Scott stumbled forward, surveying his unfamiliar surroundings. The area was teeming with champions, either strolling in groups or solitary figures, all within the vast space adorned with thousands of peculiar rocks forming a unique formation.

“This looks nothing like the map. Where the hell am I?” Scott muttered to himself, turning around. The steel gates came into view, but the intricate designs were conspicuously absent on the sleek surface.

Zara and Slim approached with measured steps, wearing bright smiles. “Buddy, are you okay? Need a moment?” Slim asked. “You might be hearing ringing in your ears and your vision could be a bit impaired, but that's normal. You'll be fine soon enough.”

Zara, arms crossed, tilted her head slightly. “I don't know if I'm seeing things, but it looks like he's gotten more muscular.” The cat girl smiled, silently questioning her own memories.

“I'm fine. No ringing, and I can see clearly,” Scott replied softly. Apart from a brief dizziness, he felt unchanged. “How have you guys been?”

Slim grinned, draping his arms over Scott's shoulder. “Boy, do I have a lot to tell you. My sanctuary was amazing. I was practically a celebrity. Who would have thought my music was famous over there?” Slim chuckled, unable to hide his smug grin.

Scott's brows shot up. “I can't believe something like that happened. No wonder you're excited.” He then turned to Zara, noting her enhanced physique. “You guys leveled up. Congratulations,” he said, nodding, his gaze lingering on Zara's gauntlet.

Just how many people did she slaughter since our last meeting? The bloodstained gauntlets looked unrecognizable from what he recalled, emitting a faint but intoxicating scent. Neither Zara nor Slim were surprised that Scott could detect their progress. However, despite the system displaying no change in Scott's levels since unity, they knew better than to judge him solely based on the system's information.

“I'm kind of surprised too. They gave us some weird fruits in the sanctuary. Unfortunately, they forbade us from taking any during our departure,” Zara admitted, a bashful smile playing on her lips. “But it seems you leveled up too, or at least found something good.” The brawler silently scanned Scott from head to toe.

“I thought I was imagining things,” Slim remarked, taking a step back. The necromancer stroked his chin while pacing around Scott. “Buddy, what have you been eating? When did you get all these muscles?” The necromancer struck awkward poses, akin to a seasoned photographer ready to capture the perfect shot.

“Stop being weird,” Zara interjected with a glare at the skeleton before changing the topic. “Are you okay, by the way? It must have been burdensome traveling through the Syman road alone.”

“It’s not an experience I’d like to repeat, but I’m generally okay. Thanks for your concern,” Scott replied with an unseen smile. He glanced at the surrounding champions, his gaze lingering on a few who had magically appeared in the stone field. “So, what have you guys discovered about this place?”

Zara and Slim exchanged glances, their demeanor turning serious.

“Buddy, to be honest, nobody knows what's going on,” Slim said. The necromancer gestured towards a winding path amidst the giant rocks as he continued, “For some reason, that's the only route we've been permitted to take.”

“What happens if you choose somewhere else?” Scott interjected.

“You're sent back here, just like the forest path,” Zara responded.

“However, the rock formation bears no similarities to any of the districts. I suspected it was another merged case, but the paths are completely different,” Slim added.

Scott shifted his attention towards the expansive rock formation. The same traps hidden in the forest are present here too, but it felt different this time. He frowned, staring at the covert mist innocuously doubling as heat hazes. The concentration and spread eclipsed that of the Syman Forest by a hundredfold.

“Has anyone tried using an elemental shard?” Scott suddenly asked, his eyes still focused on the inferno-like mist blazing into the skies.

“Yes,” Zara said without pause. “It didn't work either. The elemental shards shattered instantly, and they were all sent back here. They gave up after experimenting with different elemental shards.” The feline brawler sighed softly, rearranging her hair. “It seems the examiner only wants us to go through one path.”

“Buddy, can you see anything different?” Slim suddenly asked. There was no one he trusted more to demystify the secrets of the rock formation.

“Give me a second,” Scott muttered.

Zara and Slim silently exchanged glances. Saying nothing further, they waited for the results of Scott's inspection. A minute later, Scott sighed while facing his companions.

“Any luck?” Zara asked.

Scott silently shook his head. Slim wore a wry smile as he patted the shoulder of the eldritch knight. “It doesn't matter. Those examiners are probably up to something again.”

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“Yeah, you're probably right,” Scott muttered before changing the topic. “Have you noticed anyone returning from that path?”

Zara took a moment to gather her thoughts, her brow furrowing in contemplation. “Not that I can remember. Over a thousand people have departed already, but none have returned. Most of them are lingering around the path, waiting for any sign or information that might guide them in making the right decision.”

Slim chimed in, pointing towards the champions scattered nearby. “We refrained from exploring the area ourselves, unsure of when you’d arrive and concerned about potential barriers preventing our return. So, what's our next move? Personally, I don’t think lingering here is wise.”

“The crowd is only growing, and it seems unlikely that an examiner will make themselves known. I suggest we take our chances; it's better than remaining idle,” Zara proposed.

“Well put, our leader,” Slim agreed with a nod, turning to Scott. “And what about you?”

“I’m on board,” Scott affirmed. “By the way, any sightings of the berserkers?”

“Nope,” Slim shook his head. “The connection ended after we activated the exits. They might be around here if they made it.”

Scott nodded slowly but refrained from speaking. Slim quietly placed one arm on Scott’s shoulder and the other on Zara’s while grinning from ear to ear. “I've missed this. The last couple of weeks have been dull without you guys,” Slim chuckled.

Zara’s cheeks flushed pink as she lowered her head. “How can you say something so embarrassing out loud?” She attempted to free herself from Slim’s grasp, but the singer’s grip only tightened.

“Oh? Who knew our leader had such a shy side?” Slim's laughter intensified as Zara unleashed a barrage of embarrassment-fueled punches in his direction.

Scott smiled as he observed the duo. Although he wouldn’t go out of his way to admit he missed their shenanigans, he wasn’t going to deny it either.

Without caring about the random gazes thrown their way, the trio expertly weaved through the crowded area, making their way to the entrance.

“Guys, what’s our plan once we go in?” Slim asked mentally, maintaining his smile.

“We'll have to improvise, I guess,” Zara said, unsure of what to expect.

“I doubt we’ll have to do much,” Scott suddenly said. “The reason why no one has returned from that spot is probably because they got sent elsewhere.”

Slim paused abruptly, forcing Zara and Scott to stop. “Buddy, you're just telling us this now?”

“I wasn’t certain earlier, and I’m still not a hundred percent sure, but there’s some kind of rain a little bit after the entrance. I’m guessing that’s why no one has returned yet,” Scott explained.

“Rain?” Zara narrowed her eyes, but she couldn’t see anything, no matter how much she looked. “Do you see anything, Slim?”

“I'm not even going to try. I have long accepted the fact that there are some things I won’t be able to see, no matter how hard I try.”

The trio pressed on, the undecided champions creating a path for the hound extermination crew. To the newcomers, they were unwitting test subjects, perfect for confirming hypotheses about the mysterious entrance.

“I hope whatever's ahead is manageable. Those sanctuary folks didn't even drop a hint,” Slim mused inwardly.

“Get used to the uncertainty. We're still the lowest rank for sponsored candidates,” Zara replied, her voice tinged with despondency.

“It would be better if they told us how to improve our rank instead of just emphasizing our luck,” Slim sighed.

“Did you both develop a pessimistic streak while I was away? Focus on what matters now,” Scott interjected. However, the trio's attention shifted abruptly as Scott paused.

Ten figures in leather armor, each with a black mask featuring a golden swirl, blocked their path.

“Who are these guys?” Slim frowned. “Do you know them?”

Zara shook her head. “Never seen them.”

The trio turned to Scott, who, like the masked party, remained stoic.

“Buddy, do you know them?” Slim asked mentally, but silence greeted his words. The Skeleton's frown deepened. Like Scott, the group wore fear-inducing masks, and their crimson eyes were both dazzling and repulsive.

A small crowd gathered, intrigued by the standoff. No one knew if fighting was prohibited, and not everyone dared to test the patience of the examiner.

Contrary to their expectations, the masked party suddenly bowed. Silently, they departed towards the entrance. The surrounding champions focused their attention on the masked party, scrutinizing their every step until they vanished behind the winding road. No one bothered to deduce the reason for the peculiar interaction earlier. Some champions prepared to journey through the path, convinced by the masked champions that there was no immediate cause for concern. However, the majority hesitated, fearing potential consequences.

Meanwhile, Slim and Zara moved closer to Scott. “What was that all about?” Zara asked. “Do you know them?”

Scott silently shook his head, averting his gaze from the road. “Guys, the next stage of the trial is going to be more challenging than we imagined,” Scott conveyed mentally.

Zara's features darkened. “Why?” she subconsciously stared at the lonely road. “What did they tell you?”

“I'm still trying to make sense of it,” Scott explained mentally. “But essentially, Togan is going to be an incredibly difficult challenge, unlike anything we've seen. If we're lucky, a year might be enough to clear it.”

“And if not?” Slim asked, his voice unusually low.

“We'd spend the rest of our lives there,” Scott declared solemnly.

Slim and Zara's expressions turned even more somber. Slim opened his mouth to speak, but the words wouldn't come out. Zara silently contemplated Scott's words.

Silence lingered among the trio for a moment until Slim clapped his hands.

“I have no intention of spending the rest of my life in a place called Togan. I hope you guys feel the same,” the skeleton said, putting his arms around the shoulders of his companions. “Let's do our best, okay?” he added with a grin.

Scott and Zara nodded simultaneously.

“Alright then, let's go. We have...”

“Wait a moment,” Scott interjected, turning towards Zara. “They left a special message for you.”

“Huh? What’s it about?” Zara asked, still harboring questions about the origins of the masked party. It surprised her that they would leave a message for her.

Scott hesitated briefly before answering, “The Varkham Hound is in Togan.”

Zara’s petite mouth opened slightly as her pupils shrank. Instantly, a sweet coppery stench filled the air, and her eyes turned crimson. The feline brawler’s reaction only lasted a moment, but it was more than enough to send chills down the spines of several champions in the area. They distanced themselves from the outwardly calm brawler.

Advancing a step, Zara wore a dazzling smile. She stretched out her right hand, wrapping it around Scott’s neck. “Tell me more,” she said, her voice icy and low. However, it wasn’t as fear-inducing as her bloodshot eyes or the blood streaming down her cheeks.