As Su Yang and Max stood before the glowing egg, a hush fell over the spirit land. The egg, which had pulsed faintly before, suddenly began to shimmer with a golden radiance. The violet markings traced across its shell grew brighter, like veins of lightning dancing beneath its surface.
The air grew dense with world energy, gathering rapidly around the egg. It surged in waves, drawn into it like a tide returning to the sea. Then—crack—a fine line split the shell, and the sound echoed through the silence.
Piece by piece, the shell fractured. A blinding light burst forth from within, bathing the surroundings in brilliant gold and purple hues. Even after the egg had fully broken, the radiant light remained, refusing to fade.
Moments passed.
Finally, the brightness began to dim, and Su Yang was able to see what lay inside.
And then—he froze.
A creature rested within the shattered shell. It was small, curled, and impossibly cute.
A tiny green snake.
Its scales shimmered like polished jade, with a golden stripe running down its back like a divine marking. But most striking were the two soft, translucent purple wings on its head, fluttering faintly like a butterfly's.
> "W-what is this…?" Su Yang murmured. "This spirit beast… I've never seen anything like it. Not in this kingdom, not in any bestiary I've read about…"
He glanced toward the old storage ring Max had given him—the ring from which the egg came.
> "This ring… it didn't originate from this land. Just what kind of place did it come from?"
His thoughts were interrupted by a faint shuffling sound.
The tiny snake stirred.
Its small body twitched as it struggled to rise from the remnants of its shell. It tried to lift itself but collapsed, clearly exhausted. But the snake didn't give up—it kept wriggling and pushing, trying to climb free from the shards.
Su Yang's brows furrowed with concern.
> "She's just been born. She has no strength left…"
After a few more desperate attempts, the snake finally managed to crawl out of the broken shell. It lay in front of Su Yang, panting softly, its little tongue flickering weakly. Then, as if sensing something, the snake raised its head and looked directly at him.
Their eyes met.
She had brilliant purple eyes—pure, clear, and brimming with intelligence. Though her body was only the size of Su Yang's palm, she held herself with surprising pride.
> "So tiny… but she already recognizes me," Su Yang whispered.
Curious to understand more, he activated his Appraisal skill.
---
[Appraisal Result]
[Name: ??????]
[Age: Just Born]
[Race: ?????]
[Note 1]: This spirit beast has just hatched and has no strength to survive on her own. Immediate rest is required. Without aid, she will die shortly.
To restore her strength quickly, the host may feed her a drop of his blood. This will activate the dormant bond created when the egg first absorbed the host's essence.
---
Su Yang's heart sank.
> "She's barely hanging on… if I don't help her now, she might really die."
Then, to his surprise, the tiny snake began crawling toward him—slowly, shakily, using every bit of her limited strength to reach him.
> "She's trying to come to me?"
The snake's movements were clumsy, but her eyes never left Su Yang. That faint glow of affection in her gaze stirred something within him.
Kneeling down gently, Su Yang extended his hand toward her.
The snake paused for a moment—then without hesitation, she slithered onto his palm.
Her body was unbelievably soft and warm, radiating faint life. As she reached his wrist, she lifted her tiny head and rubbed
it lovingly against his skin. Her delicate wings fluttered lightly in response to his presence.