Hero of Darkness

Chapter 1172: One with Nature

After their journey resumed, Kahn and the entourage quietly passed across many desolate as well as drought-affected lands. However, over the past few hundred kilometers, the landscape had drastically changed.

They now saw plenty of marshlands, riverbeds, monster species living in herds, and an entirely different ecosystem compared to those desert-like areas filled with dunes.

All of them were surprised by this sudden shift but also felt relieved that there was life on the ground below again.

”How far before we switch directions?” asked Kahn.

”A couple of hundred kilometers straight, and then we make a left. There should be certain landmarks that are likely to exist even now. We will know once we get there.” replied Morrigan as she looked at the big map in her hand.

”Wait! Something’s not right.”

Suddenly, Argos Belmont stopped steering the ship, and his eyes widened with bewilderment.

Squirm!

Rumble!

Now, everyone’s attention was on the ground below, all of them focusing their sights on something massive and unexpected.

They all suddenly noticed a monster with lustrous skin and a long, glimmering body that spanned over 18 kilometers.

It was not only a mythical rank beast but, based on the aura it radiated, even Kahn, the youngest among the group, could tell that this monstrous being was at least comparable to a Peak 8th-stage saint.

Even though they flew so high in the sky and with all their senses active... they still couldn’t detect its existence until they came only 15 kilometers close. There were dozens of multicolored feathers coming out of its massive head.

Even Rudra would appear like a little brother in front of this being.

”How can that be... even an intermediate 9th-stage saint couldn’t feel its presence?

What kind of abilities does it have to blend in with the natural essence so well?” asked Argos with a baffled face.

If even Argos Belmont couldn’t feel its presence, everyone knew it would be a formidable enemy.

Kahn, on the other hand, asked the System...

[Is that who I think it is?] he queried

[The host is right. It is indeed...] responded the system, taking a pause and revealing the identity of the mythical beast...

[The Rainbow Serpent.]

******************

The disbelief had barely settled in, but Kahn quickly asked for a general summary of the majestic and mortifying beast’s powers and abilities.

Kahn also allowed the system to relay the details to others as well.

[The Rainbow Serpent generally absorbs the world energy and dispels it in the many environmental forms while reinforcing and infusing its own body with it.

The Rainbow Serpent can create land, water, clouds, trees, life force, fertility, and the growth of animals within its domain.

The Rainbow Serpent can be considered a symbol of life and nature itself among the monster species in vantrea.

It is also the only monstrous being in the world of Vantrea that has complete affinity with all the elements of nature.] reported the system.

”What?! Not only can it create new life, but it also has complete affinity with all the natural elements.

That’s something even dragons can’t do, and even I haven’t been able to despite going through the Elemental Infusion ritual.

There is always at least one element that rivals your constitution. But to think there’s a being, not a saint but a monster, that can do it all by itself... No wonder even lord Argos could detect its presence.

The Rainbow Serpent can be considered as the being that had become one with nature itself.” he spoke, filled with shock.

It was the moment when Kahn heard a voice behind him...

”My natural instincts are on high alert, and my blood is boiling. This creature...

Is one of the direct descendants of the Godbeast Basilisk.” said Vildred, his body shaking with visible rage.

This was not due to enmity but because of his lineage as a Royal Dragon. The history between the Basilisks and the Dragons was known to many even now.

Vildred even found Rudra irritable too. Since he was Kahn’s creation and a variant species... Vildred never felt this kind of animosity towards him after they were bound by the Contract of Familiarity.

However, at this moment, Vildred’s mind was filled with rage and instinctively telling him to attack the Rainbow Serpent, as if he did not do it, he shouldn’t have the right to call himself a dragon.

”Easy there, master. I know how you feel in the presence of the basilisk bloodline, but if we attack this monster... the clash is very likely to alert and attract the Godbeast that it may or may not serve under.

If it’s already on par with a Peak 8th-stage saint. Imagine the godbeast behind it. Also, we don’t know if the rainbow serpent is the only one guarding this area.

If we had trouble detecting it, imagine what could happen with others.

It is in our best interest to change our route and leave quickly and quietly before it notices us.” said Kahn, his tone filled with concern.

Vildred composed himself, taking deep breaths and cooling himself off. The former dragon emperor overcame the struggle between his instincts and conviction fairly quickly.

”Yes, better not to create trouble where there’s no need. Let’s leave.” said Argos and steered the direction of the ship.

It was right then...

BOOM!!

An insurmountable aura erupted, creating fissures around the nearby 50 kilometers radius.

At the same time, a rainbow coloured translucent barrier quickly appeared out of thin air, covering the ground and sky instantly.

”Leaving so soon?”

A grim and eerie voice resounded within a 20-kilometer radius.

Rumble!

Rumble!

The quietly sleeping monster serpent finally woke up and raised its massive head. Even the couple of mountains behind this ginormous being appeared smaller than its head alone.

The glimmering scale emanated a blinding shine as the rainbow serpent rose its head 1 kilometer high in the sky.

”What the hell?! How did it detect us so quickly?” asked Kahn, flabbergasted.

”This... it shouldn’t be able to see us unless we intentionally reveal ourselves,” said Argos as he looked at Vildred.

Maybe because it was the royal dragon’s earlier reaction that somehow leaked his aura to the mythical rank monster.

”Wasn’t me. Also, my legendary rank concealment barrier should have erased our existence completely as well. None of us is at fault here.” clarified the sage of preservation.

And now, all of their attention shifted to the stupendously ginormous mythical rank beast that could even kill most of the emperors of other empires in vantrea.

A being of this caliber was already an Avengers-level threat. Yet, he was just one of the so-called guards for the domain of the Godbeasts.

Crumble!

Flutter!

The destroyed terrain from moments ago suddenly started terraforming, all the devastated land was quickly restored, and plenty of new river streams filled the cracks and crevices.

The earth and water suddenly appeared out of nowhere while a plethora of trees and flowers quickly grew in front of their eyes in a matter of seconds.

Even Kahn and Armin couldn’t achieve that feat so quickly.

”Mere vermin entering our lands, despite knowing who resides here.

Do you have a deathwish?” asked the terrifyingly big snake with his tongue flicking in their direction.

Despite not having a proper mouth, the sound transmission done by the mythical monster allowed it to converse just like everyone else.

Its yellow eyes suddenly glowed intensely and shot forth a beam of light.

Bang!

Shatter!

Despite the distance, it pinpointed their location accurately, and the trajectory of the beam of light instantly broke the legendary rank barrier as if it were made by a rookie.

Well, it was a concealment barrier and not a protection barrier in the first place. Yet it was stronger than saint rank protection barriers.

The rainbow serpent shattered it so effortlessly before they could even react.

On top of it, Kahn and the party were already surrounded.

”We do not wish to cause any trouble. We were simply passing by and inadvertently got lost, entering this territory by mistake.

I hope you do not hold us against it.” said Argos, maintaining his calm.

At this moment, the vampire sovereign didn’t reveal his horrifying aura of an intermediate 9th-stage saint either.

Because even he knew that the Rainbow Serpent wouldn’t be just some weak enemy if they fought. Since descendants of the godbeasts had a lot of unique abilities, even if they appeared as some oversized animals.

And if a fight broke out... even Argos would have trouble controlling his aura, something that the Godbeast could detect if it was nearby.

”Pssssss! Oh, is that why you have such an illustrious envoy travelling with you, vampire?” asked the serpent with his massive body slithering and tearing apart the landscape, but quickly repairing it within seconds at the same time.

”We’re just wandering travellers. I hope you can overlook this matter.” said Argos, trying to diffuse the situation.

”How old do you think I am? Do you think you can deceive me with polite words?

Nobody travels the Abyss Forest for no reason. Everyone in the outside world already knows it is our land now.

Even the weakest among you is at least a beginner 7th-stage saint. That kind of strength doesn’t come overnight.

No way you lot have come here by mistake. If you’re not here to cause trouble, then what are you here for?” asked the rainbow serpent while trying to gauge the strength of the enemy party.

It was right then, the slit serpentine eyes widened as if it realized something.

”Oh, so that’s why I could feel that there was an unpleasant stench in the air.” it said with disdain.

BOOM!!

”Before, I might have shown you mercy. But now, not even your corpses shall leave these lands.

Show yourself!” shouted the snake, his eyes filled with rage as he mentioned the most irksome being he felt enmity with...

”You damn Dragon!”