Ch.48 The Serpent King Pt. III

Prologue 

Ch.1 End of a New Beginning 

Ch.2 End of a New Beginning Pt. II

Ch.3 End of a New Beginning Pt. III

Ch.4 End of a New Beginning Pt. IV

Ch.5 Return of the Champions 

Ch.6 The Champions History 

Ch.7 Power Orientation 

Ch. 8 Into the Marsh

Ch.9 Fear of Demons

Ch.10 The Underground City of Belrim

Ch.11 Night of the Betrayed 

Ch.12 Unspoken Truth  

Ch.13 The Redbeard Pt. I

Ch.14 The Redbeard Pt. II

Ch.15 Reunion 

Ch.16 Before the Storm

Ch.17 Flashpoint

Ch.18 The Fatal Swordsman

Ch.19 Rebirth

Ch.20 Into the Abyss

Ch.21 Overseer 

Ch.22 Demon General Balor Balor Pt. 1

Ch.23 Demon General Balor Balor Pt.2

Ch.24 Demon General Balor Balor Pt.3 

Ch.25 Demon General Balor Balor Pt. 4

Ch.26 Fallen King

Ch.27 Last Wish

Ch.28 Awakening 

Ch.29 Aftermath

Ch.30 All That Remains 

Ch.31 Chances

Ch.32 Gearing Up for Yalti

Ch.33 The Jungle of Yalti Pt. I

Ch.34 The Jungle of Yalti Pt. II

Ch.35 Armlocke Village 

Ch.36 A Rogue Healer  

Ch.37 Moving Forward 

Ch.38 Invasion

Ch.39 Tempo Blaze

Ch.40 Scream of Liberation

Ch.41 Retaliation 

Ch.42 Green-Band

Ch.43 Green Band Pt. II

Ch.44 Serpent Pool

Ch.45 The Silent Swordsman

Ch.46 The Serpent King Pt. I

Ch.47 The Serpent King Pt. II

Ch.49 The Serpent King Part IV

Ch.50 Prelude to Freedom 

Ch.51 Queen of Elbaronce 

Ch.52 Bounty

Ch.53 New Horizons

Vol.1 Afterword

Ch.54 Tyranny in Darmin

Ch.55 The Pink Sea

Ch.56 Wreckage 

Ch.57 Gathering of the Most Wanted

Ch.58 World of Champions

Ch.59 Womcos Wasteland 

Ch.60 Making of a Marksman 

Ch.61 Outfit Three

Ch.62 Unspoken Truths Guild

Ch.63 Goals & Decisions 

Ch.64 Captain Butch Jones Pt. I

Ch.65 Captain Butch Jones Pt. II

Ch.66 Captain Butch Jones Pt. III

Ch.67 Dragon Foot

Ch.68 The Message Pt. I

Ch.69 The Message Pt. II

Ch.70 The Message Pt. III

Ch.71 Time Will Tell

Ch.72 A New Adventure

Ch.73 A Deserted Island

Ch.74 Chimpa's Animal Kingdom

Ch.75 A Rising Threat 

Ch.76 Devil of the Sky Pt. I

Ch.77 Devil of the Sky Pt. II

Ch.78 Vessel of the First King

Ch.79 Humbled 

Ch.80 Kanon

Ch.81 Becoming a Symbol 

Ch.82 Emergence

Ch.83 True Colors

Ch.84 Phoenix

Ch.85 Our Beginning 

Ch.86 The Sixth Member

Ch.86 The Double Agent

Ch.87 The Astlin Pirates

Ch.88 A Worrisome Threat

Ch.89 Whistling Bounty Hunter

Ch.90 Stone Island Zetra

Ch.91 Havok

Ch.92 Out of the Shadows, Darmin's Rebellion

Ch.93 The Third Brother Pt. I

Ch.94 The Third Brother Pt. II

Ch.95 Locked Away

Ch.96 Prisoners

Ch.97 Examination

&#x3C;p&#x3E;Chapter Forty-Eight:&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;strong&#x3E;The Serpent King Pt. III&#x3C;/strong&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;Marshall backed himself into the wall once more. I had a small chance to counter his next move from the distance. Moments slowed down. It felt like an eternity transpired in a second of time.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;Ahhhhh!&#x201D; Marshall screamed in a battle cry, throwing me off. &#x201C;Baron slingshot,&#x201D; he shouted, attaching himself to a corner. I threw both of my hands up to create a shield of dark, rusk energy. Unfortunately, his speed with the slingshot he created surpassed mine. He slipped past the energy before it could solidify.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x26;nbsp;The brute force of the double stomp into my gut spilled some leftover poison I saved into my gut. I slowly coughed out gasping for any air that I could grasp. The serpents on my body are controlled by my nervous system.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;They were momentarily paralyzed as my body reacted to the powerful blow. I felt myself flying backwards through the air, poison spewing out of my mouth uncontrollably.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;What strength? Or have I just lost all of mine?&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;I fell to the ground from the impact of the catapult. I attempted to reach my feet before Marshall arrived for another attack.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;I looked up and all traces of gray coat disappeared.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;What? That speed and the attack patterns&#x2026; He is on a different level! Long distance and short distance attacks means only one thing...!&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;I looked up at the top of the ceiling near the chandelier and noticed a shadow.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;This attack is coming from the air!&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;Baron&#x2026; Shuriken!&#x201D; Marshall yelled out from behind the chandelier. The spear and himself began to spin around horizontally.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;I&#x2019;ll just counter it! Black Venom&#x2026; Fog!&#x201D; I yelled out in a slight hesitation.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;The venom shot out like the way rain begins to come down, before a storm. It solidified into a solid haze around me. I rolled on the ground to change my location. Marshall continued to combat the attack and sliced through the venom. In a state of disbelief, I began to freeze up.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;What? How&#x2026; Anymore time and we both will be unable to continue.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;I promised everyone&#x2026; I would beat you! I never fail to keep my promise, even if it costs me my life!&#x201D; Marshall yelled out as the spinning human shuriken sliced close to my neck.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;Marshall quickly rose back to the top of the ceiling again, by bouncing off my chest. In a slower reality, Marshall held his spear with one hand. The spear grew in a tremendous size, as I looked at the kid.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;This boy&#x2026; He lives a life with no regret! Hmm&#x2026; I wish I was like him back then&#x2026;.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;Watching the spear grow, preparing to smash me. Serpent King, I tried to think back on the life I once lived. A life I was thrown into, but I refused to want to live.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x2026;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;From birth, out of the hundred Demon families, we hold a draft. A draft to determine who will come to Eukaperok and battle to take back our world. The Serpent family to this point never had someone chosen from our family to become an official Demon General. Or what we referred to them as, which were champions.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;At the age of five, I was selected as a Demon General. The worst clan by the entirety of others.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;Did you hear? The boy from the Serpent family was chosen,&#x201D; I heard a wealthy Demon family say as I walked the shallow street. I felt a thousand eyes look at me. The baby snakes on my body were coiled up afraid to show themselves to anyone. We felt outcast. We were reviled for having won such an honor away from other Demon clans.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;A disgrace that nine true generals appear and one lacky. How can the Demons of Norek ever respect him?&#x201D; Another rude demon spat. The spite was palpable.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;I felt something hit me from behind my back. A rotten piece of fruit by the serpent on my shoulder who quickly hissed at him. Then retreated from the eyes again.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;Drop out, you lowly waste of a being!&#x201D; A harsh female demon hissed at me.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;After the selection, I did not speak to my family. I was outcast by the villagers and ultimately hated by most of the others who were now my comrades. Abraxas, who was elected to be Demon King, would every so often check up on me. Even then, it felt as if it was a burden to him.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;I would sit alone, by the edge of a large cliff. I watched the sea under me blast the cliff with large waves, while my former hometown, Airbe, was a distance away from me.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;A small twig behind me snapped, catching my attention.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;Someone attempted to sneak up behind me, probably to assassinate me from being a Demon General.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;Who is she?&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;A small frail red-haired girl, seemingly tripped on a small tree branch behind me. She looked familiar as she brushed off her clothes from the dirt and smiled towards me.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;What are you doing all alone?&#x201D; She asked coyly.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;A moment of disbelief fell upon me. I had no response as she put her glasses on and sat next to me. The serpents on my body began to shiver as well from the unknown presence.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;I&#x2019;m Aege! One of the Demon Generals! You&#x2019;re one, too, right?&#x201D; She asked with genuine curiosity and sincerity.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;Uh&#x2026; Yeah, I am Andica!&#x201D; I responded hesitantly.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;She sat and looked at the waves for a short moment. A slight flustered look remained on her face, but her smile never faded.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;Do you want to be a Demon General?&#x201D; She asked, still watching the waves.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;I froze up. Before I could answer, she responded to her own question.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;I am in the middle. I want to go back home, to this land the elders always talk about, the land above ours! I also am afraid we will just be another batch of failures.&#x201D; Aege ranted and sighed.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;I don&#x2019;t know if I can be a general. Serpent people are only known for being alive for a short amount of time. I age fast, so I would be the weakest general!&#x201D; I responded. I could feel the frustration within my own words, unvoiced until this very moment. No one else had bothered to wonder how I felt...&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;She looked towards me shocked by my reaction.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;My family tree is the weakest and most hated for no reason&#x2026; It makes me want to live in the land in the middle! Away from everyone,&#x201D; I yelled out before stopping and feeling regretful.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;She held out her hand after a couple of moments passed. I was caught off guard as the baby serpents on my hand began to hiss again.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;Aege was the first person to not pity me or see me different from anyone else.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;Let&#x2019;s be best friends then, Andica! I am alone too,&#x201D; Aege said as she grabbed my hand and the serpents whipped around her hand.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;Time passed after that fateful encounter&#x2026;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;We soon took over Eukaperok and everything in it, almost. We could not truly call it home until we defeated him.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;Ignard&#x2026;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;We all laid in our posts as time passed by. Everyone was separated from the world. Balor Balor and I stayed in Belrim. He took over the underground area while I controlled the top layer, which was the jungle. An ideal place for a Reptilian General like myself.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;Constant champions came before us, as stories of slaughters in Elbaronce. A berserk champion killing one of our own and becoming one of us. The army of Womcos rising to new ranks. These were stories around Eukaperok that were told except for one.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;The slaughter at Yalti temple&#x2026;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;A guild known as Green Band continued reconnaissance but, ultimately, were all slaughtered or captured in our temple.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;The first time I put blood on my hands was one of the members who still lived. A husky man was poisoned and ultimately begged me to kill him. He sat in front of me as Zefi stood beside me after joining my ranks.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;How should we handle this, My King?&#x2019; Zefi asked me, as I just stared at the man.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;I promise if you let me go, I won&#x2019;t come back, please!&#x201D; the husky man begged me as I couldn&#x2019;t look him in the eye.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;I continued to ignore what needed to be done until the husky man caught me off guard and quickly attempted to stab me with a hidden blade.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;You are going to pay for hurting my friends!&#x201D; he growled viciously, rushing towards Zefi and I.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;All you could hear was the puncturing of a weapon.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;The sound of his blade dropping to the ground. The slight cough from his heart stopping and the last gasp for air from his dying lungs. The man&#x27;s head was frozen by the fangs injected into his neck.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;The two serpents on my shoulders acted on their own as they bit so hard. Blood splattered as the man fell to the ground seemingly with no breath left. His neck had been snapped by the force of their impact. His eyes were already soulless, empty, gone.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;My eyes were unable to move from the sight. I killed a man unintentionally from a fear of people. Even as the body slumped to the floor, I was repulsed by my own act.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;My King?&#x201D; Zefi asked, out of concern from my silence.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;I quickly turned her down and rushed back down the hall to my room. I sat in the throne chair an unknown amount of time. I never once attempted to steal a life. A person&#x27;s life is the single most important thing in this world, I took that. A son, brother, or whatever he was.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;What for?&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x26;nbsp;How long would we keep countless bloodshed until we could live peacefully with our families in this world, I wondered.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;Time passed, as the new champions arrived at Belrim underground. News of Balor&#x2019;s death reached me shortly after their arrival. Time seemed to be moving faster, and I was feeling older by the moment.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;Without a moment to spare, Aege arrived with a swordsman.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;This is one of my best soldiers, Zeronas! If what they said was true about his group, he is only scouting their power and then returning to Elbaronce.&#x201D; Aege informed me as I remained silent. &#x201C;Are you alright Andica?&#x201D; She asked me out of concern.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;Still the only friend I had ever known to wonder...&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;She told Zeronas to wait outside, while we spoke.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;The silence in the room was at an all-time high and I felt a confrontation was near.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;Aege&#x2026; I cannot continue this&#x2026; My health is declining, I have killed a man. I am tired of bloodshed, when there are different ways of approaching this situation by returning home.&#x201D; I offered my solution because she bit her lip even as I spoke.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;Letting Ignard live is not an option at this point, and you know that. These champions follow his orders and will do so until they get his way,&#x201D; Aege responded bitterly.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;Are they following along? They were brought here against their will, just like we were?&#x201D; I continued. &#x201C;Why battle them? Aege, why can&#x2019;t we just return everyone home? But it seems the rest of the Generals want to follow the humans and get their ways&#x2026;&#x201D;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;The moment I said that, Aege quickly slapped me across my face and the serpents all rose upset.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;We have purpose&#x2026; The one who doesn&#x2019;t is the person who refuses to forget a silly accident!&#x201D; Aege barked. &#x201C;If you choose to waddle here curled up the rest of your life then do so! You wonder why your family has been looked down upon,&#x201D; Aege said and froze quickly after she let her true feelings slip. She seemed stunned by her words.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;I had almost forgotten who I was. A man hated by everyone in the world for living and serving a purpose.&#x26;nbsp;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;My life had no meaning. You are right. I am hated but it&#x27;s better for you to cut off those memories now, than to remember those painful memories in the future,&#x201D; I nodded my head. I fell into a silence and pointed towards the door. Aege understood what I meant and slowly walked towards it, holding back her emotions.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;Goodbye, Aege&#x2026;&#x201D; I muttered, holding my heart. I held my hand against my chest, the two serpent fingers winding themselves into defensive coils and hissing at Aege.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;She stopped and held her hand on the door.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;Andica&#x2026; -&#x201D; She had no words left for me. The door finally closed after eons of anticipation to hear the sound.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;Click. The softest sound had shattered what remained of my already fragile heart. My one friend had been a cruel trick all along.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;Zeronas entered back in the room, along with Zefi.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;My lady seemed upset, King Andica&#x2026; Any words?&#x201D; Zeronas asked while I moved into my throne chair.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;Zeronas&#x2026; When the group arrives in the jungle. Battle one of them and determine their strength and return back. That is it! Zefi, continue to lead our forces&#x2026; I want to rest if you do not mind,&#x201D; I ordered them both. They bowed and took their leave.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;I remained in this chamber, afraid of anymore interactions with a potential ally. I awaited my death sentence with the one who would come and end it. My heart was already dead. My body had yet to catch up, but that would not take long. My enemy approached like an oncoming storm. The one known as fate.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;

&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;strong&#x3E;A war that has caused a continuing rift between two worlds!&#x3C;/strong&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Mysterious rifts open around the globe, transporting regular people to another world. On a normal day a teenage boy, Jai Marshall and friends are sucked in. The group is forced to serve as champions of the world. This sequence of events is not at random considering Jai&#x2019;s older brother Omar was formerly a champion of this world. Jai will do anything to ensure the safety of his friends inside a world where the unexpected is constantly broadened. Even though the group is equipped with ancient abilities from past champions, the task they have been given is a great mountain to climb. Can Jai and his friends survive this world?&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;

AFK 