The plains stretched before them, golden under the rising sun, but the peace was deceptive. Jeng Minh could feel it in the subtle shift of the wind, the faint tremor of hooves in the distance, and the pulse of the chain thrumming in his chest like a war drum. Something was waiting—something the Empire had sent to intercept them before they could reach the capital.
Bai Ye rode ahead, silent as a shadow, hand resting lightly on the hilt of a concealed blade. "They have eyes everywhere," he said softly. "Scouts, spies, assassins. You cannot afford hesitation. The chain will guide you, but only if you trust it completely."
Jeng Minh nodded. Zhou Chen's body felt alive beneath him, muscles coiled like steel springs, and the pulse of the chain harmonized with his heartbeat. "Prepare the men," he ordered. "If the Empire wants us dead before we reach the capital, we'll give them a lesson they won't forget."
Feng and the remaining generals moved quickly, forming a defensive perimeter. Xie Yaling dismounted, her sharp eyes scanning the horizon. "They're not ordinary troops," she warned. "Look at the formation—they move like predators, using the terrain to their advantage. Whoever commands them knows Zhou Chen's strategies well."
Jeng Minh closed his eyes briefly, feeling the chain's pulse intensify. Every footstep of approaching forces, every shift in the wind, even the faint clatter of distant metal—he could sense it all. The chain was guiding him, whispering probabilities, showing openings in enemy formations before they even appeared.
Suddenly, a column of cavalry burst from the tall grass, arrows already in flight. Jeng Minh's instincts flared. He raised his spear in a smooth arc, deflecting the first volley. The chain surged, giving him reflexes faster than thought, eyes seeing every movement in the chaotic battlefield ahead.
"Hold formation!" he shouted. "We fight together, or we die apart!"
The clash began. Jeng Minh moved like a blur, spear striking with precision, dodging attacks that would have killed a normal man. Feng followed, cutting down attackers with brutal efficiency. Xie Yaling moved like a shadow, her sword finding every weak point in the enemy lines.
But the enemy commander emerged soon—tall, armored, with a cruel mask that mirrored the Chainbearer's. He moved with uncanny speed, chains coiling from his arms like serpents. The pulse of the chain in Jeng Minh's chest flared violently—this was more than a scout; this was a test.
"You've awakened the chain," the commander said, voice distorted by a whispering echo. "But power without control is nothing. Let's see if the vessel can withstand its first true trial."
Jeng Minh gritted his teeth. "I am no longer just the vessel. I am the master, and I will not fall."
The battle escalated, chain and spear colliding with brutal intensity. Each strike Jeng Minh made was guided by the chain, his movements blending Zhou Chen's battlefield experience with his own instincts. He could anticipate attacks before they came, finding openings in the enemy's unnatural movements.
Bai Ye stayed at a distance, observing. "Do not let arrogance blind you. The chain can guide, but it can also punish. Every moment of hesitation, every misjudgment, will be exploited."
Jeng Minh's spear met the commander's chains with a deafening clash. Sparks flew, and a shockwave radiated through the plain. The chain's pulse surged again, sharper, more insistent. He could feel the energy trying to overwhelm him, but he forced calm, letting the rhythm flow through his body.
Finally, with a decisive movement, Jeng Minh feinted to the left, drawing the commander off balance, then drove his spear upward with perfect timing. The strike disarmed him, sending chains clattering across the ground. The commander stumbled, then vanished in a swirl of black mist—another pawn, another warning from forces far greater than they had anticipated.
The battlefield fell silent. Jeng Minh stood amidst the aftermath, chest heaving, spear slick with blood and dust. His men looked to him with awe and fear. He had survived his first true test against the Empire's elite, but the pulse in his chest reminded him that this was only the beginning.
Bai Ye approached, his voice calm, almost reverent. "The vessel has proven capable in combat. But the chain… will demand more than victory. It will demand sacrifice, wisdom, and unflinching resolve. The road to the capital will be harder still."
Jeng Minh wiped blood from his spear and met Bai Ye's masked gaze. "Then we press on. Every step toward the capital brings us closer to the Chainbearer—and closer to mastering the chain."
Xie Yaling, panting but steady, added, "And every step also brings the Empire's eyes closer. They will not forget this ambush."
Jeng Minh nodded, scanning the horizon. The golden plains stretched endlessly, but he no longer felt fear. The vessel had awakened in battle, and the chain pulsed stronger than ever.
The journey to the capital continued.
And with every step, the shadow of the Chainbearer loomed closer, waiting for the moment the vessel would be tested again.