The air shimmered with an otherworldly hum, attracting the attention of countless humans and reptilian creatures with a diverse range of leathery skin and scales, their bat-like ears twitching as they caught the hum of energy. They paused, stopping in their tracks, and turned their snouts in the direction of the hum – towards the great, white altar made of pristine marble at the centre of the grand hall, four greek-styled pillars supporting it in each quadrant.
Slowly, everyone dropped their tasks, and approached the altar. Weapons, sickles, paper notes, whatever they held, they dropped it in haste as they made their way, circling around the curious altar, the several square tiles making a circle. Their eyes were wide, and soon, all whispers were hushed, only the sound of the hum ringing in the air.
The hum grew louder and louder, drumming with a powerful noise, until it grew too strong, and eventually ripped the space apart with a boom, echoing a sound similar to tightly-woven cloth being torn with force. From the tears in space, blackish-green light twisted, expanding and contracting like a beating heart above the marble altar, a ripple of energy swept through the grand chamber, dimming the torches lining the stone walls.
The energy coagulated into a pulsating, blackish-green blob, like a blood clot. And then, as the many creatures present watched with bated breath, the clot started to stretch. It stretched in the shape of a humanoid creature, as if someone were walking into a curtain. And soon, the rubbery latches of the clot snapped, revealing the man behind them, widening the almond eyes of the reptilian creatures.
Serpentine inhaled a deep breath, feeling the cool air spilling into his lungs and chilling his skin. Dimensional travel was always a handful, the process being uncomfortably warm and humid, as your body heat and vapour was pressed against your flesh, nowhere else to go until you had landed. Though it had gotten infinitely more comfortable after his body was reconstructed it was still not a pleasant experience.
Gradually, he opened his eyes, and saw... a species he didn't quite recognise, though they seemed familiar, all of them staring at him in silence, their eyes open wide. However, his expression remained unchanged, calmly gauging the races before something clicked.
'Ah, unreleased races – the mere possibility of them come true. Fitting.'
The City of Ajofempyres laid beneath the Constellation of Probability, and it was no surprise that what was only a possibility in the outside world actually existed here. Moreover, his conversation with the Primordial had revealed many things.
'So they weren't humans after all...' He mused, observing the reptilian creatures, who stared at him in dead silence for a few minutes, before breaking out into hushed murmuring, like winter breeze whispering through dry leaves. Between the short and bulky creatures, he had even spotted some humans, holding wooden crates in their hands as they too were drawn to the gossip.
Inciting the cursed energy inside his soul, he cursed himself with hypersensitivity, but only a little, allowing him to pick up on the conversations while he observed the strange species.
"Where are the rest?"
"I don't know... Do you think–"
"There's no way, right?"
"Is he actually a Progenitor?"
"I never thought I would see one..."
"Does– does that mean the rest died?"
"Do you think he was the killer?"
"Is he human? Why does he look like that?"
"I don't know. He doesn't look like a Kobold either..."
Listening to them all as he examined the creatures, Serpentine came to a single conclusion as his mind flashed back to the International Hunger Games that this city hosts before integrating them into the world. There were three things to note.
'There's usually the entire surviving faction teleported here, not just one guy. I am in the headquarters of one of the ruling factions. And they are wondering if I killed the rest.'
Pausing for a bit, he added, 'Oh, right. And these creatures are called kobolds.'
Kobolds.
At a quick glance, he could spot many types of them, each differing in power, in the nature of their ability, and in hierarchy. The swamp-like dirty brown skinned ones with moss green between their scales were the lowest, carrying sickles, wearing dirty aprons, and moving crates, exposing their meagre place in the hierarchy.
The blackish-green ones with alligator snouts and the ones with a serpentine hood, emerald scales glistening under the flickering light from the torches, felt right above the brown ones in power. They held hammers, axes, pickaxes, and many runic parchments in hand, wearing a relatively cleaner apron with marks of soot rather than ash on them, signifying their better treatment.
There were a few more he couldn't quite see lodged between the bulkier kobolds, each with the same pattern and distribution of scales, yet each shimmering a different hue, emanating power that Serpentine could almost taste to be elemental magic. It was likely because the colour of their scales corresponded to their element. They wore clean clothes, and robes of silk.
However, even as he continued to observe and learn, he faced one major problem.
He didn't know what to do.
So, he gripped onto his concept of an emotionless warrior, observing everyone here with a monotonous gaze while he tried to figure out what to do next.
It was already fortunate enough that he knew several forms of reptilian, draconic, and runic languages, able to decipher the language being spoken here by merely overhearing the many conversations and reading their bodily reactions.
But beyond that, he knew nothing. He didn't actually undergo the trial, and he had no idea how the command system of Kobolds worked.
Thankfully, he did not have to awkwardly stare down the kobolds and humans for long, the entire hall falling silent, each whispering dying out like a flickering flame.
'Hm?'
Soon, the only sound that resounded was that of footsteps, approaching Serpentine from the tunnel to his right, the shadows dancing as the flames violently swooshed about on the torches.
What emerged from the shadows of the tunnel was yet another kobold, his steps commanding but measured, and yet, this one felt... off. The shadows suddenly grew darker as he approached, and the air dropped several degrees in temperature.
The kobold was black all over, and the edges of his body were blurry, as if he were a walking mass of shadows. His almond eyes shone a piercing green, a shade so vivid they seemed to blow, and he sported a bony crest for horns. He was clad in a mystic robes of black, embroidered with silver runes, with serpentine scales vibrant under the flickering light, a misty hue to them as if they did absorb any light.
The room fell into an eerie silence. Rows of Kobolds, humans, and the occasional figures whom Serpentine did not have enough time to observe, all froze in place, their eyes locked onto the black kobold, who stopped a few steps away from Serpentine.
"It is my honour to meet a living Progenitor." The Kobold bowed, Serpentine still not showing the slightest twitch in his expressions.
"I am Elçi, Envoy of the Turkish High Council," The Kobold introduced himself, his voice smooth, and his tone respectful.
'The Turkish faction, then...' Serpentine noted to himself, before nodding to the kobold. Unsure what to say next, on a whim, he tried to go for a lame excuse, mixing truth with lies.
"My memories…" Serpentine's voice was low, almost a hiss. "They are… fractured. I remember little."
Elçi paused, but nodded thoughtfully. "No matter. In time, all will become clear." He gestured toward the ornate doorway at the far end of the hall. "Walk with me, my lord. I will show you the structure of this place."
With a pregnant pause, he added, "Your arrival is… significant."
Serpentine still had no clue what a Progenitor was, so he simply complied, following the presumable old man into the hallway. As the pair left the grand hall, the silence shattered like thin ice, and soon, everyone returned to work, while Serpentine walked with the kobold to a destination he did not know.
The hallways of the town hall were long and labyrinthine, adorned with intricate carvings that depicted scenes of conquest, diplomacy, and the founding of the Turkish faction. Elçi walked with a measured pace, his hands clasped behind his back, as he explained the structure of their society.
"This is the heart of our empire," Elçi began. "Here, the High Council resides, who each govern a domain of those empire. Each of the seven members oversees a critical aspect of our civilization."
"Those are?" Serpentine raised a brow.
"The military commander, the spiritual leader, the strategist, the chief of security, the guardian of the heir, the economic overseer, and me – the diplomatic officer." Elçi explained in a polite tone, his words drawled for extra clarity.
Serpentine listened in silence, his eyes scanning the hall. Every detail was cataloged, from his words and body language to the architecture. He was learning, adapting to the foreign environment. Perhaps it was paranoia, but his time as a rogue taught him to be better safe than sorry.
"Guardian of the Heir, you say. Is this a monarchy?" Serpentine questioned, his eyes glinting slightly as he asked.
Elçi's lips curved into a slight smile. "lndeed. The Khagan is our supreme leader, the absolute ruler of our empire, combining both military and administrative authority."
"Hm ~" Serpentine hummed. "And his heir is the one an entire Duke is assigned to protect?"
"I am not sure what a 'Duke' is, but most likely, yes." Elçi nodded.
Serpentine went over the general command structure of various sectors in his mind, before recalling the state of war in Ajofempyres.
"What is the military heirarchy like?"
"The Supreme General directly commands the army under the Khagan, coordinating large-scale military campaigns and oversees regional commanders." Elçi responded fluently, not a moment's hesitation.
"Below him are the regional commanders, each reigning over an assigned region. They command several units at a time, and each unit has a leader in charge of smaller military units."
"Hm... Anything else?" Serpentine asked, coolly aligning the newly acquired information with what he already knew.
"That would be all." Elçi nodded.
'He's lying.' Sadly, Elçi's façade did not fly by a literal demon.
Serpentine let out a whistle, but Elçi mistook it for a hiss, stiffening up slightly. The demon smiled, before asking, "The administrative heirarchy?"
"Right, yes!" The kobold replied hastily, "The Provincial Leaders administer the day-to-day governance of regions. They ensure that taxes, resources, and recruits are collected and sent to the capital."
"The clerks and scribes are ranked below them, and they manage records, communication, and logistics. Lastly, we have the religious leaders, who oversee religious practices and rituals." Elçi gestured with his hands as he explained the complete command structure of the Turkish faction.
"Hm... That does make sense." Serpentine nodded, as if in understanding, prompting Elçi to heave a secret sigh.
Of course, it was all an act. The kobold wasn't really flustered, nor was he anxious. It was an act that would have fooled anybody, downplaying his prowess. Anybody but the demonic rogue, that is.
'Cunning bastard.'
Inwardly praising the kobold, Serpentine asked, "What's a Progenitor?"
"A Progenitor is a title reserved for the strongest, few legendary individuals who are the sole survivors of their Trial." Elçi explained, his words aligning with Serpentine's own hypothesis.
As they turned a corner, they entered a grand chamber lined with columns of dark stone, a titanic arena in the middle. At the perimeter of the circle stood two figures, engaged in quiet conversation. One was a human – tall, broad-shouldered, with short black hair and a lifeless, almost mechanical demeanor. The other was a Kobold, stocky and muscular, with scales the colour of blackish-green and serpentine eyes that pulsed with magic.
"Ah, you're just in time," Elçi said, his tone light but intense, attracting the attention of both figures. "Allow me to introduce you. This is Adam, one of our most skilled human warriors."
Adam offered a nod, his gaze sharp, his movements minimal, as if he functioned with mechanical efficiency.
"And this," Elçi continued, gesturing to the Kobold, "is Surend, a warrior of the serpentfolk bloodline."
Then, Elçi gestured to Serpentine. "And this, is a Progenitor."
Immediately, both figured stiffened, before their gazes snapped towards him.
Surend stepped forward, a forked tongue accentuating his words as he spoke, "Hiss ~ A Progenitor, you say?" His voice was smooth and controlled, yet there was a spark of excitement in it. "I've heard... talessss. Power... beyond meassssure."
However, his eyes narrowed, unraveling his serpentine hood, "But talessss are just that – storiessss." He tilted his head, his serpentine eyes boring into the demon's own. "What do you ssssay... we find out if the legendssss are true?"
Serpentine's gaze locked onto Surend, blinking. The challenge hung in the air, a gauntlet thrown at his feet.
Immediately, several different scenarios flashed through his mind.
All of which involves the serpentine kobold getting thrashed badly. He didn't mean to be offensive, but compared to the beings he fought, trapped, and escaped on a daily basis, Surend just wasn't his opponent.
However...
'This would be a good opportunity to test out my latest abilities. If I don't use any other powers, then maybe it might be a fair match up?'
It wouldn't, but Serpentine was eager to test his mettle, to immerse himself in the thrill of a real battle again to test his new power, like a child excited to play with a new toy.
"I accept." Serpentine said with a happy smile, his voice bubbly, but the kobolds mistook it for being filled with a quiet menace, a mocking sarcasm.
Elçi's eyes glinted with intrigue. "Very well, then. The arena will be prepared."
Surend's eyes widened in pleasure, but he could not have predicted what Serpentine said next.
"It wouldn't be fair if you fought me alone now, would it?" Serpentine smiled widely, a bad feeling snaking up Surend's spine as the demon spoke. "So how about this? Both of you, fight me at once."
Silence suddenly shrouded the four present, the tension thickening. Until, a serpentine cackle broke out, breaking the pause as Surend doubled over laughing. Adam, too, slowly shook his head, while Elçi just smiled like a snake from the sidelines, clearly intrigued and amused alike.
Watching the mayhem he had created, Serpentine only smirked.
'The two of them at once... Void Zone should be enough, no?'