Nine

Wain waited for the ordeal to come to an end. He didn't want to go down and fight anyone, as it was a waste of energy. He had to be ready for the second stage.

As time passed, new challengers appeared. The third, as expected, was the Vampire. He was able to defeat the wolf thanks to his animal instincts and his absorption of the blood of other creatures. Thus the wolf ran out of stamina, while the Vampire was in good order.

Vampires were formidable opponents in a one-on-one battle, but if other, weak, and numerous creatures were involved, the Vampire was virtually invincible. He could drink the blood of monsters during battle and thus fight almost endlessly.

The fourth was Ashen, his battle with the Fire Serpent was long and agonizing, but in the end, he won. They, Wain, and Maria were the only ones who could defeat the Four Kings. Even among the challengers, they had to stand out.