"Alexandra..."
The voice came from inside Black Valley.
Alexandra froze.
She knew that voice.
It was Maximus.
For a moment, she forgot everything around her.
Her anger.
Her journey.
Even Dargan.
All she could think about was one person.
Maximus.
"Maximus!" she shouted.
Her voice echoed through the valley.
No answer came.
Then the voice returned.
"Alexandra..."
This time, it sounded closer.
Alexandra immediately started walking into the valley.
Dargan grabbed her arm.
"Wait."
Alexandra looked at him.
"Let go."
"We don't know if that's really him."
"I know his voice."
"That doesn't mean it's him."
Alexandra pulled her arm free.
"I've been looking for him for a long time."
She looked into the darkness.
"If he's inside, I'm going in."
Dargan sighed.
"Then I'm coming too."
Kian looked terrified.
"I don't think we should."
Alexandra looked at him.
"You said you would lead us."
"I said I would take you there. I didn't say I wanted to enter."
Dargan looked at him.
"Then stay here."
Kian quickly shook his head.
"No."
He looked into the valley.
"If I stay here alone, whatever is inside might come for me."
Dargan raised an eyebrow.
"So you're coming?"
Kian nodded.
"Yes."
The three entered Black Valley.
---
The moment Alexandra stepped inside, the temperature dropped.
Cold air moved around them.
The black mist covered their feet.
Kian walked carefully.
"Stay close."
Dargan looked around.
"Why?"
"There are places here where the ground disappears."
Dargan looked down.
He could barely see his own feet through the mist.
"That's useful information."
Alexandra kept walking.
She could still feel the presence.
Someone was nearby.
Watching.
Waiting.
Then she saw something on the ground.
A piece of torn cloth.
Alexandra stopped.
She picked it up.
Her eyes widened.
She knew it.
"This belongs to Maximus."
Dargan looked at the cloth.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
Kian looked nervous.
"He was here."
Alexandra held the cloth tightly.
"Then I'm close."
She continued forward.
A few minutes later, they found more signs.
Footprints.
Broken branches.
Marks in the ground.
Someone had clearly fought here.
Dargan crouched and examined the ground.
"There was a battle."
Alexandra looked around.
"Who fought?"
Dargan pointed toward several deep marks.
"Someone strong."
Kian whispered:
"Maximus."
Alexandra looked at him.
"You saw him?"
"No."
"Then how do you know?"
Kian pointed toward a tree.
There was a deep cut across its trunk.
"He always carried a weapon that made marks like that."
Alexandra touched the cut.
Her face became serious.
"He's alive."
Dargan looked at her.
"How can you know that?"
"Because if he were dead, something else would have happened."
Dargan did not understand.
But before he could ask, a sound came from the mist.
Footsteps.
Everyone became silent.
Step.
Step.
Step.
Someone was approaching.
Alexandra raised her sword.
Dargan lifted his weapon.
Kian moved behind them.
A figure slowly appeared through the black mist.
Alexandra's heart stopped.
It was a man.
Tall.
Strong.
His clothes were torn.
His face was covered with dirt.
His head was lowered.
Alexandra stared at him.
"Maximus?"
The man slowly raised his head.
Alexandra's eyes widened.
It was him.
Maximus.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Alexandra took a step forward.
"Maximus..."
He looked at her.
His eyes were different.
There was something strange inside them.
But Alexandra did not notice.
She was too focused on finally seeing him again.
"You came," Maximus said.
Alexandra's grip on her sword loosened.
"Of course I came."
She took another step.
"I've been looking for you."
Maximus looked away.
"You shouldn't have."
Alexandra stopped.
"Why?"
Maximus did not answer.
Dargan stepped forward.
"Something is wrong."
Maximus looked at him.
"Who are you?"
"Dargan."
Maximus stared at him for a moment.
Then he looked back at Alexandra.
"Leave this place."
Alexandra shook her head.
"No."
"Alexandra, listen to me."
"No."
She walked closer.
"I came here for you."
Maximus's expression became sad.
"You don't understand."
"Then explain it to me."
Maximus opened his mouth.
But suddenly he grabbed his chest.
His body shook.
He fell to one knee.
"Maximus!"
Alexandra rushed toward him.
Dargan moved quickly.
"Don't touch him!"
Alexandra stopped.
Maximus was breathing heavily.
Something dark moved under the skin on his neck.
A black mark appeared.
Alexandra's eyes narrowed.
"What is that?"
Maximus looked at her.
"I don't know."
The mark slowly moved across his neck.
Maximus cried out.
Then the entire valley shook.
BOOM!
Kian fell to the ground.
Dargan struggled to remain standing.
Alexandra remained still.
A deep voice came from everywhere at once.
"You found him."
Alexandra looked around.
"Show yourself!"
The voice laughed.
"You came exactly as I expected."
Alexandra's eyes became cold.
"You used his voice to bring me here."
"No."
The voice answered.
"I used the valley."
Alexandra looked at Maximus.
His body was still shaking.
"What did you do to him?"
"I did not create what is inside him."
The voice became quieter.
"I only woke it."
Alexandra's expression changed.
Dargan looked at Maximus.
"Inside him?"
Maximus suddenly stood.
His eyes turned black for a moment.
Then they returned to normal.
He looked at Alexandra.
"Run."
Alexandra did not move.
"Maximus..."
"RUN!"
A powerful force exploded from his body.
BOOM!
Alexandra crossed her arms and blocked the attack.
Dargan was thrown backward.
Kian screamed.
Maximus fell to the ground again.
Alexandra stared at him.
"Maximus!"
She rushed toward him.
But before she could reach him, a huge black wall rose from the ground between them.
Alexandra stopped.
She touched the wall.
It was cold.
Very cold.
She tried to break it.
Nothing happened.
The voice returned.
"Now you understand."
Alexandra's eyes became filled with anger.
"Release him."
"No."
"Release him!"
The valley shook.
The black mist began rising.
The voice laughed.
"You came here looking for Maximus."
A pause.
"But you never asked yourself why I wanted you to find him."
Alexandra became silent.
Dargan slowly stood behind her.
"What is your plan?"
The voice answered:
"I don't need Maximus."
Alexandra's eyes narrowed.
"I need you."
Silence.
Then the black mist rushed toward them.
Alexandra raised her sword.
The entire valley disappeared behind a wall of darkness.
And somewhere deep inside Black Valley...
Maximus opened his eyes.
The black mark on his neck began to glow.
But this time...
He was smiling.
To be continued...