Golden Apple
Hera's Garden
This corresponds to the [Twelve Trials - Golden Apple].
In Greek Mythology, the Golden Apple Tree was tended and guarded in Hera's Garden by Hera's three beautiful daughters— Hegler (gloom), Erythritia (sunset), and Hesperethusa (dusk) (some legends describe them as four nymphs).
Meanwhile, a giant dragon that never sleeps, Ladon, roams the garden.
Hercules tricked the nymphs, slew the dragon, and obtained the Golden Apple to complete the trial.
However, the final battle that Han Dong and his team are facing is very different from the situation in the myth... There are more dangers lurking inside, it is just a basic restoration based on the background of the myth.
"With the approval of the council, the final selection for this year's Knight Tournament will adopt the [Golden Apple Trial]... In the Depths of the garden, there grows a Golden Apple Tree."
The trial is complete when the Golden Apple is picked.
The thirteen team leaders will score you based on your performance during this period and give you the final ranking in the selection process.
The following are some important points to note regarding the competition:
1. Cooperation is prohibited. Any cooperation will significantly lower your score, and in extreme cases, you will be disqualified from the election.
2. Visitors must strictly follow the routes within the garden maze area. Forcibly crossing, climbing, digging, or using spatial means to bypass the plant walls in the garden is prohibited.
3. Competition between rivals is permitted, but malicious behavior is strictly prohibited.
4. Contestants who lose consciousness, become incapacitated, or suffer near-death injuries within the maze area will be teleported off the field and lose their chance to win the Golden Apple.
The five finalists, please gather in front of the garden gate. I will use spatial magic to randomly teleport you to the outer area of the garden.
During the journey to the main gate of the garden.
Both Demps and Abel noticed Han Dong's unusual behavior.
An extremely dangerous aura emanated from Han Dong's body... not the Death Aura, but simply danger.
Abel's animalistic sense of smell even initially led him to mistake Han Dong for a stranger.
"Nicholas, what are you planning to do..."
Han Dong's voice was slightly hoarse.
"Hmm... You just need to focus on exploring and deciphering the garden maze, and finally obtaining the Golden Apple."
My primary target is that guy.
"We'll deal with that first, then we'll think about the Apple thing."
"Okay." Everyone naturally respected Han Dong's decision.
The five people gathered at the main entrance.
Without giving them any more time, Alonso, the observer, drew a spatial grid in the air, instantly enveloping the five people below.
Buzz...
In the blink of an eye.
Han Dong was already in one of the corners of the garden.
Maze construction.
The passageway is approximately four meters wide.
The two sides are plant walls that are ten meters high.
Due to the rules, it is forbidden to forcibly cross the wall; one can only proceed along the maze-like passageways.
"The labyrinth itself is extremely dangerous... The trial is specifically designed for Elite Knight."
Moreover, even Elite Knight might not be able to pass.
Cough cough cough...
Even Though adjusting their physical condition through the Pool of the Gods, the body still feels a great burden once they leave the hot spring.
A cough caused a few pieces of meat to fall to the ground...
However, these pieces of meat remained alive.
It grows terrifying eyes on its surface and tries to multiply and split to form an independent individual.
Such tissue chunks of flesh were immediately drawn back into Han Dong's body to avoid luring out unnecessary danger.
Extend your arm.
Gaa...
Han Dong summoned a crow.
Perhaps because the body is in a state of deep distortion.
Even Though ravens created with Dark Magic still possess certain 'G characteristics'.
It has three eyes on its head.
While retaining its original two wings, it grew four additional featherless fleshy wings.
Under Han Dong's control, the crow first explores the maze.
As the crow moved more than ten meters away from Han Dong, the Master-Servant Relationship was forcibly severed... Less than a minute later, the crow's senses disappeared, swallowed up by something terrifying.
A terrifying face can be vaguely seen between these high walls constructed of dense vegetation.
"It's a bit difficult..."
The staff was unleashed.
Han Dong walked forward with a cane, looking like an old man.
In such a garden, one must not rush things... otherwise, one may unknowingly fall into a dead end.
In the audience seats.
All the captains had undergone the ' Golden Apple ' trial, leaving them with rather terrifying memories.
The Grand Hell Mage, Otto, was not satisfied with this final draft.
The reason is simple: Sean, whose primary function is physical, is not suitable for the ' Golden Apple ' trial.
"Why did the council choose the Golden Apple Trial? This trial is extremely unfriendly to Sean... it's incredibly unfair!"
"Otto...the councilors naturally consider things more than you and I do."
It might not be suitable for Sean, but considering the comprehensive assessment, the Golden Apple is indeed the most suitable among the Twelve Trials.
Moreover, this trial consumes the most 'resources,' and the councilor would never waste these important resources without good reason.
To contend with the demons outside the city, more than just 'superhuman strength' is needed; a calm mind and a perfect intellect are also essential.
After Ma Long said that, Otto immediately stopped talking.
"Yes... I also had Sean undergo mental training and learning in private, but the kid is too obsessed with strength."
Even if you fail completely in the trial, it's a good opportunity to temper your character through the experience of defeat.
"Well, speaking of which... Otto, who do you think will be able to pluck the real Golden Apple?"
"Excuse my frankness, but I know very well that you, Commander Malone, value that student named Nicholas... but I don't think that a group of Newcomer who have not yet officially joined the Knight Order can pass this level of trial."
Even if the councilors lower the difficulty level, it's still not something a group of Newcomer knights can accomplish, let alone find the real Golden Apple.
If I can pass the trial by sheer chance, I'm more inclined to believe it's the "Patron's Creation."
"Want to make a bet with me?"
"What... what does the commander want to bet on?"
"I'm betting that someone will find the real Golden Apple."
If I win, I will have full control over the training of Sean under your name until the Great Expedition.
"If you win, you can propose one condition to me: that you control the military."
"Well... now that the commander is back, everyone is more willing to obey you."
"Fine, as long as the captain is happy, I'll do anything... I'm more than happy that Sean is accepting the captain's training."
Although the word 'hell' sounds rather villainous, this Vice Commander Otto also has a rather sinister appearance.
But he was absolutely loyal to Commander Malone.
The ultimate goal of all the effort put into nurturing Sean was simply to hear Commander Malone say, "This student is not bad."
The ultimate sycophant has to be this Vice Commander Otto.