-Balam Territory. The Village near Balechtar's Domain-
It was not news that a gigantic stream of magical energy around the Underworld had been concentrated into a single place in Balam's territory. It leads many pilgrims across Balam territory to seek answers and possibly salvation.
They have endured countless years of torment under their cruel lord. They have suffered from inhuman experiments that reaped them from their children. Thus, they are forced to breed as much as possible to produce the next generation of test subjects.
Moreover, they encountered dozens of abominations in the valley. At first, they thought they were mindless beasts that roam in the wild. But when the first beast was slain, they got their answer. They are sons and daughters of their own children that had been transformed into those unspeakable horrors.
They must massacre their descendants to save themselves from the horrors Lord Balam unleashed. It marks a deep scar in their souls, leaving mortal wounds that they will never be able to recover.
They want to be freed from their inhuman overlord and regain their happiness. Yet, they did not possess sufficient power to do so. Their despair continued until they detected a massive explosion of magical energy in the location not far from them.
They also heard rumors about a certain devil who healed the entire village and strengthened them. Of course, it was unconfirmed rumors, but the hope is still in their hearts.
To confirm their hope, the village chief ordered several groups to travel to the barren land to find this godly savior. Thus, the group is created to find their salvation and possibly to persuade the savior to take his mantel to cover them. In order to make their hope a reality, they have gathered the most powerful but also the most charismatic among their people. But to add the most sentimental part of this endeavor, a group of miserable children. They want to ease the heart of this mighty savior, even though they must do it in the most uncaring way possible. Yet, they are entirely aware that it might draw his ire.
After a long debate, the decision will stand like its initial state. Due to the data they have accumulated before, they are certain that this being is indeed benevolent.
"Are you ready, Olias?" A man asks the boy next to him.
"I... I am ready, uncle." He replies, nodding his head in affirmation.
"We must succeed, Olias. We must," The uncle's tone is so desperate that it is not directed to Olias but to himself.
Olias pities his uncle. But nothing can help him either. They are born weak, and soon Olias himself would be taken into Satans knows where to be transformed into one of those abominations. This journey would become his escape from the grim reality he currently lives in.
"The gate is open. May you all find our salvation!" The gatekeeper shouts at them, placing all his hope in his tone. None can blame him as he also endures the same wound as them.
The group walks, taking their first step to find their savior.
Even though it seems like a beautiful journey, the reality says otherwise. The harsh and barren nature of the Underworld has become a torment tool for those who cannot withstand it. Thus, they must endure the pain and dry air around them.
They feel a burning sensation invading their throat as they go deeper into the Balam Territory. It was not the harsh environment of the Underworld that caused this, but the density of the magical energy kept increasing as they took steps closer to Balam territory.
"We are... Here." Their leader says in between his breath.
Olias raise his head to see what is ahead. What he sees only makes the grim reality grow darker. The sight before him is one of the most dreadful places in the Underworld, the Valean Valley.
Valean Valley was named after the first victim from abomination created from Balam's folly, a boy named Valean. Since then, this place has become a dumpster for Balam's research, and thus it fills with abominations with unspeakable physiology. And now, they must enter this valley to find their savior, as the burden of their village lies on their shoulders.
"We must proceed." The leader steels himself, swallowing bitter saliva. "My people, on me!"
It couldn't be said that they are prepared for anything lurking in the valley. But their valor shall be enough to ensure that few survive this cruel condition. They need to bypass this dangerous valley no matter the cost.
"For those who are weak, I want you to take your position at the center of our formation!" He declares firmly, leaving no room for argument.
They silently oblige the command as the children and the much weaker members make their way into the center of the formation; Olias is also part of the center formation.
"Formation completed!" The rear guard says to the leader.
"Very well." The leader takes a deep breath, clenching his palm tight. "Let's head to the valley!"
Thus, they enter the dangerous valley as soon as they take their first step into the forbidden place. The aura of terror slowly creeps into their bone, sending metaphorical cold blades into their spines. The deeper they go, they only found a rocky terrain with magical mist that blind their eyes.
"Uncle," Olias call his uncle, who stands on the inner side of the formation.
"Olias. What's wrong?" The uncle turns his head at him.
"When will we arrive?" The boy asks in a whisper.
The uncle didn't give his reply immediately. Instead, he chooses to remain quiet for several minutes for an unknown reason.
Olias didn't force the answer would come instantly, as the magical atmosphere around them was too dense, preventing them from lowering their magical sense.
"Just another hour until we arrive at the other side of this valley." The answer is short and plain.
"I see..." Olias murmurs to himself, feeling fear that previously had taken into his bone slowly disappear.
Half their journey is uneventful, as they encounter no abomination. It makes the younger devils calmer, but on the other side of the coin, it distresses the older devils.
"I feel something is wrong with our situation right now." A man murmurs to his friend.
"I feel the same thing. Something is watching us." The approval came from him.
Olias heard all of these whispers, but he wanted to shrug them off, as it would only cause his mental fortitude to crumble. He tried his best not to let the lousy feeling cloud his focus. However, all was in vain when they were told to stop by their leader.
"Everyone stops!" The leader proclaims, drawing the entire attention to him. "What in the name of Satans is this?"
Dread consumes the entire front group as they lose their colors in fear. They see destruction beyond any of their powers to fight.
They see craters and molten stones all across the entire valley. Yet, the nightmarish truth came afterward when they felt a familiar magical signature from around them.
They feel the exact same signature of those abominations mixed with the blood of innocent devils.
Based on the clues scattered all around the place are enough to give them an answer to what had just happened here. Something powerful has wreaked havoc in this valley, killing the abominations in it.
"What will we do next?" One of the guards asks the leader in fear.
"We..." He hesitates, fears dilating his eyes and mind. He feels the urge to utter his command, but dread slowly crumbles his mental fortitude.
"Leader. What should we do?" The man didn't back down, pressing the matter deeper as desperation filled his tone.
"We... We must continue. If we return, we will only bring suffering and shame to our people. Even though we will perish, at least we are dying to save our people." He steels his words, raising his eyes with a newfound vigor.
The group found no choice but to comply with their leader's words. In fact, they are also scared that they will only become a burden to their families when they return with empty hands.
Thus, they make their path into the desolated plain. The suffocating magical energy slowly begins to take a toll on them, one by one. They fall to the ground with depleted magical energy. With heavy hearts, those who lived left their companions alone while praying for their safety.
"I can see the exit. Move your feet faster!" the leader exclaims, smiling at his companions jovially. The group joins him, smiling as happiness makes hope come true in their spirit.
But that's when the nightmare comes into the fold.
In a blink of an eye, blood splatters all around them. It came from the leader's direction. Olias ' eyes widen in shock and horror. The leader's head flies above, splashing blood everywhere before disappearing into dark mots.
A small growl draws his attention, sucking all color from Olias' face. Right at the same place their leader was previously standing, a monster with four legs is standing menacingly. It is a bipedal creature with bones sticking out from its back, stretching down to its torso and impaling it as if the bones were created to be a living tormenting armor. His head is wider than any shield with hands hanging on its jaw. A place that supposedly has a face is a breathing hole, exposing its pounding organs.
"K-Kill it!" The guard shouts in terror, raising his hand as a magic circle materializes on his hand. But before he manages to launch his attack, the creature moves faster than any eyes can follow. It depreciates him with its jaw, destroying his body.
"Maintain formation! Concentrate your attacks!" Another guard shouts his command, empowering his endurance with his magic.
The rest of the guards complies as they also empower themselves. In the split second of the empowerment, they fire hundreds of magical projectiles toward the creature. Yet, none could seemingly bypass the invisible barrier around the creature. But there is not where the nightmare stops. The barrier shines in ominous yellow, sending back the magical energy it had absorbed, killing the guards instantly.
"No! Don't come clo-" A woman couldn't finish her sentence as the creature's hand jaw tore her body apart. Blood splashes into Olias' face, causing shock to consume him entirely. Thus, his legs lost their strength. Olias falls to the ground as deafening screams of pain and horror surround him. His vision became blurry, and thus, Olias slowly lost consciousness.
"Olias! Olias!" His uncle calls for him, grabbing his shoulder.
The child slowly begins to regain sight, only seeing his uncle looking at him sternly.
"Look at me, nothing else." The uncle places both hands on his cheek, preventing Olias from seeing the carnage. His uncle is smiling, bringing comfort to the poor boy.
"I want you to run as far as you can go. I will follow you, don't look back."
His uncle smiles warmly, assuring Olias that he will be fine.
Even though he is still a child, Olias knows it is a lie. A lie that is forced to become a pale hope. Although Olias knows it is a lie, he nods in solemn somber.
"Now. Run." The older devil uses magic to send his nephew away by creating a pseudo teleportation circle. This magic is one of the most preferred when facing a dire circumstance due to its efficiency and less cost magical energy. However, it also hides a massive drawback: it was unreliable in almost any terrain of magical density. Thus, it is inaccurate and sometimes dangerous.
When the flash of magical energy disappears from his view, Olias uses his strength to raise his legs. He began to run as fast as he could. His breath becomes uncontrollable as his weak body is unable to strain all over his body. He falls to the ground with depleted power.
Then, he heard noise from the misty direction behind him. The sound was of footsteps speeding towards him. Between the footsteps, a flat roar could make Olias lose the color of his face.
It is the monster, and it is chasing after him. At that very moment, Olias also realize another grim fact.
"No... Way.." He mutters as tears stream down his cheek. Yet, he needs to survive. Olias gathers his remaining strength, and then he runs.
But the reality is much crueler than he can imagine as the beast approaches him faster. The roar becomes apparent, drawing closer to Olias' location.
It didn't take long until it arrived in his position in surprise, standing menacingly before Olias. The abomination charges at him before the young devil can react, sending him flying.
"Akh!" Olias feel his ribs broken by the force.
The creature slowly approaches him, growling in anger. Its magical energy blares all around the forest, crushing Olias with the sheer magnitude of power.
"Please help me... Help me... Uncle." Olias asks for help as his eyes can't hold any longer.
The creature is ready to take his life with its countless arms. But something stops it as the creature is frozen in fear.
"You have endured well, Glynia." A male voice came from behind him. "Now you can rest,"
When the voice finishes his sentence, the creature closes its eyes. Its body becomes a limb, slowly resting its body on the ground.
The voice owner came into view, kneeling before the monster with a smile. He rests his palm on its face, sending unknown energy into its body. The creature slowly becomes docile and calm, creating a safe atmosphere for Olias to approach the unknown devil.
"Pardon me... Who are you?" Olias asks.
Before he could receive his answer, a crack made Olias halt his step. The creature's body slowly begins to disintegrate, transforming into ashes.
The unknown devil stares at him, smiling with benevolent intent.
"My name is Balechtar, Lord of Xilhotuk Domain. I am here to answer your cries." Olias' wounds healed with a single glance, and his broken ribs were restored.
A spark of hope glimmers in Olias' heart. He knows the person before him is a league above all else, an entity beyond and of any devil to reach. He is the savior.
"Can you help my people?" He asks carefully.
"Everything is in my power to command. Your matter is one of them."
At that moment, Olias felt the happiness that he thought he had lost forever in his life.