After walking for 10 minutes, they finally saw a flicker of light in the distance. When they reached the light, they saw that they were in an underground tunnel which was illuminated only by a sparse scattering of candle lamps attached to the walls. The tunnel was moist and the temperature was hot but despite these conditions, nothing was growing on the dirt beneath their feet.

At the end of the short tunnel loomed an iron door that was adorned with intricate patterns and guarded by two figures whose faces were concealed by dark cloth.

Seren suspected the figures to be at least rank 2 Lexarchs as their presence added to the tension in the air. The iron door looked to be at least a meter thick and etched with complex patterns that hinted at hidden anomalies that piqued Seren's curiosity but he knew he had much to learn about their significance.

"Welcome back, Captain. Please show us your soul plate," one of the guards said with an informal bow with his fist clasped in his hand.

Elara remained silent as he produced a white rectangular plate from his sleeve and handed it to one of the guards. The guard scrutinized it carefully before returning it to Elara and signalling to the other guard to open the door.

Both guards placed their hands on the complex runes adorning the door. The patterns then suddenly came alive and started swirling and intertwining in indescribable ways. The runes shimmered and dimmed three times before the iron door seemingly dissolved into thin air.

Upon entering, the room appeared empty and was devoid of any objects or souls. Seren estimated its dimensions to be about 50 by 50 feet, relying on his intuition.

Once everyone was in the room, Elara raised his right hand above his head and executed an ordinary vertical chop.

Elara then said in a plain voice, "Fall."

Instantly, the ground beneath everyone vanished, replaced by the eerie darkness of a void that swallowed all light.

"AHHHHHHHHHH!"

Finn screamed in a high-pitched voice when the ground disappeared under his feet and he fell into darkness. His scream echoed through the void as he and the crowd of kids plummeted helplessly, some of the other kids screamed as well but Finn’s scream sounded like a girl who had just seen a ghost.

“AHHHHH-”

Bonk!

"Stop embarrassing yourself, you stupid dimwit!" Lorien's annoyed voice cut through the chaos as he punched Finn in the head.

Finn opened his eyes and looked around confused and disoriented. "Huh, I'm still alive," he muttered, his eyes darting around in confusion.

Facepalming himself, Lorien couldn't help but question his life choices that led him to be associated with an idiot like Finn.

After a moment of processing, Finn's gaze settled on the surroundings. He found himself in an endless grassland under a star-filled pitch-dark sky. But the most spectacular sight was the giant cherry blossom tree ahead that emanated an ethereal light that soothed the soul. White dandelions danced around its base, while a neon green gem floated silently within a 10-foot hole at the center of the tree trunk.

In a distant corner of the group, Seren stood transfixed with his gaze locked onto the breathtaking scene unfolding before him. His eyes shimmered with unshed tears and a reflecting mixture of awe, determination, and a deep longing in his heart.

Countless lifetimes of relentless pursuit of sacrifice and unwavering dedication had led him to this moment. It wasn't merely about stepping onto the road to godhood—it was about fulfilling the destiny he had come into this world for, a destiny which would plunge him and the world into incredible pain and suffering, but he couldn’t care less about that.

As he beheld the majestic cherry blossom tree with its radiant glow casting a spell of ethereal beauty, he thanked ‘Him’ for bringing him here.

With a steady resolve burning in his heart, Seren took a solemn step forward, his every movement charged with purpose.

In the presence of such magnificence, Seren knew that he was not just embarking on a journey but embracing the mission given to him by ‘Him’. And as he stood on the threshold of greatness, a single thought echoed through his mind:

It was time to rise.