The tunnel vibrated under Kael’s feet as lightning gathered tightly around the crescent-moon spear. Every crackle illuminated Ravok’s stunned expression—the first and only moment the Dark Fang leader had let fear touch his face.

  Kael inhaled slowly.

  The serpents inside him stirred like coils of fire.

  Do it, M’varu hissed.

  Kael moved.

  His feet dug into the stone, the ground cracking beneath him. He burst forward in a single explosive motion, the crescent spear trailing a white-blue arc behind him. Ravok snarled, his body hardening instantly, rippling with metallic firmness—but Kael was already upon him.

  The spear cut through Ravok’s hardened torso as if slicing through wet parchment.

  A burst of white light flooded the tunnel. Ravok’s eyes widened, lips parting in a silent gasp as the lightning carved cleanly through his midsection. His upper body separated from his lower half, the cut too smooth, too fast for any pain to register.

  The lower half of his body ignited—blue-white flame surged from the wound, devouring flesh and bone until only a scorched stump remained.

  Ravok’s upper body hit the ground with a heavy thud.

  His eyes flickered, unfocused, staring at Kael as if still struggling to understand what had happened. His fingers twitched once. Then twice. And then they stopped altogether.

  Silence followed.

  The echoes of lightning faded slowly, drifting into the cracks of the tunnel like dying breath.

  Kael stood over Ravok’s severed form, the crescent spear humming faintly before dissolving back into raw energy. He exhaled, rolling his shoulders as the weight of the last blow left his body.

  The tunnels were littered with corpses—assassins, criminals, scouts of the Dark Fang. Burned. Crushed. Electrocuted. Efficiently dispatched. Kael’s eyes scanned them, his expression unreadable.

  He nudged Ravok’s upper body with his boot.

  “Hm,” Kael muttered. “I wonder if my rank will increase if I bring these guys to the guild hall.”

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  The thought wasn’t even sarcastic. G-rank missions were humiliating. The guild had made fun of him. If he came back with the head of a criminal leader and at least a dozen more bodies…

  He might skip straight past F-rank entirely.

  Kael crossed his arms, staring down at Ravok again.

  But how do I move all these bodies by myself?

  He looked around.

  There were at least seven bodies. Some large, others medium-sized, but all heavy. Dragging them one by one through the long tunnels, up the hidden entrance, across the city streets… It would take hours. Maybe days.

  Kael clicked his tongue. “This is annoying.”

  M’varu stirred before speaking.

  “Child.”

  The great snake slithered out from the shadows behind him, its massive twelve-foot form gliding effortlessly along the stones. Its obsidian scales shimmered faintly in the dim torchlight, reflecting blue sparks from Kael’s residual lightning.

  Kael turned toward it. “What?”

  The serpent’s golden eyes narrowed with amusement.

  “You struggle with something as simple as carrying corpses? For someone who wields lightning like breath, you look… rather troubled.”

  Kael raised a brow. “If you can carry all this by yourself, be my guest.”

  M’varu chuckled—a deep, rumbling sound that vibrated the tunnel walls.

  “I could help you,” the snake said. “But I require something in exchange.”

  Kael sighed. “Figures. What do you want?”

  The snake coiled itself, head lifting until it was eye-level with Kael.

  “Take me away from this forsaken place.”

  Kael blinked, surprised at the simplicity of the request.

  “Just that?”

  The serpent’s tail flicked irritably.

  “Do not underestimate how long I have been imprisoned in these cursed tunnels. Centuries of darkness. Centuries of silence. You freed me—now take me with you.”

  Kael tilted his head. “And what do I get out of it?”

  The snake’s eyes glowed.

  “A partner. A guide. A blade in the dark. And if you command it, I will strike alongside you until your enemies forget hope exists.”

  Kael stared for a long moment.

  Then a small smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. “Deal.”

  The serpent lowered its massive head, bowing slightly.

  “Then I shall assist you.”

  The ground trembled as M’varu began to glow faintly. Its body elongated, coiling around the corpses. A strange mist spilled from its mouth, wrapping around each body like phantom ropes. One by one, the corpses lifted from the ground and hovered in the air—suspended on coils of ethereal energy.

  Kael whistled. “Well… that’s convenient.”

  The snake hissed with amusement.

  “Walk, boy. I will follow.”

  Kael turned, walking through the tunnels. The floating bodies trailed behind him as if tied to invisible threads. The eerie procession moved through the underground labyrinth until they reached the hidden passage leading back into the storage house.

  Kael emerged into the dim light of the abandoned building. He pushed the loose wooden wall aside and stepped out into the cool evening air.

  M’varu followed, the corpses floating behind him like grim trophies.

  Kael paused, checking the streets. People walked by normally. No one turned or looked in their direction—hidden by the snake’s illusion mist.

  Kael muttered, “You’re full of surprises.”

  “You have no idea,” M’varu replied.

  They moved through the city in silence until the towering structure of the guild hall came into view. Lantern light flickered against its large stone pillars. Dozens of adventurers walked in and out—laughing, arguing, drinking, boasting.

  Kael approached the entrance.

  As the snake dispelled its illusion, the corpses dropped onto the massive wooden steps with a series of heavy thuds. Heads turned immediately.

  And then—

  Silence.

  Shocked silence.

  People froze mid-step, eyes widening, faces draining of color as they stared at the mountain of criminal bodies dumped casually like bags of grain.

  Kael lifted Ravok’s severed upper body by the collar and carried it under one arm.

  Gasps spread like wildfire.

  “W–what—?”

  “Is that—”

  “That’s Ravok! The Dark Fang leader!”

  “He’s dead?!”

  “That kid brought all of them— alone?!”

  The atmosphere shifted violently. Conversations died. Drinks dropped. Every eye in the guild locked onto Kael as he stepped fully inside.

  His cloak fluttered behind him.

  Blood and smoke clung to his clothes.

  A faint crackle of lightning shimmered around his wrist.

  Kael looked utterly calm.

  The room remained frozen.

  All attention was on him.

  And then—

  Kael stepped into the guild hall carrying the criminals and Ravok too.