The Forsaken Land of the Gods, Sorn City.
Fifty advance party members gathered in the Sacrificial Hall. Today, they would go to the outside world to prepare for leaving the Forsaken Land of the Gods.
Once everyone had arrived, Priest Zed began preparing the ritual.
The fifty people knelt quietly before the altar and waited in silence.
When the ritual reached its most critical stage, Zed began reciting the honorific name of the Lord of Evil Desires: "Father of Devils, Lord of Misfits, Source of Curses-"
Upon hearing the honorific name, the fifty advance party members lowered their heads. Some began reciting it softly as well.
In an instant, light swirled before their eyes. In a daze, they seemed to glimpse a spacious hall with crystals floating within it. On a raised platform deep inside the hall stood a mysterious, imposing figure.
Then the light before their eyes changed again. Tall trees appeared before them, followed by a bright sky and a dazzling sun whose light made their eyes ache terribly.
Yet they could not bear to look away from the beautiful sight. Even as tears streamed from the pain, they kept gazing intently at the tree-covered hills around them. Never before had they been able to see so far.
Ordinary people who had never seen the sun since childhood would surely suffer sudden blindness upon being exposed to bright sunlight. But the people of Sorn City were Beyonders, and their constitutions were naturally stronger. Even so, their eyes hurt badly, and seeing so far for the first time felt like a flood of information pouring in all at once, making their heads ache too.
But none of that could dampen their excitement.
After more than two thousand years, they were finally basking in sunlight again.
Raphael gave them a