Chapter 16: The Black Viper’s Den
A Throne of Shadows
The moment Kael stepped inside, the air changed.
The room was vast, lit by flickering lanterns that cast long shadows across the stone walls. Plush black and gold carpets lined the floor, and along the edges of the hall, armed guards stood motionless, their hands resting on the hilts of their weapons.
At the far end of the room, a throne of carved obsidian sat atop a raised platform.
And upon that throne—a woman.
The Black Viper.
She lounged in her seat like a queen, her dark robes embroidered with golden embroidery that coiled around her like a living serpent. Her eyes—sharp, calculating—locked onto Kael the moment he entered.
Silence fell.
The guards tensed.
Selene, walking just behind Kael, whispered under her breath. "I hate this already."
Darius, standing tall beside her, muttered, "Be ready for anything."
Lyra, however, only smirked. "This should be fun."
Kael stopped at the base of the platform, his golden eyes never leaving the Black Viper's.
Then, she spoke.
"You've got nerve, walking into my home uninvited."
Her voice was silk and steel, smooth but edged with danger.
Kael smirked. "I find doors open for me."
The Black Viper chuckled, resting her chin on one hand. "Is that so?"
She gestured with a flick of her fingers.
Immediately, the doors behind Kael slammed shut.
The guards drew their weapons.
Selene cursed. "I knew it."
Darius reached for his sword.
But Kael?
Kael laughed.
A quiet, amused chuckle.
And then he took another step forward.
The tension in the air shifted.
---
The Emperor's Offer
Kael never broke eye contact with the Black Viper.
He could feel the way the room had changed—the unease creeping into the guards, the way some of them adjusted their grips on their weapons.
They didn't know who he was.
But they could feel it.
The weight of his presence.
The way he carried himself—not as a man entering a lion's den… but as the lion himself.
Kael stopped just a few paces from the throne, calm, collected, and entirely unafraid.
Then, he spoke.
"I'm here to make an offer."
The Black Viper raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?"
Kael's smirk didn't fade. "You control Ardentis. Its trade, its mercenaries, its black market. And yet…" He tilted his head. "You answer to the Empire, don't you?"
A ripple of tension.
The Black Viper's fingers twitched.
Kael continued. "No matter how much power you hold, you still pay your tributes. You still bend the knee when the Empire commands it."
His voice lowered slightly, carrying a sharp edge.
"I'm offering you something better."
The Black Viper leaned forward slightly. "And what exactly are you offering?"
Kael smiled.
"Freedom."
Silence.
Then—laughter.
The Black Viper threw her head back, amusement dancing in her dark eyes. "Freedom? From the Empire?" She shook her head. "You're either bold or stupid."
Kael's smirk widened.
"Bold."
The Black Viper's laughter faded. She studied him for a long moment, as if peeling back his layers, trying to understand what kind of man stood before her.
Then, she spoke.
"You talk like a king."
Kael's golden eyes burned.
"I was one."
---
A Dangerous Gamble
The Black Viper's expression remained unreadable.
Then, she leaned back into her throne. "Let's pretend I entertain this madness. What do you want?"
Kael's answer was immediate.
"Men. Weapons. And your loyalty."
Selene stiffened. "Kael—"
The Black Viper raised a hand.
The guards moved.
In an instant, swords were drawn, pointed at Kael's throat.
Darius tensed. Lyra simply watched, expression amused.
Kael?
Kael did not move.
The Black Viper sighed. "Loyalty isn't cheap, stranger."
Kael finally spoke.
"Then let's make a deal."
The Black Viper tilted her head. "What kind of deal?"
Kael's smirk was sharp. Dangerous.
"I win you something valuable," he said smoothly. "Something the Empire has denied you. And in return… you fight for me."
The Black Viper considered him. "And what exactly do you plan to win for me?"
Kael's golden eyes gleamed.
"The Colosseum."
---
The Colosseum of Ardentis
The room fell silent.
Even the guards exchanged wary glances.
The Colosseum was the beating heart of Ardentis—a bloodstained arena where warriors fought for power, for glory, for wealth.
And its current ruler?
A noble loyal to the Empire.
The Black Viper's smirk finally returned.
"You want to challenge the Warlord of the Colosseum?"
Kael nodded.
"I win. You back me."
A slow grin spread across the Black Viper's lips.
"Oh, this," she murmured, "I like."
She stood, her dark robes flowing as she descended from the throne. She stepped close—**too close—**until she was nearly eye-level with Kael.
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"If you lose?"
Kael didn't blink. "I don't."
A long silence.
Then—she laughed.
"Very well, stranger." The Black Viper extended a hand.
"A deal, then."
Kael clasped her wrist.
A pact was made.
Selene muttered under her breath. "We're all going to die."
Darius smirked. "Maybe. But it'll be one hell of a fight."
Kael grinned.
"Time to take back my first city."
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