Continuing with the story, an encounter with a being unlike the rest of the nightmare creatures in this world takes place before our friends, who, apart from its appearance, wonder to themselves: "Who on earth is this creature?"
MAYANTÚ: (raising his hand) Hello… Umm, a demon, right?, and a god, what a surprise. What are your names?
QUETZALCOATL: A talking frog is impressive. Oh, sorry, my name is Quetzalcoatl, a pleasure.
MALEKIN: Hello, little guy, my name is Malekin, and dime a dozen, what exactly are you? Why are you here?
MAYANTÚ: Hee-hee, you see, I don't just appear before anyone, but you seemed interesting to me. That mortal man you gave to the specters was a truly vile being, and I approved of what you did. I offer help to those who need it. Let me heal your hand. Come here, Mr. Malekin.
MALEKIN: Oh, thanks (offers his hand).
MAYANTÚ: For a demonic being you are very trusting, aren't you? But this time you don't need to worry (places his staff in Malekin's hand).
A light that seems warm appears, and MALEKIN's wound begins to heal.
QUETZALCOATL: It's true, Malekin, you shouldn't be so trusting; we are just meeting this being.
MALEKIN: But I didn't feel bad intentions from him; besides, what do you think a being like him could do to us?
QUETZALCOATL: (Looks him up and down) Yeah, you're right, but we shouldn't drop our guard either.
MAYANTÚ: Ho-ho-ho, what haughty youths. Perhaps if you search in that human's memories, you will find something about me.
The two are surprised and quickly search through JORGE's memories, where they find vast knowledge of everything, and there in his memories is the complete description of this being MAYANTÚ—a good-hearted spirit who helps those in trouble and only appears to people with pure hearts.
MALEKIN: It's incredible, you are a good specter, and you belong to a place called Peru.
QUETZALCOATL: What surprises me even more is that now I know there are many more gods than the ones I knew. This is impressive. Furthermore, there are many different species here, both from my culture and others. Who could be behind all of this? I was aware that other gods existed, and I thought only the Celtic gods were part of this immense cosmos, but I see I was wrong.
MAYANTÚ: Calm down, kids… all done (Malekin's hand is healed). Alright, follow me, I will guide you safely to your friends.
Our friends nod their heads and begin following the frog goblin while talking. Along the way, we see that a barrier has formed around our friends, allowing them to see better within the area.
MALEKIN: This is remarkable, how do you do this?
MAYANTÚ: Oh, this… you see, I control the weather a bit and I can camouflage myself. Currently, you are inside my barrier and the enemies cannot see us. Look around you, they can't see us; that is how I kept myself safe for a long time.
Our friends look around as they advance with MAYANTÚ, seeing men and women wandering naked through this place, walking like zombies while other specters pass by their sides, draining their vitality.
MALEKIN: I am amazed, this is a hell within another hell. How is this possible? I'm just now realizing that there were inhabitants in this place.
QUETZALCOATL: I think because of the fight we didn't notice, and it's as if Mictlan has completely changed. What is this place exactly?
MAYANTÚ: How funny you supernatural beings are; you marvel at this, you look like babies, ho-ho-ho.
Our friends, upon hearing this, blush and become a bit more serious.
QUETZALCÓATL: (Blushing) You know I'm a god, right? What's the matter with you, old toad?
MALEKIN: (Blushing) After all, I am a strong demon, don't underestimate me, old toad.
MAYANTÚ: Ho, ho, ho... well, don't get angry (turning serious). The truth is, you haven't realized it, have you?
Our friends are surprised upon hearing this.
MAYANTÚ: This place steals your powers depending on your fears; you have something weighing heavily at the bottom of your soul, something you must expiate in order to move forward. This place is a nightmare for any being that suppresses their strongest emotions, and it is ruled by an evil king. You need to overcome your past to keep advancing.
MALEKIN and QUETZALCOATL listen to this sweating, beginning to reflect on their lives; both look at each other's faces and then look back at the old frog.
MALEKIN: Old man… What should we do to overcome this?
QUETZALCOATL: Yes, please, help us.
MAYANTÚ: (changes his face from serious to a friendlier one) Hee-hee, well, kids, no need to change the mood; this place is madness, but you don't have to lose your minds over the answer. As we move closer to the center of this world, we will find the pyramid where the guardian of this realm resides, and the closer we get, visions of your past will torment you. It will be up to you to conquer your fears in order to reclaim your stolen powers. This curse is so strong that even a god will struggle to escape from here (looking at Quetzalcoatl). Well, we are entering the city now.
Our friends begin climbing a long flight of stairs to enter the city, and upon reaching the top, the frog goblin speaks.
MAYANTÚ: Welcome to "Yawarpa Llaqtan" or, for those of you unfamiliar with the language (wink, wink), the City of Blood. This is a city lost in time, a mystical and powerful city that worships the bat god and…
Suddenly, chaos breaks out in the area: it was DANTE, REX, and BRAYAN running from a variety of enemies—women with skull faces followed by "the Pishtacos," and behind them a massive skull—and they were sprinting right toward them. The frog drops his barrier, allowing them to be seen from about 20 meters away. MALEKIN leaps and dashes toward his friend, quickly charging past them and releasing a powerful lightning attack that sends all the enemies flying. Just as he was about to land a strike on BRAYAN, who was transformed, he is stopped by DANTE, who steps right in front of MALEKIN.
DANTE HERALDI: WAIT! He's a comrade!
MALEKIN: What are you talking about? Can't you see he's a monster? From what I know, he's a Nagual!
DANTE HERALDI: How do you know that? Well, yes, but he's not an enemy, he's a comrade from when I was alive; his name is Brayan Spectrum and he's an ally.
BRAYAN transforms in front of everyone, and DANTE pulls a robe from his bag—which he is slowly regaining control over—and hands it to him to cover himself.
QUETZALCOATL: My, a human who turns into an animal; yes, I know of these types of beings.
BRAYAN SPECTRUM: (nervous) Dante, who is this voluptuous woman?
DANTE HERALDI: Well... you see, she is Quetzalcoatl.
SPECTER BRAYAN: (impressed) What? The goddess Quetzalcoatl, that's it, right? No, no, no, you're not lying to me, right? Because I'd be thrilled to have a goddess protecting me in this place!
QUETZALCOATL: Well, kid, don't get too excited because I'm limited in this place.
DANTE HERALDI: You guys are in the same boat as me, but I just saw Malekin send all those monsters flying!
MAYANTÚ: Well, I might be able to explain that to you.
Dante turns around toward the voice he heard and sees nothing; when he realizes the voice is coming from below, he lowers his gaze and spots the frog goblin, getting startled. BRAYAN also jumps back upon seeing MAYANTÚ and instinctively ducks behind MALEKIN, but once he realizes who he's standing behind, he gets scared and moves behind QUETZALCOATL instead. REX simply watches him, intrigued.
DANTE HERALDI: Who is this creature?
MALEKIN: Alright, first off let me introduce myself to the new guy: I am Malekin, a good demon, and this friend present here is called MAYANTÚ, a goblin who helps people in distress, and he helped us.
BRAYAN SPECTRUM: Wait, Mayantú, you said? He's a goblin that helps people in danger? What great news!
DANTE HERALDI: How do you know that?
SPECTER BRAYAN: Through the knowledge of my fallen comrades, right, buddy? (Gazes into nothingness between his legs).
DANTE HERALDI: Um… well then.
MAYANTÚ: Alright, let me explain: Malekin and Quetzalcoatl recently had an experience that granted them greater willpower, partially restoring their powers—not in their entirety, which is why they are stronger than you guys, who still need to overcome the fears and regrets inside your souls. This place works like that; you have to overcome your inner nightmares to get out of this place (looking at Brayan).
DANTE HERALDI: Now I understand everything. And how do we overcome this, Mr. Mayantú?
MAYANTÚ: Well, you see, we have to keep advancing toward the pyramid located at the center of this city and overcome the trials this place imposes on you so you can escape from here.
DANTE HERALDI: Very well. Wait, has anyone seen Elena and Isamu?
MAYANTÚ: Don't worry, they are trapped as bait in the pyramid; those humans don't have any burdens weighing them down, which is why they were captured, but that doesn't mean they are out of danger. We have to save them from the claws of the bat king.
BRAYAN SPECTRUM: You guys are crazy, why do you want to leave this place? There is no way out, don't you get it? I... I lost everything. I don't want anything to do with that bat king or whatever he's called. No, please, don't do this to me; I'd rather leave with my friend. Goodbye! (Runs off).
DANTE HERALDI: Hey, wait, no!
DANTE tries to stop his friend, but Brayan transforms into a beast and sprints away. MAYANTÚ uses his staff to stop DANTE, hooking it around his leg and tripping him.
MAYANTÚ: Wait, kid, let him go; that poor soul has much to reflect on and has to crawl out of his emotional pit on his own. You cannot help him.
DANTE HERALDI: (Gets up from the ground) Damn it, I know, but he was one of my best men; I can't just leave him behind.
MALEKIN: I know it hurts, Dante, but this frog is wise; let him go, he needs to solve his own problems.
DANTE HERALDI: (sighs) Alright, it just breaks my heart to leave him.
QUETZALCOATL: It seems your friend carries something deeply tragic in his soul and must face it alone; besides, remember we have to rescue the others.
DANTE HERALDI: That's true… Elena and Isamu too. Alright, let's go.
MAYANTÚ: Follow me, I will guide you to the entrance and support you morally, tee-hee.
Our friends begin walking through the immense city, enveloped in MAYANTÚ's barrier so other beings won't detect them, allowing them to advance without worry.
DANTE HERALDI: This barrier is amazing, don't you think, Malekin?
MALEKIN: If this is amazing, I'd like to learn it.
MAYANTÚ: You might just manage it; you are the demon of barriers, after all.
MALEKIN: Sir, how do you know so much about us if we haven't told you anything about ourselves?
MAYANTÚ: Ho-ho-ho, you see, I possess a power that allows me to know the past, present, and future of things, and I can discern much more just by looking at a person. In the past, when I traveled the mortal plane, I met a being named "Mimir." He was a strange, solitary being, but exceedingly wise; I spent some time with him, but as a wanderer of worlds, I moved on. He taught me several things, which is why I know so much.
DANTE HERALDI: Wait, Mimir? That's spectacular. He was immensely wise, and from what I know, he was the guardian of a lake or something like that.
MAYANTÚ: The Well of Wisdom, kid, but that doesn't matter now. Alright, we're almost there. Oh, it seems you're about to face something major. Prepare yourselves…
DANTE HERALDI: What? No, wait—I have questions to ask you. How did you get to the mortal realm? And how did you end up here? And where is this city from? It doesn't appear in any book I've ever read, and...
From one moment to the next, our friends begin to feel an overwhelming drowsiness, and one by one, they collapse to the ground while the little frog goblin watches over them.
MAYANTÚ: It is time for your trials; I hope you manage to overcome your nightmares and fears and don't end up like those zombies. I'll be waiting for you eagerly—and don't worry, I won't abandon you. Good luck, hee, hee...
Our friends lie asleep on the ground. What nightmares from the past will this place unveil to them? And will they manage to overcome them? Very soon we will find out.