A Snake's Path (A Snake's Life Book 2)
Page 12
After circling around him a few times and inadvertently creating a small clearing, I found myself with a slight problem. How the hell was I supposed to create a puppet if I couldn’t touch them?
I couldn’t exactly experiment here, either. Once the Naga’s body was gone, that’s it. I’d have to hunt down another one and who knew if I could knock it out? Knowing my luck the way I did, something would happen and I’d end up killing it by accident.
I had to test my abilities on something, but what?
*Boom!*
The sounds of breaking tree branches accompanied by a heavy thud caused me to look away from the naga. I spotted an armored gecko crawling out of a crater in the ground about a hundred or so feet away, and a horde of spring bats attacking it.
Well, looks like I found myself some volunteers. I focused my magic on the stone bands and lifted them, and the naga, into the air. Then I carried the naga deeper into the forest. There was an inexhaustible number of test subjects just jumping at the chance to help me, so why deny them that chance?
The spring bats spotted me and threw a fit about my presence in “their” territory. They divebombed me with their tentacles spread wide, and their nasty looking nails flexed.
Chapter 13
YET ANOTHER GROUP OF spring bats dissolved into nothing as I failed for the sixth time in a row to activate my puppet maker ability. That was what, forty or fifty bats, and twenty geckos I’d already tried to turn into puppets?
“Are ya daft, or just stupid? I dunno what you’re attempting to do but give it a rest already.”
I let out an annoyed sigh and swiveled to look at the immobilized naga. “The only reason you’re still alive is that I keep failing. Keep it up, and I’ll eat you just to get it over with.”
“Bah, who cares? I was dead the moment I failed to stop ya,” Red sneered. “Besides, I know my death will be avenged. No one can defeat his majesty.”
“Fair enough,” I allowed. I focused my magic on the plants around us, then flung some vines at Red’s snout. They wrapped around his head nice and tight, then shrunk even further to ensure he couldn’t speak.
No way was I about to let such a fine day be ruined by that kind of negativity.
I dragged Red around the forest for another two and a half hours before I became too frustrated to continue. Nothing was working. I’d tried suppressing my aura, pulling the bats close before my aura could touch them, pushing them away before my aura could grab them, and every other idea I could think of.
It was maddening.
“Well, looks like your time just ran out.” Red rolled his eyes and gave me a “get on with it” look, so I did. I tried one last time to activate my puppet maker skill as I prepared to close the gap between us.
*Ding!*Ding!*Ding!*
I had time to glance at the pop-ups before the pain started. An earth-shattering, mind-breaking kind of pain that I couldn’t describe if I’d spent my entire life obsessing over a thesaurus.
ꝏꝏꝏꝏꝏꝏ
Warning!! Incoming series of notifications!!
You have consumed the necessary 100 souls required to unlock the Dark Serpent evolution.
Calculating. . .
Warning! Corruption detected!
Attempting to rebuild profile.
Profile reconstruction complete.
ꝏꝏꝏꝏꝏꝏ
Then my hearing left me, the world going silent as the grave for a full ten seconds before my vision left me in a void of nothingness. I’m sure I passed out, but I had no way of knowing for how long.
However, upon waking up I found myself inside an evolutionary shell, which was weird because I didn’t remember agreeing to evolve. I ripped my way out of the shell and collapsed onto my stomach. Residual pain and exhaustion had left me a quivering mess on the floor of a dark room.
I used what little strength I had to study my surroundings. Baskets of dried fruits, racks of meat, and smallish clay pots lay scattered around.
Was I in some kind of storage area? Had the jewel somehow managed to remain active the entire time?
*Ding*Ding*
ꝏꝏꝏꝏꝏꝏ
Your evolution is complete!
ꝏꝏꝏꝏꝏꝏ
Congratulations! You have done what only three others have ever managed to do: Become a Dark Serpent.
The Dark Serpent, otherwise known as the "Demon Serpent or the First Demon, is a creature of ancient power. This race is believed to be responsible for the corruption, and eventual fall, of the angels.
There have only been three Dark Serpents in history, and all of them were attacked and killed before they could control their power.
This race is the natural enemy of the gods because only this race possesses the ability to consume the vital essence that all gods need to maintain their power.
For attaining this evolution, you have been bestowed the title of “The Dark Serpent.”
You are now the enemy of the gods, and none shall come to your aid.
However, with great risk comes great reward.
A new menu has been created for you.
Warning!
Some of your skills may have changed.
ꝏꝏꝏꝏꝏꝏ
*Ding*
Oh, no.
ꝏꝏꝏꝏꝏꝏ
You have been granted the Supreme Divinity Resistance skill and the Divine Consumer trait due to your evolution into a Dark Serpent.
ꝏꝏꝏꝏꝏꝏ
*Ding!*
No, please stop...
ꝏꝏꝏꝏꝏꝏ
Due to a combination of traits, a trait has evolved!
Divine Gluttonous Aura: Due to Aura of Gluttony +8 evolving into Aura of Gluttony +12, and factoring in your new race’s dietary needs, the Aura of Gluttony trait, and the Divine Consumer trait have combined to create the Divine Gluttonous Aura trait.
*Note: This is always active*
ꝏꝏꝏꝏꝏꝏ
No, no, no, no, NO!
ꝏꝏꝏꝏꝏꝏ
You have been granted the Forever Growing trait due to becoming a Dark Serpent.
ꝏꝏꝏꝏꝏꝏ
Stop it, please!
ꝏꝏꝏꝏꝏꝏ
Name: Torga
Race: Gluttonous Dark Serpentine Dragon
Classification: Tier 7
Level: 86
Experience: 942,810 / 1,000,000
Titles: Destroyer of Asgard, The Dark Serpent
Stats:
Physical Strength: 2,048
Endurance: 2,048
Dexterity: 25
Speed: 11
Mental: Intelligence: 51
Wisdom: 36
Charisma: 19
Resistances Elements: 60%
Divinity: 80%
Mental: 20%
Immunities Mind Control
Skills: Major Stealth, Heat Detection, Supreme Gluttony, Supreme Growth, Greater Petrifying Gaze, Greater Acid Venom, Detect Concealment, Energy Breath, Fly, Magic Enhancement, Elemental Manipulation
Traits: Divine Gluttonous Aura +13, Growth +20, Strong Willed, Venomous, Aquatic, Winged, Forever Growing
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Why? I asked anyone who would listen. I didn’t want this, I didn’t want my gluttonous trait to grow stronger, I didn’t want my menu to change, and I certainly didn’t want the damn Forever Growing trait! I was fucking big enough as it was. Enough is enough. I struggled to move my body, but weakness permeated every fiber of my being. I stopped moving and just laid there, in the darkness of this room, and struggled to find a reason not to just give up and die. Wouldn’t take long, I could already feel my upgraded hunger clawing away at my insides.
What difference does it make if I go on or not? It’s not like anyone really cares about me or will miss me when I’m gone. “If I’m free to do whatever I want, then—I’ll wait for your return, Torga.”
I sighed. What the hell am I doing? Since when was this me? I made up my mind to try again. It took several attempts, but I mana
ged to crawl forward a few inches. Those few inches turned into a few feet as my aura ate away at my surroundings, slowly refilling my empty reserves and giving me the energy I needed to move.
Though, I soon found myself with another problem: stairs... a lot of stairs.
I just had to be in the fucking basement, didn’t I?
After reaching the top of the staircase, I found myself in the center of a big arena. The ceiling had a large opening that allowed the natural light of the twin suns to filter in. Before me was a sea of naga. Men and women of all shapes, sizes, and colors sat in chairs that lined the outer edges of the arena. Seeing as the arena was something like four hundred feet tall, the number of naga required to fill the seats of this place was staggering.
But they’d done it. There didn’t appear to be an empty seat in the house. It reminded me of a football stadium from back home.
In the center of the arena, on a raised dais made of white bones, I saw a thin naga with pure white scales and purple lines crisscrossing his body. A large oval garnet sat in the center of his forehead.
I'm guessing that's Urosh. Did he get the idea for this place out of some evil overlord's handbook? I wondered after seeing the throne, the arena, and his appearance. It looked like something an edgy teenager would come up with.
"The intruder is here," Urosh said in a slow drawl. His words caused an uproar as the several thousand naga began chanting at the top of their lungs. “Urosh, Urosh, Urosh!”
Urosh lifted himself off of his “throne” and came down the three steps to the ground, where he began advancing on me. “You’ve kept me waiting, challenger. Who gave you permission to evolve before introducing yourself to me? Do you know the difficulties I had to endure in order to bring you here?”
“Look, I’m really not in the mood for banter, so how about we cut to the chase and just get to the part where I kill you and leave. Sound fair?”
Urosh continued to advance but didn’t say anything.
“Yeah, I didn’t think so.” I canceled out the effects of my jewel and watched as first surprise, then anger came over Urosh’s face when I rapidly left his weight class.
While I expanded, anything unlucky enough to be grabbed by my aura was instantly devoured. Hundreds of naga perished in the span of a few seconds, with more following when I quickly surpassed the arena’s ability to hold me.
My tail burst through the rear wall, as my body continued to elongate.
*Ding!*
ꝏꝏꝏꝏꝏꝏ
Strength: +380
Endurance: +380
ꝏꝏꝏꝏꝏꝏ
Huh? I stared at the unexpected pop-up. I didn’t understand what it meant. Was it some kind of warning or was it simply telling me of a change to my status? I didn’t feel any different but maybe that was normal?
"I’m down here," Urosh drawled. His voice was so quiet I could barely hear him at my current size. I had to redo my sense enchantment in order to hear the rest of what he was saying.
"Have you come to surrender?” he asked. “It will be quick and relatively painless."
"No thanks."
"That's a shame." Urosh looked to either side of me and simply said, "Kill him," in a voice much deeper than earlier.
I glanced around at the fleeing naga and wondered who he could’ve been talking to. Surely not the ones fleeing for their lives?
“Die!” A shrill scream tore through the air.
I looked in the direction of the voice and saw half a dozen naga forcing their way through the crowds to get into the arena. They backhanded, punched, threw, and otherwise beat anyone attempting to flee. The surprising part was the fact that it was working. Six naga were somehow forcing several thousand of their kinsmen to turn around and charge at me.
“Are you truly going to sacrifice them?” I asked Urosh over the sound of his subjects’ screaming. He gave me a bored look and began moving in the direction of his dais. “Don’t you feel anything for them? They’re going to die, you know?” The first few naga slammed into my aura and were dissolved.
*Ding*
ꝏꝏꝏꝏꝏꝏ
Strength: +5
Endurance: +5
ꝏꝏꝏꝏꝏꝏ
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
A seemingly unending stream of naga ran into my aura bubble, killing themselves while trying to reach me. I’d foolishly thought after the first few, they’d catch the hint and would run away. If anything, they grew more zealous.
*Ding,*Ding,*Ding,*Ding*
For every naga that passed through my aura bubble, the number on the pop-up grew larger, soon exceeding two thousand for both “stats.”
I knew I could’ve stopped them at any time. I could’ve conjured a hundred-foot-high wall, or a valley so deep and wide they couldn’t cross. But honestly, why should I? If Urosh didn’t care enough to call them off, and they were too stupid to stop on their own, they deserved to become food.
For three minutes I waited while the naga threw themselves to their deaths, and at the end of it all, was a pop-up.
ꝏꝏꝏꝏꝏꝏ
Strength: +3,428
Endurance: +3,428
Growth: +2
ꝏꝏꝏꝏꝏꝏ
"You killed my subjects," Urosh said, seemingly unconcerned with the events of the last few minutes.
"Don't worry, I'll kill you too—" My mouth slammed shut as Urosh waved a hand, and a stone pillar almost as large as I was slammed into my face. I felt a sharp pain in my mouth, followed by a warm liquid pooling at the back of my throat.
The bastard had made me bite off the tip of my tongue.
I landed hard on my back, then a second pillar hit me from the side hard enough to send me spinning through the air. I crashed through the wall of the arena and was met by a third pillar that knocked me higher into the air. Before I even began to fall, a fourth pillar came out of nowhere to send me flying away from the arena.
I crashed into the forest several hundred feet away from where I’d started. I tried to move, but the only thing to rise was the stomach fluids I puked up. Okay—that hurt. I groaned.
When I finally stopped puking, I looked up and saw Urosh crouched in front of me with a disappointed look on his face. "Pity, I hoped you would've lasted longer than this." He said in that same slow drawl.
"You know what? You're right. I should have taken this seriously from the beginning."
"You believe that would've made a difference?"
"Oh, I guarantee it. Allow me to demonstrate." I snapped off a beam of magic that hit Urosh in the chest. It only knocked him back a step, but I followed that up with a pillar of my own.
Driven by the sixty-foot-long pillar, Urosh flew three hundred feet to crash into the side of the mountain. He pushed the pillar to the side, and was immediately met by two more pillars of stone, followed by me launching myself at him.
I crashed into him with as much force as I could muster. However, instead of slamming him against the mountain like I’d planned, my aura allowed us to pass through the tough stone without interruption. We hit the ground on the other side of the mountain and rolled away from each other.
Urosh struggled to right himself on his own for a few moments, before finally giving in and sinking his fingers into the bark of a nearby tree, which he used to get up. “You’ll pay for that," he hissed.
“Like I haven’t heard that before,” I groaned as I righted myself.
Urosh raised a hand above his head, and two things happened simultaneously: The sky darkened, and crimson light began pouring from his open palm. The light rose into the sky and began to saturate the atmosphere until it also turned crimson.
"Congratulations. Making me want to use this skill is something to take pride in of. Your ancestors should not be ashamed." The crimson light flashed, and a bolt of electricity tore through me. I bit back a scream, instead letting out a pain-filled grunt. I laid flat on my stomach and clenched my eyes shut.
I tried to muster my defenses by raisin
g a barrier of stone around my head, but a second bolt hit me, this time directly on my tail. The bolt was powerful enough to leave me twitching for several seconds.
A third bolt hit me almost as soon as the second one finished. I tried to coil into a ball, but my body would not obey me.
A fourth bolt hit me a heartbeat later. This one left a line of searing pain across my back and I screamed.
The fifth and sixth bolts hit in rapid-fire succession, scorching my scales, and pushing me deeper into the ground. I don’t know whether it was the pain or the fear that I might actually die that caused it, but my mind suddenly became crystal clear. I knew what I needed to do. The question was if I could do it without dying.
A seventh bolt hit me, and I felt my vulnerable insides being turned into extremely vulnerable outsides.
I angled by body towards the sky, coiled my tail beneath me, then launched myself high into the air. I spread my wings and flew directly into the storm clouds above. I sucked in a deep breath, and felt my aura pull in a large chunk of the surrounding clouds.
I hovered in place for a few more seconds, taking deep breaths and hoping my aura could steal as much as possible.
*Ding*
ꝏꝏꝏꝏꝏꝏ
You have unlocked the following evolutionary path: Gluttonous Draconic Naga
Would you like to evolve?
ꝏꝏꝏꝏꝏꝏ
“Yes!” I hissed.
ꝏꝏꝏꝏꝏꝏ
Your evolution is underway, and a shield has formed around you until it is complete. Time remaining until completion is 25 years, 11 months, 31 days, 23 hours. 59 minutes, 52 seconds.
ꝏꝏꝏꝏꝏꝏ
I felt my body crash to the earth shortly after my evolution began, and I immediately blacked out from the pain.
Chapter 14
I CAME TO WITH A START. My eyes were burning something awful, and I had no idea why. I twisted my body to the side, causing the shell around me to shatter like so much broken glass. I immediately began looking for Urosh. I doubted he had gotten far. He’d seemed pretty intent on killing me—