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"Stop… There's no need for that."
The giant snake's voice slithered slowly into Ragnar's ear, like a drawn-out whistle laced with an eerie echo.
Under the cold moonlight, the Shadow Soldier Ragnar stood atop the mountain, staring into the giant snake's luminous green eyes.
Her words meant nothing to him. He merely lowered Korgami carefully from his shoulder. His master's wounds were nearly healed—only a sliver remained—but Ragnar wasn't focused on that now.
"Impressive… So you're a Spirit Snake."
His voice was devoid of emotion as he locked eyes with the serpent coiled at the cave entrance, moonlight reflecting in her yellow-tinged pupils.
"But… Your demand that I stop, that there's 'no need'… What do you mean?"
She didn't answer. Instead, her long, forked tongue flicked out slowly, and the air trembled with each of her breaths.
Ragnar knew the Beast Continent well. Since entering it with his unconscious master, he'd seen things no human mind could describe as anything but revolting.
The first horror was that beast torn in half within the thick fog—a fog stretching roughly a hundred miles in diameter, as Ragnar estimated after running nonstop while creatures stalked the scent of Korgami's blood.
Hundreds chased him through that haze, twisted shapes and glowing eyes piercing the mist… Had his master not absorbed the high-level skeletal beast's energy and unleashed a fraction of his aura, they'd still be pursuing him.
Ragnar harnessed that borrowed power while Korgami lay unconscious, fleeing until he spotted a mountain draped in vines and moss, its base veiled by a fog-spewing cave.
Suspicious, he heard a beast fleeing through the mist, shrieking in terror… He seized it by the tail and hurled it into the cave. The gruesome result confirmed his fears:
Iron teeth sprouted from the floor, ceiling, and walls, clamping down on the victim as lower fangs impaled its stomach mid-scream.
In an instant, one severed leg rolled to Ragnar's feet before a slimy, blood-streaked tongue lashed from the darkness, coiled around the limb, and dragged it inside.
But this mountain guardian didn't keep its prize long… Another monstrosity invaded its territory. The clash of titans ignited a violent battle, trapping Ragnar at its heart.
He soared through the air with Korgami, dodging shockwaves strong enough to obliterate any flesh.
When the struggle ended, both beasts lay dead. Ragnar tore the blue energy core from the stone creature's corpse—just before hearing countless approaching footsteps.
He fled until reaching *this* mountain, eerily silent… *No beasts here*. He deduced its ruler was too powerful to tolerate rivals on its domain.
And so, under the moonlight, he first saw the giant snake.
All he glimpsed initially were two green eyes glowing from the cave mouth.
He stood battle-ready, acutely aware of the risk in setting Korgami down. If a hidden beast struck now, defending him would be near impossible.
Yet no shadows stirred, no stealthy sounds—only the snake… and her voice.
Ragnar recognized her as a Spirit Snake: smarter than the mindless abominations he'd faced, perhaps rivaling the skeletal beast in cunning.
Still… he didn't retreat.
Tilting his head slightly, he demanded:
"My question stands… Why should I stop?"
---
"Because I have an offer for you both… I know you're outsiders."
The Spirit Snake's green eyes gleamed in the dark. "You came from the Human Continent, knowing nothing… of *this* land, correct?"
Her gaze shifted to Korgami, unconscious on the ground, before releasing a long hiss: "Ssss… Consider your master's condition."
Ragnar felt a strange pressure envelop the mountain as her slit eyes—adorned with violet patterns—radiated immense power.
He raised his voice, anger and warning sharpening his tone:
"I caution you, snake… Harm my master, and no force in this world will save you from me!"
She smiled serenely, her voice still an enigmatic murmur:
"I told you… We need not fight."
Ragnar clenched his fist, studying her with razor focus.
"Ssss…" She hissed again, then spoke more gravely:
"I'll grant you shelter in this mana-rich cave… and share all I know of this continent's beasts and terrain…"
She paused abruptly, weighing her next words.
"What is it?" Ragnar snapped.
The snake smiled faintly:
"And I know your goal… to destroy Barburos."
The very air shuddered at the name. She added, her tone mournful yet pragmatic:
"But it's impossible… Barburos stands at the apex of this world's power—the mightiest being on this planet. Return to the Heroes' Union… and warn them not to repeat past mistakes."
Another hiss escaped her: "Ssss…"
---
The moment Korgami stirred, a faint wind tousled his hair.
He moved suddenly, emitting a weak groan that drew both Ragnar and the snake's attention.
His voice was weary but clear:
"Unfortunately… We're not from the Heroes' Union. So your warning means nothing to me."
As Korgami rose fully, Ragnar breathed:
"Master… You've finally awakened…"
Instinctively, Ragnar moved to assist him, but Korgami halted him with a subtle gesture—a silent command for composure.
"This aid you offer… is significant."
Korgami's voice was calm, his eyes dissecting the snake. "I appreciate your goodwill, but… *Why* help us?"
The snake smiled slowly, her signature hiss echoing: "Ssss…"
Then: "You're… an intelligent human. Though unconscious moments ago, you've regained your poise utterly… I must commend you."
"No… thanks. I don't care for empty praise—it serves no purpose."
Korgami's voice sharpened. "Right now… we have nothing. No intel, no sanctuary."
He smiled coldly. "Information is vital to me. So name your price. Anything."
Irritation sparked in her eyes: "I retract my words… You *are* reckless… But I admire that. My demand is simple."
"What is it?" Korgami brushed dirt off himself, tore a strip from his tattered cloak, and tied it over his closed eyes.
*"Why cover his eyes now!?"* Suspicion flared in the snake; fury flashed in her gaze before she suppressed it.
"I want that core… taken by your soldier… from the stone monstrosity…"
"Huh? What core…?" Korgami fumbled through his pockets.
Finding nothing, he called sharply: "Ragnar! If you have it, show me."
"At your command, Master." Ragnar's voice brimmed with loyalty.
He swiftly produced the faintly glowing blue core… But Korgami, still blindfolded, couldn't see its hue clearly.
Korgami reached toward Ragnar's voice but misjudged the direction. Ragnar gently guided his hand, placing the core in his palm.
Korgami traced its surface with deliberate care, contemplating his next move as the snake watched every twitch—analyzing, weighing intent.
With each touch, Korgami deciphered the core's power: *Rapid healing… Regeneration of lost limbs.*
Instantly, he understood why the snake craved it—and half the truth behind her strategy:
*The snake… is wounded. Incapable of fully healing herself, she couldn't risk fighting a strong foe for a core. So she dimmed her aura, luring low-tier beasts to the mountain in droves. Safely entrenched, she fed easily. Any creature nearing her cave? A flare of her aura sent it fleeing. Terrified of death, she chose to hide here until her end.*
But fate intervened: She sensed *unfamiliar* auras descending onto the Beast Continent—Ragnar shielding a critically injured Korgami.
Shock gave way to cunning. She broadcast their presence, rousing nearby beasts with the scent of blood.
Yet Ragnar thwarted her plan by unleashing the third-tier energy within a controlled beast. Undeterred, she escalated: As Ragnar neared the fog's edge, she amplified her power, revealing his location to the stone monstrosity. A trap—it lured another beast of equal strength, and they fought to mutual annihilation.
That was when the snake knew: Ragnar would take the stone beast's regenerative core to heal his master. Simultaneously, she alerted lesser beasts, flooding the area—then flared her aura, *forcing* them to retreat from *her* mountain.
Thus, Ragnar saw a beast-free summit… a "safe" haven.
Korgami chuckled darkly but quickly sobered, awed by the snake's ruthless intellect.
Yet he didn't linger in silence. His voice cut the night:
"Snake… How can we trust you'll honor your word—giving us intel and sanctuary—*after* we hand over this core?"
The snake smiled, her expression unreadable, as a long hiss escaped her:
"Ssss… Trust? Human… Everything hinges on your choice."
Ragnar turned to Korgami, awaiting his command. The snake's eyes never left the core in his hands, as if measuring its worth against their lives.
"Heh heh heh… I truly *like* this snake's style!" Korgami's laugh was devilish as he tossed the core high—and caught it again.