Chapter 5 - The Valley

"I see that you understand our situation. Come with me, there's another place I want to show you, and it's not far,"

he said. While I was still recovering from what awaited me in the weakest dungeon, I followed him. We passed through several other places, and many threatening glances were directed at me. I didn't know what to do; everything here gave the impression that it could kill me with a snap of the fingers.

"We're almost there. The valley I'm going to show you is outside the city, but I'm sure you'll like it."

As the city began to disappear in the distance, I felt Demitretos' footsteps slow down, and a menacing smile appeared on his face. In that moment, I realized I had made a grave mistake.

"Do you know what we fear the most here in this city?" he asked.

"No," I quickly replied.

"This valley. It has a peculiar name, the Valley of Pain. When I arrived here almost 30 years ago, I was introduced to this place. Do you know what I learned?"

As I tried to find a coherent and calm response, I found myself flying several meters. In my brief experience with injuries, I had already broken my leg and arm, but the pain I felt in that moment didn't compare to having my stomach crushed. My mind went blank, and the pain caused me to have momentary blackouts. I simply couldn't stay conscious.

"Never trust anyone. I need to tell you that a being as inferior as you doesn't deserve to have these beasts; it's too dangerous. But don't worry, I'll do you a favor by taking this burden away."

In my desperation to stay awake and understand what was happening, I saw him grab Témis and utter nonsensical words. As I watched, helpless, my animal barking and the other one frightened, I felt a familiar sensation that had haunted me for years—the injustice of losing something without being able to do anything about it. My legs creaked upon impact, but I managed to get up. What kept me going was the hatred of never wanting to lose something without taking action again.

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"You can still get up. Well, it seems this one is defective. Let me try the other one."

As I watched him discard something so important to me, all the pain in my body vanished, replaced by anger.

"I don't know why you're doing this to us, but if you think I'll allow it, you're mistaken."

I could feel the blood gushing from my lips and my torn stomach. Death was a matter of time, but in that moment, all I wanted was to unleash my rage on that being. Life is fleeting, and difficult choices require strong determination.

"That's the anger you need to survive here, but I don't think it's wise to oppose me. You need to let certain things simply happen. I'm trying to build you up," he said.

His words faded in my mind as I continued to try to reach him. When I finally approached that being, I could feel his power. My strongest punch was easily identified and evaded, and even when I landed a solid blow to his face, it was my hand that broke. My scream echoed through the dark and desolate valley.

"Yes, boy! Scream! Scream louder!!! Maybe the gods who brought you here will hear and see what's about to happen."

As he approached me, the excruciating pain froze me. Guts jumped at the creature's feet, biting his ankle, but when he squeezed his jaws, all I heard was an angry voice.

"Fine, then. The three of you will die here, but I don't want you to blame me. There are things much worse than a quick death. I only asked for the submission of your beasts, and you refused. You will remain here forever under this valley."

Kneeling with my hand and stomach torn apart, all I could think of was that in the end, I would achieve my goal and be with my beloved. But to die like this made me feel something I hadn't felt in a long time—helplessness.

"Demitreto! What the hell are you doing here in the valley?"

The voice, apparently female, echoed through the valley and reached my ears. The maniacal expression on that damned incubus's face faltered like a rose in the desert.

"My dear Cass, I'm just teaching this spark how things work."

"You damn worm, you know we're not close enough for you to call me dear. Besides, do you remember what I said I would do if I saw you here? Well, let me refresh your memory."

What I saw in that moment was something out of reality. When the incubus disappeared from my sight, I could hear, from a distance of 20 meters, two bodies colliding. The force was so great that my bones trembled, but in that moment of extraordinary shock, my focus was on reaching my two animals, both lying on the ground. My body ached all over, but crawling with one arm, I managed to reach them and embrace them.

"Who would have thought that, just like last night, here I am again."