Hell’s Gate
Hell’s Gate is a dark fantasy novel set in a medieval-inspired world where mystical forces known as Aura grant individuals powerful supernatural abilities. The story follows Sakuchi, a young man who survives the Hell Trial—a brutal and transformative test that awakens his dangerous Flame Aura. Though it grants him incredible power, it also thrusts him into a violent world of intrigue, where alliances shift and deadly creatures lurk in every shadow.
In this world, Aura is the dormant energy within every living being, hidden deep inside until it is awakened through a harrowing trial known as the Hell Trial. The amount of Aura a person possesses depends on their bloodline, natural talent, and spirit. Nobles typically have greater reserves, but every human has the potential to awaken it. The Hell Trial forces its participants to face their deepest fears and darkest regrets, reshaping them both physically and mentally. Those who survive become the Awakened, capable of using their Aura for spellcasting, enhancing physical abilities, or creating weapons. However, failure often leads to permanent damage, both mental and physical.
Once awakened, these individuals gain immense power but are feared and respected by others, living in a separate society from the common folk. Some seek to enhance their abilities further through the Reawakening Trial, though few dare to attempt it due to its dangers.
The story begins with Sakuchi, a boy born into poverty, haunted by tragedy and a traumatic past. Five years prior, his family was destroyed by a nobleman’s cruelty. His father was killed, and his siblings were taken as slaves. This traumatic event shaped Sakuchi into someone driven by rage and grief. His life takes a dark turn when, at fourteen, he is struck by a noble’s spell. This injury triggers memories of his father’s death and his family’s fate, pushing him toward the Hell Trial.
As Sakuchi Begins the trial, his past looms large, and he must confront his deepest fears. In the trial itself, he faces his own guilt and pain in the form of twisted, monstrous versions of his family. But through the power of his newly awakened Flame Aura, Sakuchi conquers his past, rises from the ashes, and claims his newfound power.
