Regret

"Ahaa… ahaa… coughing…"

As a cloud of dust filled the room, a single cough echoed through the haze. As the dust settled, the scene within became clearer. The sound of coughing came from Arthur, who was struggling with the dust in his mouth.

Once the dust finally settled, Arthur was able to see his surroundings.

"Ah… I'm on the ground…" Arthur muttered.

His eyes widened, and his heartbeat quickened. He had never come down from the place where he was born. Knowing that countless creatures and monsters roamed the land, he was aware that he could encounter danger at any moment.

As Arthur looked around, he realized he was standing on a destroyed pillar. Since the pillar was massive and he was small in comparison, he stood amidst the destruction that had spread across the area.

"Ah… where is Kai?" Arthur muttered, realizing Kai was nowhere near him.

"Kai…" Arthur yelled, trying to find him.

"He's not that weak… he wouldn't die from this," Arthur reassured himself, knowing how strong Kai was.

Looking around, Arthur called out again, "Kai… where are you?"

But there was no response.

'Where did he go?' Arthur thought.

The realization of his situation made fear creep into him. If Kai wasn't around, his chances of survival were slim.

"...?"

Suddenly, a sound—something slipping against the ground—caught Arthur's attention. He realized the noise had come from behind him.

"Kai?" Thinking it was Kai, Arthur turned around to look.

"Ah…!"

Just before he could fully turn, a deep growl froze him in place.

Arthur's heart skipped a beat before pounding at an alarming speed. Sweat dripped from his body as an overwhelming fear gripped his spirit. His eyes widened in shock and terror.

Not far from him, standing tall, was the same snake.

The very snake Arthur had feared the most.

The one with the froze ability.

He remembered vividly—how this snake had frozen a rat-like creature in place before slicing off its head with its tail, then swallowing it whole.

Arthur tried to move, but his body refused to budge. It felt as though he had turned to stone, trapped inside his own body.

When the pillar he stood on collapsed, the sound had echoed in all directions, drawing powerful creatures and monsters toward the area. The weaker ones had fled upon hearing it. Since the snake had been nearby, it was naturally attracted to the noise.

Upon spotting Arthur—alone on the destroyed pillar—the snake had wasted no time in approaching. But before Arthur could react or flee, the snake had already used its Growl ability to freeze him in place.

Arthur stood motionless, his eyes locked on the snake. His spirit trembled with fear, knowing his death was imminent. He desperately tried to think of a way out.

'Maybe I can shoot my web… I can feel them inside me… but my hands are pointing to the right, and he's standing in front of me. Why would he move to the right?' Arthur thought frantically.

The snake flicked its tongue in and out continuously.

'I know what that means… He's trying to sense if there's anyone else around. That's how snakes detect changes in the air… Right…? He's not a normal snake, so maybe… he's trying to find out if someone is nearby… I hope he senses Kai before he kills me…'

But then, a terrifying thought struck Arthur.

'What if Kai freezes too? I never told him about this snake's ability… Damn…'

Arthur regretted it deeply. Even if Kai arrived to save him, he might fall victim to the snake's ability as well.

Suddenly, the snake began moving toward Arthur, slowly but surely.

'Guess it's time for my second reincarnation…' Arthur thought bitterly, his fear and sweat soaking him. He couldn't do anything. Accepting his fate, he forced out a weak joke in his mind.

'Goodbye, Kai… Goodbye, Spirit Ally…'

Since he couldn't speak, he bid them farewell in his thoughts.

"I refuse."

The voice of Spirit Ally echoed through the air.

Arthur and the snake both heard it.

The sheer intensity of the voice was unlike anything Spirit Ally had ever spoken before.

Hearing the voice, the snake froze in shock. It had been close enough to kill Arthur with a single strike, but now, it hesitated. It looked around, searching for the source of the sound.

'What? I thought I was the only one who could hear you, Spirit Ally…' Arthur thought, unable to believe what had just happened.

Until now, Spirit Ally had only ever spoken in his mind. How was it possible that the voice had come from outside, as if it had truly spoken aloud?

Finding no one else around, the snake turned its gaze back to Arthur.

It raised its tail.

'No…' Arthur thought, realizing what was about to happen.

SLASH! THUD!

With rapid speed, the snake swung its tail toward Arthur, aiming to sever his head from his neck. But just before the tail could reach him—

A hand caught it.

A powerful grip stopped the deadly attack.

The impact echoed through the surroundings.

Arthur's wide eyes filled with relief and disbelief.

With a serious expression, Kai stood before him, gripping the snake's tail tightly.

"Kai..." Arthur tried to whisper, but his mouth was frozen by the snake's ability, making it impossible to speak.

For a moment, Arthur felt hope.

Kai could save him.

But then, a wave of regret hit him.

'Kai doesn't know about the snake's freezing ability… If only I could tell him…'

Arthur had never warned Kai about the snake's skill because he had hoped to kill the snake himself and absorb its ability using Death Eater. If he had that skill, he could have used it against Kai if they ever became enemies.

Now, that decision haunted him.

As regret flooded him, Kai leaped at the snake's left side, aiming to sever its tail. His movements were swift and precise.

But—

With equally incredible speed, the snake swung its tail, blocking Kai's attack.

Arthur, still frozen, watched everything unfold.

'No… it's not just its skill… This snake… It's as strong as Kai…'

Realization struck Arthur like a hammer.

He had been completely wrong.

The snake's power wasn't just because of its ability.

It was truly… terrifying.