The small green man looked like a humanoid Beetle with the face of a man. “Hello! I was looking to talk to someone about the small mushroom men that would’ve come through here a couple days ago. They belong to the group called the Funguys.”

The small man looks Cass up and down before sighing and motioning for him to follow him inside. The pair walk into the colosseum and sit in the stands at the front row.

“If you want to be heard then you’ll have to talk to the big guy there.” The small green man said as he pointed to the far end of the arena.

A large and imposing man in black beetle-like armor enters the arena. Each plate is painted with an assortment of symbols in colorful paint. He struts out in the center of the arena and all of the audience cheers.

Cass taps the green one’s shoulder, “Who is he?”

The green one just waves him off and motions to watch. Following the large one is a tall and sickly skinny red armored one. The red one lifts a comically large horn to his lips and blows.

“Consider yourselves lucky! The great Sentinel Herc is here!” The red one announces as the crowd goes wild and Herc eats it up.

Herc steps forward to four warriors standing in a line in the arena. “Today, you four will battle each other and the winner will be granted the honor of having their request met.”

Cass turns to the green one, “So I have to enter this fight here?”

“You might. This only happens when multiple people try to ask for something at once. They each felt their request was more important than the others and so they are willing to fight for it.” The green one shrugs. “No one has approached me besides you so you may get lucky. What’s your name and profession?”

“Cass and I’m a Multi.”

“Good, I’ll need to know when I announce you to Herc. for now, just enjoy the show.”

Sentinel Herc takes a seat in a section reserved for important Knights. One large throne sits at the top and Herc sits himself two rows below it. “Begin!” He says and four red Knights blow their horns and each combatant begins to nonlethally attack each other. Trading blows left and right, the first two, tough looking blue Knights, get taken out quickly by the remaining two. A yellow, slender, and agile Knight and a human looking person in a cloak and a mask with a spiral design carved into it.

The yellow knight moves with tremendous speed. They grab onto the masked human’s arm and hurl them into the wall. The human stops mid-air and twists their body to land on their feet.

The yellow knight begins to move to attack again but freezes in place.

The masked human walks over to the knight, “I am sorry but I need their help.” They lift their hand to the knight’s chest and flame ignites from their skin, engulfing the knight.

The flames part as the fists of the knight land on the masked man's chest, “Not as much as I do!” the knight declared as they emerged from the flames, only slightly singed. 

Several minutes go by while each strategically trade blows before the yellow Knight finally succumbs and the masked human wins.

Herc cheers with glee as he leaps down from his seat and greets the champion. “You have proven yourself to be a fine warrior! Tell me your name and request and I shall try to fulfill it to the best of my abilities.” 

The Masked man speaks softly, “I am called Runt. I have need of your knight's skill. My town is plagued by a ruthless gang and need help to eradicate them.”

Herc looks to the crowd, “what do you all think?” and the crowd explodes with cheers.

Herc lets out a hearty laugh, “A righteous fight indeed! You will have our aid.” The Sentinel instructs a nearby red knight to gather some knights and escort the masked person to help.”

The injured fighters are taken away by a few green knights and then the green knight beside Cass gets up. “This is it. Are you ready to possibly fight?”

Cass hops to his feet, “I’ve been ready.”

The green knight leads Cass back out of the stadium. They enter a side door and after a few confusing turns and dodging the injured fighters, the sun explodes in front of them as they enter the stadium.

Herc’s curiosity peaks and he approaches Cass. The green knight announces their arrival, “Introducing the warrior, Cass, the Multi.” 

Herc waves him off and the green knight scuttles back out the doorway. He looks Cass up and down, “What can I do for you?”

“You have a few Funguys, small guys with mushrooms for a head, under your employ. I understand they are on loan to repay a debt from the HellsHounds but I am here to collect them.”

Herc looks pensive, “They aren’t really on loan. The debt was paid as soon as we took them. If we let them go early then we are out money, effort, and time.”

“I’m willing to repay it in their place. I’m quite the skilled multi.”

“Hmm, I am unsure.”

Suddenly the sky darkens and clouds fill the air. Blue streaks of lightning come crashing down on top of the throne and when the flash clears, sitting on the throne is Ruler.

All the knights drop down to their knees and lower their heads.

Smiley flickers next to Cass, “That’s one of my A.I.’s. He’s gone all in on the roman ruler vibe but that is definitely him.”

Ruler floats on the air and descends to the arena floor but continues to float just above it. “Rise Sentinel.”

Herc lifts himself up to meet Ruler’s gaze, “How can I serve you, my lord?”

Ruler points at Cass, “This one carries a great burden but must prove to me if he is worthy to carry it. He will undergo the Sentinel trials. If he passes then you shall grant his wish.”

Herc drops to his knees, “As you wish, my lord.” When Herc lifts his head, Ruler is gone and the sky clears.

Herc stands and turns to Cass, “I do not know why our lord has taken a liking to you but be warned, the trials are difficult and gruesome. Simple as they are, you will have to fight for your life.”

Herc explains the Sentinel trials. “The first test is the test of endurance. You must climb to the top of that building.” Herc said as he pointed to a nearby ten story building. “While wearing two hundred pounds of weights.”

“The second trial is the test of constitution. You will drink a concoction we created. It will show you visions and if you make your way through those then you’ll pass.”

Herc then stands even taller, “The third trial is stamina, I will tell you what that involves if you pass the first and second trials.”

Cass looks at Smiley, who nods. “Let’s do it.”

Herc motions to the crowd, “It is official, as the lord demands, the warrior Cass will undergo the trials of the Sentinel!” The crowd erupts as four white armored but old looking knights come out from where Herc entered. 

Each knight holds a stone-like bowl filled with various paints. They paint a symbol on Cass’ forehead that looks like a diamond with identical ones on both sides.

Herc addresses Cass as the old knights leave. “With each trial won, a diamond will be filled. Once all three are filled, you will become a sentinel.” Two blue knights enter the arena with what looks like a suit of straps and weights. They help Cass put it on. 

‘Holy hell, these are heavy.’

Herc places his hand on Cass’ shoulder. “At the top of the building, there are smoke bombs. Ignite one on arrival and we will know you have completed the test.”

The same green knight from before, escorts Cass back out of the arena and to the edge of town. Each step grows heavier as sweat rains across Cass’ face.

Once he is outside of the town and out of eyesight of the knights, he activates his knight form but tries to stop it at the neck. The armor wraps around him but under the straps. 

The heavy weights become virtually weightless. “That is so much better.” Cass says as he slowly makes his way to the building. 

Smiley appears beside him. “Why are you walking so slow?”

“It’s supposed to be a challenge. If I complete it too quickly, then they’ll be suspicious.”

Cass takes his sweet time getting to the building. The entire building has been adorned with paint and new wooden stairs wrapping over the old. Cultural statues, shrines, and murals liter the passage as they climb the building.

At the top, in the open air, is a shrine. A statue of a Sentinel stands at its head. Cass reaches down and picks up an ancient looking paper orb with a fuse sticking out.