Meanwhile, within the towering fortress inside the Gates of the Underworld...
At the topmost platform, overlooking the grand gates, stood a figure clad entirely in ornate black armor. The figure's body was completely hidden beneath the metal, save for two sharp eyes peeking through the helmet's visor.
"What a foolish child," a voice that sounded neither male nor female murmured.
Just as Ethan's foot was about to graze the barrier, the armored figure raised a hand with a casual flick.
Boom!
Ethan's body jolted violently before being launched into the air. He soared backward, the world around him a blur. The misty staircase, the fields of Ethereal Blooms, the black lake, the Blood Abyss, all of it zipped past him as he hurtled uncontrollably.
He shot through the shimmering gap in the waterfall, the very one he had entered through.
Then, all went dark.
---
Ember City General Hospital, ICU
