The translations of the Japanese text are unofficial, so they may contain errors.
The Proving Grounds (Japanese: 試練の遺跡, しれん の いせき, Shiren no Iseki [lit. "Ruins of Trials"]) is a location in the region of Wyht from Lost Kingdoms II. It is the last optional level in the game and is automatically unlocked after completing the main story.
Appearance
The Proving Grounds is a dark and hazy subterranean dungeon with many levels. The first set of four levels have a red hue to them to represent the Fire attribute, the second set is yellow for Earth, the third green for Wood, the fourth blue for Water, and the fifth and final set is purple for the Neutral attribute.
Most floors have four main rooms that function as arenas and and four narrow hallways that link them together. The last floor has a small passage connected to one of the hallways that leads to a special room in the center that houses the Emperor.
The main rooms have floors in the center made of cooling magma with glowing cracks. The magma glows a different color depending on which set of levels it is in. Eight tall pillars topped with small flames are placed at the sides of each main room. Many small rusted doors or lockers line these rooms' stone block walls, and above these are barred windows with iron spikes underneath them.
The hallways have floors and ceilings tiled with dark bricks and are lined with iron support beams. The walls are composed of the same stone blocks as the main rooms and the support beams have lanterns hanging on them that swing and creak slightly. The entrances of these hallways all have a large emblem of a person's face above them and usually have pale metal doors with engravings of shells, cherubs, foxes, and crowns. Some entrances are sealed off by damaged brick walls or metal grates instead.
The Emperor's room is mostly paved over with dark stone and has a picture of each of the Four Sacred Beasts hanging on the walls. A small path though the dark stone-paved floor of this room leads from the entrance to a small set of steps attached to a raised platform at the back.
Summary
The Proving Grounds is the postgame bonus dungeon of Lost Kingdoms II. It has twenty levels and ends in a boss fight with the Emperor, the ruler of the four Sacred Beasts. It is not a part of the story of the game. However, a Red Fairy will mention its existence to Tara once collected.
– A Red Fairy, Grenfoel Cathedral
Layout
All twenty levels of the Proving Grounds are nearly identical with four large rooms and four long, narrow corridors. The only two levels that that deviate from the usual layout are the first and last levels. The first level's only difference is very small because it has an entrance which can be left through to return to the World Map. The last level stands out the most for having a fifth room in the center that houses the Emperor.
Area Progression
In the US and PAL versions of Lost Kingdoms II, all that needs to be done to complete the missions of Levels 1-19 and go to the next one is to reach the goal on each of those floors. On the final floor, the way to complete its mission is to defeat the Emperor instead.
Occasionally the hallways can be either sealed by breakable walls or impassable grates. Some of the doors to the hallways will lock Tara in a room until she defeats all the enemies inside.
In the Japanese release known as RUNE II, the Proving Grounds was changed slightly. When Tara arrives at any of its levels, two textboxes will appear. The first will will show which floor the current level is, and the second will have info on a challenge on how to reach the next one in the form of a riddle. The goals for Levels 1-19 in this version are blocked off by a fence, but they will fade away once the requirements have been met.
The RUNE II challenges will always be to defeat a certain amount of monsters. Which monsters need to be defeated depends on the level. Captured monsters will not count towards the completion of the challenges.
Boss Battle
The only boss battle in the Proving Grounds is against the Emperor on Level 20. The Emperor has 400 Hit Points and 25 Defense. He has two attacks: Imperial Blade and Shaolin Glory.
The Shaolin Glory skill will make the Emperor summon many pillars of flame around himself. It causes 50 Base Damage per hit and is a wide range attack the Emperor will use when his target is close to him. Before using this move, the Emperor will...
The Imperial Blade skill will make the Emperor pull his target close to him, then strike with his sword. It causes 68 Base Damage in the US version of Lost Kingdoms II and 60 Base Damage in RUNE II, the Japanese version. It will also use up all the cards of one of the four main attributes (Fire, Water, Earth, or Wood) from Tara's deck if it hits her. It is a melee attack that he will use when his target is far away. Before using this move, the Emperor will...
To defeat the Emperor, it is recommended to use Neutral and/or Mech cards since they will be immune to his Imperial Blade skill's effect. And since he's so powerful, using any Independent or Helper type cards can be risky even if they have one these attributes, so using only Weapon, Summons, or Transform type cards is also advised.
One strategy on how to fight him is by using Devata cards. If timed correctly and at the right distance, the Devata can repeatedly hit him with it's long distance Ice Assault skill and make him flinch every time it hits, so Tara can potentially prevent him from attacking at all.
Banshee cards are also useful since its attack has long range and pierces defense. However, the card's attribute is one that may be effected by the Imperial Blade skill.
Obtaining the Emperor's Card (optional)
As the Emperor's card is not a reward for defeating him and is normally given out through the final floor's Level Bonus, using Capture Cards on him is recommended. The Proving Grounds is a difficult set of levels filled with powerful enemies, so it's easy not to get a Level Bonus at all. Additionally, even if a high enough rating is achieved to get Level Bonus rewards, there's no guarantee that the only Emperor card in it will be picked.
Level 1 =RUNE II Challenge
"Those who defeat five variants shall open the way further."Level 1 requires the player to defeat five unique enemies to reach the goal.Enemies Encountered
Monsters
Level Bonus
In Lost Kingdoms II
In RUNE II
This Level Bonus is the same in all versions of Lost Kingdoms II.RUNE II Challenge
"Those who defeat four-colored lizards shall open the way further."Level 2 requires the player to defeat one Lizardman, one Red Lizard, one Basilisk, and one Venom Lizard.Enemies Encountered
Monsters
Level Bonus
In Lost Kingdoms II
In RUNE II
This Level Bonus is the same in all versions of Lost Kingdoms II.RUNE II Challenge
"Those who defeat three Fire Golems shall open the way further."Level 3 requires the player to defeat three Fire Golems.Enemies Encountered
Monsters
Level Bonus
In Lost Kingdoms II
In RUNE II
This Level Bonus is the same in all versions of Lost Kingdoms II.
RUNE II Challenge
"Those who defeat five variants shall open the way further."Level 4 requires the player to defeat five unique enemies to reach the goal.Enemies Encountered
Monsters
Level Bonus
In Lost Kingdoms II
In RUNE II
This Level Bonus is the same in all versions of Lost Kingdoms II.}}
Level 5 =RUNE II Challenge
"Those who defeat five variants shall open the way further."Level 5 requires the player to defeat five unique enemies to reach the goal.Enemies Encountered
Monsters
Level Bonus
In Lost Kingdoms II
In RUNE II
This Level Bonus is the same in all versions of Lost Kingdoms II.RUNE II Challenge
"Those who defeat four Gravity Pillars shall open the way further."Level 6 requires the player to defeat four Gravity Pillars.Enemies Encountered
Monsters
Level Bonus
In Lost Kingdoms II
In RUNE II
RUNE II Challenge
"Those who defeat five dragons that bite the earth shall open the way further."Level 7 requires the player to defeat four Vouivre to reach the goal.Enemies Encountered
Monsters
Level Bonus
In Lost Kingdoms II
In RUNE II
RUNE II Challenge
"Those who defeat five variants shall open the way further."Level 8 requires the player to defeat five unique enemies to reach the goal.Enemies Encountered
Monsters
Level Bonus
In Lost Kingdoms II
In RUNE II
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Level 9 =RUNE II Challenge
"Those who defeat ten variants shall open the way further."Level 9 requires the player to defeat ten enemies.Enemies Encountered
Monsters
Level Bonus
In Lost Kingdoms II
In RUNE II
RUNE II Challenge
"Those who defeat five variants shall open the way further."Level 10 requires the player to defeat five unique enemies to reach the goal.Enemies Encountered
Monsters
Level Bonus
In Lost Kingdoms II
In RUNE II
RUNE II Challenge
"Those who defeat three color changing monsters shall open the way further."Level 11 requires the player to defeat three Chameleus to reach the goal.Enemies Encountered
Monsters
Level Bonus
In Lost Kingdoms II
In RUNE II
This Level Bonus is the same in all versions of Lost Kingdoms II.RUNE II Challenge
"Those who defeat five underground monsters shall open the way further."Level 12 requires the player to defeat five King Mandragoras to reach the goal.Enemies Encountered
Monsters
Level Bonus
In Lost Kingdoms II
In RUNE II
This Level Bonus is the same in all versions of Lost Kingdoms II.}}
Level 13 =RUNE II Challenge
"Those who defeat three tornado giants shall open the way further."Level 13 requires the player to defeat three Pazuzus to reach the goal.Enemies Encountered
Monsters
Level Bonus
In Lost Kingdoms II
In RUNE II
This Level Bonus is the same in all versions of Lost Kingdoms II.RUNE II Task
"Those who defeat six kinds of dragons shall open the way further."Level 14 requires the player to defeat a Red Dragon, a Baby Dragon, an Amber Dragon, a Brine Dragon, a Green Dragon, and an Acid Dragon to reach the goal.Enemies Encountered
Monsters
Level Bonus
In Lost Kingdoms II
In RUNE II
This Level Bonus is the same in all versions of Lost Kingdoms II.RUNE II Challenge
"Those who defeat five variants shall open the way further."Level 15 requires the player to defeat five unique enemies to reach the goal.Enemies Encountered
Monsters
Level Bonus
In Lost Kingdoms
In RUNE II
This Level Bonus is the same in all versions of Lost Kingdoms II.RUNE II Challenge
"Those who defeat five variants shall open the way further."Level 16 requires the player to defeat five unique enemies to reach the goal.Enemies Encountered
Monsters
Level Bonus
In Lost Kingdoms II
In RUNE II
This Level Bonus is the same in all versions of Lost Kingdoms II.}}
Level 17 =RUNE II Challenge
"Those who defeat five swelling aberrations shall open the way further."Level 17 requires the player to defeat five Super Pumpers to reach the goal.Enemies Encountered
Monsters
Level Bonus
In Lost Kingdoms II
In RUNE II
This Level Bonus is the same in all versions of Lost Kingdoms II.RUNE II Challenge
"Those who defeat five variants shall open the way further."Level 18 requires the player to defeat five unique enemies to reach the goal.Enemies Encountered
Monsters
Level Bonus
In Lost Kingdoms II
In RUNE II
This Level Bonus is the same in all versions of Lost Kingdoms II.RUNE II Challenge
"Those who defeat six variants shall open the way further."Level 19 requires the player to defeat six unique enemies to reach the goal.Enemies Encountered
Monsters
Level Bonus
In Lost Kingdoms II
In RUNE II
This Level Bonus is the same in all versions of Lost Kingdoms II.RUNE II Challenge
"You will die. There is no longer a way forward."Level 20 requires the player to defeat the Emperor to complete the Proving Grounds.Enemies Encountered
Monsters
Bosses
This boss battle can be repeated.
Level Bonus
In Lost Kingdoms II
In RUNE II
This Level Bonus is the same in all versions of Lost Kingdoms II.Collectables
Chests
(Note: This is exclusive to RUNE II.)
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Glitches
- ?
Trivia
- The goals at the end of levels 1-19 reuse the models for the warning towers in Mt. Jarndunn from Lost Kingdoms.
- The painting of the Blue Dragon in the Emperor's room uses a slightly edited texture of the door at Terjon Temple from Lost Kingdoms.
- Although impossible to see without hacking, the levels of Proving Grounds have fully textured ceilings.
Cutscenes
None of the levels in the Proving Grounds have cutscenes.
Gallery
