Tai stood before the massive Serpent, its scales glimmering like frozen steel. His breath turned to mist as he spoke, his tone sharp with authority.
"You are a citizen of my kingdom," Tai declared. "I order you to bow."
The Serpent let out a low hiss that echoed through the cave. "Make me."
"It will be my pleasure—" Before Tai could finish, the Serpent flashed forward with terrifying speed, driving a crushing blow into Tai's gut. Tai staggered back, stunned.
"A king's guard is always up," the Serpent mocked.
Tai clenched his jaw, threw a punch — but the Serpent dodged easily.
"A king must also be fast," he sneered.
"Shut up!" Tai spun, launching a roundhouse kick, but the Serpent caught his leg mid-air and slammed him into the ice.
"A king doesn't let anger rule him," the Serpent said coldly, stepping closer.
Tai glared, his voice shaking with rage. "You shut up!"
The Serpent's body blurred again — a flash of motion — and his heel crashed down on Tai's hand.
"A king knows when to stay silent."
Tai gritted his teeth, pain surging through him. "What's your problem?!"
"Your father." The Serpent's eyes narrowed. He grabbed Tai by the collar and slammed him against the icy wall.
"Zarathiss was a better king than you'll ever be. How can you protect a kingdom when you're this weak?"
Tai's breath came out ragged. His voice broke with anger.
"Shut up! You don't know anything about me!"
The Serpent's tone darkened.
"I don't need to. All I know is this — Zarathiss could protect his people. You can't
Tai staggered back, clutching his ribs. "What's your deal with my father?!" he shouted.
The Serpent smirked, lowering his stance. "To get that information... you'll have to kill me first."
Tai cracked his neck. "I was planning to do that anyway."
The Serpent lunged forward, grabbing Tai's arm — but Tai twisted his body mid-grab, rolling out of reach and driving his fist into the Serpent's jaw. The impact cracked through the icy cave, but the Serpent didn't even flinch.
"You want to play that way?" the Serpent growled. He raised his hands — the ground beneath Tai's feet shattered. The ice split open, and Tai fell into the freezing pit below.
Before he could recover, the Serpent's massive tail shot down, coiling around him. "Got you, little king," he hissed — and hurled Tai into the air like a rag doll.
Midair, shards of ice curved and twisted under the Serpent's control, striking Tai from every side. Blood sprayed against the walls of the cavern.
Then the Serpent's body shifted — his humanoid form dissolving into a monstrous serpent, fangs glistening with frost. He lunged, jaws wide open, and bit deep into Tai's shoulder.
"For a king, you sure could use a bath," the Serpent sneered, his voice echoing as Tai's blood stained the ice below.
Tai crashed to the ground, weak and broken. His vision blurred. Through the haze, he saw the giant serpent coiling above him, preparing the final strike.
A single tear slid down his cheek.
As the serpent dove — fangs bared — Tai heard it.
A soft, warm voice in his mind.
"Son… don't cry.
Tai lay motionless, blood frozen against the ice. The Serpent loomed over him, its fangs dripping frost.
"Why should I fight it?" Tai whispered weakly. "He's right… I'm a weak king."
Then the voice spoke again, clearer now — his mother's voice.
"No, my son… you're wrong. You are strong. Stronger than you think."
Tai's breath steadied. "But I'm going to die anyway…"
"No, you won't."
His eyes shot open — glowing gold. The air around him cracked with divine pressure. Ice shattered beneath his feet as a golden aura erupted from his body, scales shimmering like molten light.
The Serpent froze in terror. "T–that power… h-how did you find me?"
Tai didn't answer. He appeared before the Serpent in a blink, gripping its massive jaw with one hand. "You like ice?" he said coldly. "Then eat it."
He forced the serpent's face into the frozen ground, unleashing a burst of energy that caused the ice to explode inward. The Serpent's scream echoed through the cave as half its body froze over.
"Z–Zarathiss! Please! I didn't mean to desert you!" the Serpent cried.
Tai's eyes narrowed. "What? I'm not him."
The Serpent trembled. "Y–You are that boy…"
"Explain yourself," Tai demanded, his voice carrying the weight of a true king. "Do that, and I might spare your life."
The Serpent struggled to rise, bowing his head. "I… I am Cospent, right hand of King Zarathiss. I fought in the Great War. I led the second army of the Snake Kingdom. But I lost—my men… all gone. I feared the King's wrath, so I ran… I ran to here."
Tai's golden aura flared again, lighting the cave like a sunrise. "Then you ran from your Home."
Before Cospent could speak again, Tai blurred forward, faster than sight. One brutal strike to the leg brought the Serpent to his knees.
"Bow when you talk to your King."
"P–please, my King, forgive—"
Tai's hand gripped Cospent's throat.
"I might kill you."
With a sharp twist, the sound of cracking bone echoed through the ice chamber.
Cospent fell — silent.
Tai stood over him, his golden eyes dimming back to calm.
"I'm not my father," he whispered. "But I'll be a better king… even if I have to kill the old world to do it."
As the roar of battle faded, the storm within the mountain went silent.
The ice that once covered the cave began to melt, golden light piercing through the cracks like sunlight after a storm.
Far away, Xei's eyes snapped open.
The green aura around him pulsed wildly — trees shivered, roots stretched toward the sky.
Before him stood the green figure once more, her gaze fixed on the horizon.
Xei clenched his fists. "What was that… that power?"
The green figure smiled faintly. "The awakening of a King."
Meanwhile, on the other side of the mountain, Amal still held Sai by the arm. The two stared toward the sky as a golden beam tore through the clouds.
Sai's eyes widened. "That energy…"
Amal's voice trembled, both in awe and fear.
"That's Tai."
The flames around his flickered in rhythm with the pulse of the light.
"That power… it's not just his. It's royal. The blood of Zarathiss… has awakened."
Shi stepped forward, eyes narrowing. "Then the real battles have only begun."