Trial of Skill

AKA: Dungeon of Technique

“Even the smallest among us can fell gargantuan giants with speed and agility...”

—Yun Jou

The **Trial of Skill** is one of the seven Trials found within the final chapter, The Dominion of Hate. It is found on the northwestern cliff of the Last Hero's Grave's southern face, parallel to the Trial of Instinct. The Earthen Heart Master is the only one capable of destroying the colossal boulder guarding its entrance.

Inside is a cavernous maze, flush with both bountiful treasure and an overly persistent adversary. The most valuable treasure to be found is the Nunchaku of the Master, the ultimate weapon of Yun Jou, Lei Kugo, and Hong Hakka.

## Appearance

The Trial of Skill is a radiant, well-lit cave system made of pink stone strongly resembling rose quartz. Striking crystal stalagmites and stalactites jut from both floor and ceiling.

In the Super Famicom version, the Trial of Skill is the color of dirty chalk white, rather than pink.

## Overview

The layout of the trial is a series of over a dozen hallways, all interconnected through three large primary chambers. Each of these hallways contains their own treasure chest, and at the very end is a special sanctum where the Nunchaku of the Master lie. It is pertinent that the Trial of Skill holds the most treasure out of all the Trials in the Dominion of Hate, with 15 items in total.

Each of these halls has an opening that is barred by a large boulder that, just like the one at trial's entrance, may only be overcome by the Master's skills. To bypass these obstacles, the player must select the correct technique from the master's repertoire for each boulder. Only a technique of the Earthen Heart style of kung-fu may sunder these stones, from the most fundamental moves to the ultimate Heavenly Peaks Descent; the individual techniques of the Master will not suffice. In the 2022 remake, the Master provides a hint at each boulder as to what technique is needed.

There are no random encounters inside the Trial of Skill; instead, the obese, incessant martial artist known only as "The Bountiful Heart" serves as the trial's sole enemy. He appears in every hall of the cave as a sort of guardian to each chest, making a beeline to the primary hero. If the hero so much as makes contact with him, he will drag the party into an inescapable battle. No matter how many times he is put down, the Bountiful Heart will never truly die. He will simply reappear in the next hall the party enters, just as eager to fight as the last. With careful movement, however, the Bountiful Heart may be avoided in most instances.

### **Boss: The Bountiful Heart**

As the party enters the sanctum holding the Nunchaku, the Bountiful Heart will appear once more, and challenge the lead hero to a final showdown. He puts up no more of a fight than his previous efforts, but the battle itself may be accepted or declined. If the hero accepts and wins the bout, The Bountiful Heart will vanish from the trial, leaving the trial's treasures safe to be collected. If the fight is declined, he will allow the party to pass, but will otherwise remain present throughout the halls. Regardless, from here the party may ascend the stairs and take the Nunchaku of the Master for themselves.

After acquiring the Nunchaku, an exit portal will appear beside the party. Taking it will warp them to the base of the Last Hero's Grave.

### Treasure

* Dynamite x1
* Glove of the Goddess x2
* Chest Hair x1
* Gold Hairpin x1
* Charioteer's Boots x1
* Ice Helm x1
* Holy Water x2
* Loin Guard x1
* Mermaid Tights x1
* Blood of Amon x1
* Bael's Blood x1
* Saint's Bell x1
* **Nunchaku of the Master** x1

## Gallery

The technique selection menu for breaking a boulderThe pause screen within the Trial