The only thing we know about the ancient ryuzoku's lifestyle was that it was a peaceful one. While we don't know what Val Agares' life was like, we can assume that he lived a fairly peaceful and normal one until the golden ryuzoku attacked his race. How Val managed to be the only one of his kind to survive is a mystery. Was it fate? Destiny? Or was it sheer luck? Either way, it was Val Agares who was the last one of his kind left.

In a desperate attempt to survive, Val Agares retreated to the desert. He spent most of his time hiding in the sand dunes, trying to stay out of the golden ryuzoku's sights. It's unsure of how long this went on but one day, he crossed paths with Maryuu-oh Gaav (who, at the time, had become half-mazoku, half-human). Gaav, in an act of either sympathy or convenience, gave Val Agares the choice to die or get revenge for his people. Val, not hesitating, chose revenge and was "killed" by Gaav and brought back as a mazoku (or, more specifically, half-mazoku, half-ryuzoku). Val Agares was now known as Valgarv.

How long Valgarv spent time with Gaav isn't clearly defined but we can safely assume that it was at least half a millennium. For this length of time, Valgarv learned the art of battle and stayed with Gaav faithfully. The two were not always together... Valgarv had taken to wandering around the country and in the process, came across Glavos and Jiras. Extending a hand in friendship, Valgarv gave both Glavos and Jiras the same option that Gaav gave him -- death or revenge. Both beast men chose revenge and in turn, became loyal servants of Valgarv.

Time passed and Gaav's plan to foil Mei-oh Phibrizo's plot to destroy the world came into effect. Unfortunately, Gaav was destroyed by Phibrizo in the process... although when the news reached Valgarv, he was informed that it was none-other than Lina Inverse who slayed his precious master. Enraged, Valgarv vowed to get revenge for the one true friend he had since his race was slaughtered and he set out to get revenge on Lina.

Before he met up with Lina, however, Valgarv was prepositioned by an outsider by the name of Armace. In turn for helping him gather the five Dark Star weapons, Armace would aid Valgarv in getting revenge for Gaav. Three weapons (Ravedomezehis the Spear, Mezard the Trident and Vodiga the Axe) had been found so far and all that was left to find was Gornova the Sword (Gourry's Hikari no Ken) and Galveria the Bow. Valgarv felt that it was time Armace did his part and requested the use of Ravdomezehis... but Armace declined, saying it was too dangerous. Angered, Valgarv decided to take it into his own hands and he left to attack Lina Inverse.

This is where Slayers TRY starts, at episode three and four.