The floating log bobbed up and down as the dark-haired girl stepped onto it. Her hands spread to either side for balance, Lucy walked along the tree, aiming for the next section of floating wood. Murky black and brown water filled with drifting trees and leaves surrounded her, but she used the floating debris as a walkway easily enough. There was a lot of it.

[S.T.A.G.E.S | Stage 8: The Trial of Wind]

The flood has healed the ruined places, removing the ashes of darkness. But safety has yet to return, nor has the final Cataclysm of New Moon’s day occurred. Survive in this watery landscape as the dreadful ashy water drains away, letting the jungle flourish once more.

Tread lightly, as light as air, so you may stay afloat on the remains of the past. Head towards the last territory, using the adrift wood as rafts, bridges or boats, anything you wish, where the remaining trials may commence. Sink not into the depths of the watery abyss, for you will not surface.

But this is, of course, a trial. The winds beckon a storm, and with it, more beasts of the region shall be lost.

The New Moon arrives in a day, and time is running out. [Collapse]

Main Quest (Rank-1: Beast Realm) Overall Objective:

* Ensure no contenders to the title of Supreme Ruler of the region remain by the time of the New Moon’s day.

Sub-Objectives – Stage 8:

Compulsory:

* Reach the Black Vine Serpents’ territory before evening.

Optional:

* Find food among the drifting foliage.

* Keep your head under water for less than 30 seconds total before reaching dry land.

* Locate the second contender.

[]

[Completion Rate: 70%]

Normally, a User would be still stuck near the centre of the Thundering Storm Vulture’s territory, but she had already crossed half of the zone. Which meant hopefully, she’d be able to avoid the worst of the storm.

She stiffened up as a small wave rocked the haphazard clumped island of mud, tree logs and branches she was standing on. The water in the flooded landscape was slowly draining away, but not quickly enough.

Coming up to the edge of the clumped floating landmass, she knelt and carefully got down onto her hands and knees. A long, wide slippery log was separating her from getting to the next most solid section of land and debris, and she didn’t want to fall in and have to restart the stage.

Slowly moving, she crawled across the top of the log, aiming for the opposite side. Ensuring she stayed still when any small wave or similar caused the log to move, she finally made it after a few tense minutes. She stood up on the floating landmass after ensuring it was solid enough to take her weight, then looked around.

Lucy blinked as she noticed that a bush tangled up in the debris island was covered in tiny berries. She came closer to have a look.

I believe these berries are edible, although they’re only used for medicinal purposes. Do these count as food?

She picked one off but clicked her tongue when she didn’t receive a notification.

It seems not. They don’t provide enough nutrition for the System to consider them food.

Dropping the berry and ignoring the bush, she continued on her journey. There was another reason she had to find food besides the fact there was an objective for her to complete: she was really hungry.

I typically regulate my body so I don’t feel hunger very often, as I always eat enough just when I need it. But I don’t have that luxury here. The hunger isn’t enough to decrease my physical abilities, but I’ll want to be fully satiated before I meet the two Beast Kings.

Making sure her perception field was open wide so she could identify any possible food, she continued crossing the floating debris. She was able to see the edge of the Black Vine Serpents’ territory several kilometres or so away, so she knew she would be able to make it there in time. But the storm was coming, ominous grey clouds bordering the skies behind her.

She paused when she detected a few low-ranked magical beasts running across her path in the distance, burrowing into the debris. If animals were around, then that meant a possible food source too. Walking a bit closer she found what it was she was looking for and began searching through the leaves of the fallen tree beside her. She pulled away with a large fruit in hand.

[Sub-Objective Complete:

Find food among the drifting foliage.]

[Completion Rate: +2%]

[New! Completion Rate: 72%]

If I didn’t have the ability to analyse the fruit’s characteristics with my spiritual energy, then the System would be the greatest Inspection ability ever. I could just touch everything until I complete my objectives.

She ate the fruit and carried on. As she grew closer to the edge of the landscape, the debris grew thicker, allowing her to speed up her journey. She looked over her shoulder to observe the storm closing in on her.

I still have around half an hour of travelling to do, but the storm is going to close in on me in ten.

Lucille took another look around.

And… where is the Iron-Fur Jungle Tiger King? If the objective to locate him has come up in this stage, then he must be nearby somewhere…

She flinched as a loud thunderclap sounded behind her. She turned around to eye the storm.

… it might not even be ten minutes until it comes. I need to get out of here.

She sped up her pace as she continued heading towards the serpents’ territory in the distance. If the storm behind her was normal, then she wouldn’t have a reason to be so quick to leave, but the storm behind her was a natural mana phenomenon…

She was fifteen minutes away from leaving the Thundering Storm Vultures’ territory when the downpour started. Harsh gales blew about, stirring up the drifting debris and affecting the floating land beneath her feet. She stumbled as waves began to cause the debris to crash against each other, some sinking beneath the murky water.

The effects of the rain began to reveal themselves as she found herself struggling to breathe, even though she was above water. Her travelling speed slowed as she found herself attempting to cross a long log with fast-flowing water on either side, the draining water and constant waves creating rips that would pull her out to the centre of the water if she fell in. A few close calls occurred when she nearly slipped several times while crossing, the lack of air making it hard for her to control her body well.

Then Lucy froze as she was faced with the unconscious form of a giant tiger half-obscured by foliage on the island in front of her, his scarred coat drenched with freezing rain.

[Sub-Objective Complete:

Locate the second contender.]

[Completion Rate: +2%]

[New! Completion Rate: 74%]

She hesitantly went to pull out Apophis.

Do I… kill him now? This wasn’t where I found the Thundering Storm Vulture Queen last time when she was my second contender. But… is it possible to complete an objective a stage earlier? Or does the System have something else pla-

The eyes of the Tiger King snapped open, then fixed themselves on her. It only took a second for him to register the blade in her hand before he let out a growl and sprang up.

She didn’t waste a second as she sheathed Apophis and ran past him, using the time it took for him to shake off the bushes and branches weighing him down to escape. The massive beast bounded after her.

The floating debris island they were on shuddered under the weight of the beast’s footsteps, and the Tiger King behind her snarled as his claws fell through the ground into the muddy waters below. The force of the collapsing debris made Lucy trip, but she quickly got up and continued running as the tiger behind her managed to pull himself out and continue chasing after her.

“Foul lesser beast! Attempting to slay your King!” he roared.

Lucille didn’t waste her breath by replying, continuing to run as she ducked under branches and climbed over large logs. The waves had grown stronger, and the land beneath their feet tilted in the choppy water. The storm was only growing stronger.

She breathed heavily as she continued running, but her speed was gradually slowing as she became more lightheaded. The border of the Black Vine Serpents’ territory was just a few metres away, but the Tiger King was catching up, his greater strength allowing him to fare better in the air-seizing rain.

Thunder boomed as the Iron-Fur Jungle Tiger King let out a roar and launched himself towards Lucy. Feeling dizzy, she summoned her strength and jumped, grabbing onto the overhanging tree branch above her. The ground rumbled as the Tiger King growled again and leapt up, but his eyes widened as the landmass he was on sunk down into the water.

Lucille watched as the water level dipped down suddenly, beginning to drain away at a faster speed. The Tiger King howled as he was pulled away.

“I’ll hunt you to the ends of the realm, traitorous beast!”

Lucille’s strength failed and her grip on the branch slipped. She fell to the ground, where she landed on the bank of the Black Vine Serpents’ territory.

[Sub-Objective Complete:

Keep your head under water for less than 30 seconds total before reaching dry land.]

[Completion Rate: +2%]

[New! Completion Rate: 76%]

The rainfall stopped as the eye of the storm passed over. Waiting a few minutes to catch her breath, she eventually shuddered deeply as she recovered her energy and slowly stood up on trembling limbs. She turned away from the bank and began heading deeper into the territory.

[Sub-Objective Complete:

Reach the Black Vine Serpents’ territory before evening.]

[Completion Rate: +4%]

[New! Completion Rate: 80%]

[Stage 8 Complete. Transferring User…]

It’s good that he’s going to follow me. Because I need to lure him into a trap.

…

[S.T.A.G.E.S | Stage 9: The Trial of Light]

The end is nigh. In barely a few hours, the sun will dip down, and the Cataclysm shall truly begin. Then, only the strongest beast remaining will survive.

But your trials are not yet over, wanderer. The life-bringing mana pulses beneath the earth, where the mana blood of the region is startling active and intense. This mighty force has reached the breaking point, and the core of the region shall soon be revealed.

Luminous mana crystals lie beneath the surface of the region, their edges like blades that shall pierce the bodies of the unworthy. Prove your place in this region by slaying the second contender and climbing out of the depths of the abyss.

If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

You are nearly there, wanderer. [Collapse]

Main Quest (Rank-1: Beast Realm) Overall Objective:

* Ensure no contenders to the title of Supreme Ruler of the Region remain by the time of the New Moon’s day.

Sub-Objectives – Stage 9:

Compulsory:

* Escape the cavern.

Optional:

* Remove the second contender.

[]

[Completion Rate: 80%]

Lucille peered up at the sky above.

Is the storm over? I may just still be in the eye of the storm… well, where I’m headed, it likely doesn’t matter if the storm is still happening or not.

But getting caught in the storm again before she reached the Black Vine Serpents’ enclave would still affect her physical ability, and with the Tiger King having vowed to kill her, she needed to move. Making her way forward in a direct path towards the Black Vine Serpents’ enclave, she clambered down thick roots and navigated the thick foliage.

The jungle there was silent, eerily silent. Even in her perception field, she couldn’t sense more than the stray bird here or there. It was reasonable for someone to think that due to the disasters that had struck the other territories, the escaping beasts would’ve run to the last territory remaining. The only possible reason that the number of beasts in the territory was still so few was… that the escaping beasts had never made it.

The jungle grew thicker as she headed towards the enclave, the eery silence continuing. She didn’t slow her pace, however, because she had an Iron-Fur Jungle Tiger King set on seeing her dead and even though he was injured, the senses of a Superior beast would still easily be capable of tracking her. Lucille was also using her perception field to detect the warning signs of the stage’s trial, but she hadn’t found anything so far.

It was when she decided to increase the size of her perception field briefly that her eyes widened and she broke out into a full-on run.

Dammit, he’s here already!

A few moments later the distant sounds of crashing trees and broken branches could be heard, as well as a furious roar echoing through the jungle. With his mouth set into a feral snarl, the Tiger King was pushing down trees and trampling flora to get to her. The few birds that were still around panicked and flew out of their hiding places, creating a cacophony of sounds as the immense beast ran after her.

Lucy had to come to a stop when a wide river filled with fast-flowing white-water rapids blocked her path. She looked around to find the tree trunk she had crossed the last time she came to the enclave, and quickly climbed up on it to cross the river. She stumbled slightly when the force of the Tiger King’s run made the ground tremble, dislodging the log from its originally fixed place between rocks on either side of the river. The rapids began to push the log on one end and Lucille spread her arms on either side to attempt to steady her balance.

The Tiger King pushed past a thick wall of foliage behind her with a loud growl and slowed to a stop beside the river. He immediately spotted her and snarled, but wouldn’t be able to wade across the deep river to get to her in time. He glanced at the slowly shifting log she was running across and ran over to its end.

Lucy’s breath felt sharp in her lungs as she forced herself to keep running across the log, which was slowly sliding away from the river bank on the end behind her. The Tiger King didn’t care and leapt forward to climb onto the end behind her, using it as a bridge as she was doing. The force of his jump pushed the log down into the river on his side and Lucy let out an involuntary gasp as she was launched into the air to come crashing down onto the log again. She hissed as she felt her body slam onto the wood, but she gripped the log tightly so she wouldn’t fall off into the waters below.

But for the Tiger King, it was much worse. His jump had completely dislodged the log from that side of the river bank and the rapids were able to release their full power, forcing the log to begin moving downstream.

Lucille scrambled to stand up and kept running across the log unsteadily, while the Tiger King’s back paws slipped off the log and the rapids threatened to pull him in. The log began to roll and Lucy used one last burst of strength to jump off the end of the boulder onto the opposite bank. The Tiger King roared as the log crashed into him and forced him under the water, sending them both down the flowing rapids.

Lucy didn’t look back as she picked herself up and kept running, aware that it would only stop him for a few minutes. In her perception field, she saw the Tiger King make it to the bank and drag himself out, shaking his wet fur. Then he growled again and set off after her.

Another close call occurred when she had to crawl under several thick tree roots to escape the claws of the Tiger King. He snarled and hissed as he tried to grab her and shove aside the roots, but she kept crawling until she exited and continued running, ducking behind or under roots and trees to avoid his attacks.

Eventually, the front entrance of the Black Vine Serpents’ enclave was in sight. She bolted through the open front, ignoring the calls of the serpent guards.

“The King’s servant? Where are you-”

She dashed through the enclave, directly to the giant tree where the Black Vine Serpent King’s abode rested below. She ran down the entrance to arrive before the surprised Serpent King.

“You have finally arrived? Did you lure the Tiger King to the right place?” he asked, lowering his head to eye her with scrutiny. “You’re late. I’m aware that the situation for the outside territories is dire, so you can be excused for your tardiness, but I-”

The loud sounds of paws hitting the dirt at a great speed interrupted him, the abode rumbling as soil fell from the roof above them. Shouts of alarm from other serpents could be heard as the gargantuan Tiger King barged into the abode, heaving with wrath as he glanced around searchingly. The Black Vine Serpent King looked between the Tiger King and Lucy.

“And… what is this situation now?”

The Tiger King’s eyes fixated themselves on Lucille and he snarled as she hastily knelt before the Black Vine Serpent King, bowing her head in submission to him.

“My lord, I attempted to assassinate the Tiger King as you ordered, but I failed.”

“As I ordered? But you-”

The Tiger King didn’t stop to listen to the snake’s words as he turned his head to stare at the Black Vine Serpent King. Then he bellowed furiously, his eyes turned red with killing intent, “Serpent King! You will die for this!”

The Black Vine Serpent King only had enough time to narrow his eyes at Lucy in understanding of what she did before the Tiger King rammed into him. The massive serpent hissed and spat as the two beasts began fighting, the abode shaking with the force of their battle. Lucy ran to the edge of the room to avoid getting caught in the crossfire.

“Tiger King, do you not think that this battle could wait for another time?” the Serpent King hissed, fangs bared as he attempted to bite the neck of the Tiger King.

“Never!” the Tiger King roared, swiping at the serpent with his metallic claws. “You cowardly send a lesser beast in an attempt to assassinate me at my weakest point. The region needs to be rid of such a foul beast as you!”

“I don’t suppose you’d believe me if I told you that was not my plan?” The Black Vine Serpent King reared back and an orb of glowing green mana formed within his mouth. He spat it out and the Tiger King dodged the poisonous mana orb.

The Iron-Fur Jungle Tiger King growled as he circled the black serpent. “I would never trust a snake. And don’t believe I have ignored the fact that your territory is the only one that has yet to be afflicted by a disaster.”

The Black Vine Serpent King summoned an ominous green aura as the Tiger King tried to attack. “You’re suspecting me of having something to do with the disaster?” the serpent asked incredulously.

“I don’t know if you’re truly at fault…” the Tiger King said in a low voice. His iron-coloured coat stiffened and thickened as metallic mana swam about to encase him. “But… it won’t matter when I end you!”

An overpowering aura descended on the room, with the sensation of cold iron. The Serpent King hissed and spread his aura in return, the poisonous haze making Lucille feel as if she had been drenched in sticky corrosive liquid. Their auras rapidly expanded to cover the entire enclave, conflicting with loud booms and sparks of grey and green.

Using all of their strength, the two Beast Kings launched themselves at each other, prepared to fight to the death. The ground rumbled with from their might, dust falling from the ceiling… but when they disengaged the rumbling didn’t stop.

The Beast Kings looked about hesitantly as the quaking grew stronger, with dislodged stones falling down from the roof of the abode. The earth made a sound akin to cracking, and the Tiger King backed away from the Serpent King to inspect the spider-web like marks that were crawling across the floor near him. “What is-”

All three of their eyes’ shot open as the floor of the abode split in two with a groan of stone. Then the ground shuddered and they began plummeting into an immense downward tunnel below, the only light the light from above and the dull glimmer of something at the bottom of the chute.

Lucy concentrated on stabilizing her descent, however hard that may be. She knew what lay at the bottom of the tunnel, and ensuring she didn’t land on it was her first priority.

As luck would have it, she didn’t land on what was at the bottom of the tunnel. Instead, it was the two Beast Kings who did, letting out furious roars of pain as their bodies crashed into giant jagged shards of glowing crystal. The semi-translucent white crystals were stained red with the blood of the two beasts. Lucy landed on the back of the Iron-Fur Jungle Tiger King, and let out a hiss of pain as she felt a rib crack, but she got onto her hands and knees to climb off of the giant beast.

She stifled her groans as she slid off of the Tiger King and unsteadily walked past the sharp crystals, trying to get away from the two beasts. She winced as her rib twinged and leaned against the cave wall to take a break.

In the centre of the massive cavern filled with glowing stones, the two Beast Kings pushed themselves up and moved away from the bed of sharp crystals, releasing pained grunts the entire time. The two of them observed the glowing minerals, studying them to try to work out what they were.

“… crystals?” the Black Vine Serpent King murmured.

“And this mana… the density is…” the Iron-Fur Jungle Tiger King trailed off, and traded tense glances with the Serpent King. Then his expression contorted into a snarl as they shouted at each other in sync, “Mana crystals!”

They instantaneously summoned their auras and returned to their battle, the metal mana and poison mana tinging the crystals closest to them with their elements. Hisses and roars resounded throughout the cavern, echoing loudly. Lucy looked up to see the gaping hole overhead, as well as a few overhanging ledges with large crystals dangling off of them. The forces of the battling beasts caused a few above to tremble dangerously, so she stopped leaning against the wall and moved on.

Ignoring the pain in her ribs, she came up to the side wall of the cavern and began looking for ledges to begin climbing up. Behind her, the Black Vine Serpent King and Iron-Fur Jungle Tiger King continued battling violently, the temptation of gaining power from all the mana crystals in the cavern being too strong to resist.

Lucille spread her perception field briefly, and sighed when she discovered that she wouldn’t have ledges for her to climb the entire way up. She would have to use an alternative.

Sneaking a glance back at the two fighting Beast Kings to ensure they weren’t watching her, she walked up to one of the closest crystals. Unsheathing Ouroboros but keeping the blade in its dagger form, she cut into the crystal. The crystal shard separated cleanly and she tucked it away. Then she returned to the wall and began her dangerous ascent.

With the aid of her two daggers combined with the rough edges of the cavern, she slowly began her climb. The battle of the beasts below shook the cavern and every now and then she had to embed her two daggers in the stone before her face and grip them tightly, hoping that the ledge beneath her feet wouldn’t be dislodged.

When she had reached the halfway mark she stiffened as the Tiger King slammed the Serpent King into the cavern wall, his scales split apart by the jagged shards behind him.

The Serpent King coughed weakly and raised his eyes to gaze at the Tiger King. “Do you think my death will really be the end of it all?”

The Iron-Fur Jungle Tiger King replied with a sneer in his voice, “What? Will your disgusting offspring get revenge for you? Would they be willing to do that to their disgraced cowardly patriarch, who steals from them in return for allowing the enclave to have the reputation of being the home of the weakest beast King?”

“No, I do not mean to discuss that.” The Serpent King coughed again and shook his head. “You’ve seen the destruction to the region. Tell me, do you think the death of another Beast King will help our enclaves’ remnants survive?”

“The weaklings should perish,” the Tiger King spat coldly. “The region will enter a new age after this and doesn’t need the rotten traces of the past era.”

The Serpent King fell silent. Then he chuckled darkly. “Yes. Rotten traces of a past era indeed. Which is why I’ll erase those remnants now!”

The green poison mana-tinged crystals around them exploded with the sound of shattering glass. A thick fog of poisonous particles surrounded them both as the Iron-Fur Jungle Tiger King hastily backed away and attempted to cover his nose with his claws.

“You…” He broke into hacking coughs before raising his eyes to the Serpent King again. “You would give up your own opportunity for power?”

“I just have to ensure no contenders to my title of the strongest survive!” the Black Vine Serpent King replied viciously, sending black spears of dark mana towards the Tiger King.

In his weakened state, the Tiger King attempted to fight off the dark mana with his own pillars of metal, but his mana was running low after the events of the last few days, while the Black Vine Serpent King had been fully rested and healthy in his abode the entire time. With every spear of mana that clashed, the Tiger King was forced further and further back. When the Iron-Fur Jungle Tiger King was pressed up against the wall, breathing deeply, the Black Vine Serpent King said one last thing.

“Give my greetings to the Thundering Storm Eagle Queen for me, will you?” he asked mockingly. Then he drove a spear of dark and poison mana into the Iron-Fur Jungle Tiger King’s heart.

[Sub-Objective Complete:

Remove the second contender]

[Completion Rate: +4%]

[New! Completion Rate: 84%]

Lucy didn’t look back once she received the notification, continuing her climb. The Serpent King below raised his head and narrowed his eyes at her, but didn’t do anything. He looked around and began swallowing any clear, dark mana or poison mana-tinged crystals he could find. The bestial aura around him grew denser.

Eventually, Lucy arrived at the section just before the opening of the tunnel where there were no ledges. Pulling out the crystal she had obtained, she concentrated deeply and brought out a strand of her own mana.

Let’s hope my atmospheric mana control still works in here.

Utilising the method she had used in the Gold Dome Hall to turn her mana into illusion mana, she summoned wind mana. The crystal quickly turned a cloudy white, and once it had done so, she ruthlessly smashed it against the stone in front of her. The cloudy mana escaped the crystal and expanded to form a haze around her, where she extended her spiritual power to forcefully brand the mana with her own spiritual energy signature.

She caused the controlled haze to lift her up, letting her float higher. It gently lifted her over the edge of the tunnel, and she allowed it to drop her onto the cracked floor of the abode. Then she bolted.

[Sub-Objective Complete:

Escape the cavern]

[Completion Rate: +6%]

[New! Completion Rate: 90%]

Because below her was the final Beast King, the third contender for the title of Supreme Ruler of the Region… and one who has just gained the power of nearly all the mana crystals in the cavern.

[Stage 9 Complete. Transferring User…]

…

[S.T.A.G.E.S | Stage 10: The Trial of Earth]

A whispered sigh in the wind. The slight tremble of the earth as her heartbeat. The beasts all know of her presence and revere her as their origin, their protector. Their realm’s supreme ruler.

While shattered into her little dimensions, she still lives, and the beasts are born from it. But she still heals from her wounds, those which were caused not for her suffering, but for her freedom. The homes of beasts bear the burden of her healing.

You have survived her four trials, wanderer. It is now time for you to face the fifth. And if she accepts you as another one of the beasts… then perhaps you will live. [Collapse]

Main Quest (Rank-1: Beast Realm) Overall Objective:

* Ensure no contenders to the title of Supreme Ruler of the Region remain by the time of the New Moon’s day.

Sub-Objectives – Stage 10:

Compulsory:

* Remove all remaining contenders.

[]

[Completion Rate: 90%]

Lucy stared at the stage description.

That is not the Stage 10 description I received last time.

She glanced at it again before turning away and running up to the entrance of the abode.

I mean, I believe I know what it’s about, but why would I be shown this?

She frowned slightly as she stopped before a tree that had fallen over during the cavern opening up earlier.

This might mean I need to be prepared for the stages to be different from the last timeline.

But right now, she needed to focus on her current stage. She ran past the ruined trees – the homes of the other serpents – and jumped across small chasms that had formed across the ground. She didn’t stop running until she found the centre of the enclave, where there was a massive clearing. In this place, there were no chasms. She panted as she leaned her arms on her knees.

Then the earth began to rumble again and she unsteadily tried to keep her balance. She held her breath as cracks spread around the edge of the clearing, separating from the earth around it. The cracks grew wider until they had isolated the clearing from other sections of land.

The earth shuddered and groaned until Lucy was forced to her knees by the sudden rise of her platform. Through her perception, she could see that the whole enclave began to deform as if mountains and valleys were forming at extremely high speeds. The sudden towering peaks reached impossible, colossal heights, while the fresh abysses where the remains of the jungle lay within shot down to past where the cavern had been. A new, terrifying mountain range was forming before her eyes, but the spires of stone and earth rippled like a wave as if the entire region was the body of some great beast.

The constant moving of the clearing, which was now a new mountain peak, slowed down and Lucy was able to get back on her feet. She took in the view of the disfigured earth, lava flowing from gaping holes in the sides of the peaks, and the remains of the jungle painting peaks fully or partially at random. The earth continued to rumble ceaselessly.

Then Lucille turned around with wide eyes as a malicious presence entered her perception. A thick, vile fog the colour of pitch formed in the centre of the clearing and spread, growing thicker and thicker. It roughly collected into the shape of a massive serpent, before it scattered to reveal the form of the Black Vine Serpent King. He looked up and narrowed his eyes at Lucille.

“So, you managed to survive.”

She smiled calmly and spread her arms in a wide shrug. “Luck was on my side. And it seems your wish of becoming the only remaining Beast King was achieved.” Then she glanced over her shoulder at the scene of the destroyed region below. “Although, I must say, the events that occurred in the wake of the Vulture Queen’s death were unexpected.”

He didn’t say anything and remained silent. Lucille placed a hand behind her back as she withdrew a small vial from a pocket and held it out to the serpent, carefree.

“As agreed, here is the antidot-”

The force of something slammed into her and sent her crashing into a boulder that was sitting on the edge of the peak. Her head bounced of the stone and felt like it had split in half as she doubled over and clutched her stomach.

Her gorge rose and she vomited onto the ground beside her. The stomach acid burned her mouth, and her puke was tinged with red. Fresh blood dripped from her nose as she looked at the Serpent King. “You…” She coughed blood onto the stone and wiped her mouth. “You attacked… you don’t want the antidote?”

“Your poison was a hallucinogenic,” he growled. “Those sensations were fake. You wouldn’t have given me something that would decrease my strength before I faced the other Beast Kings.”

Lucille’s eyes widened as she stared at him. “You knew?”

He let out a short bark of laughter. “You said it to me yourself. Didn’t you call what I felt ‘ghostly’?” He slithered closer. “So, they were false. And the cleansing of the water removed the effects, allowing me to see clearly.”

Lucy unsteadily got to her feet, a hand pressed against her injured stomach as she unsheathed Apophis. She slowly walked past the boulder to face the Black Vine Serpent King, her back to the edge of the peak. “…you don’t need to kill me.”

“Ha. No, I don’t.” He gained a bloodthirsty smile on his serpentine face and moved closer to her. “But you heard what I said down there. No beast besides me shall live. And I want to see you dead, most of all. The lesser beast who dared to threaten me, the Black Vine Serpent King.” He opened his jaws wide to swallow her. “I will savour the satisfaction of feeling your life fade between my fangs!”

But he hesitated as Lucille gained a strange smile on her face, showing off her perfectly straight white teeth. She took a step back, and then another. She was teetering on the edge of the peak.

“Not if I kill myself first.”

And she plunged Apophis into her neck.