36 – (season 1) Offering a better life
Everyone approached with caution within the cave. They could feel the tension in the air as if battle was imminent in the near future. Once everyone got close to the snake, it started speaking in the human language.
“Leave now or be destroyed”
Everyone was puzzled as it was rare for monsters to speak the same language as humans. Very rarely would there be creatures that aside from demons that spoke the same language. Jake commanded everyone to stand down.
As he approached the snake he made a request.
“Oh great snake, we will leave as quickly as possible. However, we are here to find a demon sealing scroll. Can you give us the demon sealing scroll”
The snake did not respond immediately and pondered for a few seconds. Eventually it replied.
“I have been tasked with guarding the page here. I cannot hand it over to you without an equivalent exchange”
Jake picked up on the clue “equivalent exchange”. He remembered as he was walking here dead carcasses of what looked to be baby snakes. He quickly deduced that in this environment where there is no water and barely any resources, it would be difficult for the snake or its offspring to survive. Jake proposed a solution to the snake.
“I can offer you something better than your current situation here. If I am not mistaken, it is rare for you to find food and water in this environment. I can provide this and more for you and your offsprings”
As soon as Jake mentioned a hospitable environment for the snake’s offsprings, it lowered its defenses. To show his sincerity, Jake summoned some corpses of the sand worms and yetis in front of him. He then found a divot on the ground and filled it with clean water. The snake quickly jumped in front of the food and water. Although it hesitated for a second, it quickly devoured the food and water. The snake’s impression for Jake rose quickly.
“Can you provide more food and water, enough for my eggs to flourish?”
Jake responded with yes.
The snake agreed and dug up a hole in the ground with a demon sealing page.
System notification: You have acquired a demon sealing page.
As soon as the notification popped up a portal opened. Everyone including the church members didn’t know what to feel. They completed a mission with minimal fighting and injuries. The church thanked Jake for his unconventional idea. Jake communicated with everyone that he is going to collect more corpses before the portal closes. No one wanted to stay in the desert environment and chose to go back to the original cave. Jake handed over enough rations for the group to survive 3 days in the cave.
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After everyone left, he made a contract with the snake. The snake and its 50 eggs moved within the time ring. The mother snake thanked Jake and saw the amount of fresh water, corpses. It felt secure enough to leave the eggs to bring it some corpses and water to keep close by. Soon after, Jake went outside the cave and sucked up all the sand around him. Even though he sucked all the sand out of the desert with the time ring, a hard layer of rocks laid below the sand. Even though he acquired what seemed to be an endless amount of sand, it only took up a very small amount of room in the time ring. In another area of the time ring, there was a small garden that was growing. Although it wasn’t a forest yet, it was on pace to become a large forest in the future. The snake was ecstatic to see an environment other than sand.
Another human approach the snake and introduced himself as Jim and Adam. The snake was vary of the humans who approached him as they were unknown to it. Jake quickly calmed the snake down and explained that they are family. The snake lowered its guard again. The snake wanted to have a discussion after sleeping. It couldn’t remember the last time it slept so peacefully.
Before Jake was about to return to the main cave through the portal another system notification was announced to him.
System notification: A water spirit has noticed your actions to feed animals water. It has approved of your actions to bring life and nourishment. The water spirit has left a lower level water seed to you.
Jake check his hand to see a blue seed pulsing with mana. It almost seemed alive. Jake took the seed and gave it to Adam to hold onto.
Jake went back to the main cave as the portal closed for the last time. The church members quickly relayed the information that they were the first team back and that there were about 3 days left. Everyone was resting and preparing for the final boss once everyone came back. After a few hours passed, the snake called for Jake to discuss its origins.
In the time ring everyone huddled up. The snake shared its story and origin. The world is not only dominated by humans. There are areas within the world that are territories of other races including animals. The snake initially did not have intelligence at first but slowly acquired sentience. Once it learned sentience, it instinctively knew where to go back to its territory. However, before it could reach the territory, it was captured by the lesser demon and was made to guard its weakness, one of its 30 scrolls which could unlock the entrance to its room. It is currently still recovering from its battle with a higher life form. As soon as it told its story, it wanted Jake to help it return to its territory. Jake agreed and told it would help to the best of its ability. The snake returned back to its nest to rest. Jake went back in to the real world and started meditating.
After a day passed, the second group came back through the portal. Half of its members were missing, but it was not one of the groups with the church members. Jakes group looked shock as they looked like they haven’t eaten food or water for days. Quickly, the healers and Jake started praying to heal the adventures while they ate food and water. Everyone asked what happened once they finished eating and healing.