Tri Realm: Reborn in Iron

The morning after Akio's triumph in the Cold Mountain Forest, Ivanov entered his quarters with an air of quiet authority. Two of Ivanov's personal assistants, tall and silent, followed him into the room, their movements deliberate and careful. Akio was still fast asleep, his youthful face barely visible beneath the covers. It had been a long, brutal night of training and recovery, and his body lay motionless in the bed, his breathing slow and even.

"Remember," Ivanov murmured to his assistants, "even the slightest sound could wake him. Be careful." 

The assistants nodded, understanding the gravity of the task. They had all seen what Akio was capable of, and they knew that any mistake could have dire consequences. Together, they approached the bed, lifting Akio with practiced precision. One of them cradled his legs while the other supported his back, making sure to move with the utmost care. Akio stirred briefly, but a light touch on his forehead kept him in a deep, undisturbed sleep.

They moved cautiously toward the door, their footsteps muffled by the thick carpet. Every sound felt amplified in the stillness of the room, but Akio didn't wake. They made their way down the corridor, through the compound, and finally out to the waiting helicopter.

The helicopter, a sleek black machine, was positioned just outside the compound, its engine idling quietly, prepared for the journey ahead. Ivanov waited by the aircraft, his arms folded across his chest as he watched his assistants place Akio gently into the cabin.

Once inside, the assistants positioned him carefully into a seat, making sure the boy was still undisturbed. Ivanov entered last, and the door slid shut with a hiss. He gave a quick signal to the pilot, who nodded in acknowledgment, and the helicopter's engines roared to life, lifting them into the air.

As the helicopter ascended, Ivanov approached Akio, kneeling beside his seat. He carefully placed noise-cancelling buds in Akio's ears, ensuring the noise of the helicopter's engine wouldn't disturb his sleep. Akio's brow furrowed for a moment, but he did not wake. Ivanov nodded, relieved, and stood back as the helicopter soared higher into the sky.

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**Taiga Forest, Russia**

The landscape below gradually transformed as they flew deeper into the heart of Russia. Thick, sprawling forests stretched for miles, their trees towering and dense, interspersed with patches of icy rivers and snow-covered terrain. The Taiga Forest—one of the largest and most remote forests in the world—was a vast expanse of pine trees, firs, and larches, stretching endlessly in every direction.

The ground beneath was blanketed in thick snow, and the forest was eerily quiet, save for the occasional cry of a bird or the rustling of wind through the trees. The air was frigid, and the silence of the wilderness was almost unnerving. The sheer isolation of the place was a testament to the test that lay ahead.

Ivanov watched Akio carefully, waiting until they had reached the proper altitude before making his move.

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**The Parachute Jump**

It was only when they reached a certain height over the Taiga that Akio stirred, his eyes fluttering open. The noise of the helicopter was louder now, and the unfamiliar sensation of being airborne made him snap awake, his instincts kicking in.

His heart raced for a moment as he looked around, disoriented. Then his eyes locked onto Ivanov, standing at the doorway with a calm yet serious expression.

"Akio," Ivanov's voice was steady, cutting through the chaos of Akio's thoughts, "we're in the air, over Taiga Forest."

Akio blinked, his gaze drifting out the window. Below, the vast, icy expanse of the Taiga stretched out endlessly, a white sea of trees and snow that seemed to swallow everything in sight.

"Now, listen carefully," Ivanov continued, "You'll be jumping into that forest. You will have only one week to survive. You'll find a parachute on your seat. You have two days of food in that bag," Ivanov pointed to a small satchel beside Akio, "along with a lighter and a survival guide. And the dagger... for protection."

Akio glanced down at the items in the bag, his eyes narrowing as he processed the situation. His mind raced—he understood the weight of the challenge.

"Your goal is simple. Survive for one week. If you succeed, your training will continue. If not..." Ivanov paused for emphasis, "Then your goal wasn't worth it."

Akio's chest tightened. A week of survival in one of the world's most unforgiving forests, with minimal resources. It was a test, and Ivanov's words echoed in his mind: "If you hesitate, you die."

Without another word, Ivanov stepped back and began to prepare Akio's parachute harness. Akio, despite the tension in his chest, remained calm. This was no different from all the other challenges he had faced. Only now, it was real. His life depended on this.

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**The Descent**

As the helicopter began to hover over a thick section of the Taiga Forest, Ivanov gave Akio a final nod. "Go. And remember, your goal is survival. Nothing more."

Akio didn't hesitate. He stood, adjusting the parachute straps and feeling the cold wind rush through the open door. For a moment, he glanced back at Ivanov, his eyes steely with resolve. Then he stepped into the open air.

The rush of wind hit him immediately as he fell, the cold biting through his clothes. The vast, snowy forest was rapidly approaching, the trees growing larger with every second.

Akio's heart pounded in his chest, but his mind was calm. He had trained for this. Survival wasn't about fear—it was about control. And he would control this situation, just like he had controlled every challenge before.

As the ground neared, he steered himself into a controlled fall, landing with a roll to absorb the impact. The snow was deep, but he was already moving, his body instinctively calculating the best path to take. There was no time to waste. His survival depended on every decision he made.

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**Taiga Forest: A Brief Description**

The Taiga, or boreal forest, is the world's largest land biome, stretching across much of Russia, Canada, and Scandinavia. In the harsh winters of the Russian Taiga, the temperature can plunge as low as -40°C, and the ground is often covered in several feet of snow. The forest is made up mostly of coniferous trees—pines, firs, and spruces—interspersed with rivers, lakes, and bogs. It's a place of both natural beauty and immense danger, home to wolves, bears, lynxes, and other wildlife. The area is so remote that civilization is far from reach, and any mistake made in these woods could be deadly. 

As Akio adjusted his gear and set off, the enormity of the wilderness around him began to sink in. This was no longer just a training exercise. This was his fight for survival.