A Serpent's Tale
Chapter 299: Preparing for the Worst

Chapter 299: Preparing for the Worst

(Ashtraz POV)

It had been around eight days since I started this journey, and I could see it coming to an end by tomorrow.

’Just a little bit further...’ I thought to myself as my body teetered and swayed, almost collapsing from exhaustion.

I may not need to eat, or even sleep for that matter, but I think my mind and body has just become far too comfortable with my routine back in the city that it’s unable to keep up with the sudden change in routine, or lack thereof.

Either way, this trek would soon be over, I could see the mountains coming into view, and even the sheer magnificence of their size.

With bags in my eyes and a hunched over body, I kept on slithering towards the mountains, where I would find my creator.

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(Traytora POV)

It was the ninth day since we began out hunt, and we were nearing the mountain, just another twenty kilometres or so according to Gary and we’d reach the base of the mountain.

The reason we didn’t reach it faster was because Gary’s senses kicked in yesterday when he started to run, and that feeling was one of danger.

So, he told me about it and to stay cautious and alert at all times from then on. I do believe him when he says he feels danger, but I also feel like he only said that so that I would finally rest and recover my Mana.

I was grateful for his aid in this endeavour, and his last suggestion allowed me to recover up to forty percent Mana.

But this morning, and even toward the afternoon, I was starting to feel that danger also, and I felt that it was worse than what Gary might suspect it to be.

I informed him of this and he grimaced. He didn’t argue with me, as although his senses might be superior to mine, my intuition and instincts were undoubtably superior to his.

And just as the sun peaked, I realised that I still had tons of stat points left over, and that if this does lead to a fight, that I could use them to better my chances of surviving. So that’s what I started doing.

Opening my status, I went to use my stat point, of which I had four hundred and twenty to be exact. But when I opened the exchange menu, I felt that things had changed.

[2 = +1,500 HP]

[1 = +500 MP]

[1 = +750 SP]

[2 = +1,000 Strength]

[1 = +1,750 Defence]

[2 = +2,500 Magic]

[2 = +900 Magic Defence]

[2 = +1,250 Agility]

[3 = +40 Speed]

[3 = +3,800 Stamina]

[1 = +1,000 Charm]

’Okay no, this has definitely changed, I can tell. The exchange rates are different and some of the rates themselves are clearly different.’

’Whatever, I don’t have time to be thinking about this.’

Now wasn’t the time to be deliberating this, I needed strength and power.

’I have plenty to spare, so let’s just put a hundred into MP, Strength and Magic.’

[Ding!]

[+50,000 MP]

[MP: 35.06%]

’Wait what? That’s less than before? How is that possible? That doesn’t make any sense. Or does it?’

"You okay back there? You seem agitated and unfocused." Gary asked worriedly as he slowed down and turned his head back a bit to see if I was alright.

"Huh? Yeah, I’m fine. It’s just some internal issues." I played it off as I thought of possible reasons at to why it was a smaller percentage compared to before.

"Well, don’t be, we’ll be arriving soon and it would be better if you’re focused and ready for action."

"I know, thanks for looking out for me."

"No problem, just doing my job." He nodded as he turned his head back to face in front of him and returned to full speed.

As for me, I returned to using up my Stat Points. This time I put a hundred into strength.

[Ding!]

[+50,000]

[Strength: 103,000 (+91,500)]

’Woah, that’s a lot of strength... FUCK! I’m going to have to take another test with the adventurer’s guild. GOD DAMMN IT!’

’Ugh, whatever, that’s a future me problem.’

The next point to receive a big fat hundred stat points was [Magic].

[Ding!]

[+125,000]

[Magic: 193,000 (+156,500)]

’Shit! I think I went a bit overboard with that one. That’s around three hundred and fifty thousand Magic power. That’s clearly way too much. Whatever, too late to cry about it.’

’Now, I still have a hundred- and twenty-point leftover. I don’t want to use them all, in case I’m ever in a dire moment and might need them. I think I’ll keep around fifty points, which leaves me with seventy to spend.’

’Hmm... What to use them on though? I guess... I dunno, SP? Sure, why not. Who knows, maybe it’ll come in handy later, seeing as we’re dealing with a curse here.’

[Ding!]

[+52,500]

[SP: 94.78%]

’There, all done.’

And just in time too, as Gary skidded to a halt as we reached the base of one of the five mountains.

Gary then sniffed in the air for Ash’s scent. "I can smell traces of her close by. She’s not far from here."

"I think I can feel traces of her also, over to the left."

"That just so happens to be where the danger is..." Gary said a little despondently as his shoulders sagged a bit in disappointment.

"Well, I’m not all that surprised given what we know. Maybe these mountains really are cursed and she was a victim or something. And now she’s giving up her life to end the curse." Gary theorised as he began running once more.

"..." I however, thought otherwise. That just didn’t make sense to me. No way in hell would she be cursed. She would’ve been able to get rid of it through a request through the orphanage.

Most curses can be dispelled. Hell, even my [Curse of Lust] can be dispelled with either enough willpower, or potentially someone who is a wielder of the virtue of [Chastity]. That last one is unconfirmed, but I have reason to believe that that’s how it works.

Either way, I had a feeling that things weren’t going to go the way I’m hoping they go.

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Around an hour later, we found ourselves reaching the base of the next mountain over, and in that mountain, was a tunnel.

And according to Gary, that’s where Ashtraz went, and she had only gone in a few minute ago, so I was hoping nothing bad had happened just yet.

I got off of Gary’s back and entered the pitch black burrow, lighting a flame in my hand so that I could see as I made my way through.

The flame wasn’t necessary to see, but I just felt safer with it out. Not to mention I would be able to respond to any attacks faster.

I’d asked Gary to stay behind as I wanted to deal with this whole matter myself if possible. He accepted my wishes and stayed at the entrance of the tunnel just in case the worst did happen.

As I made my way through the tunnel, it just kept on winding and shifting, like that of a Serpentine tail, with the only directions to go being backwards and forwards.

The surface of this tunnel was surprisingly smooth yet rounded everywhere you looked, plus, it was a tad damp, and I think I could feel some moisture on the floor also. Clearly there’s a source of water somewhere nearby.

But after a couple of minutes or so of slithering through the tunnel, I could finally see the light on the other side.

I dispelled my flame as I got close enough to be able to hear voices, I also slowed my pace so as to not disturb Ashtraz and whomever she was talking to.

"You are a failure! I should’ve severed my connection to you long ago! Why did you even come back here?" I heard a voice that sounded distorted somewhat female, but like it had been eroded away by time like the rocky tunnel I was in now.

Then I heard Ashtraz’s voice respond to the abominable thing.

"I know... I know that I have failed you greatly, but I have come to view the world as you do, to some extent... And I need the power to rid this world of those who are using and twisting your story for their own benefit."

"What?" The horrid voice’s tone suddenly shifted into a much heavier and angry tone. "Explain."

"Well, the Duchess of the city I’m living in recently used your tale in a festival and twisted it for her own selfish gain, by claiming that she was one of your descendants and that the curse could be broken through acceptance."

There was a silence that hung in the air. And what I just heard confirmed what I was thinking earlier.

Ashtraz was a descendant, or more rather the creation of Shandrakazaa, and what happened in that play was all wrong. Most of it anyways.

And then the decrepit and shadowy voice burst out shouting in rage.

"HOW DARE SHE DO SUCH A THING!!! HOW DARE SHE USE MY STORY IN SUCH A SELFISH MANNER!!! I WILL MAKE HER PAY!!!"