As the magnificent light of the sun once again hit the sky, Toro and Mario enter Toro's car, the fomer driving them to an old library known only to hunters. They enter the library, and Toro hands Mario a heap of books. Mario struggles to carry them with his left hand alone, so they place the books on a trolley and wheel them to the car. They both stand in front of the car.
Toro: I'm not the type to explain things. Read all of that, take a bath in freezing cold water, nap, and then reconsider your decision for ten minutes. After that, I'll listen to what you've decided. I understand you don't have a place to stay. You'll be staying with me for now.
Mario: I won't.
Toro: Where will you go, then?
Mario: I'll find a way.
Toro:I can't let a teenager like you wander off without giving you some money, and that didn't exactly work out last time. You'll be staying with me. So keep your mouth shut and get in the car. It's the proper thing to do.
Mario clicks his tongue and enters the car.
Toro: Kids...
Toro sighs as he gets into the car and drives to a hotel to book a room. Toro's outfit attracts attention as he walks past people. He carries the books and enters the hotel room, with Mario following shortly after.
Toro:Make yourself at home.
Mario: It's a hotel room.
Toro:Don't give me that attitude. You've been cold ever since you knocked on my door. Is there something you want to share?
Mario: From what I've gathered, that wasn't your house, so it's not right for you to say "my door."
Toro: Quite the language student, aren't you?
Mario: Where were you yesterday? Around 2 p.m.?
Toro:Out of town. Did something happen?
Mario: No. It's nothing.
Toro: Okay. Read these books. Be done in seven hours.
Mario: Make it one. Apart from the one titled The Hunters, my father made me read the others.
Toro: Your father seems like a great man.
The other books were available to the general public, containing common Malvay history and geography, which made Toro less surprised.
Mario: Trust me, he was a great man.
Toro: Oh? Okay then. I'm going to take a shower. No peeking.
Mario:You must be crazy if you think anyone besides you would want to see what's between your legs.
Toro:Your sister does.
Mario:I don't have a sister, so you lose.
Toro: Damn it.
Toro goes into the bathroom, and Mario begins to read The Hunters silently. After thirty minutes, Toro comes out, humming a song.
Mario: It took you thirty minutes and fifteen seconds to take a bath.
Toro: I had to change in the bathroom.
Mario: Not an excuse.
Toro: Why are you always so serious? I'm the adult here.
Mario:Put a sock on it.
Toro: How dare you.
Mario: I finished the book in half the expected time.
Toro: You just flipped through.
Mario: I flipped the pages and understood every single part of it.
Toro: This should prove you're wrong. Who is John Kado?
Mario: According to page 125, chapter 9, paragraph 5, John Kado is referred to as the greatest man to ever walk the earth. He led a revolution that saved the world. He shared his supernatural gifts with a selected number of people in Malvay, who, in turn, passed them down to their children. On page 290...
Toro cuts in.
Toro: That's enough. What about this... What is the code of the demon hunters?
Mario: What a dumb question. According to every page in the book, the code is, "No sacrifice is too great for peace."
Toro:Everything about you is boring. Even the way you answer questions is boring. But one last question: What is the ranking system of the demon hunters' organization?
Mario: On the last page, the rankings are stated as: hunter in training, junior hunter, hunter class 1 through 3, senior hunter, captain in training, and captain.
Toro:Finally. You missed one.
Mario mutters to himself.
Mario: He's going to say hunter supreme.
Toro: The hunter supreme!
Mario: That's not a rank. It's a title for the leader of the Corps. I'm really doubting your self-proclaimed membership now.
Toro: Don't call it self-proclaimed. It makes it look like I'm lying. I'm really strong, you know.
Mario: The strong don't have to say it. They show it.
Toro: You admitted that I'm strong, remember?
Mario: I only said that to manipulate you, and it worked an absolute treat.
Toro: Why, you arrogant brat. At any rate, are you really serious about wanting to be a hunter?
Toro becomes serious, and the once-playful atmosphere changes.
Mario: I'm positive.
Toro:You have no idea what you're asking for. What is it that drives this choice of yours? Just the sheer desire to be strong?
Mario remains silent, refusing to answer.
Mario: I've made up my mind. That's all I want to say.
Toro: Lights out, then. Tomorrow will be the final day of your test.
Mario: Test? This wasn't a test.
Toro: It is what I say it is, and I say it's a test. Lights out now.
Mario: Give me an hour. I have to go through some stuff.
Toro:Suit yourself. The cooling system is set to max functionality. I sweat a lot at night because of my choice of clothing. If you're uncomfortable, you can sleep in the bathroom. You have your own bed, so don't try anything stupid.
Mario:I'm guessing the smaller bed is the one you're referring to.
Toro: Of course. It's a perfect fit for you.
Toro jumps onto the bigger bed.
Toro:Good night, kiddo.
Toro falls asleep almost instantly. After an hour, Mario prepares to sleep. He looks at Toro curiously, sneaks to his bed, and begins to remove his mask slowly, laughing at Toro in his head.
Mario: He just went to sleep like that? Zero vigilance. I take back my words. This guy must be stupid.
Mario removes Toro's volto mask and looks at his face.
Mario: This can't be real. It must be a skin mask.
Mario attempts to remove the skin mask, but Toro grabs his hand.
Toro:.I let you remove the first one, but now you're going too far. It's not proper to touch someone's face without permission.
Mario:I was just testing your vigilance, that's all.
Toro:You fell asleep three times within the last hour. I cut a small part of your hair each time. Is that vigilant enough?
Mario becomes annoyed.
Mario: Goodnight.
Mario walks over to his bed, lies down, and closes his eyes as he falls asleep.
The following day, Toro blindfolds Mario and takes him to a forest, despite some expected protests. They stand at the entrance of the forest.
Toro: This is Obala Forest. Your final test will commence here. You'll have to survive alone in this forest for a week. You'll need to hunt and prepare your own food, secure your own water, and, most importantly, protect yourself against whatever is in there. It's a whole new world of danger. Hunters used to train here until they stopped. They say the danger level kept rising. I wouldn't know, but one thing I do know is that if you can't survive a week in this forest, you'd never live past three days of active demon hunting. Truthfully, I don't want you to die, but you will if you go into this forest unprepared. I've seen how well you can swing a sword. Last night, you kept honing your sword skills even without a real sword. That's what you did for the last hour. But these are life-threatening situations we're talking about. I'm not joking now, so I'll ask you one last time: Do you really want to be a demon hunter?
Mario's expression remains cold as usual.
Mario: My answer hasn't changed since the last time you asked.
Toro: I understand why you want to be strong, but why do you even want to be a hunter?
Mario: It's none of your business.
Toro: Do you realize that you may very well die within the next few days?
Mario: I could die right now. I realize it. Let's begin. We're wasting time.
Toro: This isn't scripted. It's very real. You will die if you get careless in there. You'll be attacked even while you sleep. Take this sword.
Toro hands Mario a fine blade with an inscription in a foreign language.
Toro: Give it a name. I don't expect you to be able to use Kado now. That blade makes up for it. Legends say it can kill any being in the universe.
Mario: Dark Nemesis. Its name is Dark Nemesis.
Mario swings the sword around for a while before asking Toro a question in a serious tone.
Mario: Do you believe what the legends say?
Toro: Geez... always so serious. I don't, actually, but it's a fine sword nonetheless.
Mario: Hmm.
Toro chuckles.
Toro:Loosen up a bit. With a face like that, you'll scare all your adversaries to death before you even fight them. I'll be setting up a barrier, so you won't be able to leave until I lift it in a week's time. Right here and now, you're being plunged into hell. Good luck, Mario. Do survive.
Mario enters the forest, and Toro sets up the barrier.
Mario: This better be worth my time. I feel bad for the things you're trapping with me for the next week.
Toro: If you make it out alive, I might just show you my face.
Toro smirks underneath his mask.
Mario:That sounds good.
Toro:You should probably smile. Just in case you don't make it. I've never seen you smile.
Mario becomes agitated.
Mario: Tch. Just go away and start this already.
Toro: Bye, Mario. Your test starts now.
Toro enters his car and drives off, waving childishly at Mario, who wanders deeper into the forest. Mario sees a little girl holding a teddy bear. Her white garment is stained with blood.
Mavis:What are you doing here? Leave!
Mario: I will... just after a week.
Mavis: No, leave right now! I was killed in this forest several years ago. The man who killed me initially kidnapped me for ransom. When my parents failed to meet his demands, he cut me into bits and buried my parts all over the forest.
Mario: That's rough. Could I sit down and listen to the rest of the story?
Mavis yells.
Mavis:Leave now!
Mario:I can't, even if I wanted to. Toro set up a barrier. I'm stuck here.
Mavis turns her attention to something else.
Mavis: That's a nice sword you have there. Can I hold it?
Mario: If you'll let me pass and get this over with, then yes.
Mavis:Fine with me.
Mario: Alright.
Mario passes the sword to her slowly.
Mavis: Did you name it?
Mario: I did. I call it Dark Nemesis.
Mavis: Cool. Say, mister, could you hug me?
Mario: Of course not.
Mavis:Please?
She gives him the "baby look''.
Mario: Fine. Just don't get blood on me.
Mario goes to her and hugs her. She smiles mischievously, but Mario simply whispers into her ear.
Mario: I love dark fantasies and thrillers. You're Mavis from *Ghost Town*. I stopped being afraid of you when I turned six. You're not going to harm me. You're just trying to scare me and make me panic. Am I wrong?
Mavis lets go of him and returns his blade.
Mavis: Your analysis won't always save you here. You can't sweet-talk the things you'll see here. Toro has never sent anyone here before. He sent you here to die.
Mario: Doesn't matter. All I have to do is survive, right?
Mavis: Good luck, Mario.
Mavis disappears.
Mario: How does she know my name, though? My father put me through this kind of test before. There were only wild beasts, though, and it was only for a day. Man, it should be noon by now. I need to secure dinner. I'm more concerned about what will happen when it gets dark around here. I can fight with my left arm, but I can't do any other function besides writing properly. If this place is about my fears and weaknesses, then it must be outdated. I'm not sure I fear anything right now.
Purple appears from thin air.
Purple: Where were we? Ahhh, I was ripping your arm—
Mario cuts him down with one swing.
Mario: Really? Might as well just make a giant tomato appear in front of me and make it talk and chase me. This is becoming a total waste of time.
Mario continues walking forward, complaining about the quality of the test. He slices every creature that appears before him, including his own father. He sits on a log, roasting the prey he had hunted for dinner.
Mario: This is so easy. Probably too easy.
Suddenly, a sharp sword pierces Mario's back. He turns slowly to see the person who stabbed him. On seeing the face, he begins to shake in fear.
Lukas: Yo, Rio. It's been a while.
Lukas smiles innocently while thrusting the blade deeper into Mario, who is too terrified to move.