Chapter 84: Fissures of Destiny

The jungle is alive with sounds as Lusi steps through the underbrush, her senses heightened by the power of the Serpent still coursing through her veins. Every rustle of leaves, every breath of wind feels more acute, sharper. Her thoughts, however, are elsewhere—on what she has gained and what she may lose. The weight of her new strength bears down on her, but she presses forward, knowing that her people need her.

As she approaches the rendezvous point, Lusi spots Wang Jie and several of their comrades waiting, their expressions tense. She notices the unease in their eyes as they take in her presence, sensing the change in her. It's not just the new energy she carries but something deeper—an aura of authority that wasn't there before.

"Lusi!" Wang Jie calls out, rushing to her side. "We feared you wouldn't return."

Lusi smiles faintly, but it doesn't reach her eyes. "The temple gave me what I needed. The power... it's mine now." Her voice is calm but heavy with the implications of her words.

Wang Jie nods, though there's hesitation in his movements. "And at what cost?" he asks softly, his eyes searching hers.

Lusi sighs, knowing the question would come sooner or later. "I'm still me, Wang. But everything is different now. The power... it demands responsibility, sacrifice."

Before she can elaborate, the ground beneath them trembles, a deep rumble that sends birds scattering from the trees above. The jungle falls eerily silent, as if holding its breath. Lusi and Wang lock eyes, their instincts flaring.

From the shadows, a figure emerges—tall, cloaked, and with a presence that sets the hairs on Lusi's arms on end. The stranger moves with fluid grace, his eyes gleaming in the dim light of the fading sun. There's something otherworldly about him, something dangerous.

"You have taken what does not belong to you," the figure says, his voice smooth and commanding. "The Heart of the Serpent was never meant for mortals."

Lusi straightens, her hand instinctively going to her weapon. "Who are you?" she demands, her eyes narrowing.

"I am merely a guardian," the figure replies, his smile cold and thin. "Sent to retrieve what has been stolen."

Wang steps forward, but Lusi places a hand on his chest, stopping him. She can feel the power of the Heart surging within her, urging her to act, but she also knows this isn't a battle to rush into blindly. The guardian is no ordinary opponent.

"I didn't steal anything," Lusi says, her voice steady. "The power was earned. I passed the trials."

The guardian tilts his head, considering her. "Trials or not, the power will consume you. It always does. No mortal can wield it without being undone."

Lusi's grip tightens on her weapon. "I won't let that happen."

For a long moment, they stand in silence, the tension between them palpable. Then, with a slight nod, the guardian steps back into the shadows, disappearing as suddenly as he came.

"Is he gone?" Wang asks, his voice hushed, as if afraid to break the stillness.

"For now," Lusi replies, her gaze lingering on the spot where the figure vanished. "But he'll be back."

The jungle comes alive again with the sounds of nature, but there's an undeniable shift in the air. Lusi knows that with the power of the Serpent comes not just responsibility, but enemies—ancient forces that will stop at nothing to reclaim what she now holds. And the first of them has just made his move.

"We need to move," Lusi says, her voice firm. "There are others like him, and they won't stop until I'm dead."

Wang nods, though his worry is evident. "Whatever happens, we'll face it together."

Lusi doesn't respond immediately, her mind already racing ahead. She knows that her journey has only just begun, and the path ahead is fraught with danger. But with the Heart of the Serpent pulsing within her, she feels ready for whatever comes next—even if the cost is greater than she can imagine.

As they set off deeper into the jungle, Lusi can't shake the lingering unease that the guardian's words have left behind.