Pay to enter

The first group—warriors clad in high-tech armour, mages wrapped in shimmering cloaks, and a few shadowy figures whose forms seemed to flicker like mirages—came to an abrupt halt. Surprisingly, they were from Arcane Keepers, who seemed to have some connection to the appearance of the Key of the Forbidden Realm.

The eerie silence of the void was broken only by the faint hum of the gate behind him, its immense power an unspoken warning to all who approached.

The newcomers' hesitation was palpable. They had expected Apollo and Serena, but seeing the other unfathomable auras around them made them more afraid and anxious.

They quickly change their stance and approach. One among them, a middle-aged man who appeared to be the leader, quickly said, "Young Lord, we didn't want to fight; we just want to enter the Forbidden Realm and are willing to pay a high price for the opportunity."