The Snake God with SSS Rank Evolution System

Adam’s crimson eyes swept over the three figures standing beside Croft, his gaze sharp and assessing.

The first two he recognized, Derrick and Kurt.

But the third...

He was tall, broad-shouldered, his posture radiating the easy arrogance of someone who had never been told no. Golden hair, long and tied back, caught the dying torchlight like spun sunlight. His eyes, the color of burnished gold, were sharp and cold, sweeping over the carnage with disdain. On his chest, the crest of Solaria gleamed—a crowned sun, stitched in gold thread.

In his hands, a spear.

It was long, the shaft carved with reliefs of lions and crowns, the metal gleaming as if freshly forged. The blade was double-edged, branching into two wicked points, and the metal itself seemed to shimmer with inner light—golden, warm, but carrying a weight that pressed against Adam’s senses.

[Lance of the Sovereign’s Arrogance – Legendary]

[One of the Seven Deadly Sins: Pride]

Adam’s internal voice was sharp. ’Another Sin artifact.’

The man’s golden eyes fixed on Adam, and his lips curled into a condescending smile.

”So.” His voice was smooth, cultured, dripping with disdain. ”I traveled all this way expecting something significant. And what do I find?” He gestured lazily with the spear. ”A monster, arrogantly slaughtering humans. How... predictable.”

Isolde’s breath caught. Her pale face went even paler beneath her hood. She stepped closer to Adam, her voice a bare whisper.

”Prince Caelum... the first prince of Solaria.” Her throat bobbed. ”What is he doing here? He should be on the front lines, fighting the Demon King’s army.”

Adam’s lips curved into a faint, wry smile. ”Hoo.” His crimson eyes didn’t leave Caelum’s face. ”Seems the situation just got a little more complicated.”

Croft stepped forward, his weathered hands clasped behind his back. His pale grey eyes swept the carnage, the bodies, the blood, with clinical satisfaction.

”Well,” he said, his voice calm, almost jovial. ”With this, the assassin guild is finished. As promised, I will give you the compass.” He inclined his head toward Adam.

Adam’s jaw tightened. His voice was flat, cold.

”Heh. Don’t bother.” His crimson eyes blazed. ”I already know the artifact is useless. It can’t be repaired.”

Croft’s eyebrows rose. His expression flickered—surprise, perhaps, or amusement. Then his lips curved into a slow, satisfied smile.

”So you’ve already discovered that, have you?” He spread his hands. ”Clever. Very clever.”

Adam’s fists clenched. Dark energy curled around his knuckles.

”You used me.” His voice was low, dangerous. ”You knew the compass was broken. You sent me to that blacksmith knowing the guild would attack. You wanted me to destroy them for you.”

Croft’s smile didn’t waver. ”Of course I did.” He tilted his head. ”Did you think I would entrust a legendary artifact to a group of strangers without ensuring they were... worthy?” He shrugged. ”You wanted the compass. I wanted the guild gone. We both got what we wanted.”

Adam’s aura surged, pressing against the shadows, against the gathered soldiers, against Croft. But the old merchant didn’t flinch.

”Disgusting,” Adam spat.

Croft laughed—a short, dry sound.

”Disgusting? Perhaps.” His pale eyes gleamed. ”But effective. And now, with the guild destroyed and you... weakened...” He glanced meaningfully at Adam’s still-regenerating hand. ”...it’s time for the final phase of my plan.”

Caelum stepped forward, his golden eyes fixed on Adam. The Lance of Pride gleamed in his grip.

”So this is the monster that’s been terrorizing my kingdom.” His voice was cold, dismissive. ”The reports didn’t exaggerate. Ugly thing, isn’t it?”

Isolde’s voice was barely audible, meant only for Adam. ”That spear... it’s one of the Seven Deadly Sins. Pride. We need to be careful.”

Adam’s smile was thin, sharp. ”I can see that.”

Caelum’s golden eyes narrowed. He raised the spear, pointing it at Adam’s chest.

”I came here because I was told a monster matching your description was causing chaos in my territory.” His voice hardened. ”And now I find you, exactly as described. You’ve killed my people. You’ve disrupted my kingdom’s peace. For that, you will die.”

Croft raised a hand, his voice carrying over the gathered soldiers.

”Attack. Wipe them all out.”

The soldiers surged forward. The archers on the rooftops drew their bows. The mages in the windows began to chant.

Caelum stepped forward, his golden eyes fixed on Adam.

”As promised,” he said, his voice cold and absolute, ”I will kill this monster myself.” He glanced at Croft. ”Do not forget our agreement.”

Croft’s smile widened. ”I haven’t forgotten, Prince Caelum.”

Adam’s crimson eyes met Caelum’s golden gaze. The air between them crackled with tension.

Caelum lunged.

The Lance of Pride swept toward Adam’s throat.

Adam’s daggers rose to meet it—

The remaining assassins, the ones who had watched their guild master fall, dropped their weapons.

”We surrender!” one of them shouted, his hands raised. ”Our master is dead! We can’t fight anymore!”

Another voice echoed, desperate. ”Please! We don’t want to die!”

They fell to their knees, hands clasped, faces pale with terror.

Croft’s eyes swept over them, cold and dismissive.

”No.” His voice was flat. ”I won’t leave any seeds of revenge.”

He raised his hand, and the soldiers moved.

The assassins screamed.

Lilith watched the soldiers cut down the surrendering assassins, their silver-threaded gown pooling around her feet like spilled moonlight. Her crimson eyes were distant, almost thoughtful. When she spoke, her voice was soft, but carried across the chaos.

”So humans are just like us after all.” She tilted her head, watching a kneeling assassin’s body crumple to the stone. ”They kill. They betray. They destroy anything that threatens their power.” Her lips curved into a thin, cold smile. ”And yet they call us monsters.”

Ignis’s flames flared brighter, her golden eyes blazing with indignation.

”They tricked us! They used us!” She stomped her foot, sending a spray of sparks into the rain. ”We’ll make them pay for this!”

Isolde pressed herself against a crumbling wall, her pale eyes fixed on the slaughter unfolding before her. Her internal voice was a frantic whisper, each thought sharper than the last.

’Why did I suggest they come here? This is my fault. I led them straight into a trap. And now... now they’re all going to die. Because of me.’

Adam’s daggers rose to meet Caelum’s lance, but Caelum paused mid-swing. His golden eyes flicked past Adam, toward the cloaked figure standing in the shadows.

”You.” His voice was sharp, cutting through the chaos. ”I recognize that presence.”

Isolde’s blood ran cold. Her hand drifted to her hood, but she didn’t lower it. She didn’t need to. He already knew.

Caelum’s lips curled into a cruel smile. ”The vampire from Fylia. I thought you’d burned with the rest of your little nest.” He tilted his head, the Lance of Pride gleaming in his grip. ”So you ran all the way to Kaelthar. How far the mighty have fallen.”

Isolde’s composure shattered. Her voice tore from her throat, hoarse and trembling.

”You! It was you?!” She stepped forward, her pale eyes blazing with grief and fury. ”Who destroyed my village? Who slaughtered my students? Was it you?! Answer me!”

Caelum’s golden eyes held no guilt, no remorse. Only contempt.

”Why should I tell you?” His voice was cold, dismissive. ”You’re about to die anyway. What difference does it make?”