"H-hehe?" Aether stood frozen, like a statue, unable to move an inch as he felt his blood turn cold. His heart almost stopped beating, the shock of seeing Stella being swallowed whole by the white snake paralyzing him momentarily.
"~Hisss~" The huge white snake, now satiated and content after devouring Stella and the remaining Arcane Crystal, turned its gaze towards the newcomer... Aether.
However, the snake sensed that it had already feasted enough for the day, especially after devouring a 2-Silver Star Crystal and some random low-aptitude Arcane Crystals.... It knew it was time to evolve, and so it ignored Aether, considering his energy signature wasn't potent enough to pique the snake's interest for another meal..... slithered away slowly into the forest.
'Thud'
Aether's knees buckled under the weight of pain and anguish, etched clearly on his face. The memory of Stella's sad smile lingered in his mind, haunting him.
