[Welcome to the Dark Empire!]
Although he was far from the Disneyland-like prestigious dark castle, the system instantly let Liam know he entered the Dark Empire's Territory.
Liam had to squint his eyes, his throat suddenly threatening to let out a cough. The first thing that came to his attention was the ominous atmosphere that blanketed his surroundings like a fog.
Menacing as it was, Liam's imagination ran wild.
The entire sky was as red as human's blood and the luminous lone moon that was accompanied by several dark clouds twinkled above.
He imagined hideous-looking monsters with sinister smiles and crooked teeth crawling towards him, arising from the unknown depth of what he would assume was a vast expanse of water below the iron bridge.
Pointy rib-like bones attached to the side of the iron bridge accompanied Liam while he was walking on it as if he was inside of a literal ribcage of an unknown giant creature.
At approximately one thousand meters from where he was, an imposing gate clad with an intricate pattern was standing wide open.
Liam was uncertain if it was a mere trick of the eye or if he was actually seeing red fog encircling the gate.
Two individual gargoyle statues, each holding a trident, ghoulishly guarded it on both sides and they were spouting dark liquid from their mouth, preventing rainwater from running down masonry walls.
Gargoyles, from what Liam could remember, tend to mimic a cold stone statue. They attack when their opponent or whom they deemed to be a threat in their kingdom when their guard was down.
The only thing missing was for the great devil himself to appear or walk out of that gate and smile devilishly towards Liam, congratulating him for arriving in hell to complete the picture running inside his head.
The entire place was exactly how Liam pictured hell to be like.
'If this was going to be my last destination, I won't even complain,' Liam said inwardly.
But in comparison to how hell was described on Earth, Liam noticed how deadly quiet it was aside from the crow-like flying creatures squawking.
There were no piercing screams of agony from people getting tortured for the wrong-doings they had done while still alive.
Or maybe he just couldn't hear it yet.
There was no doubt that Liam was destined to come to hell if it was real. With the people whom he can't even count using his fingers died in his hand, it wasn't possible for Liam to be accepted in heaven.
Only the real righteous people can enter the place that they call heaven.
His steps echoed after him as Liam made his way towards the gate that seemed to be enticing him, pulling him to come closer and step inside the hideous place.
Liam immediately had to raise both of his hands to show surrender upon successfully making it past the gargoyle statues, with neither of them moving even for a tiny fraction as some inaudible voices went louder and louder.
"State your purpose, Intruder. Why and what are you doing here?" a deep voice, which Liam could not match to whom it belonged to, didn't surprise Liam.
He had sensed their presence when he was only attempting to approach the gate.
The red fog stood as the hindrance for Liam to see for himself whom he was talking to. Nonetheless, he knew he had to give them an answer.
"Forgive my sudden intrusion, but I must speak with the Dark Lord Atrox," Liam licked his lips in nervousness after he gave a response.
"Are you, perhaps, a player?" the deep voice replied.
"Yes," Liam's forehead puckered.
Liam had to blink thrice to ascertain that it was real.
He briefly glanced at the two demonic-looking creatures clad with heavily scorching armor that will escort him instantaneously.
The sound of the metal from what they were wearing echoing through the hallway of what appeared to be a castle made of giant bones that were as white as snow.
Each banner bearing a symbol of a realistic coiled serpent-like creature and ready to spring to give a venomous bite hung above in succession.
Liam's brows bumped together in a scowl as he followed the two
He was a little disoriented; he had no memory of entering such a castle like this.
Reminding himself that he was no longer on Earth, Liam put the curiosity of how it has been done at the back of his mind.
Grecian pillars that seemed painted in black for exuding a dark appearance stood simultaneously on each side and a maroon carpet laid on the smooth floor.
On the far end, Liam could see the silhouette of a double door. There was an enormous cross in gold in the middle. It was clear that he was being dragged towards the throne room.
Liam had no expectations about Dark Lord Atrox. He was no one important for Liam except for being his ticket to advance to the next floor.
But what Liam expected to see upon the door to the throne room that was swinging open was the Dark Lord Atrox sitting on the lone seat meant for him. Instead of that being the case though, Liam found himself staring right at a human-like creature but with two long horns on his head and with red eyes, standing in front of him.
It was as red as crimson blood, capable of drowning him into lava full of skeletons just by a single glance.
Liam slammed his eyes shut before another terrifying illusion happened to him by staring directly at Dark Lord Atrox's eye.
Opening his eyes again, he saw a long elaborate robe which almost matched his pupil color hang loosely from his broad shoulders and touched the floor.
Other than his eye color, there was nothing else notably striking about him. He looked almost ordinary. But Liam could feel the same menacing ambiance that seemed to be a common theme around the place. However, compared to the atmosphere surrounding them, Dark Lord Atrox's threatening aura exceeded everything else.
"Lord Atrox," one of the Dark Knights bowed as a sign of greeting to his sovereign.
"I bring you this man who wishes to speak with you," Dark Lord Atrox gave the knight a slight nod, gesturing for the two of them to take their leave right after.
"Ronin," Dark Lord Atrox stated, his eyes carefully assessing Liam once they were left alone.
"Such a pleasant name," The Dark Lord humbly added.
"Dark Lord Atrox," Liam greeted back, politely inclining his head to show his respect.
"You are here to ask for a quest, would that be right?" questioned Dark Lord Atrox.
"Yes, Dark Lord," Liam proceeded to converse as he avoided eye contact to protect himself, looking at the empty floor.
"I am curious why you have chosen to ask it from me instead of the other. I could send you to your death and you wouldn't even know about it until you are no longer in existence. So, Ronin, why me?" Dark Lord Atrox arrogantly asked.
Liam took the time to process the words the Dark Lord had used. For all he knows, it could be a trick question. If he failed to give him an answer that he would find pleasing, things could turn ugly. Though Liam had no problem fighting his way to survive, he still needed the Dark Lord in order to move to the next level.
"Pardon my straightforwardness, Dark Lord. I do not wish to impose, but choosing the other party wouldn't save me from the quest's hassle. If I went to the Light Kingdom, would they promise me a quest that would be less dangerous than what you would give me? I respectfully chose to pledge my loyalty to the Dark Empire because I simply feel I belong here," Liam finally raised his head and let out a confident smile.
'He is amusing,' Atrox wittingly thought after hearing Liam's response. He immediately took a liking towards the lad.
Boogsh!
In the middle of trying to think of the right quest that would suit the wise young man in front of him, the huge fancy doors of the Dark Lord's chamber burst open as someone barged ahead.
The Dark Lord's eyes switched his glance towards the impudent guest, eyes sharpening.
It was one of Atrox's Dark Knight Commander.
He was panting like he had been running to spare his life from getting eaten by beasts.
Upon seeing that Atrox was having a conversation with a guest, the knight hurriedly dropped on his knees, his metal armor clanging against the marbled floors of the throne room.
"Forgive me my Lord... but I have received urgent news for you," The Dark Knight Commander stated, kneeling beside Liam.
"Speak. Do not delay the delivery of this urgent matter any more than this," The Dark Lord replied in his normal manly voice.
The Dark Knight Commander remained on his knees as he looked up at Atrox. His voice seemed to tremble at the news he was about to deliver to his sovereign.
"Your wife, my Lord, an unfortunate fate has befallen upon her," The Dark Knight Commander forcefully let out words from his mouth.
Enraged, Atrox grabbed his knight by the throat with his right hand. He pulled him to stand. His crimson red eyes flamed literally, staring straight at the now frightened knight's eyes.
Liam's eyes blinked owlishly as he observed the situation.
"Speak properly or I will have your head," Atrox's eyes narrowed to crinkled slits.
"She died, my Lord. Your wife has fallen in the Light Kingdom's territory," The Dark Knight Commander fearfully answered while in the air.
Liam noticed the tremendous shift in the atmosphere and watched the Dark Lord letting the knight go as his clothes got ripped apart, his form taking the shape of a demonic beast king.
The Dark Lord's anger caused the entire room to shake as his inner beast let out a deafening, painful roar.
Liam could perfectly understand how he was feeling.
Yes, he knew what it felt like to lose the person you cherished the most.