Zweision Island

Zeke stops for a second, panting heavily, and looks at the others. "Oh... Strength of mind still counts I guess..." he says with a laugh. After a few more moments, all three are done with time to spare.

"You would be surprised how many fail this challenge by thinking inside the box," Lazarus says with a smirk. "Take time to recover. The last test is the most difficult."

"You're very confident," Yeza states with little inflection.

"How do you keep your head up?" Zeke asks with a chuckle

For a brief second it looks like a smile invades Yeza's face, but it quickly disappears.

"Well if you're making it somewhere, then you're making it out alive, and that means we probably are too," Zeke says with a grin.

The three monks could be heard chanting as the group talks. Eisen seems to be making a salt circle centered on the fire pit while Nico paints lines in the snow and Lazarus sprinkles some strange dust into the flames.

"Astute observation," Yeza agrees.

"Well, no time like the present to honor my heritage," Zeke says, sounding less confident than his words imply.

Moments later, the chanting stops and the monks step out of the salt circle. "To your feet initiates. It's you against whatever comes from these flames."

Yeza and Zeke get to their feet as the smoke from the fire grows darker and takes on the shape of a humanoid with a wispy tail instead of legs and large dark batlike wings. It let's out a loud shriek as it flies from the fire, maintaining its shadowy form.

Zeke charges in with Darius's sword, slashing at the demon. It seems mildly annoyed by it, but it just moves harmlessly through the shadowy form.

Yeza steps back, her eyes laser focused on the creature as she raises her hands toward it.

As Darius's arrow pierces the demon, it lets out a loud hiss, leaving behind a small hole that doesn't seem to reform. Angered, the demon glares at Darius, launching a mental attack on the boy.

The shadows form would solidify just for a moment as Zeke strikes it, visible blood and tearing apparent. A moment later it is pure shadow again, albeit with some imperfections in its form, and Yeza looks exhausted. She drops her hands and nods. "I'll cover mental defenses. Attempting to solidify it is too much for me."

The demon hisses at the pain inflicted by the sword, growing even more upset as Darius would feel the mental attack dispersing. Angered, the demon flies toward Yeza, claws at the ready.

Darius would feel her aura around him as he comes to her aid. As he attacks the demon, some of its shadowy form would be torn from it, surrounding his arm. The demon lets out a sound unlike anything most people will ever hear, and it seems to be trying to regain its composure.

Zeke looks frantic as he sees Darius unleashing his demonic blood. "Darius! Focus. Fight it like a monk!"