Chapter 10: Defeat

Kael stepped cautiously into the large chamber, his skeletal frame illuminated by faint torchlight that flickered along the stone walls. The cold air carried a faint hiss, a warning of what was coming. His hollow eye sockets scanned the room for potential traps, his bony fingers twitching in anticipation. Just as he began to plan his next move, the silence was shattered. 

With a thunderous crash, the northern serpent reappeared, smashing through a section of the chamber wall. Its polished black scales reflected faintly under the dim light, and its twin heads darted in unison, locking onto him with predatory precision. Dust and debris fell from the ceiling as the creature slithered forward, its enormous bulk leaving deep grooves in the ground. 

Kael's jaw tightened. The labyrinth had been unforgiving, but this beast was relentless, having tracked him across countless corridors. He shifted his stance, his bony feet scraping against the cold floor, and darted toward a nearby trap.

The serpent hissed, its heads weaving like twin vipers ready to strike. Kael turned his skull slightly, just enough to make sure it was still following him. His hollow sockets narrowed. The serpent lunged. Kael twisted sharply to the side, his skeletal frame barely avoiding the massive jaws snapping shut behind him. He bolted forward again, glancing back over his shoulder. His ribs expanded slightly, simulating a sigh of frustration when he saw the serpent had avoided the trap.

"This bastard is smart," he muttered under his breath, the sound echoing faintly in the vast chamber.

Kael sprinted to the opposite side of the room, his bony joints clinking faintly with each step. His fingers trailed along the cold stone wall until they hit a pressure plate. With a calculated motion, he slammed his shoulder into the wall, the impact reverberating through his entire frame. The serpent hissed, momentarily confused, before continuing its pursuit.

That's when Kael saw it a lever, partially hidden by debris. His sockets widened in a flash of determination as he dove for it, his skeletal hand wrapping around the cold iron handle. With a sharp pull, the mechanism groaned to life, and a series of enchanted arrows shot forth from the walls with incredible speed, the faint glow of magic trailing behind them.

The serpent noticed immediately. It coiled itself tightly, its massive body forming a protective barrier around its vulnerable heads. The arrows struck the creature's scales with dull thuds, ricocheting off with no visible damage. Sparks of enchanted energy scattered across the chamber floor.

"Curses," Kael growled, his fingers curling into fists. 

The serpent's coiled body relaxed as the storm of arrows finally ceased. Its two heads rose in unison, staring down at Kael with eyes burning with fury. "You done, then die," one head growled, its voice deep and guttural. 

The chamber rumbled as the serpent launched itself at him with terrifying speed. The ground beneath Kael vibrated, cracks forming under the sheer weight of the creature's charge. Yet Kael stood still, his frame eerily calm. He hadn't expected the serpent to speak, but he wouldn't let that distract him. His jaw shifted slightly as he whispered, "Just what I needed."

The serpent's eyes widened suddenly, its predatory focus replaced with realization. It tried to shift its massive body mid-charge, but it was too late.

Thick, enchanted spikes erupted from the ground with a deafening roar, their crystalline edges glinting with lethal precision. The spikes pierced the serpent's coiled body, pinning it in place and tearing through its dense scales. The beast let out an ear-splitting shriek, both heads writhing in agony. Blood, dark and viscous, seeped from its wounds, pooling around the spikes.

Kael stepped back, his hollow sockets narrowing as he watched the beast recoil. The trap had worked perfectly, as he had intended. This was no ordinary snare; it was one of the legendary traps of the Northern Kingdom, designed specifically to kill the serpent. 

Kael flexed his skeletal fingers, recalling the subtle steps that led to this victory. He had slammed his body into the wall earlier not just to confuse the beast, but to activate the trap's hidden mechanism. The serpent, blinded by its rage, had failed to notice.

Even so, Kael knew the serpent's intelligence was not to be underestimated. Its wisdom allowed it to bypass such traps in the past. Yet, its fury and singular focus on killing Kael had dulled its senses, giving him the edge he needed.

Kael turned to leave, the faint rattling of his bones echoing in the now-silent chamber.

Kael skidded to a stop, his bony feet scraping against the stone floor of the pyramid. He turned slowly, his hollow sockets locking onto the massive two-headed serpent. Its glimmering scales shimmered faintly in the dim light, each head swaying hypnotically as it loomed over him. Despite the terrifying sight, the serpent's eyes held no malice. Instead, they seemed calm, relaxed... almost happy.

Kael straightened his stance, gripping his scythe tightly. His voice was steady as he asked, "What do you want?"

One of the serpent's heads tilted, the other fixating him with a sharp gaze. Its deep, guttural voice echoed through the chamber. 

"Who are you?"

Kael paused, his skeletal jaw tightening as he considered the question. After a moment, he answered, "Kael. My name is Kael Crow."

The serpent chuckled, a low, rumbling sound that reverberated through the air. Both heads swayed slightly as it spoke. 

"Who knew I would be defeated by a mere skeleton." 

Its laughter grew louder, filling the pyramid, then abruptly stopped. One of its heads lowered, its eyes meeting Kael's directly. 

"But I am glad it was one who is wise. Perhaps even wiser than me." 

Kael shifted his weight, his empty eye sockets narrowing slightly. "I doubt I'm smarter than you." 

The serpent grinned, baring rows of sharp teeth. "Oh, but it is true. I was blinded by anger and resentment, and you used that to your advantage. You must be a very strong and wise. Ordinary beings cannot possess the kind of knowledge you wield." 

Kael shook his head, his bones rattling slightly with the motion. "No, I'm not. I'm just a normal guy who happened to get lucky." 

The serpent's eyes gleamed with an ancient wisdom. "That is what they all say, but I have proof that yours isn't mere luck, 'Sir Phantom'." 

Kael flinched at the mention of his true name, stepping back instinctively. "How... How do you know that name?"

One of the serpent's heads tilted, almost mockingly. "Let's just say I happen to know many things. Wisdom is a gift of mine, as it can also recognize potential. And you, Kael Crow, have great potential." 

Kael's skeletal hands clenched into fists at his sides. His voice was cautious as he asked, "So... what the legends said was wrong? That retrieving the artifact would break your hold on the pyramid?" 

The serpent let out a low hum. Dust stirred with the motion, carried by a faint, stale breeze. "You are wise indeed. Yes, the legends are wrong. There is no artifact. The pyramid is empty. The only way to defeat me is through knowledge, not weapons or relics." 

A chime sounded in Kael's mind, followed by a string of notifications: 

(You Have Defeated The Final Boss Of The Blood Pyramid)

(You Have Defeated A Great Beast: The Northern Serpent)

(You Have Received An Item) 

(You Have Leveled Up To Level 2)

(Your Abilities Have Upgraded)

(You Have Received 10 Upgrade Points)

(The Pyramid Is Destroying...)

The ground beneath Kael began to tremble violently, chunks of stone falling from the ceiling. He glanced around quickly, then turned back to the serpent. "It seems like this is the end. You're free now." 

The serpent regarded him with both heads, its voice softening. "Thank you, brave monster... Before I die, come closer." 

Kael hesitated, narrowing his sockets suspiciously. The serpent caught his hesitation and chuckled. 

"No, it's not to harm you. If you don't trust me, stand where you are." 

Kael took a tentative step forward, then another. The serpent's left head lowered, its eyes shining a brilliant gold. A sudden wave of cold washed over Kael's skeletal form before fading. 

(You Have Become The Master Of The Northern Serpent)

Kael blinked at the notification, his sockets wide with surprise. "Master?" he murmured, staring at the serpent. 

The creature nodded solemnly. "Yes. That is your reward. For decades, I have awaited someone worthy to defeat me and become my master. You have proven that even the weakest, with knowledge, can become the strongest. Who would have thought I'd be defeated by a skeleton?" 

Kael glanced at the rumbling walls, dust raining down in thick clouds. "I need to leave. The pyramid is collapsing." 

He turned to leave, but the serpent's voice stopped him. " There is something else..."

"What!"

"You won't be able to summon me or use me to fight in full power"

Kael tilted his head a bit "Why?"

The serpent chuckled "firstly because my body is totally damaged I won't be able to restore it. that leads to the second, you are too weak, if you where strong you would be able to restore my body but you are just a level 3 skeleton, the gap between our levels are big, I am even surprised you could become my master"

"Why were you surprised?"

"Because your life was at risk yet you survived, who are you really?"

Kael moved back "You wanted to still kill me"

"Yes and No, I only did it to see if you were worthy of being my master, and also to still kill you, because I was afraid to be serving a weakling" the serpent said with a mocking tone, his golden eyes glowing in amusement.

"How were you planning on killing me" Kael asked gripping his scythe tightly.

"How... You could have just died normally, I don't need to kill you, do you know just becoming my master could have killed even the strongest" the serpent replied.

Kael hollow socket staring deeply at the serpent.

'how strong really is this serpent, and what truly is it?'.

"My powers are sealed to it lowest, I can't even say I have powers I am powerful because of my wisdom and strategic mind, but that does not mean I am totally useless, I can still use some basics, I can still be of little help to you, but if you want to use my full powers, become stronger Sir... I don't want to leave myself in the hands of a weakling."

Kael turned his head slightly. "I will. and don't try pranks like that in the future, again" 

The serpent laughed loudly, causing the whole pyramid to shake "sure I won't, i have already confirmed what I want".

With that, the serpent's massive form dissolved into glowing particles, scattering like embers in the wind. 

Kael stepped out into the scorching desert, the sunlight blinding after the pyramid's darkness. He looked back at the ruins, a long sigh escaping him. 

"So, this is all real," he muttered. He raised his right hand, noticing a faint serpent tattoo coiling around his wrist. It shimmered briefly before fading away. 

"How am I supposed to survive here?" 

Kael stared out at the endless dunes, frustration etched in his voice. "Life is so cruel," he said, shaking his head as he began walking into the desert.

(The Pyramid Has Collapsed)

(The Northern Serpent Is Dead)