Down the tense halls and corridors just before the throne room Hunter heard a name that he had been accustomed to for years. The name that didn't just casually go right in one ear and out the other. He took it to heart and believed it was his good old friend from the fact alone he was fighting evenly with him. There weren't many people in the world nor beasts that you could count on the fingers of ones hands to know facing Hunter would mean an early grave. With eyes that could stop a heart from beating he glared at his friend in disbelief questioning why in the world he would attack him and for what reason.

"We are friends?! I-I don't understand why you'd do such a thing. What happened to you?"

Gatekeeper only had a cold look on him knowing Hunter's nature fully well.

"It's simple. You who entered my territory in search of something that will in turn be in vain. Nonetheless I cannot stop you.. no~ that is not correct. I cannot defeat you. My domain that you reside in reduces all your power by 1/8th of what you originally are outside my territory. That may buy me time but I know once you set a goal nothing will stop you in your pursuit."

"Instead I will judge you to see if you are deemed fit, if you are mentally prepared for what is to come. A trial will be given to you."

Hunter questioned what the trail would be about but was ignored of his answer as Gatekeeper did what he wanted. He spoke how he wanted and did what he chose to do.

"Although I respect you immensely ol' friend there is a limit to your persistence when asking unnecessary questions."

His eyes glowed ruby red similar to Hunter's beforehand as he began to threaten him now grabbing his attention entirely.

"You're trial will involve you and your students and the due date to complete my trails will be five months without fail. If they are not qualified to continue past my forest than I will personally kill them myself."

He had no other choice to accept knowing that the boys were not in any condition to leave anyway and agreed to what he was saying. Hunter made a backup plan wanting him to promise that he wouldn't harm the boys in anyway. Gatekeeper chuckled revealing that he will only do it because of 𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝔀𝓲𝓼𝓱.

Upon hearing his mouth utter those words he blurted out worried with a hint of anger boiling up from inside wanting to know what he meant by her wish.

"If you know something tell me!"

Gatekeeper's face turned sour with a hint of disgust looking right at him.

"You have to earn the right to know that then!"

He suddenly kicked Hunter away and used the pressure he had around him to send him outside the throne and flying past the hallways and staircases he went up on. Moments later he was sent into the concrete outside the second gate obliterating the ground below him as Royal and Cloudy were captured of all their attention running over to Hunter in a hurry. They inspected his body seeing his hand had been cut off while he had other serious injuries to worry about included. It was a mystery as to who or what kind of monster was capable of doing such a thing to him.

"W-whatever did this to him is not normal."

Cloudy claimed paying close attention to his surroundings.

Royal replied to his stutter with his own starting to feel the pressure rise around them.

"You're r-right w-we need to help Hunter heal his wounds with what we got in our bags."

In a hurry they reach for Hunter to treat him but soon realized he passed out either from the collision or possibly the adrenaline running around his body. They look at one another with a grim expression knowing whatever was coming from the gate rivaled Hunter seeing how he was beaten. Taking a defensive position they planted themselves in front of the gate ready for what may enter the portal ready to protect Hunter with their lives. The air was cold reeking of blood from Hunter and inside the void like gate. The malice from inside the gate became much stronger than before with each passing minute that felt like days. Until the pressure was pulled back as if it was strung up on a leash and thrown back. What appeared instead was Gatekeeper himself prying his own gate open as if it was also resisting his exit. The two were on edge getting only just a sliver of what Hunter had to go through while fighting. Their breathing became erratic just standing there watching the knight, pupils dilated and hands shaking profusely. It was a bodily instinct and they had no way to stop it. To combat that they closed their eyes and lunged at the knight ready to swing their blades blindly all to protect their savior. The first words that were spoke from him were only a warning to them.

"You know... it's not nice to attack someone who've you only just met isn't it?"

The two instantly got goosebumps sensing if they moved even for an inch their heads would go flying off their necks down to the hallways of the mans lair. Gatekeeper stomped his way toward Hunter menacingly until he reached out for him with ill intent. Cloudy took the brave plunge to his demise and stood in the knights way just in between Hunter and him using his own body as a shield. Royal defended the two pointing his rapier straight at the knights back. Just for a moment they could feel their sweat crawl upward from the amount of pressure that was emitted for only a split second. A second later they saw the knight only stare at them taking turns to look at each person before explaining to them to not be so hostile. Confused the boys didn't give into whatever he was claiming and still chose to protect Hunter with their lives regardless.

"Hmmm~. You boys are alright. You pass. This was the first test."

They both looked at one another unable to understand what was going on as they screamed in unison.

"Whaaat~?!"

"I will explain everything with time but first something must be done about the moron over there."

Pointing over to Hunter he lowered himself gripping onto Hunter's arm where he had taken his hand off. He reached behind him and took out Hunter's hand as the two gasped seeing that he was indeed the one who managed to cut Hunter's hand off. He stuck it together with the stump holding it together with one hand while the other hand came up and released a green vibrant energy out of his palm healing his hand with no scars or downsides.

"How did you do that?"

Royal nervously blurted out wanting to satisfy his curiosity.

Gatekeeper looked back inspecting him closely before turning back and surprisingly answering his question.

"I used my own life force to sew his hand back together. Don't try this or instead you will just die."

"O-oh.. ok."

Royal muttered discouraged.

After finishing up with Hunter he dropped his arm without care knowing he'd be fine as the two panicked witnessing him care less about Hunter's wellbeing. The knight moved on over to Nick's body spotting heat still fuming out of him. He reached out getting a blast of heat on his hand and palm but didn't show the slightest bit of concern as he placed his hand onto Nick's side. After examining his body Gatekeeper turned back with a serious look.

"Did Hunter do this to the boy?"

They both nodded to his question not wanting to disobey him.

He explained that it was a miracle and that the boy was alive and regenerating at an extremely fast pace. Shocked by the sudden good news they ran over to Nick thinking he was dead for good and were about to give him a hug until the knight stopped them from getting closer.

"Right now being near him is asking to fry up and burn to ash. Although it doesn't seem like much as he is now his body can wield 1/50th of the sun. Which is hotter than the world's hottest matter and substances. Stay back for now while I attempt and try to get this kid back and conscious again."

He brazenly walked back toward Nick as flames were spawning nearby just by being near Nick. Once in front of him he quickly healed the large laceration on his body and sped walked away not liking how he was getting sweaty from the heat. Shortly after that Nick's body began to shrink considerably back to his normal size as the flames from before were smothered out. The knight marched through the hall ordering the boys to follow him and to carry Hunter with them and Nick as well. They could only do as told knowing if they refused they would be killed off like flies. Moving into the void like gate the group felt as if they were as light as a feather compared to when they were in the core of the forest.

"I'm using aura to protect you from the madness here or your minds would rot in seconds. This is mere child's play to me. Hurry it up."

He sped up forcing the other two to do their best moving down the hall with the space around them looking lively. Once they reached Gatekeeper's throne room they took a gander around seeing the aftermath of their battle which was jaw dropping to say the least. He did not enjoy the sight of his room looking so dirty and tainted so with the snap of his fingers they all spectated the area repairing itself with unknown forces until boom it was completely done looking as beautiful as it once was. He crossed paths with the pillars ignoring the heat from the magma falling from the pillars siting himself on the throne ahead crossing his legs and placing his hands on the arms of the chair.

"Ah~.. That's right I should've introduced myself earlier. My name is Gatekeeper and I am the guardian of Splinter Forest."