TALES OF THE SERPENT TAMER

Chapter 3 — The Beast Beneath the Chains

The execution beast attacked before Harold could even breathe. Its gigantic body surged through the rain with horrifying speed, shattering trees in its path while the chains around its neck rattled violently like screaming metal. Mud exploded upward beneath its clawed feet, and the monstrous pressure pouring from the creature struck Harold like a physical force.“Move!” Nyros roared inside his mind.

Harold reacted instinctively. He threw himself sideways just as the execution beast’s massive claw crashed into the ground where he had been standing moments earlier. The impact split the earth apart, sending cracks racing across the soaked forest floor while fragments of stone and mud erupted into the air. The sheer force of the strike stole the colour from Harold’s face. If that attack had landed directly…

He would have died instantly. The hunters surrounding Elder Mordain spread out quickly, forming a semicircle around Harold as glowing runes lit up across their weapons. Spears crackled with pale blue energy while curved blades emitted streams of crimson mist meant to weaken monsters. Harold immediately recognised the formation. Hunter Encirclement Art.

It was a battle technique specifically designed to corner dangerous creatures before cutting off every possible escape route. The realisation caused his stomach to tighten painfully. They were not treating him like a human anymore. To them, Harold had already become a monster.

Rain continued pouring through the forest, drumming heavily against leaves and armour while Elder Mordain stepped forward slowly. His aged face remained calm, yet fury burned beneath the surface of his expression.“You have embarrassed this tribe for the last time,” Mordain said coldly. “First, you disgraced your bloodline by summoning a serpent. Then you allowed that abomination to speak before the entire clan.”His gaze shifted toward the black sword in Harold’s trembling hand.

“There are ancient laws regarding intelligent monsters,” the elder continued quietly. “Creatures capable of speech are considered calamity-class threats. If news of this reaches the royal territories, the entire Ethel Tribe could be exterminated.”

Harold’s chest tightened. For a brief moment, doubt entered his mind. Was that why they were hunting him? Not because they hated him…But because they feared what Nyros truly was? The thought barely had time to form before Nyros spoke again.“Do not pity them.”Harold gritted his teeth.“You can read my thoughts now?”

“Our souls are partially linked,” Nyros replied calmly. “Unfortunately for me, your mind is extremely loud.”

The execution beast suddenly roared. The sound shook the surrounding forest so violently that several nearby birds exploded from the trees in panic. The monster’s dozens of crimson eyes focused entirely on Harold now, but there was something strange within its gaze.Fear.The creature was afraid of Nyros. Harold noticed it immediately.

Even the execution beast hesitated whenever the sword released traces of black energy. Nyros noticed as well.“How amusing,” the serpent whispered. “Even after all these centuries, lesser creatures still remember.”Harold’s heartbeat quickened.“What does that mean?”You ask too many questions during battle.”

The execution beast lunged again. This time, Harold raised the sword instinctively. The monstrous claw collided against the black blade with enough force to send shockwaves through the surrounding trees. Harold nearly collapsed as pain shot through both arms, but the sword itself did not budge even slightly. Then something horrifying happened.

The execution beast screamed.

Dark veins spread across its claw where the sword had touched it. The black corruption crawled upward rapidly, devouring flesh while the monster staggered backwards in visible terror. The hunters’ expressions changed instantly.“That weapon is cursed!” one of them shouted. Elder Mordain narrowed his eyes dangerously.“No,” the elder murmured. “It is consuming life force.”

Harold stared at the creature in disbelief. He had not attacked. He had only blocked. Yet the sword had wounded the execution beast automatically. Nyros sounded almost pleased.“The weak exist to feed the strong.”Harold felt uneasy hearing those words. There was no emotion in Nyros’ voice. No hesitation. Only absolute certainty.

Before Harold could respond, one of the hunters suddenly charged from the left side. The man moved quickly through the rain, his rune-covered spear aimed directly toward Harold’s throat.“Die, cursed one!”Harold barely reacted in time. He twisted awkwardly, avoiding the fatal strike by inches, but the hunter immediately followed with another attack. The spearhead carved through Harold’s side, tearing flesh beneath his ribs.

Pain exploded through his body. Harold stumbled backwards with a gasp while blood spilt down his waist. The hunter prepared to strike again. Then Nyros lost patience. Black energy erupted violently from the sword. The hunter’s scream echoed through the forest as darkness swallowed his entire arm instantly. His flesh withered before everyone’s eyes, shrinking rapidly as though centuries were passing in mere seconds.

The man collapsed onto the ground moments later.Dead.His body looked mummified. Rainwater struck his shrivelled corpse while horrified silence spread across the battlefield. Harold’s breathing became uneven.“I… I didn’t mean to…”You hesitated,” Nyros said coldly. “Had I not intervened, you would be the corpse lying there.”Harold stared at the dead hunter in shock. He had known the man. Not closely, but enough to recognise him.

Teren.One of the younger hunters from the eastern quarter of the tribe.A person.Not a monster. The stomach twisted violently. This was the first time he had directly caused someone’s death. Elder Mordain’s expression darkened further.“You truly have become cursed.”The elder raised one hand slowly.

The chains around the execution beast began glowing blood-red. The monster roared in agony as ancient symbols ignited across its body. Harold suddenly realised the truth with growing horror. The creature was being forced beyond its limits. Blood burst from beneath the beast’s armour-like skin while violent energy poured from its mouth in steaming waves.

One of the hunters looked alarmed.“Elder Mordain, the suppression chains are destabilising!”I know,” Mordain answered sharply.“You’ll kill it!”It is expendable.”The execution beast let out another agonised roar. Harold’s eyes widened slightly. For the first time, he truly saw the creature. Not as a monster.Not as an enemy.But as something enslaved.

The chains around its neck had dug so deeply into its flesh that bone was visible beneath the metal. Ancient scars covered its massive body, and madness flickered behind its countless eyes. The beast had suffered for years. Maybe longer. Harold’s grip tightened unconsciously around the sword. Nyros immediately noticed.“…You pity it?”

Harold swallowed hard.“It didn’t choose this.”Nyros became quiet for several seconds. Then the serpent laughed softly. The sound carried genuine amusement this time.“How fascinating.”The execution beast charged again, but something had changed. Its movements were no longer controlled. Blood streamed from its body uncontrollably while its eyes flickered with confusion and agony. Mordain had pushed it too far.

The creature had gone berserk. It slammed into one of the hunters accidentally, crushing the man beneath its massive body before anyone could react. Bones shattered loudly. Panic spread instantly.“The beast is out of control!”Reinforce the chains!”It’s attacking everyone!”The battlefield descended into chaos.

Harold backed away instinctively while hunters scattered through the forest trying to avoid the rampaging creature. Trees collapsed beneath the execution beast’s attacks while blood mixed with rainwater across the shattered ground. Elder Mordain’s face twisted with fury.“Obey me!” the elder roared. The chains glowed brighter.

The execution beast screamed again. Then it turned toward Mordain. The elder’s expression changed for the first time.Fear.The monster charged directly toward him. Several hunters immediately moved to protect the elder, but the berserk creature tore through them brutally. One hunter vanished beneath its claws while another was thrown against a tree hard enough to break the trunk apart.

Harold stood frozen. Everything was happening too quickly. Then Nyros spoke carefully.“You have two choices.”Harold’s eyes remained fixed on the battlefield.“What?”You can flee while they are distracted… or you can save them.”Harold looked stunned.“Save them? They tried to execute me!”

“Yes,” Nyros answered calmly. “Which is precisely why your decision interests me.”

Another deafening roar echoed through the forest. Elder Mordain unleashed a powerful taming art, causing dozens of glowing chains made from spiritual energy to wrap around the execution beast’s limbs. However, the creature merely tore through them with brute force. The elder’s face paled slightly.

The beast was too unstable now. Harold’s chest tightened painfully. Part of him wanted to run. After everything the tribe had done to him, leaving them behind would have been the logical choice. But another part of him remembered years of isolation. Years of pain.Years of being treated like something less than human.And somehow…He did not want another creature to suffer the same fate.

Even if that creature was a monster. Harold took a slow breath. Then he raised the sword. Nyros chuckled darkly.“I was hoping you would choose violence.”Harold sprinted forward. Rain hammered against his body while chaos erupted all around him. The execution beast barely noticed his approach at first because it remained focused entirely on Mordain. Harold leapt onto a fallen tree trunk before launching himself upward.

The world seemed to slow. The creature’s massive neck.The glowing suppression chains.The exposed flesh beneath the metal. Harold swung the sword with everything he had. Black light exploded outward. The chains shattered instantly. A shockwave burst through the forest as dark energy spiralled violently into the sky. Every hunter present staggered backwards from the impact while the execution beast froze completely.

For several terrifying seconds…Nothing moved. Then the creature collapsed to one knee. The crimson madness inside its eyes slowly faded. Harold landed heavily against the muddy ground, breathing hard while staring at the beast cautiously. The execution beast looked at him. Not with rage.Not with bloodlust. confusion.

A single broken chain slid from its neck before crashing into the mud. Nyros suddenly became very quiet. Harold frowned slightly.“What is it?”The serpent’s voice emerged slowly.“…Impossible.”Before Harold could ask what he meant, the execution beast lowered its gigantic head toward him. Then, in a voice rougher than grinding stone, the monster spoke.“…Free…”Every hunter in the forest froze. Harold’s blood ran cold. Because this time…The monster had spoken too.