Venom and Silver

Adam's senses sharpened.

He could feel it—the drake was still outside.

Loitering. Pacing back and forth.

But something held it back.

Crouching low, Adam crept toward the cave entrance, his movements slow and deliberate.

Outside, the silver drake continued its restless patrol. It wanted to enter. That much was clear.

But it didn't.

"That thing's residual energy is still keeping it out…"

The gray angel had been here for a long time before he killed it. Its energy may have weakened, but it still lingered.

"Lucky me. If that energy is still repelling creatures, it'll take time to fade."

Which meant killing the drake here wouldn't draw in anything worse.

Adam tightened his grip on his new silver blade.

"I might as well see if I can kill it."

The drake was low-level, and he was now an angel.

Even if he was still weak, this should be easy.

Right?

The drake turned away.

Its back was exposed.

This was his chance.

Adam surged spirituality through his body, his wings twitching uselessly behind him. Then, with a powerful lunge, he swung his blade at the tendon beneath its left calf—

A weak point.

He had seen it done countless times in movies.

"Gotcha!"

His blade struck.

And bounced off.

With a sharp metallic clink, the sword slid off the drake's scales and buried itself into the ground.

Adam's eyes widened.

"Shit! Why is it so hard!?"

A blur of silver entered his vision—

The drake's tail.

It whipped around at lightning speed, slamming into his side and sending him flying.

His body crashed into a tree, the impact knocking the air from his lungs.

CRACK.

Pain exploded through his leg.

"GAH!"

He hit the ground hard.

His right leg…

Bent at an unnatural angle.

Broken.

But before he could even process the pain—

The drake was gone.

Adam's breath hitched.

His gaze snapped to the entrance.

Where the drake had stood was now a puddle of silvery-white liquid.

It was moving.

Flowing.

Straight toward him.

"What the hell!?"

Adam poured spirituality into his wings, trying to take off—

Nothing.

His wings were dead weight.

"Shit, they're still useless!"

He had no choice.

Brandishing his silver sword, he kept his eyes locked on the liquid.

The silver puddle suddenly lunged.

It twisted, coagulated—

And reformed into the drake.

Before he could react, the drake clamped its jaws around his neck.

Needle-like teeth dug into his skin, cutting deep.

Adam's mind screamed.

A burning sensation shot through his veins.

"Poison!"

Ignoring the pain, Adam wrapped his left arm around the drake's neck, trapping it in place.

Then, gripping his sword in reverse, he bulged his muscles and drove the blade into the drake's eye.

The drake thrashed violently, then ripped itself away, tearing flesh as it leapt back.

Adam's sword came free, and a gush of silvery-white liquid poured from the wound.

A burning rage bubbled in Adam's chest.

It wasn't natural.

His bloodlust spiked unnaturally high.

He wanted the drake dead.

His fingers tightened around his sword.

The drake snapped its head up.

Its eyes—now uneven—glowed with hatred.

Suddenly, bone-like thorns erupted from its back, launching toward Adam.

Instinct screamed.

Adam lunged left.

The spikes barely missed, one slicing a deep cut across his cheek.

But he couldn't stop now.

The drake leaped.

Claws extended.

Fangs bared.

Adam ducked low, shifting his weight onto his good leg.

Then—he slid beneath the drake.

His sword flashed.

A clean slash tore through its exposed belly.

More silver blood poured out.

The drake landed hard, staggering forward.

Adam spun—blade raised.

Before it could recover, he sliced through its throat.

Then, with all his strength, he drove his sword into the drake's wounded eye—

Straight into its brain.

The drake shuddered.

Then—

It collapsed.

Dead.

The moment the adrenaline faded, the pain came rushing back.

Like a flood.

His limbs trembled.

His vision blurred.

His hands… his feet… his mouth went numb.

"F-Fuck… i-it's… th-the… p-poi…"

His thoughts slowed.

His heartbeat faltered.

He was dying.

Then—

His wings and scar began glowing.

A white light enveloped him.

And Adam's consciousness faded.

…

A clearing deep in the forest.

Two figures walked together.

Both were women clad in red translucent hooded robes, with peach-colored spiral markings on their backs.

Underneath…

They were naked.

The robes were their only cover.

After several minutes, the shorter figure spoke.

She had shoulder-length pink hair, a curvy frame, and small breasts.

Her voice was soft, honey-like— but carried worry.

"Do you think anything will happen? We missed the ritual last week."

The taller figure beside her had long black hair, a similarly curvy figure, and larger breasts.

Her voice was stern.

"I don't think anything crazy will happen. And we're going early to make sure."

The pink-haired girl exclaimed quickly.

"But Triss! We've never missed a ritual before!"

Triss stopped.

She grabbed Maple's wrist and ran.

Maple yelped, quickly keeping pace to avoid being dragged.

"S-Sorry…" she muttered.

Minutes later, they reached their destination.

Maple suddenly froze.

Her eyes widened in horror.

Triss frowned.

"What are you looking a—"

Then, she saw it.

Her words died.

A mess of silvery-white and red liquids.

The red trailed inside.

Maple swallowed.

"What… the hell happened?"

Her voice trembled.

"Did that thing get out… and fight something?"

Triss' expression darkened.

"I don't know. But we need to check."

Maple hesitated—then nodded.

Together, the two women stepped into the cave.