Way of the Knights

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The group continued their hike up the mountain. Their speed was fast yet constant, thanks to Raven's aid, having the huge Warmth rune around, they no longer felt the effects of the Blizzard, travelling on the snow didn't inconvenience them in anyway at all. 

The road before them was only wide enough for them to safely travel by foot. Raven could more or less understand why flying tools aren't just forbidden but also unwise to use, it was because of this narrow road. Flying tools won't work properly here, there's even a good chance that it will be blown away causing them to fall. 

As they travelled, Raven couldn't help but look a bit distracted. There's definitely something strange on this mountain and he felt it before, however the feeling disappeared way too fast, not allowing him to have a clear grasp on what it truly was. 

Strangely though, that feeling bore some familiarity within him. Which is something that shouldn't happen since this is the first time he came here. At first he thought that this is due to him being the Heir of Chronos but if that's truly the case, then Lucas should've said something to him. Specially since Raven informed him about his plans of accompanying them on the hike. 

Unfortunately, Raven could only silently speculate and hope that he'll catch wind of that feeling once more.

The group continued on their way. Thanks to their speed, they were able to reach the 1st Trial before the sun was down. 

The 1st Trial Doors manifested before them when they arrived at a specific distance. According to the records, the Trial Doors will show-up when the challenger/s reached a specific distance near it. 

The five man group reached the trial doors and the War Gods didn't waste any time at all. 

"Raven, you wait here. We'll handle this by ourselves. Make sure to be careful and don't wander around too much and end up getting lost." Henry reminded just before they entered. 

"Sure." Raven nodded. He then watched as the four War Gods opened the trial doors and disappear inside. 

Raven sat cross legged near the vicinity of the Trial Doors. He inspected it in the mean time as he waited for the War Gods the clear the trials inside. 

"The Trials inside were randomized from what I can remember." Raven murmured as he stared at the door. "I wonder what kinds of trials they are currently facing inside." 

"Ah right, time inside the trial doors also flows differently from what I can remember. I wonder how much though?" He wondered as well. 

Raven's role here is a support, meaning that he didn't really need to take the trials with the War Gods. He's only here to make sure that they'll be able to make it from one trial to another and eventually reach the Checkpoints. 

Still, even though he's not participating with the Trials, if they managed to surmount the peak of Mount Olympus, he'll be included on the list of people who cleared the challenge. 

"I wonder what's at the top of this mountain?" Raven wondered to himself. "Why are there Trials and Checkpoints? Ugh, why am I asking?"  action

Raven chuckled to himself and stopped overthinking. For now, this has nothing to do with him so it's very unlikely for him to get answers. 

He returned to his meditation but he discovered that the War Gods were taking time. Hours passed and eventually, it had a been a whole day since they entered. Raven was starting to get suspicious. He started thinking that maybe they were transported to the other side without him since he didn't enter the trial doors with him.

But there were no records about this kind of event happening so he didn't believe that it's the case this time. Instead, he thought that maybe they had a bad luck and the trials they experienced were more difficult than they originally expected. 

Thinking about this way made more sense to him. Therefore just to be ready, he started laying down the formation he created a few days ago. He made some adjustments to it by drawing more runes on it's surface, he made the interior of the formation more comfortable for everyone. 

He erected the tents and the sleeping bags inside. He even started cooking meals which are designed to replenish their energies and allow them rest peacefully. 

Right as soon as he finished with cooking. The Trial Doors opened up and spat out four sorry figures. Had it not been for Raven being familiar with these people, he wouldn't have guessed that these four were part of the honorable and ferocious War Gods. 

Their horrible appearances made them looked like homeless people. Their faces were dirty and filled with grime. Their uniforms were tattered in many areas, exposing parts of their bodies. They were all injured and clearly very exhausted. 

Raven's eyes widened in disbelief as he approached them with a worried face. 

"What the hell happened to you?" He asked. 

"We - *Pant* - were so fucking - *Pant* - unlucky!" Logan grumbled while panting heavily. 

Raven summoned some ethereal hands to support his companions and lead them inside the formation. They were all dead tired. Raven took out some water gourds and gave them each. The War Gods didn't say a word and immediately drank the water he gave to them. 

As the War Gods drank and rested, Raven began working and checked their injuries to see if any of them sustained a lethal one. Thankfully, there were lethal injuries on their bodies, only light ones that will eventually cure itself with a good night's sleep. 

"Here, eat something first. Replenish your energies and rest. Don't worry about the climate, I already made preparations against it." Raven said as he lead them towards the table. 

The War Gods took him on his offer and began chowing down like starved animals. All manner of dignity and decorum disappeared in front of the meals Raven prepared. As they ate, the external injuries they sustained closed up and scabbed away. 

Their exhaustion were swept away but the replenishment that the food offered to them. Compared to just sitting down in meditation to recover their lost energies and eating food that could replenish their lost energies and stamina, it was quite clear which was the better option. 

"Oh, my goodness! That was something else!" Theo exclaimed after finishing at least ten servings of food. "I forgotten the last time I gorged myself like that." 

"You and me both." Logan agreed while patting his stomach using three left hands. There was a satisfied look on his face as he rested his back on the chair. He too finished ten servings of food just like everyone else except Raven who only ate one serving since he wasn't really tired. 

"What happened to you guys anyway?" Raven took the time to ask them once again after seeing that they're okay now.

"We were so unlucky. The First Trial was a torture. Literally." Henry stated while sighing in relief that they're out of that place. 

"As soon as we entered, we found ourselves bound in Dragon Trapping Cables, the task is to endure a painful whip lash for a whole god damn year. During the first day we were only whipped once, however with each passing day, the amount of whip lashes will increase by one. I came to the point where even out strong physiques can't endure multiple lashes. There's no way we can forcefully break the Dragon Trapping Cables either so it was quite the torture." Charles stated, shivering slightly as he remembered the painful experience. 

Raven was surprised. He didn't think that those kinds of situations could happen too. He gently looked back towards where the Trial Doors disappeared and felt quite apprehensive. Only one day passed outside yet they were being tortured for a full damn year. 

That's intense...

"Well, you guys don't look like you can continue travelling. Let's get some rest first, we'll continue tomorrow." Raven suggested. 

None of the War Gods were against that idea. It was true that they can't continue on like this. In fact, had it not been for Raven, they wouldn't probably forced in an even more uglier spot since there are still other trials out there that they need to face before they arrive at a checkpoint and can safely retreat. 

Right now, the War Gods were truly gratified that Raven agreed to support them. If he wasn't here, they wouldn't have been able to eat something good and nutritious, they'd also have difficulties resting due to the damn blizzard that doesn't seem to have any plans of letting up anytime soon. 

Within Raven's formation, not only were they protected against the harsh cold, they were also warm, cozy and full. He even had tents set up for them and sleeping bags as well. 

The group tucked in for the night. The War Gods immediately fell asleep as soon as they laid inside the sleeping bags, snoring while they did so. Meanwhile Raven who still have excess energy remained awake and on the lookout. 

He was meditating outside when all of a sudden, he felt some spiked fluctuations around him, causing his eyes to snap wide open.