As the merchants and adventurers got to Sumiko City. The merchants told the adventurers where the event will be held.
While other adventurers were heading for where the trial is being held. Shio on the other hand wanted to explore the city before the trial.
Delin joins Shio, due to him enjoying to be around Shio and considered him as a friend. Penelo seemed to have join the two since she didn't know what to do.
The three makes it to the marketplace. In the marketplace lies tons of people and unique items. The three seems to be somewhat amazed of busy the marketplace is. Along with new faces and people.
Before the three heads continues exploring. Delin stopped and tell the group.
"We should go to the trial. It should be starting in ten minutes."
Shio nods at him. The group heads for the Hero Ascension. They were soon lead to a building that seems to look like a temple. As the three head inside the temple. They noticed a man in some robes.
"Participating in the Trials are you?" The hooded man asks.
"Yes." Delin stated.
"Very well, follow me." The hooded man turns around and walks down a hallway.
The three somewhat confused but follows the hooded man. They were soon led to a closed door. The hooded man stands next to the door.
"Go inside. The others should be waiting. No worries, this door will lead you to a different area. Just a magic realm to say the least."
Shio walks up to the door and puts his hands on the handle. He turns it and opens the door. He soon head inside. Delin and Penelo head inside as well.
The door then starts to close. On the other side of the door, the three seems to be standing in a huge room with other adventurers.
Shio looks around to noticed that each adventurers were ranging from young and old. He even noticed that some kids were partaking in the Trial as well.
As everyone was preparing and talking to each other. A door soon was heard open. A man in some fancy suit comes out through the door. The room was quiet. The man soon stops and everyone seems to be looking at him.
"Hello everyone, I'm one of the Trial Proctor. I will be doing the first trial. The name is Duke. More to say Professor Duke.
"Before we begin, I will tell you the rules of this first trial. In this first trial we will be doing a running trial. I hope those legs of yours can catch up to me. In addition, there are no rules of how you catch up to me or anything. You can use your powers or techniques.
"As long as you are in pace with me and reach the end. You will qualify for the next trial. If you can't catch up or didn't make it to the end. Sorry but you're not cut out for being a hero. The trial will begin in one hour."
Professor Duke then goes up to the upper floor waiting up there until the first trial begins.
Soon all the adventurers starts to prepare for the trial. Some adventurers were seen collaborating and socializing. Some of the adventurers seems to be a threat.
Shio seems to be looking around the room and at some of the adventurers. While Delin is stretching and hyping himself up for the run. Penelo on the other hand, was resting and not hype at all.
Thirty minutes left.
An adventurer walks up to Delin and started talking to him and giving him some advice. Shio goes up to Delin and shook the guy off.
"Why you do that?" Delin asked in confusion.
Shio replied, "That guy was bad news. Underneath his shirts were some needles that were coated with a snake poison."
"What?" Delin said in surprised.
"It won't kill you but paralyzed you. I would say that he would have hit you with it and you would be out of the trial. You won't noticed it but it will take in effect for some minute."
"Thanks."
"No problem just looking out for you."
Delin was quite nervous and didn't even know how Shio managed to noticed it.
Five minutes left.
Professor Duke jumps down from the second floor. He stood in front of a huge metal gate.
It seems that the other adventurers were ready along with Shio and his group. The five minute mark ends and soon a sound was heard. The huge metal gate opens.
Professor Duke starts to jog at a pace. The adventurers starts to jog after Professor Duke.
As the trials begins running through a huge hallway, most of the adventurers were jogging while others used their abilities to catch up. The three didn't seem to used their abilities to catch up but instead ran with the others.
It was quite sketchy. There was no rules of sabotage or messing with other adventurers other than catching up with the Proctor.
Ten minutes had passed and it seems that Professor Duke step up the pace a little bit. Some of the adventurers were out while others were still able to run.
Shio didn't seem to be sweating at all along with Penelo. Delin somewhat started to feel it but kept on running.
Thirty minutes have passed.
The huge hallway soon led to a new area. Soon the candidates were led into a forest. The forest was huge and wide. Abundant with huge trees along with unknown critters. Along with swampy and marshy areas.
The trial was still on. Professor Duke was still running and soon ran into mist through the swamps and marshes. The adventurers chased after him, running through the mist.
Some minutes passed. Shio and his friends trying to chase after Professor Duke. Shio noticed that he was following an illusion all along. He couldn't see or noticed due to the thicket of the mist.
Shio was behind the group and seems to be lost in the forest. Shio looks around. He noticed a silhouette through the fog. It was coming towards him.
Shio stood there to see an adventurer come out of the fog. He seems to be grinning.
"You." Shio said as he was surprised.
It was the man from earlier who tried to sabotage Delin.
"What do you think of my ability?" As the man chuckled.
Shio didn't respond back.
"The name Senso. I'm an adventurer who stops other from passing the Trials."
Senso launches himself at Shio. Trying to land a hit with his needles. Shio dodges the needles and tried to hide inside the thick mist.
"I need to catch up to Delin and Penelo. Five minutes have passed, while I was hiding."
"Found you." Senso throws some needles toward Shio who seems to be hiding behind some trees.
Shio starts to run. Senso chases after him. Shio runs through some patches of bushes and hide. Senso catches up to him and stops in the middle of a patch.
He looks around to see any sign of movement in the bush.
"You can't hide for long. Besides you're so far behind. I'll make sure you won't even make it." Senso as he laughs.
A noise was heard through the bush. Senso starts throwing some needles toward the noise. He walks up to the bush.
"Found you." As Senso seems to be holding a knife.
As he brush aside the busy. A growl was heard. Standing in front of Senso, a mythical creature that have been disturbed from its slumber. Senso noticed his needles were on the ground. Seems that the mythical creature tough hide managed to protect itself.
The creature lunges at Senso. A scream was heard in the distance. Shio on the other hand seems to have been running away. He hear someone screaming but ignores it and tries to catch up with the others.
He quickly takes out a small piece of paper and turns it into a bird.
"Find them."
The paper bird starts to take flight and flying towards a direction. Shio chases after the bird.
Meanwhile, Delin seems to be exhausted but still running. He seems to be with the group and Professor Duke. Which they were out of the thick fog. Clipping onto Delin's shirt was a small piece of paper attached to him.
Thirty minutes have passed.
Shio didn't even know if the Trial was over or not but been chasing the paper bird. As he was still running, the thick fog fades behind him. Ahead of him he sees a figure running.
He noticed that it was Professor Duke and the other adventurers. It seems that he managed to went through a shortcut through his paper bird.
The paper bird flies back inside Shio's pocket and turns back into a normal piece of paper.
"Thanks." As Shio chases after the group.
Professor Duke noticed Shio was behind him and somewhat amused. Shio makes it up to Delin and Penelo.
"Where have you been?" Delin asked as he was tired.
"Got lost." Shio replied.
"Glad to have you back."
"Thanks. You seem a little bit tired."
"Oh...this is nothing." Delin said as he smiled at Shio despite his tiredness.
"What about you?" Shio asked Penelo.
Penelo didn't seem to break a sweat or looked tired at all.
"Fine." Penelo responds back.
Soon the group were led to a vast river. Which Professor Duke runs across it. Many adventurers starts to use their abilities to catch up to Professor Duke while others were swimming.
"Follow me." Penelo said.
Soon she starts to run on the water. Below her ice starts to form where she steps making a path.
Shio and Delin follows after her along with other adventurers. While crossing the vast river, some creatures attack adventurers while crossing.
As the groups makes it to the other side. Professor Duke seems to be standing next to a gateway. Delin lands onto the ground exhausted. Shio was standing and somewhat exhausted while Penelo didn't seem to be tired.
Professor Duke announces, "Congratulations on finishing the First Trial, but I assure you that the other trials will be harder than this one. Seems that we lost some on the way here. Oh well, better next time I guess."
Seems that the first trial is done.
"Here." Penelo asked.
She hands a water canister to Shio. Shio grabs it and take a sip of it and gives it to Delin.
Delin takes it and starts to chug down the water.
"It wasn't meant for him." As Penelo somewhat seems angered by what Shio did.
"I thought you wanted to help us." as Shio was confused.
"Thank you Penelo." Delin kindly gives back the water canister and still exhausted.
Penelo takes back the water canister and looks at Shio and then away.
"What's her problem?" Delin asked.
"Nothing." Shio responded.
After taking a short rest at the gateway. The adventurers soon passed through the gateway to be transported inside a labyrinth. Which each adventurers were placed in their own room one by one.
Being blocked from each side and only a door in front of them leading somewhere.