken in your training just because of this temporary success."
Kanzaki replied in his usual calm tone.
"Your disciple will obey," Jingliu answered obediently.
Because... she was already inseparable from her Master. Not now, and not in the future.