Chapter 12

Chapter 12: Third Circle: Gluttony - "A Feast of Filth"

The transition from the Second Circle was as abrupt as it was nauseating. One moment, Nycresia, Arriane, and Drave were leaving behind the howling winds of Lust; the next, they found themselves plunged into a putrid, rain-soaked landscape that assaulted every sense with merciless intensity.

Fat droplets of foul-smelling liquid pelted them from above, each impact feeling like a small, disgusting explosion on their skin. Their feet sank into a mire of mud and half-decayed matter, the squelching sound beneath their steps a constant reminder of the filth surrounding them. The stench was overwhelming – a potent mixture of rot, excrement, and something sickeningly sweet that clung to the back of their throats, threatening to make them retch with every breath.

Drave, his face a masterpiece of conflicting emotions – disgust warring with a strange, almost perverse amusement – swept his arm out in a sardonic gesture of welcome. "Behold, ladies," he announced, his voice dripping with dark humor, "the delightful realm of Gluttony. Where those who overindulged in life are forced to wallow in filth for eternity. Charming, isn't it?"

As he spoke, Drave's hand unconsciously moved to the silver pendant hidden beneath his shirt. The weight of it against his chest was a constant reminder of his mother's lessons, of the secrets he carried, and the burdens that came with knowledge. For a fleeting moment, a memory of his childhood flashed through his mind – running through sunlit fields with Rex, his faithful dog, without a care in the world. The contrast between that innocent joy and the hellish landscape before him was almost too much to bear.

Arriane gagged, nearly overcome by the stench, but she managed a weak smile. "Well," she choked out, "at least it can't get any worse, right?"

As if in response to her words, a distant rumble of thunder echoed across the dismal landscape, and the putrid rain intensified. The oppressive atmosphere weighed heavily on them, both physically and mentally.

Nycresia scanned the area, her keen eyes searching for any semblance of a path through the muck. In the distance, she could make out the forms of other contenders struggling through the filth. Some were sinking, crying out for help as the putrid sludge threatened to swallow them whole. The sight sent a shiver down her spine, a grim reminder of the stakes they faced.

"We need to keep moving," Nycresia urged, fighting back her own revulsion. "The longer we stay still, the more likely we are to sink."

They set off, each step a battle against the clinging mud. The rain continued to fall, a constant assault on their senses. As they trudged forward, Nycresia noticed strange, lumpy forms half-buried in the muck. With a start, she realized they were bodies – the damned souls of gluttons, forced to lie in the filth they created in life.

Drave, noticing her horrified expression, leaned in close. "Don't look too closely," he warned, his usual smirk replaced by a grim expression. "The sights in this circle have driven many a contender mad." There was a hint of genuine concern in his voice, surprising even himself. He pushed the feeling aside, reminding himself of his ultimate goals. The Kendall sisters were means to an end, nothing more – or so he tried to convince himself.

As they pushed on, the landscape seemed to shift and change around them. One moment they were wading through knee-deep slop, the next they found themselves on slightly firmer ground, only to sink again moments later. The constant changes made it impossible to get their bearings or plot a clear course.

"This is impossible," Arriane panted, struggling to pull her foot free from a particularly sticky patch of muck. "How are we supposed to find the checkpoint in this mess?"

Drave's eyes narrowed as he surveyed their surroundings, his mind racing through the mythological knowledge imparted by his mother and the secrets revealed to him by the cloaked figures. "In the original story," he mused aloud, "Cerberus guarded this circle. Perhaps finding the beast is our key to moving forward."

No sooner had he spoken than they began to notice strange, dog-like creatures prowling the edges of their vision. Three-headed beasts with glowing red eyes and razor-sharp claws stalked through the filth, their snarls barely audible over the constant patter of rain.

"Careful," Drave whispered, his hand once again going to his hidden necklace. The familiar touch of the pendant grounded him, reminding him of the power and knowledge it represented. "These aren't the real Cerberus, but they're dangerous enough. Best not to attract their attention."

They crept forward, trying to stay as quiet as possible in the squelching muck. But their caution was in vain. One of the creatures caught their scent and lunged, its jaws snapping mere inches from Arriane's face.

Nycresia reacted instinctively, swinging her makeshift leaf whistle like a weapon. The sharp edge caught the beast across its muzzle, drawing an unearthly howl of pain that echoed across the dismal landscape.

"Run!" Nycresia shouted, grabbing Arriane's hand and pulling her along.

They splashed through the muck, the sounds of pursuing Cerberi close behind. Other contenders scattered, some falling victim to the relentless hounds. The putrid rain lashed at their faces, nearly blinding them as they ran.

Drave, his cunning mind working overtime, spotted a potential salvation. "There!" he pointed to a raised area ahead, a small island of relative dryness in the sea of filth. "If we can reach that, we might be safe!"

With renewed determination, they pushed forward. The mud seemed to grow thicker, more resistant with each step. Nycresia's muscles burned with the effort, but she refused to give up. Behind them, the snarls and howls of the Cerberi grew closer.

As they neared the raised ground, Nycresia noticed something strange. Scattered across the small hill were what looked like... food? Piles of fruit, loaves of bread, and jugs of wine dotted the landscape. The sight was so incongruous in this realm of filth that she nearly stumbled.

Drave's eyes gleamed with a mixture of interest and wariness, his strategic mind immediately grasping the implications. "It's a test," he realized aloud, his voice tinged with a hint of admiration for the cruel ingenuity of it all. "The circle of Gluttony – we're being tempted. How deliciously cruel."

Arriane, exhausted and soaked to the bone, reached for an apple. The hunger that had been gnawing at her since their arrival in Hellbreak suddenly felt overwhelming. "But we're starving," she pleaded, her voice trembling. "Surely a little food wouldn't hurt?"

Nycresia caught her hand, ignoring the pang of hunger in her own stomach. "No," she said firmly, drawing on the wisdom passed down through generations in Oakwood. "Remember the lessons from home? 'Beware gifts freely given in the land of the damned.'"

It was a saying she'd heard from the town elders, a warning against the tricks of the Obsidian Veil. Never had it seemed more relevant than now.

As if confirming her suspicions, they watched as another group of contenders reached the hill. Overcome by hunger and exhaustion, they fell upon the food with ravenous abandon. But with each bite, they seemed to sink into the ground, the hill slowly swallowing them up.

"We need to cross without eating," Nycresia declared, her voice filled with grim determination. "It's the only way."

Drave nodded, a hint of respect in his eyes. For a moment, his carefully constructed mask slipped, revealing genuine admiration. "Smart thinking, Cress," he said softly. Then, remembering himself, he added with his usual roguish charm, "But that still leaves us with our little dog problem."

As if on cue, a massive, three-headed dog emerged from the muck behind them – Cerberus itself, far larger and more terrifying than its smaller counterparts. The creature growled, its hot breath washing over them in waves of decay.

"Now what?" Arriane whispered, her voice trembling but her eyes still bright with determination.

Nycresia looked at the beast, then at the uneaten food behind them. An idea formed in her mind, born of desperation and half-remembered myths.

"Drave, Arriane, grab as much food as you can carry," she instructed. "But don't eat any of it!"

Understanding dawned on Drave's face, followed by a grin that was equal parts admiration and mischief. "Of course!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement. "In the myth, Cerberus was distracted by food! You continue to surprise me, Cress."

As they quickly gathered armfuls of fruit and bread, Drave couldn't help but feel a twinge of something unfamiliar – a mix of pride and fondness for Nycresia's quick thinking. He pushed the feeling aside, reminding himself of his greater purpose. The Hunt, the secrets of Hellbreak, the promise of power from the Obsidian Veil – these were what truly mattered. And yet, a small part of him wondered if perhaps there was more to gain from this journey than just power and knowledge.

With their arms full of tempting morsels, they turned to face the monstrous dog. With all her might, Nycresia hurled the food at Cerberus. The others followed suit, pelting the creature with their offerings.

For a moment, nothing happened. The beast's six eyes glared at them, unblinking and filled with hunger – not for the food, but for them. Nycresia's heart sank. Had she miscalculated?

Then, slowly, Cerberus began to lower its heads, sniffing at the food. As they watched, it began to eat, its attention entirely focused on the unexpected feast.

"Now's our chance," Nycresia whispered, her voice barely audible over the squelching of the muck and the grotesque sounds of Cerberus devouring its meal. "Let's go!"

They crept past the distracted Cerberus, their hearts pounding in their chests. But as they neared what they hoped was the edge of the circle, they found their path blocked by a wall of squirming, writhing flesh – the bodies of the damned, piled high and tangled together.

Drave, his face a mask of grim determination, spoke the words they all dreaded to hear. "We have to climb," he said, his voice low and serious. "It's the only way forward."

Swallowing their revulsion, they began to scale the grotesque barrier. Hands reached out to grab them, mouths opened in silent screams or whispered pleas. The stench of decay grew even stronger, if that was possible, and the constant movement of the bodies made their climb treacherous.

Nycresia forced herself to focus on the task at hand, ignoring the horror around her. She could hear Arriane's labored breathing behind her, and Drave's occasional grunts of exertion. The pendant around Drave's neck felt heavier than ever, a physical manifestation of the secrets and burdens he carried.

As they neared the top, a particularly violent tremor shook the wall of bodies. Arriane lost her grip, crying out as she began to fall. Nycresia lunged, catching her sister's hand at the last moment.

"I've got you," she grunted, straining to pull Arriane up. "Don't let go!"

With Drave's help, they managed to haul Arriane to safety. As they caught their breath at the top of the fleshy mound, Nycresia saw something glinting in the distance – the checkpoint sigil.

"There!" she pointed, her voice filled with a mixture of relief and urgency. "We're almost there!"

But their ordeal wasn't over yet. As they began their descent on the other side of the wall, they heard a familiar growl. Cerberus had finished its meal and was once again on the hunt.

"Run!" Drave shouted, all pretense of calm abandoned. His eyes were wide with a fear he couldn't quite hide, a reminder of his own mortality despite all his knowledge and schemes. "Run like your lives depend on it – because they do!"

They scrambled down the pile of bodies, slipping and sliding in their haste. The growls grew louder, and Nycresia could feel the beast's hot breath on her neck. Just as she thought it was over, that they had come so far only to fail at the last moment, they reached the sigil.

Nycresia slammed her hand against it, feeling the familiar surge of energy as it activated. The world shimmered around them, Cerberus's snarls fading into the distance as the Third Circle began to dissolve.

As the putrid rain and stench of Gluttony faded away, they found themselves in a new, equally challenging environment. But for the moment, they were safe.

"We did it," Arriane said, a note of wonder in her voice. "We actually did it."

Drave nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. His mind was already racing, calculating how this experience could be used to further his goals. "Three circles down," he remarked, his tone casual but his eyes sharp. "But remember, we're not even halfway through yet. The real fun is just beginning."

Nycresia took a deep breath, savoring the absence of the foul stench that had permeated the Third Circle. She looked at her companions – Arriane, still trembling slightly but with a determined set to her jaw; and Drave, his usual smirk back in place but with a new respect in his eyes as he regarded her.

"You know," Drave said, his tone casual but his eyes sharp, "you handled that rather well, Cress. Almost as if you'd faced similar challenges before."

Nycresia met his gaze steadily, sensing the probing nature of his question. "Living on the edge of the Obsidian Veil teaches you to expect the unexpected," she replied carefully. Then, deciding to push back a little, she added, "But you seemed pretty familiar with the layout yourself, Drave. Care to share how?"

For a moment, something like pain flashed across Drave's face. Memories of his mother's lessons, of the cloaked figures and their revelations, of the promises made by the Obsidian Veil – all of it threatened to overwhelm him. Then his usual mask of nonchalance slipped back into place. "Let's just say I've had some... experience with Hellbreak," he said evasively. "But that's a story for another time, I think. We should prepare for what's coming next."

As they gathered themselves for the challenges ahead, Nycresia couldn't shake the feeling that Drave was hiding something crucial. His knowledge of the circles, the way he seemed to navigate their dangers with an almost practiced ease – it all pointed to secrets he wasn't sharing.

But there was no time to dwell on it now. They had survived Limbo's riddles, Lust's tempests, and now Gluttony's revolting trials. But Nycresia knew the journey through Hellbreak's Inferno was far from over.

As they prepared to face the Fourth Circle, she steeled herself for what was to come. Whatever secrets Drave was hiding, whatever challenges lay ahead, she was determined to face them head-on. The worst was yet to come, but so was the opportunity to prove their worth, to survive, and perhaps to uncover the true nature of Hellbreak itself.

With a shared nod of resolve, the trio stepped forward, leaving the putrid realm of Gluttony behind and venturing into the unknown perils that awaited them deeper in the Inferno. Drave, his hand once again touching the hidden pendant, felt the weight of his ambitions and the unexpected stirring of conflicting emotions. As they moved forward, he couldn't help but wonder how his carefully laid plans would unfold in the face of the growing bond between him and the Kendall sisters.