The Final Poison

Chapter Nine: The Final Poison

A faint smile spread across the tired child's face as he felt the surge of newfound strength within him. "Since the first two poisons yielded remarkable results, I believe a different approach is warranted this time. The poison drip method won't suffice. I need to be more aggressive," he thought.

In the previous poisons, the child had extracted snake venom and continuously injected it into his body over time. However, the goal of this poison was not to gain immunity against it but rather to rebuild his entire structure and strengthen his immune system. To achieve this, he realized he needed to subject his body to brutal destruction and subsequent treatment. The old method would only prolong the pain without maximizing the benefits. "This poison craves violence, so I shall be even more violent," the child resolved.

When the three snakes appeared again, the child swiftly caught them and extracted their venom. However, instead of consuming it, he carefully preserved it in a series of leather bags he had prepared. Without skipping a beat, he continued his training regimen, immersing himself in various martial arts as if the snakes had never crossed his path.

Days turned into weeks, and the child's strength grew exponentially. His progress was evident as he faced the ninth wave of snakes and even the eighteenth wave. And now, the time had come for the eighty-first wave.

Draining the venom from all the snakes, the child divided it into three skin sacs, each containing different proportions of the potent liquid. Taking the smallest bag, he drank its entire contents without hesitation. Agony immediately swept through his body, surpassing anything he had experienced before. Yet, he knew he hadn't reached his limits.

Undeterred, the child opened the second bag and gradually released the venom into his mouth, enduring the excruciating pain that followed. With every drop, he felt his body pushed to its breaking point. The child's determination remained unwavering as he poured the last bag's contents into his mouth.

Only a small amount of venom remained in the bag, but the child chose not to consume it. The pain had become unbearable, stretching the limits of his endurance. Yet, fueled by his unwavering will and anticipation of the results, he pushed through.

Days passed, and gradually, the pain subsided, leaving behind a child whose appearance was far from promising. His body resembled a decaying corpse, with loose skin, emaciated bones, and patches of melted flesh. But despite his ghastly appearance, an ugly smile adorned the child's face.

Within his battered body, he could sense the intricate changes taking place. His flesh regenerated, becoming more resilient. His bones grew denser, their strength multiplying. New white and red blood cells coursed through his veins, rejuvenating his body.

The recovery process lasted several days, resulting in a comprehensive improvement in the child's physical structure. The most visible change was a height increase of approximately five centimeters, but that paled in comparison to the transformative changes occurring internally.

Atop a towering mountain, touching the clouds, an old man stood, dressed in flowing white robes that fluttered with the wind. A sense of wisdom emanated from him, reflected in the radiance of his eyes. By his side stood a middle-aged man, garbed in a dark green robe, with a colorful snake bearing small horns perched on his shoulder.

"I will require the use of your Source Dragon on the children later," the old man said, his voice laced with authority.

"It would be my honor to participate in this test, Sovereign. However, I have a question that has plagued my curiosity," the green-robed man replied, his voice hoarse, as if seldom used.

The old man turned his gaze toward him, without moving his head. "Ask," he commanded.

"Forgive my audacity, Sovereign, but even your weakest disciple surpasses me in strength, their reputation shaking realms. Why then select children from the lower realms for this test? Their talents pale in comparison to the rest of the world. I struggle to comprehend," the man inquired, his voice filled with genuine perplexity.

A smile curled upon the old man's lips as he replied, "Dragon Knight, are you certain you wish to know the answer?"

The Dragon Knight's expression shifted from curiosity to pure fear, and he fell to his knees, pleading, "I... I beg for your mercy, Sovereign. Spare my life."

"Cease your trembling. I do not intend to punish you. However, this question cannot be answered. Yet, I shall grant you another opportunity to ask a different question, given your past merits," the old man responded calmly.

"Sovereign, if I may, even if the children were equipped with ordinary snake venom, they would be unable to withstand the venom of the Sacred Poison Dragon," the Dragon Knight ventured.

"Fortunately, I had extracted the profound energy from the venom," the old man revealed softly.

The Dragon Knight froze, his shock indescribable. "How is it possible? The profound energy within the Poison Dragon's venom is enough to annihilate thousands of children like them," he exclaimed.

"I possess the means to neutralize it," the old man responded, his voice tinged with quiet confidence.

Overwhelmed by the revelation, the Dragon Knight remained silent, his gaze fixed upon the horned snake resting on his shoulder. "Come forth, my friend. It is your turn," he whispered.

The snake awoke with a start and looked at its companion before slithering away swiftly, descending down the mountainside.

The old man muttered to himself, "Finally, we reach the culmination of this initial stage. Do not disappoint me, Final Poison."