I never imagined that a demon capable of speech could also regenerate, let alone with this kind of absurdity. This wasn't some slow, gradual healing—no. It was instantaneous, a complete restoration within seconds, like time itself was bending to its will.
The mist cleared, revealing the serpent now shimmering with twice as many scales. They were denser, shinier—like a natural armor designed to mock my every attempt. It wasn't just regenerating; it was adapting.
"Now, that is cheating!" I yelled, my voice echoing across the battlefield.
The serpent hissed, a deep, guttural sound that made the air around us tremble. Without warning, it lunged at me, jaws wide, eyes glowing with bloodlust. Its sheer size blurred the line between a predator and a natural disaster.
I teleported just in time, shifting through one of my shadows, leaving the spot where I stood mere milliseconds before. The ground exploded in its wake, shattering into jagged pieces, leaving a crevice that yawned open like the earth itself was horrified.
"Tsk! That's dangerous!" I muttered, glaring at the serpent as it coiled again, readying itself for another strike.
Sensing me mid-air, it attacked again, faster this time. The serpent clearly thought I'd be vulnerable without solid footing, but it underestimated me. Shadows were my allies, and mobility was the least of my concerns. I teleported once more, swapping places with another shadow before its massive jaws could snap me in half. The demon roared, shaking the atmosphere with frustration. It was mad. Furious that no matter how fast or strong it struck, it couldn't even graze me.
"Halfhearted attacks won't work," I taunted, grinning. "But seriously, that regeneration of yours is going to be a problem. How the heck do I finish this in time! I've got a girl to find, you know!?"
The serpent stopped, its crimson eyes narrowing as if it understood every word. Its body tensed, coiling tighter than before, the muscles rippling under its glistening scales. It raised its head to the scarlet sky, and an eerie silence fell over the battlefield.
From its gaping maw, a bright light began to glow—small at first, then rapidly growing into a sphere of concentrated energy.
"You've got to be kidding me!" I exclaimed. My instincts screamed at me to move. I teleported just as the sphere of energy launched, streaking toward my position with terrifying speed.
The explosion was deafening, the blast ripping apart everything in its path. Landscape, soil, even the air seemed to disintegrate in its wake. A trench carved itself into the ground, impossibly deep and wide.
I landed safely a distance away, my heart pounding. Cold sweat trickled down my back as I glanced at the devastation. If that attack had hit me… I shuddered. There wouldn't even be ashes left.
The serpent hissed again, this time with a smug undertone, as if proud of its handiwork. Its neck flared open like a cobra's hood, revealing intricate, black patterns that pulsed with mana. Then, orbs of water began forming in front of it—dozens, no, hundreds of them—each shimmering with a faint blue light.
"I've got a bad feeling about this!" I muttered, the hairs on my neck standing on end.
The serpent let out a guttural growl, and the water orbs launched toward me in rapid succession. They weren't just ordinary water; they were condensed bombs, exploding on contact.
I teleported, dodging the first wave, then the second, but the serpent wasn't letting up. The orbs followed me relentlessly, their explosions tearing apart the battlefield, leaving nothing but craters and scorched earth in their wake. My shadows were running thin, each teleport consuming my reserves.
"Dammit! These things are everywhere!" I gritted my teeth, narrowly dodging yet another barrage.
When the last orb finally detonated, I thought it was over. But the serpent wasn't done. Its hood flared wider, and this time, it conjured spear-like projectiles of water, their edges gleaming dangerously.
"Seriously?!" I shouted, exasperated. With a wave of my hand, shadows surged forward. "{Shadow Manipulation: Shadow Torrent!}"
A thick wall of shadows rose in front of me, meeting the incoming spears head-on. The impact was deafening, each collision sending shockwaves through the air. The spears exploded against the shadow wall, their force enough to push me back a step.
"Shesh!" I muttered, steadying myself. "If one of those hits, I'm screwed—literally and figuratively."
The serpent growled again, preparing for yet another attack, but I'd had enough. My patience was gone, my reserves were drained, and this overgrown lizard was starting to get on my nerves.
I raised a hand to the sky, closing my eyes. "10th seal—unleash."
***
Dark energy erupted from Gleren's body, his 10th seal breaking in a flash of shadowy power. The air twisted and darkened around him, heavy with an unnatural chill. Shadows writhed at his feet, and the wind seemed to grow alive, whispering ominous intent.
The serpent demon narrowed its glowing eyes, its previous confidence faltering. "What... What are you planning now?" it growled, skepticism tinging its voice.
"Planning?" Gleren tilted his head, his expression calm, almost casual. "Who said I was planning anything?"
The demon hissed, its coiled body tightening with tension. "Hah! Whatever it is, it's meaningless! You're finished!" It lunged forward, its massive form a storm of scales and fangs tearing through the air.
But Gleren didn't move. He stood there, completely still, arms at his sides and gaze steady.
"Lost your will to fight, human? Then perish!" the demon bellowed, diving with unrelenting force. Its gaping jaws aimed to crush him whole.
But just before impact, the demon stopped abruptly, a guttural growl escaping its throat.
"What... what is this?!" it hissed, its massive body trembling.
The demon struggled against an invisible force, thrashing violently, but it couldn't move. Its serpentine body seemed frozen, as though locked in place by an unseen hand.
"What have you done to me?!" the demon roared, panic now seeping into its voice.
Gleren chuckled, his voice light but his gaze sharp. "Me? Oh, nothing much. Just a little magic trick."
But then, the atmosphere shifted. The shadows around Gleren deepened, and a voice—smooth, cold, and authoritative—spoke from somewhere near him.
"Hmph." A voice, cold and condescending, echoed. It wasn't Gleren's. "Impudent creature. Do you know who you dare challenge?"
The serpent's eyes darted around wildly, its hissing growing frantic. "Who's there?! Show yourself!"
"Who am I?" The voice chuckled darkly. "Very well. I shall grant your lowly self my name. I am Mahraj, Queen of the night. The ruler of the shadows. And you? You are nothing but a nuisance."
Behind Gleren, a single black wing unfurled, its feathers gleaming with an unearthly light. The wing stretched wide, its edges rippling with an ominous energy that made the very air tremble.
From the wing, the voice continued, calm yet laced with menace. "A mere creature like you dares to oppose me and my beloved? How insolent. You deserve a fitting punishment."
Gleren sighed, glancing over his shoulder at the wing. "Really, Mahraj? Did you have to go full dramatic villain mode again?"
"Hush, my love" the wing snapped back.
Dark feathers began to pluck themselves from the wing, each one hovering in the air as if suspended by some unseen force. They ascended, glinting faintly as they formed a circle above the battlefield, like a constellation of tiny, midnight stars.
The serpent thrashed harder, its movements growing desperate. "Release me! What is this sorcery?!"
"Oh, you're about to find out." Gleren's lips curved into a sly grin. He raised his arm, and the wing echoed his motion.
"{Eternal Abyss: Feather of the Fall!}" Mahraj's voice boomed, commanding and absolute. And as if a in sync with it, Gleren's arm came down in a sharp gesture.
The feathers rained from the sky like meteors, each one glowing brighter as it descended. The first struck the serpent's body, detonating in a burst of shadowy energy. The second followed, and then the third, until a relentless barrage consumed the demon entirely.
"GROOOOAAAHHH!"
The serpent's agonized cries reverberated across the battlefield, shaking the earth beneath them. Each feather pierced through its thick scales, exploding on impact with devastating precision. The ground cracked and smoked, craters forming wherever the feathers landed.
"Hey, Mahraj," Gleren muttered casually, watching the carnage. "Think you might be overdoing it a little?"
The wing flapped indignantly. "Silence, Dear. This insolent creature must learn its place."
"I mean, sure," Gleren said, scratching his cheek, "but I think it already learned. Like, ten feathers ago."
The barrage finally slowed, the last few feathers striking the ground before disintegrating into ash. The wing shimmered and began to fade.
"Times up, huh?" Gleren said softly, the tension in his posture relaxing.
"You've done well," Mahraj's voice said, now softer but still carrying a faint warmth. "Soon, you will wield my full power."
"Don't flatter me," Gleren muttered, brushing off the praise. "I'm still not worthy of your power."
"Hmph. You'll get there. But do try to improve faster, my dear husband."
Gleren froze mid-step, groaning audibly. "I am not your husband! Yet. Oh, whatever!"
The voice only chuckled before fading entirely, leaving Gleren to grumble to himself. His transformation ended, and his clothes began to reform, restoring his usual uniform.
He dusted himself off, ready to survey the damage. But as the smoke and dust cleared, his eyes widened.
The serpent was gone.
"You're kidding me, right?" he muttered, glancing around. "Where the hell did it go?"
***
I looked around in panic. There's no way a snake that big would just disappear out of nowhere. It was big, you know! Super very big!
"Where—hah?"
When I glanced back to where the demon had been pinned by Mahraj's magic, I froze. Instead of a towering serpent, I saw… someone. A figure lying limp amidst the wreckage, motionless yet somehow radiating an odd presence.
The sheer size of the demon's absence hit me again. Just moments ago, the battlefield had been a chaotic mess of scales, fangs, and destruction. Now it felt like the world had expanded, with the vast, empty space where the serpent had stood.
I narrowed my eyes, using my shadows to zip closer, appearing beside the figure in an instant.
"What is a child doing here?" I muttered to myself, crouching down.
I carefully scooped the kid into my arms. She was light—too light for someone who had caused so much devastation. Long, silky black hair cascaded over her shoulders, framing a face that looked delicate and young—maybe twelve or thirteen. Her skin was tanned, glowing faintly with an unnatural warmth, and her lips were a deep, almost otherworldly purple.
It was unsettling, to say the least. And worse…
She was naked. Completely.
I immediately averted my gaze, my face heating up. I may not look it, but I am *absolutely* a gentleman. And I'd like to go on record here: there is no way I would ever lust after a child. Ever. I mean it. You believe me, right?
Still, something felt… off. There was this strange texture beneath my fingers—smooth yet hard. Curiosity got the better of me, and I shifted my focus to the feel of her back. *Purely curious*, okay?
"Huh?" My fingers traced along her spine and shoulders.
Black scales.
A glossy, armor-like coating spread across her upper back, blending seamlessly with her skin. It wasn't natural—it was too perfect, too similar to…
"No way," I whispered, the realization hitting me like a bolt of lightning.
The serpent demon's disappearance. The timing. The scales.
Even a fool could put two and two together.
"This kid… she was that serpent demon?"
I murmured the words out loud, and as if on cue, the girl's eyes fluttered open.
For a moment, she looked groggy, her gaze unfocused as she reached out and touched my cheek, as though trying to make sense of where she was. Then, as clarity hit, her eyes sharpened, filling with rage.
With a burst of energy that nearly knocked me over, she sprang out of my hold and scrambled backward, keeping a safe distance between us. Her movements were swift, like a cornered predator, and her posture screamed hostility.
"Human!" she snarled, baring her teeth like a feral wolf. "How dare you!"
"'How dare *me*?'" I snapped back, throwing up my hands. "How about *you* take a look at who's really being daring here?"
I gestured toward her, then immediately turned my head away, doing my best not to look directly at her. Gentleman, remember?
She paused, confused by my reaction. Then her gaze followed mine, landing on herself.
There was a moment of silence.
Then—
"How dare you!" she shrieked again, her voice rising several octaves.
"Wait, wait, no!" I said, flailing. "This is the part where you're supposed to yell, 'Kyaaa! Pervert!' and then curse me out or something, right? You're *naked*! You should at least have the decency to berate me, even if it's not my fault!"
Her expression shifted from bewildered to offended as her eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about, you idiot?"
Before I could respond, it seemed like something clicked in her head. Her gaze dropped to her body again, and her face went pale.
Another pause.
And then—
"Kyaaaa!"
"See?" I exclaimed, relieved. "That's the *proper* reaction! Thank you!"
I felt vindicated—briefly.
But then her tone shifted, and she jabbed a finger at me accusingly. "Why am I in my human form?!"
I blinked at her, utterly dumbfounded. "That's what bothers you?!"
Her glare intensified, her body still tense and ready to spring at any moment. "You did something, didn't you? *Human trickery*! What kind of pathetic magic is this?!"
"Oh, please!" I shot back, exasperated. "Do you think I have some weird spell that turns giant murder-snakes into bratty kids? Give me a break!"
Her cheeks flushed with anger—or maybe embarrassment—but she wasn't backing down.
"Answer me!" she demanded, her voice wavering slightly.
"No! You answer *me*! Why were you a giant snake demon two minutes ago, and why are you now a very naked—and very annoying—kid?"
She froze at the word "naked" and promptly crossed her arms over her chest, glaring daggers at me. "Stop looking, you pervert!"
"I'm *not* looking!" I shot back, covering my eyes dramatically. "If anything, you should be thanking me for not turning you into demon kabobs!"
"Grrrrr!!! Why am I in this form again?! Answer meeeee!!!"
"Ugh!"
This girl… utterly hopeless.