The young members of the Stone Race only snapped out of their daze when the fortress gate slowly rose with the creak of a winch. Squad after squad of Slime Guards, clad in leather armor and holding small wooden spears, bounced out in neat formations to greet them.
Filled with curiosity, they followed Nili into the brightly lit fortress.
"Ryo, did you see this fortress when you took the trial before?" the tall and sturdy Max leaned close to his friend, his voice low.
Ryo shook his head, his eyes scanning the fortress's interior. "No. I'm positive. When the last trial ended, there was nothing here but that row of silent guardian Knight statues."
"Unbelievable… How in the world did these Slimes move such a huge fortress here so quickly, and without anyone noticing?" Max murmured.
News of the Slime Kingdom had already spread through Stone Castle Town. As such, the young Stone Race members were more curious than surprised by these obviously highly disciplined and social Slimes.
