Together, the trio found themselves bound by the shared uncertainty of what lay ahead. The train shuddered and groaned as it descended further into the Earth, the air growing colder, thinner, as though the world above was being left behind.
They spoke in hushed tones, sharing fragments of their lives. Kayla spoke of her survival in the gang-ridden city streets. Daniel confessed that he had been orphaned after an explosion took his parents—a tragedy that might have been tied to Nephrem's experiments. Simon listened but said little about himself, his thoughts consumed by Emily, the sister he had left behind.
The train came to a halt at a station that wasn't on any map. The platform was dark, lit only by the faint glow of the maze-like patterns that lined the walls. The hologram reappeared, its voice cold and indifferent.
"You will now enter the Grand Dungeon," it said. "Your survival depends on your choices. The Overseer will guide you. Remember: evolution is earned, not given."
As they stepped off the train, the doors hissed shut behind them. The platform dissolved into darkness, and the only path forward was through a massive stone door carved with glowing glyphs.
Simon placed a hand on the door, his heart pounding. The glyphs pulsed beneath his fingers, responding to his touch. With a deep breath, he pushed it open, and the first whispers of the dungeon reached his ears.
The Grand Dungeon had begun.