Bennett wanted to explore the Valley of Despair? Over a decade ago, it was Katheryne who had handed the commission to those old adventurers. So she knew a thing or two about that mission. She also knew that the young man before her was the baby found on that expedition. Now that he had grown up, the very same Valley of Despair had reappeared in Mondstadt.
Katheryne said seriously, "That Valley of Despair is extremely dangerous. Over a decade ago, many adventurers fell in there." As a receptionist of the Adventurers' Guild, she knew full well how perilous it was. Any team entering would face the gravest dangers. And Benny's Adventure Team was just Bennett alone. If he got hurt in the valley, there would be no one to help him. He might never come out. Under these circumstances, she did not want Bennett to take this commission.
But Bennett didn't care. He wanted to complete the same adventure his dads had completed. So he said confidently, "I want to take this commission."
As the guild's receptionist, Katheryne had no right to stop adventurers from choosing their commissions. Still, she asked again, "Are you sure?"
Bennett said firmly, "I'm sure."
Katheryne sighed. "Very well."
Reluctantly, she handed him the commission to explore the Valley of Despair. Watching him walk away was like watching the old adventurers leave all those years ago. Except that back then, the old man had six companions. Now, Bennett was alone.
As she watched his retreating figure, Katheryne murmured, "May your dads watch over you and bring you back safely."
...
Meanwhile, far from Mondstadt City, near a valley close to Dragonspine. Normally, being so near the snowy mountain, the air should have been freezing cold. But now, the valley was filled with waves of heat.
Countless adventurers had gathered outside the valley.
"Why are there so many people for a single commission to explore the Valley of Despair? Are they all mad?"
"I heard that over a decade ago, a group of old adventurers found the greatest treasure in the world inside the valley. That's why so many have taken the commission."
"Has anyone gone in yet?"
"Yes, but no one has come out. Did they all die in there?"
"Pfft, don't say such unlucky things."
"Maybe they reached the end and found the treasure. Let's go in and see."
After their chatter, the adventurers began entering the valley. But as soon as they stepped inside, they hit an obstacle. Pools of molten lava churned and bubbled. One misstep, and they would become part of the lava.
Seeing this, many began to back out, afraid to take another step. They had come for adventure, not to die.
Just as many were hesitating, a firm voice rang out from behind them.
"Are you not going to continue the adventure? If not, could you make way? Thank you very much."
Hearing this, all the adventurers turned around. Sure enough, they saw a familiar figure.
"It's Bennett."
"He really came to adventure after all."
"Let him go first. If he can't make it, we might as well give up."
The adventurers parted, making a path for Bennett.
Under their expectant gazes, Bennett stepped forward fearlessly. To their astonishment, he easily entered the domain of fire, walking through the blazing flames into the depths of the Valley of Despair.
Behind him, the adventurers were thrilled.
"Bennett made it through!"
"We can make it too!"
"Let's go together! To the end of the Valley of Despair, to find the greatest treasure!"
They followed in Bennett's footsteps into the blazing fire. But the moment they touched the flames, many of the less skilled adventurers couldn't bear it. They scrambled back out, looking at their burns in shock.
"How did Bennett walk through those flames unharmed?"
"Those flames are incredibly strong."
"How could Bennett endure that?"
The adventurers were stunned. The first obstacle—the flames—had already stopped most of them.
Inside the valley, Bennett was surrounded by fire. He noticed that the flames seemed to have a will of their own, always lashing out at him, scorching his body. Yet strangely, no matter how they burned, they couldn't seem to hurt him.
Soon, Bennett passed easily through the domain of fire and reached the other side. As he had imagined, the fire was just one obstacle. Ahead lay endless black thunderclouds raging above the valley.
He tried to take a step. Immediately, a mass of Electro energy gathered above the clouds and struck at him. With a crash, a bolt of lightning as thick as a child's arm blasted a crater at his feet. If it had struck him, it would surely have killed him.
Bennett was stunned. This was what his dads had faced over a decade ago? Thinking of their heroic deeds, he gritted his teeth and charged forward.
Not only Bennett—several other adventurers who had also crossed the fire domain followed him into the lightning-stricken area.
But as soon as they ran a few steps, thunder roared overhead. Terrifying Electro energy gathered. Several bolts of lightning, each as thick as a child's arm, dropped from the clouds and struck toward Bennett.
Hearing the thunder, the other adventurers flinched. But when they looked, all the lightning seemed to target Bennett, striking only in his direction. The others breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thank goodness. Bennett is drawing all the lightning."
"Let's go quickly."
No sooner had they spoken than several more bolts as thick as Klee's arm descended from the sky and struck them.
Sure enough—following Bennett only brought bad luck.