The Serpent They called useless

Chapter 6: "Die Alone, Lizard Tamer"

"This is yours now."

Lord Valen slid a heavy, mahogany box across the obsidian desk. His gloved fingers rested on the iron latch.

"It isn't free. I assume my daughter made our terms explicitly clear?"

Voss Thorne dropped onto both knees. His forehead pressing so hard against the cold marble floor that his shoulders trembled.

"Yes! Yes, my Lord! She told me everything! I am ready to do whatever you command! If you tell me to walk west, I will never look east!"

"Good."

Lord Valen flipped open the latch—revealing an egg the size of an iron shield. Its shell covered in jagged, slate-grey ridges.

"Prick your finger. Let three drops of blood hit the shell."

With shaking hands, Voss pulled a silver dagger from his belt. Sliced his thumb.

Blood dripped onto the rough stone shell.

The room exploded in a shockwave of white and black aura.

The pressure slammed down like an anvil—cracking the marble beneath Voss's knees and rattling the glass display cases lining the walls.

Nyra shielded her face. Her eyes widening as the egg shell shattered from within.

Out stepped a heavy, thick-scaled beast with four massive legs. Silver-plated hide. A single, serrated horn curving upward from its snout.

It let out a deafening, guttural roar that shook the very dust from the ceiling rafters.

"A Rank C straight from hatching?!"

Nyra gasped, staring at the creature in sheer disbelief.

"Father, even elite ancient beasts start at Rank E or D!"

Lord Valen threw his head back and laughed—a cold, triumphant sound that echoed through the vast hall.

"The auction house had no idea what they were selling! Follow me to the archives."

Minutes later, inside the estate's private library, Lord Valen slammed an ancient, leather-bound beast codex onto the table. Flipping rapidly through pages of sketched monsters until his finger landed on a matching illustration.

"The Armored Iron Rhinoceros," Valen read aloud. His eyes burning with greed.

"Extremely rare. Immeasurable physical defense. Devastating charge impact. And a dual-habitat capability that allows it to fight on both land and water without losing momentum."

He slammed the book shut.

"The money was well worth it!"

Voss pressed his face back into the floorboards. Tears of gratitude leaking from his eyes.

"Thank you, Lord Valen! Thank you, Lady Nyra! I will bring Kael Veyron to your doorstep on his knees!"

"I don't want him dead," Lord Valen said coldly. Tossed a velvet bag of glowing purple beast cores onto the desk.

"Not yet. Use these cores to evolve that beast to Rank B before the academy trial. Break his spirit. Force him to surrender and sign his life away to our family."

Across the city, inside the quiet study of the Veyr Manor, the ground subtly shuddered beneath Kael's boots.

Aurelia stood near her father's desk. Finishing her report on the duel at the academy arena.

"Voss's lion was completely obliterated, Father. But the moment the match ended, Nyra approached him. They left for the Valen estate together."

Kael closed his eyes. His mind flashing as the Beast Sovereign System picked up the distant aura pulse radiating from the eastern district.

[REMOTE DENSOMETRIC DETECTED]

· Entity: Armored Iron Rhinoceros (Hatchling)

· Initial Rank: Rank C → Rapid Evolution Trajectory

· Primary Threat: Extreme Kinetic Deflection, Armor-Piercing Horn

· Weakness: Joint-Suture Gaps on Secondary Underbelly Plate

"An Armored Iron Rhinoceros," Kael said flatly, opening his eyes.

"Valen just hatched it. It came out at Rank C, and they're already feeding it Rank B cores to force an evolution."

Lord Alaric Veyr leaned back in his chair. His expression darkening.

"They aren't trying to hide it. Valen wants to build a force that can pressure the entire academy. Kael, they aren't coming to kill you in the open—they want to break you until you become their subordinate."

He looked Kael in the eye.

"Whatever happens during the upcoming forest trial... be careful."

Three days later, the grand plaza of Veyron Academy was packed with hundreds of students assembled for the official trial announcement.

Whispers erupted like a tidal wave as Voss Thorne stepped onto the cobblestones.

Beside him walked a towering beast six feet tall at the shoulder. Encrusted in thick, overlapping black iron plates. Its horn gleamed like polished steel—radiating the heavy, suffocating aura of a fully evolved Rank B beast.

"Is that Voss?!" a student yelled. "Where did he get a Rank B monster in three days?!"

"Look at that armor! Nothing in our class can pierce that!"

Kael stood near the edge of the crowd. His hands in his pockets. Watching Voss calmly.

Astra rustled beneath his cloak. Her small head nudging his wrist in quiet focus.

Draven walked up to Kael. Flanked by his two teammates. A sneer plastered across his bruised face.

"Don't bother looking for a team, support boy." Draven spat, loud enough for the surrounding students to hear. "You aren't welcome in our squad this time. Go into the forest alone and die."

Before Kael could answer, Voss stepped forward. His massive iron rhino tearing up the stone paving under its heavy hooves.

"He won't need a team, Draven."

Voss's voice dripped with venomous amusement.

"Because I'm taking your spot as squad leader."

Draven blinked. Caught off guard. But quickly fell into line as he looked at the terrifying Rank B rhino standing beside Voss.

Voss leaned in close to Kael. His eyes wide and unhinged. A cruel smile twisting his lips as the Master of Ceremonies raised his hand to open the gates to the dangerous Everbeast Forest.

"Inside the forest, beggar..."

Voss whispered. His breath hot against Kael's ear.

"...will be your very last day on this earth."