"Athen is the living spirit of defiance in Kong Shi. All who seek to grow powerful without bowing their heads to the administration of this godforsaken place eventually find their way here."
Eric's voice carried a strange mix of pride and irreverence as he spoke, his boots clanking faintly against the narrow metal staircase. The stairs spiraled downward in tight, uneven loops, the steel worn smooth from years of constant use. Each step seemed to echo louder than it should, as if the structure itself wanted to remind newcomers that they were crossing a threshold, leaving something behind.
Below them, the hum of activity grew louder.
Voices overlapped. Metal clashed. Laughter, arguments, and the low mechanical whine of equipment fused into a chaotic symphony.
