The next morning, the group gathered at the mountain's base. The mist curled around jagged rocks, and the air felt sharp with anticipation.
Sai stretched his arms behind his head, grinning. "Alright, team, where's Trasam? "
Shi's face stayed calm, though his eyes were distant. "He will not join us today. He is… gone "
Amal crossed her arms with a scoff, though her voice carried a touch of hurt. "That old beast couldn't even say goodbye? Typical."
Xei adjusted his blade with sharp precision, his tone clipped. "If he left, it was for something important. He doesn't waste time on sentiment."
Tai swung his pack onto his shoulders, rolling his eyes dramatically. "Yeah, yeah—enough with the mystery speeches. Let's hit the road already."
Amal shot him a look. "Idiot. What road? We're climbing a mountain. Did you forget?"
Tai smirked, unfazed. "Nope. Just sounded cooler when I said it my way."
They began their climb, the wind biting as they scaled the steep stone face. Hours passed before Sai broke the silence, his voice lighthearted even as sweat lined his brow.
"Hey, Shi. Yesterday, I swear I heard you mention the Snake King. That doesn't make sense, right? Tai ended him."
Tai snorted, wiping his forehead. "Yeah, and don't forget, I made it dramatic. Totally killed him. End of story."
Shi's expression didn't shift, his voice calm as flowing water. "You most certainly killed him. But I was not speaking of your father."
The group froze, glancing back at him.
Amal frowned, her tone laced with confusion. "Wait… I thought there was only the Snake Queen. Goddess of all snakes. Isn't she the one we're climbing to find?"
Shi's gaze shifted to the mountain peak above, the clouds swirling around it like a crown. His voice dropped into something weightier, carrying the weight of truths not yet spoken.
"You will not understand until we reach the summit
The climb grew steeper, the air heavy with the weight of what awaited them above. The clouds thinned just enough to reveal jagged ruins carved into the mountainside—signs they were close to the lair of the Ninth Beast.
Xei, blade drawn and eyes sharp, broke the silence. "To reach the summit, we'll have to get through the next beast."
Sai grinned, fire flickering faintly around his hands. "Stronger than ever, right? I'm sure we can handle it."
Shi's calm voice cut through, carrying quiet warning. "Sai. Think back. The first time we met Trasam… what happened?"
Sai chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "He nearly killed us. And he wasn't even using his full power."
Shi nodded gravely. "Exactly. The next beast may be stronger than him."
Sai smirked, confidence undimmed. "Then we'll still defeat it. But hey—" he laughed, striding forward with reckless cheer, "—one of us might die!"
The others froze. His laughter echoed off the rocks.
Tai stopped dead, fists clenched. His usual sarcasm melted into rare steel. "No. None of us are dying. Not you, Sai. Not anyone. I know you, and I won't let that happen."
Sai glanced back at him, eyes soft for just a second. "…Fair enough."
Amal pointed ahead, her tone sharp but steady. "Look. We're here. The Ninth Beast."
The shadow of a massive creature stirred within the mist, its form coiled like a mountain of scales.
Xei stepped forward, blade glinting, his voice hard and commanding. "Everyone, prepare. We'll ambush it."
Sai blinked, tilting his head. "Ambush? Since when do we sneak around?"
Amal's smirk tugged at her lips. "Honestly? That's actually a pretty good plan."
But Sai and Tai spoke together, voices clashing with hers:
"But if we do that, we won't see its full strength!"
Xei snapped his gaze to Sai, his words like steel. "Sai, we don't have time to waste. Don't forget—your time in this realm is running out."
The fire in Sai's grin flickered just slightly, but he shrugged. "Fine. How are we doing this ambush, commander?"
Xei's eyes narrowed, his voice sharp with authority. "Sai and Tai—you'll face it head-on. Draw its attention, test its strength. Try not to get killed."
Tai muttered under his breath, "Oh sure, easy job."
Xei ignored him and turned to Amal. "You'll be with me. Prepare to release the largest amount of ashes you can muster. I'll strike at the opening."
Finally, his gaze landed on Shi. "You'll support Sai. He'll need you."
Shi inclined his head, calm and steady. "Understood."
The ground trembled as the Ninth Beast stirred, its roar splitting the air like thunder.
Sai cracked his knuckles, smiling as flames danced at his fingertips. "Well… guess it's showtime.