Dawn had just broken, but within the Citadel of Light, the air remained heavy and oppressive.
Alexander sat alone in the underground training room. There were no other knights there—just himself, his sword, and his restless mind.
Last night, the Council had given its orders:
Find the source of the shadow's power. Find the figure that even Reed feared.
But how? The shadow left no traces, no clues—except one.
Alexander opened the ancient scroll that Alden had given him. Inside, there was only one name:
"The Fourth Hell. The Fourth Abyss."
Bianca, who had entered silently, stood beside him. "That place isn't just a legend, is it?"
Alexander shook his head. "If it's real, maybe that's where it all starts."
Bianca sighed. "If we go there, we won't be able to return alive."
"If we don't go there, no one will be able to return alive."
It didn't take long. Together with five elite knights—Bianca, Garet, Rina, Sorrel, and Lugh—Alexander set off in secret. No official announcements. Just a suicide mission that couldn't be failed.
The Fourth Hell lay far beyond the borders of the kingdom of light. On the map, it was just a big, nameless black hole in the middle of an abandoned forest.
The journey took three days.
On the third day, the fog began to thicken. Clouds covered the sun. And by the time they reached the edge of the crater where the "Fourth Hell" gaped like a wound in the earth—everything felt wrong.
"This place… is alive," Lugh whispered, his hand gripping his spear tightly.
Sorrel lit a sacred torch, but the flame wavered, as if afraid to touch the surrounding air.
Below them, voices began to be heard.
Whispers.
Cries.
A chuckle that couldn't possibly come from a human mouth.
Bianca looked at Alexander. "Do we go in, or do we turn back now?"
Alexander stared down the abyss.
"We're going in."
Descending into the Fourth Hell was like stepping into another world. Time did not flow normally. Sounds did not echo as they usually did. Breathing was heavy, and each step seemed to be pulling the weight of a thousand stones.
And amidst the devastation and fog—
They found it.
A gate.
Made of black metal and bone. On it, ancient words were engraved:
"Here begins a world without gods."
Garet tried to destroy it, but Alexander raised his hand.
"This is not just a door. This is… a seal."
But before they could discuss it further—
Something came from within the gate.
A shadow. Large, fast, and bloodthirsty.
The fight erupted in seconds.
The monster had the form of a man, but his face seemed to be torn apart from the inside. His eyes were hollow, but filled with hatred.
Garet and Sorrel attacked at the same time. But only one of them managed to dodge.
Sorrel died instantly.
Her head was twisted like a dry twig.
Bianca screamed, but Alexander did not react.
Not because he didn't care—but because he knew this was just the beginning.
They managed to kill the creature after a fierce battle. Lugh was badly injured.
One man was dead. One half-dead.
But Alexander did not retreat.
"This gate must be opened," he said flatly.
Rina looked at him, confused. "Why? Shouldn't we seal it deeper?"
Alexander stared at her. His once bright eyes were now clouded by despair.
"Because our enemy is not waiting behind the gate. He has already passed through. We are only looking for his way back."
And this gate… is the only clue left.