Breakthrough

The Underworld

Levi

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Darkness.

For what felt like an eternity, all I could see was darkness. I couldn’t remember how long I had been standing in the middle of this enormous hall, surrounded by other people, all lined up in a seemingly endless row. The line stretched so far that I couldn’t even see where it began or where it would end. But one thing was clear: I had to keep walking forward.

The hall was made of tall bronze and iron pillars. Even the floor beneath my bare feet appeared to be made of iron, smooth and shiny, yet cold to the touch. There were no decorations, no signs of life—only the expanse of the hall stretching endlessly ahead, shrouded in near-complete darkness, save for a distant light reflecting off the polished floor.

Silence consumed the space, deafening and absolute. Not even the sound of footsteps could be heard, as though we were walking in the clouds.

I walked toward the light, feeling its warmth slowly touch my skin. As I advanced, the light grew brighter, revealing two massive iron doors standing before me. On either side, towering torches burned fiercely, their flames casting an eerie glow across the room. When the line reached the doors, it split in two, with people being directed toward one of the two openings.

And finally, it was my turn. The doors loomed even larger now that I stood before them. The heat from the torches pressed against my skin, but there was no scent of smoke.

Intricate, finely etched letters marked the doors, and my eyes locked on one word—“Fiery Pit.” The name made my stomach twist. It didn’t feel like a door I should go through.

For a moment, I hesitated, the air thick with uncertainty. Then, suddenly, a sharp, burning sensation shot up my wrist, as if the skin itself was being scorched. I looked down in alarm, watching as dark lines began to form across my skin. The burning intensified, gnawing at my nerves, until a name appeared on my wrist, the same name as the one above the door: “Underworld.”

Without another choice, the door marked "Underworld" creaked open before me. I stepped forward, and though part of me wanted to flee, I knew I couldn’t turn back. A strange calm washed over me as I crossed the threshold into a destiny I couldn’t yet comprehend.

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It’s been so long since I first entered this place, long enough that time has lost all meaning. In the Underworld, time doesn’t work the way it does in the living world. The atmosphere remains in a perpetual state of twilight, the sky dark and filled with heavy, storm-like clouds. There is no day, no night—only an endless, eerie grey.

The cold, oppressive air numbs me, stealing away any lingering emotions. Everything here is drained of color, as if all life has been leeched from the land. The Underworld is a place no one would ever want to be, a desolate, sorrowful prison for lost souls.

But strangely enough, I have come to see this place differently. The chill in the air is comforting against my skin. The bleak, dim surroundings are oddly beautiful in their own way, and the silence brings a strange peace to my mind. The distant sounds of chains clanging, metal grinding, and the muffled cries of slaves no longer disturb me; they’ve become a part of the familiar rhythm of life here.

The Underworld is my home. It’s my second chance. Not to make up for the mistakes of my past, but to simply live again.

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I look around, watching the newcomers stumble through the entrance as confusion and fear cloud their faces, just as it once did mine. I shake my head, the faintest trace of pity stirring inside me.

I begin walking away, the familiar smell of burning wood, sweat, and strange incense hitting my nose. The busy hum of life in the Underworld surrounds me—slaves rushing past, carrying out their tasks, lost in their own miserable lives.

As I walk, I can’t help but think of how different this place is from the world I once knew. The Underworld is nothing like the gleaming halls of the bronze and iron structure I walked through earlier. There’s no welcoming feeling here. Instead, black vines with sharp thorns curl into a twisted dome, marking the entrance.

The great hall I enter is vast, its marble floor shining black as night, reflecting the sky above. The space is divided into five distinct sections. Each section is a different world unto itself, each inhabited by a different type of creature.

The first section is home to the Cambions—the half-demons, the offspring of daemons and humans. The entrance is guarded by a statue of a great black bear with a glowing purple gem in its mouth. It stands with its claws raised, poised to strike. The Cambions themselves look like ordinary humans, but they are stronger, smarter, and far more dangerous.

Next is the section for the Doomers—daemon soldiers. Their path is marked by statues of armored soldiers holding spears, leading to a translucent palace. The Doomers are bound to serve, to protect and fight for the Underworld. They bear the mark of two crossed swords on their foreheads, a symbol that they must either fight or die, with no escape.

On the far side of the hall, the Nephilims reside. Once fallen angels, they have been cast down for breaking Heaven’s laws. Their wings were ripped away, leaving only twisted horns and fangs. Despite their punishment, the Nephilims hold power here, corrupted by their sins and hunger for more. They are the most dangerous of all the creatures in the Underworld, full of hatred and rage.

Then there are those like me. The Sinners. We are the ones who have been given a second chance to live, though we are far from pure. The Underworld is our home, and we are the forgotten, the ones who have sinned beyond recognition.

And then, there are the Devils—the highest rank. The ones who rule the Underworld. The ones I dream of becoming. They live in a great palace at the end of the hall, behind golden doors adorned with intricate Greek inscriptions. There’s no way in unless you prove yourself worthy.

But after all this time, no mission has been assigned to me. And I know that unless I pass whatever trial awaits me, I will remain here in this endless cycle. I don’t remember much about my past, or what terrible sin I committed to end up here, but one thing is certain: I need to become a Devil.

I have to. It’s my only way out of this place.

I don’t know what the mission will be, but I’ll face it. I will. I have nothing else but the lingering remnants of my old life—and the name I still remember:

Levi.

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