The Serpent of Origin

The Scale Tribe can breathe even on land.

Their mobility, striking the ground with their characteristic scaled tails, is superior to that of ordinary small monsters, and they boast exceptional mobility in the sea.

Especially, their sharp claws and teeth can easily shatter even solid ship hulls.

The Scale Tribe, whose entire bodies are weapons, aren’t weak at all even when ascending to land.

However, their opponent was Pernok.

Hundreds of Scale Tribe members were captured by Pernok’s magic ‘Binding’, only able to widen their eyes.

Pernok asked Chief Katish.

“Do you know the Scale Tribe’s base?”

“I don’t know. Even if I knew, I couldn’t think of attacking there.”

Pernok nodded and stood before the Scale Tribe.

“Is there anyone who can speak human language?”

“What are you doing?”

A response came from a man with blue scales in the rear.

“What’s your name?”

“How dare a mere human…!”

Blue blood spurted from his neck.

What happened wasn’t even visible.

It was only that Pernok lightly brushed his hand, and the Scale Tribe member’s head rolled on the ground.

“I don’t like saying the same thing twice.”

Pernok sat on a rock and looked around at the Scale Tribe.

“State your affiliation and name.”

“…”

“There’s not a single useful one.”

The moment Pernok extended his hand, one with red scales in the middle shouted.

“Red Scale Tribe! Scout team! Enma!”

“What’s your rank in the scout team?”

“Vice-captain!”

Pernok nodded.

“Why do you who live in the sea target this island?”

“We must also survive.”

“Who tries to harm the Scale Tribe?”

“The god is angry! We must move before the sea overturns!”

Though they were incomprehensible words, he noticed that the Scale Tribe also had some circumstances.

“Couldn’t you live peacefully with the Horn Tribe?”

“We attempted dialogue.”

Then Katish exhaled sharply and spoke firmly.

“They demanded we hand over the homeland containing our ancestors’ spirits.”

The Scale Tribe dug into the fundamental reason why the Horn Tribe couldn’t leave the island, so negotiation itself didn’t establish.

‘Whether both sides lack flexibility, or whether absolute reasons to seize it exist—they’re unknown guys.’

However, Pernok felt no emotion toward them.

Eventually, the fact that the Scale Tribe was attempting invasion to survive didn’t change.

“I don’t care about your race’s circumstances. It’s only important that I’m here and you charged at me.”

“This is unrelated to humans!”

“No, this Horn Tribe is now my guest. So return and tell your chief.”

“…?”

“If you want to find your tribesmen, come directly and hold the Blood Battle Ceremony.”

“…!”

Enma widened his eyes.

“How does a human know about the Blood Battle Ceremony?”

Blood Battle Ceremony.

The Red Scale Tribe and Blue Scale Tribe fight death struggles each generation to produce new chiefs.

The side that survives by putting forward the strongest from each Scale Tribe gains the right to command all Scale Tribe.

However, exceptions exist where non-Scale Tribe members can hold the Blood Battle Ceremony.

That’s the rulers of other races.

[The Scale Tribe is a race trying to leave excellent bloodlines. They can also bear children through crossbreeding with other races. Even such halfs are given opportunities to become chiefs.]

The Lord of Despair held the Blood Battle Ceremony with that era’s Scale Tribe as humanity’s ruler.

Naturally subduing the Scale Tribe with overwhelming power, he proved once again the right that anyone strong can challenge.

Pernok also has the right to hold the Blood Battle Ceremony.

“I know everything about how the Scale Tribe chiefs are born. Naturally including the exceptional clauses.”

“You don’t look like a ruler of humans.”

“Right. I don’t step forward as humanity’s ruler.”

Pernok grinned while placing the Horn Tribe at his back.

“I’m the Horn Tribe’s chief.”

“…!”

“I wager the Horn Tribe here, the island, and the captured Scale Tribe.”

Pernok stared at the wavering Enma.

“I propose the Blood Battle Ceremony.”

* * *

Deep in the sea.

A deformed man sat like on a throne on refined stone beyond coral and seaweed.

Like the Scale Tribe, both his ears were red and blue and pointed.

But he had human arms and legs. Both eyes were red and blue odd eyes.

“He proposed the Blood Battle Ceremony? To me?”

When Krade, who had risen to chief as a half of human and Scale Tribe, flowed angry momentum, Enma bowed his head and reported.

“Yes. He said he applied for the Blood Battle Ceremony wagering everything as the Horn Tribe’s chief.”

“Was there a half in the Horn Tribe too?”

“He’s a true human. And all the Horn Tribe pledged loyalty to him.”

Krade narrowed his eyes.

“If I refuse the Blood Battle Ceremony, will he kill the Scale Tribe taken hostage?”

“He said he’d come all the way here and dry up all the seeds.”

Whether Krade was at a loss for words, he leaned back on the throne and looked at the beautiful waves.

‘Why does the sea drive us into the abyss…’

He inwardly repeated his frustration and lowered his head to look at Enma.

“The Blood Battle Ceremony is impossible.”

Enma also nodded.

The Blood Battle Ceremony is a fight to occupy vacant positions—they can’t hold ceremonies with the chief clearly alive.

“The human must know that much too.”

The reason for proposing nevertheless.

He wanted to meet Krade directly.

“What shall we do?”

“I’ll go receive an oracle.”

At that moment, Enma’s complexion darkened.

Krade walking behind the throne felt sad to him.

Krade stood before a massive door parting the waves.

And he bowed toward the cave beyond the door.

“I report to the water god—now on the surface, the pitiable Scale Tribe…”

The moment damp energy seemed to flow through the door cracks, bone fragments rolled down.

[The offerings are meager. You haven’t forgotten who made your Scale Tribe prosper, have you?]

“…My apologies. I will catch premium seafood again.”

[How long must I prolong my life with those mere fish? Rather, if you hand over dozens of your Scale Tribe to me, this hunger might somewhat subside.]

Krade trembled. Then sinister laughter flowed out.

[Why so tense? You really thought I’d eat my beloved children?]

“N-no.”

[But if this hunger continues, I might truly lose reason.]

“Oh god! Please settle down!”

[Krade, my child. Never forget who raised you to that position.]

“I am always grateful.”

A voice like mocking clucking flowed through the door cracks.

[But why haven’t you offered the Horn Tribe yet? I wanted to chew and swallow their vitality, savoring it slowly.]

“A suspicious one interfered.”

At that, the words stopped and damp energy flowed out.

Soon the existence beyond the door cried out in ecstasy.

[Give him to me!]

It was felt even from afar.

Brilliant, radiant, and massive energy.

[If you offer him to me, I’ll grant grace for your Scale Tribe to prosper for 10 years.]

“…!”

Krade widened his eyes with his head bowed.

It had always been a picky god.

He’d done everything to prevent it from swallowing the Scale Tribe at least.

From such a god came the sweet price of 10 years’ prosperity.

‘That human has that much value?’

Krade’s face stiffened.

If it was one with energy the god acknowledges, the current Scale Tribe can’t match him.

Going to strike the human again was no different from suicide.

[Don’t worry. I’ll grant you grace again.]

Bluish crystals flowed from beyond the door.

[I permit you a fragment of ‘Origin’.]

The fragment seeped into Krade.

Surprised by the ecstasy riding through his belly and spreading throughout his body, he stood abruptly.

[Except for me, none who can harm you will now exist in this sea.]

As the fragment was shared, he felt the god’s power slightly weaken.

Though nausea surged at the god’s appearance coveting that human enough to command hunting named grace, Krade suppressed the overflowing power with emotion and showed a resolute expression.

“I will definitely catch that human!”

Krade turned around and entrusted his body to the waves.

His voice carried on the seawater and spread widely.

[We’ll rescue our tribesmen, destroy the human, and spread the Scale Tribe’s dignity to the world!]

Soon countless water splashes gathered toward Krade.

It was long processions of red and blue Scale Tribe members gripping rock spears.

* * *

As the day was setting, Pernok standing tall on the tower captured the pitch-black waves.

“They came.”

Presences too overwhelming to count rushed in at once.

It was definitely the Scale Tribe.

“T-that’s all…”

“Don’t panic—operate the castle as I taught you.”

“U-understood!”

The research director entered the castle with the Tunnel Folk. Then he burst out amplified sound.

[The Scale Tribe rush in from all directions! Everyone prepare!]

The Horn Tribe who understood those words gripped their weapons.

The captured Scale Tribe showed flustered appearances.

“Chief?”

At that moment something flew from the sea to the castle.

[Spears!]

Spears made of rock.

But their hardness is considerable.

Though they couldn’t scratch the castle, the spears also didn’t break.

‘They’re attacking with just this?’

He’d shown this side’s forces once.

Naturally Enma would’ve delivered detailed explanations about that.

Yet attacking with primitive tools was merely puzzling.

‘The scale is considerable for refusing the Blood Battle Ceremony.’

Moreover, the Scale Tribe numbers far exceeded Pernok’s expectations.

He thought they’d at most dispatch hundreds of elites to negotiate or propose, but the Scale Tribe currently filling the sea looked like all tribes showing a total offense.

[Your Highness! The enemies have entered firing range!]

The bravery of crawling in defying death is commendable.

But the commander’s judgment driving soldiers to death was very unpleasant.

‘To send this many, at least the chief or an equivalent must have come.’

He wanted to capture and interrogate what guts made them attempt such a reckless challenge to this castle.

If they survive this bombardment, that is.

“Open all gun ports.”

Pernok called out carelessly.

“Maximum output.”

The castle responded to the thunderous sounds.

The gun ports opened and a full 10 Mana Flash Cannons revealed themselves.

Lionic absorbs all mana in this world.

Even the mana dwelling in water, Lionic cleanly refines and sends flowing back into the castle.

The modified Mana Flash Cannons absorb and condense the mana sent that way.

Pernok, anticipating war, stored all the mana gathered here for one day in the Mana Flash Cannons.

Crackle!

Like lightning, mana surged around the cannons.

“Fire!”

The brilliance tore through the night sky and covered the seawater turned dark.

The mana unified into one scattered into tens, hundreds.

Each shot’s power matched level-5 mages’ fireballs.

The indiscriminate bombardment not distinguishing friend or foe pounded the sea.

Boom boom boom boom boom!

The castle’s front and both sides shot up like fountains.

It was different from when adjusting the output enough to knock out the Scale Tribe.

The Scale Tribe grazed by the shells all tore to shreds or burned pitch black.

Some surviving Scale Tribe members clung to the castle walls with tenacity.

But even that was shaken off when the castle’s defensive functions activated.

Scrape!

Sharp fragments protruded from the castle walls, slicing all the Scale Tribe bodies.

When everyone was shocked at the castle’s majesty swallowing the battlefield in an instant, a strange energy stimulated Pernok.

‘Mana?’

The Scale Tribe are masters of naval warfare.

Special powers controlling the sea don’t exist.

However, when energy flowing from some Scale Tribe member seeped into the sea, it raised massive waves.

‘No, this is…’

It’s a different energy that’s neither magic nor mana.

The moment that resembling nature struck his head.

[Origin exists within me, the power ruling nature.]

The energy controlling the waves awakened the Lord of Despair’s memories.