Thorian raised his head after adjusting to his new body.
His eyes fell on the guards as they stared at him, gesturing toward another side door.
Now that he had a mouth again, he wondered if he should ask about their almighty god Allora — who had sanctioned this whole world — but he thought better of it. He had to survive the next trial, and getting his head lopped off beforehand wouldn't help.
"Move, human," the one who still refused to look him in the eyes said, prodding him with more pressure than before.
"The time is near. You don't wanna be late now, do you?" he sneered.
"Can I ask what this trial is about?" Thorian asked nervously.
"Hahaha! You'll find out soon enough… we're almost there." His eyes shone with glee.
---
They walked through corridors made of what looked like obsidian, iron spikes embedded in the walls.
Torches of flame burned here and there, casting flickering shadows across the stone. The heavy footsteps of the Minotaurs echoed so loudly that Thorian wanted to cover his ears — and hide.
But another sound drowned them all out: the thunderous roar of beasts, the clash of weapons, and the screams of men.
Thorian tightened his hand around his dagger, but it slipped in his slick, sweating palm. He gave up and let his trembling hands hang at his sides.
---
As they turned the last corner, he finally saw the source of the chaos.
A snake, ten meters long, was battling another human. The man's left arm was gone, and his face was twisted in agony.
"F#ck you, ya beast! I will move on, and there's nothing here that can stop me — not even you!" he roared.
He raised his remaining arm one last time — and the snake lunged, swallowing him whole.
The air hung heavy for a moment.
Then —
Whoooosh!
The crowd erupted into cheers and laughter. "Yeeeeees!" someone screamed, while others howled in frustration, tearing up their betting slips.
---
Thorian finally realized what the Stage One trial was.
He didn't even know if he could complete it. He'd only ever hunted for food — and those had been boars, at most.
A snake? A monster snake? No way.
The guards shoved him forward until he stood in the center of what could only be called an arena.
The crowd stretched as far as his eyes could see — people waving banners and betting tickets, pointing and laughing at him as though he were a spectacle.
Well… he was, wasn't he?
---
A voice boomed through the air, powerful enough to silence the mob.
"Welcome, competitor one-oh-one! Looks like there was an extra one added this round! Oh well — more fun for the crowd, right?"
The spectators roared their approval.
"Now, we all know the deal! If the competitor can kill the beast, he moves on! If he can't… well, our friend here will join the others in the beast's stomach!
"Now lock in your bets and get ready to scream — it's time to start the match!"
---
Thorian couldn't believe his ears.
He'd guessed what the trial would be, but hearing it aloud made the fear sink in.
Me? Beat that?
His eyes traveled upward, locking onto the serpent's.
Pure malice glared back at him — cold, ancient, and hungry.
Thorian didn't like that look. It made him straighten his back, his fear slowly sharpening into focus.
He knew beasts. He could do this.
And as he stood there, he realized this was it — kill or be killed.
He wasn't going down without a fight.
---
The snake reared higher, scales glittering, and opened its maw.
Thorian's eyes widened as a ball of pure blue light began to form on its tongue.
Oh hell no, he thought. There's no way they expect me to beat this thing! This is just murder for fun!
He took off running toward the far end of the arena, zigzagging with every stride.
His new body felt strange — faster, stronger than his old one. Each step carried him several meters forward. For a second, he thought he might actually have a chance.
Then he felt the heat building behind him.
Trusting his instincts, Thorian dove left. A blinding explosion tore through the space he'd just occupied.
A massive boom echoed. Dust and smoke filled the air, choking his lungs.
When it cleared, the crater it left made his stomach twist.
He nearly wet himself.
There's no way… there's just no way.
Thorian's body went numb from fear.
But the snake didn't care. It didn't fight for sport — it fought to live.
If it failed, it would be killed. It knew that.
Thorian hadn't yet reached that conviction.
This was no dream. No illusion. This was real.
And he had to accept it.
---
His heartbeat thundered in his ears. Then he took a deep breath and forced himself calm.
He studied the snake, scanning for weakness. Cracked scales. Scars. Tears. Anything.
And then — there.
Right beneath its chin, a faint scar — thin but vulnerable.
He just had to become the bait.
The serpent lunged again, faster this time, sensing Thorian's resolve.
He stood on shaky legs, clutching his dagger so tightly his knuckles whitened.
When there were only ten meters between them, Thorian moved.
He sprinted forward — faster than he meant to — startling even himself.
Losing his balance, he stumbled just as the snake dove.
But in that wild motion, he shifted his grip and drove the dagger upward with every ounce of strength he had.
He pulled it out and stabbed again. And again.
He didn't know how long he kept going — only that the cheers and screams of the crowd had long fallen silent.
Thorian didn't care.
When the serpent finally went still, he dropped to his knees, drenched in blood.
He looked up at the sky… and cried in relief.
---
"Ahhh! Winner — competitor one-oh-one!" the announcer called, his voice tinged with disappointment.
"Not what we were expecting, and it's put a bit of a damper on the spirits, hasn't it, crowd? Oh well! As promised, on to the next stage!"
A hidden door on the far side of the arena rumbled open.
Thorian pushed himself to his feet, taking one last look around — memorizing faces, the laughter, the greed.
He swore he'd remember every one of them.
Then he stepped forward, moving toward the gate.
He was ready for whatever waited beyond.
He wondered — were they?...