Chapter 6 Den of Serpents

Navigating through the foreboding depths of a dark and ominous forest. Why? Well today I get to see the 'Den of Serpents'.

Ordinarily, a forest like this would be teeming with all manner of beasts and monsters, but an unspoken rule seems to keep them at bay—the Den of Serpents. Following the dark light that directs my way from a token I received.

According to information I was able to find from the House library; legends speak of the Den of Serpents as the domain of the Divine Beast of Shadows, the Shadow Serpent—Nyx, the contract beast of Lucian Shadowcrest, the first patriarch of the House of Shadows. It is said that Nyx's presence alone changed the very essence of the environment, shaping it into the haunting visage of her own body.

The air is heavy with a sense of foreboding as the twisted trees whisper secrets of ancient shadows, and I can't help but wonder what awaits me at the heart of the Den of Serpents.

After twenty grueling minutes of trudging through the dense forest, I silently praised my decision to invest time in stamina training. Each step felt like an eternity, that's not going to stop me though.

The reason for my limited teleportation was now clear. The Den exuded such intense pressure that any attempt to teleport closer risked disastrous consequences—a spatial distortion that could leave me lost in the void, teleported to a distant continent, or even worse, with grotesquely misplaced limbs. The mere thought of becoming some twisted, limb-misshapen creature sent shivers down my spine.

Finally, I arrived at a towering stone wall that loomed over me, easily surpassing ten meters in height. With determination coursing through my veins, I began to scale the formidable barrier, my hands finding purchase on weathered stones as I pulled myself upwards, inch by painstaking inch. 

At the summit of the terrain, which appeared to be an expansive plateau over 18 meters wide, I paused to catch my breath. Glancing at the token clutched tightly in my hand, I noticed with a mix of relief and trepidation that its glow had faded, indicating that I had indeed reached my destination. 

Following the edge of the plateau for what seemed like an eternity, I eventually found myself on a path that abruptly descended into the earth, disappearing into darkness before emerging once more into the dim light. A sense of disorientation washed over me as I realized I was moving in a vague circular motion.

As I continued on this circular path, the terrain began to twist and coil upon itself, leading me to the heart of the plateau where a black, murky liquid pooled ominously. Curiosity getting the better of me, I cautiously approached the edge of the terrain, my eyes fixated on the cave-like opening at its center. It bore a striking resemblance to the open maw of a beast—a snake, to be precise.

A chill ran down my spine as the realization hit me like a bolt of lightning. The entire plateau was not a terrain at all—it was the colossal corpse of a snake, or more accurately, The Snake: Nyx, the shadow serpent. My mind reeled at the sheer scale of the creature before me, its immense form sprawled across the ground.

Suddenly, as if responding to my revelation, the ground beneath me began to writhe and shift. Millions upon millions of snakes of all sizes emerged from every crevice, slithering and coiling around the terrain, the murky water now alive with their serpentine movements.

My heart pounded in my chest as fear gripped me. It dawned on me in that moment that I was definitely not on Earth anymore. 

*

At a different edge of the terrain, a young girl with vibrant pink hair observed the multitude of snakes with a mix of amusement and disdain. "Just a bunch of kids hoping for a snake, my ass," Selene muttered under her breath, her skepticism evident. Perhaps she had underestimated the Den of Serpents.

Shrugging off her doubts with a confident smirk, she declared to the serpents, "But oh well, one of you babies belongs to me." With a casual flick, she tied her hair into a ponytail, a determined glint in her eyes.

"They say the eggs are at the bottom of the swamp," she mused, gazing at the murky black liquid that pooled ominously at the center of the terrain. Without further hesitation, Selene took a running start and leaped into the swamp with a splash.

To an outsider's perspective, the scene unfolded rapidly. As Selene dove into the murky depths, the snakes around her seemed to stir with sudden interest. Within moments, the air was filled with the sound of hissing and slithering as the serpents, large and small, began to converge towards her. 

*

Knowing that the venom of the snakes wouldn't be fatal to anyone from the House of Shadows who had been to the Den of Serpents, I realized why it was practically impossible to poison someone from our house after this experience. It was said that our blood became poison after exposure to the den, though I had initially thought it was due to the contract formed with the shadow serpent. Apparently, it was something more intrinsic.

The snakes wouldn't kill us, but they were known to be mischievous, leading some unfortunate souls to drown in the murky depths. However, I was determined that wouldn't be my fate. 

With steely resolve, I steeled myself and plunged into the dark, swirling liquid. The cold embrace of the swamp enveloped me, and I felt the serpents' presence immediately. They slithered around me, their movements like whispers against my skin. I felt the faint sting of their bites but kept on.

Despite their playful malevolence, I pushed forward, my heart pounding with adrenaline. I was no stranger to danger, and I knew I had to reach the eggs at the bottom of the swamp. As I descended deeper into the shadowy abyss, the pressure of the water increased, pressing against my chest and making it harder to breathe, the snakes where not helping any matters, I felt a couple coil on my legs and try to pull me away from my destination.

But I refused to let fear overtake me. With each stroke, I propelled myself closer to my goal, my determination unwavering. 

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I saw the faint glimmer of the eggs ahead. 

Abruptly, a blinding light envelops me, and when it fades, I find myself back in a forest. But this place feels different, the air heavy with fog that obscures my surroundings. As I gather my bearings and start walking, a large green-scaled snake blocks my path. I glance back at it, but instead of halting, I continue on, finding more snakes along my path. Strangely, they don't impede my progress.

After what seems like an endless trek, I come face to face with the largest snake yet. Its scales are a deep black, shadowy in the dim light, and its cold blue eyes regard me with curiosity. "It's you," I murmur involuntarily, a sense of recognition stirring within me. I approach the majestic creature, but it slithers away, its body moving with astonishing speed.

Determined not to lose sight of it, I give chase, my footsteps echoing through the fog-filled forest. I can't shake the feeling that I must not let this snake escape. Despite its massive size, it darts away with surprising agility, leaving me momentarily stunned.

Refusing to give up, I search tirelessly until I find it lounging lazily in a cave. But as soon as I approach, it scurries off once more, turning our encounter into a game of tag and war. The other snakes around us seem to observe with amusement in their eyes, adding an eerie quality to the surreal chase.

Finally, after what feels like an eternity of pursuit, I manage to wear the massive serpent out. It comes to a stop, staring at me with an expression that could almost be described as angry, yet somehow endearing. "It's you," I repeat, a mixture of wonder and familiarity washing over me. The snake gives me a resigned look in response.

Nearby, a smaller, purple-scaled snake starts to slither in a manner that almost seems like laughter. The black serpent, my scaly companion, then curves its massive tail towards the purple snake, and suddenly, another bright light engulfs us, enveloping everything in its radiant glow.

-

With a gasp, I jolt awake, coughing up the murky liquid from the terrain as a swarm of snakes scurry off my body. As I regain my senses, I realize I'm clutching two large eggs—one as big as an ostrich, black and ominous, and the other slightly smaller and purple. Memories of the laughing purple snake flood back, and I can't help but chuckle softly to myself.

Catching my breath, I carefully cradle the eggs in my arms, feeling a sense of accomplishment and wonder at what I've retrieved from the Den of Serpents. With a newfound lightness in my step, I make my way back through the dark and foreboding forest.