"You know what to do?" Kuro asked him as Si-Hun was fixing his guard.
"Yes."
Kuro nodded, then stepped back.
Si-Hun, knowing it was finally time, raised his hands to end this battle.
He was going to use the telekinesis to lift the snake's skin from its body.
"The snake's body will die, but if I take its skin, it could be mine to instruct," Si-Hun spoke as the telekinesis was working.
As expected, the snake's skin was slowly lifting from its body, the skin being a shade of faint, glowing purple.
His eyes squinted, focused on the snake's body lifting.
The chamber glowed with the purple light, every corner visible now.
Finally, the battle gave its share, a new addition to Si-Hun's power.
Still in the air, the skin suddenly opened its eyes and hissed through its tongue.
"There it is!" He muttered in relief, eyes still dark.
The snake went on and twirled around Si-Hun, thinking of him as his new master.
Its aura was still like before, full of pride, but the kind that sat down when its master asked it to.
This time, too, the snake closed the gap between it and Si-Hun, bringing its head so close that their noses could touch.
Si-Hun raised his eyebrows, impressed, but the snake immediately pulled back and lowered its head in front of Si-Hun as if inviting him to pat its head.
Si-Hun did it and patted its head.
The snake got up, and its expression looked something like... joy?
Si-Hun saw how the snake looked more chalant than before.
It twirled around as if adjusting to its skin and stretching out.
The hiss it made was a rough but controlled sound.
"Will it understand what I say?" Si-Hun asked Kuro.
"I think it will get your commands," Kuro responded.
While they were talking, the snake slowly approached and, surprisingly, it seemed like it was eavesdropping on their conversation.
Si-Hun looked to his side and saw the snake with its head tilted as if it was listening to their conversation.
"Whoa there buddy! You scared me for a second!" Si-Hun blabbered, caught off guard.
The snake instantly backed off and hissed again, as if apologizing.
"Haha, you sure are an interesting one. But I have to agree, it was hard taking you down on my own,'' Si-Hun said as he smiled a little.
The snake, hearing this, twirled once again and lowered its head for a pat.
Si-Hun glanced at Kuro, whom the snake amused.
"It's way better than the previous personality!" Kuro chanted as he stepped closer to the snake and tried patting its head, but to his surprise, the snake pulled its head back and shared an annoying expression.
"Huh! Does it not like me?" Kuro asked.
Si-Hun stepped forward.
The snake, seeing him do that, glanced a Kuro before lowering its head in front of Si-Hun, who gave it a little pat.
"Well, it seems like he likes me more than you…" Si-Hun teased.
"Like I care." Kuro rolled his eyes.
"Anyway, we should get going; everyone must be waiting for us."
Kuro nodded.
Si-Hun looked at the snake that followed him while he was leaving the chamber.
"Will everyone be able to see it?"
"No, only you and me, and whoever you allow to see it will see it,'' Kuro replied.
"Oh,"
They both walked out of the chamber, and Si-Hun saw his teammates waiting there, a few sitting and the leader walking around here and there.
"They're back!" One of the men shouted.
Rahee got up too as she saw Si-Hun safe and alive.
Si-Hun slowly stepped toward them and stood.
"Let's get out of here." He simply said and started walking again.
"Wait!" The leader shouted.
Si-Hun stopped for a second.
"What?"
"We have to collect mana…"
Si-Hun exhaled through his nose and turned back.
"Are you actually thinking about mana after we lost so many of our teammates? What kind of man are you?"
The leader stayed silent.
"Go on if you want, but I'm leaving," Si-Hun said, walking out.
Everyone exchanged glances and walked out with Si-Hun.
The leader watched them leave.