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General Information
The Shadow Run is both the simplest and most dangerous training course that can be run without a golem. A flurry of continuous attacks is what the Sun Division holds in highest respect, and the course reflects that. The course itself is a simple tunnel, reached via portal. Within the tunnel await hundreds of weak, hungry shadowlings. Nothing to worry about on their own, but capable of overwhelming a Hunter through sheer numbers at the first moment of weakness. At the other end of the tunnel is another portal, leading back to the course observation booth.

If you fail: your character is KO'd, but there's always a senior hunter in the observation booth with enhanced bandages at the ready. They should reach you in time. Really. Trained and trusty professionals on-hand 24/7.

If you win: peen points and bragging rights to those who take out the greatest number of shadowlings and go the most turns without needing to attempt a recovery maneuver.

Mechanics

• You must get through 5 waves of attacks to make it through the tunnel.
  
• Simply roll for attack as you would in battle.
  
• If you miss, your character falters in their attacking and is overwhelmed by shadowlings.
  
• After 3 successful hits, you may use your weapon's charge attack.
  
  Bonus Mechanics
  
• This bonus is consumable.
  
• The bonus in this course is in the form of "recoveries" ~ these are would-be missed attacks that are quickly recovered and turned into a successful hit. Basically, they can miss once and roll again for an extra try. If you keep consecutively missing, though, and run out of recoveries, it's lights out. These do not equal an automatic pass for a round, you still have to land a successful hit to proceed.
  
  
• Trainees: 0 recovery
  
• Sun Trainees: 1 recovery
  
• Hunters: 1 recovery
  
• Sun Hunters: 2 recoveries
  

Training courses were not something Oliver had gotten involved in yet. He seemed to be having a hard enough time just sparring with other hunters, and the thought of encountering just one shadowling outside the walls was enough to bring out his skittish side. But when he got a text from Noemi, he couldn't refuse.

When he finally arrived, he looked a little out of breath as though he had run all the way over. "Ah... Um, what is it we're doing?" He didn't want to look weak in front of the one person who didn't scare him on the island, but at the same time, he didn't want her to go in without knowing all the facts. "I-I've never done a training course here before..."

Jenga didn't sound so bad, he could remember playing that game as a kid with his mom and dad. He always got impatient setting it back up before the next game, but he didn't think it was something to be afraid of. At least not until Noemi mentioned sharks and lasers. Then it began to sound like the plot for a really awful B-rated movie... Or a really phenomenal video game.

It wasn't until Noemi asked, that Oliver realized he really didn't want to do the training run at all. He wanted to go back to his room and hide under his covers, and forget about shadowlings and shark-laser-jenga, and fighting and weapons and... scary things.

He nodded anyway.

There was no way he could let Noemi face such a frightening thing by herself, so he gathered up as much courage as he could, and entered the training room before he lost his nerve. He let out a yelp as he was ambushed by little shadows, and the axe was in his hand and swinging before he was able to take stock of the situation. Only one shadowling fell victim to the wide arc of his blade.

Noemi might not have had time to scream, but Oliver certainly yelped as he backed into her by accident. She was overwhelmed in an instant, and the Life trainee was incapable of moving on.

"Noemi!" He shouted, swinging the axe in a broad arc and taking out more of the shadowlings. How could he find her and get her back without getting taken down himself?

Oliver had been backed up against the wall next to the door. When Noemi barged back in, he was able to take out two additional shadowlings while they were distracted, but he had no chance to press on.

He heard her! Noemi was there somewhere, but Oliver was being forced away from the entrance by the hordes of little shadowlings.

"Noem! I'm--"

He yelped as another wave of the creatures swarmed him, and swung his axe to clear them from the area.

Oliver caught sight of Noemi's red hair, just for a second.

"Ah, Noemi!" He shouted, his axe deterring all but the bravest shadowlings. The brave ones immediately attacked him from the back, and he disappeared into the black mass with a startled yelp.

The soft pat on the cheek was enough to wake the young Life trainee, and he immediately pulled backwards with a panicked yelp. Oliver nearly fell out of the chair he had been propped up in before he realized it was only Noemi, and the only thing he had to be afraid of was her face being so close to his.

Thankfully it was much less frightening than shadowlings. "N-Noemi! A-are you okay?" He began to look concerned as though it was his friend who had to be awakened rather than himself.