As Tony surveyed the glaring contrast in power dynamics between Hamilton and his team, a gnawing fear crept into his eyes and voice. He turned towards his teammates, a sense of trepidation palpable in his trembling voice, and urged them to flee, warning them not to look back. Like a deer caught in the headlights, they were momentarily paralyzed by fear, struggling to find the strength to move. After a few agonizing seconds, they broke free from their fear-induced stupor and bolted out of the city. Hamilton, bemused by their sudden departure, sneered, "Looks like the rats have scurried away." Unperturbed by their escape, he made his way back to the gates, ready to open the gates to Gehenna.
As they fled the city, Tony caught a glimpse of a sudden, blinding flash of light that erupted into a towering, shimmering pillar of light. His heart pounding with curiosity and trepidation, he halted in his tracks, and his teammates followed suit, their eyes fixed on the strange spectacle unfolding before them. Suddenly, without warning, they were engulfed by the brilliant light, and as it enveloped them, a portal materialized out of thin air. It was a surreal sight: a towering silver gate adorned with macabre skulls and bones, and perched atop it, a broken scale. Slowly, the massive gate creaked open, and a dense mist began pouring out, followed by piercing screams that echoed through the city streets. As if pulled by an unknown force, the team was sucked into the gateway, and with a deafening crackling sound, the portal sealed shut, leaving nothing behind but an eerie silence.
As Tony's eyes slowly fluttered open, he found himself in an unfamiliar, isolated place. Surveying his surroundings, he realized he was standing on a floating island, alone and lost. In a panic, he tried to sense the ka energy of his teammates, but to no avail. Deciding it was best not to call out for them, he was lost in thought when he suddenly felt a tug on his bag. Startled, he turned to see a mischievous monkey rummaging through his belongings. Acting on instinct, Tony lunged toward the monkey and retrieved his bag, shooing the creature away with a swift kick. However, his action only seemed to enrage the monkey, and before he knew it, the island was overrun by a troop of them. Tony braced himself for a fight, placing his bag at his feet, ready to fend off the ferocious primates. But to his surprise, the monkeys' attacks were infused with fiery ka energy, unleashing a cacophony of howls. Tony was taken aback, as he had never seen monkeys wield such power before. He stood his ground, blocking, punching, kicking, and jumping, determined to conserve his ka energy. As he knocked them off the island, more and more appeared, relentlessly attacking him for what felt like an eternity. With his ka energy depleting and the monkeys gaining the upper hand, Tony began to feel the weight of defeat bearing down on him.
As Tony's once formidable powers began to wane, his body grew heavy and sluggish, making it increasingly difficult to keep pace with the mischievous monkeys that darted and swung around him with wild abandon. Just when Tony felt like he couldn't go on, a mysterious figure suddenly materialized before him. Clad in a crisp white ensemble that shone in the sunlight, the enigmatic man swiftly scooped up Tony and his bag in a powerful embrace, whisking them both away from the chaotic scene in a flash. As Tony felt himself being carried away, he couldn't help but wonder who this stranger was and what their intentions might be.
Tony's eyes slowly flickered open, and the first thing he noticed was the cool, musty air that surrounded him. As he looked around, he realized that he was lying on a hard stone surface in what appeared to be a cave. Suddenly, the sound of crackling flames caught his attention, and he turned his head to see a figure clad in white sitting in front of a small campfire. The man was deftly roasting two rabbits over the open flame, the smell of the sizzling meat making Tony's stomach growl.
"Who are you, and where am I?" Tony croaked, still feeling weak and disoriented.
The man turned his head, his bright white attire making him stand out against the dark, shadowy surroundings. "I am Alabaster," he said simply. "As for where we are, we're in a cave."
Tony's brow furrowed in confusion. "Alabaster? What kind of name is that?"
The man shrugged nonchalantly. "It's my name. What's yours?"
Tony sat up slowly, wincing as a sharp pain shot through his body. "I'm Tony," he replied. "And what happened to me? The last thing I remember is being attacked by those demon monkeys."
Alabaster nodded knowingly. "Yes, I saw them attacking you. I was out hunting and happened to stumble upon the scene. I couldn't just sit by and watch as you were about to be eaten, so I stepped in and saved you."
Tony breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you so much. I don't know what I would have done without your help."
Alabaster studied Tony curiously. "So, how did a weak man like you end up in Gehenna?"
Tony took a deep breath and began to recount the events that had led him to him begin in Gehenna, describing his struggle against the demon monkeys and the draining of his powers. Alabaster listened intently, his piercing gaze never leaving Tony's face.
Alabaster studied Tony intently, his piercing gaze seeming to bore straight into Tony's soul. After a moment of thoughtful silence, Alabaster spoke up.
"I think you should take some time to do some training," he said slowly. "It would do you good, especially in Gehenna, where everything, down to the bugs, uses ka. If you were to leave here in your current state, you'd end up in the same situation as before. Your body is weak, you have little to no ka, and it's a miracle you can stand, let alone breathe here."
Tony nodded, knowing deep down that Alabaster was right. "I know," he said quietly. "I've been struggling to keep up ever since I arrived in Gehenna. But I don't even know where to start with training."
Alabaster leaned back against the rough stone wall of the cave, his eyes fixed on Tony. "I can help you with that," he offered. "I don't have anything better to do, and I could use some company."
Tony felt a glimmer of hope stir within him. He knew that he couldn't do this alone, and having someone like Alabaster to guide him would be a huge advantage. "That would be amazing," he said, his voice tinged with gratitude. "Thank you so much for offering to help me."
Alabaster gave a small smile. "Don't thank me yet," he said cryptically. "Training in Gehenna is no walk in the park. But if you're willing to put in the work, I'll be there every step of the way."
Alabaster handed Tony one of the roasted rabbits, telling him to eat up before they started training. "We'll start with physical training first," he said between bites. "After two or four years, depending on how fast you progress, we'll move on to ka training."
Tony was shocked at the timeline Alabaster laid out. "But by then, Hamilton would have already opened all the gates," he protested."Don't worry about that," Alabaster replied. "Time moves differently here in the caves of Gehenna. What might take years outside could feel like days in here."With that, Tony finished his meal and began his training. Alabaster started him off with simple exercises, gradually increasing the difficulty as Tony's strength and endurance improved. They ran through the narrow, winding passageways of the cave, climbed steep walls, and lifted heavy rocks.
At first, Tony struggled to keep up with Alabaster's punishing training regimen. His muscles screamed in protest, and he was drenched in sweat within minutes of starting each session. But as time went on, he began to notice a difference. His body grew leaner and more toned, his movements became more fluid, and he was able to push himself further than he ever thought possible.
Years passed in the caves of Gehenna, but to Tony, it felt like mere months. Before he knew it, Alabaster was teaching him the basics of ka, showing him how to harness the energy that flowed through all things in Gehenna. Tony still had a long way to go, but he knew that with Alabaster's guidance, he could overcome any obstacle. As he closed his eyes and focused on the ka flowing around him, he felt a sense of purpose and power that he had never felt before. He was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.