I will return

88

I watched my uncle wake up, his expression of confusion turning into palpable terror as he realized where he was.

"Good morning, Uncle Scooby," I said mockingly, moving a little closer.

Scooby looked at me with a mix of shock and horror, unable to process what he saw. He took a step back and began to shake.

"What's up, Uncle Scooby?" Aren't you glad to see me? —I asked him, feigning disappointment.

Scooby tried to maintain his composure, but the gloomy place and the well of souls around him had him clearly paralyzed.

"Scrappy..." he murmured in a broken voice, "but... what are you doing...?" Where are we?

I smiled and pointed to the place with a wide gesture of my paw, watching how his gaze was lost in the dark recesses of our surroundings.

"We're in the only place where no one can take you away from me... or from *him," I replied, and, with a slow, deliberate movement, I pulled out the Daemon Ritus, holding it in front of him.

Scooby's eyes widened even more, and a wave of panic crossed his face.

—Scrappy, but what... what have you done? he asked, his voice shaking.

I laughed softly and, without taking my eyes off him, I responded:

—I have only prepared myself for my destiny.

Slowly, I placed the Daemon Ritus in the center of my chest, feeling the artifact cling to me, fusing and filling me with unmatched strength. The feeling was overwhelming; It was as if an immense power enveloped me, joining my being, making me unstoppable.

I smiled widely, without a trace of fear on my face, and fixed my gaze on Scooby.

"This time," I said, with cold determination, "you won't be able to kick me."