The grand hall is vast, echoing with an eerie stillness. Pillars rise to the ceiling, each one adorned with banners bearing the sigil of Keiko's family—a symbol of strength, now tarnished by the air of uncertainty. Keiko stands at the center, his small form dwarfed by the looming shadows of the room.
Heavy footsteps approach. The demon general, broad and menacing, emerges from the gloom. His scarred face is set in a grim expression as his eyes lock onto Keiko.
"Keiko," the general's voice is a deep rumble, "You must come to the front. Now."
Fear prickles at Keiko's skin. Something is wrong. The guards lining the walls stand unnervingly still, their eyes shifting toward the general with uncertainty. Keiko steps forward, his voice small but trembling with defiance.
"This is madness! What are you doing? My father has done nothing wrong!"
The guards are silent, unmoving. Then, one by one, they begin to shed their armor, the metal clattering to the floor. Keiko's breath catches in his throat. The guards' true forms emerge—not soldiers, but gods—Olympian gods, their divine light cold and distant.
Two gods step forward, their eyes gleaming with cruel amusement. One of them, with golden, glowing eyes, lets out a mocking laugh.
"Your brother?" the god sneers, drawing a small box from his robes. "The one who absorbed the demon lord's power?"
Keiko's heart sinks. He recognizes the box—covered in ancient symbols, it radiates a dark, malevolent energy. It is the prison that holds his brother, the brother who had once wielded more power than anyone should have.
"He's sealed away, boy," the god says, his tone dripping with malice. "And if you think you can save him, you're more foolish than I thought."