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"Look, this's my hunt, and I need to pay my debt to restore the Balance, not hide behind your back. Or are you always going to mentor me whenever something else shows up at hunting? I'm not crazy about the idea. I'm scared to death, but the sooner we're done with this, the better," as I quickly chattered, the bright spot was approaching. One more step and we would be able to see our opponent. Apparently, we were in plain sight because the fireball exploded pretty close this time, and we had to hide behind the barrel so the next time it would not hit the bull's-eye.

"You don't get it! You need to have more skills to fight him. He's too strong for you. I expected to meet the Nefarious or Murky Shadows, but not the demigod. He's the son of Typhon."

"Oh… Wait… Isn't he supposed to have three heads and a lizard body or something?"

"Cerberus is a demigod. He can take several different forms, including the one you've mentioned."

"Is he immortal?"

"No, but he's very powerful. If you fight him you'll die, so we'd better get out of here."

"No. He started first. He tracked me down, so he won't stop until he kills me. I don't want him attacking me in a broad daylight, or while I'm taking shower or sleeping!"

I have never been particularly brave. On the contrary, I was a terrible coward and almost always avoided making important decisions that could lead to any changes. I often had panic attacks, insomnia, emotional breakdowns, so I always preferred to stay in the comfort zone. I had neither phobias nor passion for adventures. And now I had to fight the son of God, representing the fiery forces of the earth. Apparently, like father, like son. He skillfully threw fireballs, but I could throw something as well…

Leaving my hiding place, I shouted,

"What's taking you so long?" I winced. They say an angry opponent is not an opponent –he often makes mistakes. I was shaking all over, so this would hardly help me.

I heard a creepy laugh. It reminded a volcano erupting lava to the rhythm of laughter. The monster had come very close. He looked like the lava of different solidification degree in the human form of black and fiery colors. The liquid was dripping from him and instantly solidifying.

"I don't want to rush. Everyone's been waiting a long time for this, and I plan to enjoy the murder."

"How do you plan to get the Force? What if it vanishes into thin air when I die?"

"The Force will move to the one next to you after your death. That's how it works, the same way you absorb the abilities of those you kill."

"So, death is the only way to get rid of it, right?"

"Yes.

I needed all this talking to make the monster approach me, so I would grab him by the hands. And as soon as he got close enough, I tried to implement my plan, but instead of the predicted result I just burned myself. The pain was unbearably stinging even when I took my hands off the laughing creature. I was unconsciously screaming, and my hands were shaking from the insane burning sensation.

I noticed some movement out of the corner of my eye. Eugene was pulling out his sword trying to protect me. I burst into tears. Why on Earth did I think I would handle this? Who said I was fit for this mission? Why do I have to pay someone else's debt? Why do I have to suffer because of someone else's mistake?

"I'm Cerberus! Did you really think you could fool me so easily? I'm not some ordinary demon! These tricks don't work on me! So just relax, and we'll get it over with!"

I looked at Eugene and shook my head to keep him out of it. I guess I made the dumbest decision in the world at that moment – to get rid of the Force at all costs, to win or to die trying.

I figured out how to use the Force inside me – I simply needed to release the inner demon as the Guardian had advised. At that moment, I realized what could help me do this – pain or fear were the best things that made me fight.

The Cerberus's body was gradually getting covered by black smoke, coming from me, making a translucent cocoon. I was squeezing the black cloud until it extinguished the lava of Cerberus and he turned into a pile of ashes. He stared at me in surprise, as if this state was unusual to him.

"Second attempt?" I uttered.

I grabbed him by the hands and felt his power flowing into me, feeding my inner demon who enjoyed this.

Suddenly, euphoria gave way to pain. But I crashed into the wall. It was hard to determine what caused the pain the most. As a child, I broke my arm, and I still remembered those feelings. They were similar, though now my entire body was in pain. I could feel the blood running down my cheek from the cut above my ear, my head was spinning, my ears were ringing, and everything was fuzzy. Bones were healing fast, wounds skinned over instantly, and by the time Cerberus got close to me, I already stood, swaying in uncertainty.

Soon I found out that my hand hadn't healed properly, and I was in terrible pain. It could be a dislocation that will ache until reduced. I had poor knowledge in medicine, but fighting the demigod with one hand was mission impossible.

I walked up to the wall and this reminded me of a scene from some action movie that Jackson liked to watch. Movie heroes usually reduced the dislocations with no effort. As a rule, they needed a wall for that, and I happened to have one. I hesitated for a few moments. My brain told me that it would be incredibly painful, much more than it was now. But when bones and joints are no more dislocated the pain would soon vanish.

I kept telling myself. With that in mind, I hit my shoulder against the wall at a run. With my luck, the bones were not reduced. The realization that I needed to repeat the intention again with a double effort paralyzed me. But I had no time for doubts. Cerberus almost recovered, and would soon try killing me.

I took a deep breath, closed my eyes tight and headed straight to the wall. There was a loud crack from the blow, and my hand was pierced with terrible pain. But the necessary result was finally achieved. The pain was gone in a moment, and I could easily move my hand.

"Good girl, Darsy!" I complimented myself. And I thanked the previously killed Murky Shadow for such a great ability to regenerate.

Meanwhile, the smoldering demigod almost approached me.

He flared up again and got angry. Cerberus threw his fireballs at me, and I tried to run away. If it were not for my new ability, due to which I easily climbed onto the roof then I would have definitely turned into a crispy chicken. The fragile edge of the roof disappeared under my feet, and I flew down. Cerberus did not waste time, and threw another fireball at me. I tried to shun the blow, but was not fast enough, so the fireball burned my side in flight. I landed on asphalt. My clothes were burning, though I felt nothing of that. I was enveloped in fog, and was about to fall into darkness. However, if I allow myself to surrender it, then death would be inevitable. I used my last ounce of strength to open my eyes right when the new fireball was flying in my direction.