256 Welcome to the Poisonous Rose (1/2)
Three months later.
”Heads..” *Ding-pah* ”.. of course..” muttered Daniel with exasperation.
”It still amazes me.. Aside from the eighty-three meteors that appeared out of nowhere and were directed right towards us, the twelve teams of bounty hunters that happened to be passing by, the three rift that lead to the void which opened right in front of us.. And three thousand losses in heads or tails.. I can see how terrifying those systems that Iewah gives to his people actually are..” Said Aeron with a face contorted in amazement.
Daniel was not in the mood to joke, so, he looked at the big star that was right in front of them, and said ”Good thing that we have almost arrived..”
In front of them, was a bright giant white star, around which only two planets orbited. One of these two planets was gigantic and gaseous, and was basically a spinning ball of winds which would tear to shreds anything that would dare to approach it. The other, was a planet covered by a layer of green-brownish atmosphere.
”That is Ton Bes.” Said Aeron while pointing at the planet with the dense, and green atmosphere. He then added ”We will need a very good reason to enter.. I know for a fact that its only city is filled with poison masters at the eighth stage, and that there are at least seven ninth stage cultivators in the planet..”
”Don't worry, I have an idea.” responded Daniel while creating a spatial barrier around the small planet which they were riding. The heath emanated by the white star was too strong, and if they didn't defend from it, they would suffer more, the more they approached it.
In comparison to the star, the two planets were extremely small, and very far from it. So much so, that it took two more days for the two of them to finally approach Ton Bes.
Once the two were about to enter its poisonous atmosphere, Daniel shrunk his planet back into its smaller size, and put it back into his spatial ring. He then attempted to enter the atmosphere, only to be stopped by a kid which had appeared right in front of them.
This kid seemed to be about nine years of age, and was playing around with a snake that was as thin as an earthworm, and as long as an adult's finger. The various colors of the snake's skin were reflected by the large eyes of the kid, which blew air at the snake while keeping it just a few centimeters away from his face.
Daniel and Aeron approached respectfully. Without needing Aeron to tell him, Daniel had already felt what kind of power this kid-looking individual had. He was a ninth stage cultivator, and the keeper of key of Ton Bes.
”Where have two outcasts like you found the courage to approach my garden?” Asked the kid with a soft-spoken tone. He hadn't even moved his face away from the small snake, and instead, kept blowing air at its head.
”From the same place where you found a reason not to capture us on sight.. I am here to join the Poisonous Rose. You know who I am, and why I am here. Let us through.” Said Daniel with a calm tone. He showed no fear, nor excessive respect towards this individual.
The kid-like keeper blew another whiff of air in the face of the small horned snake, which moved its head as if trying to catch the wind with his whole body, then said with a matter-of-fact tone ”I am afraid that your spot has already been taken.. It's been two years, after all..”
Without missing a bit, Daniel said ”It's alright, I will handle it.”
For the first time, the kid turned to look at Daniel, and with a faint smile, he asked ”And how do you plan on doing that?”
”I don't enjoy making poisons too much.. But someone who is better than me at making antidotes, has yet to be born. That can be only compared to the best poison maker.. If my substitute is not qualified to take my place, I will kill him with my own hands.” Responded Daniel right away.
”I have to admit it.. You are mildly interesting. But let's put your courage to the test.” Said the kid before teleporting directly one meter in front of Daniel. He then added ”This little fella is called Flower snake.. It's a race of non-poisonous, and small snakes which has nearly gone extinct due to the increased toxicity of the planet. Would you let it bite you?”
Daniel moved his hand towards the kid, and allowed the little snake to crawl on his hand.
The moment the snake moved on Daniel's hand, Aeron shook his head as if by trying to come out of a trance, and turned to look at Daniel with narrowed eyes. At the same time, a slightly confused expression appeared on the kid's face.
The little snake moved around Daniel's hands for a few moments, as he observed it carefully. Anyone who saw this little snake, would not help but find it extremely cute. It kept moving around his palm, until finally, the snake reached his wrist, and tried to sink its fangs into Daniel's veins.. But it was stopped by the Daniel's skin, which had suddenly turned as hard as stone, the very moment before the bite.
After a couple more unsuccessful attempts at biting Daniel's wrist, the little snake turned to look back at its owner. ”No thank you..” Said Daniel while handing the small snake back to the kid.
”Why not? You don't trust me?” Asked the kid with a face of pure innocence.
”No.”
”Hehe.. maybe you'll survive a day or two.. You may enter” Said the kid while taking back the small snake. He then resumed blowing air on the snake's face.
Instead of leaving right away, Daniel decided to show some interest towards the small snake. He had to play the part of the poison master, and no poison master in that situation would forget to ask what kind of animal that was. ”What type of snake is that?”