The eight heirs stood before the colossal gate that separated their world from the deepest place in existence... the Abyss Prison.
The air weighed heavily on their chests with every breath, as if the place itself were testing their resolve before they entered.
The eight eyes shone beneath the gate's shadows, each harboring a conflicting emotion: curiosity and awe.
Raiser and the Master advanced slowly but surely until they stood before the gate, which seemed to be carved from frozen darkness.
He reached out calmly, placed his palm on its cold surface, and released a dense, dark energy that seeped from his hand like living black smoke.
At that moment, the symbols carved into the gate began to glow with a faint purple flash, and the ground beneath it cracked slightly before slowly opening with a sound like the moaning of ancient creatures.
Raiser turned to the heirs and said in a deep voice:
"This gate opens only with the dark energy that flows in the blood of the Lewin family. It is the final barrier, and only those who possess their power can cross it."
Saroto, the Dark Heir, watched the scene with his calm eyes, his mind analyzing every detail.
He thought to himself:
> "He's hiding something else… The amount of energy he released to open the gate is exactly equal to my energy at the second level of Shadow Awakening… And yet, he released it without transforming. He's a real monster. My father didn't put him in charge of the prison for nothing."
They continued following Razor down a long, shadowy, and cold corridor until they reached a vast hall with massive stone columns and dark lights dancing on the walls.
A director began to speak as he stepped forward:
> "The test is simple on the surface, but deadly at its core. You will work in teams, two at a time, to face your opponents to the end."
He held up a sheet of paper and announced the team names:
> "Saroto and Lucien."
"Kyle and Ryan."
"Camellia and Eliza."
"Star and Selena."
Each looked at his partner, some faces showing satisfaction, others anxiety, for each had his own distinct history and fighting style.
Riser paused again and continued in a serious tone:
"But before you begin, you must understand what you are getting into. The Abyss is no ordinary prison. It was built by the founder of the Luwen family, who established a unique system within it… the Hall of Fighting."
"Everyone who enters that arena has their strength and level precisely measured, and then a prisoner of equal strength is summoned to face them. It is a perfectly even contest; neither side can claim injustice or superiority."
Silence fell between them before Riser added in a heavier tone:
"As for the rumor that the prisoners of this place do not die… it is true. The founder placed an eternal curse here, trapping the souls of the prisoners even after their death. Their bodies do not rot, and their spirits never leave this place. The reason? He used them to train himself and his family through endless, repetitive battles." Lucien raised an eyebrow and looked at Saruto in surprise. "You knew all this about the prison?"
Saruto replied calmly, walking without turning around.
"Yes, and why? Did you find it so strange?"
Lucien laughed bitterly.
"How could I not? To imprison souls and force them to fight even after death… it's madness! You, the Lewin family, are not normal human beings."
Saruto smiled faintly and replied, glancing sideways at him,
"And now, you're befriending one of these lunatics, aren't you? It seems you've become one of us, Lucien."
"Unfortunately, it's true," Lucien replied. Then the two of them laughed and clapped their hands together, a rare moment of lightheartedness amidst the pervasive shadow of terror.
But that moment didn't last long.
Riser stopped, raised his head toward another massive gate shrouded in a thick, dark aura, and said in a solemn voice,
"We have arrived. This is the arena where the test will take place."
The gate opened, and an overwhelming, dark energy emanated from it, enveloping the entire space. The air was heavy, as if it carried the moans of immortal souls.
Riser took a step inside, then turned to them with an enigmatic smile and said,
"Welcome… to the Abyss Prison Arena."