HIRUKO arrived in the preparation room.
-Dorothy: So this is the room where you're going to get ready. You have one hour to do it. I'm giving you the chance to choose any Slaker you like and modify it to your own taste and style. If possible. The handymen are at your disposal. And don't dawdle. All our Anima here have already been serviced. Don't worry about that. Just concentrate on choosing the right arcane stone and come and meet me at the entrance to the dungeon.
-Uli: Perfect, so I'll take a spear and modify it with two stones.
-Selene: Won't two stones make you tired?
-Uli: Don't worry, we're going to be spending 3 days in this dungeon, so we might as well be as prepared as possible. We don't know what kind of Draugr we're likely to find there, so tell me what kind of weapon you're going to use to get in.
Selene: I was going to modify my Slaker to look like a nunchaku and a whip with a blade, so it'll come in handy for counter-attacking and defending. As for you, Hiruko, what's your choice?
-Uli: I'm going to go for a Fist Claw Dagger.
-Selene: Are you sure? It'll put you at a huge disadvantage.
- No, ever since the academy, I've been trying to find a way of fighting beings bigger than me while applying the right style for me, and I've realised that I really like punching.
-ULI: But you haven't mastered your anima yet. I hope you'll opt for a weapon that can defend you at the same time, don't you?
-HIRUKO: I think this one's perfect.
-Hey you!
-HIRUKO: Who's calling me? It's the famous GOKI Kosuga!
-GOKI: I heard your name when you shouted it at the examiner. Is that really your name?
-HIRUKO: But of course 'shit', he heard it too, like all the other candidates at the rally, although I didn't want him to know me, but at the same time, it's good that all the other candidates were already starting to take me for him. So we're going to share this pain together.' Why are you asking me?
-GOKI: Do you know ISHIN?
-HIRUKO: No, I've never heard of him. Who is he?
-GOKI: Where are you from?
-HIRUKO: Why? I'm under no obligation to answer your questions.
-GOKI: Hmm, you're right, forget what I said, just that if you turn out to be my enemy, I won't hesitate to kill you.
-HIRUKO: Be careful what you say.
Selene: I looked him up, he's a soldier our age from the same kingdom as us. He just lived in the provinces and apparently we don't know anything about him, apart from the fact that when his master disappeared he was forced to become a self-taught soldier.
-ULI: He's scary.
-HIRUKO: No, he's a good person, I felt it.
Selene: We've got 30 minutes left. Hiruko We should go to the DIY store.
-HIRUKO: Right,
-Uli: I've already got my weapon ready, I'll wait for you at the entrance to the dungeon.
*Arrival at the handyman's*.
-Handyman: What can I do for you young people?
-HIRUKO: Here, sir, we've already made a sketch of what our weapons should look like.
- Call me Ed.
-HIRUKO & SELENE: Pleased to meet you ED.
-ED: Well, what have we here?
- But it's going to be difficult for you to handle them while turning them into daggers. What's more, they'll be heavy for a hand-to-hand combatant, weighing in at around 7kg for a single fist-clenching dagger. You didn't want the same thing for the young lady, because for her, it's all about stamina and skill.
-SELENE: Don't worry, HIRUKO's always had stamina and he'll be able to use it.
-HIRUKO: I'd like to point out that I already lift heavier weights, so it'll be fine.
-ED: No problem.
* 15 minutes later
ED: And that's it, it's ready. Try them out!
-Selene: Is it ready yet? That didn't take long, did it?
-HIRUKO: He was quick, I see.
-ED: Who do you think I am? There's no one in this kingdom who can match me, apart from Alphonse of Inun.
-HIRUKO & SELENE: Yeah, the braggart.
-HIRUKO: Try your weapon, we don't have much time, SELENE.
-SELENE: OK.
She tries out her weapon on the spot, putting her Arcane Stone in it and making it change shape as she tries out her martial arts techniques.
-HIRUKO: How do you like it?
-ED: Hey, that's for me to ask!
-SELENE: I think it's exactly what I wanted, I just need to get used to its flexibility.
-ED: Why don't you test yours too?
Hiruko: Let's go and test it out!
* Hiruko had put on her talons*.
-Ed: How does it feel?
-HIRUKO: It's fine, just a bit heavy.
-Ed: I warned you. You wouldn't listen.
-HIRUKO: When I drew it, it seemed much too light, so what could have made it heavier?
-ED: The metal available here is heavy, so the more complex the equipment is to create and assemble, the heavier it is.
-HIRUKO: And where can you find light metal?
- Outdoors, in mines or in dungeons. Why do you find it outside too? You're not planning to start digging, are you?
-HIRUKO: No, no, but I'll do everything I can to find a strong, light metal for my Slakers. Apart from that, thank you.
- Ed: You're welcome, HIRUKO.
-HIRUKO: Oh dear, I almost forgot to ask: did the other young man with the light blue hair tell you what type of alloy he used to make his weapon?
-Ed: He didn't.
-Selene: Really?
-Ed: Or rather, he didn't want to say any more and he's planning to use his own weapon. I offered, but he flatly refused. Even when it came to using my stone, he refused to use the stones from my forge.
-HIRUKO: He wants to play mysterious.
-Ed: I'm on fire for my beard. If this man isn't a phenomenon, he's probably a madman.
-HIRUKO: I see, or else I'm off.
-Ed: Hey, you forgot to put your arcane stone on your Slaker.
-HIRUKO: Don't worry, I'll do it right at the entrance to the dungeon.
-Ed: As you wish. This youth seems to like risks too much, I see.
* Heading towards the dungeon*
HIRUKO felt an itch on his eyes as soon as he was in front of the dungeon and he also saw small flashes of light that showed him the way.
-HIRUKO: Ow, my eyes hurt.
-Selene: Does it hurt?
-HIRUKO: I don't know, it just hit me.
- Selene: A bit of dust, maybe.
-HIRUKO: I don't know, maybe it's those golden lights.
-Selene: What lights?
- HIRUKO: No, forget it (maybe I'm the only one who can see it, and what's more, towards the dungeons, the light source seems deep to me).
- Uli: Have you finished yet?
-HIRUKO: Yes, yes, we didn't want to leave you alone, because we knew you'd get bored without us.
-Uli: Not even that, I'm just looking at the candidates, we're at over 130 and...
-Selene: You can keep thinking later, we're going to hear the last instructions from Lady Dorothy.
-Dorothy: My candidates, the time has come for you to face your destiny and measure yourselves against the obstacle. You've shown us that you're determined, but you've still got to prove it out in the field. The other examiners are watching you via a magical broadcasting screen, which means that the whole world is watching you. Then you have to...
-Two of the candidates: Stop bothering us, we know what we have to do, exploring this dungeon will be a piece of cake.
-Unknown: You're right, mate, this gathering is a test, and victory will come down to whoever gets there first. First served, because only the dungeon reward counts, let's go!!!
Dorothy: Hmm.
The two candidates entered the dungeon at the back of the entrance. The contestants heard the agonised screams and a minute later saw the heads and lower parts of the two contestants rushing to enter the dungeon. All present were shocked afterwards as they watched this barbaric act take place.
-Dorothy: Well, I don't think I need to explain, because what you've just seen makes my instructions much easier.
- Ageel: You're sadistic. You could have held them back, but you preferred to see them torn apart.
- Dorothy: Need I remind you that we're in the army here, not some babysitting place? They were over 18 and they knew what they were doing. They just wanted to show off. There are hundreds of dungeons in this world, and each one has its own particularities and requirements. If this is your first time, and I'm being nice today, the only hint I can give you in this ordeal is that dungeons like the proud.
Uli: The dungeon seems to be more dangerous. Would you allow us to form groups to better explore it and get to the bottom of it?
-Dorothy: I set the rules for entering and leaving the dungeon, mate. The rest, you should obey the laws of the dungeon.
- Uli: I see.
- Dorothy: If not, I'll leave you and you'll have to wait three days after leaving the dungeon. Goodbye and try not to embarrass me by dying like stupid animals.
Dorothy left them to explore the dungeon and try to pass the test. But our young hero and his band had just witnessed the atrocity of the test and also the world of the arcane, because beyond this dungeon, they would have to deal with all kinds of cruelty, including in battle against the draugr.