Volume 1 Chapter 5 - Tournament (Part 1)

  The boy woke up early, although the darkness outside the windows did not change, remained the same ominous and dead. Time in the Underworld lost its meaning, and he did not know how many days had passed since the moment he first found himself here, in this cold and empty castle, the wind brought the smell of burning victims and rotting flesh. At this moment, his thoughts were filled with only dull heaviness, uncertainty about his future. This whole place seemed like a prison to him.

  The darkness that covered Quan Chi's citadel was familiar to the boy. His life, surrounded by shadows and eternal uncertainty, did not promise anything new. But now, after intense training, he felt that the world around him was changing. He was ready for something more.

  The wait did not last long. One evening, Quan Chi approached his protégé, his gaze focused and his expression insistent.

  "Valakas," Quan Chi said, his voice deep and commanding. "Are you ready for the tournament that will lead you to your true power?"

  The boy looked at him with bewilderment. He had heard of tournaments, of fighting and battles, but he had never thought that he would be a part of this. Doubt grew in his soul, but he held back his thoughts.

  "This tournament is not just for fun," Quan Chi continued, seeing his reaction. "All the rulers of the Underworld will participate in it. This tournament unites all parts of this world. And you will represent the underworld."

  Quan Chi:

  "Once every ten years, a special tournament is held in the Underworld, in which creatures from all parts of this world fight. You must participate in this tournament. This is a test unlike anything you have ever experienced. The tournament takes place in different parts of Hell, each with its own characteristics and rulers.

  Quan Chi paused, then began listing the nine circles of hell, explaining that each place was associated with certain sins and sufferings.

  Quan Chi:

  "The First Circle of the Underworld is the Realm of Oblivion," he began, as if listing not just names but rules for himself. "The souls whose sins were insignificant live in oblivion, wandering the empty streets, not remembering their past or their fate."

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  He continued.

  Quan Chi:

  "The Second Circle is the Realm of Lust," Quan Chi said with a cold, heartless grin. "Here dwell those who could not restrain their desires. Illusions and empty dreams haunt them, and they are doomed to an eternal pursuit of the unattainable."

  The boy listened, absorbing every word. Quan Chi began explaining the other circles.

  Quan Chi:

  —The Third Circle—The Cursed Land, where souls consumed by the lust for pleasure are doomed to eternal torment in excess. They are consumed by their own thirst and can never be sated.

  Quan Chi:

  —The Fourth Circle—The Forge of Greed—where those who have been consumed by the lust for material goods rule. The entire land is strewn with burning metals and jewels that always remain inaccessible.

  Quan Chi:

  —The Fifth Circle—The Lands of Rage, where souls are doomed to eternal battles filled with anger and violence. The eternal battles never end, and the land is covered in the traces of these wars.

  Quan Chi:

  —The Sixth Circle—Dark Betrayal, where those who betrayed their loved ones, their faith, and their principles live. These souls are doomed to eternal torment from false promises and deception.

  Quan Chi:

  —The Seventh Circle—The Mad Lands, where souls whose actions have driven them to madness are forced to live in chaos, creating destruction and bloodshed.

  Quan Chi:

  —The Eighth Circle—The Abode of Lies… Deceivers and manipulators live here in an endless web of false hopes and self-deception, unable to escape from illusions.

  Quan Chi:

  "Now it is the turn of the darkest and most dangerous circle."

  The Ninth Circle - the Netherworld," Quan Chi's voice became dark, and his expression stared into the dark horizons where there was no light. "This circle is the most terrible of all. Your elder sister, Lilith, rules here. This is the place for the most dangerous and evil souls, those whose sins have no forgiveness. Souls who fall here are doomed to eternal torment, and the circle itself absorbs them forever.

  The boy listened silently, feeling the words penetrate his mind.

  Quan Chi:

  "Lilith rules the Netherworld. She presides over this most cruel circle, and here are the worst sinners."

  The boy nodded, but his thoughts were increasingly disturbing him. He understood that for him this was not just a tournament. This was a chance, a test that could lead him to something much greater. And so, when Quan Chi finished his story, he asked:

  — What must I do?

  Quan Chi:

  — You must participate in the Underworld Tournament. This is your chance to prove your strength and earn respect. Lilith and I will watch over your progress. The tournament will be your opportunity to become something more than you are now.

  The word "Lilith" sounded like a challenge to the boy again. He knew that this would not be a simple fight with opponents. This would be a test that would prove to Lilith that he could be worthy of carrying the blood of Shinnok within him.

  Would he be able to win? Would he be able to cope with those who rule these circles of hell? The answer was only in his hands.