Saruto stood before the slowly opening stone gate, his heart pounding in his chest. The air inside was different, heavier… as if he had been testing it from the very first moment.
He entered the hall, and as soon as he took his first step, the gate slammed shut behind him, leaving him in an eerie silence.
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(Scene 2: The Gravity Chamber)
He advanced cautiously, and the hall suddenly lit up with a series of symbols on the walls. A stone platform appeared in the center, and as soon as he stood on it, his body slumped violently to the ground.
> "Huh… this is… gravity?!"
His weight increased tenfold in an instant; every movement became a burden. He struggled to his feet, panting and sweating profusely.
But with each attempt to fall, he felt a mysterious energy flowing from the walls toward his body, repairing his muscles and preventing him from collapsing completely.
> "A chamber… gravity and auto-healing all at once…! So this is the beginning of the test."
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(Scene 3: Pain and Training)
Hours passed as he struggled just to stand, sometimes rolling on the ground, sometimes screaming, but each time he rose again stronger than before.
His body gradually adapted to the pressure, until he could lift his feet with slow steps, then short trots, and finally, combat movements.
Whenever his body was exhausted or torn, a mysterious energy healed it and made him stronger again.
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(Scene 4: Total Focus)
After days of training, Saruto sat in the middle of the hall, closed his eyes, and began to breathe slowly.
He felt his body had become heavier than steel and stronger than rock, but his heart… needed calm.
Then his father entered to see Saruto's progress and was surprised by it. He decided to show him the state of total focus that would allow him to meet the three founders of the Dark Family. He showed him the skill, then entered the state of total focus, stopping his thoughts and concentrating all his awareness on a single point.
Only then did he begin to sense a strange presence… like a voice whispering from deep within the walls.
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(Scene 5: The Appearance of the Third Founder)
After Saruto entered a state of complete focus, he found himself standing on strange ground… A clear sky and the blue of the sea surrounded a vast island filled with forests, mountains, and rivers.
A sea breeze caressed his face, but he felt a strange energy permeate the place, as if the very air itself was watching him.
Suddenly, a tall man appeared before him, with a steady gaze and profound presence. His upper body was ordinary, but his legs were like the paws of a leopard, pulsating with terrifying energy.
The man opened his mouth in a booming voice that shook the place:
> "Finally… an heir from the Lion family has arrived."
Saruto opened his eyes, astonished:
> "Are you… the Third Founder?"
The man smiled and replied:
> "Yes, I am one of the three founders of the Dark Family. It is a pleasure to meet you, young heir."
The founder raised his hand, and suddenly, a wave of darkness enveloped his arm, transforming it into a dragon's hand. He said, "I will teach you how to manipulate energy, just as I did. Are you ready?"
Saruto, his eyes blazing with determination, replied,
"Then... let's begin!"