NOVEL WEB Chapter 27
With its two wings fully spread, the Betrayer Snake looked down at the exceedingly small existence before its eyes.
“Kkkkkk….”
It had been ages since it last hovered using its wings, looking down on such puny beings.
The omnipotent sensation coursing through its body caused the corners of the Betrayer Snake’s scale-covered mouth to rise involuntarily.
It was understandable. It had counted down the days and nights for this very moment.
A short while ago.
The first day the Betrayer Snake noticed the Water Serpent, it recalled the moment when it overheard the Water Serpent sending a thought that suggested ‘if I keep staying here, I’ll break through straight ahead.’
Originally, it was hatred.
The fact that such thoughts could reach the Betrayer Snake meant they were broadcasted without any specific targeting—sent in all directions.
Such an act could only be done by someone who felt secure enough in their superiority to let their guard down.
If it were trapped in molten lava like itself,
and if it were constantly besieged by pests gnawing away at its flesh every day, it wouldn’t have been able to send out such careless thoughts.
How dare the cunning Water Serpent associate with such contemptible creatures even now?
It wanted to incinerate it right in front of its eyes.
But then…
As its vision cleared and it could finally see clearly, its thoughts changed entirely.
Though it was from long ago, the Betrayer Snake remembered what its own reflection in the lake used to look like.
Its current fiery gaze was undoubtedly different from back then.
Well,
Water Serpents had their own qualities too.
Defective individuals, even if they were Water Serpents, didn’t possess gem-like beautiful eyes.
However, the one that inspired the idea of breaking through straight ahead without diverting attention…
That cunning…
No, wise Water Serpent must surely have intelligent eyes worthy as the first treasure to commemorate freedom.
The Betrayer Snake desired those undeniably beautiful eyes.
This thought made its chest react intensely.
Exhaling a labored breath due to the pain in its heart, the Betrayer Snake endured.
The sensation of pearl fragments, shattered but forcibly held together, slicing through its heart like a saw blade wasn’t sharp or cutting.
It was just unbearably hot.
Heat radiating from the heart clouded its thoughts.
As far as the Betrayer Snake knew, there were only two ways to quell this burning pain:
Either by stealing treasures that would satisfy the ring or by spewing flames until the ring cooled down.
Treasures were always precious, so the Betrayer Snake usually opted for the latter… but not this time.
Because the greatest treasure was right in front of it.
“GYAOO.”
The actual sight of the Water Serpent exceeded expectations.
It was small.
And because of that, it was even more desirable.
Feathers sprouted on its prominent wings.
Eyes more beautiful than the finest gems.
Even though its form appeared young, it was undoubtedly a prodigy overflowing with talent.
It wanted to crush this sapling before it bloomed.
It wanted to pluck it and display it in the most splendid exhibition room deep within its lair.
It didn’t seem difficult.
Because no bead of light could be seen within the small body of the Water Serpent.
A Water Serpent without a bead was nothing more than a toothless predator, however magnificent it might appear.
Why did such a remarkable individual lack a bead? Perhaps it had offended something whose name the Betrayer Snake couldn’t recall anymore, resulting in its confiscation.
The Betrayer Snake wasn’t particularly curious about such trivialities.
All it cared about was how desperately it wanted this small Water Serpent.
Mocking it by calling it Gwangcheol-i didn’t bother the Betrayer Snake.
After all, no Water Serpent that dared call it that ever returned alive.
That one… may survive, but it will never return.
The Betrayer Snake lunged forward.
Despite sensing something ominous, the Betrayer Snake, blinded by greed, failed to realize the danger.
Then,
Something felt off.
Even though it was flying forward, its view seemed to be drifting further away.
The sunlight was blocked.
Its proud wings were detached from its body, casting shadows.
“Aaaah…?”
A strange sound.
Only then did it feel the alien pain of its wings being severed bone and all.
The Betrayer Snake realized it was falling.
Flesh may regenerate, but bones won’t.
Losing what it cherished most in an instant, the Betrayer Snake screamed.
“Ah, no, nooo…! My wings, my precious wingsaaa…!! Aaaaaaah…!!!”
Unable to stay aloft, the Betrayer Snake plummeted pitifully.
Back to the place it had just escaped from.
The abyss, deep and unforgiving.
Below it,
The Water Serpent looked down disdainfully at the falling Betrayer Snake.
—–
“What happened?”
A member of the ‘Siegfried’ unit reviewed the recent events.
Just as IF-684 and IF-017 were facing off, they had retreated.
But in that brief moment,
While IF-017 remained, IF-684 suddenly screamed and fell.
Between the fractured sections of the research facility, he spotted the severed wing of IF-684 embedded deeply.
Each fragment was easily the size of a school playground.
He’d heard that IF-684’s bones were indestructible anomalies, yet somehow, they had been cleanly cut through in one swift motion.
Indeed,
IF-017 lived up to its classification as a top-tier unknown phenomenon.
Despite its reputation for sleeping all day, which often led researchers to overlook it,
As the parent and god of the 017-1s,
He was personally experiencing the validity of these titles.
Thus,
“Hmm… why is that kid still there? Shouldn’t we rescue them?”
He couldn’t help but question his superior’s judgment.
Suspecting mental contamination, he strongly protested.
“Are you insane? Even a passing dog can see that’s IF-017. It even has horns, wings, and a tail.”
But his words fell on deaf ears.
After checking his wristwatch, his superior gave him a strange look.
“No anti-entropy readings. It’s human.”
Having witnessed IF-684’s wing being severed moments earlier,
Seeing his superior act like a blind man and preparing to rush towards IF-017 left him speechless.
IF-017 didn’t even seem pleased.
As they argued,
– Thud, thud.
Footsteps approached.
“Understand this. It’s a professional hazard.”
A familiar but somewhat unfamiliar voice.
Just before delivering a punch, he turned to look.
And hastily stood up to salute.
His superior, who had been making a fuss just moments ago, did the same.
The woman, with her menacing mechanical arm, wore a gray coat.
“When you work in the Mobile Strike Force, you eventually start trusting machines more than your eyes. My eyes might be contaminated, but the machines aren’t… If there are no anti-entropy readings, it’s not an unknown phenomenon. That’s common sense.”
An Alpha Class personnel.
The woman, tapping their shoulders as she passed, was Long Weilan, the commander of the ‘Siegfried’ unit.
“Still, isn’t that a bit excessive… I can tell that’s IF-017 at a glance. Anyone watching might think you’ve got at least ten years of experience.”
Despite appearing where fierce battles had recently taken place,
Weilan was heading directly towards IF-017.
Concerned voices arose around her.
“It’s dangerous for you to come this far, Commander.”
“You should stay in the rear…”
Laughing it off,
Weilan raised her metallic fist.
“This fist is loaded with Level 3 ‘Gram.’ Who else would come here if I don’t?”
Everyone acknowledged and stepped back.
The ultimate countermeasure against IF-684.
Level 3, ‘Gram.’
That was the weight carried by the name ‘strategic weapon.’
After a few steps,
Weilan faced IF-017, who was gazing into the deep hole below.
“Long time no see, IF-017. How many years has it been…? Since you’ve been asleep, it’s only been a while for me, hasn’t it?”
IF-017 looked up at Weilan, who spoke with a slightly irritable tone.
Regardless of Weilan’s tone,
IF-017 approached quickly and stared intently into her eyes.
Even when Weilan tried to look away, IF-017 persistently tugged at her clothes.
Confused,
Weilan absentmindedly accepted something handed to her by IF-017.
“…What is this?”
At the sound of “Pii?”, Weilan looked down at the small creature in her arms.
Weilan and Tsuchinoko exchanged puzzled glances.
What was the intention behind this?
As Weilan turned to question IF-017,
IF-017 playfully patted her head.
“…?”
Weilan didn’t have time to react.
IF-017 had already dashed to the hole and jumped down long ago.
Weilan looked down into the hole, which likely connected to the IF-684 containment chamber.
It was quite deep.
Tsuchinoko, seemingly unaware of the situation, lay on its back, whimpering “Pii?”
Silently observing, Weilan prodded its soft cheek with her mechanical hand.
Tsuchinoko snapped at the metallic finger.
Weilan’s mechanical arm could easily deflect bullets.
As expected, after a moment, Tsuchinoko whined “Gwaeeng” and shed a tear.
“… Such a foolish snake.”
Despite coming prepared to deliver a powerful blow to IF-684,
Weilan chuckled at the unexpected turn of events.
—–
Recent memory.
Right before closing my eyes and waking up here,
I vaguely remember the face of that human.
That human friend.
They were pinkish back then, but I wonder why they’re so red now.
I remember they weren’t bad.
Not adopting Tongtong-i, but temporarily taking care of it should be fine, right?
Well,
Even if Tongtong-i received a little punishment, it shouldn’t be a problem, even if the human turned out to be evil.
That side is safe.
So, my task is clear.
It’s been a few dozen seconds since I folded my wings and fell.
For some reason, the orange-glowing ground seems closer.
Plop.
I submerged into something warm.
It felt like metal rather than water, which made me uneasy, so I stood on the surface.
I quickly spotted Gwangcheol-i who had fallen here earlier.
“Surely, it wasn’t lost…! Your bead, your bead… Are you suppressing it completely even after ascending…? It’s absurd, impossible…!!!”
Gwangcheol-i was thrashing around in the molten substance.
Unlike me standing on the surface, only its head was visible above the liquid, its body submerged.
Now our eye levels match.
But,
Didn’t I say to stay quiet?
Still not quiet?
Gwangcheol-i seems to misunderstand.
I need to make it understand.
I approached Gwangcheol-i.
“Stay back… Stay away from meeee…!!”
Gwangcheol-i immediately went berserk upon seeing me.
Its tone sounds younger somehow…
If it gets much younger, it might lose the ability to speak altogether, right?
I sent a thought.
Don’t you dare think losing just a pair of wings is the end, do you?
“Aaaaaaah…!!!”
Then Gwangcheol-i fled.
Haha.
Where do you think you’re running to?