The hospital room buzzed with quiet conversation. Blake Carter lay in his bed, his breaths slow and shallow, his body frail. Around him, his family shared stories, each word wrapping the room in a bittersweet warmth.
Daniel, the eldest, leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, speaking softly. "Remember how Dad used to tell us that life was about moving, adapting? 'Flow like water,' he'd say."
Jessica chuckled. "He always had a saying, didn't he? Anytime something went wrong, he'd talk about slipping through the cracks, finding a way. He made it sound easy."
Liam grinned. "That's because it was easy for him. No one could catch him, let alone beat him. He didn't get the name 'White Serpent' for nothing."
Jason, the second eldest, sighed and looked toward their mother, Eleanor. "He always lived dangerously, though. You must have worried about him constantly, Mom."
Eleanor smiled faintly, her eyes never leaving Blake's face. "I did, but he always came back to us. No matter how bad it got out there, he made sure his family was safe." Her voice trembled. "Even now, he's holding on, isn't he? For us."
Liam stepped closer to the bed. "Dad," he said quietly, "if you can hear me, thank you. For teaching us how to be strong. How to protect each other. You don't have to fight anymore. We'll take it from here."
Jessica leaned down and kissed her father's forehead. "We'll be okay, Dad. You've done enough."
Eleanor squeezed his hand, her voice breaking. "It's okay, Blake. You can let go now."
Blake smiled faintly, his eyes flickering one last time before they closed. The steady beeping of the heart monitor slowed, then stopped.
The room fell silent as the family whispered their goodbyes.
"Farewell, Dad."
Darkness.
Blake opened his eyes, his heart pounding. He blinked, but the darkness around him didn't fade. He reached out, his hands brushing against cold, damp stone.
"Am I… dead?" he muttered. His voice echoed around him, the sound unnervingly hollow. "Heaven? Hell? Why is it so dark?"
He stood up, his movements surprisingly fluid. As his eyes adjusted, he began to see faint shapes: jagged walls, uneven ground, and a faint shimmer of water nearby.
"A cave? Am I in a freaking cave?"
He stumbled toward the puddle of water, crouching down to look at his reflection. What he saw made him freeze.
The face staring back at him was youthful and unscarred. White hair framed his sharp features, and his eyes—golden and piercing—glowed faintly.
"Who… is this person?" he whispered, touching his face. His hands felt smooth skin. "Wait. That's me. How am I so young?"
A sudden burst of golden light appeared before him, forming a glowing screen suspended in midair. Lines of text began to appear, crisp and clear.
Status Screen
• Name: Blake Carter
• Age: 24
• Species: Mystical Serpent Hybrid
• Gender: Male
• Level: 1
• Occupation: Martial Arts Legend
• Nickname: White Serpent
• Health Points (HP): 1000/1000
• Magic Points (MP): 800/800
• Strength: 120
• Agility: 150
• Attack: 130
• Intelligence: 110
Normal Skills:
• Serpent's Strike: A rapid, precise attack mimicking a snake's bite.
• Flowing Dodge: Evade attacks with unparalleled fluidity.
• Martial Precision: Enhanced accuracy in all physical strikes.
• Intimidating Aura: Instill fear in weaker enemies, lowering their defenses.
• Steel Grip: Increase grip strength, preventing enemies from escaping.
• Silent Step: Move without making a sound, perfect for ambushes.
• Acrobatics: Masterful control of balance and movement.
• Enhanced Reflexes: React to threats almost instantly.
• Vital Recovery: Heal minor wounds quickly over time.
• Serpent's Transformation: Transform into a snake or back to human form at will.
Magic Skills:
• Mystic Serpent Flame: Release a wave of golden fire in a wide arc.
• Venomous Fang Wave: Launch a venom-coated energy attack.
• Shadow Coil: Summon shadowy serpents to immobilize enemies.
• Serpent's Blessing: Temporarily boost all stats.
• Earthbind Vines: Summon vines to trap or attack enemies.
• Molten Scales: Surround yourself with molten energy that damages attackers.
• Healing Venom: Use venom to heal allies or yourself.
• Ethereal Drift: Become intangible for a short time, evading attacks.
Unique Skills:
• Eternal Rebirth: Gain new life after death, retaining skills.
• Serpent King's Domain: Create an area where your stats are boosted and enemies weakened.
Items
• None
Weapons
• None
Blake stared at the glowing screen, his mind racing. The list of abilities and stats felt surreal, yet his body thrummed with power, proof that it was all real.
"Transform into a snake?" he muttered, scrolling through the list. "What kind of power is that?"
As if answering his question, the screen displayed an option: Activate Transformation: Yes/No.
Blake hesitated but then muttered, "Yes."
Instantly, his body shifted. His limbs dissolved into silken, white scales, and his body elongated into the form of a massive serpent with shimmering golden eyes. His vision sharpened, and he could feel every vibration in the ground around him.
"Whoa," he hissed, his voice echoing in his mind. He slithered forward, his movements unnervingly smooth. "This… this is insane."
With a thought, he transformed back into human form, his body snapping into place as effortlessly as shifting gears. He grinned.
Before he could marvel further, a deafening roar echoed through the cave. The ground trembled beneath him as shadows moved in the distance. A pair of glowing red eyes appeared, followed by a hulking figure emerging from the darkness.
Blake cracked his knuckles, a confident smirk on his face.
"Well, I guess I'm not dead after all," he said. "Let's see if the White Serpent still knows how to fight."
Here's the continuation of the chapter, expanding on the epic battle with the salamander and Blake's post-victory growth:
Blake's serpentine body moved soundlessly across the cavern floor. Activating Silent Step, he weaved through the shadows, becoming nearly invisible to the salamander's fiery gaze. The massive creature roared, its head swiveling as it tried to locate him, but Blake was already behind it.
With a swift motion, Blake activated Steel Grip, wrapping his powerful serpentine body tightly around the salamander. His scales pressed against the molten rock armor, constricting the beast as it thrashed wildly, trying to free itself.
The salamander snapped its massive jaws, its fiery breath scorching the air around them. It tried to bite Blake's coils, but he tightened his grip, smiling as the beast struggled.
"This is it," Blake hissed. "Time to end this. Skill: Mystic Serpent Flame!"
From within his serpentine form, golden flames erupted, engulfing the salamander. The intense heat scorched the creature's scales, melting its molten armor and exposing the softer flesh beneath. The salamander let out an ear-splitting roar, its body writhing in agony.
Blake smirked. "Still standing? How about another?" He activated Venomous Fang Wave, releasing a concentrated wave of venomous energy that struck the salamander's exposed flesh. The venom seeped into the creature, paralyzing it further as its strength drained away.
The salamander collapsed, its massive body quivering. Blake uncoiled and transformed back into his human form, standing over the weakened beast. He crossed his arms and looked down at it, his voice cold.
"Die while watching," Blake said, turning away.
But the salamander let out a weak growl, its fiery eyes still glowing faintly. Blake stopped, glancing back.
"Not dead yet, huh?" he muttered. "Fine. Let's finish this properly. Unique Skill: Serpent King's Domain!"
A golden aura radiated from Blake, spreading through the cavern. The atmosphere shifted as the salamander's fiery glow dimmed. The beast trembled, its power sapped by the overwhelming presence of the Serpent King's Domain.
Blake smirked, stepping forward. "This is the end. Skill: Serpent's Strike!"
He focused all his strength into his fist, striking the salamander with enough force to send it crashing into the cave wall. The creature let out one final, weak groan before its body went limp. Its fiery eyes dimmed and finally went out.
A series of dings echoed in Blake's mind.
Ding! You have leveled up six times!
Ding! New skills unlocked!
The golden status screen appeared before him, shimmering with new details. Blake scanned the updated information, reading it aloud.
Status Screen Update
• Name: Blake Carter
• Level: 7
• Species: Mystical Serpent Hybrid
• Health Points (HP): 1200/1200
• Magic Points (MP): 900/900
• Strength: 150
• Agility: 180
• Attack: 160
• Intelligence: 130
New Skills Unlocked:
• Flame Coil: Infuse your serpent form with fire, dealing damage to all enemies in contact.
• Serpent's Lunge: A high-speed attack that closes distance in an instant.
• Venom Bloom: Release a burst of venom that affects all enemies in a radius.
• Molten Fang Strike: Combine physical and fire damage for a devastating attack.
• Regeneration: Gradually restore HP over time in combat.
Blake grinned as he read the updates. "Not bad," he said, clenching his fists. His body felt stronger, his movements sharper. The thrill of combat coursed through him, and he couldn't help but feel excited for what lay ahead.
He glanced back at the lifeless salamander, then turned toward the dark tunnel ahead. "If that was just one creature, what else is waiting for me down here?"
With renewed determination, Blake stepped forward, the faint glow of his golden eyes piercing the shadows.