Annoyance gratitude

"Just stay still, Mabus. I've got this," Devoum said, his voice steady and filled with a confidence that Mabus could only dream of.

Devoum stepped forward, placing himself between Mabus and the massive blue-scaled snake. His stance was relaxed, almost casual, as if he were confronting nothing more dangerous than a bothersome insect. The sneering aura he radiated made both the snake and Mabus feel insignificant. Mabus, unable to help himself, let out an awkward laugh and scratched his head, feeling small under Devoum's penetrating gaze.

Devoum's eyes narrowed, and he glanced back at Mabus with a look of sheer disappointment. "Why are you always so pathetic and weak, Mabus?" he said, his voice dripping with disdain. "I told you not to go down the waterfall, didn't I? And yet here you are, needing rescue."

Mabus's cheeks flushed with embarrassment and anger. "You always like to fool me and see me in pain, Devoum!" he protested, his voice shaky but defiant. "Besides, you left me for a week without a word, and now I'm stuck with this jinx system because of it."

Devoum's eyes, blazing with a purple intensity, glinted with amusement. He laughed sarcastically, the sound echoing off the cave walls. "Is that so, Mabus? And you thought it wise to ignore my advice and dive headfirst into danger?"

Mabus stammered, trying to defend himself, but Devoum just shrugged, a thin smile still playing on his lips. Ignoring Mabus, Devoum turned his attention back to the snake, his expression shifting to one of arrogant disdain. "You think you can scare my friend?" he taunted, his voice a low growl. "I'll show you the meaning of fear."

With a flick of his wrist, Devoum summoned a whip made of pure purple energy, its crackling length sparking menacingly. He lashed out with it, the whip slicing through the air with a sharp crack and striking the snake's scales. The serpent recoiled, letting out a hissing cry of pain. Devoum's eyes gleamed with a cruel satisfaction as he continued his assault, each strike landing with brutal precision.

The snake writhed and twisted, its cries echoing through the cave. Devoum was relentless, his movements fluid and merciless. He stepped forward with each lash, driving the snake back and keeping it off balance. The cave was filled with the sound of the whip's crack and the snake's anguished hisses, a symphony of suffering that made Mabus's stomach churn.

Watching from the side, Mabus couldn't help but feel a twisted sense of relief. As horrifying as it was to witness, at least he wasn't the one on the receiving end of Devoum's wrath. His dramatic thoughts flitted between pitying the snake and feeling smug satisfaction that he was safe. A cocky smile formed on his face as he watched the snake's torment, grateful that for once, he wasn't the one in trouble.

Devoum's relentless assault finally brought the snake to a pitiful state. It lay coiled and trembling, its once menacing form reduced to a quivering mass of scales. Devoum stood over it, the whip still crackling in his hand, his expression one of triumphant arrogance.

"Next time," he said coldly, "think twice before you threaten my friend."

He turned away from the snake, dismissing it as if it were nothing more than a nuisance. Mabus, still watching in a mixture of awe and fear, was yanked back to reality as Devoum grabbed his ear. "Come on, let's get out of here," Devoum said, dragging Mabus along like a recalcitrant child.

"Ow! Devoum, not the ear!" Mabus wailed, his voice echoing off the cave walls. He tried to keep his feet planted, but Devoum's grip was unyielding. "Can't you be a little gentler?"

Devoum ignored his protests, leading him through the cave with determined strides. "You need to learn to listen, Mabus. Maybe next time, you'll think before you act."

Mabus stumbled along, wincing with each tug on his ear. "I get it, I get it!" he cried, his voice high-pitched and desperate. "Just let go of my ear!"

Devoum finally released him as they reached the cave's entrance. The light of the outside world spilled in, casting long shadows on the cave walls. Mabus rubbed his ear, glaring at Devoum with a mixture of annoyance and gratitude.

"Thanks for the rescue," he muttered, still rubbing his sore ear. "But did you really have to be so rough?"

Devoum just shrugged, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Maybe next time, you'll think twice before ignoring my advice." He stepped out into the light, his silhouette a stark contrast to the darkness of the cave.

Mabus followed, the cool air outside a welcome change from the oppressive atmosphere within. He glanced back at the cave, shuddering at the memory of the snake and Devoum's ruthless assault. As much as he disliked Devoum's methods, he couldn't deny the effectiveness.

"Let's get moving," Devoum said, his tone more serious now. "We've wasted enough time already. And next time, Mabus, try to stay out of trouble, will you?"

Mabus nodded, though he couldn't help but roll his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, I'll try," he said, though he knew better than to make any promises. Trouble seemed to have a way of finding him, no matter how hard he tried to avoid it.

As they walked away from the cave, Mabus couldn't help but still glances from Devoum feel a grudging respect for Devoum. He thought secretly Devoum might be harsh, or seem like an evil Lord but there was no denying his power and his willingness to protect. For now, that was enough.

And again he wanted to cry ,he realised that he will be alive because Devoum only had use of him for now.