The golden tree stood tall before them, radiating a gentle glow that flowed like a stream of light around its trunk, as if it were a painting crafted by an artist from another world. Its shimmering leaves swayed with a soft breeze, creating a faint ringing sound that resembled a whisper.
Leora asked, her eyes reflecting the golden glow:
"The Outcasts? What exactly do you mean?"
The white being replied in a deep voice, his hands clasped behind his back:
"They are the ones who reached the stage of losing all emotions and senses."
Leora frowned.
"And why are they imprisoned here?"
Roy stepped in, his voice carrying an eerie coldness:
"Because they've become dangerous… and there is no place for them in this world."
He paused before adding in a darker tone:
"The greatest punishment they can receive… is the feeling of inferiority."
A heavy weight formed in Leora's chest.
She whispered, almost inaudibly:
"I… want to see what this truly means."
Roy gave a faint smile, then slowly raised his hands toward the sky.
In the next moment… the ground trembled beneath their feet.
The soil cracked open in a perfect circle beneath the tree, revealing a vast abyss from which a harsh light rose, piercing the darkness. It felt as if the very fabric of the world had been split apart.
A massive staircase emerged, carved into glowing stone, descending into the depths with no visible end.
Leora froze in place and whispered:
"Oh my God…"
The white being took a step back.
"I cannot enter this place… it is forbidden to me."
Leora looked at him sharply.
"Why?"
He lowered his head slightly, his voice softening:
"If I enter… my body will burn. You and my master must go alone."
---
Their descent began.
Their footsteps echoed along the walls of the colossal staircase, sounding like knocks on a hollow heart. The deeper they went, the dimmer the light became—gold shifted to pale white, then to a cold grayish-blue.
An entire hour passed.
At last, the staircase opened into an immense chamber, stretching endlessly without a clear ceiling or walls, like the belly of another world.
Moisture clung to the air, carrying a scent of rusty metal and something faintly burned.
In the center…
Were black creatures, thin and smooth-skinned, suspended from massive chains hanging from an unseen ceiling.
Their screams tore through the air, a sound that held nothing but raw, primal agony.
Leora stared, placing a trembling hand over her mouth:
"I can't believe what I'm seeing… Why are they hanging like this?"
Roy answered, his eyes emotionless:
"They brought this torment upon themselves… They wasted the chance for eternal freedom from pain and suffering."
The air vibrated with their wails, as if the entire place was breathing with their regret.
Leora's voice cracked:
"Is there… is there any chance for forgiveness?"
Roy turned to her, his eyes deep as the abyss surrounding them:
"Impossible. If you freed them… they would turn this world into hell. Destruction and corruption would spread everywhere."
---
Suddenly… heavy footsteps echoed through the chamber, striking the ground with a threatening rhythm.
From the shadows emerged a massive being—taller than any human, with shoulders broad as a mountain. His face was hidden behind an old wooden mask, and his eyes were swallowed in deep shadow. In his hand, he held a long rusty chainsaw that seemed almost fused to his body.
Leora screamed and stumbled backward:
"What is that?!"
Roy placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Don't worry… he is under my command. His name is The Reaper. His role is to exact retribution."
The creature halted for a moment.
Roy continued, his voice filled with a bitterness heard only by those who listened closely:
"This being once lost what he believed was a safe haven… He cried out for help like they do, but found nothing but neglect."
Moments later…
The Reaper lifted his chainsaw and approached the first hanging creature.
A scream erupted—so powerful it seemed to tear the air itself.
And as the cold light flickered across the shifting shadows…
The torment began.
End of Chapter six