The Shadowfang Viper's corpse lay still, its black scales gleaming under the torchlight, blood pooling across the serpent mosaic beneath it. My chest heaved, my arms shook — but I stood tall, sword still in hand. Yoon-Hee stood beside me, silent and steady despite the exhaustion on her face.
The Fang Master regarded us from his throne, his silver mask expressionless. When he finally spoke, his voice slithered through the room like a cold wind.
"You killed the viper," he said. "But survival is only the first step. Power demands more than strength — it demands sacrifice."
With a flick of his hand, the iron doors behind us slammed shut. The torches dimmed, and the air grew heavier. Something shifted in the darkness — a presence, cold and suffocating.
The Fang Master rose from his throne. "Tell me, boy," he said, stepping forward. "What are you willing to give for power?"
My grip tightened on my sword. "Everything except my family."
The Fang Master chuckled, a low, serpentine sound. "We shall see."
The ground beneath us shifted, the mosaic of the serpent glowing with crimson light. The air grew thick with killing intent, and from the walls emerged figures — robed warriors with faces hidden behind serpent masks. Their weapons gleamed in the dim light: curved daggers, slender swords, and spears that hissed through the air.
Yoon-Hee moved first, her dagger flashing. She met the first of the assassins head-on, their blades clashing in a flurry of sparks. I had no time to watch her — three more were already on me.
The first strike came low — I parried, twisting aside. The second followed immediately, a spear aimed at my heart. I deflected it with a sharp motion of my sword, stepping into the third attacker's range. My blade lashed out, and blood sprayed as I cut them down.
But they didn't stop.
For every one that fell, two more took their place. Their movements were precise, relentless — and they didn't fight like individuals. They fought like a serpent, coiling and striking as one.
I fought back, my sword dancing through the chaos. But even as I struck them down, I could feel it — the weight of the Fang Master's gaze. He was watching, waiting.
Testing me.
Yoon-Hee cried out — I turned just in time to see a blade slice across her arm. Blood blossomed against her sleeve, and fury ignited in my chest.
"Stay close!" I shouted, cutting down the nearest assassin.
She moved to my side without hesitation, and together we fought. We moved as one — her speed and precision complementing my strength and ferocity. The tide began to shift.
But the Fang Master wasn't done.
With a wave of his hand, the air grew colder — and from the darkness emerged something worse than assassins.
A serpent. But not like the Shadowfang Viper we had fought before.
This one was made of shadow and smoke, its eyes glowing with malice. It slithered toward us without sound, its presence filling the chamber with dread.
Yoon-Hee's breath caught. "What… is that?"
"A spirit beast," I said, my voice grim. "And it's hungry."
The serpent struck.
We dove apart as its jaws crashed into the stone, shattering the floor where we had stood. I rolled to my feet, my sword already moving — but my blade passed through its body like smoke.
Damn.
The serpent turned its glowing eyes on me, and I felt its killing intent wrap around my throat like a noose.
But I wasn't about to die here.
"Yoon-Hee!" I called. "We take the head!"
She nodded without hesitation. As the serpent struck again, we moved — her from the right, me from the left. I kept its attention, my sword slashing through the air, even as its body coiled and twisted around me.
And then Yoon-Hee struck.
Her dagger found its eye, and the serpent screamed. For the first time, it felt real — and that was all the opening I needed.
I lunged, my sword aimed at its throat.
The blade met resistance — and then the serpent collapsed, its body unraveling into mist.
The chamber fell silent.
The Fang Master's slow applause echoed through the space. "Impressive," he said. "But you have yet to prove your resolve."
He gestured, and the iron doors creaked open once more.
"Beyond this door lies the true trial," he said. "Step through — if you dare."
I exchanged a glance with Yoon-Hee. She nodded, her eyes fierce despite the blood on her arm.
We stepped forward together — into the darkness beyond the door.