TALES OF THE SERPENT TAMER

Chapter 6 — The First Catastrophe

The corrupted hunters attacked before Harold could demand answers.  One moment, the forest stood suspended in a fragile state of shock after Elder Mordain revealed Nyros' identity. The next three Blight-touched creatures lunged through the rain with enough speed to blur their distorted forms. Their bodies no longer resembled humans.

Black scales had erupted through flesh. Their limbs bent at unnatural angles. Their eyes glowed with a sickly silver light that contained neither reason nor mercy. Whatever humanity they once possessed had already been consumed. Harold reacted instinctively. The black sword flashed upward. A claw scraped against the blade. Dark energy exploded outward.

The creature's arm disintegrated instantly. However, instead of retreating, the corrupted hunter continued attacking. It moved with horrifying disregard for pain, throwing itself forward despite the damage." Behind you!" the transformed execution beast roared. Harold spun. Another corrupted creature emerged from the mist. Its jaws stretched impossibly wide as it launched itself directly toward his throat. This time, the gigantic beast intercepted the attack.

Its massive hand closed around the monster before slamming it into the ground hard enough to create a crater. The impact shattered bones.  The corrupted creature continued twitching. Then black tendrils erupted from its corpse. The sight made Nyros curse again."They're evolving too quickly."Harold's chest tightened."What exactly is happening?"The serpent's voice carried unusual tension.

"The Blight feeds on fear, death, and spiritual energy. Every battle strengthens it."

As if proving the point, the black tendrils began crawling toward nearby corpses. The dead hunters.The fallen monsters.Everything.The tendrils pierced flesh. Bodies started moving. Harold's blood ran cold. One corpse slowly rose to its feet. Then another.And another. The battlefield had become a breeding ground.

The dead were joining the living. Elder Mordain's expression darkened."We need to retreat."The declaration stunned everyone. For decades, Mordain had been known as the strongest warrior within the Ethel Tribe. Many younger hunters believed him invincible. Yet now, the elder looked genuinely frightened. The realisation frightened Harold even more.

The transformed execution beast growled deeply."Too late."The ground shook. Not from battle.From something beneath the forest. A massive crack split the earth. Trees collapsed. Roots burst upward. The tremor spread across the entire region like an earthquake. Every surviving hunter lost balance. Harold nearly fell. Only Nyros' warning allowed him to steady himself.

"Look at the ground."Harold obeyed. His stomach immediately sank. The crack wasn't random. Ancient symbols were emerging beneath the soil. Thousands of them. Glowing silver lines spread through the forest floor, forming a pattern so vast that Harold couldn't see its end. The transformed execution beast stared downward.

Recognition flashed across its face."No..."For the first time, genuine fear entered the giant creature's voice. Harold immediately noticed."What is it?"The monster hesitated. As though speaking the answer would somehow make it worse."A seal."The words landed heavily. Nyros became completely silent. That silence worried Harold more than any explanation.

Because Nyros always had something to say.Mockery.SarcasmYet now...Nothing.Harold tightened his grip around the sword."Nyros."No answer."Nyros."Several seconds passed. Finally, the serpent spoke. His voice sounded colder than Harold had ever heard before."We need to leave."Harold blinked. That response made no sense.

Since meeting Nyros, the serpent had never suggested retreating.Never.Even when facing execution.Even when surrounded by hunters.Even when confronting a giant evolved monster. Yet now, Nyros wanted to flee. The realisation sent a chill through Harold's spine."What is beneath us?"Nyros answered immediately."One of the reasons history was erased."The statement created more questions than answers.

Unfortunately, events moved too quickly for further discussion. The glowing symbols suddenly brightened. The forest trembled violently. Then something emerged. A hand.Not a monster's claw.Not a beast's limb.A human hand. Pale fingers pushed through the earth. Mud slid away. Then a second hand appeared. Several hunters screamed.

One dropped his weapon entirely. Because the figure climbing from beneath the seal looked human.Perfectly human.A young woman.Long silver hair.Pale skin. Dark clothing untouched by mud despite emerging from underground. Her eyes remained closed. The sight made no sense. Nothing about it made sense.

The woman stepped fully onto the surface. Then she opened her eyes. Golden irises.Ancient.Beautiful.Terrifying.The moment her gaze swept across the battlefield, every corrupted creature froze. The transformed execution beast immediately lowered its head. Not from force.From instinct.Respect.Or fear. Harold couldn't tell which.

The woman looked around calmly. Her expression revealed mild confusion. As though she had awakened from a long nap and found herself somewhere unfamiliar,  her gaze landed on Harold. Everything changed. The confusion vanished. Shock replaced it. For the first time since appearing, emotion crossed her face.

"No."The word escaped her lips softly. Yet somehow everyone heard it. The woman took a step forward. Then another. Golden eyes remained fixed entirely upon Harold. The intensity of her stare made his skin crawl."You..."Her voice trembled slightly. The transformed execution beast immediately moved between them. Protective instinct radiated from its enormous frame. The silver-haired woman glanced at the giant creature.

The beast froze. Then slowly stepped aside. Not because it wanted to.Because it physically couldn't resist. The difference terrified Harold. The woman finally stood several feet away. Close enough to touch him. Her expression softened. Confusion mixed with hope. Disbelief mixed with longing. Harold had never seen someone look at him that way before.

As though his existence alone meant something important. Then she reached toward his face. Nyros exploded."Don't touch him!"Black energy erupted from the sword. The force shocked everyone. Including the woman. The gentle expression vanished instantly. Cold fury appeared in its place. The temperature throughout the forest dropped dramatically. Frost formed across nearby trees. Rain became snow.

Every living creature felt overwhelming pressure descend from the sky. The silver-haired woman's golden eyes narrowed.Slowly.Dangerously."Nyros."She spoke the name like a curse. The serpent responded with equal hostility."Aria."Harold's gaze darted between them.Recognition.Hatred.History.Something enormous existed between these two. Something ancient.

The woman called Aria shifted her attention back toward Harold."How much has he told you?"Harold hesitated."Not much."A bitter laugh escaped her lips."Of course not."Nyros immediately growled."You have no right to speak."The woman's expression hardened."No right?"The air shook. Invisible power spread across the battlefield.

Several hunters collapsed unconscious instantly. Even Elder Mordain struggled to remain standing. The transformed execution beast looked ready to kneel again. Aria's voice became dangerously calm."I spent three thousand years trapped beneath a mountain because of you."Harold's eyes widened. Three thousand years? That wasn't possible.

Humans didn't live that long. Not even powerful tamers. Nyros remained silent. The silence itself felt like confirmation. Aria continued."You destroyed kingdoms."Her gaze sharpened."You created the Blight."The pressure increased."And then you abandoned everyone else to clean up the consequences."Every word landed like a hammer.

Harold felt his chest tighten. Part of him wanted to dismiss the accusations. Nyros had saved him repeatedly. Protected him.Guided him. Yet another part remembered the serpent's own admission. I created it. The Blight. The plague threatens entire civilisations. Harold's grip tightened. For the first time, doubt entered his heart. Could he trust Nyros?

The question hurt more than expected. Because, despite their short time together, Harold had already begun relying on the serpent.Believing in him.Perhaps even considering him a friend. The realisation felt strangely painful. Nyros sensed it immediately. The serpent's voice became quieter. Less arrogant.Less certain.

"Harold."It was the first time Nyros had spoken his name that way. Without mockery.Without sarcasm.Just sincerity.And somehow that frightened Harold more than anything else. Before either could continue, Aria suddenly stiffened. Her golden eyes shifted toward the horizon. The transformed execution beast reacted similarly. Then Elder Mordain cursed."What now?"No one answered immediately. Because everyone could feel it.

A new presence.Far away. Yet approaching rapidly. The sky darkened. Not with storm clouds.With wings.Thousands of wings. Harold looked upward. His breath caught. Creatures filled the horizon. Flying monsters. Hundreds. No. Thousands. They moved as one enormous swarm. Their destination was obvious. This forest.This battlefield.This location.

The transformed execution beast's expression became grim."They heard the awakening. Aria's face paled slightly. For the first time, genuine concern appeared in her eyes. Even Nyros sounded troubled."That's impossible."The swarm continued growing larger.Closer.Faster.Then something enormous emerged at its centre. A shadow larger than a castle. Harold stared upward. His pulse thundered. Because the colossal creature wasn't leading the swarm.

The swarm was fleeing from it. And as the gigantic silhouette broke through the clouds, Aria whispered four words that turned everyone's blood cold."The Second Catastrophe is awake."Above the forest, a single crimson eye opened within the darkness. And it was looking directly at Harold.

This chapter expands the world mythology, introduces Aria as a major recurring character, deepens Harold's trust conflict with Nyros, reveals that multiple Catastrophes exist, and ends with the awakening of the Second Catastrophe, escalating the story from a tribal conflict into a world-level crisis.