A land full of red sand and a harrowing atmosphere, with a blood-red sun hanging in the sky—the mere thought of living here might send one into an abyss of despair. This is Hell, a realm corrupted and polluted by the essence of sin, a banished domain and the home of demons.
High above this sorrowful expanse lies Tartarus, a gigantic floating city: the bastion of human resistance in the other world. An abyss of torment and agony for demons, and a place of worship for humans. In the highest building of the city, shadowy figures sat in a circle around a massive altar, flickering in and out of existence like phantoms caught between realms of darkness and light.
"This sure brings back some memories. It's been a long time since we saw each other, my fellow sinners," someone seated closer to the altar said in a playful tone.
A shadow seated directly opposite responded with a light chuckle. "Is that so? I imagined you'd be dead by now, you old fart."
After a brief silence, the first speaker began to laugh. It was hard to tell if he had taken time to register the words or if he had been mulling them over; either way, he seemed to find them quite amusing.
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"Death is but a part of our life, my old friend. Moreover, my old bones won't stop until we've claimed back everything we've lost." His tone was cheerful yet tinged with sorrow.
The hall fell still and silent for a moment.
"Indeed, we must fight for what is ours," the other party affirmed.
Suddenly, the altar in the center began to tremble. Incomprehensible murmurs echoed through the vast hall, continuing for what felt like an eternity.
"108 have become 50. Let’s go; it’s time to sacrifice ourselves for a glimmer of hope," the old man said after a brief silence.
No one responded, including the figure opposite the altar, but multiple audible sighs could be heard. This was fate, an inevitable destiny intrinsic to their being. No one knew if they would succeed, but even if they did, they would all die fulfilling their destiny.
The shadows began to disappear, one after another, like candles in the wind.