Chapter 757: 757: Tartaros

Chapter 757: Chapter 757: Tartaros

The collection of points in the first stage mainly tests the individual knights and each squad’s ‘Strength’.

Knights who can complete high-intensity tasks in a short time, or those who excel in various fields, will pass the ‘Expeditionary Army basic requirement’ assessment and enter the next stage of evaluation.

Second Phase – ‘Will and Courage’

Compared to the previous stage of assessment.

The second phase is more critical, determining whether an individual can directly face the Big Expedition.

The Big Expedition may last for several years, or even decades.

Walking in the ‘Eternal Night’ for such a long time is a first for the Knight Regiment, as well as in human history.

Every breath,

Every step forward,

Every meal,

Increases the risk of individual’s fallen.

Those without firm will, no matter how strong they are, will be excluded from the expeditionary army.

Therefore, the test corresponding to the second phase will be a super high-intensity ‘pressure test’… How to implement it is still being discussed by the upper echelons of the Holy City.

Dozens of plans were vetoed due to insufficient intensity, high risk, or timing issues.

Three days ago, the final test plan was finalized.

The location for ‘Will and Courage’ test was determined to be Tar Prison ‘Tartarus’ under the Hades Steps, managed directly by the Hell Knight Corps and the Death God’s Knight Corps.

It is a dangerous place kept secret from the public in the Holy City.

In the National Royal Academy of Knights, all records about Tar Prison have been erased, and the name of the prison is only mentioned in some classics.

Not just anyone can enter the Tar Prison, even if a commoner commits a serious crime in the civilian area, there are only three paths awaiting them–exile, lifelong labor, or immediate death penalty.

Only individuals who have reached the knight level have the right to be imprisoned in Tar Prison.

Those who completely abandon the knight spirit,

Betrayers, murderers of companions, and knights who willingly fall, will be imprisoned in the Prison.

At the same time, some knights who are irreversibly contaminated, whose thoughts have completely fallen, and even their bodies have undergone ‘Human Form Loss’ but do not exceed the limit, will also be imprisoned.

The purpose of setting up Tar Prison is no longer mercy, no longer the day when these knights can regain the knight spirit and return to the Knight Regiment.

From the moment they enter the prison, they are permanently removed and no longer enjoy all the rights of citizens of the Holy City.

However… this group of people can still, under certain special circumstances or at certain times, become a special combat force for the Holy City.

For example, the upcoming Big Expedition.

A few months ago, a special unit ‘Rebrain Dead Soldier’ was set up by the court’s trial department, the highest prison management headquarters (‘Hell Knight Corps – Demon Creation’ department and ‘Terminal Knight Regiment – Nether River Dead’ department, jointly managed) and Steam Knights.

The basic personnel of this special unit come from the fallen knights in Tar Prison.

That’s why there are now many vacancies in Tar Prison, just enough for the ‘Will and Courage’ test to take place here.

…

The first day of the test.

Knight who scored 60 points or more gathered at the ‘Daffodil Square’ in the underground city.

Even without Han Dong’s support, the entire squad reached the standard within two months… The five of them made an appointment to come to this super huge square surrounded by magma.

Such a square meeting couldn’t help but remind Han Dong of his first encounter with the Holy City and his participation in the first Fate Space.

“Wow, there must be thousands of knights, right?”

Outside of the knight conference, Winry had never seen such a grand occasion before.

Abe, who has been in the Knight Regiment for many years, immediately explained to the team: “Only the ordinary knights are gathered here.”

Like Knight Vino, who was involved in the investigation mission with us last time, belongs to the Fighting Nun department, and does not need to participate in this test, she will directly participate in the Big Expedition.

Special departments, elite knights, and all platoon leaders and commanders above, all do not need to participate.

They themselves have rich expedition experience, and their resistance is far beyond that of ordinary knights.

But… I didn’t expect that you, Nicholas, would also participate.”

When Abe looked at Han Dong, his fluffy little ears trembled slightly.

After all, Han Dong has been certified as having a ‘pollution-free constitution’ similar to Captain Hugo.

Han Dong said softly, “Perhaps because I am still a rookie knight, or perhaps this test is not just a test of pollution and pressure, I fear that some other special situations may occur.”

The time for the test came.

Boom… In the center of the square, a giant demon skull rose, and its fully opened fangy mouth corresponded to the only passage to the Tar Prison.

Ti-ta~Ti-ta~

At the same time, the sound of horseshoes came.

Hot black iron armor with demon patterns.

The special team of the Hell Knight Corps, the Demon Creation Group, was fully surrounded around the square.

They uniformly took off their helmets, revealing their terrifying faces with ‘demon horns’, bowed their heads, and waited for the arrival of a certain VIP.

The King has arrived.

The square area where the knights stand immediately turned into a hot and painful “Infernal Scorched Earth”… among the gatherers, the members of Hell Knight Corps immediately kneeled down, including little sister Winry as well.

Han Dong also knelt on one knee at the first moment, paying the highest respect to Captain Marlon.

“Captain Marlon… seems to have become stronger again? This pressure is so heavy that my head hurts a bit.”

The Ash Crown was spinning on its own about ten centimeters above the head.

It was Captain Marlon himself who came to announce the rules for the “Will and Courage” assessment.

It was not an inspiring speech, Marlon did not have Captain Roland’s eloquence, it all started with a sigh.

“Ah… What a hassle.

You knights can stand here, which means you’re competent enough. I won’t repeat some nonsense.

The intensity of the test to follow is roughly equivalent to the pressure of individual existence in the Old King’s territory, and it cannot guarantee personal safety.

Let’s just say it straight, you may fall completely during the test and become ‘permanent residents’ of the ‘Tar Prison’ without judgement.

Although you all want to give your lives for the Holy City, you must have self-knowledge.

I will give you five minutes to consider.

In five minutes, the knights remaining in the square will be ‘allocated cells’.”

The pressure that Captain Marlon carries as a hell lord, coupled with this almost intimidating notice, has made some knights waver their resolution.

In the ‘Crow Talk’ team, Winry and Mia also showed signs of timidity in their eyes.

After all… once one falls during the assessment and is locked up in prison, one’s pursued path of the knight will collapse completely, and everything will end.

Just then.

A laugh rang in their heads, and at the same time, a hand was placed on each of their shoulders.

“It’s okay, Captain Marlon is just like that… if you two can’t hold up, I’m afraid a lot of the knights here wouldn’t be able to bear it.

Even if anything happens, I will take care of you both.”