The edges of the Deonis district in Saphrith could've been described as a calm mishmash of both nature and typical, town-like structures. On the one hand, everything spoke of livability: restaurants, towers to house multiple apartments and a smaller square closer towards the streets leading out to Oldenklow and whatnot.

On the other hand and much like in Galliath, trees and alike made their presence known everywhere. The further you ventured in, the more it became a little stranger at first glance.

Spare the treehouses or even Prope Portam-esque tents here and there, people found their way into every little neat corner. Such further led to even more curious hideouts, and eventually, the lack of practically any human out there.

Crossing through the small Deonis forest, the next step led to the Deonis plain, which was an open, green hill stretching out across a great perimeter, with a river splitting two lands and a lake, and home to the view towards the massive Deosia Arch.

Stairs climbed from another stretch of conifer woods towards a point higher than the Goldenleaf Castle, before moving down a similar peak, into the areas of the jungle.

It seemed almost too perfect in its structure and was an attraction amongst the people passing through town. Perhaps, it was also a reason why humans didn't extend their houses as far as these parts.

A few religious Paladians, in tandem with Erans, thought of this place to be of great, holy importance. In a few stories, here and there, it was dubbed as the resting place for Gods, with humans standing below the arch and accepting their gifts or sorrows.

Today, things seemed similar.

Kashmir Zenon skipped around the plains, watching the thousands of contestants, with even a good chunk of the Paladians still moving from the forest. He grinned, before staring up at the sun, and then bringing the King's device closer towards his mouth.

Soon, his voice rang from each bell placed around the perimeter, and the people slowly turned their heads, anticipating the next words in a stressed silence.

"Stand!" Zenon announced, with his expression immediately changing. The crowds immediately followed his command, with a few trembling.

Kashmir took the wooden podium, where a few guards stood by the side. Observing the many faces present, he took a deep breath, before squinting.

"Dear future Demonears," he uttered. "Noon's about to strike in only a few. This is your last chance to make any changes to your equipment. Remember, only one tool of choice, and one layer of clothing. Otherwise, anything else that can be spared, must be spared."

Other guards strutted about, checking the said inventory.

"A book?" one asked.

"A journal." Judy corrected him, raising a finger and fixing her glasses.

"Wouldn't even a sword be better at this point?" he whispered.

"I stand corrected." she fixed her posture. "A journal is all I'll ever need."

A few moments later, Kashmir furrowed his brows.

"Unlike during the test in Magna a few years ago, this one won't involve killing any demons. We made sure none stood in the way of the course, as I took inspiration from my late brother's ways." he halted for a second, as a few sighs of relief sounded in the crowds.

"Maybe we can do it!" a Paladian said to another.

"That, however!" Kashmir raised his voice. "Doesn't mean it will be any easier! How can the world allow you to become a Demonear without anything to prove your strength? Now, men, women, everyone!" he spoke up. "Are you willing to prove your worth to this world?!"

A few yells were uttered.

"Louder!" Kashmir repeated.

Even more appeared.

"LOUDER!" he insisted. "I want the strongest voices to be heard!"

"Is this a part of the test?" Ranpa asked, before taking a rusty, stone sword from a guard passing by.

Sam raised his fist. "Maybe." he smiled.

"Okay, Maybe. Maybe it'd be better if I just gave up now...!" he covered his face.

"EVEN LOUDER!" Kashmir continued, with the lot raising their voices, followed by a few gasps as lively as the atmosphere set in stone.

That's when he took off that certain mask. A smile wavered in, before his hand pointed towards the first challenges, with heads twisting accordingly.

"The test course is split into five, uneven parts, each meant to weed out the weaker and let the stronger thrive by the end." he signalled, stepping off, and walking around.

The first part consisted of running through the nearby woods towards the Deonia Arch. It was about a twenty-minute walk from here, but obviously, if people were to make it through, they'd need to start running. The challenge was not the coniferous forest, but the massive staircase, which took even longer to reach the top of.

There were at least five thousand people present, but as Zenon and a few guards informed, the expected limit up there would be a thousand. Afterwards, came the second, arguably, much easier part of the course in hindsight.

The participants would be asked to make it down the hill and into the woods moving into the firsts of the Orawood Jungle. The difficulty here stemmed from uneven terrain and a much steeper, rockier environment. A good chunk of volunteers were to be stood at the sides in case anything went too wrong, and then, five hundred people would pass on the next challenge.

Before entering the jungle, the third one consisted of swimming the Visula River right into the heart of those massive llove trees. The stream was renowned for not being the calmest. Zenon also mentioned something about swimming up the current instead, but Xard insisted it was supposed to be a surprise, likewise, with the last two stages.

The two hundred or so participants who were to make it to the fourth level were to face a challenge that Sandy specifically managed to rekindle from an old witchtale he heard. At that point, Judy started wondering how much time and years off his life had taken, since his name popped up almost everywhere, at that point.

Whatever that was, the hundred that were to make it through would face the ultimate mystery, moving further in. The last level was supposedly the hardest, and those who could follow the poles would reach the esteemed prize at the end, namely, the title of a Demonear.

Judy gulped, almost instinctively.

"There is no limit to how many Demonears there might be in the end." Kashmir strutted about. "However, don't underestimate the wonders or..." he chuckled. "...misfortunes of Orawood."

"I should really go home," Ranpa mentioned, taking the first step back before Sam dragged him in again.

"Turn to the sun." Kashmir pointed up. "You've still got a few minutes left of preparations. Good luck, future Demonears."

With those concluding words, chatter ensued, and Zenon stepped off the podium, talking here and there with a few guards reporting that some Paladians brought beer to celebrate, disqualifying about a hundred participants.

Kania glanced at the few numbers embroidered into some cloth wrapped around his shoulder. 0809, to be precise, and he glanced around the perimeter, fixing the Ancient Shield.

"Looking for the number one, sweet Kania?" a strangely flamboyant voice sounded through the crowds before the Haran turned with a raised brow.

"Huh?" he uttered, confused.

The person on the other end stood proudly, fixing their Royal attire, before flashing the number one placed on their forearm, with the guy standing behind him, adorned with the second.

"Hah! Simple trickery! Should've come here fifteen hours earlier and maybe you'd finally be number one for once!"

"I didn't ask. Here I thought you said you're strong enough to not come here in the first place, Patrick, Bartholomew." Kania chuckled, glancing away.

"Change of plans," Bartholomew added, fixing the number two sleeve and yawning. "When Patrick learnt you were to participate, he insisted on fi-"

"Oi, Bart!" Patrick whispered, quickly moving him over to the side. "Zip it!"

"I can't lie." he grinned, brushing his beard. "I wear glasses."

"Damn you! Why did you even follow me here, then?"

"Bored."

Patrick turned, brushing through his shorter hair. "Reason or not, we'll see who makes it out on the other end of the course both beautiful, unscathed and weaponful! Although, I'd argue, that with the tools WE have, we won't need any new Guardian Demons. Can't say the same for you, sweet Kania..." Patrick shook his head, gritting his teeth.

Kania sighed, raising his shield. "I don't need those flimsy Tributal weapons to make enough haste. At least I have something to prove its strength."

"...and we don't have to prove anything, being the King's sons," Patrick smirked, and Kania furrowed his brows, before glancing away.

"Real," Bartholomew added, giving him a thumbs-up.

"Good one, wasn't it?" Patrick whispered, before turning back. "Anyways, tootsies, sweet Kania! Best of luck to you and your massive shield!" he waved, moving around. "Later on...!"

The only thing the numbers meant were the positions of the participants. Each row nearing the entrance to the forest consisted of about a hundred people, and then the next was made, forming about fifty in total.

Of course, it'd be easier to start right there, but Kania sucked it in, moving forth. His eyes darted, before moving on from another conversation between the masses.

"It's that guy." a boy pointed, ostentatiously gulping with a blank expression.

"Oh, Mike!" a girl next to him jumped up, adjusting her two separate eyepieces and punching him in the shoulder.

"That hurt." he turned, as expressionless as beforehand.

"Told you not to be scared off some dude! I know that Lady Mama was bluffing because she was as drunk as the other Paladians were! Phew... what an idea to go into a bar full of those hideous creatures at our age, am I right?"

"You proposed it."

"You and your words as sharp as spears!" she dropped to the ground. "No worries, however! Mentioning weapons, you saw what the cat dragged in."

"A shield. We won't even be able to push him off when threatened." he shook, very lightly. "Now I'm really scared."

"A massive shield!" she spoke up. "We have all the mobility and heads of the vermin to jump around and make haste towards the finish line! Ow!" she clenched her fist. "Soon the entire world will be speaking of the excellent Demonears, Alice and Mike, am I right, Mike?" she asked, tapping his cheek a few times. "Mike?"

"Yes," Mike replied.

"You don't sound very confident." she jumped up, grabbing his head and pointing around. "Look at the wimps here!"

"That's not very nice."

"Do the future Demonears, Mike and Alice, care?"

"That's not yet set in stone." he raised a finger before she punched it. "Ow."

"Half of the Paladians here are carrying the swords given to them! Glance at even this, strange folk." Alice pointed at Judy, who clearly heard them. "A book!"

"Are you talking to me?" Judy asked. "A book can do a lot, you know. Not just any book-"

"I'm not talking to losers." Alice moved back, hopping around. "What I'm saying is..."

Judy raised a brow, before stepping away, and Mike inched closer, opening his mouth in curiosity.

"What old man Drawski said was right, eh?" she whispered. "That we're one in thousands."

"I think he meant us being from Eldham."

"Sure, whatever! Even the fact that we got here was the thousands!" she nodded. "Imagine all the shock. All those people here see who's out there to prove their worth. Alice Mosmontier, the cruel mistress lifting stars and an outstanding Demonear! What's your title?"

"Um..." Mike rubbed his head. "Just Mike."

"Alice Mosmontier, the cruel mistress lifting stars and an outstanding Demonear, and Just Mike!" she raised her voice triumphantly.

"I meant." Mike blinked a few times.

"See who'll become the future Demonears! Haha!"

"Noisy bunch." Ranpa folded his arms, stuffing the sword into a new sheath.

"Heh, if I had a voice as loud as this, you'd definitely see me use it," Sam muttered, staring forth with a smile.

"I can only assume for sheep. You know, they do listen to loud vocal commands, but likewise here." Ranpa glanced at him, and Sam looked back, squinting. "Please don't tell me you'll quit being a shepherd if you win. Please."

"You never know, Ranpa," he muttered.

"Well then, why did you bring that shepherd's crook along? For what else? You think a part of the task will be sheep?"

"I wish to share the exquisite imagination of the tool with you as well. I'm sorry I couldn't be of help." he bowed. "But..." he raised it in both hands. "It's not just any crook after Sandy's upgrades."

"You're definitely right." Ranpa stepped back, sighing. "It's twice in size and even more of a burden to carry. I'm assuming though, it's not about that."

"S-Sandy said I'll have to see all its neat tricks for myself. I know he'd help me out here, so..." he chuckled. "We might just sneak through."

"Fat chance!" Ranpa put his hand on Sam's shoulder, pointing right in his face.

"Huh?" A voice sounded on their right, and the dark-haired Paladian turned, spotting a hooded figure sneaking a few glimpses.

Ranpa moved his eyes down, seeing the man hiding the sword, with a pinky missing.

He shook his head, before moving elsewhere.

The Paladian sighed, before turning back to Sam, who, in the meantime, tried figuring the Super Shepherd's Crook out.