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Many mysteries plague this world. Homeless scouring the streets at the mercy of luck, hard work, and the random kindness of strangers. Crocodiles are being thrown into the windows of drive-thrus in Florida. In this instance, it's a young man trapped in a room with a talking dinosaur. Leon's friend Ed cowered in a corner, tossing a lamp at King. King smacked the light with his snout.
CRASH!
"Aurgh, that mighta been expensive... You'll hav' 'ta to do much better than that, ya wet end!" the raptor snarled, bending his knees.
The door swung open, and Leon and Richard ran in. "Ed!"
"Guys? What the fuck is that?" Ed pointed at King, trembling.
"What? Never seen a velociraptor before?" Leon asked.
He bit his tongue to keep himself from laughing. Ed's eyes shot back and forth like pinballs. TIK TOK, TIK TOK. Someone may as well have been shaking his head like an 8 ball. "Aye, you're lookin' mighty pale there, pal. Care for a glass of water?" King asked, wagging his tail.
"A glass of water? I think I need a psychiatrist!" Ed shakily rose to his feet. "Could you even pour a glass with arms like that?"
King's eyes lit up as he trotted over to the counter. "Oh, please. I'm a real pro! Just watch me!" His jaw was closing on the water jug handle when he froze. No breathing, no leaning in, nothing. Leon's eyes narrowed.
Did he... is he lagging? Do dinosaurs run on dial-up? The fuck?
"I think he might be broken, Ed...." He turned his head to look at his friend. Ed stood there, unblinking. Not even the slightest hint of movement. A chill ran down his spine at the sight of it. "What the hell? Did they die? ...Did I die?" Leon took a deep breath, threw his hands up, and shouted to the heavens, "FORTHELOVEOFGOD SOMEONE HELP ME PLEEAAAAAASE!"
His voice drifted off into absolute nothingness. Nothing but silence and mild embarrassment, that is. "So much for that."
The lights in the room flickered. It dimmed as the temperature rose. Leon's eyes glanced at the candle on the dresser next to him. The flame on it danced, waving back and forth. A fire roared from the fireplace behind him. His eyes locked on the two shadows on the ground. It appeared he had two; one of them moved.
He turned and fought the urge to flinch. A man with crimson eyes stared at him. His skin was pitch black. It looked like he'd been burned to cinders. Curls not unlike his own that glowed a malevolent red, and most of all, a pressure within the room. Leon's knees buckled underneath it. "Yo, am I dreamin'?" he whispered.
There was a glare in his shadow's eyes. A hatred that could shake the world. Leon frowned. "Is that you, Diablos?"
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Rather than responding, Diablos walked past him. His eyes never looked away. He made a full circle, like a predator examining its prey. He stopped at the porch window, turning his back. Leon turned to him and crossed his arms. "Hmm, maybe he's feeling constipated?" he muttered.
"Don't be ridiculous, you insufferable fool!" a booming voice came from Diablos, making Leon jump. "I have to endure every pathetic endeavor you put yourself through. So far, I am not impressed."
"Am I supposed to be impressing you? What is going on anyway? Did you show your face just to give me crap?"
The room broke away like glass. What? Leon stepped back as the floor was replaced by a volcanic wasteland, smog littering the skies. Rivers of lava flowed all around them. Fractures of alternating lights were everywhere as if reality was breaking. "Is this supposed to be your idea of a vacation-"
Diablos twisted. Leon flailed his arms up, knuckles smashing into his wrists. He skidded to the floor. The molten stone cut against his knees, and he nearly lost footing. "Oww, what was that for?"
"Enough of your intolerable jokes. Now is the time for training," Diablos snarled, slamming his hand through the stone floor. He ripped out a massive black blade. It was easily taller than either of them.
"Training? Right now?" His question was met with another swipe. Blood trailed down his cheek. "Dumb question. Got it."
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Minutes, hours, days. Leon was thrown, cut, slammed, and hunted for what seemed like forever. He collapsed against a giant stone, panting. "You know... it would help if you said something instead of just beating me up." He'd come to understand that this world resided in his mind. All wounds disappeared with time, though not for long. Diablos was relentless in his attacks.
Diablos watched him and lowered the blade. "You're too weak. Words won't accomplish what experience will. Even one as hopeless as you is already showing improvements in reflexes."
"Improved? Do you not see the gaping hole in my chest?" Leon pointed at the bleeding pit a few inches from his heart.
The demon narrowed his eyes. "When we first began, I was able to cut off your arms and legs one hundred and forty times. Today it has only been thirty-five."
Leon rolled his eyes. "Oh, of course. You've been keeping count. How the hell is this supposed to help if none of this is even real. We've been here for three whole days! I wouldn't be surprised to wake up in a ditch at this rate. For that matter, what the hell happened to my friends, or the entire planet for that matter?"
"Silence, fool. One day in this realm is only one hour. The moment we began, your body became lifeless. We are on the floor, unconscious," Diablos said, crossing his arms.
He couldn't help but laugh. "Great, I'm a friggin' vegetable playing human punching bag with the strongest demon. Aren't I just the luckiest guy on the planet? Couldn't you have done this crap while I was asleep?"
"I could have, but we're wasting time. Death isn't going to wait for you to get stronger. Even as we speak, I sense powers stalking us. We will die if you do not learn to control your powers. Training in your mind is pivotal to this. Even a novice such as yourself should have greater reflexes the next time you fight in the real world."
"Ugh, fine, fine. Seriously though, what is this place?" Leon asked, struggling to his feet. The flames rapturing the land echoed as they stood upon an endless valley.
Diablos turned away from him, embers rising in his fists. "It is known as the Valley of Lost Dreams. This is where me and that decrepit angel lost our bodies centuries ago. You were going to ask why I chose this place to train?"
"Uhhh, yeah, that would be appreciated. Don't tell me it's some sort of cliche like, 'Oh, I let this place manifest my hatred and anger' or some crap," Leon imitated Diablos's deep, dramatic voice.
The pause made him sweat a little. Sometimes I hate being right.
"You are correct, boy. This is where I fuel my desire. Once you've grown strong enough, I will have my revenge."
I want to ask why, but this probably isn't a good time. He might devour my soul or curse my descendants for a thousand years. Something demonic or whatever, Leon thought, flinching when Diablos gave him a look.
"Don't be ridiculous, boy. Live long enough, and perhaps I'll tell you just what started all of this."
"Greeeat. Well then, thanks, I guess."
Diablos scoffed. "Thank me not. Your hell is only beginning."