Chapter 15 - 12: Master and a Contracted Beast (2/2)

Dmitri gently threw out a gesture of respect as he bowed his head at ninety and held his hand in front.

'I knew it. These rocks…'

”…”

Ziro slowly shuttered her eyelids, patiently waiting for any response. But…

Silence…

”…”

This time, she rolled her eyes towards the fireflies. Well, of course, they were still fireflies as they were before, what did she expect? Then onwards, down to the crouching spirit stones on the cavern floor.

Nothing...

'What's happening?'

Creases form on her forehead. Should she kneel too? Or just wait until something appears? Wouldn't it be really dangerous if she just froze behind? What if a beast suddenly sneaks towards her? What if…

…like those questions minced her brain.

However just before she lost to her conundrum…

Grrrr.

A whispering grumble faintly cried… and it didn't escape Ziro's ears.

'Something's coming.'

Firmly ingraining her feet on the ground, she plunged her senses into a deeper awareness…

…and waited…

GRRRRR!

…until the grumbles were replaced by rock-shattering quakes, which sent the whole cavern into tremor!

”…!”

Pebbles began hurtling down from the towering ceiling. The hovering lights were startled as their lithe aerial dances were immediately turned into a disheveled medley.

Crispy cracks from the spirit stones broke an immeasurable number of glass fractals rustling above the cavern floor.

”Ah. Dmitri. I don't think this is a good place.”

Gazing above, Ziro's visage turned pallid when her mind already thinking the ceiling was on a brink of collapse.

”Mmh.”

”… Mmh?”

A sting in her eyes immediately blistered an irritation. Ziro shot a glance towards the swordsman.

”Don't just 'mmh' me. I'm serious. Are you really sure that your highness wouldn't kill us? To me, she'd already dug our grave this very minute.”

”...you're scared, aren't you?”

By that, the swordsman's elfin lips were hooked in a grin.

Ziro immediately frowned.

”… Ha? Why would I be scared? I just value my life.”

”Valuing your life doesn't mean you should be wary at all times.”

”What that's supposed to mean?”

”…”

But Dmitri seemed to be halted from his reply as though he realized something.

”…well, I-I…don't want to start a conversation.”

”…”

'What the hell was that?'

Rumble!!!

”…!”

'What now?'

The ground reverberated.

This time, the perfectly spiraled slates trembled. And just try to peer a little bit closer, its roots from the ground seemed to be breaking apart! Slowly, one by one… until the entire massive rocks crawled in a swirling pattern as though it looked like a creeping snake.

Moreover, its claw-like thorns eventually moved, as it budded out along with the hoary sediment, it surprisingly appeared to be crescent jade claws waiting to be unclenched!

GRRRR!!!!

”…!”

Ziro's eyes widened when all the pieces of slates came together and formed giant scales just along with those jutted jade claws.

Not a later, as the very center of the spiral, began its course up, an indistinct figure crawled on top.

'It's… It's a woman.'

But just as it revealed its whole form, Ziro lost her blood.

It was a giant woman with a lower part of a snake! Her hands were claws, her scales were slates, her eyes were jades, her skin was green, and her hair was spirit stones. About forty feet tall, her span was immeasurably long.

GRRRRR!!!

Easing its curled serpent tail, the cavern floor almost lost its glue on the mantle. Bags of dust celebrated their journey up air leaving a murky and eye-irritating surrounding.

After seconds, the silence returned. The verdant light-couriers paced back on their former light show, giving enough lumen for Ziro to see the woman's gigantic face. Not to mention, the woman's eyes alone were of the size of Ziro's head.

At this time, Ziro's complexion was no better than the snake-girl, as her visage turned pale green. She didn't know what to feel; fear? Excitement? What the hell are those? She was completely muted.

She'd seen enough through the past few hours; those soul beasts, human-sized mantis, vanishing sigbin… but never in her mind would she able to meet this completely incomparable gargantuan monster, or was it really a monster in the first place?

~Fear not, Long Zhao, Son of Miro. I am no harm. Come.~

Ziro's feelings became even more complicated when a sweet maiden voice whispered on her head lulled with a faint trace of familiarity.

She didn't want to believe that it came from the snake-girl, however just as her mind refused, the woman in front immediately beamed a smile towards her.

Ziro couldn't help but pull a forceful smile. She then took a glance towards Dmitri who besides the giant half-half woman, having an ȧssuring expression as though telling her that it was safe.

'Fine.'

Letting out a long sigh, she completely shrugged her tensed shoulder and paced towards the woman.

”I am Zhao Long indeed, but Ziro would be better, Your Highness. So… may this humble person ask who you are?”

She cupped her hands upfront and paid respect.

~The name's Ketu, ruler of this cave, guardian of one of the seven Pearl Treasures.~

”…”

'Pearl Treasures? What are those?'

Just as her expression said it so, she turned her gaze towards the swordsman and was immediately understood what she meant.

******