Chapter 26: The Serpent's Bargain
One year ago...
A massive Arcane Serpent moved through the ruined battlefield.
Its enormous body crushed broken buildings beneath its scales. Green venom dripped from its fangs and burned the ground wherever it touched.
Shen stood before it.
No sword.
No special weapon.
Only his fists.
Dark energy flickered around his body as he glared at both the serpent and the man standing behind it.
Ryulga.
The man who had promised to train him.
Shen clenched his fists.
"Hey!"
His voice echoed through the ruins.
"You said you would train me!"
The Arcane Serpent suddenly lunged forward.
Its gigantic jaws opened wide.
Shen jumped to the side.
BOOM!
The serpent's fangs smashed into the earth, creating a massive crater.
Shen rolled across the ground and quickly stood up again.
"Three days!"
he shouted.
"Three whole days passed and you didn't teach me anything!"
Ryulga remained leaning against a broken pillar.
Completely relaxed.
Completely calm.
"Oh?"
he said.
"You seem energetic today."
Shen's eye twitched.
"Energetic?!"
"You didn't let me see my friends!"
"You didn't train me!"
"You didn't even explain anything!"
Ryulga simply smiled.
"Tomorrow we're leaving."
Shen blinked.
"...Leaving?"
"Leaving where?"
Ryulga answered casually.
"America."
The entire battlefield became silent.
Shen stared at him.
"What?"
Ryulga nodded.
"America."
Shen pointed at himself.
"Why would I go to America?"
"I can train here!"
Ryulga shook his head.
"No."
"You come with me."
"That was the contract."
Shen's face darkened.
"You lied."
Ryulga raised an eyebrow.
"I did?"
"You said you would train me."
Ryulga smiled.
"And I am."
"Just not the way you imagined."
The Arcane Serpent attacked again.
This time its massive tail swept toward Shen.
Shen jumped.
Dark energy erupted from his hands.
He grabbed the tail.
CRACK!
The ground shattered beneath his feet.
The serpent roared in pain.
Dark tendrils spread from Shen's palms and wrapped around the monster's scales.
BOOM!
The tail exploded apart.
The serpent screamed.
Shen turned toward Ryulga.
His eyes burned with determination.
"Fine."
"We settle this right now."
Ryulga finally stood upright.
"Oh?"
Shen pointed at him.
"If I win..."
"You train me here."
"You let me meet my friends."
"You stop treating me like a prisoner."
Ryulga folded his arms.
"And if you lose?"
Shen gritted his teeth.
"...Then I'll go wherever you want."
"For two years."
Ryulga's smile widened.
"Deal."
The contract was made.
A cold wind swept across the battlefield.
The duel began.
Dark energy exploded from Shen's body.
BOOOOOOM!
The earth cracked.
Black flames erupted around him.
The symbol on his chest glowed brightly.
Dark Mage Mediator.
Full Release.
No sword.
No tricks.
Only raw power.
Shen vanished.
The ground behind him exploded from the force of his movement.
In an instant he appeared before Ryulga.
His fist flew toward Ryulga's throat.
BOOM!
The attack missed.
Shen's eyes widened.
Ryulga was gone.
Then—
CRACK!
Pain exploded through Shen's body.
An elbow struck directly into his back.
Shen was launched forward.
"Gah!"
He crashed into the ground.
Ryulga appeared behind him.
"Predictable."
Shen immediately spun around.
His leg shot upward.
A powerful kick aimed directly at Ryulga's head.
But Ryulga caught it effortlessly.
Then—
BOOM!
He slammed Shen into the earth.
A massive crater formed beneath them.
Shen coughed blood.
"Ngh..."
He jumped backward.
Dark runes appeared around his hands.
"Oblivion Seal!"
"Dark Cage!"
Dozens of dark chains erupted from the ground.
They surrounded Ryulga from every direction.
The attack should have trapped him.
Should have.
Ryulga simply walked forward.
The chains passed through him like smoke.
Shen froze.
"What?!"
Ryulga appeared before him instantly.
"You rely too much on power."
A palm strike landed directly on Shen's chest.
CRACK!
Several ribs broke.
Shen flew across the battlefield.
The sky spun.
The ground spun.
Everything hurt.
The fight was over.
Two seconds.
That was all it took.
Two seconds.
Ryulga stood above him.
Not a single scratch on his body.
Not a single sign of effort.
Completely untouched.
Completely superior.
Shen stared upward.
His breathing was heavy.
His entire body trembled.
Nearby, the Arcane Serpent's corpse lay on the ground.
Split into pieces.
Shen never even saw Ryulga kill it.
"...How?"
The question escaped his lips.
Ryulga looked down at him.
"You'll learn."
He extended his hand.
"In America."
For a long moment Shen said nothing.
Then he laughed.
A bitter laugh.
A defeated laugh.
A laugh filled with frustration.
"Fine."
He grabbed Ryulga's hand.
"I lost."
"But this time..."
His eyes sharpened.
"You better actually train me."
Ryulga pulled him to his feet.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Only if you learn how to listen."
The moment their hands met—
The world twisted.
The sky vanished.
The battlefield disappeared.
Reality itself seemed to bend around them.
Shen's eyes widened.
A strange feeling spread through his body.
Then Ryulga looked at him.
His smile became dangerous.
Almost evil.
Almost amused.
And he said only four words.
"Welcome to hell, kid."
To Be Continued...