Interception Confirmed

I wagged my tail, tilted my head, and even did a little dance. This thing can't see me, right?

—What if some trash sneaks in without permission? Tomb raiders, adventurers, hunters, that sort of scum.

Pellelian's illusion spoke as if in conversation. It clearly couldn't see the real me. Probably some ancient recording or whatever. And yeah, they said he looked grouchy from the start, but his personality matched. —Sorry if I startled you. Security's important, couldn't be helped.

The nerve, after launching that spear. Thinking about it, for a mage, why only these analog traps? Spear enthusiast or something?

—I've built these dungeons across the continent, including the Great Forest. This is Dungeon 008.

Bet that cost a fortune. Rich racist.

—That's why my fortune's wiped out. Cleaned me out.

Land-poor grandpa, haha. Hilarious. This elf Pellelian was nothing like the elves in my imagination—just a mean old geezer with pointy ears. Why build this secret lab? What's it for?

—The Akham Basin in the Great Forest was formed long ago by a meteor impact. Here, I began experiments needing the power of time. At least three hundred years.

A bit of the basin's secret revealed. No wonder the terrain's unique—cliffs all around.

Pellelian said he needed three hundred years.

—If you're seeing my illusion, three hundred years have passed. Try entering sooner, and elf or not, you'd burn.Keh heh heh.

…Guess three hundred years have passed. Nearly burned alive. But something's off here. I circled the crystal orb. Without Dark Sight, it'd be pitch black. Would a mage who casts illusions like this leave his dungeon so dark? Plus, debris and collapses everywhere. Tomb raiders? Nah, too random. Looks like an earthquake hit.

—Kin. I have a favor to ask.

Pellelian suddenly grew serious.

—The elders split on my experiment. Fools opposed it. Our race's future was at stake, yet they couldn't accept extinction for fairies.

I felt grim anger.

—Without uncovering evolution's secret, it's over. You know it too. 'Humans' don't evolve. Fairies, dwarves, humans—same.

Oh ho, makes sense. By my knowledge, yeah. No Great Humans or whatever.

—Short-lived races don't matter. But long-lived ones like us elves stagnate over time. Even humans producing mages stronger than me proves it.

His face looked deeply offended. Grandpa, even a reincarnated snake like me's hustling. Don't sweat it.

—Only answer is evolution. We fairies must become high elves. So! I researched monster evolution, uncovering conditions and principles… and succeeded.

Pellelian swept his hand, pointing deeper. A corridor continued.

—I created a monster.

What?

—Using blue blood of high dragon-class beasts, Great Forest's gray tarantulas, and underground mole rats, I synthesized a chimera. Studied its evolution and got results.

Thought he was just a racist, but mad scientist too. National alchemist making chimeras for creds? Pellelian, you… dad…

—But a problem arose. Pellelian smiled bitterly.

—Final evolution needed three hundred years. So I hibernated my chimera. To evolve it after. That's my request.

He clenched his fist.

—Enter there, wake the chimera from hibernation. That's it.

Nope, pass~

—Sure, you might refuse. But no worries.

Whoa, thought he heard me.

—Upon waking, it'll evolve immediately. Process auto-records to World Tree. After, pull the lever to incinerate it. Simple.

Why should I?

—Brave deeds get rewards. Complete it, get massive payoff.

His booming voice pointed right.

—That vault opens post-incineration. Full of my magic gear and artifacts—plenty reward.

Ah, got it.

—Then, for fairy's eternal victory.

Pellelian's illusion vanished. Fairy this, fairy that to the end. Snake's POV? Zero empathy. Curious about rewards, but no way I'm obeying that geezer. Chimera? Terrifying just thinking. And more than that… vault's open.

Earthquake confirmed. Sturdy iron door twisted, gap formed. Too narrow for humans, but snake me? Easy. Mage, yet no magic vault? Just slapped on an iron door—thanks.

Slithered in. And wow, rewards!

Shiny full plate mail! Flashy sword fit for an elf! Gold, silver, jewels! Not bad, old man. Problem: zero use for me. Such a waste. Especially this shortsword.

So pretty. Super sharp-looking. Small size—maybe tail-wieldable. Gripped hilt with tail: lifted easy. Light material. World's first sword-snake—'sword' as in snake 사(蛇)—?

Swung it around. Nearly sliced my tail off when it slipped. Cancel, better not. Disappointing.

As I turned to leave, spotted something.

What's that? Unlike shiny gear, plain. On shelf, worn—like Pellelian's. Cross ornament. Gold-ish, complex unknown metals. But sealed bugs me. Sealed magic ring? Heart races.

Slipped on ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠tail. Too small, but—whoosh, resized!

Whoa! Size-adjust magic. Grew to fit tail midsection. Forced off easy, but shaking? Stuck. Pretty!

But more than decor. On equip, knew function.

Magic word hooked me. Magic-using snake? Duh, Harry Potter snakes do magic. Subspace storage: intuitive. Backpack-less snake's dream—carry stuff!

Like skill use, sent mana to ring. Whirrr, gold sucked in!

Nice! Worth the trip. Capacity limited, though. Took some gold, broadsword. Sword-snake dream lingers.

Exited vault feeling secure. Backtrack now.

…Pellelian, scary geezer. Reached stone door—sealed shut. No inside open. Back to orb chamber. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Only path: chimera hibernation room.

Fine, don't wake it, no issue. Carefully past orb, into corridor. Short one. Open door ahead—chimera room? Sides: crumbling statues. Earthquake? One armless, one legless. Vines overgrown. Poor things.

Entered corridor—

—Monster intrusion detected.

Eh? Speakers? Why notice me now? Chimera side security zone? Or guarding against chimera escape.

Anyway, detected—what now?

—Activating interception golem.

It can do stuff. Interception golem—ominous. Where?!

Crack, crunch. Vines snapping. Crumbling statues were the golems. Terrifying.

Insane strength! Destruction Beam? Golem could toy with cockatrices solo. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Nearby Pellelian's Guard B similar—earth magic instead.

Crunch, vines tore free. Single eyes blazed red. Full intent to intercept me. But legless one toppled forward.

Hah. Mighty golem down to one-skill scrub. Pathetic head-lift, then—whoosh—flames spewed!

Fwoosh! Ack, scales nearly scorched. Dodged, barely lived. Wait, ground rumbling. Leaped with Predator Leap—

BOOM! Stone slab smashed my spot like applause. Armless golem buddy.

Dangerous. Retreat first. Outside corridor boundary—

—Interception confirmed.

Whirr, eyes softened. Returned to spots. Interception not done? Peeked—

—Monster intrusion detected.

Activating interception golem.

Golems rose. Pulled back—

—Interception confirmed.

Peek—

—Monster intrusion—

—Interception confirmed.

Fun. Made 'em sit-stand ten times. Realized something key. Tested—Hey, Guard B.

Borrowing time~

Nail this, might learn real magic here.