The Amazons' trial: The Minotaur's labyrinth!

Link's breezy "Go ahead. Put on your show" pierced the palace's tense, murderous atmosphere like an invisible needle.

But it also kindled another flame in every Amazon's heart—the inviolable pride rooted in their ancient traditions.

Queen Hippolyta gave Link a long, searching look. A flicker of admiration crossed her deep eyes, so subtle that even she failed to notice it.

She admired not his strength, but his absolute confidence—the conviction that even in the face of the unknown and the mythical, everything remained in the palm of his hand.

"Amazon tradition is not a performance. It is an honor."

The queen's voice regained its customary authority. She turned and raised her scepter high.

"Come with me, challenger. Your first trial will take place before all my Amazon subjects."

With that, she paid Link no further attention and led the way out of the palace that symbolized supreme authority.

Diana bit her lip, following her mother with a conflicted look in her eyes. General Antiope gave a cold snort and shot Link a murderous glare, as though saying, Just you wait.

Link shrugged indifferently and followed at a leisurely pace, his hands in his pockets, as though none of this concerned him.

They passed through a long corridor and arrived at a circular arena even grander than the Colosseum of Ancient Rome.

The stands were already packed with Amazon warriors. Clad in various kinds of armor and bearing weapons, they rose as one when the queen appeared and pounded the ground with the butt ends of their spears.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The thunderous, synchronized pounding swelled into an overwhelming torrent that echoed above the arena.

This was the Amazons' highest expression of respect, as well as their ritual for raising morale before battle.

When they saw Link following behind the queen,