Shadow wanted to get to the dungeon with the intention of finding Punkette, that was the only thing that he needed at that moment... no one could understand why he was so interested in finding her, not even the dark entity that is now free inside his mind.

          Voice: Don't do that again! Allowing light to enter your body was a very stupid thing to do.

          Shadow: I did it to break down the metal door that protected the portal to Enthem.

          Voice: You could do it yourself, you didn't need help.

          Shadow: There's another reason why I did it... I deposited darkness inside Lumiere, hopefully it will have a negative effect on her.

          Voice: Didn't it occur to you that the same thing could have happened in reverse? That some of her light could stay inside you?

          Shadow: Come on, that will never happen, I am darkness and light will never have access to my being... now let's find out where we are and what is the quickest route to the dungeon.

          Voice: Tell me why it's so important to meet with Punkette.

          Shadow: I told you before, I want her to be with me when the world is covered in darkness... I have known her for a long time so I know she will be a valuable ally.

          Voice: That better be true.

          On the other side of the portal an empty room was waiting for them, however when they left it, there was a long corridor in which at the other end some voices could be heard... Shadow went to investigate who those voices belonged to and what he saw activated a trauma of his past... he was in a laboratory in which a very young child was being shown the same horrible images as him.

          A couple of scientists noticed his presence and approached him with weapons in their hands.

          Scientist: Who are you?

          Shadow didn't respond, he just looked at them both with such hatred that the two scientists took a step back and opened fire on him... but the bullets only passed through him since in less than a blink he had returned to the form of the shadow with multiple arms.

          Scientist: What the hell is that?!

          One of the arms became a pointed spear that entered the nearest scientist's mouth and came out through his neck... he dropped his weapon and began to writhe in pain; his companion screamed in fear and tried to run away, but as soon as he turned around, two shadowy arms reached into his shoulders and pulled his ligaments... that way Shadow could manipulate him as if he were a puppet.

          Voice: Okay... now tell them who you are.

          Shadow: Look me in the eyes.

          He brought them both close to his face, he was so meticulous in his actions that neither of the two scientists had died or fainted from the pain, instead they were face to face with that enormous shadow... he showed his true face before continuing to speaking.

          Shadow: I was once in that chair, looking at the same images for a very long period of time... but you made the mistake of underestimating me, you believed that I was like everyone else, I survived your experiments and used them to my advantage, becoming the most powerful being in the world... I am Shadow! The beginning and the end of everything! You are not the first to experience my power and you won't be the last... in the end you must pay for everything and you'll do it in the worst possible way, don't think that I'm simply going to kill you... the pain you feel now doesn't compare to what you are going to experience for all eternity when you are among the shadows.

          Voice: Excellent... you are learning to differentiate between bodily death and soul death.

          Shadow: I could just kill you and end your experience on this plane, but that wouldn't be fun... so this is where it gets interesting, I discovered when I was inside the Mind Games simulator that when death is very violent and the necessary conditions are met inside an environment of darkness, the soul and mind can't rest in peace, instead they arrive at a place of eternal suffering... the hell that you think you know does not compare to the dark dimension, although you should already know it, after all you contact inhabitants of that place to obtain benefits... but in the end darkness always wins and those who believed that they could simply continue with their rituals permanently end up realizing that sooner or later it is their turn too.

          Voice: Exactly... all those humans whom we favor in life end up suffering eternally in darkness when they die... although of course they don't know that this fate awaits them.

          Shadow: And thanks to the greed of human leaders, who are never satisfied, darkness has been able to enter this plane... through me.

          The scientists felt a chill that ran through their entire bodies, they realized that those entities to whom they make sacrifices in exchange for power and prestige had really found a way to cross dimensions and reach Earth through Shadow... but they couldn't warn anyone since within a few seconds they would die and eternal punishment awaited them... the last thing they heard was Shadow's distorted voice, which had mixed with that of the dark entity that accompanies him.

          Shadow: This is just the first step, I'll make sure there are more like me in this world, people who carry dark matter in their blood and who serve as receptacles for other entities from the dimension of darkness... all of them are eager to get out.

          The room was filled with black smoke and both scientists were brutally murdered... their souls reached the dark dimension, where the entities that reside there will dedicate themselves to tormenting them forever.

          Shadow: I finally understood the process! When a body is destroyed, its soul immediately reaches the dark dimension without the possibility of escape.

          Voice: But when the body is still functional on the earthly plane, the souls that arrived there by some method other than physical death have a chance to escape... that is why Lumiere and the participants of the big event were freed, they arrived to the dark dimension because we knew how to take advantage of the confusion of their minds when they were inside the Mind Games simulator... but since their bodies were intact they were able to escape before their soul was taken from them when they were there.

          Shadow: The same goes for my parents, I took them directly without killing them because I took advantage of the fear they were feeling...theoretically they could escape but because I personally took it upon myself to provide them with a very painful punishment, they will never find the strength to do so.

          Voice: You have a very special gift, you can enter and leave the dark dimension at will taking people with you... take advantage of that great gift.

          Shadow: I will, especially now that I know how the process works... I almost forgot about this.

          The smoke disappears from the room and the laboratory returns to normal, the child continues there observing the images that Shadow knows perfectly... for a brief moment he thought about freeing him, however he changed his mind and left him there.

          Shadow: No one helped me, I just adapted to the circumstances and overcame the situation... he should do the same... although now that I took care of the scientists, there is no one to stop the experiment when the time comes.

          Voice: Then let him continue to suffer, eventually he will die and because of the way it will happen, he will be another victim of the shadows.

          Shadow hesitated again and saw himself in that chair, so he finally decided to turn off the screen that showed those images.

          Voice: What are you doing?!

          Shadow: Look what's on this table... syringes... Don't you realize? We can replicate what they did with me and inject dark matter into this child... if he survives there will be someone else like me, that is, another dark entity that can move to this plane.

          Voice: Interesting, I like how you think... Do it! Inject him with your dark blood!

          Sticking the needle into his own arm, Shadow filled the syringe completely... the black liquid dripped incessantly and when the boy saw that he was planning to inject him, he screamed as loud as he could.

          Shadow: Shut up! I survived, so you can too... let's see, they injected me directly into the head, so I'll do the same.

          He introduces the syringe into the child's head, trying to remember the exact point at which he should do it... but as soon as the dark matter entered the infant's body, he began to convulse until he finally died, his eyes exploded and dark matter was coming out of all his cavities.

          Shadow: Fucking inferior beings! Can only I adapt and survive?

          Voice: There will be other subjects... and if necessary we will find another way to introduce darkness into their bodies without killing them, we need strong hosts so that they are able to withstand the procedure... it's a shame that a corpse is of no use to us.

          Shadow: This is nothing more than one of Enthem's laboratories, it's not the same one where they experimented with me, with any luck we will find someone who resists the procedure... in the meantime we must figure out how to get out of here.

          Voice: Use your powers for that.

          With the black smoke being an extension of himself and spreading it through the walls, Shadow could see that not far from there was another room full of people... he immediately headed to that place and arrived to a scene practically identical to the one Lumiere witnessed on Sekthor... with hooded men performing the sacrifice of a child in a room that was only lit with candles and with very strange symbols on the walls.

          Voice: Do you see those symbols? It is the language of dark beings and is part of the invocation ritual... this is how they communicate with us when they want to sacrifice a life in exchange for benefits.

          Shadow: Say no more! Here's a dark entity ready for action!

          The hooded people were really confused, it had never happened that one of those beings manifested in front of them on the earthly plane... and even less in the form of a human being.

          Shadow: I see, my human appearance confuses you... behold.

          The giant shadow appeared again and immediately the hooded men knelt before Shadow, thanking him for the dark matter given to them and showing off the power they had acquired.

          Voice: You know what to do.

          Shadow: So you thank me, you idolize me, you love me... tell me, have you finished all the dark matter and now you want more?

          Hooded Man: Indeed, your highness, we are about to offer you the sacrifice of this child, but don't worry... we have many more over there who are waiting their turn.

          Shadow: Oh yeah? That's splendid! By the way... perhaps we can do something more interesting this time, I'm talking about obtaining the largest amount of dark matter of all time, with which you could be considered gods by the rest of humanity... I know you crave all that power and with enough darkness I assure you that it is possible.

          The hooded people began to celebrate and once again thanked Shadow for his benevolence... he asked them what their positions were within society and got a variety of answers... politicians, artists, athletes, doctors, scientists, business owners and millionaire people in general.

          Shadow: I see... so you have used dark matter correctly... but it's time to take the next step and for that the supreme sacrifice is needed.

          Hooded Man: I'll be right back with the rest of the children!

          Shadow: Stop! Who talked about children? What I'm offering is something unique and I can only give it to one of you... I see there are twenty people in this room, so whoever gives me nineteen heads will be the one who will get the largest dose of dark matter ever imagined.

          The hooded people looked at each other and didn't hesitate to attack their companions... they didn't care who they have to kill, men or women, young or old, they all wanted absolute power... it was a massacre, each of them had a dagger, which they used to murder others in cold blood or at least cause harm to them and finish them off by smashing their heads against the ground.

          Shadow: Do you realize? It's very easy to manipulate them.

          Voice: That happens because the only thing they crave is power and they are willing to do whatever it takes to get it.

          The spilled blood stained the floor and walls red, one by one they fell victims of the same weapon they use to kill children... screams of pain and despair filled the sacrificial chamber and Shadow only watched smiling... in the end only one survivor remained, who after making sure the others were dead, began the process of cutting off their heads; once he finished, he put them all in a bag and handed them to the huge shadow.

          Shadow: Well done, you have satisfactorily fulfilled what I requested... tell me again what your position is within society.

          Hooded Man: I am the president of Enthem.

          Shadow: Interesting... but why did you cover your face with the hood again? Take it off and let me see you.

          The president does so and reveals an immaculate face, something that is not normal for someone of advanced age, which is revealed by his gray hair.

          Shadow: I see that you are well preserved.

          President: I haven't only asked darkness for power but also youth, dark matter has served its purpose in practically my entire body, except for my hair.

          Shadow: I understand... before giving you the dark matter I want you to answer several questions. How do you ensure that only a few have power? Only a small percentage of human beings have been able to communicate with us and that must have some explanation.

          President: We created an infallible method, all the countries in the world are divided into three... the elite, the normality and the garbage dumps... in the elite we find those of us who inherited power from our ancestors, only some families and selected people can have all that power.

          Shadow: Selected people?

          President: That's right... every time someone achieves a certain fame and reputation within what we know as "the normality", they are intercepted by someone from the elite, at that moment we give them two options, be part of us or die along with their family... we do this because all the influential people must be on our side so that the secret doesn't spread.

          Shadow: The secret of how the world works.

          President: Indeed, if that were to be known we would lose our lifestyle and we cannot afford that luxury... the majority of the population is in the normality, the working class whose only duty is to keep our system functioning... as I already mentioned, each time one of them manages to stand out, we force them to be on our side.

         Shadow: So everything they achieved honestly and by working hard turns into power hunger... but some only do it to protect their families and themselves.

          President: At first that's how it is, but once they use dark matter for the first time they realize that they can't stop doing it and they genuinely follow our steps... however, there is a limit to the number of people who can be part of the elite and if that number is exceeded we carry out a purge within our privileged group.

          Shadow: And all those children that you sacrifice and from whom you obtain adrenochrome, where do they come from?

          President: It's really easy, we get many of them from orphanages but when that's not enough we start abducting them... we cover that through fake school accidents or "missing" announcements, plus the media is run by our own people, there are elite infiltrators in every important corner of the normal world... it's very easy to calm parents with official police statements saying that the search for their children is progressing little by little... over time they forget about it and those who don't are silenced.

          Shadow: Fascinating... but you forget about a sector, you already told me about the elite and the normality, but what can you tell me about these garbage dumps?

          President: Each generation that is born is more curious and awake than the previous one, if we allow that to develop, it can become dangerous to the point of exposing our elite... not all children are born with these characteristics but those who do are sent to the garbage dumps.

          Shadow: How do you know who's a threat?

          President: In the case of my country, something very curious happens... all children who are born with a malformation or body abnomality are the most likely to develop extraordinary mental power... we realized when these little freaks asked questions at very early ages that not even the adults asked themselves, in the long term such a generation could end up knowing too much, so we chose to separate all the bastards who were born with defects.

          Shadow: That's why Enthem's garbage dump is full of young people with pecularities, while those who serve as their parents don't possess those characteristics.

          President: Exactly... wait, how do you know that?

          Shadow: They live in such deplorable conditions that all their mental energy is destined to find a way to survive day to day, thus preventing them from developing their full capabilities.

          President: If you already know all that, why did you ask me so many things?

          Shadow: And if they dare to ask questions, you manage to divert their attention from certain matters, causing them physical discomfort when they begin to talk about topics that are not convenient for you. .. nausea and headache.

          President: Eh... that's right... when we separate them from their parents, we inject them with special substances to cause physical symptoms when they begin to question aspects that involve us... but I'm confused, if you know so much, what is the need to ask me?

          Shadow: Why not just kill those kids? Answer!

          President: Ah... yes... because those who are mentally stronger serve as fuel for us... their brains are extracted from their bodies and used to supply energy to the elite of Enthem, it is an inexhaustible source of power for our cities... a few years ago we devised the perfect plan so that the most gifted would voluntarily go to the slaughterhouse, right at the ideal age of their development.

          Shadow: The winners of the big event! Those are the strongest minds! That's why they are never seen again! You leave everyone with pecularities alive because you know that several of them will stand out from the rest and you use Mind Games to find out exactly which brain will be most useful to you.

          Voice: What's the matter?

          Indignation took over Shadow, who realized that this could have been his destiny if his father hadn't used him as his personal guinea pig... there was no happy ending for him.

          Shadow: The peculiarity with which I was born was not visible to the naked eye, it was an organism capable of adapting to everything... that is why I resisted when they injected me with dark matter, it's the only explanation... if I hadn't been the son of a doctor, they would have thrown me into that garbage dump too, only I wouldn't have dark powers inside me... this must be the only case of someone from the elite who had a child with physical alterations and therefore greater mental power.

          The shadow grabbed the president of Enthem by the neck and began to apply pressure.

          Shadow: Why aren't the children of those who are part of the elite born with these characteristics?!

          The president can barely respond between gasps.

          President: I... I never said that... our children can also be born like this... when that is the case we also send them to the garbage dumps... because even if they have our own blood, those types of strong mentalities always seek the common good and that's not what interests us.

          Shadow smiles and squeezes harder.

          Shadow: I see, so what happened to me was nothing more than a series of coincidences.

          President: Please... let me go.

          Shadow: You have enough technology to create something as impressive as Mind Games and transform brain energy into fuel that keeps entire cities running... and yet you want more and more... I know what I have to do and unfortunately for you, you don't fit into my plans... goodbye.

          The pressure was so strong that the president of Enthem's eyes popped out of their sockets and his windpipe broke... everyone who died in that sacrificial chamber was sent to the dark dimension to be tortured eternally.

          Voice: Explain to me what you want.

          Shadow: This information is very valuable, if we transmit it to the right people we can have powerful allies.

          Voice: And make them believe that we are on their side... it's a good plan.

          Shadow: Also, if we take into account that all countries in the world work in the same way, we could create the biggest revolution in history... imagine it, the normal world and the garbage dumps opening their eyes to reality and rebelling against the leaders ...if we give them evidence of the information we know the entire world will turn upside down.

          Voice: Large amounts of blood will be spilled and it will be the perfect time to cover the entire world in darkness.

          Shadow: If our plan works, we won't even have to do the dirty work ourselves... the people outside the elite will be the ones to overthrow the governments, filling their hearts with hate in the process and becoming easy targets for darkness.

          Voice: Then that will be our most important objective.

          Shadow: Now we can continue with what we were doing, I have to find Punkette... I almost forgot, this place is full of kids.

          Voice: What do you plan to do with them?

          Shadow: Now that I know that only I am capable of resisting an injection of dark matter because my body is stronger, they will be of no use to me... then their destiny will be to remain caged until death, they are weak and will remain behind those bars.

          Voice: Perfect... that's how it should be.

          Shadow: And since I still don't know exactly where I am, I'll have to transform into smoke and travel that way... I've never done it but I'm increasingly mastering my dark powers.

          Using this new technique Shadow was able to leave the place where the sacrifices were made and arrived at what seemed to be a city... he looked at the building from the outside and realized that it was a luxurious multi-story hotel. .

          Shadow: So this is the facade they use to hide everything that happens in there.

          Voice: And taking into account the information you obtained, we are in the domains of the elite... if you want to find Punkette you have to go to Enthem's garbage dump.

          Shadow: The streets are empty because it's not dawn yet, so we'll have to look for someone somewhere else to give us information... that will take a long time, there must be some easier way to get back to the dungeon.

          Voice: Darkness calls for darkness and you adapted the dungeon to be your sanctuary... when the lights go out you feel at home... so you can return there from wherever you are.

          Shadow: I understand, then I will allow the darkness of my dungeon to lead me to it.

          Adopting his human form again, Shadow closed his eyes and emptied his head of thoughts.

          Shadow: The dungeon... my sanctuary... where so many souls have been taken to the dark dimension after daring to confront me; the place where I rule and feel most comfortable... those who are allowed to enter fear me and at the same time idolize me... I will achieve the same with the rest of humanity... I can feel it! It's calling me!

          He opened his eyes and smiled to himself as he was right in the center of the main room, the one with its own Mind Games equipment, where he first saw Lumiere.

          Shadow: I did it... Punkette must be in her room.

          He immediately went there but he didn't find her and that scared him a little, so he decided to search every room in the place until he found her... his anxiety increased every time he opened a door and Punkette wasn't there, he only needed to check the basement, so he quickly went down the stairs and kicked the door open... there was someone in there but it wasn't Punkette.

          Shadow: You... I see that no matter what happens you will always return to this place.

          Executioner and Cobra were the ones in the basement, both looked at him with a mixture of hatred and fear.

          Cobra: How could you?! We participated in the big event to help you! And how did you pay us? Sending us to that horrible place where I almost lost my soul.

          Shadow: You're weak, Cobra... the darkness was only going to affect the losers, if you were taken to the dark dimension it's because you didn't have what it took to survive inside the simulator.

          Cobra: You know what's the saddest thing of all? That I already knew that you would say something like that... and yet I have to swallow my pride and return to this place because I don't have a home of my own... what hurts me the most is that despite all the damage you have caused me I came to think that you would appreciate my help, but no... when I was eliminated from the simulator I didn't return to the real world, but rather I was surrounded by shadows that wanted to hurt me... my heart broke when I finally realized the reality, it was a reflection of my life... for years I've been afraid of a shadow that at any moment can lose control and cause me harm.

          Shadow: Don't dramatize, in the end you managed to escape.

          Cobra: I managed to escape because Lumiere freed us all... Executioner and I raped her! We treated her body like garbage! And despite that she used her light to get us out of there.

          Cobra's helplessness is accompanied by tears of frustration.

          Cobra: And what's worse... before being eliminated from the simulator I had a confrontation with one of her friends, the one called Trent... I took out my anger against him and it turns out that that was the only thing I needed because I can't do it here! I have to keep my mouth shut all the time for fear that you will humiliate me or use me as a sexual object!... When our battle ended we were both about to be eliminated, but before that happened we shared a silent look ...just a few seconds of silent intimacy with a stranger was warmer than my entire fucking life in this place!

          Shadow: I guess you don't care about your own life anymore since raising your voice at me is the worst thing you can do.

          Cobra: On the contrary, I should have rebelled a long time ago... I allowed you to disturb my mind and I began to take it out on others, the raped became the rapist... but that ends here.

          Shadow: Don't make me laugh... and what about you, Executioner? You haven't said a single word.

          Cobra: Do it, Executioner! Don't be afraid!

          Executioner: I... I... I'm very sorry for my behavior within the simulator, Mr. Shadow, I was weak and the punishment I received from you was fair.

          Cobra: NO!

          Shadow: What are you willing to do to earn my forgiveness?

          Executioner: Anything.

          Shadow: Do you remember what you did to Lumiere's body? I want you to do the same to Cobra... and by the way, put your mask back on, that face of yours serves to give personality to the dungeon but after a while it's very disgusting.

          Feeling humiliated, Executioner put on his mask and began to approach Cobra.

          Cobra: Don't do it, it's better to die standing than to live under the orders of someone who doesn't even care about you and who has always treated you like shit.

          Executioner: I have to do it... I'm sorry.

          Shadow: Come on... this is your favorite hobby, everyone here is rotten inside... except for Punkette... Hey! Where is she?!

          Executioner: We haven't seen her since we came back.

          Shadow: Don't lie! You always hated her! What did you do to her?!

          The basement was filled with black smoke and he transformed into a larger than normal shadow that reactivated Executioner and Cobra's traumas... he took them both by the neck and shouting louder than before, he asked them the same question.

          Cobra: Let go of me, you bastard!

          Executioner: I swear I don't know!

          Shadow was breathing heavily and with every second that passed he was losing more patience... however, when it seemed like he was about to kill them, he released their necks, making them fall abruptly to the ground.

          Shadow: Stand up! We have work to do.

          Both Cobra and Executioner were surprised by the sudden change in attitude.

          Cobra: You've got to be kidding me! After everything you've done to me, you think I'm going to cooperate with you?

          Shadow: Of course you're going to do it my little snake, because if you don't there will be consequences.

          Cobra: I repeat that I prefer death.

          Shadow: Who spoke of death? Do you remember that dark place? Without Lumiere you won't be able to escape and I can send you there at any time... what happens in that dimension is infinitely worse than death, I will personally take care of giving you eternal punishment if you don't come with me.

          Cobra: You're a bastard!

          Shadow: Relax, it's not all bad... I can see that you're not lying when you say you don't know where Punkette is, I was so upset that it took me a moment to realize it and since I'm so generous I'll allow you to be by my side once again and start from scratch... because even if you don't believe it, we all have a common enemy.

          Cobra: Are you still obsessed with Lumiere?

          Shadow: I'm not talking about her, our enemy is also hers... I have discovered many things that might interest you.

          Cobra: What the hell are you talking about?

          Shadow told everything he knew so far, leaving Cobra and Executioner in shock... at first they didn't believe him but when they realized that he was able to answer every question they asked him, it was obvious that he hadn't made it up.

          Cobra: So that's your story.

          Shadow: I just told you a lot of things and you only care about my story?

          Cobra: Now I understand why you are so miserable, you have darkness inside you... You know? I didn't think I could but I feel a little sorry for you.

          Shadow: Don't put yourself above the rest, you were never a saint... face it, the dungeon was responsible for gathering the worst people within its walls, but now we have an opportunity to give a new direction to our lives.

          Cobra: Are those really your intentions?

          Shadow: If it weren't like that, I wouldn't be wasting my time with you... everyone in Enthem must unite to recover that life that was taken from us since we were born... because of those in power, each of us has suffered in different ways.

          After a brief pause Cobra speaks again.

          Cobra: Why didn't you say that from the beginning? Why threaten us?

          Shadow: Didn't you pay attention? I continue to fight the darkness inside me... by doing this maybe I can get rid of it once and for all.

          Shadow mentally communicated with the negative entity inside him and asked it to hurt him in order to shed false tears of helplessness... he obviously omitted the detail that there is another dark being inside him when telling the story... his strategy worked, managing to move Cobra.

          Cobra: It seems like all the suffering you've caused is coming back to you.

          Shadow: I want to put a stop to it and this is the perfect opportunity! That's what I meant when I said we all had a common enemy!

           Cobra: Okay... I will never forgive you, but I can at least cooperate with you in this cause.

           Shadow: Thank you. What about you, Executioner?

          Executioner: I guess I have no other option... I admit that since the big event I haven't been the same either, Lumiere did something that really shook my inner world... I don't know how she could find a way to sow love inside me after the damage I did to her... but if everyone is willing to join, then I will too, what's the first step?

          Shadow: Find Punkette and meet with Lumiere.

          Cobra: How are we going to do that? We don't know where they are... you said she went to a place called Sekthor.

          Shadow: When I fought her and entered her mind I could see her house... I know how to get there, so that will be the first place we go... as for Punkette, I hope to find some clue that will lead me to her.

          The three left the dungeon and headed to Lumiere's house.

          Voice: Well done, you managed to convince them that you are on their side and that your goals are well-intentioned.

          Shadow: We'll need as many allies as possible in this first part of the plan... according to the president of Enthem, everyone who is in this dump has very great mental power, that means that without having planned it we'll have a powerful army of gifted beings at our disposal... it's just a matter of letting them know that they can use those powers outside of the Mind Games.

          Voice: Remember to maintain this image and not give them reasons to suspect you.

          Shadow: For that I must get things done my way subtly... convince them that my strategy is the most appropriate... make them work for me.