The others thought maybe Azaroth wanted to stop Catena from eating the meat, but they could not have been farther from the truth at all.

First, Azaroth looked around until he saw a leaf big enough to use as a large plate. Then he told Catena to go wash the heart again.

Catena looked at him as if he was insane and she shrugged, then went to wash the heart as he said.

Azaroth narrowed his eyes. Since he was stuck in this crypt, why not make the best of it? And if Kael Hound was to be believed, then he stood to gain beyond their expectations after the end of everything.

When Catena returned with the meat, Azaroth set it on the leaves and started cutting it into thin strips and small chunks. Then he made more skewers and put them in.

Azaroth stood and went to the large tree they were resting under. It was covered in moss and thick bark, but Azaroth had a good nose, and he had been smelling something from it since they arrived.

He used his sword to hack the bark and his knife to scratch the inside. What he got was a green, good-scented, dusty substance that smelled like something from Azaroth’s mother’s kitchen.

He rubbed that on the meat and stood. Then he gestured for Catena to continue. Catena shrugged again. He had eaten far worse than this with his family. If it wasn’t poisonous, then his family would eat it. Why shouldn’t he?

Catena carefully put some of the meat on the fire and began roasting.

"I don’t know, you are something of a cook yourself, Azaroth," Alex said.

Azaroth shook his head slightly. "I believe in making the best of every situation."

Alex snorted, and Stallus looked at the meat skeptically. "I don’t think this is making the best. You don’t even know what that tree is!"

"I do," Azaroth said and settled himself cross-legged to start harvesting. At least he should get some essence into his almost depleted cores.

In truth, Azaroth didn’t know anything about the tree, but the scent reminded him of something his mother used to put on their food. It seemed like a long time ago now, ripped away from him by the Inferno Legion. Azaroth felt a brief surge of anger, his simmering fury turning into liquid fire. The essence around him took on a reddish hue as if reacting to his emotions.

But then he relaxed. Why get worked up when there was nothing he could do about it? He couldn’t even kill a normal Hound at his stage. So why get angry? He should let his anger cool like icy water.

He harvested for a while before Catena’s shouting brought him back.

"Azaroth! Azaroth! You should taste this!" he waved the meat in front of him, his eyes fully open.

He handed it to Azaroth, and he took it. He sniffed, and the smell alone told him this was different. And he was sure what he added had little to do with that.

The meat itself had nearly melted together as the fat mixed with it. Azaroth took a bite, and he understood why Catena was shouting.

His face didn’t show his enjoyment, but Azaroth asked for more, and Catena gave him some. The tall boy was tearing into it as fast as he could.

Stallus sniffed. Her mouth watered again. What she had eaten earlier couldn’t even compare to this, and she had only smelled it.

Stallus asked, and Catena snorted, but still gave her three skewers, and she didn’t waste any time eating.

Alex eventually gave in when he heard Stallus moan in enjoyment.

And that was how they spent their first day... their first time in the training crypt.

Azaroth was the first to wake the next morning, what he assumed was morning, since the sun had been up when they slept and was still up when he woke.

He was holding his weapon when he woke up. Kael Hound had drilled it into his head enough times: their weapons must always be with them.

Azaroth stretched. He watched the others as they slept. He frowned, realizing he would have to stay with them for five years. He didn’t like it, but he had to admit they were useful. They didn’t drag him down.

It could have been worse.

Azaroth went to the river and washed his face and mouth. Then he settled into a harvesting position and fed his weapon with essence at the same time. The weapon was taking more essence now that Azaroth had advanced. He kept feeding it his chaos essence.

One by one, the others woke up and went about taking care of themselves. Eventually, they also settled to harvest, and the four of them remained like that for a while.

Then something happened. As if a giant hand reached for the sun and knocked it away, everything turned dark.

Azaroth bolted upright, his weapon out and gleaming dangerously—but no monster attacked him. The only difference was that the sun was gone, and everywhere was dark as if it were midnight.

"What’s that?" Stallus pointed with her weapon.

Where the river had been were two shining doors, glowing with blue light.

Alex snorted. "So the crypt didn’t want us to stay here long and brought the door to us? But why two?"

They moved closer. One of the doors was what Azaroth knew would lead to the next room. It was like the transitions they had been making from tunnel to tunnel.

But the other one, Azaroth didn’t understand it. He looked closely. It was made of dark wood and stood slightly open; light spilled from within, and there was writing at the top of the door.

Stallus saw him looking and leaned in. She read it out loud. "Enter here and go to your death. Enter into your doom. Your life will be cut short. But enter, and you’ll be greatly rewarded."