[Knight 1] Ack!
With only a few attacks, the first knight falls hard to the ground. The other knights can't believe what they just saw. The child who they once called weak just defeated one of their own with such little effort.
[Hendrix] Tsk. Second knight, step forward!
[Knight 2] I'm next. I'll show this kid the true strength of the royal knights.
The second battle begins the same as the first, with an exchange of fists meeting fists.
[Sakyo] Heh. Is that all you got?
With a swipe of the leg and a knee to the face, Sakyo takes victory in the second battle as well.
[Sakyo] (Good thing I've got {Shock Absorption} on this vest. I'd say it's fair since I'm fighting a bunch of guys wearing full suits of armor. Lucky for me, none of them are smart enough to wear their helms.)
The battles continue, Sakyo winning each with ease. Ten, twenty, thirty, it seems like nothing will stop him. Forty, fifty, each battle passes almost as quickly as the last.
[Sakyo] Come on, we're already halfway through and I'm barely warmed up!
[Knight 1] What's with this kid? I thought he was just here cause the captain let him stay.
[Knight 2] How'd he get so much stronger so quickly?
[Knight 3] It's gotta be a fluke, right? There's no way he can keep this up much longer.
[Hendrix] The Hundred Battles Trial isn't so easy as that. He'll fail soon enough.
[Knight 4] How can you be so sure?
[Hendrix] Look at him, he's been sweating for a while now. His body's getting tired and he's running on adrenaline, even if he doesn't realize it. He's let his guard down with how easily he's been advancing. The summer heat will eat away at his stamina if he doesn't pace himself.
Fifty-five, sixty, sixty-five, the pace of battles has slowed down. Exhaustion begins to catch up as Sakyo's body begins feeling heavier. With the seventieth battle won, Sakyo reaches the point where his legs are starting to give out. The scorching sunlight fades as dark storm clouds fill the sky.
[Sakyo] (pant pant pant) Alright, who's next?
Drip drip drip
Small drops can be felt by everyone as the rain begins. It starts as a sprinkle, then quickly turns to a downpour.
[Hendrix] Looks like a passing downpour.
[Knight 1] Should we put the challenge on hold until it passes?
[Hendrix] No, keep going. Begin the seventy-first battle!
At his signal, the next battle continues. This one feels even slower than the one before, but not for the same reason. This time, Sakyo isn't attacking like before. He's dodging and blocking, not even trying to land a single hit.
[Knight 2] What's the kid doing? How come he's suddenly on the defensive?
[Hendrix] Looks like he's trying to buy time. He's using the rain to cool himself off.
[Knight 3] But if he gets too cold, he'll tense up. That's a risky strategy.
Clang
The armor hitting the ground echoes around, catching everyone's attention. With one attack, Sakyo ended the battle with renewed vigor.
[Sakyo] (pant) Come on! We're burning daylight here!
The seventy-second battle starts, both warriors giving everything they have.
[Knight 4] Looks like he's got his strength back.
[Hendrix] Maybe, but he's not out of the woods yet. With all that rain, the ground's a muddy mess. It'll be harder for him to find solid footing.
Almost as if on cue, Sakyo's foot slips in the mud, causing his body to hit the ground just below his opponents high swinging kick. Despite this, he doesn't let himself take a moments rest. Sakyo turns his body, sweeping the knight's leg to bring him into the mud. Using his opponents armor as footing, Sakyo gets back up and finishes this battle with an elbow to the face.
The trial continues, the battles that were once finished within a few seconds now taking nearly twice as long as the ones previous. Seventy-five, eighty, eighty-five. Sakyo is now feeling the full force of his exhaustion. His body gets heavier with every move he makes. Eighty-seven, eighty-eight, eighty-nine. As the ninetieth battle concludes, Sakyo falls to his knees.
[Sakyo] (huff huff huff) (Only ten more, but I don't know how much more of this I can take.)
[Knight 1] Vice-Captain, you gotta call this. The kids really gonna hurt himself at this rate.
[Hendrix] No one can stop the trial once it's been started.
[Knight 2] Are you sure it's safe for him to continue? He's not gonna last much longer.
[Hendrix] The Hundred Battles Trial is a test of both strength and stamina. It doesn't end until he finishes or loses. And if he fails, that's all he's worth.
The knights can only continue to watch the trial unfold, Sakyo barely able to stand for the next battle. However, everyone's heads are turned when the silence is finally broken.
[Knight 3] ...Come on, kid! You're almost there!
A single knight who had already lost his battle now cheers for the young man who's already proven his determination. Following his shout, more knights begins to erupt with cries of support.
[Knight 4] You can do it! We're right behind you!
[Knight 5] Almost there! Push through to the end!
[Knight 6] Show us your strength! You've got what it takes!
Suddenly, cheers and thunderous applause fills the entire area. Sakyo turns his head towards everyone, surprised by the support.
[Sakyo] (Guess I really can't lose now.) Yeah, my spirit hasn't broken yet! Let's go! I'm not even close to being done in!
System: [Notice: Due to use of skill {Divine Resistance}, you have unlocked a new ability under titlǝ R͘Ę̕D̷A̵͘C̡͏T͞E̷̡D̸̢.̸̢.̛.͠ ʎou hɒVe Δcquire◖ the f0r6!dden sꞰi˥l: {Pride (The Shining Dreamer)}.]
[Sakyo] Heh. Took long enough.
With renewed will, Sakyo continues the trial into the ninety-first battle. His movements appear faster than before, his strength coming back in a new burst of energy.
[Sakyo] (Alright, thanks to this new ability, it looks like I got my second wind.)
...
Reika returns to the castle from her private training, her armor stained with dirt before she leaves it in her room. She decides to see if her son is still there, not aware of the commotion on the knight's training ground. When she reaches her son's room, a faint voice can be heard from within. Opening the door, she finds a slightly surprising sight on the bed.
[Ren] (sniff sniff) Sakyo, your scent is amazing. I love this part of cleaning your room.
[Reika] Um, Ren?
[Ren] EEP!
Jumping off the bed, Ren lands on the floor too embarrassed to face the one who caught her. She peeks over the bedside, hoping with all her heart that Reika would just walk away. Unfortunately for her, she's still standing there.
[Reika] I get that you love my son, but please don't do this when you're supposed to be working.
[Ren] I'm sorry, Sakyo doesn't like when I smell him in his sleep.
[Reika] Anyway, do you know where he is?
[Ren] He told me he was going to train with the knights today.
Just then, Garm rushes past the bedroom door frantically. Despite being nearly a blur to most people, Reika catches him before he gets too far.
[Reika] Hold up there. Where are you off to in such a rush?
[Garm] Lady Reika, please let go of me. I have to go to Master's side right away.
[Reika] What's going on?
[Garm] I have just heard news from those off duty. Master is currently fighting the knights in the training ground.
[Reika] What?!
Hearing this, Reika rushes off to the training ground, leaving Garm in the dust while he follows after her. Having heard that Sakyo might be in trouble, Ren follows the two ahead of her, even though she's already lost sight of them.
...
By the time they reach the training grounds, Sakyo has just finished the ninety-sixth battle.
[Sakyo] Come on! Who's next?!
Before the next knight can step up, Hendrix's voice breaks through to make an announcement.
[Hendrix] Hold up! For this next battle, you'll face your next three opponents all at once!
None of the knights are able to hide their surprise at the sudden announcement. Despite the hesitation of the crowd, the next three knights step up together. Once the battle begins, they stay in a group to strategize.
[Knight 97] If we face him separately, he'll just beat us like the others. We need to face him together.
[Knight 98] Let's go for a pincer. He won't be able to get us all at once.
[Knight 99] Let's do it. Now!
At his signal, the three rush towards Sakyo. One knight running down the middle while the other two circle around his side. The two rush to attack, aiming at Sakyo's head and legs respectively. Sensing their intent and knowing that he can't bring himself to jump out of the way, Sakyo purposely falls to his side, ducking below the two attacks.
When the third attack comes, he can't dodge. Sakyo takes a fist directly to his midsection and is sent flying back. Seeing their chance, the three knights rush him once more. This time, they line up for three consecutive attacks, not giving Sakyo a chance to regain his composure.
One strike to the rib, another barely blocked with his arms before the third rises from below to hit his face, knocking him back once more.
[Reika] What's going on here?!
The knight stop in their place, hearing the one voice they all fear. Sakyo looks up from the ground, wondering what the commotion is about before seeing his mother emerge from the crowd.
[Sakyo] (What's she doing here?)
[Hendrix] The Hundred Battles Trial.
[Reika] Are you insane?! You know how dangerous that is! How could you allow this?!
[Hendrix] He wanted to take on the challenge. I didn't force him into anything.
[Reika] You didn't stop it either! That's enough! This challenge is over!
Getting back on his feet, Sakyo stumbles backwards before finding his footing.
[Sakyo] (pant) No, I can keep going.
[Reika] Stand down. You're at your limit.
[Sakyo] ...Go away.
She halts, her stride coming to a complete stop at her son's words.
[Reika] What?
[Sakyo] GO AWAY! This is my trial! Don't you dare interfere! If you get in my way, I'll take you down first!
[Reika] Sakyo...
Reika can't get another word in before Sakyo rushes to the three knights to continue the battle. His pain and exhaustion momentarily forgotten as he runs forward at full speed, a faint red filling his eyes once more. The knights try the pincer once more, but it's too late.
In a moments blur, the middle knight's face is met by Sakyo's knee. Using the momentum, Sakyo follows through by grabbing the knight to his left and swinging him into the ground. The last knight, the only one left in his sight, tries a desperate final attack before being swiftly dealt with by an uppercut to the jaw.
At his victory, Sakyo lets out a booming roar.
[Reika] (That look in his eyes. The same red as that time... Oktar... He really is just like his father.)
[Sakyo] One more left! Who's left?
[Hendrix] I'm your last opponent.