Chapitre 15: A missing world
Please allow me to enter the ten-compartment prison. Not the mountain this time—I want to enter the prison itself."
Hearing these words, Valerie stood still, staring at Dan before bursting into laughter.
"You—You say what?" she asked mockingly.
"This isn't a joke, Master. I'm serious," Dan whined.
Valerie's expression turned cold as she walked up to him, looking down. "You're serious?"
"Yes, Master," Dan replied.
"And what prompted this idea of going inside the prison?"
"I don't really have a reason. It just... it was calling me," Dan said, looking puzzled.
"It was calling you?"
"Yes, the same day you took me up there. As I was on the verge of death, something or someone reached out to me," Dan explained.
"Then that would be the gatekeeper," Valerie concluded, but Dan added, "It was an inward call. It happened from inside, not outside. It was like a hunger to enter inside"
Valerie didn't fully believe him, but there wasn't much she could do for him other than provide shelter. The rest was up to Dan to handle himself.
"Alright, you can go..." Valerie said, lighting a spark in Dan's eyes, "...but you have to show me what you've learned so far. You know what I mean."
"Yes! I am well aware, Master." Dan stood up, removed his shirt, squatted slightly, and assumed his fighting stance, looking at Valerie.
"There is no merit. If you win, that's good; if you lose, that's good. But I advise you, as usual, try your best, even if it kills you—"
Before she could finish, Dan launched a knee kick at her face, which she effortlessly blocked. He spun mid-air and aimed another kick at her head, but Valerie caught his leg.
"My turn," Valerie said with a smile, throwing a punch at Dan's gut. Before it landed, he managed to break free from her grasp and block the punch, but the force sent him flying and rolling on the floor like a ragdoll.
"Damn it," he cursed, getting back on his feet.
"If I hadn't let go of your leg, you would have ended up with a broken leg," Valerie said, looking directly into his eyes.
"I thought someone said I should fight hard even if it kills me," Dan grinned, retaining his fighting stance.
"Right, I had forgotten I said that," Valerie said, disappearing from Dan's field of vision. Both physically and in energy form, Dan couldn't sense her, she was gone. He looked around, as he tried to locate her.
"Try focusing on your opponent more," a familiar voice rang out beside him. Before Dan could react, Valerie swept her hand down, attempting to knock him out.
Seeing Valerie's hand descending, Dan thought, "Shit, I can't move, I can't dodge it, no!" But before the blow landed, he strengthened his legs and leaped up, dodging her attack.
Now in mid-air and about to land a punch on Valerie, Dan's right arm and body bulged, veins popping out. He swung at Valerie, who blocked it, causing a gust of wind and dust to erupt.
Cautious, Dan leaped backward, trying to understand what had happened. "That punch could bring down a tree, yet she blocked it. Much expected," Dan grinned, enjoying the fight.
"I had underestimated you. Seems like you have grown quite well," Valerie's voice echoed around. He couldn't pinpoint her location. "But don't worry, I'll take you a bit more seriously now."
Suddenly, Valerie appeared in front of Dan and swung an uppercut at his gut, sending him flying and crashing into a table.
"That's enough. You've grown. But I must tell you, I've never been to the prison, so I don't know anything about it. I won't stop you from entering, but be careful," Valerie said, pulling out a dark amulet that emitted a sinister energy. "This is the key to the other side. Pour some energy into it, and it will open up to you. It will lead you to the gate. To enter the prison itself, you'll have to meet the gatekeeper and state your reason for coming. The rest is up to you," she said, throwing the amulet to Dan, who caught it.
"Thanks, Master," Dan said, holding his stomach.
"Don't thank me yet. Do that when you come out alive," Valerie said, entering the house.
Hours later, Dan had washed up and prepared to leave. He tied his hair into a ponytail. His bangs were long stretching down to his cheek. He wore a bag on his shoulder containing food, water, and other necessities.
"Don't get yourself killed," Valerie said nonchalantly, though she was worried.
"Yes! I will come back safe," Dan said.
Valerie nodded. "You know how the amulet works, right? Go far away before using it, or this house will be involved in the rift."
"Yes, I understand. Bye, Master." Dan waved and left.
Going as far as possible, Dan held the amulet, feeling its surprisingly calm and soothing energy. It began to radiate a red light as Dan fed it his ryo. A fog formed before him. He walked into the fog, calm and resolute, knowing it wasn't time to back out.
"It's here," Dan said, completely surrounded by thick fog. He had passed through the rift and now stood at the mountain's base.
"It's not cold, and I can sense things clearly now," Dan said, looking around. After a moment of joy, he began to ascend the mountain.
*Roar
Dan heard a loud roar ahead. Smiling, he looked at the bear in the distance. "Long time no see," he said, receiving a roar in response.
The bear charged at Dan, maneuvering past trees. Dan leaped onto a tree branch, letting the bear pass below. The bear stopped, realizing it had been tricked, and looked at Dan.
Dan planned his next move. He lunged at the bear, removing a small knife from his pocket, slashing down with it and beheading the bear.
*Thud
The bear fell lifeless to the ground.
"I would have loved to make you suffer, but I'm running out of time," Dan said stoically, continuing his ascent.
Not long after, he reached the peak of the mountain. Unlike last time, he was quicker, having grown accustomed to the place.
"Oh my, if it isn't the same visitor as last time," a voice echoed, startling Dan. He assumed his fighting stance.
"Who are you?!" Dan asked.
"Oh, please, no need to be afraid. Lower your guard. Be free," a dark, smoke-like substance emerged from the trees, looking like liquid smoke.
"I asked, who the hell are you?" Dan's voice was high.
"I hate being asked questions. Normally, I do the asking, but since I didn't introduce myself, I'll answer your question in my way," a great silence followed.
*Boom
A tremendous pressure pinned Dan to the ground, immobilizing him and making a crater on the ground
'What's with this aura?' Dan cursed in his mind.
"My name is Belphar, gatekeeper of the ten prison realms Durakon and Commander of The Union. Now, state your purpose for trespassing upon these holy premises?" the voice asked.
Dan could barely breathe, let alone speak. He was being crushed. If this continued, he would die before stepping foot into the prison.
"I will set you free. I just wanted to remind you who is in charge and who asks the questions around here."
The pressure vanished, and Dan gasped for air as he slowly got up, staggering before regaining his balance.
"I... I am Dan, and I seek passage into the prison," Dan said weakly, almost drained of his ryo energy.
"Oh my, a human seeking passage into the prison. Fascinating. Are you seeking a death sentence?" Belphar asked.
"No, it's not in my command to ask such disgraceful questions. But if you're determined to enter, know this: no being has entered and come out of Durakon alive. Are you still willing to go?"
"Yes, please!" Dan said, resolve painting his face.
The voice was silent. The smoke stretched and morphed into a rectangle, then a long door. Dan walked towards it, opened it, and rays of light painted the dark foggy mountain. Clenching his fist, he entered, and the door disappeared.
Not long after Dan's departure, another figure appeared.
"Oh my, hail Valerie, or should I say Lucif. Why bless us with your glorious presence today? This calls for a celebration."
"Where is he?" Valerie asked, her voice cold and emotionless.
"Questions upon questions today. The young lad is inside. I just pray... well, she won't kill."
"Make sure he comes out from that wretched place alive," Valerie said, turning to leave.
"Oh, that's cruel. How can you call your home wretched? Cold as ever. That's why Master doesn't like you—"
"If you call my master one more time, Durakon will be looking for a new gatekeeper," Valerie warned before disappearing into the fog.
***
Inside the Ten Prison Realms, first chamber, Dan stood with his mouth wide open, looking into the vast open space. It was unlike anything he had ever seen, even before he lost his sight, yes. He didn't have his sight but yet he saw, which made him wonder what is this place. The place looked unreal, fake in every logical sense. In one word, it was
"beautiful."
L’AVIS DES CRÉATEURS 
Bjbrown393
Bjbrown393 Hello my dear readers, if you have read up to this chapter that means you love the book or love what you read and that also makes me happy and will appreciate it if you give me some support
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Cadeaux
-- Cadeau
reçu État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone