Deep in the western mountains of Venosa, amidst eroded rocks and fissures resembling the mouths of hell, lay the Black Castle, guarding the "Devil's Table." Ancient castles combined with modern technology, a blend of history and ruin.
The sky was raining ash, and the air was thick with the sound of winds whispering the secrets of sinners.
**
Rocco (looking at the castle from afar, his hands on his hips):
"Is this a castle or a nightmare factory? Who designed this place? Dracula?"
Marco (sarcastically, adjusting his leather gloves):
"No, a fan of terrifying engineering. All it needs is a fire-breathing dragon."
Irina (coldly, examining the sensors):
"Sensors confirm the presence of more than fifty guard robots... and security systems powered by bio-AI."
Savio (laughing softly):
"Good, then we'll die in a modern way."
**
Inside, Franco led them through a narrow, centuries-old tunnel called the "Tunnel of Ashes," where it is said that anyone who passes through it can see their past or face their deepest fears.
Franco (muttering):
"Every step here... is like a test of the soul."
Suddenly... the wall around them began to glow blue, and Irina stopped abruptly.
Irina (stunned):
"The nervous system in this place interacts with our brains... it reads our memories!"
Colombo (bitterly):
"Great... now it'll recognize all my embarrassing moments."
**
The lighting suddenly changed, and visions began to appear on the walls: a picture of Franco and his father playing chess, then a scene of his father's martyrdom.
Franco (froze):
"He's offering me weakness... to back down."
Rocco (uncharacteristically serious):
"Ignore him. We're here to destroy the past, not to be buried in it."
**
When they reached the gate of the table room, a huge robotic guard with a human body and a masked face stood before them.
Guard (in a metallic voice):
"Identity?"
Vittorio (presenting Black Card No. 1):
"Vittorio, back from hell."
**
The gate opened slowly, as if swallowing them. They entered a circular hall, where a giant black table shaped like a human eye stood, the seats around it empty... except for one.
A man in a white suit, his face covered with a golden mask, sat at the top, as if he had been waiting for them for a long time.
Mysterious Man:
"Welcome to the end."
Franco (advancing confidently):
"Who are you?"
Man (standing up, slowly removing his mask):
"I'm... Serafino."
They all froze, even Vittorio looked shocked.
Vittorio (in a choked voice):
"No... that's impossible. You... you're dead!"
Serafino (smiling coldly):
"The dead are the ones who forgot how to make a mess."
**
At that moment, the table activates, its seats begin rotating automatically, and the faces of Zacrota members appear through holographic screens. Their voices begin to applaud coldly.
Council member:
"Finally, the pieces are in place... Let's play the final round."
**
Savio (whispering):
"A trap. This was all a trap."
Marco (laughing softly):
"Well... at least we didn't come without ammunition."
Franco (pulling a black chess piece from his pocket and placing it on the table):
"If this is a game... I declare a challenge."
**
Serafino (looking at the piece with a crooked smile):
"Okay... let the game begin."
**
As the hall gate closes behind them, a timer on the wall begins to count down...
Rocco (in a low voice):
"Nice... Time death? How creative you two are."
**
Next chapter: "The King's Stone"