Chapter 31.2: Not entirely a defeat

"No-"

Novem dragged the guard into the shadows, covering his mouth, before the guard could say anything. I watched as the man moved his eyes from side to side, confused, but before he could do anything, his eyes lost their sparkle because Novem had pierced his chest with a dagger she had discovered earlier.

Novem let go of the body, which disintegrated into black dust with no trace. The way the shadow dimension ate people was terrifying, and I had no idea what happened to the disappearing body. Did it become energy or something? It didn't matter because the density of the lairs had increased to the point where we had to enter the shadow dimension every time we came to a corridor as platoons of guards trotted around doing rounds. Not only that, but there were now some more powerful ones; they were still no match for Novem if she ambushed them, but if the attack failed, they would have enough time to scream, which was bad.

"Young master, I sense powerful presences ahead."

I tensed up, the shadow dimension wasn't helping my mood either. "How many?"

"I'm not sure, but it seems odd..." Novem pondered. Then she closed her eyes, and I could tell she was struggling because of her frown. "They're beasts, but they're imprisoned." She nodded and continued speaking. "According to the map, there is a teleportation stone right there, young master, what do you want to do?" Finally, Novem said.

"There is no other option." I sighed. "But if it's too dangerous we run and look for another way out, okay?"

We both walked knowing what we were looking for, and when we arrived, it was guarded by several guards, which Novem quickly dispatched. Novem's martial arts allowed the most powerful one to barely avoid a blow before his forehead was pierced by his own sword.

I opened the gate with a guard's key before anyone else arrived and interrupted us, and we entered the cellar.

We were greeted by a foul odor, a combination of excrement and dirt, as soon as we stepped inside. Visibility was almost non-existent, but with a little magic channeled into my eyes, it improved dramatically. It was a twenty-square-meter warehouse filled with various-sized boxes. What surprised me was that the cages were dimly lit as soon as we walked in. The figures of the beasts were revealed, and the cages had no visible doors.

"Mana detention cages." Novem explained. "They use the beast's mana to power an invisible door that holds them back, they are quite expensive."

I approached the nearby cage with curiosity, I knew we didn't have time, but the figure inside caught my attention.

"Exotic animals," I recognized right away.

Novem crouched in front of the cell and knocked on the door, invipetet a small fox cub with two tails and a muzzle. "A vulk." She described seeing the white fox look curiously at her hand, then dismissively turn her head and ignore it as if it were an insect. "They are extremely rare, native to Nix's kingdom of the great mountains."

"Its meat is delicious, and it was hunted to near extinction about 200 years ago." When I realized my error, I corrected my speech. "It is still being hunted."

I gave the fox, or vulk, one last look before moving on to the next cage, which housed a large, jelly-like toad. I continued to be fascinated by all the cages after Novem's brief explanation of what a Sliba was; an invertebrate prized for its slime that can heal wounds. From two-headed lions to an almost human species that surprised me when it changed shape to a static Novem, revealing itself to be a shapeshifter thought to be extinct quite some time ago, I could barely recognize it from a book on legendary fauna I read.

I sighed as I approached the final cage. "All right, let's go."

"Do you not want them released, young master?"

"It is not possible to do anything."

There was supposed to be a teleportation stone at the end of this room that would take us a few floors up, so we should start getting ready for it right now.

We passed by the last cage, which housed a black cobra with a horn that was the same dull color as its skin, but I froze after one step. I spun around quickly to get a better look at the sleeping little black snake.

'This cannot be possible'

'System, buy the information on this animal.'

[It will cost 500 affection points, host.]

'Do it'

[Descendant of the world serpent.

Name: Apophis

Race: Demi-god.

Age: 3000 years old.

Strenght: Purity level 8

Status: Weakened, Sins (Sealed) divinity (partially sealed)

Description: After her death at the hands of the gods who gave her life, the serpent of the world decided to take revenge on them. She extracted her knowledge and instincts but vile and put them in one of her children. After a long time of hibernation, it is finally awake again. The descendant of the world serpent, the incarnation of evil; Apophis].

Oh shit, shit. At least some good came from all of this nonsense. This snake wreaked havoc on the kingdom of Theorin during the protagonist's adventure arc, but it was eventually defeated with the help of the dragon king, and the protagonist was on his way to forming unbreakable bonds with the king of the continent's most powerful kingdom.

It should be noted that she was still very young in mind and power at the time; if she had grown up a little more, not even the dragon king could have defeated her. Unfortunately, her mother's sins drove her insane; however, she had a few years before her sins were unleashed and drove her insane. If this has not yet occurred, it means…

'Is it possible to form a bond with her or tame her in any way, system?' I asked expectantly.

[Bonds formed between a beast and its tamer must be based on trust; the serpent Apophis does not trust you, but it is possible to make it your companion. However, once the sins are released, the bond will be severed unless you find a way to control her sins].

I nodded 'Thanks, System.'

"What is it, young master?" Novem asked approaching me.

"Can you get through the defenses of this cage?"

"Yes."

"Do it."

Novem reached out her hand and touched the invisible cage door. For a brief moment, these glowed sky blue, and Novem's hand began to smoke, and I thought she was on fire, until the bars went out without warning.

There was no turning back; at worst, I'd have to kill it; despite the fact that it's a millennial snake, it's spent its entire life hibernating since birth, so its power is manageable for the time being.

At that precise moment, Apophis opened one of her eyes and asked, "You are?" Her voice went straight through my head like telepathy.

"My name is Nathaniel Edevane, and this is Novem Umbra, my bodyguard." I explained, and the little cobra simply nodded. "It's nice to see a descendant of the world serpent still alive." My tone was mock devotion.

Apparently, my bait worked because the cobra slithered closer to me with curiosity in her red eyes, lifted her upper body, and measured about 50cm. "Do you know my mother?" she inquired.

Novem and the snake were both staring at me, and I needed a good reason for my knowledge without looking suspicious. I sighed. "Novem, go prepare the teleportation stone." I ordered.

After some hesitation, Novem spoke. "Young master…" Apparently she was putting my safety before an order.

"I'll be fine." I assured. 'Or so I hope.'

Novem turned away reluctantly, but now that she was out of the way, my gaze was drawn to Apophis, and the devotion in my eyes grew, and I prepared to spout the biggest shit to entice my future pet.