Gorilla Combat

"Really? That sounds freakin' awesome," Everett listened intently, not questioning anything being said.

It was almost akin to a dog, the sort of unquestioning loyalty that the shielder had towards those he recognized as his friends. None more so than Emilio himself, who Everett trusted like his own blood.

"I thought if we could all pass the trial and become "sages", that'd be our best chance. Think you can do it? I'm warning you–this might be a whole lot harder than our world-class trial was," Emilio said, looking at his friend as he spoke seriously, "--I encountered a foe unlike anything I faced before."

"Somebody that even gave you trouble?" Everett asked, leaning in curiously.

They sat on the bed of leaves while talking, seeming that the trees inhabiting the region were in their fall lifespan, discarding every leaf from their branches.