When I opened my eyes, I found myself alone in a void-like space, the air heavy and oppressive. The silence was unsettling until a voice, cold and detached, resonated around me.
"Welcome to Slaughter City. This is the capital of Hell, a world brimming with slaughter. Here, you can obtain everything you want, at the price of your life."
The words were chilling, yet they ignited a spark of anticipation within me. Before I could dwell on their meaning, the darkness shifted, and a road materialized before me. Instinctively, I began walking.
The path seemed endless. After what felt like hours, a huge black door loomed into view. It was imposing, radiating an aura of menace. But before I could approach, a figure emerged from the shadows.
A knight in black armor stepped forward. His presence was suffocating, an aura of death and despair emanating from him. I recognized the situation immediately; Tang San had encountered someone similar, Dread Knight Scott. But this knight a bit different was different.
He stopped a few paces from me, his voice echoing with authority. "You have broken the rules." He drew his sword, its black blade gleaming with an ominous light. "I am Dread Knight Adam. Defeat me, and you will possess the right to enter Slaughter City. Fail, and you will die here."
His words sent a shiver down my spine, but I quickly composed myself. I had anticipated this and prepared for it. Summoning my resolve, I took a step forward, my voice steady. "Let's get this over with."
Adam raised his sword, and the air grew colder. For the first time, I noticed that my spirit rings wouldn't respond, and their abilities were inaccessible. It was disorienting like a limb suddenly missing. Knowing this would happen and experiencing it were two entirely different things.
"I have no time to waste" I muttered. "So let's do this quick."
I summoned my second martial soul, the Dragon Slaying Saber. Its weight in my hands was reassuring, its sharp edge gleaming with a deadly promise. Adam's gaze flickered to the saber, a glint of recognition in his eyes. He lowered his stance, his movements calculated and precise.
For a moment, we stood still, the tension between us palpable. Then, as if by an unspoken agreement, we both moved. Adam dashed toward me, his sword swinging in a wide arc. I raised my saber to meet it, and when our weapons collided, the impact reverberated through the air.
To my surprise, his sword shattered upon contact with the Dragon Slaying Saber. Shards of black metal scattered around us, and Adam froze, his posture rigid. He stared at the remains of his weapon, disbelief etched on his features.
I didn't wait for him to recover. Lunging forward, I pointed the tip of my saber at his throat, stopping just short of piercing his armor.
Adam's expression shifted, the disbelief replaced by something akin to respect. He stepped back, raising his empty hands in surrender. "You have the qualifications to enter Slaughter City," he said, his voice devoid of hostility.
With a swift motion, he retrieved a black tile from within his armor and handed it to me. The number "9111" was engraved on its surface. "This is your Slaughter City ID. Please enter the city. Someone will receive you at the gate."
I nodded, slipping the tile into my pocket. Without another word, I turned and approached the massive black door. It groaned as it opened, revealing a dark, city beyond. Just as I was about to step through, a soft voice stopped me in my tracks.
"Welcome to Slaughter City, young traveler."
The voice belonged to a woman. Her presence sent a chill down my spine as I took my first steps into Slaughter City.