H.A.D.E.S. had built the settlement known as "The Lakefront" around the breathtaking lake. It had the appearance of a small town and was made up of several structures of different sizes and shapes. Our transport had reached this settlement.

I noticed that there were many individuals wandering the town as I turned to look around. Some of them wore uniforms, while others wore more laid-back attire. It was obvious that this was a busy and crowded location because people could be seen arriving and leaving in all directions. A kaleidoscope of languages could be heard being spoken, and there were people of all ages and ethnicities walking about. It was obvious that adventurers from all over the world flocked to this location.

Gary bid me farewell and left me with one of his assistants, explaining that he had some business to take care of and that he also needed to make preparations for my departure. I tried not to appear as if I was astonished to be left alone with a complete stranger.

Friendly young Alex, the attendant, was glad to tour me around the settlement and respond to any queries I had. He introduced me to some of the other Venturers who were getting ready for their own descents and gave me a tour of the different structures and facilities.

I couldn’t help but feel both excited and uneasy as we strolled and talked. I had no idea what awaited me on my voyage, which was about to get started. But I was prepared to take on any difficulties I faced and leave my mark as a venturer.

I was taken to my room as the sun started to set. There was a bed, a desk, and a few personal objects strewn about in the compact yet cosy room. I was appreciative of the opportunity to relax and collect my thoughts before beginning my journey.

I couldn’t help but become nervous after a while. It was difficult for me to process all the information I had been given about what would occur over the following few days. Over the next two months, I would get training and preparation for my trip into the otherworldly labyrinths, after which I would be required to dive into the lake and begin my descent.

Knowing that the upcoming days would be essential to my survival, I tried to fall asleep. The following morning, I was taken inside one of the buildings. This one was a little bigger than the others.

I was brought to a hallway. There were other speakers of various languages in the room. People who could speak a particular language were instructed to follow the instructors as they entered the room one at a time. Soon it was my turn, and I noticed a few others joining me. We were directed to a big circular area, from which many other rooms branched out.

The instructor had light brown skin, black hair, and a lean physique. As he spoke to us, he had a serious expression on his face, yet there was also some kindness in his eyes.

He began, "Listen up, kids," in a stern voice.

"An ordinary person can access the lakefront in three different ways. There are black tickets, grey tickets, and white tickets; they function similarly to the first-class and economy classes on a flight. There is no transportation offered to this location for those holding black tickets. They are on their own to find their way to this place across the Amazon rainforest. Only several people who manage to penetrate the forest are able to reach this location. They are not given any training because they are assumed to have learned it through the process of making their way here."

"Our officials escort people with Grey tickets on foot from the rainforest entrance to this location. They receive training while traveling. Only about half of them make it to the end. Then there are people like you who have white tickets. The majority of those who own white tickets probably descend from wealthy Venturer families that were able to amass wealth and contribute a significant sum to H.A.D.E.S. in order to earn this ticket."

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"There are others who have arrived here using different means than you, while you have probably already received some insight from your family." His eyes were locked on me as he paused. He eventually continued.

"In the otherworldly labyrinths, or limbo, there is no special treatment for anyone. This will become clear to you as soon as you step foot in the first realm. You will share the same circumstances as individuals who hold Grey and Black tickets, including the same difficulties, meals, and environments in which to survive."

"You will all have to go through mandatory training throughout the first month. You will receive specialised training in the second month. This is to make sure you are ready for what is coming." He concluded.

So that’s the normal way to get in? I wondered.

After processing this information, we were given training manuals that covered a range of topics, including safety protocols, communication, and survival skills. Our mandatory training would begin the next day, which would focus on physically enhancing our bodies.

After I left the room, the people who were with me began introducing themselves. As I listened from nearby, a boy around my age approached me. He had jet-black hair and peach-coloured skin and was slightly shorter than me.

He extended his hand, saying with a faint smile, "Cliff Whitehead." I reacted by shaking his hand and saying, "Wallace Garret."

"Wallace, nice to meet you. In the next two months, I hope we get along. What brought you here?" He inquired after hearing my story.

I shouldn’t tell him that Gary brought me here. I responded, "My grandfather was a Paladin". I started to get stares from all throughout the room as soon as I said the word "Paladin," but these looks didn’t last long, and soon everyone was back to talking.

"Don’t mind them; Paladins are just very rare. If I had to estimate, there would be around a hundred for each limbo, and let me tell you, tens of thousands of people have entered one compound. " He spoke in an understanding voice.

"But doesn’t everyone want to reach the bottom?" I asked out of curiosity.

"Well, not everyone. Most people just dive into that lake to salvage rare items that are not found on earth and make a fortune. Some people are just seeking adventure and want to explore the unknown. Some enter for research purposes and to learn more about the realms and the laws of nature that govern them."

"Others have more personal reasons for coming here, like trying to find a cure for a loved one’s illness or seeking answers to their own questions. But regardless of their motivations, not everyone is willing to risk their lives to reach the bottom of the labyrinth, as it gets harder to descend as we get closer to the bottom." He answered

"So that is the scenario. Would you mind telling me why you came here?" I posed the question, "I want to carry on my family’s tradition of seasoned venturers by establishing a name for myself in the exploration of these compounds." He answered.

We continued to talk for a while after that before dispersing.

The next day, we began our mandatory training. This training included exercises to improve our strength, endurance, agility, and other physical skills. We also learned how to use different types of equipment and how to communicate effectively with our teammates. The trainers were strict but fair, pushing us to our limits in order to prepare us for the challenges that lay ahead. It was intense, but I was determined to do my best and emerge from the training stronger than ever before.

During our training, we learned martial arts to improve our self-defence skills, which we were told would be crucial for survival in the limbos. We were also taught techniques to help us remain calm in dangerous situations, as well as techniques for better utilising our energy. These skills would be essential for the specialised training we would receive the following month.

We were also taught advanced survival techniques, such as how to find food and water in different realms and how to protect ourselves from the dangerous creatures that we might encounter. It was intense but incredibly informative and valuable.

Days became weeks, and before I knew it, one month had gone by. My physical condition was better than ever before, and the time for specialised training had finally arrived. We were kept in the dark about this ‘special’ kind of training, but I was ready to finally see what it entailed.