Haiko looks at the taller more bodacious looking Felice in front of him, petting her white ferret companion, Silfy, on her shoulders.

Haiko coughs, “So, what just happened?” Haiko asks as he tries to look at Felice’s face.

Felice chuckles seeing Haiko maintaining eye contact. “Apologies for my actions Dear. But the sudden sight of the unknown always entices me, even more so if it holds such immense power that has no records of it ever being known!” Felice says with an excited laugh.

Haiko looks at Felice nervously. “So… what’s with the dynamic, change of forms then…” Haiko says as his sight lowers onto Felice's body.

Felice grins, “Simply to say. My other form is but an illusion I show others to remove their attention towards me. As this form tends to attract too much attention…” Felice sighs then smiles at Haiko. “As you can already tell…” she chuckles.

Haiko snaps back to looking at Felice’s face. “Ah… Yeah…” he awkwardly says.

Felice smiles, “I tend to use this form when something piques my interest or, should need to be thoroughly looked at. As in this form, my magical senses are at their peak…” Felice says as she grins at Haiko.

“…Yeah, I’m gonna pass…” Haiko says bluntly.

Felice chuckles, “I haven’t even said anything…” she says with a pouting face.

Haiko crosses his tiny arms. “I’ve had enough experience from the housewives at the sewing classes I’ve been through. To know what that looks means…” Haiko bluntly says as he shivers as he remembers.

Felice chuckles as she pets Silfy. “As you say Dear…” she says seductively.

Haiko then sees Mimir’s drone return to him coming from the large gaping hole beside them. “Find anything?” Haiko asks Mimir.

Mimir pauses for a moment as he checks. “Numerous piles of corpses, some are somewhat recent and some have laid there for quite some time now. All of the recent piles are from the wildlife within the vicinity, as seem to be hunted by a rather large creature” Mimir says as he scans through his drone’s findings.

Haiko concerningly looks at Mimir. “…Are these, large creatures here?” he asks as he thinks of the scales scattered around the temple.

Mimir shakes his head. “Telling of from the markings, these creatures show they have left the temple for a decent amount of time now and show no signs of having yet to return”

Haiko sighs in relief, “…Probably on the hunt” Haiko then ponders, “…Is there anything else?” Haiko asks as he looks back down the hole.

Mimir further checks his data. “Signs of a failed ritual are all over the walls and floor below. From what I have gathered, there was an interference from two dormant guardian serpents as evident by the hidden entrance at the side of the floor below” Mimir says as he continues to check his data.

Haiko wryly chuckles, “…And now those two serpent guardians are running around freely thanks to them… smart move, guys…” Haiko says as he looks at one of the charred corpses.

Felice sighs as she looks down the hole. “As I expected…” she chuckles. “But, two guardian serpents… and… black scales…” Felice says as she ponders.

Felice looks at Mimir, “Mimir, may I see those symbols you’ve found?” she asks calmly to Mimir.

Mimir nods as he sends a drone to Felice showing her the images of the area at the bottom of the hole.

Haiko sighs as he backs away from the hole. “All this way and nothing good found…” Haiko dejectedly sighs as he then looks at Mimir. “We should probably leave. I don’t want to see what happens if we find the owner of these scales to come back…” Haiko says as he looks at Felice.

Haiko sees Felice and Silfy concentrated on looking at the images Mimir had taken on the floor below the hole. Felice jolts as she realizes Haiko and Mimir looking at her. “Apologies! Yes, I agree. We should indeed probably leave… and with haste if you don’t mind…” she says as she quickly takes the lead back to the hallway.

Haiko looks at Felice curiously as she rushes on out, having Haiko catch up as she was already a good meter away.

* * * * * * * * *

Haiko and Mimir follow Felice out of the temple. Going through the same path as they went in.

Haiko notices Felice getting farther, as he struggles to keep up having still in his tiny form. “Can we slow down a bit!” as Haiko yells Felice stops and looks back at him.

Felice shyly smiles. “Apologies Haiko Dear!” she says with a calm voice.

“What’s the rush?” Haiko asks Felice as he takes a breath.

Felice ponders. “…Do you know anything about the Corruption?” she asks sternly to Haiko.

Haiko looks curiously at Felice. “…Corruption? Are we talking about politics or something else?” Haiko jests.

Felice chuckles, “No, not about politics Dear. The Corruption I speak of is that of one that endangered the whole existence of our world thousands of years ago…” Felice says seriously.

Haiko looks at Felice apologetically. “Oh… well… no, can’t say I know anything about that, sorry…” Haiko scratches his head as he says.

Felice gently smiles. “No worries, all you need to know is that the Corruption is a horrific thing that can cause severe chaos and destruction wherever it may be and it just so happens that there is evidence of it being here!” Felice bluntly says. “Even if it only lasted a mere moment, the Corruption may have something to do with how things have ended here. So, I suggest we get moving!” she says with a smile.

Felice then snaps her fingers as she looks at Silfy. “Change to your other form Haiko. Silfy shall provide you the cover you need for now!” Felice says with a more relaxed smile.

Haiko nods, “…Thanks!” as he says, he morphs back into his taller shadowy form.

Silfy then looks at everyone, as she closes her eyes and makes the gem on her forehead glow. A second later, a thin layer of colorful glass-like coating covers the entirety of everyone.

Haiko looks in awe at the magical layer covering his body.

Felice nods, “Let us keep moving then…” she says as she leads on once more.

Haiko and Mimir nod as they continue to follow Felice and Silfy out of the temple.

* * * * * * * * *

Nearing the exit, Haiko smiles in relief. “Almost ther-!”

Everyone stumbles over as the temple violently shakes as seems as though a massive creature has dropped on top of it.

Haiko jolts as he hears a loud screech outside and above them. “That can’t be good…” Haiko worriedly says as he looks up and sees dust falling from above.

Felice calmly observes the surrounding, as she moves slowly forward. Haiko and Mimir follow in her footsteps, as they continue to feel the temple shake.

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Haiko looks at Felice, “You think it knows where we are?” he asks.

Rather than Felice looking back at Haiko, Silfy is the one who looks at him and as she does. To Haiko’s surprise, he hears a feminine voice speak inside his head.

“Do not fret, I doubt the serpent has noticed us as of yet. Given with how much magical anomalies are lingering about the area” the voice says seemingly to everyone.

A second later the shaking stops as the creature from above seem to have moved off somewhere else.

Felice sighs in relief as she then looks at Silfy. “Excellent work Silfy!” she says as she pats Silfy lightly.

As Haiko relaxes as the danger passes, he then glances at everyone, “Anyone else heard a voice in their head, or am I just going crazy?”

Felice looks at Haiko and chuckles, “No need to worry Dear! That voice you’ve heard was just Silfy here!” she says cheerfully as Silfy bows daintily at Haiko and Mimir.

Silfy looks at Haiko and Mimir, “Apologies for the lack of communication. I was still assessing both of your capabilities at the time as I was instructed to and wasn’t allowed to speak till I was finished…”

Felice smiles at Silfy, “No need to apologize Silfy, I was the one who asked you to do it in the first place. But I didn’t expect it to be longer than usual though?” Felice looks questioningly at Silfy.

Silfy nods at Felice, “Apologies for that matter. As from what I’ve seen, it would seem our friends here wields a far greater power not else seen in our records. A power that influences those close to them. Much so can be seen, as we further acquaint ourselves with them…” Silfy says as she and Felice look at Haiko and Mimir with curiosity.

“Ahh…” Haiko is speechless having being stared at by Felice and Silfy.

Felice smirks, yet turns back at facing the temple exit. “Explanations can wait, for now, let us focus on leaving this area” she says as she leads on forward towards the exit.

/=/ /=/ /=/ /=/ /=/ /=/ /=/ /=/ /=/

Everyone makes their way to the mouth of the Temple, stopping abruptly as they feel the ground shake.

Haiko spots something over at the left outer side of the temple, “Over there!”

Everyone then sees a gigantic muddy-green-scaled Serpent, slithering around as if on the hunt for its prey.

Haiko looks in amazement at how gigantic the Serpent is, comparing to the length of a football field and the width of a minivan. “I guess that’s the guardian Serpent you were talking about…” Mimir replies with a thumbs up prompt.

As the Serpent moves closer to view. Haiko and Felice hid and crouched down near the exit wall. “It hasn’t found us yet…” Haiko whispers, “I think it’s circling for now…” he explains as he and Felice observe the giant Serpent.

The Serpent glances momentarily at everyone’s direction for a moment before it continues its search. At that time, everyone notices a huge scar covering its face leaving a darkish purple trace.

Felice conjures up her goggles looking as she looks closely at the creature. While Haiko asks Mimir if he could scan it.

Mimir agrees, then sends out his drone and sneakily scans the creature from behind. Mimir then quickly takes his drone back as it finishes.

As Mimir’s drone returns, Haiko waits calmly for Mimir’s prompt. As Felice continues to observe the creature with her goggles.

A second later, Mimir sends out a prompt to Haiko and reads it out as Mimir also shows a 3D recreation of it in the prompt; “Thunder Viper; An earthen snake that nests or placed inside old ruins as guardians. Grows enormously large over time as it absorbs magical energy from the areas it guards. Even with its size, it is highly agile and is able to use elemental based attacks. This one, in particular, uses the electric element” Mimir explains as he shows a holographic representation of its attacks.

As Mimir finishes, his drone prompts a notice to Haiko. “UNABLE TO LEARN OF ANY SKILL: SCANNED DATA INSUFFICIENT”

Haiko looks at the prompt confused. “Scanned data insufficient? Guess I need more than just scanning it to get something from it, right?” Haiko looks at Mimir.

Mimir prompts, “(￣ー￣)ｂ”

Haiko sighs as he leans his head out to look at the Serpent, now known as the Thunder Viper. “I rather not want to deal with that. So, let’s leave this one for now…” Haiko chuckles as he sees the massive Serpent move and crushes the things in its way with ease.

Felice and Haiko, sees the Thunder Viper moving out of view thus giving them the opening they needed. “I think that’s as good as a time as any! Let’s go before it loops back!” Haiko says as he stands and leads out as Felice with Silfy follows closely behind.

Haiko and Felice quickly move farther away from the temple. “Almost into the trees!” Haiko happily yells. But as Haiko steps off the perimeter of the temple, a large hiss could be heard from their backs.

Everyone stops moving, Silfy and Mimir look back. “I believe we’ve been spotted” Mimir states.

“I would believe so” Silfy says to everyone telepathically.

Felice and Haiko look back and see the Thunder Viper looking directly at them, “Apologies Haiko Dear. I believe Silfy’s concealer wasn’t enough to hide your aura as you left the anomaly area…” Felice says solemnly.

Haiko chuckles dryly, “No worries, if anything Mimir should’ve done something in the first place!” Haiko says as he morphs his hands into claws.

“Ready yourselves now Dearies, as here she comes!” Felice says with a smile as she prepares herself for combat, by lifting her arms up and letting Silfy move to her right hand then turning into a white Staff with a floating gem at its end. All the while changing into a long robe attire.

The Thunder Viper screeches at them, as it moves quickly towards them. As it nears, Mimir disappears back into Haiko, while Felice taps Haiko in the head with her staff.

Haiko looks at Felice confused, that is he hears her voice inside his head. “This should keep us in contact with one another!” Felice says telepathically similar to how Silfy speaks.

As the Thunder Viper comes close, it lunges with all its strength like a tensed spring freeing from its restraint.

Felice and Haiko dodge in separate directions letting the Thunder Viper destroy the ground they were standing on and some trees at the back.

Haiko and Felice spread out and move away from the Thunder Viper as it reaffirms itself. As it does, it hisses loudly then looks directly at Haiko with dark purple electricity spewing from its mouth.

Felice looks cautiously as she notices, “Be careful Dear, one bite could prove fatal” Felice says telepathically to Haiko.

Haiko chuckles, “Then I just don’t need to get bit then!” He says as he dodges the Thunder Viper’s attempts to bite him. “Boy! Does this guy move quick!” Haiko says as he continues to dodge.

Felice teleports near the Thunder Viper as it attacks Haiko, she then casts multiple fireballs at the creature taking its attention. She then floats up and switches her attacks from fireballs to wind base spells. That seemingly looks as if Felice is slapping the Thunder Viper left and right, much to its annoyance yet to Felice’s delight.

As the Thunder Viper gets hit again, it uses its tail to swipe Felice away. Felice dodges by somewhat zapping away.

Haiko charges towards the Thunder Viper, his claws imbued with acid. As he takes a swipe, leaving only a scratch he sees the acid did nothing to help. “Tough scales…” Haiko states as he slashes the Thunder Viper all over its body as it tries to bite him.

Felice returns to the fight, as she casts more wind gales to assists Haiko. Slowly they chip away the Thunder Viper’s scales and digging deeper into its skin. Wounding it further.

Haiko confidently attacks, “Just a bit more!” he says as he’s about to land a heavy hit. But the Thunder Viper dodges and with a tail swipe launches Haiko all the way towards the temple wall.

“Haiko Dear, are you alright?” Felice asks as she exchanges blows with the Thunder Viper.

Haiko groggily moves his body off the stone wall. “I’m good, just a lucky hit…” He chuckles.

Felice smiles hearing Haiko is fine. She then looks coldly at the Thunder Viper; she then floats up higher. As she uses her staff to cast a barrage of fireballs at the creature. She then lifts her free hand up and with a snap and a wave of her hand a giant Crow shape fire conjuration swoops down towards the Thunder Viper creating a massive explosion.

As the smoke clears, everyone sees the Thunder Viper dazed and heavily damaged as flames cover and destroy its body, with burn marks all over.

Haiko smiles seeing the gigantic creature immobile, “NICE!!” Haiko yells excitedly. He then sees the Thunder Viper recover and hisses loudly at Felice, as Felice is about to release another flame conjuration. The Thunder Viper releases a shockwave knocking her off the air for a moment as Felice makes herself float before hitting the ground.

Haiko sees and looks at worryingly as the Thunder Viper seems to be charging up. “NOT NICE!!” he yells as the Thunder Viper covers itself with dark purple electricity.

As Felice is still disorientated from the last attack, the Thunder Viper takes advantage and lunges at her with much more force and speed than before.

Felice sees the incoming attack but didn’t have time to react, she prepares herself. But is shocked to see a small spike logged into its head. Not enough to really damaged it, but enough to throw it off.

Felice sees Haiko just nearby throwing and creating the spikes from his hands, “Thank you for the save Haiko!” Felice smiles at him as she then retaliates back.

Haiko continues to throw his spikes as Felice wrestles with the Thunder Viper head-on. “Hey Mimir, don’t we have any firebase skills we can use? I don’t think Physical attacks would do much to it at its state” Haiko says as he sees the Thunder Viper’s electric field deflecting most of Haiko’s attacks, but not Felice’s fireballs.

“The use of fire spells cannot be done in your current form” Mimir explains inside Haiko.

Haiko nods, “Alright…” as he throws one last spike at the creature. Haiko changes form, into his tiny form.

The Thunder Viper notices, and sends out a quick shockwave, stopping Felice momentarily. As it quickly spits out a large mass of electricity directly at Haiko.

“…! Haiko look out!” Felice quickly says as she sees.

Haiko too late to realize looks listlessly at the electric ooze coming at him, “Ah… shi-”

As the electric ooze hit, Felice retaliates back. “Now that wasn’t nice of you to do!” Felice aggressively retaliates back at the Thunder Viper.

Haiko opens his eyes to see he was fine and now under some tree just outside the temple. “I-I’m okay?” Haiko nervously chuckles as he checks himself for any damages, but to his surprise, he had none, and even more surprising to him is the fact of how he ended up where he is. “What just happened?!”

Mimir pops out of Haiko, “I’ve made you use your ability, SHADOW MOVEMENT to avoid the Thunder Viper’s attack” Mimir explains.

Before Haiko could ask anything else, he hears Felice telepathically speak to him. “Haiko Dear now is not the time to be hiding Sweetie. It's not nice to keep a girl waiting you know!” she says as Haiko hears explosions from a distance.

“Sorry! On my way!” Haiko says telepathically to Felice. “So, um… how do I use shadow movement?” Haiko asks Mimir.

Mimir simply says, “Just feel as though you are diving into water” and after saying that he disappears back to Haiko.

Haiko rubs his tiny hands or nubs together. “Alright, let’s try this out!”

* * * * * * * * *

Meanwhile, Felice continues to fend off the Thunder Viper. Who are both at a standstill. As the Thunder Viper seems to adapt to Felice’s attacks, using its shockwaves to deflect her spells. “I’m already being nice here and holding back, because of my promise. So, could you kindly please be a good snake and fall already!” Felice says frustratedly.

A second later Haiko pops out of the shadows of one of the trees nearby where Felice and the Thunder Viper were at a moment ago. “Wha! That was freaky! Cool, but freaky!” Haiko laughs but quickly uses shadow movement again to dodge the Thunder Viper’s tail slam.

Haiko pops out of one of the stone pillars shadow, positioning himself so he can cast from afar without getting interrupted. “So, how do I do this? Do I say some words, flick my hand, or create some weird symbol in the air?” Haiko asks Mimir how to casts his firebase spells.

“Simply think of it as you may what a fire spell would be, your Orbs of Creation skill shall handle it for you” Mimir explains to Haiko.

Haiko pumps himself up, then steadies himself as he closes his eyes. He lifts his tiny arms up and within a short instance, dozens upon dozens of fireballs float above Haiko. Haiko looks up and sees, he chuckles excitedly as he then looks at the Thunder Viper confidently, “My turn…”

As Felice continues to fight the Thunder Viper head-on, contemplation whether or not to stop holding back. “I really don’t want to owe Vilo one…” She mutters to herself. But as she contemplates, to her and the Thunder Viper’s surprise, a barrage of fireballs locks the Thunder Viper in his place.

Out in the distance, Felice hears Haiko yelling, “FIRING THE HWACHA!!” while enjoying himself.

Felice smiles in relief, “Beautifully done Haiko!”

Felice then floats up higher, just a foot above the Thunder Viper’s head. “Hold it steady Dear!” she then closes her eyes as she twirls her staff as she chants her spell.

Haiko continues to barrage the Thunder Viper with fireballs pinning the creature down, “Be a good… snake? And stay down!” Haiko yells as the creature screeches loudly trying to escape.

Felice almost done with her spell, opens her eyes now glowing amber. As she does a giant fireball form on top of her, looking like the sun itself has been called upon by Felice to her command.

Haiko looks in amazement as he sees the miniature sun Felice has created, “That’s a bit overkill…”

As Felice points her staff at the Thunder Viper, the miniature sun slowly moves towards the target and picks up speed as it moves towards it. “Burn in the flames of the stars…” Felice murmurs as she locks her spell on the Thunder Viper.

As the miniature sun nears its target, the Thunder Viper still unable to move as Haiko continuously sends out a barrage of fireballs pinning it down. All the creature could do is screech loudly as asking for help.

A second later the miniature sun hits and causes a massive firestorm of explosions. Felice looks coldly at the explosion unflinching, while Haiko covers his face as dust and smoke begin to settle.

As the smoke clears Haiko sees the head of the Thunder Viper. But looking closer he sees it severely charred and very much dead.

Haiko wryly chuckles, “Note to self, don’t make the adult shifting magic loli angry…”