Days in the Abyss were strange and unmeasurable, with no sun to mark the passage of time. The darkness was eternal and oppressive, and the constant silence weighed heavily on Ryan. It was like being trapped in a never-ending night where fear lurked in every shadow. But Ryan, determined to survive, focused on his goal: to create something that could make even the denizens of the Abyss pause.
Ryan had begun foraging more seriously, learning to navigate the treacherous terrain of the Abyss. He discovered that some areas were more fertile than others, with strange plants that bore twisted fruit or roots with a pungent smell. It wasn't much, but it was something he could work with.
His first breakthrough came when he stumbled upon a small, abandoned human carriage. It had been attacked and left to rot, but among the debris, Ryan found something that made his heart leap—cheese. It was old, and certainly not in the best condition, but it was cheese nonetheless. There were also some bags of flour, slightly damp but still usable, and a few other odds and ends that he could make work.
"Now we're talking," Ryan grinned to himself as he stuffed the supplies into a makeshift sack. It wasn't much, but with what he'd learned about this place's ingredients, he was confident he could put something together.
Back in his alcove, Ryan began his work. He mixed the flour with water to form a dough, kneading it carefully with Helcurt's claws. It was awkward at first—Helcurt's body wasn't exactly designed for delicate tasks—but Ryan's determination pushed him forward. He rolled out the dough on a flat rock, creating a rough circle.
Next, he turned his attention to the toppings. The cheese was crumbly and pungent, but it would do. He sliced it thinly and spread it over the dough. For a sauce, he improvised with some mashed fruit he'd found, which had a tangy, almost tomato-like flavor. It wasn't perfect, but it was the best he could do with what he had.
Finally, he added the dried meat and the roots he'd foraged, arranging them carefully on top of the cheese. As he worked, he couldn't help but smile—this was as close to pizza as he was going to get in this nightmare realm.
With everything in place, Ryan carefully heated the dough, using the same method he'd discovered earlier. It was slow going, but eventually, the edges of the dough began to crisp, the cheese melted, and the toppings started to sizzle.
Ryan's heart raced as he watched his creation come to life. For a moment, he forgot where he was. He wasn't in the Abyss; he was back home in his small kitchen, experimenting with new recipes, just like he used to. It was the first time since waking up here that he felt a glimmer of happiness.
When the pizza was finally done, Ryan carefully lifted it off the rock, inspecting his handiwork. It wasn't perfect—far from it—but it smelled better than anything else he'd encountered in this place. His stomach growled in anticipation.
"Alright, let's see if this is any good," he muttered, tearing off a piece and popping it into his mouth. The taste wasn't quite what he was used to, but it was still the best thing he'd eaten since arriving here. The dough was a bit chewy, the cheese a bit strong, but the combination of flavors reminded him of home.
Ryan couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. This was his first real success in the Abyss, something he'd created from nothing. And for the first time since he arrived, he felt like he might actually have a chance to survive here.
But before he could finish his meal, Ryan heard a sound that made him freeze. It was a low, rumbling growl, the kind that sent shivers down his spine. He turned slowly, his heart pounding, and saw a massive figure looming in the darkness.
It was Thamuz, the leader of the Abyssal creatures, the one who had confronted Ryan earlier. His fiery eyes were fixed on Ryan, and his expression was unreadable.
"What are you doing, Helcurt?" Thamuz rumbled, his voice like distant thunder. "Why are you slacking off?"
Ryan's mind raced. He hadn't thought about what he would do if someone found him cooking instead of, well, doing whatever it was that Helcurt usually did. He opened his mouth to respond, but all that came out was a nervous squeak.
Thamuz took a step closer, his massive frame casting an even darker shadow over Ryan. "You are an assassin, Helcurt. A warrior of the Abyss. Why are you playing with food like a human?"
Ryan swallowed hard, trying to find his voice. "I, uh… I was just trying to, you know, improve morale. Figured a good meal might, uh, help us fight better?"
For a moment, Thamuz just stared at him, his fiery gaze boring into Ryan's very soul. Then, to Ryan's surprise, the massive creature let out a deep, rumbling laugh.
"You think a meal will make us fight better?" Thamuz scoffed. "We are creatures of the Abyss. We do not need human comforts."
Ryan's heart sank. He was sure Thamuz was going to destroy him then and there. But then, to his surprise, Thamuz sniffed the air, his gaze shifting to the pizza that Ryan had made.
"What is that?" Thamuz asked, his tone shifting slightly.
Ryan hesitated, then held out the pizza, his claws trembling. "It's… it's called pizza. It's, uh, a human dish. I made it with what I could find."
Thamuz reached out, his massive hand dwarfing the pizza as he took it from Ryan. He examined it for a moment, then, to Ryan's shock, took a bite.
The room went silent as Thamuz chewed, his expression unreadable. Ryan held his breath, waiting for the verdict. Finally, Thamuz swallowed and looked down at Ryan.
"Not bad," Thamuz rumbled, handing the rest of the pizza back to Ryan. "For a human dish."
Ryan blinked, his mind struggling to process what had just happened. Thamuz had liked it. Maybe not loved it, but he hadn't destroyed it either. That was something, right?
Before Ryan could say anything, Thamuz turned and began to walk away. "Do not let the Queen see you slacking off like this again, Helcurt," he called over his shoulder. "Next time, you might not be so lucky."
Ryan nodded, even though Thamuz couldn't see him. "Y-Yes, sir. I won't, sir."
As Thamuz disappeared into the darkness, Ryan let out a long, shaky breath. He'd just survived a confrontation with one of the most powerful beings in the Abyss, and somehow, he'd done it with pizza.
"Not bad," Ryan muttered to himself, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Not bad at all."