Fade, still examining his surroundings in the middle of the coliseum with astonishment, suddenly the atmosphere changed. The atmosphere grew heavy, and the sky seemed to darken. Dark clouds began to slowly swirl above the coliseum. It was as if the very air itself was frightened by Diablo's words.
The expression of horror on everyone's faces deepened even further with Diablo's gaze as he sat in the air. Diablo, who seemed to be sitting on an invisible throne around him, suddenly spread his wings a bit more. Meanwhile, a strange feeling settled inside Fade. A slight tremor occurred in his heart, and even breathing became difficult.
Then that mysterious voice echoed again, but this time it resonated only in Fade's mind, not in everyone else's.
"Are you ready, traveler?" The real battle is just beginning...
Fade looked around in panic. He tried to find the source of the sound, but it belonged only to him. No one else seemed to hear anything. It was as if someone had whispered inside his own mind. He had heard this voice in a previous encounter too, but this time it was much clearer and more shocking.
The voice suddenly disappeared, leaving thousands of questions in Fade's mind. He wouldn't bring this up to anyone, because he didn't know what this voice was or why it was calling only him. This secret was currently weighing on his shoulders.
Diablo shifted in his chair and spoke again in a deep voice:
"Now I will give you your first task." But remember, this is just the beginning. The shadows are deepening, and every step you take will be a choice. Those who are not ready get lost in the shadows. Those who are ready... might see the light.
He made a gesture with his hands, and a pitch-black door appeared among the clouds in the sky. Around the door, ancient symbols gilded in gold were shining. Fade and the others felt a shiver in their hearts as they involuntarily looked at this door.
"This door is the first step of the journey." Those who have the courage to pass will come with me. Those without courage... should wait.
Fade's mind was in chaos. What was behind this door? As the voice said, was the real battle just beginning? Even the hope of reuniting with his grandfather was not enough to give him courage. But a dark impulse within him was forcing him to take a step towards this door.
And at that moment… Fade gritted his teeth, clenched his fist, and took a determined step forward.
When she reached the door, Diablo's eyes locked onto her. He had noticed the determination in Fade's gaze. She smiled and gently caressed the symbols on the door with her hands.
"Courage... beautiful," said Diablo. "But remember, courage is not just measured by passing through a door." True courage lies in being able to survive inside.
Fade stood in front of the door, swallowed, and placed his hands on the surface of the door. The symbols faintly glowed, and the door began to creak open. Before him, a dark, dim passage appeared. What lay beyond the door looked like a misty forest. The trunks of the trees were massive and dark. Unclear shadows were moving from afar.
When the door was fully opened, Diablo turned to the others:
"Fade was the first to pass." For those who remain, the right to choose is still there. But it takes courage to pass.
Fade took a step, entered the dark passage, and the door closed right behind him. Darkness and silence enveloped everything for a moment. Then, Fade began to move through the darkness. Among the trees, sounds like the whisper of the wind were drifting, and the shadows sometimes resembled human silhouettes.
Suddenly, a beam of light appeared in front of him. Fade walked cautiously in that direction. The light seemed to be guiding him. Despite his fear, the determination within him grew even stronger. Taking a deep breath, he continued to move through the shadows.
And at that moment, the mysterious voice whispered in Fade's ears once again:
"The road is long... and the shadows are deep." But within every darkness, there is a glimmer hidden. Don't forget
These words etched themselves into Fade's mind. He quickened his steps, and as he moved through the dark passage, his resolve grew stronger with each passing second.