A young, pale man lay motionless inside something resembling a cage. His body looked broken, and his once orange-blue eyes were devoid of any light.
However, he wasn't alone.
In the pitch-black darkness were countless other cages, each holding a different kind of being. Corrupted Creatures, Ghosts, Elves… even though their kinds were different, they all shared one thing in common:
Their will to fight, kill, and survive.
And among them stood a young woman—with raven-dark hair and smooth white skin.She was dancing in the arena of the so-called Colosseum of Madness, facing an Abomination.
Blood splattered across the stone and sand, but it wasn't hers.
It was the Abomination's.
Astariel gritted her sharp fangs. Her focus was absolute, she had to win. She had to survive.
Long, dark, dagger-like claws extended from her fingers as she lunged forward with inhuman speed.
The Abomination resembled a dragon—a grotesque lizard twice her size. It moved on four legs, each ending in claws radiating dangerous heat. Its scaly body shimmered green beneath the flames, its back lined with jagged thorns that stretched down its spine and tail.
The creature's jaw opened wide. Heat built in its throa and then erupted.A torrent of fire shot directly at Astariel.
Her boots glowed faint red, and in the same instant, she leapt, not a human jump, but one that sent her soaring above the Abomination's back. Her claws sliced deep into its spine as she passed overhead.
It roared, a guttural, deafening growl that shook the arena. The beast swiped its tail, aiming to crush her midair.
But Astariel only smirked.
Bat-like wings unfolded from her back in a burst of black mist, propelling her sideways. The tail missed her by inches.
She hit the ground, rolled across the rough stone-sand, and rose in one fluid motion. The Abomination was already lunging—its molten claws raised high.
Astariel dashed backward, evading in the last heartbeat before impact.
Together, they danced in the arena.
A dance of blood.
A dance of death.
Neptune was awake.
He sat against the familiar, freezing iron bars. His entire body burned with pain.
"...Eight thousand six hundred," he muttered weakly.
At least he was alive.
He had defeated an Abomination—one with two more Soul Vessels than him. But in the end, it didn't matter. He had outsmarted it. He had survived.
After a while, the pain dulled enough for him to breathe again. The silence of the cell surrounded him like a blanket.
Name: Neptune
Soul Vessel: Awakening
Soul Fragments: (123 / 500)
"One hundred…" he whispered, a faint smirk curling his lips.
The creature's death had given him a hundred Soul Fragments. Incredible.He'd been lucky—the beast was already wounded when he faced it—but luck still counted.
Below Crownbreaker on his Soul Vessel's glowing interface, something new had appeared: an armor.
"Finally," he breathed.
Main Soul Armor: Darkness Walker
Rank: Dormant
Description: This armor becomes more resilient in darkness. It also grants temporary immunity to physical attacks by transforming the wearer's body into shadow.
Neptune's pale face brightened. Even dormant, the armor's abilities were powerful—perhaps life-saving. Its resilience in darkness meant he'd be harder to kill in these cursed cells. And the second ability…That was perfection.
A few seconds of immortality could mean the difference between victory and death.
He summoned it.
Darkness rippled across his skin, and the armor materialized—fitting him perfectly. A long black scarf trailed behind him, the polished gray metal glinting faintly under the dim light. A black cloak fell from his shoulders, and leather gloves tightened around his hands.
In the shadows, he looked like a phantom knight.
Footsteps echoed. The cell door creaked open.
A dark silhouette was thrown inside, landing hard against the floor. Blood smeared the stones.
Neptune tensed—then froze as the figure lifted its head. Crimson eyes met his own.
They stared at each other in silence for a long moment. Then the figure stumbled forward, sliding down beside him against the bars.
"You were unconscious for a while," she said weakly, voice ragged but laced with familiar sarcasm. "You alright?"
Neptune tried to speak—but pain flared through his broken jaw. He just nodded.
Astariel's lips curved into a faint, tired smirk. "You've got yourself a fancy new armor, huh?"
She coughed, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.
Before either could say another word, the metal door creaked again.