John Carter finds himself once again on Barsoom but in unfamiliar surroundings. He meets up with Tars Tarkas who informs him that they are in the Valley of Dor, the gateway to the afterlife. Instead of being a paradise, however, the valley is full of monsters who try to kill them. John and Tars enter the Temple of Thern where they become separated. John kills a pale warrior who is about to sacrifice a beautiful maiden chained to a pole. She tells him her name is Thuvia and the person he just killed was one of the legendary Thern.