Descent Into Hell

The Central Plains stretched endlessly before Min-Jae, its bustling streets alive with the chatter of merchants, beggars, and wandering warriors. The scent of sizzling skewers and fresh bread mingled in the air, but Min-Jae paid little attention. His grip tightened around his younger brother's hand—his only source of warmth in a world that had never been kind to them.

His little brother, Jin-Woo, stared up at him with wide, tired eyes. "Hyung… I'm hungry."

Min-Jae forced a smile. "We'll eat soon. I just need to find a place for us to stay."

They had been walking for hours, searching for an inn that would accept what little money they had left. After much bargaining, he secured a small, run-down room in a quiet corner of the city. It wasn't much, but it was safe. After settling Jin-Woo in, Min-Jae stepped outside to explore, thinking of ways to earn food for the coming days.

That was his mistake.

Darkness came without warning. One moment, he was walking through the narrow streets, his mind lost in thought. The next, a sharp pain struck the back of his neck. His vision blurred, and the world spun. Voices—deep and unfamiliar—muttered around him, but his body had already gone numb. The last thing he remembered before everything turned black was the cold cobblestone beneath his fingers.

Then, nothing.

When Min-Jae awoke, the air was damp and suffocating. The scent of blood and unwashed bodies clung to the cavern walls. A faint torch flickered in the distance, casting eerie shadows over a dozen frightened faces—children, just like him, huddled together in confusion and fear.

His head throbbed. His mouth was dry. His limbs ached.

Where… am I?

Before he could process the terror gripping his chest, a voice cut through the silence.

"You are all here for one reason," a man in dark robes stood before them, his expression devoid of emotion. His voice was cold, detached. "To become weapons."

A murmur of confusion spread among the children. Some whimpered. Others clung to each other.

The man ignored them. "We don't care who you were before. We don't care about your families. Whether you live or die is of no consequence to us."

Min-Jae felt his stomach twist. Jin-Woo—where was he? Had they taken him too? He tried to stand, but his body was too weak.

"You will undergo training that will push you beyond your limits," the instructor continued, his gaze scanning them like one would livestock. "You will not be given food. You will fight for it. You will not be given mercy. You will kill for it."

A sharp clang echoed through the cavern as iron gates creaked open, revealing crates filled with stale bread and dried meat. The scent hit them instantly. Min-Jae's stomach twisted with hunger, but he was too focused on the horror of what was unfolding.

The instructor's lips curled into a cruel smirk. "If you want to eat, take it."

For a moment, no one moved. The air was thick with hesitation. Then, one boy rushed forward, desperation in his eyes. He reached for a loaf—

A blade flashed. Blood sprayed across the dirt floor. The boy collapsed, a dagger buried deep in his stomach.

Silence.

Then, chaos.

Children lunged at one another, fists flying, teeth bared. The cave filled with screams—some of pain, others of pure, animalistic desperation. Min-Jae scrambled back, his breath ragged.

They're making us kill each other.

The realization struck harder than any blow he had ever received. This was no training ground—it was a slaughterhouse. A place where only the strongest, the most ruthless, would survive.

And he had no choice but to endure it.

The instructor watched, unfazed. "True hell begins now."

The Central Plains stretched endlessly before Min-Jae, its bustling streets alive with the chatter of merchants, beggars, and wandering warriors. The scent of sizzling skewers and fresh bread mingled in the air, but Min-Jae paid little attention. His grip tightened around his younger brother's hand—his only source of warmth in a world that had never been kind to them.

His little brother, Jin-Woo, stared up at him with wide, tired eyes. "Hyung… I'm hungry."

Min-Jae forced a smile. "We'll eat soon. I just need to find a place for us to stay."

They had been walking for hours, searching for an inn that would accept what little money they had left. After much bargaining, he secured a small, run-down room in a quiet corner of the city. It wasn't much, but it was safe. After settling Jin-Woo in, Min-Jae stepped outside to explore, thinking of ways to earn food for the coming days.

That was his mistake.

Darkness came without warning. One moment, he was walking through the narrow streets, his mind lost in thought. The next, a sharp pain struck the back of his neck. His vision blurred, and the world spun. Voices—deep and unfamiliar—muttered around him, but his body had already gone numb. The last thing he remembered before everything turned black was the cold cobblestone beneath his fingers.

Then, nothing.

When Min-Jae awoke, the air was damp and suffocating. The scent of blood and unwashed bodies clung to the cavern walls. A faint torch flickered in the distance, casting eerie shadows over a dozen frightened faces—children, just like him, huddled together in confusion and fear.

His head throbbed. His mouth was dry. His limbs ached.

Where… am I?

Before he could process the terror gripping his chest, a voice cut through the silence.

"You are all here for one reason," a man in dark robes stood before them, his expression devoid of emotion. His voice was cold, detached. "To become weapons."

A murmur of confusion spread among the children. Some whimpered. Others clung to each other.

The man ignored them. "We don't care who you were before. We don't care about your families. Whether you live or die is of no consequence to us."

Min-Jae felt his stomach twist. Jin-Woo—where was he? Had they taken him too? He tried to stand, but his body was too weak.

"You will undergo training that will push you beyond your limits," the instructor continued, his gaze scanning them like one would livestock. "You will not be given food. You will fight for it. You will not be given mercy. You will kill for it."

A sharp clang echoed through the cavern as iron gates creaked open, revealing crates filled with stale bread and dried meat. The scent hit them instantly. Min-Jae's stomach twisted with hunger, but he was too focused on the horror of what was unfolding.

The instructor's lips curled into a cruel smirk. "If you want to eat, take it."

For a moment, no one moved. The air was thick with hesitation. Then, one boy rushed forward, desperation in his eyes. He reached for a loaf—

A blade flashed. Blood sprayed across the dirt floor. The boy collapsed, a dagger buried deep in his stomach.

Silence.

Then, chaos.

Children lunged at one another, fists flying, teeth bared. The cave filled with screams—some of pain, others of pure, animalistic desperation. Min-Jae scrambled back, his breath ragged.

They're making us kill each other.

The realization struck harder than any blow he had ever received. This was no training ground—it was a slaughterhouse. A place where only the strongest, the most ruthless, would survive.

And he had no choice but to endure it.

The instructor watched, unfazed. "True hell begins now."