Chapter 6: Trials of the Radiant Plains

Victor carefully navigated the forest, the satchel of Starlight Mushrooms now securely tucked at his side. He had managed to survive the Lumina Wolf encounter—barely—but he knew the next challenge would be even more dangerous. The Radiant Dewdrops, one of the required ingredients for the Celestial Feast, were found in the Plains of Lumina, which lay beyond the forest.

Skritch, floating beside him, couldn't help but add, "The Radiant Dewdrops are the least of your worries. The Plains are home to more than just flora. If you're not careful, you might end up as a snack for something far nastier than wolves."

Victor sighed. "Why does everything here sound like a death trap?"

"Because this is the Demon Realm, human," Skritch said, rolling his eyes. "Everything wants to kill you. You'll get used to it... probably."

The path ahead opened into a vast, glowing plain, bathed in a soft, ethereal light. The air was charged with an almost electric energy, and every blade of grass shimmered with dew. It was a stunning sight—too beautiful for Victor's liking. The peaceful beauty of the place hid dangers that could tear him apart in an instant.

"This is where the Radiant Dewdrops grow?" Victor asked, eyeing the shimmering plants growing sporadically around the plain. They looked like ordinary flowers at first glance, but a subtle aura of light danced around them, giving them a surreal, almost dreamlike quality.

"Yep, but don't get too close to them just yet," Skritch warned. "The dew is guarded by the Lumina Serpents. They have an unholy obsession with the Radiant Dewdrops. If you're even a few feet away from them, they'll notice you. And when they do... well, you're going to wish you hadn't come."

Victor frowned. "Sounds like a trap."

Skritch snickered. "You think? This is a Demon Realm, after all. Everything's a trap. The trick is knowing how to get what you need without dying in the process."

With that cheerful thought, Victor took a deep breath, stepping cautiously into the plains. As he moved, the ground beneath his feet crunched with each step, the grass emitting a soft, crystalline sound, like wind chimes. It was eerily quiet aside from that, making every sound feel amplified.

His eyes scanned the area for any sign of the serpents. He didn't know what they looked like, but he could feel the tension in the air—the way the dew in the plants seemed to shimmer brighter as he drew closer.

Suddenly, a low hiss echoed from behind him.

Victor spun around, eyes wide, as a massive shape slithered out of the tall grass. The Lumina Serpent was long—easily twenty feet of scales that shimmered in the same radiant light as the dew. Its body was adorned with intricate patterns that seemed to shift as it moved, its eyes glowing a fierce gold.

"Well, that's just great," Victor muttered, stepping back slowly.

The serpent's tongue flicked in and out, its eyes narrowing as it locked onto him. The creature's body coiled, preparing to strike.

"Skritch!" Victor hissed, "Do I just fight it?"

"I wouldn't recommend it. Lumina Serpents are fast and dangerous," the imp warned. "They're masters of illusion. You won't even see half of their attacks coming. And even if you manage to hurt it, the creature's scales regenerate at an alarming rate."

Victor's pulse quickened. He wasn't exactly thrilled by the idea of facing a near-impossible enemy, but the task was clear—he needed the Radiant Dewdrops.

The serpent lunged suddenly, its massive head snapping toward Victor with terrifying speed.

Victor dodged to the side, barely avoiding the serpent's fangs. He could feel the wind from the serpent's strike brush against his cheek. The ground beneath him cracked as the creature's tail slammed down, narrowly missing his legs.

His heart raced, and adrenaline surged through him. The serpent's glowing eyes tracked his every move, and he knew it wasn't going to give up until he was in its stomach.

"Skritch, any advice?" Victor asked, panting.

"Run. You can't fight it head-on. Get away and find a way to outsmart it. Or better yet, use its illusions against it," Skritch said.

Victor's mind whirred. Illusions, he thought. He remembered something from his training in the Demon King's Tavern—an ability he had unlocked when he had first arrived. The **Basic Illusion Spell**. It was a basic spell, one that could create visual mirages to confuse an enemy.

"That's my best bet," he muttered. "Here goes nothing."

With a quick chant under his breath, Victor focused on his hands, feeling the power of the spell course through him. The air around him rippled for a moment, and suddenly, a duplicate of Victor appeared a few feet to his left, looking identical to the real him.

The serpent hissed, narrowing its golden eyes at the new target. It struck toward the illusion, its fangs sinking into the mirage. Victor didn't wait—he dashed toward the nearest patch of Radiant Dewdrops, praying that his deception worked.

The serpent roared in frustration as it realized its mistake. The illusion faded as the serpent spun in circles, searching for its real prey.

Victor quickly plucked the dew from the glowing flowers, stuffing them into his satchel as he darted around the serpent's back.

With the dew secured, he made his move. Victor dashed toward a nearby rocky outcrop, using the terrain to block the serpent's line of sight. The beast's enraged hissing echoed through the plains as it searched for him.

Breathing heavily, Victor let out a relieved sigh. He had managed to outwit the Lumina Serpent. But the challenge was far from over.

"Alright, two ingredients down," he said, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand. "One more to go."

Skritch, who had been watching from a safe distance, chuckled. "Not bad, human. You're surviving this longer than I expected."

Victor didn't have the energy to respond, his thoughts already racing ahead to the next ingredient: the **Eternal Flame Ember**.

And somewhere deep inside, he knew that the hardest part of this quest was yet to come.