"What a blessing those boys have brought to our clan." Xing set a pill on the table. One hundred and ninety-nine identical pills rested in a bowl.

　　"Their achievements must be magnificent in the sect. With these pills, we can bolster our strength to hold off those Phizen scum," Shinu said as he grabbed a pill and held it up to the mid-morning sun.

　　"Those boys have accomplished so much for our clan, and they`re only sixteen years. Could this be the prosperity we`ve longed for?" Winryu mused, rolling a pill in his fingers.

　　"We shouldn`t get ahead of ourselves. These pills are a wonderful boon, but they won`t create a new Expressionist overnight. At most, this will buy us two weeks. Xing, when will your son return from Whipping Winds Sect? Now that he`s an Expressionist, he can aid us, yes?" Elder Heles asked.

　　"Yes, according to the latest correspondence, he should arrive in nine days. Unless the Phizen Clan mobilizes all of their Expressionists, we should be able to hold our position until then. Dango, their patriarch, has led most of the assaults. I`d argue I`m a half-step ahead of him in strength, but with Jun by my side, I should be able to deal with him readily. At least, I pray that is the case." Xing furrowed his brow. A deep crease formed on his forehead.

　　Heles spread a map across the table and pointed to one spot, "It would seem their current goal is to conquer our North sector. If they capture the last two fields in the western portion, our ability to produce for commerce and trade will be neutered. We`d be lucky if the South sector could maintain our food supply, but even that is pushing the limit. The East and West sectors are barren as they have been for two generations." Heles tilted his head and spoke low, "One of our reconnaissance scouts spotted a Phizen Seeker skulking around the North sector yesterday. Shortly after, another injured clan mate appeared in my infirmary. If we don`t find a way out soon, I fear it could spell the end." A dark shadow spread across Heles` face. His hand trembled as he continued pointing at the map.

　　Silence filled the room. The seven elders, Xing, and Di Yu sat unmoving. All eyes fixed on Heles` finger above the fields. Eight other fields on the map had been scratched with an X`.

　　Di Yu rose and flourished a hand, "Why haven`t we brought those two boys back from Boundless Heaven Sect? If they`ve even reached the Third-Step Wandering Realm they`d be of some use."

　　"Di Yu, we can`t hide behind children. The adult`s problems are for adults to solve. Children have their own problems," Xing said.

　　"You always praise them and their endeavors, yet you wish to shelter them? Yes, they`ve bestowed great gifts on our clan. We`re all grateful, but what does it matter if we perish? If they come back and aid us in our defense maybe they will earn their praise. As far as they`ve done now, it`s meaningless until our longevity is secured." Di Yu`s ears burned crimson as her breath came in rapid spurts. "Why did we invest so much in those branch-family brats if they`re not going to help us in our time of need?" Her voice roared through the room.

　　"Di Yu," Xing stood and placed a hand on her shoulder. "This weighs on me, too. Why don`t you take a moment for some fresh air?" Xing motioned to the door and took his seat, rubbing his chin while he studied the map. Di Yu stormed out, her teeth gnashing between each step.

　　"She has a point, Xing. Those boys hold immense talent. I`d bet ten rolls of my Filter they`re stronger than Third-Step Wandering Realm. Though I didn`t have the pleasure of training with them, I could tell by how they fought at the festival before their departure. They`re special. They could be the key to our survival." Second Elder Hao said, his sullen eyes piercing Xing`s heart.

　　Xing sat in silence with twisted lips. "Send a messenger to the Boundless Heaven Sect. The boys will need to come back." He let out a defeated sigh. "They don`t deserve this, but what`s the point if there is no clan for them to return to?" A small sob escaped his chest, "We have to survive."

　　"Jun, my son, it`s wonderful to have you home, although I wish the circumstances were better." Xing embraced his son.

　　"I`m honored to be back, Father. What more could a Seeker desire than to defend the honor of his clan?" Jun beamed at his father as he shouldered a spear.

　　"Is that your Tool? It suits you, sturdy and well-built. I`m eager to witness your prowess in battle. Did you receive the intelligence report about their forces?" Xing rested a hand on the sword at his waist.

　　"Yes, our job is to neutralize their patriarch, Dango, since he`s their strongest Seeker." Jun`s stern face cracked into a smile. "A fitting battle for father and son."

　　"We must focus, their exact strength remains unknown. Three moons ago, the recon unit scouted three Expressionists in the Phizen Clan. Much could have changed since then, and Dango may have been concealing his true abilities. One of their Expressionists hasn`t fought in public for two decades. Who knows what tricks the Phizen have up their sleeve." Xing paused as a cool breeze rolled through.

　　"Father, I see all the Elders here today. Didn`t your letter mention two others joining our defense?" Jun inquired.

　　"Yes, you remember Juniors Enril and Zelek from years ago?"

　　"What? They should be no more than sixteen years now. A serious conflict like this could cripple them," Jun protested.

　　"We pray they`ve reached at least Third-Step by now. Jun, they`re talented and resourceful. Not long ago, they each sent a voucher for one hundred pills. It felt as though Heaven itself showered us." A bittersweet smile spread across Xing`s lips.

　　Jun recoiled at the number of pills. He knew first-hand how precious pills were. The Foon clan scrounged by with low-quality pills like the other third-rank clans. It wasn`t until he had entered Whipping Winds Sect that he enjoyed the efficacy of a pill that was considered standard. "I wouldn`t dare doubt the wisdom of you and the Elders. If you think they will be of help, then so do I." Jun placed a fist over his chest.

　　A new voice shouted, "Only nine dogs today? I didn`t realize the patriarch of the prestigious Foon Clan worked the fields. What an honor your clan must feel, to watch their patriarch sully his hands." A portly man stood atop a nearby hill and laughed.

　　"Phizen Dango, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Xing grumbled.

　　"Shut it, Xing. You know why we`re here." Dango waved his hand and three new faces flanked him. The Foon Elders, Xing, and Jun shared a gasp.

　　Xing stepped forward, his shoulders held high, "More company? The Foon Clan cordially invites you for a game of dice."

　　Dango grumbled, his cheeks flushed, "If you surrender I`ll spare your dog life. We`ll annex your clan and return your fields. Your tithe will be half your harvest." Dango folded his arms and tapped his foot. "Well? I`ll wait no longer than a stick of incense for your answer."

　　Third Elder Grisham stepped next to Xing, "Patriarch, this kind of bargain would ensure the clan`s survival. We Elders could stop receiving our stipend and the clan would survive. Most of us don`t have many years left, anyway. It would be our honor to make this paltry sacrifice." Grisham`s words were unsteady.

　　"Grisham, I hope you know I appreciate your wisdom as the clan`s financial adviser. We would stagnate further than we have these past three decades. We may live, but what good is it to be indentured to a man like that? Living a dog life of servitude?" Xing clenched a fist, then looked to the top of the hill. "We do not accept your terms, Dango. We are prepared to fight if we must."

　　Dango spat in the direction of the Foons. "You fools. I offered you salvation and you spit in my face? Do you not see that it`s four against one? Everyone knows the Foon Clan has had a lone Expressionist since Haoran left. Next year on this date will mark the first anniversary of the Foon Clan`s demise."If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it`s taken without the author`s consent. Report it.

　　Jun thrust himself in front of Xing. "I, Foon Jun, son of Xing, am also an Expressionist. Our Elders are no slouches. I have faith in them as my father does."

　　Dango let out a raucous laughter. "Oh, I`m quaking in my boots. To think the Foon Clan hid such a secret. A second Expressionist? What a revelation." Dango rolled on the ground as he continued to laugh.

　　"The way I see it, there`s three of us." Someone approached from the West behind a vicious gust of wind. Their face was obscured by a large, flat-brimmed hat, and their entire body was covered by a pitch-black cloak.

　　Dango stood and roared, "Huh? Who`s this?"

　　"I`m an Expressionist here to defend my clan." The person said, casting aside their cloak and hat. They wore a stark-white robe trimmed in sapphire with a scabbard, black as void, hanging from their hip.

　　"Z-Z-Zelek? Is that truly you?" Xing`s eyes widened like a full moon.

　　"You bet, Patriarch," he replied, bowing. "And I came with a sword, just like yours. It fits perfectly with the Winds of the King Schema." Zelek fiddled with the scabbard but left the sword sheathed.

　　"Heaven does love us. It`s a blessing to have you back, Junior Zelek." Elder Wanu patted Zelek`s shoulder and laughed. "I suppose I shouldn`t call you Junior` any longer, considering you`ve surpassed me."

　　"Elders, it`s my honor to fight alongside you today. Without your guidance, Enril and I would have never grown as we did," Zelek said, turning to the seven Elders and bowing with his fists behind his back. Another vicious gust breezed across the field.

　　"Speaking of, is Enril with you?" Xing asked.

　　Zelek`s fists quivered at his sides as his spine straightened. Without a word, he raised a hand and pointed a finger. Tracing the path, Xing looked up the hill toward Dango.

　　"Boy, the last one who pointed at me lost a finger. You itchin` to lose that whole hand?" Dango growled as he wrung his fists.

　　A hand landed on Dango`s shoulder, followed by a whisper, "He`s not pointing at you."

　　Dango jumped and drew his mace, turning to face the mysterious hand.

　　"Hey, be careful with that. You could hurt someone with that pointy stick," the newcomer warned before vanishing.

　　Xing stood stammering nonsense as he watched the person take one step down the hill, then another to reach the group of Foons. They crossed over five hundred meters without effort. Their stark-white robe trimmed with sapphire blue swayed from the breeze. Two rods were tucked into their belt behind their back.

　　"Junior Enril greets the Patriarch and the Elders." Enril bowed deep then moved next to Zelek. Together, the boys drew their Tools and let out a wild roar.

　　Xing turned back to Dango and said, "Well, what a surprising turn of events. It seems you came ill-prepared, Dango. We have four Expressionists to greet you, all rich with the blood of Foon. Don`t say we didn`t offer you proper hospitality for your visit."

　　Dango`s mace had dropped to the ground along with his jaw. A woman stepped up to his left and whispered, "I thought you said they had a single Expressionist. I can tolerate that patriarch`s brat ascending, but who are the other two? This isn`t the job I agreed to. I`m leaving." She walked down the hill and approached Xing. Offering a bow, "I am Jeeyen. The Phizen clan hired me for a job today, but it`s obvious they lied to me to coerce me to join their futile power struggle. I`ll be withdrawing, and I hope you can forgive this transgression of mine. I hold no grudge, it was just a job."

　　"I`m not fond of mercenaries, but I understand the necessity of putting food on the table. Swear to me you won`t raise a hand to help the Phizen Clan today, and I`m more than happy to overlook this," Xing said. Jeeyen agreed and vacated the field. "Quite a twist of fate, wouldn`t you agree, Dango? I`m willing to negotiate. If your clan repairs our fields and sends one hundred pills to alleviate my clansmen`s pain and suffering, we can call it a day." Xing folded his arms and raised an eyebrow at Dango.

　　"You think I was born this Spring, Xing? So what if we have one less Expressionist than you? Three of yours look like they don`t even understand the first concept of what it means to wield a Tool." He pointed his mace, "We fight. Brogle head East, Bing head West." The three began to charge down the hill.

　　Without a word, Enril held out one of his rods to Zelek and they vanished.

　　Xing glanced to the base of the hill and saw Enril and Zelek speed back into view. Zelek was flung uphill by the momentum, unsheathing his sword as he glided above the ground. A horizontal slash of wind whipped out, causing the Phizen Clan above to stumble. Xing`s jaw dropped.

　　"What in Heaven`s name was that?" Shinu rubbed his eyes as the boys blinked back into view with another rush of wind.

　　"It`s a combination we created, his Maneuver and my Wielder Technique. I believe we can catch anyone off guard with this opener. However, we can`t use it often because it strains Enril`s Stream," Zelek explained as Enril rubbed his chest and nodded.

　　"I don`t recognize your weapons, Enril. They resemble my bo staff, but they`re much too short. And you wield two of them?" Heles inspected the pair of rods in Enril`s hands.

　　"The RikenSmith called them each a Hanbo`. Your assessment is correct, they`re a smaller version of a bo staff," Enril replied.

　　"Enough chatter, we need to focus. Elders, please restrain the woman heading West. Once we finish with Dango, Jun will come to your aid. Boys, I`m afraid I have to task you with the silver-haired man heading East." After Xing`s orders, the Elders ran West while Enril Maneuvered himself and Zelek East.

　　After three WindWard Steps, the boys stopped in front of Brogle. Zelek drew his sword and waited. Out of the corner of his mouth, "Brother, we must put everything into this. If we fall, the clan falls." Enril gave a nod as he tightened his grip on the hanbos.

　　"I got stuck with the brats, huh? Don`t go crying when I teach you some manners, alright?" Brogle laughed as he slipped on a pair of knuckles that shimmered in brilliant green.

　　"I`ll do my best to match him. Take the openings as they appear," Zelek said before he launched forward.

　　"Not afraid to make the first move? I like your style." Brogle laughed as sparks flew from his knuckles meeting Zelek`s sword. "People cower when they hear the Brutal Bruiser Brogle is in their presence."

　　Zelek placed his free hand on the spine of the sword and shoved it forward. Brogle swung his free fist and Zelek tilted his head. The punch grazed his cheek. He retreated and a crimson drop fell as he stopped next to Enril. "Not that I expected it to be the same, but it`s far different from when you and I spar. I have a feeling he doesn`t care about the Council`s rule of no slaughter. With no witnesses, he could make up whatever story he likes." The soil tinted pink as Zelek spat.

　　"I`ll keep it in mind. You take care of yourself, too, Brother." Enril said as he dug his heels into the soil. His eyes locked onto a spot just a step behind Brogle`s left.

　　Brogle bounced on the balls of his feet, fists raised to his chin. "Come on, this old man needs some exercise."

　　Enril grunted as he placed his hanbos into his belt. In each hand, he conjured a flame with his BlazingOrb Technique. He tossed them skyward, drew his hanbos, and batted them toward Brogle. Searing through the air, they blazed a spiraling trail.

　　"Childish tricks have no place on the battlefield," Brogle shouted as he threw his fist straight through the first ball. It sputtered out of existence on contact. The second ball flew straight into his chest and exploded into a smoky cloud.

　　"Great hit, Brother." Zelek`s knuckles whitened around his hilt.

　　"Who in their right mind wastes their riken like that"? Brogle`s voice boomed from within the dissipating smoke. With a swipe of his fist, he dispersed the remaining smoke. Zelek rushed in, katana high overhead, and slammed it down. Brogle caught the blade between his hands. "Not bad, but your swordsmanship is sloppy. Let me sh-" Something struck his legs and knocked him off balance. Releasing the katana, he planted a hand and swept his leg in a circle, knocking Enril and Zelek to their backs.

　　Enril recovered his footing, grabbed Zelek, and dashed away with his Maneuver before Brogle could regain his footing. A vein protruded from Brogle`s temple. He looked at the boys and shouted, "I was going to take it easy since you remind me of Jiya, but now you`re just pissing me off." Zelek recoiled at Jiya`s name.

　　"To what do I owe the pleasure, Ying Yue?" Yun asked as she stood at the snowy precipice.

　　"I think you`ll be interested in the two newest Expressionists from the sect." Yun turned to Ying Yue and raised an eyebrow. Ying Yue continued, "They`re both sixteen years, recruited from their clan six years ago on your orders. They are fighting to determine the fate of their clan." Ying Yue smirked and pointed East of Mount Churei.

　　"Oh, the squabble between Phizen and Foon? Did you know the Phizen Clan welcomed a Third-Step Expressionist into their ranks just two weeks ago?" Yun`s platinum hair flowed behind her as she stepped closer to the edge. "Two moons ago, Dango was the sole Second-Step Expressionist, but Brogle did something, and he`s since ascended twice."

　　"He wasn`t foolish enough to ingest it, was he?" Ying Yue bit her lip as Yun glanced at her with a smirk. "Will those two boys be alright?" Ying Yue asked.

　　"This battle will allow them to demonstrate any extraordinary abilities they may have, despite Heaven stacking the odds against them. If they are to perish, it just means they were not what I was seeking," Yun said, her voice colder than the snow crunching under her feet. Ying Yue grew worried as she saw a small plume of smoke in the distance.

　　"Tell me your opinion. Is it foolish to roll one`s Filter before a battle?" Yun asked.

　　Ying Yue tore her eyes from the plume of smoke. "If one is aware a battle is coming, then yes it`s entirely foolish. Why?"

　　Yun gave a small giggle. "The aggressors of this match have all rolled their Filter before marching to battle." Ying Yue brought a hand to her mouth.