Part 1
Crackling and Sizzling, with each rising cloud of smoke, the fire below recomposed into a deadly storm destroying everything in its path.
People screamed in pain as they ran while burning alive.
Everywhere she looked people were dying, her people.
The soldiers tried to put the fire out but no water was enough.
"Princess, you need to come with me."
The figure looked her dead in the eyes but the smoke and fire covered them.
But their voice seems to ring a bell because it's a voice she's heard many times.
"NO, where are mom... dad?"
"My princess, calm down. The heat would suffocate you, and you have sensitive skin..."
"I need to find my mom and dad… mom and dad, they, they. They are king and queen, yes the king and queen." "They can help."
"Tch and I thought it would be easy." Saying that the figure's hand approached the girl.
Then the horrible sounds of the princesses' heart cry resounded, "What...what are you doing? No, no, no, no, no, help!!! "
All is a dream and all is not.
Fire is the destruction that awaits us when we are the losers.
As I hear from left to right, pick up a weapon and prepare for what lies ahead. I wonder if I am hallucinating.
Blessed thee I'm my eye is the moon my heart is the night as my skin shades in between I shall see the beast of freedom.
The fighter of no heart help her and I shall be saved.
For the dream is hers.
For hers is mine.
She is no knight in shining armor.
She is a ferocious unchained beast.
I should wake up. I'm the moon of my blood, the eye that sees me in the reflection.
I am young, but my dreams never end. I am haunted by the same cycle over and over again.
I cannot tell. I forget when I awake.
I see it in tears when the sun rises not knowing what I must speak. Am I living in a dream?
It's like I'm in a prison of my mind during the day I live like a doll no matter what I say they misunderstand but at night the shackles are gone yet it's a nightmare.
Things I read in books from our ancestors say we are special.
Mother said it's our bloodline that speaks of the ???.
Of what exactly?
***
Part 2
At noon in the harbor city of the Brisca kingdom, the ordinary citizens went on about their lives not knowing what was happening in their city.
And even if they knew they wouldn't care as it does not involve them.
To them, another day in life is more important than what's going on in the underworld.
Besides, it's the time when the poor scrape for food in any way they can.
The guards are tyrants and talking to them about a strange person would only inflict pain on them thus nobody said anything about where the woman of unknown origin went when asked.
Because the person looked like a noble which would bring more harm to them than the guards.
As for the place she went to, it was closed, declaring it to be the property of a high noble. Therefore, the guards who followed her never returned as they became guards of the place.
Deep in the underground lair on the seventh level of the tower, a man who had a tattooed snake on the back of his neck was limping.
As he passed through level after level filled with dead bodies, horror was written all over his face.
This man was the first one to receive a report on the intruder but failed to stop her as she slaughtered everyone on her way.
He survived because he is one of those lucky ones who joined the Serpent Hole organization.
Because they operate all over the world they are known by many names and even the name most known to the world is not their actual name.
The slithering assassins, toxic night killers, serpent holes, and so on many snake-related names…
Very lucky indeed because there are 30 million+ members and amongst them, he was chosen to be a true servant.
Revenant Serpents is their true name and the true servants are only 1 million as they are given the gift of snake blood to become mutants.
And further, there are the children who manage the organization, the 12 revenant serpents.
Unlike humans, these mutants are very different as they are closer to a monster than humans. Even when they break human limits and become star warriors, they are two times stronger than humans because their genes have changed.
Becoming a mutant means you'll never awaken abilities but can still break your limits to become strong.
"I refuse to accept that a human is that strong."
"She has to be a monster just like us… otherwise, everything I worked for would be for naught."
Having been an orphan of the slums he experienced all the pain one can face in the world he thought but one day all that changed.
One night in the winter he was kidnapped and for the first time in his life, he saw a future as his kidnappers kept him in a warm house like he was some kind of a rich brat.
But for the next weeks, more and more children like him were brought into the same place making him fear as things took a drastic turn because they were thrown into a well full of snakes.
It's a day he will never forget even when he's living a convertible life because he was told to survive in a well for 30 days alongside hundreds of snakes and children like him.
To obtain food it was either you had to fight snakes killing and eating them but your surroundings were also hungry opponents or eat the weak. That is what he went through to obtain strength and to see someone slaughter their way to the 7th level after killing 2,000 men some of whom were 1-star warriors is just impossible.
"I've come too far to just die like this… huff, huff."
He was breathing heavily as his injuries were slowly regenerating.
Finally, after arriving near the stairs to the next level he saw the person who broke his bones and destroyed everything.
"You…"
Pointing his finger at her she turned around surprised.
"Huh"
"You thought you did me, well you thought wrong as you can see I'm alive and stronger."
"Hehehe…"
"You would better check whether I'm dead or not next time, no you will die this time by my hands there is no need for that."
The scenery became silent as the two prepared to clash one more time.
There were corpse limbs, bones, and organs all around them as blood pooled downstairs.
Splash, Splash, Splash…
Both parties ran into each other with their fists.
At this moment they were a few millimeters away from each other.
The man's hand started to transform from the fingers to his whole body as black scales covered him.
Becoming a being that is not human or a serpent, his head was that of a snake but the rest of his body was that of a human covered with scales and his fingers became four.
As a long black tongue slithered from his mouth, he clenched his hand punching the incoming fist toward him.
Boom
The blood on the ground made way as the sound of their clashing echoed.
Both of their fists collided seeming equal in strength but the serpent mutant was feeling the might of the other party.
Monster… Monster, monster, monster, monster, monster, monster, monster, he was going crazy inside as the person in front of him was pushing him back even in his strongest form.
Boom
He was sent flying crashing into many walls on his way.
After he came out of the rubles he looked at his hand which was broken in many ways yet it was regenerating.
His bones were reattaching as did his skin and meat.
"Hahaha, you brute monster even with your strength you will never be able to beat me with my regeneration powers… Hahaha."
"Yes, have a test of my power, the gift that was bestowed upon me by…"
Before he could finish a flash of a person was in front of him and he was hit like a volleyball with a large slap.
Bam
He was struck to the ground with his head and if not for his serpent-like head he would have been dead on the spot.
"You talk too much." She said with a scary smile on her face.
And with a ferocious tiger stance, she readied herself as a deadly brown aura surrounded her hand.
"Ahh, what happened?" As his head rose from the ground he asked himself in confusion.
All he could remember is talking and then suddenly some flash before he was hit.
His serpent eye rotated looking for the person responsible for this as did his long black tongue.
"Nighty, Night little snake."
Boom
The whole floor caved in as brain cells exploded everywhere.
On the 8th floor ceiling.
All the guards on this floor gathered in front of the stairs to the next floor ready to meet the enemy.
They were all scared as the only thought in their heads was what kind of enemy was coming their way.
And to make things worse they could hear the battle taking place on the floor above them.
"Hey, do you maybe think we should go to the ninth level?" One of the guards asked with a scared tone.
Gulp
"Yeah, maybe we should." Another said while looking worried.
"Hey, you fools cut it… Do you even have any idea what's below us unless you want an excruciating death, then keep your yapping mouth shut and wait for the enemy."
Spoke their leader as he was scared to death.
This man is the manager of this place and he was the one reporting to the Lady in Red earlier.
No matter what idea he thought about he came to one conclusion and that was death.
He was thinking to himself in regrets.
I sold myself just for a little money and prestige, and now I'm in a worse position than when I was a free nobleman.
He used to be a noble and he still is, but to become a higher noble he became a follower of the red countess and was branded as one of the serpents.
His status changed from noble to a servant because he was doing errands that the commoners do, and his only choice was to comply or die.
Rumble Rumble
The ceilings shook and there were crackers as some of the rubbles came down.
Boom
As soon as the ceiling broke down everyone scattered trying to get away from the stones.
Thud, a headless body with black scales dropped on the floor catching everyone's attention, and on top of the body was a beast crouching down with fierce eyes.
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Growl
"I don't have time for this." As she spoke everyone could sense the tingling of death in the surrounding.
"Forgive me, mama! As I can no longer hold the chains."
As her aura grew, it took on the form of a tiger with long hair like hers.
She opened her mouth sucking the air in the room and even from the upper level all the air gathered in her mouth.
The floors became silent and as the winds came from above like a whistle it was like the coming before the storm.
With one deadly screech, she unleashed the signature of a predator. "Roar"
***
48 minutes ago
"Let's begin the bidding." The butler announced his eyes full of expectations.
In one of the VIP rooms where the tengus masked individuals were.
"Lord Sakuna san are you sure it's safe doing business with these oni snakes?" Said a man wearing a white kimono with an overcoat and white tengus mask.
There were a total of three of them, two samurais and their lord and both of them were wearing the same kind of clothes and mask.
As for their lord Sakuna, he was wearing a black yukata kimono with a long nose tengu red mask.
"There is nothing safe or honorable about doing business with them, however at the same, we can't overlook the fact that they have the heirloom of a smithing clan, and besides that, the treacherous daimyo's ronin is here… So bid 20 million. We will go all out as we don't have to play with any of them."
"Yes, lord Sakuna san." Said one of the samurais as he shouted the amount.
"20 million"
In another VIP room, there was a lone man dressed in the samurai way he was playing with his katana and suddenly he heard the butler announce that someone bid 20 million his expression became sour.
"Damn, bastards think they have money… Let's see how much you brought… 25 million."
"Finally we have some of our esteemed guests taking part in the auction, ladies and gentlemen let me tell you how great this cursed weapon is."
"30 years ago during the time of faction wars there was a great blacksmith master who used to forge weapons great ranks slaying star warriors, but one day he fell in love making him give up the path of forging and start a family however as the saying goes a maker of weapon cannot have a leisure life after creating blades that kill. Thus one night while he was away from home karma came back to him in the form of revenge since his creation destroyed many lives. After the slaughter of his family, he vowed to make a blade that will drain the blood of his enemies for 4 four months straight he did not eat only forging the blade, and on his last day in the world, the blade was complete with his death it became a cursed blade that craves for blood and with its rise, many fell making the blade one of the 50 imperial weapons. The 50 weapons that are close to the realm of awakening only waiting for the hands of a great master swordsman who can make it break that threshold."
Back in the VIP room where the samurais were in.
"Lord Sakuna san…" Spoke to one of the samurais in a terrified tone.
"Yes, I know" Sakuna's eyes were bloodshed behind the mask with anger.
"Those shameful snakes they put their stinking faces everywhere. We must increase our surveillance once we return." Said the other samurai.
"Indeed." Remarked the Sakuna.
"30 million." Said a noble in the VIP rooms who won the elixir.
35 million… 45 million… 53 million…
The prices kept on increasing as they bit higher not wanting anyone but them to have it.
"100 million." Suddenly the samurai lord shouted.
Silence everyone on the auction floor looked shocked by the price set by the samurai.
After the shocks and talk of the item calmed down the auctioneer moved to the next items and just like that 4 more items were sold.
The first one was a wolfed-eyed bow made from the remains of an orange-level monster and it was sold to a mysterious person and the price was 70 million.
The second was a piece of paper from the Book of Iron, it was written in the language of ancient times, thus was taken by scholars and the price was 190 million.
And they also took the third item, a blueprint for the golems the empire is creating. The price for it was 400 million.
The fourth item was an orange monster core called the Mountain Spine Deer and it was 243 million. Its buyer was the icy princess of the Vikings Vulvadora.
All of that took 20 minutes as things went quicker than anticipated.
"Ladies and gentlemen here are where the most important items of our auction lie."
"I present to you the living nightmare of a monster that destroyed nations in its wake… Parasite Ant…"
Poof! The lady in Red stepped in interrupting his speech.
"Stand aside butler."
"Absolutely my lady."
"I myself have taken the role to auction these last items myself, two of which are alive." Said the lady in red.
Parasite Ants, there are three types of them which have different powers, aspects, and personalities. Yes, like humans they can speak and think.
First, is the most beloved of all evolved creatures, the Mutalist Hero Ant Queen. She creates soldiers that live to serve and exterminate all harmful substances on living organisms. By taking out the toxins that harm your body they turn it into medicine that cures fatigue, memory difficulties, sleep impairment, eczema, and other inflammatory conditions like gouts, depression, or brain fog. And by doing these things for the organisms they in return receive energy from the world that evolves them further and grows more of their kind. They do not evolve using the "Force Energy" but rather this world's energy which is its life force. Threat Level: Green
The second type is the Brood Commensalism Ants. Where these broods create a kingdom plants flourish and if it's editable then it helps them grow in large quantities, also it's advised to be cautious around them. Threat Level: Green
The last one is the most dangerous of them all and hence where the name comes from Parasitism Symbiotic Blood Ant. Only one of its kind exists and it's a king taking over hives and enslaving them. This one is harmful to all as it's after your brain, blood, and all nutrients inside you. In the past nations fell because of this one ant. Threat Level: Extreme Red
Note: only this blood Ant requires a host, and not the other two.
"Yes, I know even when we the strong hear its name we shutter in fear as we know what it can do."
"And I shall speak no more of it, our bidding price starts with 500 million and add nothing more than 10 million… go."
"700 million… Hehehe." The creepy smile of a madman was heard loud and clear.
This was a first as the person in the VIP room who kept on buying items never said anything other than numbers.
He is none other than this kingdom's duke who's mad for power Duke Angaress the Mercenary King.
In another VIP room.
"Hey, 7 spades don't you think we should have it?" Asked 7 of Diamonds.
"No, our mission is to secure two things. Any other things have no value." Answered 7 of spades.
"Yeah, don't even sweat it, that thing whoever gets it will become the prey of this whole world. And we sure don't want that target on our back." Said 7 of the clubs.
In another VIP room, a mysterious person was laughing. "Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah… What is going on here? Why are such figureheads gathered here whether they are representing a greater power or are here of their own free will? Of the collateral damage, we have the pathetic nobles. And someone eager for power that would go to great lengths to obtain it the mercenary king Duke Angaress watches with dire eyes. On the other side representing the imperial empire the clowns of chaos agents that look down on all present themselves. And on another side a lone princess seeking power. Also on another side, the dogs of the underworld seek to reclaim a lost relic. Following them is a lone ronin seeking the same thing. Even the scholars who do not partake in battles are here seeking something. And of course, I myself am the watcher that will record all that will take place here. I ask who else besides our host is here to take a share of the fortunes. Who… Who will come and turn everything upside down? Who is so capable?"
"And yet again I do not know the strings of fate so I lay in wait."
This person claiming to be a watcher is the person who bought the Wolf-Eyed Bow.
Someone who likes to shoot down what cannot be shot down.
1 billion… 1.5 billion… 2 billion… 3 billion…
The duke suddenly announced 3.5 billion which made others stop competing for it.
"3.5 billion… 3.5 going once… going twice… going thrice… sold, the same person who got two items gets another congratulation our dear guest."
Like someone who got tired of that much money, the red lady announced, and truth be told to her money is another thing that is mundane to her, such as clothes.
To sum up, the wealth of the poorest country in the world would amount to 5 billion gold coins and not crystal coins which the people here in the auction are flaunting like it's nothing.
The value of a crystal coin stands above all that which came before it.
It carries pure energy inside, an energy that makes one greedy more for it like a curse and that makes it more valuable than gold.
The final phase of the auction begins.
***
Part 3
It is cold but I love it more than the warmth of the sun.
This is what my skin craves.
In the months since I was brought here, I have been hungry and weeping, but nothing has changed.
I even wished it was that damnable dream of a nightmare I have every night but I see it no more.
Why must it be like this?
I'm not alone yet alone.
To my side are hopeless people who wait for death; they don't even have the will to end it all or band together.
I'm locked up in a cold cage and fed like an animal.
This all began the night our land cried for water but water came not until the people were dead and taken away as the sky thundered and the winds howled.
And the worst of all I saw it coming yet I did nothing.
I just feel like I deserve this. Yes, I deserve it. Why wouldn't I?
For I did nothing.
I wish I was not powerless at that time and maybe I could have done something.
***
On the night of my 11th birthday, someone visited me. I do not know the reason but they said to look for the perfect path that has no bloodshed.
Hey, girl… open the door.
Play with your parents there is no tomorrow.
Tears and tears your heart is made of stone and open the doors.
Please don't let them ruin everything.
Hey, girl look at your mom she is queen.
She does your hair, she dresses you, not your maids because love knows no royal status.
Your mom is the jewel that will brighten your day.
When she's gone you'll cry and nobody will listen.
Put on your dresses and open the doors the path awaits your choice.
Hey, girl why can't you hear me? I'm you.
I live in your dreams, life is precious and you'll lose it.
Hey, girl look at your dad, he is a king and people cheer him.
Places and places he is praised yet he will leave you one day so pick up your weapon and tell them.
Hey, girl choose the right path, we'll be happy and everything will be perfect.
And everyone will be happy.
Smiles, and smiles you have saved your kingdom because people are the country, not the land.
You see things that nobody else sees.
The stranger teared up and I couldn't speak or move only if she knew.
Light illuminated my night her tears of cry however did not move my heart.
That morning I woke up in tears.
I knew my dream yet I could not speak or everything would crumble.
Have I made the right choice?
For the next 6 years of my life, that dream came with warnings yet I did nothing.
On the night my family fell I knew I could have spoken yet deep down in my heart I know this is the right choice.
Life is not dictated.
Everyone is presented with many options and we pick what our heart desires.
If not for the discipline put into place to resist what the heart and body yearn for then the fire of destruction will be avoided.
Why did I not save my kingdom?
I saw when it happened everyone I called family or my people were against me.
Snake is what they are.
I loved them.
I sought my dream that I would find a way but no, no they are evil how can they lie to me?
I loved them like the stars.
My heart remains dry.
Thirsting for one thing only.
Because I was the animal farm raised for selling or slaughtering.
All of it was a show to awaken my powers and control them but I saw it in my heart, not with my eyes.
And my dreams were in pieces: the burning, the crying lady, and me in a cycle all around.
No matter which piece comes first my eye is taken.
Thus I did nothing but it still haunts me to no end because they were the only family I had and the memories imprinted into my mind like a painting of a sun.
But they realized my powers are not to their liking because the future is our choice, not the visual dream they want.
***
I now know and realize who I'm. What I'm. And what I'm supposed to do?
Revenge the complete and utter destruction of the snakes they will not hide from me wherever hole they go into.
The. Time. Has. Come.
The girl in the cage said to herself as her right eye glowed red while the left one became dim gray.
Her albino skin was as bright as the full moon.
And her glowing eye was that of a crimson moon.
A few seconds later the auction attendees came in dragging the cage without a word to any of the other slaves.
And for good those not selected were happy because the life of a slave is something they don't choose and don't want to experience.
But what they don't know is since they are not part of the auction they are only food for a creature that hides in the shadow of darkness.
Back on the auction hall floor
As the lady in red released smoke from the pipe, it dispersed into nothingness.
Walking to the cage that was dragged in she lifted the cloak that was covering it.
Woash
Gasp Gasp
As the maiden of beauty was introduced to the audience.
Their expressions said it all especially the nobles how can such a thing be so beautiful and not be someone amongst their ring?
Jealousy and awe of admiration, but there were those who even went further as their hatred was written all over them.
"Damn slave peasants, how can you be so pretty, I should stab your eyes and burn your skin if I can't have it." Said a fat noble as he drooled.
"Hey, watch it, that's the fallen princess." Said another noble.
"Really, then I must have her no matter what… say, say how much I'll buy her now." As the fat noble spoke a deadly aura was released scaring them all.
Shudder, cold as the killing intent even froze the other nobles who were not directed at.
An experienced noble stood up apologizing for the misdeeds of his companions.
"Apologies Red Countess, we shall not interrupt thee no more… hey you fool kneel down and apologies."
"Huh." The fat noble though paralyzed understood immediately bowing in difficulties and said. "I'm sorry."
The lady in red turned in disgust as she poofed another smoke.
"Deer guest though I was also envious of her beauty I could not bring myself to unleash my hatred to our valuable product… I shall not tell her whole back story but you have heard of the moon princess who went missing after her kingdom was lied to waste."
"Here feast your eyes on the most beautiful girl in the world as it stands to."
"Of course, no mere fallen princess is equal to the items we have presented so far, so let me explain to you carefully why she is here."
"If you are knowledgeable about the bloodlines in this world then you must have certainly heard of the royal bloodline. A bloodline that carries unique powers, yes you heard me right unique powers. In fact, the empire is a collector of these bloodlines and you can imagine the price it would fetch if the empire is hungry for it."
"And without further ado will start with 5 billion impress me as I shall with our next item."
In the VIP room where the jesters were
"So it has finally appeared." Said 7 of Clubs.
"Yes, prepare yourselves as after these two items are in our hands we shall bring this place down as per ordered." With his cold voice, 7 of the spades signaled the golem to ready itself.
"Then, I shall bet 10… 10 billion over here." Said 7 of Diamonds as he waved his hand through the little balcony window.
Below the lady in red smiled in amusement.
"Indeed you see it right as you can't back down from that much at least."
Silence no one even uttered anything as things were going through dangerous waters.
"Huh, well I guess our guests don't have that much, or maybe it's something else."
It was fear she knew and they knew but she let it be.
"I guess that's all for it… sold for…"
Before she could announce anything the whole underground base shook.
As a deadly screech was unleashed the signature of a predator came bringing everything down.
Roar
Following the shaking of the castle was a roar that knocked all the nobles and the Union Merchants' representatives out as they bleed from their orifices dying on the spot.
Rubbles fell and everything was disorganized as chaos took the auction floor.
The mysterious individual who bought the bow was surprised as he felt something very big was happening upstairs.
"Aura and with a roar at that what kind of beast has come?"
The samurai were also shocked as they prepared to escape from the place and the ninja who was sent after them. Well, he thought of the same thing but to first snatch the katana away from them.
In the room where the scholars were in
"Babyface it's them." Said one of the scholars who was wearing an ordinary mask.
"Yes, let's leave this place, we have what we came for, and the rest they can fight it out." Said the old man with a long beard.
"Very smart indeed, let's go."
And like that the scholars disappeared as they knew who had come and the trouble wasn't worth it. Similarly, the duke also decided to leave. However, the icy Viking princess got curious.
Meanwhile, in the room where the jesters were, they had gloomy expressions behind their masks.
"Spades, clubs take the golem and claim our mission. I'll open a path for us and retrieve the other item."
"Got it, diamonds." Said spade of 7 as he too felt the incoming doom.
***
Deep under the world they slither and grow in wait when they emerge disaster arises.
They scheme and turn one against another then kill all in betrayal.
The surging of her predatory aura attracted the guards who protect this underworld castle.
The slithering giant serpents crawled out of the crumbling castle, each being 320 meters and 370 meters long.
One a slow-moving but destructive in physical might Twin Headed Python.
Another equally destructive serpent leaves poison wherever it slithers. Horned Scale Python
Overlapping as they went for the enemy everything in their wake crumbled.
They seemed slow but as things stood no ordinary man can outrun or even think about it.
As for their opponent, she was tensed up and her aura was sucked back into her.
Whoosh
The air moved and a few seconds later there were ten afterimages of someone with different poses of a cat in 10 seconds.
The first one was a cat crutching down readying to sprint like an arrow.
The second one was of a jumping cat in the air, and the third was of a cat slashing her claws at the snakes.
As for the fourth and the rest, the cat ended the snakes in a hundred different ways.
The scale-horned python reacted quickly to the shadow by releasing all of its poisonous toxins, but before any poison could escape, it was sliced into cubes and the twin-headed python's two heads were separated as its body gushed blood.
As she stood motionlessly in front of the auction hall's door all kinds of things went through her head.
Mama, I came to the city where the rumors said slavery was taking place.
There were many all I could see from their faces were full of joy and happiness.
They loved what they had.
Children playing I wanted to protect them but they were not motherless.
The streets were crowded with all kinds of people of different social statuses.
The poor drove carriages for the rich and noble.
Sold all kinds of things to progress.
The merchants spoke of money and how their stuff was high quality.
The bard sang of legends.
Every afternoon the shadows of people and the bustling of a city that was retreating into the night are edged to my mind.
It almost made me forget my purpose for coming here.
But no, the filth of a man dared to touch my hand, smell my hair, and ask whether I was available.
He dared to…
Dared to gaze upon my beauty.
Unforgivable
But his blood became the sheets of my bed.
The smell of it put my mind at ease.
Though the dream came, their lives paid for it.
I trailed them to this place. I killed the abominations finding an old enemy.
Now I stand tall in the doors of my destiny.
I smell them and should sniff them out of existence.
What should I do mama?
Embrace it or wait… No, no that is not right. What am I saying?
I'm the man crusher.
For my sisters and queen, I slay what harms them, and no matter the distance you shall not touch the hair of any woman.
You can label me with whatever you want but they know one name.
The Beast of Freedom Diane.
End of Chapter 12