The metallic groan of the ancient gate reverberated through the coliseum, growing louder with each passing second. The air, thick with anticipation, crackled with invisible tension as the gate creaked upward. Shadows danced along the stone floor, twisting into grotesque shapes cast by the flickering torchlight lining the arena's walls.
The trainees stood frozen in place, eyes fixed on the gate. Even those who gripped their weapons with confidence couldn't ignore the sensation of dread slithering through the air like an unseen predator.
The gate continued its slow ascent. The sound was sharp and grating, like the creak of iron joints long untouched by human hands. Bits of dust and debris rained down from the stone arch above, signaling the unveiling of something locked away for decades—possibly centuries.
