On the hallway

They spent some time trying to recover. Then they heard noises from behind similar to something heavy approaching.

They quickly rose to their feet and took battle stances.

Out of the trees though what looked like a popular brown bear came angrily out.

The group hesitated whether to fight or run. After thinking for a few seconds they chose to fight.

The bear looked strong but was not fast. So they took a hit-and-run strategy. They harassed him for a while, and when he became more and more reckless, they cut his throat with a sharp sword.

Although their tribe was skilled in the weather and had little physical ability, their capacity for learning was very high.

It's a pity that after the bear came a tiger, then other animals one after another. 

they fought again and again, they didn't even know how many animals they defeated. They had wounds of various shapes on their bodies, from bites to scratches, venom, burns, etc...

However, they continued to fight. They had no choice anyway.

They tried to run away several times but did not succeed in the end. 

They also marveled at their own bodies. How can I still fight?

They didn't have time to think though.

Where are they not hungry?

They didn't even have time to breathe properly.

Why don't they fall down even if they can't feel their body anymore?

At one point the forest became full of animal corpses, branches and broken trees. Fires, pits and blood.

The sky was a strange shade of red and the temperature was rising quietly around them.

Then when they defeated another animal everything around them caught fire. Absolutely everything. Even the clothes on them, but somehow they didn't feel anything.

They suddenly had no power left. They collapsed on the scorched grass and stared blankly at the scene of the fire all around.

Now they really thought they were going to die, but a person came out of the flames. This seemed quite strong. He had fur all over his body and necklaces of teeth around his neck and hands.

His hair was red and curly, but still neat. His face looked very sharp and serious, with a small beard on his chin.

He looks at the team from below. His eyes were cold, a strong contrast with the surrounding moat.

- You dared to come to me through the gate of a temple. You have commendable survived the lobby trials. You have also passed the test of forests. I am willing to receive you as servants but you must observe proper etiquette from now on.

With a wave of his hands the fire disappeared like dust.

- However, the presentation of the law can wait. What is the offering brought to me?

The group could hardly follow the words of this stranger, but still the absurd idea that they were talking to a god took their breath away.

They looked at each other in loss.

Although they did not know what the person in front of them was talking about, their situation was very dangerous. 

Duhon - What would your Highness like?

They had no idea how to address a deity but they used the most polite way possible in their memory in addressing them.

The god in front of them didn't seem to have any comment about this way of naming. He looked at them quietly and did not answer the question.

The group was physically and mentally exhausted, they had no idea what to do. 

And the surrounding fire, which was naturally the enemy of the personal and racial attribute, constantly weakened them.

Now looking back, it wasn't the wisest decision of theirs to walk through the fire door...

' What made us choose this way?'

'If I think about it, all of us who decided to leave the group, we made not very inspired decisions...'

'You mean we, who have powers related to water and plants, close to nature, chose fire?'

'The group coming to a planet full of rocks and lava chose life, which would be quite uncomfortable...?'

'The team that excelled at earth and minerals and fire chose something that might represent heaven?'

'Isn't this the most terrible decision?!'

' What was in our heads?!'

All this was happening in Dahon's head in just a few moments. Apparently he had a smart head and a quick mind, but that wouldn't do him much good at this point.

He threw himself on knees in the humblest form of worship and began to speak...

- We, people without manners and courage, dared to come before Your Majesty, because we want to give you our lives! 

- I know where you come from and how you got here. You don't have to lie to me. This is your only chance left.

Dahon swallowed hard. He had no idea about the gods and what they wanted. He didn't really believe they existed until a few minutes ago.

- Your Highness, I am ignorant. I don't know what I have to do, but I am willing to do whatever the esteemed one wants.

And others who were with him fell on their knees in the same position.

They repeated Dahon's words and were silent.

They were waiting for the final sentence.

The man snapped his fingers and with a spark they all disappeared from the spot. 

~ Back to the Anka group ~

They opened the door with the Death symbol and cautiously advanced.

As with the other groups, the door disappeared after they put in the plaster.

The lobby was quite traditional. It had a wooden floor, a wooden ceiling. The walls had wallpaper but you could see the shape of the boards.

It had candles with candles that lit the way but still looked very sinister, in a way.

They walked forward slowly. They were cautious. Nothing happens all the way to another door though.

Anka walked the most relaxed. 

'If my hunch is true, probably...'

The door in front of them was black as coal. It had a polished iron handle, so it actually looked like silver. The door had some strange symbols on the edges, but they were very elegant. They were painted white, and on a black background they stood out very well.

They stopped in front of her. They were a large group, even though 14 of them had left, a large number of people remained.

Standing in front of the door, they hesitated whether to open it or not.

Alesio was the one who stood out. He put his hand on the doorknob to the curious and worried eyes of others.

The door opened slightly.

A black smoke that was almost identical to the one Anka used came out and surrounded everyone.

Then before anyone could even react, they were pulled through the door.

The teams were still dazed when they felt the ground under their feet again and their eyes saw another scene.

They were now in what appeared to be… a base under rock. This place had a very neat appearance, but was quite sinister.

They saw chains and torture devices everywhere. What was more common was paper. Piles and piles of written sheets were on the floor, hardly leaving a way forward.

In fact, even if it was a base made of stone, it can be seen that they tried to decorate it like a corridor.

After a few meters what was stone everywhere became covered with wood.

If they hadn't seen clearly, would have thought this new hall was now in some old mansion of a nobleman.