Ch. 130: Chains Of Betrayal: The Serpent's Confession
Anok's severed arm had been patched up and he was bound with shackles and chains, as though he were some demon anchored to the ground. His bruised face bore the marks of brutal beatings, and his body trembled from the pain of being thrown into this dark, suffocating prison room. His breaths were shallow, every inhale a struggle against the bitter cold air that clung to the walls.
As the gate creaked open, a flicker of recognition passed over his face, though he barely raised his eyes. His voice came out, a low rasp filled with venom and melancholy. "Arman, boy. Come to see this old, dirty thing rot away? Or is that... the blood of a god I smell? Hah, since when did the gods care about the snakes in the mud?"
Arman's jaw clenched, and his hands balled into fists, his bandaged body barely concealed beneath thin robes. His breath came out slow, measured, but there was no hiding the rage beneath his composure.
