The trials continued, and as they progressed, one participant after another was eliminated.
End of the First Lap — 97 participants remaining.
...
End of the Third Lap — 72 participants remaining.
...
End of the Fifth Lap — 46 participants remaining.
End of the Seventh Lap — 21 participants remaining.
...
End of the Ninth Lap — 13 participants remaining.
When the tenth lap finally came to an end, more than a hundred Trainers had originally entered the trial, yet after completing the first test, only ten had managed to pass.
Carrying a thirty-pound load while running ten kilometers was hardly an easy task, especially with Nosepass occasionally appearing along the route and releasing magnetic forces to obstruct and disrupt the participants. The difficulty of the trial was certainly not as low as it might have seemed at first glance.
Even so, Ash couldn't help feeling a little astonished that such a seemingly "simple" test had eliminated so many Trainers—and what surprised him even more was that seventy or eighty percent of those eliminated had been adults, meaning Trainers who were at least ten years old.
These Trainers really don't train enough, Ash thought to himself.
The First Trial Ends
After the first trial concluded, the staff brought over electrolyte mineral water and dry towels, distributing them among the surviving participants.
After everyone had rested for a few minutes, Wikstrom appeared on the castle balcony and announced the contents of the second Knight Trial.
"The ten Trainers who passed the first trial, [The Trial of Willpower], should now prepare yourselves for the second Knight Trial."
"The second test of the Knight Trial will take place on the second floor of the Castle of Chivalry. Its name is [The Labyrinth of Unease]. The objective is simple: each participant must bring their Pokémon companions with them and make their way through a terrifying maze filled with traps and obstacles."
"So, everyone... are you ready?"
Wikstrom wore a faintly mischievous smile as he looked down from the castle balcony.
"Ready!"
All ten participants answered at once, Ash included.
However, unlike the other Trainers, who were brimming with enthusiasm, Ash noticed the faintly mischievous expression on Wikstrom's face. That immediately made him more cautious.
In Ash's eyes, the second trial clearly wasn't going to be nearly as easy as the first.
"If you're ready, then let's begin the second trial!"
The staff member standing outside the castle immediately continued with the instructions.
"When the name of a Trainer is called, that Trainer must enter the castle together with their Pokémon companion. The next participant may enter five minutes later."
"During the trial, voluntarily giving up will be considered a failure. Likewise, if a participant falls into one of the mechanisms or traps and becomes unable to rescue themselves, the trial will also be considered a failure."
"Now, the first Trainer, [Kemar], please enter the castle and begin your trial!"
The staff member held the list of Trainers who had passed the first trial and called out the first name.
The Trainer whose name had been announced immediately brought his Pokémon with him and walked toward the dark entrance of the Castle of Chivalry.
"Go, Gogoat."
Under the watchful eyes of everyone behind him, the Trainer carefully led his Gogoat into the Castle of Chivalry.
The interior of the castle was extremely dark. To prevent the Trainers waiting outside from discovering what awaited them inside, there were no cameras installed in the trial area below. The only place where the proceedings could be observed was the viewing balcony.
As a result, everyone waiting outside had no idea what exactly was hidden within the second trial, [The Labyrinth of Unease].
The moment the first participant disappeared into the dimly lit castle, everyone outside had barely withdrawn their gazes when a terrified scream suddenly echoed from within.
"AAAAAAHHHH!!!"
"Hiss..."
Hearing that bloodcurdling scream from inside the castle, everyone waiting outside immediately felt a chill shoot from the soles of their feet straight to the tops of their heads. Their bodies shuddered involuntarily.
Before they could even recover from the sudden atmosphere of fear, the staff member standing outside the castle gates loudly announced the name of the second participant.
"Trainer [Barnes], please enter the castle and begin your trial!"
"Yes."
The Trainer who had been called stepped forward with his Pokémon, walking toward the interior of the Castle of Chivalry with trembling steps.
The expression on his face made him look as though he were marching straight toward an execution ground.
"AAAAHHHH!!!"
The instant he entered the Castle of Chivalry and disappeared into the darkness, this Trainer, Barnes, let out a terrified scream just like the Trainer before him, Kemar.
The atmosphere outside the castle immediately became even more tense.
The Trainers who had yet to participate all shrank their necks and stood stiffly, as silent and nervous as cicadas in winter.
"Ash..."
Misty, who was standing beside Ash while holding her Marill, also wore an anxious and frightened expression.
Tierno and Trevor were similarly nervous, supporting each other as they waited for their turns.
"Don't worry. This is only a trial they've arranged for us. There definitely won't be any real danger."
Ash gently patted Misty's hand while lowering his voice to reassure the three of them.
"At most, they'll have a few Ghost-type Pokémon jump out to scare us. As for the traps and mechanisms..."
Ash paused for a moment before continuing.
"They shouldn't be anything we can't handle."
"Mhm, mhm!"
Misty, Tierno, and Trevor all nodded.
Ash's analysis eased the tension in their hearts considerably.
Just as Ash had finished reassuring them, the staff member standing outside the castle glanced down at the list in his hands.
Then he called out the next name.
"Trainer [Ash], please enter the castle and begin the trial!"
"Here I go."
Ash answered before turning toward Misty, Tierno, and Trevor. He gave them a reassuring look.
"Don't worry. I'll be fine."
"Fearow, let's go."
With that, Ash led his Fearow toward the entrance of the Castle of Chivalry.
Everyone's eyes followed Ash and Fearow as they disappeared into the castle.
From the balcony above, Wikstrom spoke again.
"A knight must be braver than anyone else. The battlefield is always accompanied by unease and terror. Pokémon and Trainers must cooperate with one another and cleverly overcome a maze filled with all kinds of traps."
With those words, Wikstrom's gaze remained fixed on the backs of Ash and Fearow.
By then, Ash had already entered the dimly lit Castle of Chivalry and stepped into the terrifying atmosphere of the [Uneasy Maze] that Wikstrom had prepared.
"It really does feel creepy..."
Ash looked down the dim corridor.
What made the atmosphere even more unsettling was the fact that the source of illumination along the passage wasn't ordinary lighting at all.
It was provided by Litwick.
Pale blue ghostly flames flickered and swayed in the darkness.
The Litwick along the corridor twisted their little faces into eerie expressions, their gloomy eyes silently following every Trainer who passed through the corridor.
The frightening atmosphere had truly been pushed to its limit.
Recently, Ash had been thinking about capturing and raising some new Pokémon.
And now, seeing all these Litwick, his thoughts naturally turned toward them.
Litwick's final evolution is Chandelure. It's a Ghost- and Fire-type Pokémon with a base stat total of 520 and a massive 145 Special Attack.
That's an exceptionally impressive stat spread. It's definitely a Pokémon worth investing in.
Ash's eyes lingered on the Litwick around him as he silently considered the possibility.