Kael's eyes narrowed as he took a deep breath and pulled back, creating distance after the first clash.
It would be wrong to say that he was not wary.
But his caution was not because of Ryan himself. It was because of the beast. The Serpentine bloodline was never just about the man.
The paired beast was the true danger. If Ryan still had access to it, then things could turn troublesome. Kael did not yet know whether this man still possessed that power.
"Hey."
Ryan's expression changed when he saw Kael smile.
"Why don't you bring out that pet snake of yours?" Kael said casually.
"Oh," he added, tilting his head slightly, "is it because you don't have it anymore and ended up a failure?"
Thick veins bulged on Ryan's forehead. Rage flashed across his face as he slammed his foot into the ground and propelled himself forward.
"How dare you!" he roared at the top of his lungs.
