The group arrived at the city of The Veg.

  —Wow… so this is the city you were bringing us to, Master? It has a reputation for decadence, but it doesn’t seem that bad. —said Albert, observing the luxury stretching around him.

  —Keep walking. —Yu-Han replied, his tone darker than usual.

  They crossed the city without stopping. Beyond it, only the vast Majov Desert awaited them.

  —Were we really heading to the desert? —Yulian asked, an uncomfortable feeling running through his body.

  Yu-Han did not answer. He continued forward, and the group followed.

  The tension from what had happened with Damien and the false Hammiz tribe still lingered. The master’s sepulchral silence did not help; something inside him seemed to be debating whether to continue or turn back and abandon that destination.

  —We’ve been walking for like fifteen or twenty minutes. —said Layla, sticking out her tongue from the scorching heat—. Where exactly are we supposed to be going?

  —We’ve arrived. —Yu-Han stopped abruptly.

  There was nothing different. Just sand and horizon.

  —The master fell under a desert illusion, hehe. —Albert joked.

  —Activate your Koa. —Yu-Han ordered seriously—. And no matter what happens, do not deactivate it. Understood?

  The jokes died instantly. Everyone activated their Koa.

  Yu-Han made his palms glow and broke an invisible seal, perceptible only to him.

  Reality tore apart.

  Before their eyes, a colossal city materialized, the same size —or perhaps even larger— than The Veg.

  A surge of energy struck the group.

  —What kind of Koa is this? —Mason asked, clenching his fists as a chill ran up his spine.

  —So it was hidden in another dimension… —Yulian murmured, maintaining his composure—. What is this city, Master?

  —A city that should not exist. —Yu-Han’s voice held barely contained anger—. It is the new Sodom. Avaddon.

  At the entrance, there was a sign written in blood:

  "Whoever enters this place must bid farewell to sanity. Hope has no place here."

  —Is it safe to enter? —Layla asked.

  —Let’s go… Stay together. —Yu-Han’s Koa, normally unshakable, vibrated intensely.

  They crossed the threshold.

  And witnessed absolute decay.

  Collapsed walls. Houses open, without doors or windows. There was no privacy. There was no law. Corpses scattered everywhere, mutilated limbs, bones, dried blood decorating the streets like grotesque ornaments.

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  —What is all this…? I want to leave. —Sarah trembled, completely overtaken by fear.

  —Keep walking. Do not interact with anyone. —Yu-Han ordered.

  But as they advanced, the horror escalated.

  Murders in plain sight. Rapes. Cannibalism.

  And worst of all: a group waiting for a woman to give birth so that, the moment the baby touched the ground, they devoured it without hesitation.

  —Why…? Why? —Damien murmured. The false tribe had already shaken him; this threatened to shatter what little sanity he had left.

  —Damien. —Yu-Han shouted—. We can’t do anything for them. Move.

  Damien couldn’t believe it. His master walked through that hell without intervening.

  He swallowed his rage.

  And kept walking.

  Step by step, absorbing every atrocity.

  Until they reached the center.

  There stood an immaculate mansion, in absolute contrast to the rest of the city. Clean. Untouched. Not a single crack in its structure. From it emanated the Koa that covered Avaddon.

  The door opened.

  A man stepped out wearing a bathrobe and dark glasses. Around the same age as Yu-Han. Behind him stood four figures: a man dressed like a medieval prince, another in ecclesiastical robes, one in an elegant, impeccable suit, and the last in a judge’s attire.

  —Oh, Yu-Han… so it was you. —the elder greeted.

  —Edmund Epshtin… You haven’t changed at all, unfortunately. —Yu-Han replied with hostility.

  —Oh ho ho ho… there’s no need for such aggression. Is that how you treat an old colleague? —Epshtin laughed—. Now tell me, what brings you to my paradise?

  —Paradise? You call this shit city paradise… You’re a sick bastard. —Damien intervened.

  —What a rude boy… If you weren’t with Yu-Han, I’d have already fed you to the townspeople. —he smiled darkly—. Just like they’re doing to that non-thinker right now.

  He pointed toward an alley.

  A winged, one-eyed creature was being stabbed with improvised spears. Then they began tearing it apart and eating it.

  —Is that a cryptid? —Mason asked, holding back the urge to vomit.

  —Non-thinkers. They come from the Abyss. They don’t belong to this world. They are powerful, but incapable of using Koa. Here, they are subjected to my rules. —he laughed—. It’s a blessing that small portals from the Abyss open in this place. It forces that annoying foundation of yours to tolerate me.

  —For now, we are practically forced to let you exist. —Yu-Han replied.

  —Do you think you can destroy me? —Epshtin laughed—. By the way… those two girls are very pretty. Especially that one. You should leave her to me as a gift.

  He pointed at Sarah.

  —Shut the fuck up. —Damien roared.

  He lunged forward with Arondight, empowering it with the blood from his arm.

  —What an annoying child. —Epshtin sighed—. Prince, take care of this.

  The medieval man blocked Arondight with ease.

  —Impossible… —Damien thought.

  —Understand ranks. —the prince mocked, shattering the sword—. We all share the power of Lord Epshtin’s Koa.

  Damien fell.

  —Don’t talk to me about ranks, false prince.

  He released his Dragon Koa.

  The pressure shifted. Even the guards stepped back under the Dragon’s fear effect.

  —Fist of Fury.

  The prince’s sword shattered as he tried to block. The flaming blow sent him flying several meters back.

  This child released more of his Beast Koa, blinded by rage. —Yu-Han thought, slightly concerned.

  —A damn dragon… I hate fucking dragons. —Epshtin’s mocking smile vanished.

  He released his Beast Koa at 100%.

  The Monkey.

  The sky darkened. The wind roared. The energy tore the breath from their lungs.

  —What a disgrace to share a beast with this man… —Layla whispered, trembling.

  It was the first time they had witnessed a 100%.

  Epshtin was ready to erase Damien for disrespecting him.

  Yu-Han stepped forward.

  And released his own at 100%.

  —If you touch one of my students, I will eliminate you and your disgusting city. Even if that damn Order hunts me for the rest of eternity.

  The ground trembled. The beasts seemed on the verge of devouring everything. Monkey vs Snake.

  Silence.

  Tense.

  Eternal.

  Finally, Epshtin restrained his power. And together with his guards, he returned to the mansion.

  —We’re leaving. I think you’ve seen enough. —Yu-Han said.

  They turned around.

  —You piece of shit old man… I will destroy your fucking city. —Damien shouted.

  Not even a 100% had managed to instill fear in him.

  —Heh. Next time, come without Yu-Han. I want to see how it goes for you. —Epshtin laughed.

  They left Avaddon.

  Everyone was trembling.

  Except Damien and Yu-Han.

  A silent fury consumed them.

  —Kids… I didn’t show you this to traumatize you. Until the very last second, I doubted whether I should. —Yu-Han said—. I wanted to show you what I don’t want you to become. That man was once my companion. Now you see what ambition can do to someone.

  Silence.

  —Let’s go home.

  The journey home will be a long one, and nothing will ever be the same for the group.