Chapter 792
Episode 196: The Great Serpent, Ameris (1)
Originally, Jin had planned to bring Valeria over to document and investigate if anything unusual appeared during the excavation. But the voice that echoed from beneath the earth gave no indication that he would be granted such time.
Crack! Rumble—!
As the owner of the scales began to move, the pit trembled violently, as if it might collapse entirely. The entire underground seemed to writhe as if it were part of the creature itself.
It was impossible to gauge just how enormous the body was. Jin and Hedo slashed away the debris cascading down like a waterfall and leapt toward the surface.
“Jin, have you ever heard of a dragon living underground?”
“No, I haven’t. Usually, earth or subterranean dragons live above ground, don’t they? I’m not even sure this qualifies as a dragon.”
“It feels too massive to be called a dragon.”
“Who dares awaken me!?”
A voice thundered again, shaking the heavens and earth. Any ordinary or even slightly skilled martial artist would have fainted just from hearing it up close.
“I am Jin Runkandel.”
Jin, having emerged to the surface, answered with as much calm and softness as he could muster. Though the voice was sharp and demanding, since he was the one who had disturbed the creature’s slumber, it was best to respond politely.
“I am Hedo of the Balmel Alliance. No family name.”
Outside the pit, the scene was utterly devastated. The ground was torn to shreds from the excavation, clearly the work of the two men, but the swirling vortex spreading in all directions was not. It was a phenomenon caused by the movement of the scale’s owner, sucking in all the debris left on the surface.
The vortex devoured the surface at a terrifying speed. The entire ground had already collapsed, and Jin and Hedo first checked toward Shuri.
Fortunately, a green signal flare indicating safety shone faintly in the distant sky. Jin and Hedo exchanged glances, waiting for the scale’s owner to reveal himself.
Fwoosh—!
At last, his face and part of his neck emerged above ground.
“A dragon? No… more like a serpent.”
The owner of the scales was a colossal black snake. Like wild snakes, it had a forked tongue flicking out.
And the moment Jin and Hedo saw him, one dragon came to mind.
“Zephyrin… that demon dragon. This one’s far larger, though.”
As the serpent surveyed the surroundings, the vortex that had been tearing apart the surface gradually subsided. Jin sensed a certain divine power in that gaze.
[Jin Runkandel, Hedo… these are names I’ve never heard before. And you… are humans, aren’t you?]
The snake seemed quite intrigued by the fact that the two were human, licking its lips.
[Humans digging through the earth to reach me! It seems the world has changed much while I slept. Heh heh, the potential of mortals truly is limitless.]
“I apologize for waking you. While excavating to find the gate to the Demon Realm, my sword struck what I assume is the crown of your head.”
[Oh? Is that so? Then we are not exactly fortunate acquaintances. Though I have just awakened and am not fully lucid, I am the guardian of the world’s boundary. Ameris—that is my name.]
Naturally, neither Jin nor Hedo had ever heard the name Ameris before.
“So you’re saying we have to defeat you to go any deeper?”
[Perhaps there are more heads of mine below, so I cannot say for sure. But even if there aren’t, you will not be able to go further down.]
“…More heads?”
[Heh heh. Now that I’m awake, I’m eager to enjoy a fight. Even if you are humans, having come this far, you will provide ample entertainment.]
As Ameris finished speaking, the ground began to sink.
The entire area suddenly dropped as deeply as the pit the two had dug. Jin and Hedo fell back underground, readying themselves.
Looking up, the sky seemed impossibly distant. The underground had instantly transformed into a massive arena.
The enormous shadow that had loomed moments ago was gone as if it had never been. Neither Ameris’s head nor torso was visible underground.
Instead, standing in the center of the pit was a woman holding a sword—Ameris in a humanoid form.
[Even if you die, do not hold grudges. Arrogance and ignorance often come with a heavy price.]
“Is there no chance for further conversation before we fight?”
[Unlike mortals, immortals are bound by fate. That is the burden of immortality. My fate is to block those who seek the Demon Realm’s gate. If you possess the power to defy my fate, then perhaps we can talk further.]
“Hmm, if it must be so, then I have no choice.”
Ameris’s power was unpredictable.
But Jin didn’t feel like he would lose. His instincts, honed through countless battles against transcendent beings and powerful foes, told him so.
“I must not kill her.”
There was too much information to gain after subduing her. Though she was a troublesome gatekeeper blocking the excavation, Ameris was more like a treasure discovered beneath the earth. So eternalization was off the table for now.
Jin made the first move.
Using the fifth secret art of Runkandel, the “Lord of the Underworld’s” power infused a blindingly fast thrust straight at Ameris’s front.
[…Is that the power of the Lords of the Underworld?]
Ameris easily parried the lightning-fast thrust and closed the distance in an instant.
“You know the Lords of the Underworld?”
Clang!
As Jin’s and Ameris’s swords clashed, Hedo swung his great strength at her back. Ameris spun to evade the attack and positioned herself between the two.
[Of course I know. I have slain several of the Lords’ heads before. Now I see—you possess the Radiant Heart.]
“That’s not the story I expected.”
[You wouldn’t know the Lords of the Underworld, so I won’t burden you with old grudges.]
Though the fight had begun and Ameris knew Jin was connected to the descendants of her enemies, she showed no hostility.
Because of that, Jin found himself strangely drawn to Ameris. It felt like a dignified duel with a true immortal.
For a while, the three swords clashed silently.
Though none were using their full strength, Ameris showed no sign of being overwhelmed while fending off both opponents. And she, too, was holding back.
Jin, Hedo, and Ameris all secretly admired each other’s swordsmanship.
“But why does Ameris’s sword style feel so familiar?”
Hedo didn’t share the feeling, but the longer the fight went on, the more Jin was gripped by an inexplicable sense of déjà vu.
“Ameris, who taught you your swordsmanship?”
[I was taught.]
“By whom?”
Ameris didn’t answer, instead fiercely striking Jin’s sword. Her body was covered in small wounds, but she lacked the rapid regeneration common among transcendent beings.
In other words, she fought like a human swordsman. Setting aside the divine power she displayed when shaking and collapsing the earth, she relied purely on swordsmanship.
It was an act of preserving dignity as an immortal.
While mortals adjusted their pace, she believed it unbecoming for an immortal to fight at full strength.
More importantly, during the battle, Ameris used insight to read the fundamental nature of the two. She sought to understand why they were searching for the Demon Realm’s gate.
“They don’t seem to harbor dangerous or sinister intentions. But they didn’t awaken me by accident. They must be seeking the gate.”
So Ameris had no reason yet to use all means to kill them.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve truly enjoyed swordsmanship. How can mortals, especially humans, reach such a level in barely a hundred years? And Jin Runkandel is still young among humans.”
Screeeech…!
[Ugh!]
Ameris blocked Hedo’s sword with her forehead and spat out a mouthful of blood.
“And this Hedo’s monstrous strength… It must be the power imbued by the shattered sun’s lingering will. He must have had it from birth. Has he resisted corruption? Or is it still dormant?”
Ameris’s interest in the two grew steadily.
The tide of battle had clearly turned in favor of Jin and Hedo. Though Ameris had fought evenly at first, the two-on-one situation was gradually pushing her to her limits.
If it had been one-on-one, she might have lasted three hours against Jin and five against Hedo. That, of course, would have been different if she were fully herself.
[I admit defeat in this sword duel. Continuing would only make me look disgraceful. I am the one who paid the price for arrogance and ignorance.]
Ameris stepped back, lowering her sword.
“A fine match.”
[And having enjoyed the swordplay, I see you are worthy of defying my fate.]
“Does that mean you’ll talk with us and guide us on our way?”
[The former, yes. The latter, never. If you wish to approach the Demon Realm’s gate, you must truly face me in combat. Why do you seek that place? Do not lie—I cannot be deceived.]
Jin hesitated for a moment. Should he reveal information like the Sun God’s altar to this enormous serpent they had just encountered?
“Before I answer, I want to ask one thing first. As a reward for winning the sword duel.”
[Hmm, as the loser, I have no choice but to grant your request. Ask.]
“Ameris, you are said to be the guardian of the world’s boundaries. Then surely you know well about the gate to the demon realm beneath us, and what lies even deeper underground.”
[I do.]
“So you have been lying dormant here to prevent the resurrection of the Sun God?”
[That is correct.]
“Really?”
[I said so.]
“Just swear it once for me.”
[This is the truth. Yes, I swear it by my name—Ameris. Satisfied? Your words grow shorter and shorter—such audacity from mortals!]
Jin smiled slyly and reached out his hand toward Ameris.
“In that case, from now on, I’ll be more respectful. It seems Ameris and I share the same purpose.”