Aelric reached the top first before everyone else did. He scoured ahead, but he saw nothing ahead. "I don't see anything ahead." Aelric said, turning around. Maddie held out her hand, signaling to Aelric she wanted help up. "Expended all your energy being flashy like that?" Aelric asked, chuckling, pulling Maddie up. Maddie grumbled, and muttered something that Aelric didn't quite catch. Isaac came second. "What the hell was that Aelric?" Isaac asked, seemingly shocked. "You just copied my movements going up here." Isaac added. "Oh, I guess I did..." Aelric responded.

  Isaac sighed, and the three waited for everyone else to catch up. "Aelric and I will go look ahead, you guys stay here while we go see what's ahead." Isaac called out to the rest of the group. Augustus turned around to see Blake lose his grip as he fell. "Ah, shit!" Augustus yelped as he crouched down to get on a tight grip on Blake's hand. "Jeez." Augustus said as he pulled up Blake.

  Aelric and Isaac walked along the rocky surface, looking around. Aelric looked around a rocky wall. "I see some soldiers..." Aelric whispered. Isaac walked up to Aelric and reared his head around the corner and looked at the soldiers. Three of them. Isaac couldn't see anymore. "That one behind the two soldiers has a bow. He's an archer. His arrow isn't tipped, but if you get hit, you're disqualified..." Isaac mumbled. "Oh, they are an archer... I forgot this last part of the trial would have archers..." Aelric whispered.

  "Damn... Do we have the reaction time to fight and dodge arrows?" Isaac asked, clutching his hand into a ball. "Hey, you remember about 2 weeks ago when those archers were practicing?" Aelric asked. "No, why would I remember that?" Isaac responded. "Well, they always shouted before firing their arrows at the target... So, maybe these guys will do the same." Aelric said. "You genius son of a bitch." Isaac rejoiced silently.

  "Let's head back and report to the group of our findings." Isaac said, patting Aelric on the shoulder as they both turned around. "So, the main part of this final course should be behind those soldiers, and then we can finish and who knows, we can come out with no casualties." Isaac exclaimed, seemingly excited to finish.

  After a minutes' walk, they returned to the idle group. "There's 3 soldiers with one archer in the group. We believe the main part of this course is just behind them." Isaac announced. "So, let's go, we shouldn't be concerned." Michael said, walking past Isaac. "Now, now, slow your horses. The archers may fire at you while you are dealing with a soldier. But we believe that the archers will announce when they're firing." Isaac said, stopping Michael with his hand, placing it on Michael's upper chest.

  "Yeah, so? Let's go!" Michael shouted, his voice rough. "Alright, I've told everyone about the archers, so you're free to continue." Isaac said. "Put your hands on me again, and I'll beat your ass." Michael growled and walked forward ahead of the group. Lenny followed shortly behind, along with a few others. "Come on, let's go." Augustus said in a low voice. "God, that bastard." Isaac said. "I know..." Augustus murmured.

  They walked back, and lined up against the rocky wall as Michael reared his head around the corner. "Yeah, there's three soldiers. Should be a piece of cake!" Michael said, seemingly gaining a ton of confidence. "Michael, don't go out and alert them-" Maddie said as Michael turned around the corner. "No worries, lady. I got this." Michael said, a cocky look in his face, as he ran past the corner, wielding his blade, and then a twang was heard. "What was that sound?" Augustus asked, his eyes widened.

  "A bow going off. Is Michael out?" Isaac asked. Lenny turned the corner and looked. "He's just doing a little dance... The archers are on the ground." Lenny said. "The hell?" Maddie said, "What a bipolar weirdo. So aggressive, and then he just does a dance?" Maddie asks. "Whatever, he's a bastard either way." Isaac said, walking past with Augustus, Elijah, and Julian following him.

  Isaac turned the corner to watch Michael standing proudly as he danced, swinging his wooden sword around, his eyes beaming with glee. Isaac looked at him in frustration. "He cleared the way." Isaac announced to the others. "Now, let's go finish this trial, this is so easy." Michael groaned in boredom. "This is pathetic. I don't even need you guys." He added, as Lenny and a few others followed him.

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  Isaac scoffed at Michael as everyone began following him, in awe of his skills. Aelric patted Isaac on the back, signlaling that he should follow. "Yeah, yeah... Got it." Isaac said, seemingly frustrated by Michael. "The next part will definitely be difficult. So, I'm not sure how we should complete this. As they walked down the mountain as the trail guided them, they stumbled up on a small fort. It had stone walls, outlined by long, and thick wooden logs. Aelric looked down at the small base as he continued walking downwards, and spotted 10 archers standing on the stone walls. A few were sitting down and smoking. "So, we have to save hostages? What if they decide to attack the hostages, and fail us all?" Aelric asked. "Damn. Fair point. We don't want to go in blind." Isaac said. "We'll catch up to Elijah and Julian. They're the best tacticians we have." Isaac said. "Our only hope here." Aelric mumbled, as they finally got on the ground, and off the stony mountain. The group ahead of them sat down in the field as Elijah was scanning the fortress. "Ah, there's the laggards. About time you guys caught up." Maddie said sarcasticly.

  Elijah turned to Julian. "10 archers on the stone wall. We are in no position to reach them or attack them. Though, they're only at the front where the wooden gate is. Though, I'd need to get a look at the back to spot an opening." Elijah said. "Hm. We can't climb the walls, those wooden supports are blocking the way."

  "Leave it to me. As a hunter, I could climb trees with no branches. Not sure how to deal with those archers, but I'll figure it out and utilize my abilities." Isaac said. "Isaac, no. It's too-" Julian said, before stopping himself and thinking. "It's the best we have. Isaac. You get onto the walls, and we'll enter through the front. Just hold out against the archers until then." Julian said, nodding, "Everyone, get closer to the fort. Once you hear the bows go off, run to the front gate. Pray that Isaac doesn't get hit." Everyone seemed to nod. Aelric looked at Isaac. "Good luck." Aelric said, softly smiling. "Thank you, Aelric." Isaac said.

  "No worries. I won't be disqualified." Isaac said, though he didn't seem confident in his ability. He walked to the fort, making sure to avoid the archers' line of sights.

  Isaac walked to the right side of the fortress and began climbing slowly. "Move closer to the fortress." Julian said. The group of 7 slowly moved to the fortress and stayed low. Aelric watched Isaac stand on the stone wall and approached the archers.

  "I've been wondering if I can do this... Hunting Style: Slashing Dash!" Isaac said, with a smirk. In a flash, Isaac appeared on the other side of the stone wall as the archers were knocked down. The group of 7 charged towards the wall and stood at the gate. Michael, Lenny, and Aelric pushed the wooden gates open, and they charged in.

  Aelric chained a series of quick slashes at a soldier and knocked them down with a heavy blow. Isaac jumped down onto a soldier. "Hunting Style: Extraordinary Butchering!" Isaac said, before sending devastating strikes upon his target. The target fell down and backed away quickly, groaning in pain.

  Julian and Elijah teamed up on one soldier, while Michael was zipping around, taking out some enemies. There were many foes. "Aelric! Augustus! You guys go find the hostages and free them!" Julian shouted out. "Roger that!" Augustus said as he swung his wooden blade towards two soldiers, knocking them both to the floor. Aelric and Augustus paired up and began running out of the way of the fight. They hugged the wall, and slipped past the actors playing as soldiers, and hid behind various sorts of objects.

  Aelric peeked over. "There's one archer, and two soldiers guarding the hostages." Aelric said, "I'll take the archer on and then help you if you need it." Augustus nodded and prepared to attack. "I'll come out when you get to the archer." Augustus said. Aelric took a deep breath. mimicking Isaac's breathing technique, and vaulted over the objects they hid behind, and leaped towards the archer, and swung his wooden sword.

  Aelric missed the archer by a mere inch, and panic set fear. Aelric faceplanted into the ground and looked at the two soldiers behind him as they got ready to swing. "Shit! No!" Augustus exclaimed before striking the two soldiers in one consecutive blow. Aelric pushed himself off the ground, and watched Augustus tap the archer with his wooden sword.

  "I'm not letting anyone fail this. We're all going to pass." Augustus said, helping lift Aelric off the ground. "Thanks..." Aelric responded, still processing his failure. How could he fail? He was sure it was enough, but he missed. Aelric dusted himself off, and watched as all the trainees in their group approached them.

  "Is that it? Is... it over?" Maddie asked, "It should be." Isaac said as he approached the hostages and freed them from their captivity. "Congratulations to you." One of the actors spoke up. "You have all completed the trial. We have a wagon that will take you back to Fort Talos."

  A man that sat on a wagon signalled for the group to get onboard. "Haven't seen a full group that completed the trials in 3 years. Interesting." The man said, with a soft smile. He appeared to be aged and had a long, gray beard. He whipped the reins, and the wagon began moving to Fort Talos.

  Aelric sat, a huge relief overcame him, watching as the makeshift fort was left behind. "We all did it, we actually did it." Julian said, "I honestly gave Isaac only an 18% chance of surviving when he went to deal with the archers himself, but then he pulled that move off." Isaac chuckled quietly. "I didn't think I could do it. If I couldn't, then I'd definitely be out." Isaac replied.

  "So, I guess we're all soldiers." Augustus said. "Ah, yeah. So, anyways, do we get to celebrate? I could really go for some alcohol." Maddie asked. "They're not going to give you alcohol." Elijah said, "You're a soldier anyways, you have to be sober." Maddie seemed disappointed. "One day..." Maddie muttered.

  Aelric sat there in silence, with Maddie occasionally trying to get his attention, but usually gave up very quickly. Aelric pondered if he was fit for a soldier. He failed that simple maneuver. He should've been able to do it. Damn. If he wanted to be the best he could be... He'd have to go and train himself and become better. But that could be done later, he was exhausted.