Serpent’s Wrath

Hell's Gate – Chapter 12

Serpent's Wrath

The descent was eerily quiet. The air in the Great Temple had grown heavier, pressing down on Sakuchi's group as they made their way deeper. They retraced their steps through the floors they had already conquered—first the nest of monstrous spiders, then the hunting grounds of the wolf pack. Their past victories were now marked by the corpses of their fallen foes, but there was no time to linger. They were venturing into unknown territory, and they had already learned the hard way that the deeper they went, the deadlier the threats became.

Celess led the way, his ice-coated boots pressing firmly against the stone. "We're making good time. Let's keep moving before something tracks us."

Sakuchi walked slightly behind the others, his body still recovering. While the worst of his exhaustion had faded, his strength was far from fully restored. He could manage basic attacks, his Flame Bullets were still viable, but anything beyond that would strain him. A frustrating limitation, but one he had no choice but to accept.

As they reached the entrance to the next floor, a cold draft slithered through the air. The walls here were damp, lined with moisture that glistened in the dim torchlight. The scent of blood, faint but distinct, filled their senses.

A deep, rhythmic hissing echoed from the darkness.

Then, from the depths of the chamber ahead, it emerged.

A colossal serpent, its body as thick as a warhorse, slithered forward with slow, deliberate movements. Its scales were black as obsidian, gleaming like polished armor. Its three heads towered over them, each pair of yellow eyes glowing with predatory hunger. The forked tongues flickered, tasting the air.

Then, all at once, the beast attacked.

The right head struck first, moving like a blur as it lunged at Cynthia. She barely had time to react before Celess slammed his hand against the floor, sending ice spears bursting from the ground. The jagged spikes forced the serpent back, halting its momentum.

Celess narrowed his eyes. "It's fast."

Before he could finish his thought, the left head lashed out at Kyron, jaws wide to swallow him whole.

Kyron ducked at the last second, rolling beneath the beast's snapping fangs. The instant he was back on his feet, he launched himself upward with a brutal uppercut. His fist collided with the serpent's jaw, sending a shockwave through its body. The left head reeled back from the impact, but the center head retaliated immediately, its mouth opening wide—revealing a glowing violet energy forming within.

Sakuchi's eyes widened. It's about to fire something—!

"MOVE!" he shouted.

A massive beam of condensed energy tore through the chamber. The blast obliterated the ice formations in its path, scorching the stone floor. Cynthia reacted in time, weaving an illusion that made the group appear several feet to the left. The serpent's eyes flickered in irritation, struggling to locate their real positions.

"Kyron! Go high! Celess, freeze its body!" Telemon commanded.

Kyron wasted no time, leaping into the air with terrifying speed. Simultaneously, Celess slammed his palm down, sending a freezing surge across the serpent's massive form. Frost spread rapidly along its scales, locking parts of its body in place.

Kyron twisted mid-air, his foot glowing with raw Aura. He dropped like a meteor, aiming for the left head's skull.

"Titan Crusher!"

His kick connected with a resounding CRACK, sending tremors through the beast's body. The left head crashed into the ground, dazed but not yet finished.

But the fight wasn't over.

The center head, the one that had fired the energy blast, recovered first. Its eyes locked onto Sakuchi—likely sensing his weakened state.

Then it lunged.

Sakuchi's mind screamed at him to move. Damn it, too fast!

But before the fangs could sink into him, a blur of silver cut through the air.

Telemon's blade carved deep into the serpent's maw, forcing its head aside with a powerful slash. She landed beside Sakuchi, her breathing controlled, her eyes sharp.

"Stay sharp," she muttered.

Sakuchi clenched his fists. Useless. I'm too slow… too weak…

He gritted his teeth. No. He wasn't just going to sit back and let them fight for him.

Lifting his gun, he focused his Aura, forming a single burning bullet. He had to make this count.

The right head, the one that had been forced back earlier, began gathering another energy blast.

Sakuchi steadied his aim. Focus. Breathe.

The bullet erupted from his gun, streaking through the air like a comet. Just as the serpent opened its mouth, the shot tore straight down its throat.

A second later—

BOOM!

Flames exploded from within, and the right head was engulfed in fire. The beast thrashed wildly, its death throes shaking the chamber.

But the fight still wasn't over.

The left head, still reeling from Kyron's earlier attack, was met with another ice spear from Celess, pinning it against the stone wall. Cynthia followed up with a powerful illusion, warping the serpent's vision and making it unable to perceive reality properly. The center head, confused and disoriented, hesitated for the first time.

That was all the opening Kyron needed.

He shot forward, his fists glowing with devastating energy.

"Twin Impact!"

His first strike shattered the serpent's jaw. The second blow caved its skull in with a sickening crunch.

The entire cavern shook as the massive body collapsed. The three-headed beast was dead.

The group stood in the silence that followed, catching their breath.

Celess wiped his brow. "If this was just the next floor… I don't even want to think about what's below."

Sakuchi exhaled slowly, staring at the remains. His body was still weak, but this battle proved something to him. Even in this state, he wasn't dead weight.

He wasn't done.

Because this was only the beginning.

End of Chapter 12.