The last week has been productive to Yang. Every morning she assists in training other Eremites in combat (seems that her taking down a ruin guard gave her the qualification.) At noon, the hunters would invite her. Other times, it's Arjun who invites her to other missions. Whatever the mission is, she did her best to be careful and cooperate with others as much as possible. At sundown Vahini would teach her about trading.

Vahini would ramble during her lessons, telling stories of faraway places. She would tell how crowded and lively Port Ormos is. On other days, she would tell Yang about the stories she heard from her past clients about far away nations. Yang's imagination flew over to those places. Her sense of adventure was luring her away to wander.

Then at night, Yang would think about her folks in Remnant. She imagined what stories she would tell them when she came back. She would show Ruby her new moves, she would blow Weiss' mind on her super legit trading skill, then Blake would get the copy of a popular book known as "Shinobis in Love." Yang just needs to buy it in the future.

Every day, she feels like she's getting closer to them.

—

The sun had already set on the Sumeru desert. Jeht and Benben silently watched over the desert from their outpost near the statue. After a while, Yang climbed up and sat beside them. She's carrying some snacks and drinks to get them through the night.

"Guess your lesson with Vahini has already ended?" Jeht greeted immediately.

"Yep," Yang replied. "Aced her test as well. We'll be ready tomorrow for the trade, boss."

A sly smile appeared on Jeht's lips. "I guess you could say you beat the test to a punch."

Both stared at each other in silence before laughter broke out.

"Ok, that was kinda lame Jeht." Yang said, trying to break out of her laughter. "I don't think that's not even the right term."

Jeht crossed her arms. "Oh, so is Master Yang going to teach me the art of making lame zingers now?"

"No way, my jokes are awesome. Benben back me up."

The little machine whirled and spun in response. Yang raised her eyebrow in confusion.

Jeht snorted before translating. "Benben said that according to calculations, your style of humor is deader than the desert."

In response, Yang put her hand over her heart in dramatic fashion. "Oh wow, ganging up on poor old Yang here, eh? Alright, I'll take the loss."

A few more jabs and jokes fly around the three of them over the bonfire. Well, Benben doesn't really talk but somehow Jeht could understand its intent. Yang asked her about it but Jeht didn't really know. To both Jeht and Benben, being friends and companions are enough. Yang agreed.

Finally, the tiredness caught up to Yang. A loud yawn escaped her mouth while chatting with the two.

"You should rest up. We have a big day tomorrow," Jeht suggested.

"Sure, but don't stay late yourself," Yang replied. "We need you tomorrow as well."

Yang stood up and walked away but before she could reach the ladder Jeht asked one last question. "What do you think of the tribe?"

Yang turned to her "Huh?"

"You know, how things are run here and all that."

Yang paused for a while. "Maybe you guys should invest in shampoo," she said jokingly.

Jeht only chuckled. "Alright. I'll remember that shampoo you're talking about."

Yang finally left after that. Jeht remained sitting in her spot with Benben for a few hours another familiar face climbed up to her.

"Good evening Jeht."

"Good evening, Arjun."

Arjun reached for his bag and handed Jeht a wooden box. She took the box and opened it. A smile formed on her lips.

"She will be happy about our surprise tomorrow."

"I also finally found out the location of Nasejuna."

Jeht frowned. "I see."

—

On the first light, the trading party had set off out of Temir mountains. The goal is to meet up with Jeht's contact just at the edge of Wounded Shin Valley to conduct a trade. If it goes well then, the camp will have enough food and supplies to last them for months. It is one of the most important trades Jeht's tribe could do that is why it must be taken care of with great care.

So why is Jeht and Vahini not here? Yang asked herself. An entire week of preparing and they just bailed out. What is happening here?

Before they left, Jeht made Aarush the caravan leader and left promptly. In the end, Yang, four sumpterbeasts and seven Eremites are tasked with conducting a trade with the outsiders.

It was already noon by the time they reached their destination. Yang could see some figures waving at them. Finally, the caravan had reached the meeting point, an old ruin at the end of the valley. Sure enough, a man named Mirsad greeted them with a smile on his face.

After the introduction, both parties started to conduct the trade. Yang helped out in counting the inventory to see if they received a fair deal. Thankfully, it seemed that everything was in place.

The entire afternoon was spent chatting with the traders. Mirsad would share things he heard on the road whether it was about tribal conflict, new reforms on the desert, or movements of other third parties. The entire conversation is filled with questions and answers from both sides.

Except for Yang. She remained quiet and listened to the conversations around her. She has an uncomfortable pit in her stomach. She can't explain it but it's there.

"I'll take a walk around," Yang stood up from her spot. "Just to see if anything was wrong."

Aarush nodded. "Sure."

Yang walked mindlessly around the path, looking at the direction of the camp.

"It was probably nothing," she thought to herself over and over again. She looked at the falcons circling at the sky.

"Hey," a voice behind Yang snapped her out of daze. It was Aarush and in his hand was a small box.

Yang replied, "You need something?"

"Just want to give you a gift." He handed the small box to Yang. "Jeht wanted to give it to you personally but something came up."

"Thanks." Yang opened the box. Inside are a few bullets, shotgun slugs to be exact. "Where did she get this?"

Aarush shrugged.

Yang took another look at the contents of the box. She fished out a letter between the bullets. Inside is a hastily written letter.

Hey, Yang. Sorry if I have to put my thoughts into this letter. We got busy so we couldn't come to the trade. You know today is actually the day of your graduation. Just go to Mirsad and tell him your story. We go way back so he trusts me a lot. In a few days you will be in Port Ormos, and you are free to go anywhere. Here's my goodbye gift for you. I have to go through hoops to get that from a Fontainian client so don't forget to come back soon to pay us a visit. Benben and the others will miss you. Oh, and if you find the Traveler tell her Jeht and Benben said hi.

Yang picked up and slotted the bullet in her mechanical arm. It fits perfectly. She smiled. "You don't have to go that far, Jeht."

Before sundown, Aarush's group had already prepared to go back to the camp. Yang and Mirsad's group decided to remain in the valley for a while to spend the night there. After a quick goodbye, the Eremites left the meeting spot to go home with both goods and information on their hands.

—

"There they are!" One of the Eremites at the base said as they rushed to the caravan. They don't have the same excitement whenever the caravan comes home successfully. Instead, their faces show worry and defeat.

Suddenly, a woman ran towards their caravan. It was Sosi from the Order of the Skeptics. Aarush and the other caravan members are dumbfounded at her appearance this late at night.

"Thank goodness you are here," Sosi said between haggard breaths. "We need your help."

"What is it," Aarush asked.

"It's about Jeht. She and the others went on an expedition to hunt down Nasejuna but something bad happened. The cave collapsed while they were inside."

The other caravan members looked at each other in horror. Most of them are speechless.

"What happened to the others," Aarush asked, it's obvious that his voice is shaken. "Someone is supposed to help when something happens right?"

One of the younger Eremites walked forward, his arms covered with bandages. "We were supposed to dig them out but Dahri machines found us and started attacking."

The hunting leader nodded; his legs also wrapped in bandages. "We managed to repel them but…" He gestured to the injured people around him. "We don't have enough to launch a big assault."

"So that's where we come in." Everyone's head turns to Yang. Suddenly, Benben emerged from the crowd and flew to her side. Yang patted it.

"What are you doing here?" Aarush asked.

"I'm not leaving without a proper goodbye," Yang said. "Plus, I think it's better we discuss our plan on how to save them."

Aarush nodded. "She's right. We need to hurry and gather our forces. Everyone that is able should gather at the main tent immediately."

"And don't forget to bring the map and your operation plans earlier," Yang added. "We need to see how to approach the caves easily."

The Eremites nodded and went off to do their parts. After a few minutes, the main tent was filled with fifteen able-bodied Eremites, Yang, Sosi, and a large map on top of the table.

"So, they went back into the Dahri ruins?" Aarush asked.

Sosi nodded. "That's right. According to the intel, Nasejuna was seen wandering there."

"That's why Jeht and the others decided to confront him," Yang stated. Her eyes are fixed to the only entrance of the cave. "But by the looks of things it seemed that it was all a trap."

"That tracks," Aarush agreed. "Dahri machines are large and noisy. It would take a lot of preparation to just have them jump on you guys at once."

"How long have they been there?" Yang asked Sosi.

"They left in the late afternoon."

"Damn."

It was the worst-case scenario for everyone. Not only do they have to fight during the night, but they need to traverse are much more dangerous and unpredictable than the ones she traverses during her week here. She needs to think. Think of a way to find and rescue her friends inside the labyrinth of steel.

Then it dawned on her.

"Guys, I have a plan but it's dangerous."

"We live dangerously Yang," Aarush put crossed his arms with a smile. Everyone shared the same sentiment.

Yang smiled back. "Good now listen up."

—

The entrance to the Madinat al-Nuhas used to be covered by a mystic energy. A force once put inside when the fated come times. Today, it's filled with nothing but boulders and rubble. A lone Ruin Drake sat still. Its other kind had already expired after the heavy battle earlier. Just further upstream Yang and fifteen Eremites looked at the lone machine.

"Alright, their info is right," Yang said. "Got the ropes ready?"

Aarush handed her the chains.

She smiled. "Alright, time to rodeo."

The machine detected a person running towards it. With a loud whirl, it flew up to the sky and locked on to Yang.

Yang had anticipated its action – single target means it will use its machine gun. After a quick weave through the bullets, the huntress fired both of her guns and boosted herself up to the air. After a few more shots, she finally landed at the top of the Ruin Drake. The chains tied themselves around the machine's neck nicely afterwards.

"Damn she really did it," one of the Eremites remarked in bewilderment.

"Well, what are you waiting for," Yang called out. She grunted loudly just to steady the erratic maneuver of the Ruin Drake.

On command, the Eremites ran out and shouted their battle cries. Before the Ruin Drake could register what was happening, Yang yanked it with all her might to the cave entrance. Finally, the Eremites are in their places between the Ruin Drake and the cave. Some are jeering while others throw rocks at the machine.

Seeing multiple targets in front, the Ruin Drake opened its hatches to lunch a missile salvo at them. Yang also knew this action and used her entire strength to tilt the machine enough to throw its aim off. The other Eremites had already moved away as fast as they could. None of them are willing to catch any stray rubble.

A loud explosion and dust spread throughout the area followed by the sound of coughing and another loud crash. The Eremites opened their eyes and swatted the dust away. As the faint moonlight pierce through the dust, they could see Yang standing over the mechanical beast. Its core is already crushed under the Huntress' boot.

Cheers echoed in the valley. But the celebration was short-lived. Now they need to find Jeht and the others.

—

Jeht never felt easy when getting into Dahri's ruins. She loved adventure, she loved exploring into the unknown, and most importantly, she loved discovering shiny things. But she felt uneasy when exploring anything related to this old civilization. The obnoxious rusty scent, the brass labyrinth walls that creep closer and closer, and the air of suffering that linger for centuries.

However, this place is their best refuge. The rusty scent hid their presence to their pursuers. The pipes cast shadows in unexpected places where they can rest. However, the air never left. In fact, it only suffocates her more than the claustrophobic design of the ruin.

"Hrrrgh."

Arjun let out a small cry of pain. They already used the searing hot metal in a nearby forge to cover his wound. However, the pain is still there, and his other injuries are not going to be solved by putting hot metal over it.

Luckily, the pursuers never heard them. The small group turned around the corner, oblivious to both of them.

"We need to move," Arjun whispered. "Vahini and the others needed us."

"Are you crazy? You can't even walk properly."

"Then you must get them. Leave me."

"Then you really went cuckoo from the hit earlier," Jeht remarked. "I'm not leaving you here either. Trust the tribe and trust me. We'll get out of here alive."

Arjun smiled behind his mask.

—

One thing is clear for Yang and the rescue party: they won't sneak their way into this fight because they never had the luxury. Two mitachurls saw their advance and brandished their axes towards the party. Yang led the charge and proppled herself towards one of the monsters, planting a well placed kick to its face. The other Eremites began firing their poison tipped arrows to the other monster. Nobody cared about the cost of the poison. Right now, their tribe mate's lives are much more valuable. Yang could already read the movements of these monsters after facing them a lot of times. After a few more punches, the monster fell down quickly.

They proceeded deeper and deeper into the brass factory. More and more monsters fell to their relentless assault. For a week, Yang practiced what a good hunter should be: quiet, careful, and cautious. Now, she fights with her own brand of hunting: explosive, fast, and unrestrained. Her gunfire echoed throughout the walls. Hopefully, everyone inside would get the message.

—

"Hear that?" Jeht asked Arjun with a coy smile.

The man chuckled. "That one, she really comes with lots of surprises."

Both of them heard the sound of Hilichurls running from the left. Probably to intercept Yang. On the other side, a human battle cry is closing in as well. Jeht doesn't want to miss the party.

With a swift motion, the Eremite chief brandished her katar. She turned to her companion with a childish smile. "May I?"

"Go nuts."

—

Yang could hear the sounds of distant battle. She's beginning to get closer to them. The other people behind her could also feel it as well. A poor hilichurl tried to get in front of her with a tree branch, she swatted it away. They never learn. Slowing down her momentum, she turned around the corner sharply and met…

Vahini stood still with Arjun leaning on her. Her mask was long gone. What's left in her eyes are panic and fear.

"Yang, we need to help Jeht. She's facing him alone."

—

Jeht thought that was just a random detachment. Just a bunch of survivors trying to salvage the operation. But right now, she's facing Nasujuna, the head honcho himself, in the middle of some sort of arena. She vividly remembers Vahini's face as she threw Arjun to her. She could see the woman about to cry. Jeht couldn't blame her because right now, Nasujuna is far from human despite his appearance.

"It's good to finally meet you, old friend," Nasejuna said in a grandiose tone. Jeht wondered if joining the underground cult made him more pretentious. "You know, I heard about you and your little gang's exploits. And I got to say I'm not impressed."

Jeht shrugged. "Come on, you know the rules. You always knew that's why you managed to fool us for so long."

"Hmph, I didn't do much to fool the likes of you. You are the ones so stupid to believe in the losing battle. I'm just ahead of the curve."

"So." Jeht assumed her battle position. The elemental energy flowed to her like a raging flood. "Are you going to prove that or would you call your lackeys to finish your job again."

Nasejuna smiled. In a flash, his body was covered with electricity. What emerged is an abomination covered with elegance. "In time, your kind will learn the holy revelations of the abyss."

Jeht buckled up. "I don't know. I'm pretty hard to convince."

With a flick of his wrist, the monster known as Nasejuna conjured a wave of lightning. Jeht dodged to the side and charged forward. With a swift strike, she managed to reach the monster's barrier. However, it's not enough. Nasejuna chuckled as he released a shockwave of electricity to send her flying.

Nasujuna followed its attack by sending a ball of electro towards the Eremite. Fortunately, Jeht recovered quickly and dodged again. Within a second, she charged forward the monster again for another strike.

The monster chuckled again. He sent a rain of lightning to its target to play with her longer. He loved this feeling. The feeling of being powerful. Never groveling in front of those high and mighty Paris. Not making himself look like a fool in front of his old mentor. No, it was not the old Nasejuna. He's now reborn, a priest for a true higher power. Nasejuna extended his arm towards Jeht. Electro gathered on the palm, waiting to obliterate the one who dares to stand in front of it.

"Hear the truth!"

A deafening sound of thunder echoed in the old ruins. In front of Nasejuna is a large hole that punctured the reinforced wall. However, Jeht's remains are nowhere to be found. In an instant, the Eremite chief wrapped her legs around his torso from behind. His neck is vulnerable right now.

For the first time in months, Nasejuna felt pain. Its body instantly covered itself with electricity to get the pest off his back. Luckily, Jeht managed to get away quickly.

"You…" he growled slowly. "You!" In an instant, his monstrous voice echoed loudly.

"Yep. That's me," Jeht replied with a coy smile on her face.

Nasejuna floated once again. Beside him, a portal opened and two snarling beasts came out. Rifthounds. Jeht cursed internally to her predicament.

Without a warning, the two beasts disappeared in a flash. Knowing their patterns, Jeht immediately dodged the attack coming from behind her. She barely got her footing when Nasejuna fired another lightning at her.

Dodge, strike, dodge, strike again. Jeht kept the hit and run tactics while dodging three opponents at once. Yet it's not enough. She's still human. Once she felt the fatigue, a rift hound took the advantage and landed a hit on Jeht's leg.

But it was not the last strike. Another rift hound struck her arm. Now she has to deal with the corrosive pain that eats her skin as well. At this point, the adrenaline is not enough to keep her steady. The weight of fighting finally wore her down.

Nasejuna floated towards her. Jeht thought he was not the same man who is in front of her now but rather a full fledged monster.

"Grace be–."

"SPECIAL DELIVERY!"

Nasejuna looked in front of him and saw a golden fireball coming his way. In an instant he was sent back by a few meters with a pain on his jaw.

The two rifthounds quickly moved forward to protect their master but their claws only met steel. Vahini smiled as she performed her attacks along with her pet. Yang never saw Vahini fights before but she can't help but be mesmerized by her dance.

"You better focus on your fight Yang," Jeht said nonchalantly.

"And you should be focused on your injuries instead, boss," Yang replied. Her eyes are focused on the monster in front of her. Vahini is busy taking care of the two rifthounds and Jeht shouldn't really move now.

This is not a very favorable scenario for them. But she got an idea.

"Hey, big guy."

Nasejuna concentrated its electricity again. "Your stalling won't work."

"Damn."

Nasejuna fired his electro ball to his new opponent. Yang dodges it while firing her own salvo of bullets. Loose projectiles flew everywhere. Yang needs to get the monster's attention away from Jeht and Vahini as soon as possible. With a boost from her gauntlets, Yang closed the gap to force the monster in melee. Nasejuna however countered with another electro shockwave to keep her away. Luckily, Yang experienced this before and leaped back before she could be hit.

Nasejuna had other plans however. With a quick charge, he fired another burst of electro this time towards the still downed Jeht. Nasejuna wanted to at least get rid of one problem but didn't realize that the new face was crazy enough to just take the shot. In fact, the newbie just ran towards her with a burning bright glow as if nothing happened.

With her semblance fully charged up, Yang ran towards Nasejuna for another attack. In defense, the monster covered itself with an electro barrier. However, its not the blonde he should worry about.

Yang quickly stopped on her tracks with a sly smirk. "NOW!"

An explosion blew the entire ceiling off. Tons of old equipment rained down the bewildered Nasejuna. The monster's rage was his downfall. If Nasejuna was smarter, he would have noticed Aarush and the others planting explosives like during those few minutes of fighting. Yang and Vahini are not the cavalry. They are a distraction.

Dust covered the entire room. Using it as the cover to escape, Yang carried Jeht and ran away as fast as possible. Vahini is beside them, it seems that she's done with the rifthounds now. Just right after they exited the room, more rubbles fell down behind them, sealing the room for good. But neither of them looked back.

Yang already had her sights on the future. After they meet up with Aarush and the others, they exit the cave together. Then after that, she will have a proper talk with Jeht. A proper goodbye.

A pitch black portal appeared in front of a surge of electro hit Vahini. Yang turned around to shield her boss only to be knocked down as well because of her depleted aura. Her back felt the searing pain.

"You are really trying my patience," Nasejuna remarked weakly. The plan to bring the ceiling down worked to an extent. A faint light enveloped the monster's arms for the killing blow. But before Nasejuna could shoot, he felt a strong force pushing him back at the portal. Yang may not have aura, but she can rely on her adrenaline to push the monster back to the portal.

Both of them landed back on top of the debris from the explosion earlier. Yang felt a cold wet sensation running to her abdomen. She opened her eyes and it. Amidst the dusty air, she could see a silhouette of a long and slender rod standing still on where her abdomen is.

Memories came flooding back. Her earliest memories with Raven and Tai. The warm embrace of Summer. Ruby's childhood. Their journey through that cold forest. More and more memories filled her mind. She knew what's happening, she had experienced this before in the dark void. It's the sensation of dying. Yet this time, it might really be the end.

Nasejuna stood up from the ground. The monster is still intact. Battered severely, yet intact.

"I see," the monster snarled. "You… are not around here. Yes, I remembered now. You looked like that outlander. So, are you a new scrap Jeht salvaged then?"

Yang could not utter a word. The rod slowed down her bleeding but the pain is still coursing through her body.

"Do you know who are the people you are even dealing with? Or were you always like one of them?"

Yang tried to stand up but her knees were so weak that she could only kneel down as if she's a lost lamb that submitted itself to a higher being. Nasejuna approached her till his knees are a mere inches away from her head.

"Killing their own kin, betraying those who are close to them, and valuing human lives for coin. The death of an entire tribe, the hanging of a famed merchant, and kidnaping scholars. I knew every crime Jeht and her friends committed before coming here and each time I talked to them, I felt my gut wrenching in disgust."

The monster kneeled down in front of Yang. His slender fingers lifted her chin. Her pure lilac eyes are met with the inhuman white gaze of the monster. She could feel his claws puncturing her skin.

"But you are different. You are not like the Eremites here in Sumeru nor have I sensed anyone with your ability so far. So, I would offer you something. Join me, join the Abyss. Shed your sinful shell and witness the truth with us. I assure you those who you are fighting with are not worth dying f–"

A sudden punch to the nose interrupted the monster. It was weak but the intent behind it is worse than as spit to the monster's face. In a fit of rage, Nasejuna stood up and kicked Yang. The huntress groaned loudly. However, she finally gained the strength to stand up.

Nasejuna levitated, its heretical book appearing between its hands once again. "Your death will be meaningless."

"Nah," Yang replied with a smile. "I aint dying here. They would miss me."

Just like before, Nasejuna shot out a beam of electricity to finish it once and for all. In spite of that, Nasejuna didn't feel like he killed her. No, the monster could still feel the vitality of the girl getting stronger and stronger.

The dust had already settled but what replaced it is more blinding. Yang could feel her body getting energized as if she never fought in the first place. Bewildered, she took a look at her hand. There lies a small trinket. Its red hue burns brighter than the sun. She didn't know what it was but she knew one thing. She's been lit ablaze once again.

Smiling, she put the small trinket in her pocket. It didn't matter where she put it. As long as it's on her, she instinctively knew the boon would always be with her. The huntress looked at the creature once again with her crimson eyes. This time with a smug glee.

"Hey, big guy. Let's turn up the heat!"

Before Nasejuna could react. A bright light enveloped its vision. Once the monster opened its eyes, it could see Yang above it. With a wink, Yang brought her burning fist down to Nasejuna's head. Not content, Yang followed it with more strikes as soon as she landed. Gut punch, an elbow thrust, right uppercut, a step on the monster's feet to keep it on the ground, then followed by a barrage of punches that is stronger than the last. The Abyss Lector is nothing more than a punching bag to the empowered huntress. With a last strike, Yang punched Nasejuna so hard that his body flew and destroyed the rubble that blocked the exit.

"Heh, that's how you end a fight with Yang."

Once the adrenaline died down, Yang noticed the rod still on her stomach. With her vision fading, Yang laid down and lost consciousness with a smile on her face.