The Serpent in the dark

Zen lay on the ground, his breaths shallow and labored. Yawen kneeled beside him, applying a poultice of common herbs to reduce inflammation and numb his pain. Zen winced as she worked, the poison coursing through his veins a cruel reminder of their dire situation.

"How long until I can fight again?" Zen asked, his voice strained.

Yawen looked at him, her expression serious. "It will take a long time for that. I reckon a couple of hours. The poison was deadly, and it hit your chest. You'll have problems breathing, and your movements will be slow and dull."

Zen clenched his fists in frustration. "We need to get out of here."

Rui, who had been silently observing, suddenly spoke up. "How about creating a drug that can slow down the poisoning?"

Yawen's eyes lit up with an idea. "The glowing lotus... combined with other herbs, it can be anti-toxic and give temporary boosts to a person."

"The glowing lotus?" Zen echoed.

"It's a rare herb," Yawen explained. "It can only be cultivated in the dark and requires huge nutrients. Remember when I told you about tiers of herbs? The glowing lotus is a fourth-tier herb."

"I read that glowing lotus blooms near graveyards due to the nutrients from the dead bodies there," Rui added.

Zen nodded, though he winced from the pain. "The serpent would be the problem. It's poisonous and uses the water as a cover to sneak attacks."

Yawen's mind raced. "Why not freeze the lake and take the lotus?"

"Great idea," Zen said, "but the serpent would likely break the ice."

Rui sighed. "We need to do something more. How about we blind the snake and prepare a sneak attack? We freeze the water, then when the snake comes to attack, we blind it and aim for its weak spot."

"What is its weak spot?" Zen asked.

"The serpent is the king serpent. Their weak spot lies in the back of their neck. We should attack and destroy its poison gland, which will render it useless, and then outmaneuver and kill it," Rui explained.

Zen's eyes gleamed with determination, despite his condition. "Before that, we must go back and attack the serpent to get the glowing lotus. I can manage just one attack, but it will be taxing for my organs."

All of them agreed. Yawen took charge. "I'll distract the serpent along with Zen. Rui, you take the lotus. Just two will suffice, but take as much as you can. I think the serpent is guarding the lotus too."

After a while, they approached the lake and threw a dead ape they had killed earlier into the water. The serpent, attracted by the smell of blood, emerged from the water. Zen summoned all his remaining strength and launched a massive fireball, which hit the surprised serpent and broke its scales.

Rui quickly came forward and grabbed the glowing lotus. The serpent, enraged, hurled a stone at Rui, but Yawen deflected it with her air arts. They all retreated quickly, escaping with the glowing lotus.

Yawen immediately set to work preparing the medicine for Zen. She ground the lotus flowers into a paste and applied it to Zen's wounds. She then extracted the golden juice from the stem, which she dripped into his mouth. The effect was immediate. Zen's strength returned, and he stood up, feeling invigorated.

Yawen and Rui smiled, relieved, and happy. Zen, now full of energy, looked at his companions. "Let's execute the plan and kill the king serpent. We can use its scales to make armor, and its poison is valuable."

Rui added with a grin, "The meat is also tasty and gives a lot of energy."

With renewed determination, the three of them prepared for the final battle against the king serpent. As they gathered their weapons and formulated their plan, the gravity of the task ahead settled in. The king serpent was not just any beast; it was a guardian of the glowing lotus, and defeating it would require all their combined skills and wits.

Zen, now feeling the invigorating effects of the glowing lotus, stood tall and resolute. "We need to lure it out again, but this time, we have to be smarter. The fireball worked to some extent, but we need to be more strategic."

Yawen nodded, her mind already racing with ideas. "We should use the environment to our advantage. The lake can be a trap. If we can freeze the surface and create a maze of ice, we might be able to slow it down and control its movements."

Rui added, "And if we can blind it, as we planned, it will be even more disoriented in the maze. We need to hit it fast and hard, especially targeting its weak spot at the back of its neck."

They spent the next hour planning and preparing in depth. Yawen used her air and water arts to manipulate the lake, creating a complex network of ice structures, while Zen fought alone with the serpant. Rui had gathered additional herbs and materials to create blinding agents, while Zen had practiced his fire arts, ensuring he could unleash a powerful and precise attack when the time came.

They were ready. The lake, now a labyrinth of ice, shimmered under the fading light. The serpent, sensing danger, began to stir beneath the water's surface. Yawen, Zen, and Rui took their positions, each fully aware of their roles and responsibilities.

Yawen stepped forward, her hands weaving intricate patterns in the air as she summoned a gust of wind to ruffle the surface of the lake. The serpent, drawn by her, emerged, its massive, attacking with lethal grace. Zen, watched intently, his breath steady, as he prepared to strike.

Rui, positioned at the edge of the lake, held several pouches of blinding powder. He waited for the right moment, knowing that timing was crucial. As the serpent lunged towards Yawen, she nimbly dodged, leading it deeper into the maze.

"Now, Rui!" Yawen shouted.

Rui hurled the pouches into the air and, with a swift motion of his hand, released the blinding powder. The serpent reared back, its eyes stinging as the powder took effect. Zen seized the opportunity and unleashing a concentrated blast of fire directly at the serpent's exposed neck. This destroyed the serpant poison gland.

The serpent writhed in pain, its scales cracking and smoldering. Yawen and Rui moved in, striking at the weakened beast with precision. The serpent, now blinded and disoriented, struggled to retaliate. Zen's fire attack had damaged its poison gland, rendering its most deadly weapon useless.

 They continued their assault. Yawen's air arts kept the serpent off balance, while Rui's quick strikes targeted vulnerable spots. Zen, despite the toll on his body, pushed through the pain, each fire blast more powerful than the last.

After several attacks, the serpent's movements grew sluggish. Its once formidable strength decreased, and with a final, unified attack, they brought the beast down. The king serpent lay still.

Exhausted but victorious, they took a moment to catch their breath. The glowing lotus, now safely in their possession, would ensure Zen's complete recovery and provide valuable resources for their journey ahead.

"We did it," Zen said, a tired smile spreading across his face.

Yawen nodded, her eyes reflecting relief. "We did. And now, we have what we need to move forward."

As they approached the serpent, preparing for the final attack, a deep, resonant voice echoed in their minds, stopping them in their tracks.

"Humans, I have a request for you," the serpent said, its voice filled with a surprising blend of authority and vulnerability. "I want you to take care of my baby, who has still not hatched."

Zen, Yawen, and Rui were stunned. The serpent's voice was not what they had expected, and the plea left them momentarily speechless. The fierce beast they had been fighting was now expressing a deep, personal concern.

Rui, ever knowledgeable, spoke up. "Beasts like the serpent king and others are advanced and can communicate with humans. They are rare to come by. To be a serpent king, a snake must have a huge body, their poison must be strong, and they must be blessed."

Yawen, eyes wide with realization, looked at the serpent with newfound respect. "You're more than just a guardian, aren't you? You're a protector, a parent."

The serpent's massive head nodded slightly, its eyes reflecting a deep sorrow. "Yes. My time is ending, but my child must live. My child carries my essence and my blessings. Protect it, and it will aid you in your journey."

Zen, feeling the weight of the serpent's plea, stepped forward. "We will honor your request. Your child will be safe with us."

The serpent, with a final, grateful gaze, lowered its head, signaling its acceptance. As it breathed its last, the air around them grew still, the glow of the lotus softly illuminating the scene.

With reverence, they found the serpent's nest, a carefully hidden spot near the lake, where a large, glowing egg lay nestled among the rocks. Gently, they took the egg, vowing to protect and care for the serpent king's heir. They then harvested the serpant's body and packed it. Yawen and Zen decided that the egg would be given to Rui as a gift. Rui thanks them for their generosity.

After feasting on the serpent's body and crafting armor from its scales, Rui, Zen, and Yawen felt full and refreshed. With the glowing egg securely packed, they crossed the lake, their steps confident on the icy path. On the other side, they discovered a hidden chamber. Inside, a chest lay covered in dust and cobwebs. Opening it, they found ancient summoning scrolls, each inscribed with powerful symbols and unknown letters.

As they examined the summoning scrolls, a voice echoed through the chamber. "Who's there?" A silhouette appeared, holding a wand.