Flames rise up from the centre of the Earth and wave like witches' arms. In their frantic motion, they catch every breathable air particle and burn it like one suffocates a chick in one's fist. The flaws on the ground crackle on the entire surface. Like a thousand collapsing fortresses, with a loud and deep sound. Although, this fire does not light up Erebus. On the contrary, it makes it darker. Slowly, you make your way through these flames and yet, nothing has ever been so clear to you. You can see like in broad daylight ! Surprisingly enough, the fire does not consume you.

Two rows of chained temptresses surrounding the corridor, like the Karnak temple lions, were blinking amorously the lids of their boa-like eyes... awaiting a human flesh feast. Here and there, between their graceful limbs, your predecessors' skeletons were strewn on the dust.

You really are right in the middle of the Inferno.

Is that simply because you are already consumed ? Is there nothing left to burn in your wicked soul ? As light as a spirit, you twirl around gracefully among molten rock chaos, walk on flame crest, leap over crevasses, to join for a moment the farandole of blazing gases. Yes ! You belong to this place. You are so at ease within it that no one should claim his right to rule it in your place.

But that is just what happens. The ancient Serpent is the master here below. He is coming to you at this precise moment with his sharp shiny scales in fifteen coils of his body. And you have to confront him. You must floor the Serpent without a spear or a blade. He has been here since the beginning of time. Since his exile from the world, he is pacing endlessly his domain up and down until he finally comes across the one who would stop his progression.

But how can you stop such a monster ? Countless arms as broad as men shake wildly as they throw flaming boulders in your direction. His head is so hideous that you look away ; it is eaten by a huge beard soiled with dust and dry blood. His rage rings out between two knocks of his jaws.

Yet, as you go forward resolutely, he slows down his pace. By flapping twice his huge black wings, he pushes away the flames that are in front of him, sending up an ignited sputtering dust.

The astonishing leaps that make you cross the hot lava torrents are those of an angel. With flexed muscles and clenched fists, you dash your body out of the flame tongues and dive back into them heavily. A backhand punch is enough to push back the titan's missiles and the corps a corps can soon begin. You are dreaming. Indeed, so easy a victory is only possible in the barren world of your fantasies ! Whether you are like a pig in muck in the inferno, he is still the master. And what a master !

Thus, resigned to death but paradoxically willing to assert your rightful superiority, you put your whole mind together in order to mature a strategy.

And immediately the miracle occurs. You understand what should floor the brute, what would impress strength. While your fingers start a little keyboard exercise on the surrounding air, your feet set about a series of leaps, points and hitches. You are performing these moves with a ballerina's lightness.

But his anatomy does not respond anymore, all hypnotised by your minuet. Shackled to his rebellious members, he is subdued by your grace ; and you can make a fool of the first demon, Typhon, as much as you like. With your art, you teach him humility. No, there is no demon who can challenge you in Hell !

Tangled up in his coils, the lord of the area is easily by-passed. Typhon is lying down on the ground and it would not require a lot to lift a rock and crush his skull. However, you have no intention to usurp his domain. The main thing was simply to show him who the boss is.

You could have ruled in his place over fire and death. But you will disdainfully leave this job to him. Your propensity for Evil has some more subtle ways. You prefer by far subversion to negation. What is more, the white of purity and holiness suits the Devil quite well. Why do without it ?

A few miles away, a pale glimmer is shining. Behind you, Typhon is weeping over his shame.

How did you manage to overcome such powerful opponents ? Although nothing in the way you are or look like seems to have changed. No, you definitely succeed for being where you are the least expected, and nothing can resist your analysis. This time there is no more doubt about the way to go.