The hunters ran.
No matter how far they fled, the heavy gray mist clung to them like a shroud.
Behind them, the sound of something massive sliding across the ground scraped slowly, rhythmically.
At that pace, the creature should have fallen far behind.
Yet the sound was always there—
right at their ears.
Like a maggot clinging to bone.
The monstrous serpent was still right behind them.
Endless escape.
No end in sight.
They had witnessed a teammate collapse, swallowed by a surge of molten ash the great crimson serpent exhaled.
Their screams still echoed inside everyone's skulls.
Fear gnawed at their minds.
And then—
a whisper slithered into their hearts.
「Kill one of your companions, and I will let you go.」
A dagger appeared in someone's hand.
He didn't remember drawing it.
…Was it always there?
No—
something had placed it there.
And that whisper continued:
「Kill one… and live.」
Terror twisted the man's eyes.
A cornered, wild beast.
He inched toward the teammate ahead of him—
the one who was keeping watch.
"Ah!"
The cry wasn't from the intended victim.
It came from the man holding the dagger.
He collapsed, clutching his wrist—blood dripping.
"Brother Stone?"
The others followed Stone's grim gaze and saw the dagger on the ground beside the fallen man.
Understanding dawned.
No one questioned Stone's action.
They only felt sick—
that it was necessary.
"Bind his arms and legs," Stone ordered.
"Wrap him in a few layers of clothing. We drag him with us."
He spoke decisively.
"And listen carefully. This isn't like dealing with that rock-for-brains Morax. The words of a god are as binding as a contract."
His cold stare swept over his companions.
Some who had been wavering snapped back to sense.
They weren't stupid—
just tortured.
When death seemed inevitable, the mind twisted toward ugly hopes.
If we're going to die anyway… what if the god keeps its word?
Stone's voice cut through that thought.
"Get it through your heads. We're already dead."
His voice was flat. Absolute.
"Don't cling to fantasies. It's a god. Killing us takes one thought. We're nothing but entertainment to it."
His jaw clenched.
"And I'll be damned if we let that thing enjoy the show."
The group fell silent, knuckles whitening around their weapons.
Humans had a certain ugliness—
a bitter, stubborn hatred that surfaced when cornered.
If I die, then don't you dare think you'll be happy.
But for the first time, that stubbornness felt like a strength.
Stone was satisfied.
"Captain… what about him?"
They glanced at the unconscious man.
"We take him. If there's even a sliver of hope that keeping him buys us a chance, I'll fight for it. If not—leaving him is no different from killing each other. I won't give that damned snake the satisfaction."
Deep in the mist, two red serpent eyes narrowed.
Such beautiful resolve.
How delightful it would sound—
when it shattered.
The serpent slithered closer.
Let the fear deepen.
Ash rained down on one man's head.
A red glow crawled over his body, burning skin.
He gasped—
but forced himself to laugh.
"Hah… just a little warm, brothers."
His voice trembled from pain, but he grinned.
The others shrugged.
"Warm, huh?"
"Yeah. Warm."
They dragged their injured comrade and continued forward.
The serpent flicked its tongue, turning its gaze toward Stone.
He was the problem.
Break him, and the others would crumble.
Not with physical pain.
Men like him… were immune to that.
The serpent whispered straight into Stone's thoughts.
「You have family.」
Stone stiffened.
He glanced around.
No one else reacted—they hadn't heard it.
「I smell the same blood on others. If they carry your scent, I will hunt them. Forever."
So the serpent could speak inside his mind.
「But you can save them. Stab one person beside you, and I will spare your family.」
Stone barked a laugh—sharp and wild.
"Captain… did you finally snap?"
"No. The snake said something ridiculous."
"What'd it say?"
"It threatened to go after my brother's family."
Silence.
Then—
Everyone burst out laughing.
Nightmare-tier demon god vs. one feral baby yaksha.
If the serpent actually went after Snow Kui, they would salute the thing for bravery.
"What—what are you laughing at?"
The serpent's voice turned cold.
Stone crossed his arms.
"Go ahead and try, snake."
"My wife and child are protected by the God of Dust—
and by my brother."
"If you go, you won't come back."
He resumed running.
Escape wasn't meaningless.
From the plants beneath his feet, Stone already knew—
The fog only blocked sight.
It wasn't a true barrier.
If they kept moving, they'd eventually reach Guizhong's territory.
The serpent scoffed.
「A 'God of Dust.' How weak must a god be to bear such a title?」
「A mortal's sibling is beneath a god's notice. What are you laughing at?」
Its patience ended.
More black ash fell.
This time, enough to kill several.
The serpent's pupils narrowed—
—
CRASH!
An icy spear tore through the fog overhead, exploding into a rain of frost.
The ash froze mid-air and fell harmlessly as glittering crystals.
A cold, youthful voice echoed from beyond the mist:
"...Say that again."
"What did you just say about my brother?"
Advance Chapters available on P@treon
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